Time passed bit by bit.

Meng Ruji sat on the threshold for a full half hour without moving at all. She briefly reviewed her life, counting her deeds. Meng Ruji believed she hadn’t done many things against her conscience.

She had killed people and demons, but they were all heinous criminals who deserved death.

She couldn’t understand or figure out why, if coming to the lawless land was a tribulation she was meant to endure, this tribulation would be called “terrible luck.”

Did she deserve this?

Did she deserve this?

As if to mirror Meng Ruji’s dejected mood, the lawless land began to drizzle with fine rain.

In all the days she’d been here, this was the first time Meng Ruji had seen rain.

It was as if the Nai River had flowed backwards to the heavens, then been crushed and fallen from the sky.

Just as Meng Ruji’s clothes were moistened by the rain’s dampness, the expected pain arrived on schedule.

The pain wasn’t severe at first, but as time lengthened, the suffering deepened, changing from the pain of cracked skin and flesh to the dull ache of bones being hammered.

Her heart felt as if it were being grasped and kneaded by a hand covered in spikes.

The irresistible pain made Meng Ruji bury her head between her knees. She leaned against the door frame, curled her body, and gritted her teeth to endure.

There had been similarly difficult moments in the past.

When the Inner Core was in her body, because the spiritual power was too abundant, it had nearly shattered all her meridians several times. If she relaxed even slightly and couldn’t suppress it, either she would die from her body exploding and implicate Hengxu Mountain, or she would release power that would directly endanger Hengxu Mountain.

Neither result was what she wanted, so she could only walk a tightrope in the cracks, in crisis, suppressing pain and harmonizing the power within her body.

Walking like treading on spider silk over a deep abyss—one careless step and she’d fall into hell.

But each time, she had endured it, alone in her cultivation place, surviving those lonely and lengthy painful times.

Because no one could help her…

It was always like this…

“Patter, patter”—footsteps came from far to near, urgent and fast, treading on muddy ground like breaking through the transparent walls Meng Ruji had wrapped around herself.

Meng Ruji raised her head from her daze, looking straight ahead.

A figure, wrapped in wind and rain, came tearing through the curtain of rain.

Before Meng Ruji could even see his face clearly, she was instantly embraced by a damp, cold hug.

The scent of green grass assaulted her nose.

Meng Ruji was stunned. After a moment, her mind returned, and she felt this embrace slowly warming up.

With this person’s natural body temperature, the rainwater, damp clothes, and skin all became scorching hot.

Then Meng Ruji heard heartbeats.

His, her own… both more rapid than usual.

The pain in her body had faded away unknowingly.

Meng Ruji stayed dazed in this embrace that dispelled cold and pain for a long time, then blinked once and came to her senses: “Mu Sui?”

Who else could it be?

Of course, it was Mu Sui.

As Meng Ruji called his name, Mu Sui’s embrace tightened, but the next moment, it was as if a tremendous force pulled Mu Sui’s arms away.

Mu Sui slowly released Meng Ruji.

He controlled his arms, clenched his fists, and placed them on his half-kneeling knees. His entire body was tense, his jaw clenched tight. He seemed to be forcefully controlling himself, controlling his body, his hands, not to embrace Meng Ruji again.

As their embrace separated, the cool rainwater around them poured into their respective chests, chilling the clothes and skin that had already been warmed. The coolness could even seep into their flesh.

If she had been in the cold continuously, Meng Ruji might not have felt it. But this coolness after warmth made her lips and teeth tremble slightly. She reached out her hands, leaned forward, and passed her arms through Mu Sui’s arms and around his waist.

Under Mu Sui’s slightly widened gaze, Meng Ruji embraced Mu Sui and pulled him forward without argument.

Mu Sui, who was already kneeling on one knee, nearly fell to both knees from being pulled.

Meng Ruji felt no remorse at all: “Since you’re here, hug for a while longer.” She made her demand: “It’s a bit cold.”

Mu Sui’s chest became burning hot as if it might catch fire, almost enough to dry both their clothes.

After a while, Mu Sui’s mind seemed to return: “Are you… Injured?”

“No.” Meng Ruji answered while holding him. “The small green pills were just washed away. When the time passed, it hurt a little.”

Mu Sui pressed his lips together, restraining his actions—not embracing Meng Ruji back—and restraining his emotions—keeping his tone as calm as possible.

“I was pushed very far by the river’s undercurrent. It took some effort to find my way here…” After finishing one sentence, he pressed his lips together and closed them for a long while before words burst from his mouth again:

“I’m sorry. No matter what happens, I should always stay by your side.”

Hearing this, Meng Ruji blinked twice in Mu Sui’s embrace. She released Mu Sui, pulling them apart some distance, then tilted her head to examine Mu Sui.

Meng Ruji’s distancing made Mu Sui immediately want to pull her back, but he restrained himself. His raised hand ultimately didn’t touch Meng Ruji, instead turning to pinch his forehead.

Mu Sui turned his head sideways, his raised hand seeming about to rub his forehead raw.

His actions concealed his expression, but Meng Ruji still caught the word “regret” in Mu Sui’s emotions.

Whether he regretted “not staying by her side always” or regretted saying such explicit, sweet words, she couldn’t tell.

“Mu Sui, you…”

Just as Meng Ruji began to speak, a “tsk tsk” sighing sound suddenly came from behind her.

Meng Ruji and Mu Sui turned around together to see Mo Li sitting with arms crossed and legs up on a broken wooden stool, holding a handful of dried fruit from who knows where, eating while watching them:

“Mu Sui, you have no shame,” Mo Li sighed. “Where did the dignified Zhuliu City Master learn such sweet talk?”

As soon as he finished speaking, Mu Sui’s face lost all regret and restraint. All emotions were swept away by a sudden surge of killing intent with a “whoosh,” and his entire aura changed.

Almost instantly, Mu Sui moved like the wind. The next moment, Meng Ruji heard the dull sound of someone hitting the ground, the commotion of a stool rolling, and Mo Li’s cry for help:

“Unfilial daughter! Save your father!”

Meng Ruji reluctantly spoke up: “Enough.”

She didn’t even turn around, still sitting in place.

Behind her, the sharp end of broken wood splinters stopped in front of Mo Li’s eyeball.

Just a little further and it could directly pierce Mo Li’s eyeball, penetrate his brain, and send him to the afterlife…

Moreover, because Mu Sui was holding wood splinters with jagged broken edges, Mo Li’s death would probably be even more gruesome.

Mu Sui gritted his teeth, but his body honestly obeyed Meng Ruji’s words. He turned to look at Meng Ruji:

“Not killing him will leave endless trouble.”

This time, it was Meng Ruji who raised her hand, rubbing her forehead with a headache: “His stone form can be used as money.”

Meng Ruji stood up. Her body swayed a little from the recent pain. She supported herself on the door frame, closed her eyes, and when she took another step forward, she found a hand already supporting her arm.

Meng Ruji turned to look and saw that Mu Sui had released Mo Li and had come to her side, supporting her.

Just as he had said before, he should always stay by her side…

Meng Ruji was stunned but didn’t refuse, grabbing Mu Sui’s arm to steady herself.

“Get up. Stop lying there.” Meng Ruji turned around, staring coldly at Mo Li, still lying on the ground. “Everyone’s here now. Let’s chat.”

“Sure.” Mo Li patted his clothes, half-supporting his body, still slumped on the ground. “Let’s chat about how you plan to honor your father in the future.”

Meng Ruji and Mu Sui’s faces both became uglier in unison.

Mo Li didn’t stop there, continuing to address Mu Sui: “Oh right, since you’re already husband and wife, Zhuliu City Master, you’re also half my son now. You should also think about how to honor me in the future.”

Mu Sui turned to look at Meng Ruji, his eyes containing only three words—

Kill! Him! Now!

Meng Ruji held Mu Sui’s arm with one hand, afraid he’d act impulsively, pressing him down as she sat at the table. Meanwhile, she frantically admonished herself—

Endure for a moment! Calm seas and peaceful winds! Take a step back…

Mo Li pretentiously extended his hand delicately: “Let’s start with helping me up…”

Take a step back…

The more she thought, the angrier she got!

Meng Ruji slammed the table and roared: “Get up yourself! Don’t push your luck, or none of us will have a good time—we’ll all die together!”

Mo Li was startled by the shout, his delicately extended hand shrinking back in the air.

Mu Sui, looking at the table Meng Ruji had cracked with brute force, also fell silent.

In the room, silence fell so complete that only the pattering rain outside could be heard.

After a moment, Mo Li touched his nose and obediently stood up, dragging over another stool. He sat across from Mu Sui with his legs properly together, even politely covering his mouth when he coughed.

Mu Sui placed one hand on the table, his fingers unconsciously tracing the cracks in the wooden surface.

Everyone had calmed down.

Meng Ruji pulled over another broken wooden stool and sat down boldly.

Around the square table sat three people, each with disheveled hair and clothes, all looking thoroughly bedraggled.

Meng Ruji spoke first: “Supporting him in old age—I signed the contract and made the promise.” Meng Ruji looked at Mu Sui. “Killing him is not an option.”

Mu Sui’s fingers, tracing the crack, tightened, picking off a piece of wood chip.

Mu Sui raised his eyes, staring at Mo Li across from him with murderous intent.

Mo Li had been sitting obediently, but hearing this, he straightened his back, expanded his chest, raised his head, and even crossed his legs under the table. He folded his arms and looked at Mu Sui with a half-smile, silently mouthing: “Supporting me is fine.”

“But!” Meng Ruji turned to look at Mo Li. “Mu Sui and I have made a pact to grow old together. He and I share honor and disgrace. In our three conditions, you must respect me and respect him too. This is the prerequisite for supporting you.”

Mo Li’s smug expression froze on his face, and he raised an eyebrow.

Mu Sui seemed to relax his suppressed anger. He slightly raised his chin, looking at Mo Li with contemptuous eyes.

Meng Ruji continued: “We have no blood relation. Supporting you in old age is just a promise. Don’t use terms like ‘unfilial daughter’ and ‘son’ to humiliate people.”

As Meng Ruji finished speaking, Mu Sui placed the wood chip he’d picked off on his middle finger and flicked it forcefully. The wood chip flew out and hit Mo Li’s face.

A red mark immediately appeared on Mo Li’s pale face where the chip struck.

Mo Li’s expression turned cold as he glanced at Mu Sui.

Mu Sui met Mo Li’s gaze, leaning back slightly in a gesture full of contempt and provocation. He tilted his head slightly, as if asking with his eyes: “Did you hear that, old fool?”

“Enough…” Meng Ruji wearily covered her face with both hands. “Stop fighting. From now on, the three of us will travel together. Now, the urgent matter…” Meng Ruji looked at Mu Sui. “Do you still have your silver pearls?”

Mu Sui’s arrogant expression froze after this question.

He contracted his body posture, his voice low: “They were washed away by the river.”

Meng Ruji glanced at Mu Sui: “Really?”

Mu Sui responded with silence but turned slightly to face Meng Ruji: “Really.”

As if inviting her to search him.

Meng Ruji sighed.

Well then…

She had already guessed—what fortunate events could happen to them…

“Gurgle gurgle gurgle…”

The sound of rumbling stomachs began like a death knell. This time, not only Mu Sui but all three people in the room had restless bellies.

One after another, in the quiet, broken wooden house, they played a symphony of hunger and poverty…

“First…” Meng Ruji sighed. “Let’s pick some fruit…”

Meng Ruji looked at this broken wooden house, remembering the joy she’d felt when she first obtained those silver pearls left by the bandit leader.

She had thought she would begin her comeback journey in the lawless land from that moment. She hadn’t expected to begin a suffocating journey instead.

After all this running around in circles, not only had she not become wealthy, she’d gained an “ancestor,” plus being utterly destitute without a penny, hungry and cold…

Living was truly exhausting…

After her reflections, Meng Ruji stood up, rolling up her sleeves while saying, “After we eat, we still need to settle accounts.” She glanced at Mo Li and Mu Sui. “The river incident can’t just be forgotten like this.”

Their money! Couldn’t just disappear like that!

“After eating, we work.” Meng Ruji stared at Mo Li. “Understand?”

Mo Li smiled: “Of course.”

Meng Ruji glanced at Mu Sui again.

Mu Sui said nothing more, silently standing up and rolling up his sleeves like Meng Ruji: “Let’s eat quickly.”