Mu Yin was still a bit worried about the Evil-Slaying Array. After all, no one really knew what Si Lingqing was now. If she were to turn to ashes while passing through the array, whose fault would it be?
Mu Yin forced a dry laugh and unconsciously slowed her steps. She turned her head, pretending to look around at the scenery, and said to Yu Luo, “Mother, let the other disciples enter the array first. I’d like to take a walk around. I’ve never really explored the area near the Five Skandha Sect’s mountain gate.”
Yu Luo replied, “There’s nothing much to see at the mountain gate. I’ll accompany you for a stroll after we pass through the Evil-Slaying Array.”
“But I—”
Before Mu Yin could finish her refusal, Yu Luo seemed to sense something amiss, her gaze darkening as she looked at Mu Yin.
Yu Luo was, after all, the Sect Leader’s wife. That single glance sent a chill through Mu Yin’s entire body.
The two locked eyes for a few seconds. Mu Yin’s mind went blank, unsure of what to say next, when she suddenly felt Si Lingqing’s furry tail gently coil around her wrist.
Mu Yin looked down at the little black cat in her arms and saw Si Lingqing still lazily sprawled, even yawning sleepily.
Was Si Lingqing telling her that passing through the Evil-Slaying Array would be fine?
Half-convinced, Mu Yin noticed Yu Luo’s gaze growing increasingly suspicious. She quickly said, “You’re right, Mother. The scenery can wait. Let’s pass through the array first, and you can show me around afterward.”
Yu Luo curled her lips into a faint smile, linking arms with Mu Yin and nodding. “Mm, let’s enter the array then.”
Mu Yin wasn’t sure if it was her imagination, but she felt Yu Luo gripping her arm tightly as they passed through the array. Mu Yin, in turn, held Si Lingqing close to her chest, even squeezing her eyes shut in fear.
But after a few seconds, Mu Yin realized Si Lingqing was still in her arms, and she herself felt no unusual reaction, it was as if they had simply taken a normal stroll.
Seeing Mu Yin pass through the Evil-Slaying Array without issue, Yu Luo released her hand and said with a light laugh, “Since you’re back, you should rest first. We’ve prepared a meal for you at home. You can go out and play after eating.”
Mu Yin glanced back to confirm that all the Five Skandha Sect disciples had entered safely before turning to smile. “Alright, Mother.”
Noticing Mu Yin’s fascination with the array, Yu Luo explained, “This Evil-Slaying Array was set up by A-Qing. As long as the array’s core and the magical artifacts remain intact, it can last for a thousand years.”
Mu Yin instinctively looked down at Si Lingqing in her arms, then up at the enormous magic array enveloping the Five Skandha Sect. She couldn’t help but marvel, “That’s amazing.”
Yu Luo smiled, but the memory of her deceased daughter dimmed her expression. She composed herself before saying to Mu Yin, “We already know about your Yin Immortal Body. We’ve uncovered some leads, but you should rest in your room for now. We’ll discuss it with you tomorrow.”
Mu Yin nodded. After bidding Yu Luo farewell, she returned to the Sect Leader’s residence with Hong Zhuang and the others.
Once inside the courtyard, Si Lingqing perked up her head, looking around at the familiar surroundings.
Mu Yin couldn’t help but chuckle at her reaction. Stroking Si Lingqing’s head, she whispered, “Feeling nostalgic, aren’t you?”
Si Lingqing didn’t respond verbally, merely flicking her tail as an answer.
Mu Yin wasn’t accustomed to being waited on, and since Hong Zhuang and the others had accompanied her down the mountain for half a month, there was no need for them to hover around her constantly now that they were back. So, she dismissed them to rest.
After eating her fill, Mu Yin grew drowsy and returned to her bed for an afternoon nap.
Meanwhile, Si Lingqing wandered around the room a couple of times.
Having lived in this courtyard for 19 years due to her frail health, even after returning to the Underworld for just half a month, the place still felt familiar to her.
Yet, it only held her interest for those two laps around the room.
Having lived for tens of thousands of years, those 19 years felt as fleeting as a single breath to Si Lingqing. After wandering briefly, she quickly grew bored and turned her attention to Mu Yin, who was napping on the bed. She padded over quietly on light feet.
Compared to mundane affairs, her little wife now intrigued her far more.
By afternoon, Mu Yin woke up. Seeing the kitten sleeping beside her, she didn’t disturb it and instead rose quietly to wash her face and stretch her limbs.
As she limbered up in the courtyard, she spotted Hong Zhuang approaching.
Back in the courtyard, Hong Zhuang once again looked like an ordinary maid, completely devoid of the fierce sword-wielding demeanor she’d displayed during their time down the mountain. Mu Yin was momentarily taken aback, wondering if she’d encountered Hong Zhuang’s long-lost twin.
“Young Mistress.”
Noticing Mu Yin’s dazed expression, Hong Zhuang smiled and asked, “What are you looking at?”
Mu Yin circled Hong Zhuang curiously before asking, puzzled, “Why have you switched back to this outfit? I much prefer you with your sword.”
Hong Zhuang replied, “Carrying a sword within the inner quarters isn’t proper.”
Mu Yin grew even more confused. “Does everyone in the courtyard know Magical Arts?”
“Most do,” Hong Zhuang explained. “Those who don’t usually can’t enter the rear courtyard. We’re not just disciples of the Five Skandha Sect—we’re also responsible for tending to you, the Sect Leader, and Madam’s daily needs.”
“Doesn’t that get exhausting?”
“Not really.”
Hong Zhuang smiled. “The Sect Leader and Madam dislike being waited on, and they practice grain avoidance. Aside from occasional bathing and changing, they hardly require any assistance.”
Mu Yin nodded. “So, ever since I arrived, your workload has increased, hasn’t it?”
Hong Zhuang shook her head. “Young Mistress is the young lady’s cultivation partner. Taking care of you is our duty, it’s not an added burden.”
Mu Yin still felt uneasy about having disciples stronger than herself attending to her.
“From now on, you don’t need to go out of your way to look after me. I’m used to living independently, I can manage on my own,” Mu Yin told Hong Zhuang. “Just bring me meals on time each day. I’ll handle everything else.”
Hong Zhuang chuckled but didn’t agree. In her eyes, caregiving was far easier than cultivation. Moreover, conditions in the rear courtyard were much better than those for ordinary Five Skandha Sect disciples, the monthly Spirit Stones alone were several times more than what others received.
Not to mention, Yu Luo occasionally distributed rare treasures that boosted cultivation.
“Young Mistress, what would you like for dinner tonight?” Hong Zhuang asked cheerfully.
“Hmm…” Mu Yin thought seriously for a moment before saying, “I’m craving meat. How about braised pork ribs for dinner tonight?”
Naturally, Hong Zhuang would fulfill all of the young mistress’s requests.
“By the way,” Mu Yin asked curiously, “Was ‘Hong Zhuang’ always your name?”
Because it sounded like the name of a dowry maid.
Hong Zhuang smiled. “My original name was Li Hongzhuang. After breaking ties with my clan, I dropped the surname. The mistress found my name pleasing and arranged for me to accompany you.”
Mu Yin understood. “So that’s how it was…”
Having napped too long in the afternoon, Mu Yin found herself wide awake at midnight.
Si Lingqing stretched lazily, transforming into human form. Seeing Mu Yin lying flat on the bed with eyes open, she waved her sleeve and sat by the bedside.
“I need to discuss something with you,” Si Lingqing said coolly. “I’m leaving.”
Mu Yin immediately sat up, eyes widening slightly as she looked at Si Lingqing. “Where are you going?”
Si Lingqing glanced at her indifferently. “A place you can’t go to yet.”
Mu Yin’s expression darkened. Gently tugging at Si Lingqing’s sleeve, she asked, “Then, will you be like those departed souls who never return after fulfilling their wishes?”
Hearing this, Si Lingqing turned her head, reached out to pinch Mu Yin’s soft cheek, and pulled her closer.
“Mmph!”
Forced into proximity, Mu Yin found herself mere breaths away from Si Lingqing, even catching a faint scent from the other.
Was that sandalwood?
Still pinching Mu Yin’s delightfully plump cheek, Si Lingqing lowered her head with a cold smirk. “I’m leaving on business, not dying. Do you really not want me to come back?”
Mu Yin whimpered incoherently, thinking how easily angered Si Lingqing was.
Cold temperament aside, she kept pinching Mu Yin without any gentleness!
“Noo!”
After some thought, Mu Yin decided to placate her: “I do want you to come back. Just return soon, okay?”
Si Lingqing seemed satisfied with this response, her expression softening considerably. She examined Mu Yin’s pinched cheeks from all angles before leaning in to plant a kiss at the corner of her lips.
Mu Yin’s face flushed instantly. Startled, she jerked backward, her head thudding painfully against the headboard, turning her face pale from the impact.
Si Lingqing stood up with a gloating laugh. Watching Mu Yin rub her head while glaring at her, she said, “I’ll be gone for a few days. I’ll return when my business concludes. Wait for me properly at the Five Skandha Sect, don’t go anywhere.”
With these words, Si Lingqing vanished from the bedside like a ghost in the wind.
Rubbing her throbbing head, Mu Yin frowned and muttered, “So ghost-like how creepy.”
The commotion left her drowsy, and soon she was mumbling herself to sleep while hugging the blankets.
Si Lingqing returned to the Underworld. Surveying the endless darkness, she momentarily regretted coming back to this sunless realm.
“Ghost King.”
Several grotesque, guard-like figures greeted her. Si Lingqing ignored them, her cold eyes fixed ahead as she strode directly into her grand hall.
The gloomy Underworld was no different from a demon’s lair, devoid of sunlight with wailing ghosts and an aura of death everywhere.
Anyone staying here for long would feel uneasy, and Si Lingqing was no exception.
A small ghost, barely reaching her waist, approached respectfully and asked, “Ghost King, have you rested well these past few days? When do you plan to assume your duties?”
Si Lingqing sat on her vast, pitch-black Ghost King throne, propping her head up in thought before replying, “I’m still not quite used to it. Let’s postpone my official duties a little longer.”
Then, she inquired, “Have the souls of the Mu family from Nine Stars Gate arrived?”
“Yes, yes, the Mu family is all here,” the little ghost replied, flipping through the Book of Life and Death with a smile. “Mu Yuefeng, Qin Shi, and their two daughters, Mu Xuanzhu and Mu Xuanji, are all present. The others still have some time left in their lifespans. What would you like to do?”
“Leave the others for now,” Si Lingqing said lazily. “I want to personally interrogate this family.”