Chapter 10 This is Destined

On the way back, Mu Qing Shi didn’t dare move his right arm much because it really hurt.  

Demons weren’t human—when they bumped into someone, the injured person wouldn’t recover in just a few days. They carried immense energy, and without treatment, there could be lasting effects. And so many had crashed into him!  

Thus, the entire way, fine beads of cold sweat dotted Mu Qing Shi’s forehead, though he said nothing.  

It wasn’t life-threatening, but it was truly uncomfortable.  

Su Qing, of course, understood this perfectly well. But she wanted to torment him a little longer, to remind him not to be so careless next time.  

Mu Qing Shi thought some things about Su Qing really hadn’t changed—like how, at times, she could be utterly ruthless.  

Then again, if she weren’t ruthless, she wouldn’t have made the choices she had.  

In the end, it was his own fault. Consider it self-inflicted suffering!  

“Young lady seems skilled in medicine?” Mu Qing Shi figured if this continued, his arm might really be ruined.  

Su Qing gave a faint “Mm” in acknowledgment.  

Mu Qing Shi suddenly reached out with his left hand and grabbed her. Su Qing tilted her head to glance at him. “Does the young master want me to treat his injury?”  

Mu Qing Shi curved his lips and uttered something earth-shattering.  

“I want the young lady to heal my heart!”  

Su Qing frowned at his words and immediately shook off his hand. “The young master has the wrong person!”  

Mu Qing Shi chuckled, stepping in front of her to block her path. “Don’t be angry yet, young lady. See for yourself!”  

With that, he extended his wrist.  

Su Qing didn’t think he was lying. If there really was an issue there, it couldn’t be delayed—illnesses of the heart in Deities, Demons, and Monsters were no ordinary matter.  

Considering this, she reached out and pressed her fingers to his pulse.  

The left pulse was deep and slow—his heart meridian was indeed obstructed. But why? Normally, Deities, Demons, and Monsters took special care of their hearts. Why did Mu Qing Shi have such a blockage? No wonder she had always felt his complexion seemed off.  

“Young master, in these past few thousand years, have you encountered any obstacles in your cultivation?” This was the only reason she could think of. If so, she had a way to help.  

But to her surprise, Mu Qing Shi immediately withdrew his hand and said nonchalantly, “If it’s an obstacle, I’ll break through it. No need to trouble the young lady.”  

Su Qing frowned. What did his indifferent attitude mean? If he didn’t care, why let her know? Was he deliberately trying to make her worry about him?  

“As the young master wishes.” With that, she sidestepped him and walked ahead.  

Mu Qing Shi turned to watch her retreating figure, smiling helplessly.  

If he didn’t give her something to remember him by, even after another few thousand years, she still wouldn’t spare him a thought.  

“Truly heartbreaking.”  

Mu Qing Shi let out a soft laugh and followed after her.  

Jiu Jiu had been waiting at the inn’s entrance for a long time before she finally saw Su Qing and Mu Qing Shi approaching one after the other. Su Qing’s expression was especially grim—she called out to Jiu Jiu and went upstairs. Only Mu Qing Shi remained, patting Jiu Jiu’s head as he entered and telling her to go to bed early.  

But Jiu Jiu shook her head, looking unhappy. “Brother Qing Shi, are you sad?”  

Mu Qing Shi felt defeated. Even Jiu Jiu could tell—his heart must really be in tatters.  

But Jiu Jiu was a child. He couldn’t set a bad example.  

“Maybe just tired,” Mu Qing Shi lied.  

Jiu Jiu gave him a doubtful look, then added, “Brother Qing Shi likes Aunt Su Qing, doesn’t he?”

Mu Qing Shi was taken aback upon hearing this, somewhat surprised. Of all things for a child to learn, why must it be matters of love? Yet, he couldn’t lie to her.

Because adults may tell lies, but not always, while children speak the truth—who would have the heart to say she’s wrong?

“Jiu Jiu is quite right!” Mu Qing Shi sighed.

Jiu Jiu lowered her head in thought for a long moment before suddenly looking up at Mu Qing Shi with a sly smile. “Brother Qing Shi, don’t worry! Jiu Jiu won’t tell anyone!”

With that, she giggled mischievously twice and ran back to her room.

Mu Qing Shi felt as if he might have made a grave mistake, the illusion of being led around by a child taking hold. But he didn’t dwell on it—his arm hurt too much, and he needed to tend to it.

With Su Qing’s temperament, she certainly wouldn’t care for him.

Early the next morning, urgent knocking sounded at the door. Since Yue Zi An’s departure, Su Qing thought they’d had little business—what could be the matter now? Had something major happened at the Demon Market?

After dressing, she entered the main hall to learn that Xie Lang had drowned himself in the lake.

This news was nothing short of earth-shattering.

Even Su Qing hadn’t anticipated Xie Lang would take such action.

She couldn’t understand—wasn’t Yue Zi An forgetting him a clean break for both? He could have continued as the young master of an official family, while Yue Zi An could start anew. Where had it gone wrong?

Jiu Jiu had no interest in such matters, so she focused intently on crafting her Little Oriole in her room. Mu Qing Shi, however, watched the murmuring crowd thoughtfully, his brow furrowed.

“What does Master Qing Shi think of this matter?”

Su Qing felt somewhat responsible. Though as a Candle Master, they always confirmed consequences with clients repeatedly, she believed Yue Zi An would never have imagined Xie Lang would do this.

Had she heeded Mu Qing Shi’s advice at the time, such an outcome might have been avoided.

Mu Qing Shi gave Su Qing a knowing look and said, “Does the lady feel accountable?”

Su Qing saw no reason to hide it. “Though erasing memories was Zi An’s own decision, as the practitioner, I should have considered the worst-case scenario. Now a life is lost—it weighs heavily on my conscience.”

Mu Qing Shi smiled faintly, refilling Su Qing’s teacup. “The lady is mistaken.”

Su Qing was puzzled. “How so?”

Mu Qing Shi adjusted the teacup lid before setting it down, speaking softly, “Even had the lady not erased Zi An’s memories, Xie Lang would have drowned himself. This was destined, not causality.”

Su Qing grew even more confused. “Why?”