How could Pang Xiao let Mu Jinghu complete this bow? When he originally agreed to help, it was already an enormous favor. Pang Xiao knew well that what he was asking wasn’t simple – which time had Mu Jinghu helped without risking life and death?

Moreover, this incident couldn’t be blamed on Mu Jinghu. He was grateful to Mu Jinghu – how could he harbor resentment?

Mu Jinghu’s arms were tightly supported by Pang Xiao’s large hands. Having no choice, he stopped his motion and looked into Pang Xiao’s sincere eyes, feeling even more guilty, his face reddening with shame.

Afraid Mu Jinghu would feel uncomfortable, Pang Xiao asked about the Qiu family estate incident in Bo’an Town.

Only then did Mu Jinghu’s stiffness and embarrassment improve. Thinking of that day’s events, he said indignantly: “The Qiu family is simply too despicable, taking advantage of people in crisis! That day, my master uncle calculated that I faced a life-or-death calamity. You know how I entered the sect originally – I had no choice but to stay behind to protect master uncle, which delayed my time to leave the city with Mrs. Qin. Later I decided to bring master uncle and catch up through the night, but I saw corpses everywhere. Just as I was about to investigate, the Qiu family people suddenly appeared and captured both master uncle and me.

“I originally had the ability to escape with master uncle, but she fell into their trap, and I couldn’t abandon her to flee alone, so I had to surrender with her. During our time with the Qiu family, they truly used every means to humiliate us, but I couldn’t act before ensuring master uncle’s safety.

“Fortunately, I later rescued master uncle. She’s resourceful and clever – she devised an excellent plan to deal with the Qiu family.”

Pang Xiao raised his eyebrows listening. “I heard the Qiu family branch estate had a great fire and the entire mansion burned down? What about the people inside?”

“They all burned to death, I suppose. My master uncle concocted knockout drugs, then I set fire to their mansion. I reckon everyone died.”

When Mu Jinghu said this, he seemed to have no psychological burden whatsoever. He had always been this way – though he valued loyalty and kept his word, this only applied to people he cared about. His environment had shaped him into someone detached from worldly concerns. One could say that unfamiliar, unimportant people might be no different from ants in his eyes.

Though he wasn’t a demon who killed like cutting grass and wouldn’t randomly kill people for fun, Mu Jinghu could indeed do something like killing an entire household because of being kidnapped. He might even consider it perfectly justified retaliation.

Thinking of this, Pang Xiao ultimately didn’t try to impose his own values on Mu Jinghu. Everyone was different – he couldn’t measure and demand of Mu Jinghu using his own standards.

Pang Xiao changed the subject. “So you burned down the Qiu family estate under your master uncle’s direction, then escaped together with her?”

“Exactly.” Mu Jinghu seemed to remember something and pointed toward the cart behind him. “My master uncle is in the cart.”

Pang Xiao looked toward the cart, the killing intent surging in his heart almost uncontrollable.

When cooperating with Tianji Zi before, Pang Xiao felt nothing toward this person but found her divination annoying. Though annoyed, it wasn’t to the extent of having to kill her, so he could maintain an attitude of indifference.

But Tianji Zi had specifically targeted Qin Yining, even wanting to kill her for the sake of some nonsensical divination.

Seeing Mu Jinghu tense beside him from the corner of his eye, Pang Xiao ultimately loosened the fist he had unconsciously clenched.

Even for Mu Jinghu’s sake, he couldn’t act now.

Since the cart stopped, Tianji Zi hadn’t dared show herself. Only after hearing Mu Jinghu mention her presence did she wish she could knock this boy’s head several times.

After waiting a moment without Pang Xiao coming to strangle her, Tianji Zi wiped the sweat from her forehead, composed her expression, lifted the cart curtain, maintained her ethereal demeanor as she emerged, nimbly jumped down from the cart with her round body, dusted off her clothes, and bowed with hands together:

“Boundless blessings, Celestial Honored One. How has Your Highness been?”

Pang Xiao smiled. “This Prince has been well, thank you for immortal sister’s concern. As for immortal sister, though we haven’t met for many days, you remain so spirited. I suppose in this world, only immortal sister can study both Buddhism and Taoism – truly masterful in both Buddhist and Taoist teachings, transcending the mundane world like an immortal.”

“Not at all, not at all. Your Highness flatters me. This old Taoist nun has ordinary talent – I rely entirely on peer comparison.” Tianji Zi said modestly.

Mu Jinghu: …

He silently looked away, unwilling to acknowledge this person as his master uncle.

Pang Xiao’s phoenix eyes narrowed slightly, his thin lips smiling. “Since you’re safe, let’s rest briefly then set off for the old capital.”

“Alright.”

“No need!”

Mu Jinghu and Tianji Zi’s voices came simultaneously. Mu Jinghu agreed naturally while Tianji Zi objected vehemently.

Mu Jinghu looked at Tianji Zi in surprise. “Master uncle, where do you want to go if not the old capital?”

Tianji Zi said profoundly, “We have our own destination. We won’t go to the old capital for now.”

“No way. I need to return to see Shanshan. She’s carrying such a big belly – this time she was probably frightened badly by me. I need to go back and stay with her. Master uncle, you haven’t seen Shanshan in a long time either. Wouldn’t it be good for us to return together?”

Tianji Zi observed Pang Xiao’s expression from the corner of her eye, silently cursing Mu Jinghu for being such a blockhead.

If she traveled back to the old capital with Pang Xiao, what if he decided to assassinate her on the road? Even if Pang Xiao cared about Mu Jinghu’s feelings, he wouldn’t necessarily spare her for a friend’s sake, would he?

“Not good, certainly not good.” Tianji Zi counted on her fingers. “My calamity hasn’t passed yet. The direction is inauspicious – I can’t go to the old capital.”

“But didn’t you say before that as long as I stayed by your side, the crisis could be resolved?” Mu Jinghu asked suspiciously.

Tianji Zi remembered the nonsense she had spouted that day, and her lips twitched.

“Different times call for different measures. How can then and now be the same?”

Mu Jinghu could see that Tianji Zi was just finding various excuses not to go to the old capital, or rather, she didn’t want to travel with Pang Xiao.

Mu Jinghu felt somewhat uncomfortable.

Tianji Zi had wanted to kill Mrs. Qin, and despite Pang Xiao’s devotion to Mrs. Qin, he hadn’t killed Tianji Zi. Mu Jinghu knew this was partly for his sake and was already very moved. When others didn’t hold grudges, Tianji Zi was being petty-minded.

“No, I must return to stay with Shanshan. If master uncle wants to travel alone, wouldn’t that be deliberately seeking danger? Anyway, you said that as long as I protected you, everything would be fine. So wherever you go, isn’t it all the same?”

Tianji Zi was momentarily speechless, somewhat regretting using the excuse that keeping Mu Jinghu by her side could resolve the crisis to deceive him.

Pang Xiao watched the commotion for a while, then timely said, “Immortal sister probably hasn’t visited the old capital for a long time? The customs and people there haven’t changed. Moreover, you and my wife are old acquaintances – this would be a perfect opportunity to meet and reminisce.”

Tianji Zi’s expression changed several times. Mentioning Qin Yining made her teeth ache. How many people had she divined for? How many things had she planned? Previously invincible and never defeated, yet whenever matters involved Qin Yining, they would develop in unpredictable directions, leaving Tianji Zi unable to grasp control.

This Qin Yining was truly a massive variable, and so for each of them. She wanted to kill Qin Yining to return everything to its proper course, but she’d never had the opportunity. Tianji Zi also had enough self-awareness to accept that she might never have such an opportunity in the future.

Tianji Zi hesitantly looked around.

Pang Xiao’s gaze was burning, Mu Jinghu’s expression stubborn, and behind them stood cavalry holding their horses at attention.

She silently calculated the feasibility of escape, then finally resigned herself to nodding with dignified composure. “Very well.”

Pang Xiao smiled. Though his smile was very amiable, to Tianji Zi it seemed full of mockery.

Mu Jinghu nodded and was about to speak when his expression suddenly turned alert.

Pang Xiao also simultaneously frowned and looked toward a slope behind them.

Mu Jinghu moved like a white crane skimming across a lake surface, reaching behind the slope in several leaps and forcing someone out from the low bushes.

The person wore the short brown cloth of common people, had disheveled hair, and a cloth mask covering their face, revealing only their eyes and brows.

Both Pang Xiao and Mu Jinghu could see this person had shrewd eyes, light footwork, and prominent blood vessels – likely a capable fighter.

“Who are you!”

The person turned and fled.

Mu Jinghu’s expression turned stern as he flew in pursuit.

Pang Xiao had Huzi watch over Tianji Zi, then led the cavalry in hot pursuit. Hooves kicked up dust as everyone shouted, surrounding both Mu Jinghu and the tracker in a hunting circle.

This way, the tracker truly couldn’t escape even with wings.

Mu Jinghu feared the tracker was sent by the Qiu family and showed no mercy, while the opponent’s martial arts were surprisingly stronger than Mu Jinghu had expected.

The two exchanged moves with lightning speed, attack and defense changing in the blink of an eye. Pang Xiao sat upright on his horse, watching intently. If Mu Jinghu weren’t here, he probably couldn’t have caught this tracking spy.

But Mu Jinghu was indeed formidable. The tracker proved no match and was kicked in the chest by Mu Jinghu, sent flying.

Pang Xiao’s Pingnan Army had been itching for action and surged forward like a tide, effortlessly capturing the person with Mu Jinghu’s help.

Removing the person’s face covering revealed an ordinary face, somewhat sallow in complexion.

Mu Jinghu looked back at Pang Xiao.

Pang Xiao approached and examined the person up and down. “Watch him carefully. We’ll interrogate him when we return.”

“Yes!” The surrounding responses thundered like waves.

The bound person kept struggling, eyes full of defiance, and seemed to look at Mu Jinghu with some complexity.

If he hadn’t removed his disguise, both Mu Jinghu and Pang Xiao would have recognized him. He was Manager Liu, whom Qiu Feishan had arranged to follow Pang Xiao and assess the situation.

Unfortunately, fearing he might give himself away and cause trouble for Qiu Feishan, he had removed his disguise before coming.

If he hadn’t disguised himself, Mu Jinghu might not have captured him. Being alive, he could have found other excuses, saying his wife was worried about her husband – Mu Jinghu would surely have softened.

But now, having reached this point, Manager Liu could only grit his teeth.

Pang Xiao turned back and patted Mu Jinghu’s shoulder with a smile. “Lucky you were here, otherwise this person might have escaped.”

“It’s nothing much.” Mu Jinghu smiled and shook his head.