Chapter 79: Dreams Within the Mist

                    

“This won’t work.”

For the first time since arriving at Rui Wei Cao Yin, Meng Ruji sat face‑to‑face with Mu Sui.

To prevent him from fleeing, she clasped his hand tightly, their fingers interlaced. Mu Sui had struggled, but could not break free, so he yielded.

He let her hold him, sitting across with a grave expression as she spoke earnestly:

“Today, Madam Lin had us kill sheep and wanted you to stab me. What if tomorrow she whimsically demands we kill each other? Worse still, what if she commands us to commit suicide? My little cleverness might work once, but I cannot fool my way through every time.”

Mu Sui gave a cold laugh. “Has Madam finally come to her senses today? On the day you drank the poisoned tea, weren’t you confident and heroic?” His tone carried its usual chill of sarcasm.

Meng Ruji pouted. “Husband, recall correctly. I warned you, yet you drank that tea despite danger. I drank it only to accompany you.” She tightened her grip, feigning deep emotion. “This is called sharing life and death.”

Mu Sui frowned, struggling again. “I do not need your company.”

His struggle failed.

So he said patiently: “I have malevolent energy protecting me, I have a way out. You have forced yourself into a dead end. You should give up early…”

“If my husband wishes to destroy the world, he should be ruthless with all. Why leave me a way out?” Meng Ruji propped her head on the table, studying him. “Anyway, I cannot stop you. If the world will vanish later, I might as well die beside you now. I will not live anymore.”

Mu Sui’s expression turned cold. “Meng Ruji…”

“Are you reluctant to let me go?” she interrupted, asking casually.

Mu Sui’s lips moved, but no answer came.

Silence filled the room—until…

“Thud”—a stone fell.

It transformed instantly into a familiar figure.

Mo Li sat cross‑legged upon the table like a New Year painting. He looked at Meng Ruji, then at Mu Sui, finally at their clasped hands. “Did I come at a bad time?”

Meng Ruji glanced at the door, then pressed Mo Li’s head, turning him back into stone. “Talk in dreams.” She looked at Mu Sui, who was beginning to frown, and invited sincerely: “Come together.”

Without allowing argument, she pulled Mu Sui to the bed, hand in hand, sitting cross‑legged with eyes closed, entering dreams.

Mu Sui sat beside her, gazing at their clasped hands. After a moment, he sighed and closed his eyes.

They arrived in Meng Ruji’s dreamscape again, chaos drifting with countless mist orbs.

Meng Ruji walked through mist, finding Mu Sui and Mo Li already met.

“In my dreams again.” She glanced at Mu Sui. “This isn’t fair. Don’t you ever dream?”

Mu Sui crossed his arms, turning to look at one mist orb, not answering.

“He’s very guarded. I’ve tried many times to enter his dreams, but cannot. Qianshan Jun…” Mo Li reached to pat his shoulder, but Mu Sui avoided it. Mo Li smiled. “You’re the first I’ve met like this. I’ve even entered the Human God’s dreams—her burdens weren’t as heavy as yours.”

“If you have business, speak.” Mu Sui’s voice was cold.

“No wonder you two make a married couple.” Mo Li pouted. “You said exactly what Little Meng said this afternoon.”

Meng Ruji returned to the topic. “So what did you find out about Ye Big River? Madam Lin said there were mice in the backyard, hinting at me. That’s why I didn’t dare let you speak in the room.”

“Ye Chuan was indeed controlled before.” Mo Li’s expression grew serious.

“This afternoon, not long after I took him out, he woke but remembered nothing. He said only that after Zhan Ye was defeated, he and Tuzi led away pursuers, then he knew nothing.”

“There was possession?” Meng Ruji was confused. “Who was it? That person didn’t harm his life. Once you acted, that person fled?”

Mo Li nodded. He glanced at Mu Sui, then spoke: “Qianshan Jun, regarding the identity of that possessing person, do you have thoughts?”

Mu Sui shifted his gaze, piercing Mo Li.

“Who is that person—don’t you already know in your heart?”

Mo Li’s expression changed.

“I…” He lowered his eyes, struggling. “I just don’t dare believe… she came.”

Meng Ruji looked between them, sorting clues. “The person who possessed Ye Big River—it wouldn’t be the Human God… Mo Yi, would it?”

Mu Sui did not confirm, nor deny.

Mo Li smiled bitterly, trembling fingers covering his face. “I’m guessing—besides her, who else could possess in No‑Return Land without me noticing? She… all these days, she was already here…”

Meng Ruji organized her thoughts. “Wait. The Human God Mo Yi made the mortal world a living hell, countless died, cultivators flooded No‑Return Land. At this time, she came, possessed Ye Big River, and then…”

Meng Ruji’s eyes widened. “She’s here feeding chickens and sheep? She’s being ridiculous!”

“Aren’t you also feeding chickens and sheep?” Mu Sui glanced at her.

“How is that the same?” Meng Ruji was speechless. “I’m forced, needing a thousand gold to buy life. She…” She turned to him. “She didn’t possess Ye Chuan just to feed chickens and sheep…”

Meng Ruji stepped closer. “She met with you alone?”

Mu Sui crossed his arms. “When she met me, you were there.”

“She never spoke privately?”

“No.”

Meng Ruji interrogated. “When did you know Ye Big River was possessed?”

“When he returned wrong. I asked who he was—you heard it.”

“When did you know she was the Human God?”

“Just now.”

He explained: “No‑Return Land has many strange things, but possession is rare. Even with my techniques, it would be difficult. This soul‑capturing escaped even the Master’s notice. Guessing, it must be the one who created this place with him. And he said before…” Mu Sui nodded toward Mo Li. “No‑Return Land was created by him and the Human God.”

That made sense.

“Then it’s strange.” Meng Ruji frowned. “She came here, took such trouble, yet did not conspire with you, only stayed beside us, feeding chickens and sheep. What’s her purpose?”

Mu Sui lowered his eyes, thoughtful.

Mo Li said: “No matter what she wants, I should find her.”

“How?”

“She stayed as Ye Chuan, proving her purpose relates to you two. After I leave, I’ll hide my aura, lurking. When she appears, I’ll trap her.”

Meng Ruji saw his seriousness. “Didn’t you say you were injured, unable to use techniques?”

Mo Li lowered his eyes. “To keep her here, even if it costs my life.”

“How many lives do you have?” Meng Ruji scolded. “It’s not the end yet—don’t speak lightly. If we gain the thousand gold early, perhaps we can contend with her. After all, she had to possess Ye Chuan, showing she too is restricted here.”

She glanced at Mu Sui. “You said you wanted to keep No‑Return Land, right?”

He raised a brow.

“So if the Human God wants to destroy it, what will you do?”

“What are you trying to say?”

“I mean, if she wants to destroy No‑Return Land, then we’re comrades, right?”

Mist orbs drifted closer, memories of their battles together glowing faintly.

Mu Sui turned, disappearing into mist, leaving only his promise: “What I said hasn’t changed.”

Meng Ruji raised her brows. “So we are comrades—he won’t even admit it, stubborn mouth.”

“Little Meng.” Mo Li asked. “What does Madam Lin require for the thousand gold?”

“One month of obedience.”

Mo Li frowned. “One month? Why not rob her?”

Meng Ruji: “…”

Mo Li pressed. “I know how difficult Madam Lin is. Even without Mo Yi, you cannot safely gain the gold after a month.”

“I know. I’ve already felt it.” Meng Ruji sighed. “But the method you’re suggesting isn’t necessarily easier than dealing with Mo Yi.

“…Think—how long has Madam Lin been at Rui Wei Cao Yin? You know better than I what kind of place No‑Return Land is. Before, Mu Sui and I killed a bandit leader—kill him, and his money was ours. Does No‑Return Land lack vicious criminals? Madam Lin has remained safe all these years—it cannot be mere luck. Before giving out the thousand gold, she is the one who possesses it.”

Mo Li fell silent.

“But… whether gaining the thousand gold from Madam Lin requires a month of obedience…” Meng Ruji cupped her chin, gazing at a mist orb drifting before her.

Within the orb was tonight’s incident—Madam Lin commanding Mu Sui to stab her.

Mo Li also saw it. Watching Meng Ruji seize the cleaver and force Mu Sui to stab her hair, he nodded approvingly.

But Meng Ruji kept studying Madam Lin’s expression in the scene.

“What do you think her purpose was?”

Mo Li looked sideways at her.

“Did Madam Lin make ridiculous demands of you before, too?”

Mo Li’s expression froze, then he coughed, embarrassed. “Just… wore women’s clothing…”

“You wore it?”

“I looked quite good. But I did not meet her requirements—first she wanted red, then green. So I ran away.”

Meng Ruji chuckled, then continued studying the orb. “See, she gives different requirements to each person. From your time, so long ago, until now, she has always made things difficult. Those seeking the thousand gold must do what they do not wish to do. Why?”

Mo Li thought aloud. “Just to make others uncomfortable?”

“But she seeks someone to take the thousand gold and return to the mortal world in her place. Making this person’s life difficult—what good does that do her? She is not mad…”

As Meng Ruji spoke, her expression grew serious. In her heart, she vaguely glimpsed an answer. Yet lacking proof, it remained elusive, slipping from her grasp.

“Forget it, let’s not think on it now.”

She told Mo Li: “From now on, as you said, after you leave, hide in the shadows. I’ll try to gain the thousand gold from this side. Unless necessary, do not risk your life.”

Mo Li chuckled softly. “Little Meng, when facing Zhan Ye before, you weren’t like this.”

Meng Ruji paused, then nodded. “When there is no other way, then we risk our lives.” She smiled, patting his shoulder. “A life should naturally be risked on something one considers worthwhile.”

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