CHAPTER 17

When Meng Ruji heard Mu Sui’s words, she paused, realizing he was referring to the wound on her forehead. It was just a minor bite, a mere scratch compared to the countless injuries she had endured. Yet, despite just crawling out of the Nai River, weak and starving, the first thing he mentioned was her trivial wound. Meng Ruji was touched, if only for a moment.

She recalled how, just a short while ago, when she held him at the ferry, the little savage had pulled her hand away, determined not to drag her into his plight. He was so resolute, not even considering whether he might die. The memory brought her back to her protectors in Hengxu Mountain—each of them with their own personalities, all fiercely loyal, much like Mu Sui now...

"Eat well first. I'm fine," Meng Ruji whispered, gently feeding Mu Sui a fruit. "No matter what happened before, I’ll consider you my own brother from now on."

Mu Sui nearly choked on the fruit. The idea of this “kinship” with Meng Ruji wasn’t something he wanted, but he swallowed his protest along with the fruit. As the nourishment began to restore his strength, he managed to sit up and, after some hesitation, spoke.

"Sister."

Meng Ruji, in the middle of peeling another fruit, froze. Her eyes stayed fixed on the fruit in her hand, the word “Sister” sounding oddly out of place. She frowned slightly, feeling as though something was off. Sister? The term felt strange, even vaguely insulting.

She glanced up at Mu Sui, but he was looking at her with clear, intent eyes, his gaze reflecting the shimmering lights of the Naihe River. Was he mocking her? No, Mu Sui probably hadn’t learned how to be that cunning yet...

Suppressing her doubts, she asked, “What is it? Is there something wrong with the fruit?”

“No,” Mu Sui replied, trying to mimic the way he used to speak before his memory loss. He started, “You were too close to the Naihe River earlier...” but then, stunned by his own words, he blurted out uncontrollably, “There’s wind on the river; be careful not to get swept away..."

He immediately closed his mouth, rubbing his forehead in frustration. What’s wrong with him? Since when did he become so sentimental?

Meng Ruji was just as surprised, then glanced at the Naihe River. The water was calm, with no visible currents or wind that Mu Sui had mentioned. “So, using spiritual power to cross the river is impossible? Do I really have to rely on a boat?” She pondered aloud, pulling out a silver ingot. “Should we give it a try?”

Before she could proceed, Mu Sui pressed down on her hand, stopping her. “Don’t try.”

Meng Ruji noticed the seriousness in his eyes, blinking as she remembered how Mu Sui had looked before fainting at Snow Mirror Cliff. But before she could say more, Mu Sui quickly changed the subject, his voice softening, “I don’t want anything to happen to you, sister…”

Touched by his concern, Meng Ruji smiled faintly, patting him gently. “Don’t worry, Xiao Sui. I’m not so easily troubled. But you’re right—the rules in the Land of No Remain are stranger than those in the human world. We shouldn’t take unnecessary risks.”

She put away the silver ingot and pulled out a copper coin. “If a person falls in, they might be able to climb out, but money can’t be retrieved once it’s lost. Let’s test it with this.”

Meng Ruji attempted to use the copper coin to control a stone by the river, trying to guide it across. Mu Sui, watching silently, felt a growing disgust for himself. He struggled to speak of serious matters, yet couldn’t stop himself from spouting sentimental nonsense.

With a soft thud, the stone was inevitably pulled into the river by the wind, just as Mu Sui had expected. He didn’t even flinch. He had tried every possible way to cross the river the last time he was here.

Seeing the failure, Meng Ruji sighed, disappointed. “Even with magic, you can’t force your way across... We still have to follow the rules and pay to cross. No rushing, we’ll earn what we need.”

Mu Sui listened to her mutterings in silence, eating the fruit while contemplating how to control his errant words. Suddenly, he heard Meng Ruji’s voice drop slightly— “Today, let’s focus on keeping you out of the Naihe River. Later, we’ll head to Mo Nengdu.”

Her tone was calm, but when Mu Sui looked up, he saw a thoughtful expression on her face as she gazed upstream towards Mo Nengdu, her eyes filled with a contemplation that seemed beyond his grasp. In that moment of silence, she looked more like the legendary demon king.

Mu Sui continued eating the fruit, replying only, “Don’t go.”

He even felt a bit grateful to Xiao Hong for bumping into him, helping him regain his memory sooner. Annoying as they were, Xiao Hong and Da Qing had done him a favor...

Meng Ruji glanced at him. “Didn’t you say you’d kill them if they caused trouble?”

Mu Sui fell silent, memories of his time with Meng Ruji flashing through his mind. He caught hold of one thought and blurted out again, “But you’re not in the Yamen.”

Meng Ruji was quiet for a moment, acknowledging, “True.” After some thought, she added, “Alright, when we have the resources, I’ll deal with it without getting caught.”

Noticing that Mu Sui had finished eating, she helped him up. “Feeling better? I’ll use this silver ingot to carry you home with Yufeng so you don’t have to walk.”

Mu Sui stood up, watching her determined expression, and finally said, “Can you teach me Yufeng? I don’t want you to strain yourself.”

“You controlling the wind? It’s possible, but unnecessary,” Meng Ruji replied, taking his hand. “I’ll handle it. I eat less, anyway.”

As she held his hand, warmth spread through Mu Sui, and a tingling sensation coursed through his body. In the next moment, Meng Ruji led him to a blue formation, and they began to float into the air, the silver ingot at the center.

With a gesture, Meng Ruji controlled the wind, guiding them above the forest. As the speed increased, she worried that Mu Sui might not be stable, so she urged him, “Hold on tight.”

But there was no need for her warning. Almost instinctively, the moment Mu Sui’s hand touched her waist, he pulled her close, the wind whipping past his ears. Her hair brushed against his face and neck, carrying her scent, making his heart race.

Despite his efforts to keep his other hand by his side, he couldn’t resist the urge to wrap both arms around her. His heart thumped uncontrollably, his thoughts cursing his own weakness, but his body refused to obey.

“I want to hold you,” Mu Sui finally whispered.

Riding the wind ahead of him, Meng Ruji, oblivious to the emotions behind his words, replied, “Hold tight. I’ll be going faster soon. Don’t fall.”

With that, Mu Sui’s last shred of control broke, and he hugged her tightly with both hands. Even as he tried to maintain a cold demeanor, the strong wind couldn’t cool the heat rising in his face and ears.

Each beat of his heart was a reminder of his helplessness, a futile struggle against his own feelings. But he couldn’t deny it any longer—he was already caught in the web of this strange fate.

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