Pity herself for being bound by him, this girl was like an eight-and-a-half-pound turtle swallowing an iron scale. Ruthless Wang Ba, Su Zimo could do nothing except curse Mu Yunxuan in her heart, afraid that he would devour her in the next moment. Her strength was inferior to his, and she couldn't even outwit him with her words.
"Woman, once again, you are mistaken. I am not bullying you. According to the betrothal gifts, you are already my wife, Su Zimo. We should be like plantain blossoms, closely connected in heart."
The thought of her being his wife made his heart race with excitement. Her presence brought color to his previously mundane life.
"Bah! We are nothing more than a couple of ghosts bound together. We are strangers in life. Mu Yunxuan, let me tell you, in this lifetime, you better give up on this idea. Aren't you afraid of betraying your more beautiful Miss Ling Qiushui?" she retorted.
"You're jealous, aren't you?" Mu Yunxuan's smile never faded. He had never experienced such a feeling before, and his mood had never been so pleasant.
"Mu Yunxuan, don't push your luck and take me back immediately," Su Zimo insisted, not wanting to spend any more time with him. To say that she was jealous would be a lie. She simply despised Mu Yunxuan and had no feelings for him.
"First, let's go to Jiuhua Mountain," Mu Yunxuan replied calmly.
Mu Yunxuan wasn't angered by the slaps he received from Su Zimo. On the contrary, he found some joy in it. He never expected that there would come a day when he would be on the receiving end of abuse from a woman.
By the time they reached the top of Jiuhua Mountain, it was already getting dark. Su Zimo's heart was filled with fear as the surroundings echoed with the sounds of various beasts. The memories of that night she spent alone and injured in the dark after falling off the cliff haunted her. Since then, she had developed a fear of the dark.
"What's wrong with you?" Mu Yunxuan noticed Su Zimo's abnormal expression as soon as he turned around.
"Take me back. I don't want to stay here," Su Zimo pleaded, unable to articulate her fear completely. She held herself tightly, and every time she found herself in a similar situation, her heart would be overwhelmed by fear and helplessness.
"Aren't you hungry? There are plenty of delicious wild fruits here. That's why I brought you," Mu Yunxuan explained, trying to ease her discomfort.
"I don't want to eat!" Su Zimo snapped, grabbing the mask from Mu Yunxuan's hand and putting it back on her face.
"Fire Phoenix."
Before the words even left her lips, Su Zimo sat on a phoenix with a crimson body.
"Heavenly Demon Fire Phoenix Divine Beast?" Mu Yunxuan looked at Su Zimo in surprise. She had actually formed a contract with the Heavenly Demon Fire Phoenix Divine Beast?
"Mu Yunxuan, you and I have always been strangers, and I don't want you to appear in front of me and my son," she declared before leaving decisively.
"Damn woman, are you just going to leave like that? From the moment you appeared by my side, we can never be strangers, Su Zimo!" Mu Yunxuan angrily watched her leave, his fists clenched. However, he couldn't help but feel puzzled. She seemed scared earlier, but what was she afraid of? The good mood he had before was completely shattered, and he could only head back home.
At the gate of Mingyue Villa, a group of people anxiously waited for Su Zimo's return. Su Li, Su Xin, Su Qi, and the three siblings had worried expressions on their faces. They were well aware of their mother's fear of the dark.
"She's back! Momo is back!" He Yunting pointed towards the red figure in the night sky, the bright light emitted by Su Zimo's fire phoenix. Her followers recognized it immediately.
"Mother!"
"Mother!"
"Mother!"
"Momo!"
Everyone was overjoyed to see Su Zimo's return.
Su Zimo looked at her family waiting for her outside the gate, and the feelings of loneliness and fear dissipated, replaced by a warmth in her heart.
"Why are all of you waiting here?" she asked.
"Momo, why didn't you come back earlier? The children were worried sick and couldn't eat dinner. They've been standing here waiting for you," Su Zinian explained, stepping forward.
"Sister, Momo had some trouble and was delayed. Let's all go inside and rest!" Su Zimo felt incredibly tired and longed for a good sleep.
Su Xin looked at the bloodstains on her mother's body, feeling both guilty and grateful. Her mother had worked tirelessly for their sake.
"Momo, from now on, take your brother with you. There will be someone to take care of," Su Qingjue suggested, recognizing that his sister had changed but still feeling a bit uneasy.
"Thank you, big brother. Rest assured, I am no longer the Momo who used to bully and mistreat others," Su Zimo assured him.
"Mother-in-law..." Su Li knew in her heart what her mother had gone through.
"Let's all go back and rest. Your mother is tired. We can talk about things tomorrow," Su Zimo smiled gently. The children were not at fault; it was her own fault.
"Xin'er, let's go back and rest," Su Zimo said, picking up Su Xin and heading towards Ming Yuexuan.
"Xuan'er, you've finally returned. Shui'er was worried about you and has been waiting all night," Jun Zixi reminded him of Ling Qiushui's existence.
Mu Yunxuan entered the house with a heavy heart, and no one paid him any attention. Upon hearing Jun Zixi's words, his brows furrowed.
Ling Qiushui walked excitedly towards Mu Yunxuan and embraced him.
"Xuan'er, what happened to your face?"
"Mother, I'm fine. Let's go to our room first," he replied before quickly leaving.
"Ah! Xuan'er..." Mu Yunhan sighed and left as well.
Ling Qiushui looked at Mu Yunxuan's retreating figure with a sad expression. She felt angry and resentful. He had never paid her any attention, as if she were invisible to him.
That night was destined to be a sleepless one.
The next morning, there was a commotion at the gate of Mingyue Villa. A crowd had gathered, led by an eleven or twelve-year-old boy with handsome features. He stood with his hands behind his back, staring coldly at the villa's gate.
Su Zimo had just woken up and was styling Su Xin's hair when He Yunting approached her.
"Momo, someone is here to challenge Que Er. There's a young man outside claiming that he wants to challenge Que Er. The challenge invitation has been posted, and according to Haoyue Country's regulations, Que Er must accept the challenge."