Chapter 45: Malevolent Secrets

 

                                 

Miaomiao pawned everything and exchanged it for a small bag of money, a large bag of flatbread, a large wooden cart, and several pieces of clothing.

"The pawn shop didn't have a tael of silver, so they gave me over nine hundred coins, and exchanged the rest for a bag of flatbread, a wooden cart, and a bag of clothes! I calculated—I made a profit."

Meng Ruji looked at the cart, flatbread, and bag of clothes, silent for a long time.

What do you mean they didn't even have a tael of silver and had to exchange for cart, flatbread, and clothes... They just didn't want to give more money, so they palmed off their useless items on Miaomiao.

But Meng Ruji turned and saw Miaomiao's delighted face, so she also praised, "Indeed a profit—all very practical."

"Right! Sister Ruji, go change into these quickly. I think these clothes suit you all." Meng Ruji was startled. She saw Miaomiao taking out the clothes while saying, "Your clothes are all so dirty, especially yours—I don't know what tore away your hem. This won't do."

Miaomiao handed the clothes to Meng Ruji. "Go change quickly. We should set off clean and proper."

Hearing these somewhat strange words, Meng Ruji didn't know whether to laugh or cry. She took the clothes, held them for a moment, then slung them over her shoulder and said to Miaomiao, "Come, Miaomiao."

"Hmm?"

"You sit on the cart."

Miaomiao blinked, not understanding.

Seeing that she didn't move, Meng Ruji directly put her arm around Miaomiao's waist and lifted her onto the cart.

Miaomiao was already on the cart in a daze. Her face reddened as she looked at Meng Ruji in admiration. "Sister Ruji is so strong."

"Right? I'll keep you safe this whole journey." Meng Ruji responded, then turned to look at the several men who had gathered over. She first pointed at the rabbit. "You, pull the cart."

The rabbit was about to roll up his sleeves in fury when Meng Ruji gave Mu Sui a meaningful look. "You, coachman. Keep the cart-pulling rabbit in line."

Mu Sui looked at Meng Ruji somewhat speechlessly, but still chose to suppress the rabbit's "uprising" with his gaze.

The rabbit dared to be angry but not speak, stamping his feet in rage until the ground shook under his large feet.

Meng Ruji nodded with satisfaction, feeling those big feet would surely pull the cart fast and steady.

Turning around, Meng Ruji said to Mo Li and Ye Chuan, "You two, guards. From today on, Miss Miaomiao is our employer. Throughout this journey, you must serve her wholeheartedly and keep her safe. Understand?"

Ye Chuan, who had finished carving the door for free, patted the wood shavings off his hands while nodding. "I'll listen to Miss Meng."

"I can't do it."

Mo Li voiced his resistance. "I'm an old man. I should ride the cart too."

Meng Ruji glared at him irritably. "With your long legs and arms, one step covers more ground than the rabbit's jumps. What cart do you need?"

"I don't care. You promised to support me in my old age. Since when do you make your eighty-year-old father work? I want to ride the cart, I want to!"

Seeing Mo Li ready to sit on the ground and throw a tantrum, Meng Ruji's face turned iron-blue. She glanced at Mu Sui beside her, who was also watching with folded arms like he was enjoying a show.

Mo Li's "I don't care, I don't care" echoed in their ears.

The words "I can manage them" that Meng Ruji had said earlier seemed to turn into slaps hitting her face with resounding smacks.

Meng Ruji covered her face, unable to meet Mu Sui's gaze.

Miaomiao looked at Mo Li, who had abandoned all dignity and sat on the ground, and asked curiously, "You're still quite young. Why do you need Sister Ruji to support you in old age?"

Hearing this, Mo Li stopped making a scene. Sitting on the ground, he propped his head up and looked at Miaomiao with a smile. "Because someone read my fortune and said I'd die alone in old age. I refuse to accept this fate."

"Die alone in old age?" Miaomiao was somewhat surprised. "Do fortune readings come true?"

"Hard to say. Aren't I fighting against it now?"

"If the King of Hell wants you to die at the third watch, you leave at the second watch—that also breaks fate." Unexpectedly, Mu Sui spoke up. He looked down at Mo Li coldly. "If you die now, we're all here with you—not alone, and you haven't aged either."

These words silenced everyone.

The rabbit was the first to react. "City Lord big brother is right! City Lord big brother makes perfect sense!"

Ye Chuan also stroked his chin thoughtfully. "These words contain deep wisdom. Worth contemplating."

Even Meng Ruji couldn't help applauding, looking at Mu Sui and thinking: Brilliant! Brilliant!

Only Mo Li, sitting on the ground, looked up at Mu Sui while also folding his arms, smiling. "City Lord Mu, didn't succeed in the Nai River, still want to kill me now?"

Mu Sui corrected indifferently. "Helping you fulfill your wish."

Mo Li patted his bottom and stood up, hiding behind Meng Ruji. He grabbed her sleeve and put on the act of a delicate, wronged little wife. "Little Meng, control your husband. Look what he's saying—so frightening. You made a pact with me—you won't let him kill me."

Mu Sui glanced at Mo Li's hand, his brow furrowing almost imperceptibly.

Meng Ruji shook off Mo Li. "I said, stop acting!"

Seeing this, Miaomiao laughed on the cart, saying with anticipation, "You're all so interesting! I've been in the market for so many years, and today seems like the most interesting day! The journey to Zhuliu City will be even more fun than today."

Meng Ruji looked at Miaomiao with heartache, then glared at Mo Li irritably. "Stop making trouble!" Meng Ruji stuffed the bag of clothes into Mo Li's hands. "Under my watch, I can protect you, but you must follow the arrangements."

"I'll listen, I'll listen. But I don't need new clothes either. I'm injured and tired lately. Don't make me walk—let me rest well so I recover faster."

Mo Li said no more and transformed into a stone, trying to burrow into Meng Ruji's embrace.

But before the black stone could touch Meng Ruji's clothes, Mu Sui caught it.

Meng Ruji's heart jumped, and she quickly grabbed Mu Sui's hand. "Don't crush him!"

Mu Sui didn't argue with Meng Ruji, only saying, "Not allowed in your embrace." Then he returned the stone to Meng Ruji.

"Oh..." Meng Ruji put the stone in her sleeve, thinking she'd been led astray by Mo Li. This stone was Mo Li's true form—it could shatter gold and stone. Now that Mu Sui had no money, how could he crush this stone with his bare hands?

"Everyone, change clothes and let's get going. Stop dawdling here."

After preparing for departure, the group left the market.

Under Mu Sui's silent supervision, the rabbit obediently pulled the wooden cart, walking forward step by step.

The rabbit spirit's pace was indeed fast. After walking for a while, Meng Ruji was getting a bit tired of following along. She wanted to slack off, so she quietly moved to lean on the wooden cart.

Ye Chuan wouldn't say anything about this behavior, and Miaomiao would only rearrange the things on the cart to make room for Meng Ruji.

Only the rabbit was very angry. But Mu Sui glanced over and tacitly approved.

The rabbit also looked at Mu Sui, understood his meaning, and had to acquiesce as well.

So half a day after leaving the market, this wooden cart carried two people and a bag of flatbread, packed full.

After getting on the cart, Meng Ruji had leisure time and told Miaomiao, "Ye Chuan and the cart-pulling rabbit both came from Zhuliu City before. They came very fast—arrived in one day. But I just had Ye Chuan estimate, and walking leisurely to Zhuliu City like this will take about four or five days, because we need to sleep, eat, and rest."

Miaomiao nodded. "That's natural."

"But I have another method." Meng Ruji pointed to Miaomiao's small pouch, now bulging with money. "I can use copper coins to make a formation that will let us fly to Zhuliu City. We'd arrive immediately."

Hearing this, Miaomiao looked around at the scenery, then shook her head. "I still want to see the scenery along the way."

As Miaomiao spoke, her hair dancing in the wind became somewhat transparent in the flickering sunlight, but after a moment, it returned to normal.

Seeing this, Meng Ruji didn't point it out, but looked at Miaomiao with a normal expression. "Alright, we'll do as the employer says."

Miaomiao scratched her head, somewhat embarrassed. "Sister Ruji, do you have urgent business in Zhuliu City? Otherwise, we could go faster."

"I'm not in a hurry." Meng Ruji looked at Mu Sui. "My husband probably isn't either... right?"

After all, going back meant dividing the money.

Mu Sui heard this but said nothing, just walking silently beside the cart.

The cart-pulling rabbit turned to look at Mu Sui, then also pursed his lips and pulled the cart silently without a word.

Only Miaomiao covered her mouth in surprise. "You two... when did this happen? Really? You got married?"

Meng Ruji curved her lips in a smile, somewhat proudly. "I took the initiative. It was done very quickly. Amazing, right?"

"The kind where names are written on the Marriage Tree."

"Yes, when you go this time, you'll still be able to see it."

Miaomiao clicked her tongue in wonder, marveling for a long time.

On the first day of the journey, they walked and stopped along the way. Meng Ruji chatted casually with Miaomiao, talking about the nice weather and reminiscing about past interesting events.

Meng Ruji seemed to have finally stolen some leisure from her floating life. This was the most comfortable she'd been since coming to the Land of No Return.

She lay on the wooden cart, listening to the rumbling sound of wheels accompanied by footsteps beside her, basking in the dappled sunlight filtering through the forest. Meng Ruji closed her eyes and had a pleasant nap, as if she hadn't slept in ages.

No worrying about money, no worrying about the future.

When she woke up, it was already night.

She and Miaomiao were sleeping together on the wooden cart, covered by a large outer robe. Looking at the moon, it was already the deepest part of the night. Ye Chuan and the rabbit were also sleeping on the ground.

The campfire crackled, making the night seem even quieter.

She hadn't slept so soundly in a long time. Meng Ruji was still reluctant to get up, but when she turned over, she dimly saw a figure in the weak firelight walking toward the deeper darkness of the forest, hunched over with stumbling steps.

Was that... Mu Sui?

Meng Ruji found it strange. She glanced at the rabbit beside her—he was sleeping soundly, obviously unaware that his beloved City Lord big brother had gone into the woods.

What was this person plotting again?

Meng Ruji quietly got down from the wooden cart without waking anyone, following that figure into the darkness of the forest.

The farther forward she went, the farther from the warm firelight, the more the damp cold of the forest penetrated to her bones.

Meng Ruji followed for quite a while until she could no longer sense the firelight behind her. Suddenly, a rustling sound reached her ears, but it came from behind her. Meng Ruji turned around alertly, and a hand pressed on her shoulder, directly pushing her against a tree trunk.

The palm fell beside her ear. Mu Sui's eyes reflected the eerie moonlight of the Land of No Return as he stared at Meng Ruji like a wild beast in the forest eyeing its prey. "Wife." He spoke coldly. "Following others in the deep of night is not a good habit."

After countless struggles with Mu Sui—if not a hundred times, then dozens—Meng Ruji wasn't afraid at all.

"When you're far from me, I feel pain. Besides, which husband leaves at night without arousing suspicion? You're not meeting other women behind my back, are you?"

"What if I were?"

Meng Ruji raised an eyebrow. "Then I'd have to castrate you."

This unexpected answer was indeed what Meng Ruji would say.

Even though their marriage was an act.

Mu Sui smiled coldly. "Then, for all the men you meet daily, how should I punish you?"

"I don't hide it from you."

"Is that so..."

As Mu Sui spoke, his hand suddenly lost strength, falling onto Meng Ruji's shoulder. In Meng Ruji's astonishment, Mu Sui's entire body slid downward.

Meng Ruji was startled and almost instinctively caught Mu Sui's arm, trying to support him. But Mu Sui's whole body went limp, and he couldn't stand at all. Meng Ruji had to follow his weight and sit on the ground until Mu Sui was lying in her arms.

"What are you doing?" Meng Ruji asked him, only now seeing Mu Sui's face illuminated by moonlight, completely pale, with cold sweat beading his forehead, as if enduring tremendous pain.

"Are you hungry?" Meng Ruji almost instinctively thought of this. "Wait, let me get you some flatbread..."

Mu Sui grabbed Meng Ruji's arm.

"Don't go. Don't disturb the others."

Meng Ruji thought for a moment, then sat back down, frowning as she examined Mu Sui.

Under the moonlight, wisps of black energy drifted from within Mu Sui's robes—energy that Meng Ruji had seen just two days ago, so she was very familiar with it.

Malevolent qi.

Meng Ruji was shocked and directly pulled open Mu Sui's robes.

Mu Sui tried to resist, but he was currently powerless and couldn't catch Meng Ruji's arm. He could only let her pull open his clothes and examine his chest.

On his skin were countless tiny wounds, old and new, and from these wounds, without exception, wisps of black energy were seeping out.

It was malevolent qi.

"You... were injured by malevolent qi?" Meng Ruji was puzzled. "When? You weren't injured in Ye Chuan's illusion before. Why is it like this?"

Mu Sui remained silent, panting as he pulled his clothes back together. In the moonlight, he looked as if Meng Ruji had bullied him. Only his gaze was indifferent, carrying a cold edge. "This has nothing to do with you."

Meng Ruji pulled open Mu Sui's clothes almost tyrannically, without argument.

Mu Sui's breathing quickened for an instant.

Meng Ruji directly pressed her hand against his chest, on the wounds seeping malevolent qi. The moment she contacted the malevolent qi, Meng Ruji felt her throat tighten and emotions grow irritable. She released her hand, forcibly enduring the discomfort from contacting the malevolent qi.

"This is malevolent qi. Don't try to brush it off. How can your wounds contain so much malevolent qi? Mu Sui, what exactly is going on?"

"Knowing my affairs won't benefit you. But you..." Pain seemed to assault his body again. Mu Sui closed his eyes, enduring the pain with practiced ease. After a long while, Mu Sui continued, "In Ye Chuan's illusion, you said malevolent qi belongs to divine beings. How do you know this?"

Seeing his stubborn appearance, Meng Ruji thought for a moment, then gently touched Mu Sui's head. Her movements were tender, but a wicked smile curved her lips.

Meng Ruji said, "Why should I answer your questions? What benefit would knowing my affairs bring you?"

Mu Sui looked at Meng Ruji silently.

Meng Ruji only said, "But I'm different from you. I know people speak to share information. I don't mind sharing my past, but I hope we're equal. Qianshan Jun, isn't Zhuliu City a place for trading? Today, let's make a trade—one question for one question."

Let's see who gives up first.

Mu Sui was quiet for a moment, seemingly weighing and considering. After a moment, he answered, "Fine..." But before finishing his words, Mu Sui gritted his teeth again, as if more intense pain struck.

Seeing this, Meng Ruji wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. "I'm not some villain. Rest first. When you feel better, then we'll talk."

Mu Sui didn't respond. Meng Ruji watched him for a moment, still somewhat unable to bear it. "Is there anything I can do to make you feel better?"

"Just like this..."

"What?"

Mu Sui raised his hand, pressing Meng Ruji's palm against his head. "Touch me."

Originally, it was just a simple wiping of sweat, but when Mu Sui's palm pressed hers down, palm to forehead skin, and Meng Ruji heard his words, she froze in place.

Meng Ruji's cheeks reddened slightly, but she still controlled her emotions, forcing herself to say coldly, "Just this?"

"Mm."

Meng Ruji found it strange. "Then why did you leave the campfire earlier? If touching me makes the pain better, shouldn't you have stayed by my side?"

Mu Sui opened his eyes, looking at Meng Ruji with moonlight like rippling water in his gaze. "Do you need to know?"

Meng Ruji was startled. "Well..."

"Because I was afraid I might..." Mu Sui released Meng Ruji's palm, then turned slightly in her arms, embracing her waist, "...not be able to resist doing this."

Breath sprayed against her waist and abdomen.

For a moment, Meng Ruji felt like the dampness of the dark forest night was about to be dried by the heat of her face.

When the amnesiac Mu Sui did this, it was understandable.

But now he...

What was he doing...

Though late, it has... arrived...

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