With this mindset, I had just opened the door when I saw the person standing in front of me. My rationality instantly vanished, and I rushed up angrily, shouting: “Qing Yuan!!!”
Qing Yuan looked at me calmly, his frosty eyes staring at me so intensely that I felt I was actually the one in the wrong. He appeared after two or three days because he was busy. Anyway, I was wrong…
Qing Yuan said: “The King asked me to bring medicine.”
I took it without good humor and asked: “Did you deliberately bring me here?”
“Yes.” He didn’t try to argue at all, as always brutally honest, though this honesty was not comfortable to hear.
I stared at him and asked: “You’ve seen me before and knew I was Shu Shu. You had long planned to bring me into this pear garden?”
“Yes.”
I pondered for a moment and smiled helplessly: “I suddenly understand why you would like Hua Hua.”
Only someone as pure as her wouldn’t find you scary, even if you killed people outside, as long as you pretend to be good in front of her, she would still think you’re a good person.”
Qing Yuan’s face was nothing but frost. “How long are you planning to keep me here? Once my annual leave is over, if the divine realm discovers I haven’t returned, they will immediately look for me.”
“Even knowing you’re in the ghost realm, they absolutely won’t come to retrieve you,” Qing Yuan looked at me. “They won’t be stupid enough to cause trouble for an insignificant person.”
His words were harsh, but true. Losing a minor god wasn’t a big deal, certainly much smaller than risking another war between the two realms. I was speechless, finding it exhausting to communicate with such an icy person.
“I lured you here for the King’s illness. Only you can cure his condition.”
“Oh, I’ve been upgraded? I’m overwhelmed.”
He ignored my sarcasm and said: “A thousand years ago, the King fell into the Corpse Bone River, suffered organ damage, went blind, and lost most of his cultivation. But these were not the most fatal issues.”
I listened quietly, desperately telling myself not to soften.
He is a ghost, I am a god. If we had a child, it would become a half-demon.
For the sake of future generations, I must control myself.
I was stunned. If someone sees this, how can I ever get married! I pushed him away, glaring at him. After a while, I realized that even if I stared at him with bulging eyes, he couldn’t see me, so I retorted: “Let me go.” Hiss. My collar was pulled to my chest, and I gritted my teeth: “Don’t make me hate you!” Hiss. Fine, another piece was torn off. I stopped talking and struck out desperately. Mu Chuan furrowed his brow and uttered: “Huo.” That scarlet character reflected in my pupils, instantly drilling into my forehead, making my head dizzy, and my limbs went soft. Looking at him, I suddenly found him more pleasing, and the more I looked, the more he resembled someone… “Soul-seducing…” I choked out, wrapping my arms around him, staring at him intently. A heavy pressure on my lips, I responded to the kiss, warm tongues intertwining, my body growing hotter.
Mu Yin did not speak, with sparkling light flickering in her eyes, very different from usual. Shao Yao Hua spoke first, urgently: “I hope the Second Highness keeps his promise.
“
Mu Yin nodded: “If he asks, I will take full responsibility.”
Shao Yao Hua slightly relaxed, then quickly turned back and walked towards the pear garden. I suddenly wanted to follow, though Mu Chuan was not a good person, at least he would not kill me. But looking at Mu Yin now, I realized the truly dangerous person was him.
“Susu,” Mu Yin gripped my wrist firmly, “Let’s go. Your brother cannot leave the ghost realm, and once outside, he won’t be able to find you.”
I grabbed him and asked: “Aren’t you afraid he’ll blame you?”
I was not anxious, but he became agitated: “When he becomes furious, no one can stop him. After what you did to him back then, he will definitely kill you.”
“Mu Yin,” I broke free from his hand, “I’m not leaving.”
“Why?” Mu Yin asked in surprise, “You clearly don’t remember him, so why stay!” He asked urgently, “Are you afraid he’ll punish me? Susu, I’ll go to the human world with you. Shall we get married?”
I was slightly stunned, looking at his sincere eyes, my heart suddenly racing. It had been so long since I’d met someone so completely devoted to me. But the more he was like this, the more afraid I became. I didn’t want to see the brothers turn against each other, and I didn’t want to be killed by Mu Chuan.
I hardened my heart and said: “No, not at all.”
Mu Yin stared blankly, eyes full of helplessness, and after a long time said weakly: “You first knew my brother and fell in love with him, I had nothing to say. But this time, I clearly met you first. Why do you still choose him?”
I remained silent. Love between men and women has always been about such coincidences.
“You really want to go back?”
“Mm.”
Mu Yin was silent for a long time, his face showing restrained emotion: “I don’t want to see you again, I won’t care about you anymore. Go back quickly, don’t come out, don’t let me see you.”
I stared at him. Though he spoke this way, if something happened to me, he would still come. I bit my lip and turned back to the pear garden.
Returning to the pear garden, Mu Chuan still lay on the long chair, seemingly unchanged. I dragged my steps over and lay down again, finding the most comfortable position.
After a while, a hand caressed my head, stroking as if petting a cat. I closed my eyes.
He indeed knew I had gone out.
If I had agreed to leave with Mu Yin, he would have killed me immediately. Mu Chuan had said this pear garden was inescapable, and after trying everything these past days, how could a small peony flower take me away?
There was only one possibility: from the beginning, the peony flower was acting on his orders, bringing me to meet Mu Yin.
I secretly rejoiced that I had guessed right, but thinking of Mu Yin’s previous expression, I couldn’t help feeling a bit heartbroken. He was the most innocent one.
The hand stroking my head was gentle, but I still felt terrified. If this continued, I would go crazy.
I approached him, helping to straighten his hair and clothes with one hand, forcing a smile: “Let’s find a place to sit.”
“Okay.”
His emotionless eyes inexplicably brought a subtle, indescribable sadness to my heart.
We found a noodle shop and sat down. Though small, it wasn’t crowded. Seeing that Mu Chuan was still holding my hand, I whispered, “How can I eat if you don’t let go?”
“I’ll feed you.”
Two bowls of noodles quickly arrived, steaming hot, covered with five or six wontons, fragrance wafting everywhere. Seeing him eating with difficulty, I couldn’t help but say, “I won’t run away. Besides, are you going to hold me like this every time we go out?”
Mu Chuan paused, then loosened his hand, saying, “You used to like running around. Back then, when we were hiding our breath, whenever you ran out, I’d have to search for you all night. Even after finding you, you’d show no remorse, blaming me for treating you like a child.”
I smiled and picked up a wonton with my chopsticks for him: “Compensation.”
Mu Chuan said softly, “Willful, but pure.”
I almost rolled my eyes: “Are you saying I’m now cunning?”
He laughed unexpectedly: “Isn’t that true?”
I thought for a moment and also laughed: “Yes.”
This was inevitable after being trapped by too many missions, having seen the world’s ways and millions of people for thousands of years. Unable to remain unchanged, I asked with interest, “What kind of god was I before?”
Mu Chuan paused, answering, “Medicine Immortal.”
