Momo awakened from her sleep.
Murong Shaofeng stirred his body, his clear peach blossom eyes focused on the wine and dishes placed on the stone table.
"She woke up, but she went to cultivate."
A flicker of concern flashed in Murong Shaofeng's eyes.
"Will she faint again?"
"Shao Feng, don't worry. The ghost doctor has prepared an elixir for Momo, and with Liu Yue by her side, she will be fine. What we need now is a drink."
He Yunting filled two wine glasses, and the slightly green jade cups shimmered in the candlelight.
The light reflected Murong Shaofeng's handsome face.
"Here, Shao Feng, empty this cup."
Murong Shaofeng took the wine glass, raised it to his lips, and drank its contents.
After setting down the glass, he noticed that He Yunting's wine remained untouched.
Furrowing his brows, Murong Shaofeng asked, "Didn't you say 'empty'? Why haven't you taken a single sip?"
He Yunting sat down, smiled, and replied, "As a guest, I am just being polite. I will definitely drink the next cup." Saying that, he refilled Murong Shaofeng's glass.
"Huh...!" Murong Shaofeng's handsome face lit up with a smile.
"Look, I'm smiling! Yes!"
He Yunting observed Murong Shaofeng, who hadn't smiled all day. As a friend, he always felt a sense of separation in his heart.
"I told Momo that you want to live in the village, and she said that everyone here is a trustworthy friend, and you can stay as long as you want."
"Hmm!" Murong Shaofeng nodded.
He lazily leaned back in his chair.
As he watched the sky darken, the candlelight illuminated the camellias, making them appear even more delicate.
Murong Shaofeng gazed at the sea of flowers with distant eyes.
In his heart, he silently acknowledged that loving someone could be so bitter and painful. Lately, as night fell, he could barely bear the pain, as it almost consumed his heart.
"Shao Feng, I know you love Momo deeply, but as the prince of the Xingyue Kingdom, the outcome is clear without guessing. Why should you suffer?"
He Yunting took a sip of wine, letting its spiciness fill his mouth.
"Do you think I want to suffer? My heart is not something I can control."
Murong Shaofeng spoke softly, his gaze still fixed on the sea of flowers in the distance.
"Forget Momo, let go when you're tired. Love is bitter, and longing for solitude is painful. Some fates are destined to end in loss."
He Yunting smiled bitterly, his handsome face reminiscing about better times.
Murong Shaofeng turned around and looked deeply into He Yunting's eyes.
"You've given up, haven't you? But I'm not you. I can't give up so easily. Lately, I've been tempted to break free from the constraints of this world, to shed my prince's identity, and to pursue a passionate love."
Murong Shaofeng dared to speak his heart to He Yunting. Over the past two years, they had become good friends who could confide in each other. He understood Momo's character, and if he...
"Shao Feng, why are you tormenting yourself?"
He Yunting also casually leaned back in his chair.
Looking at Murong Shaofeng, who couldn't meet his gaze directly.
"People get tired, and there's nothing more painful than emotional pain. Don't you understand? The hesitation you can't overcome is because you're afraid of hurting Momo. And maybe, as you suspect, even if you take a step forward, Momo might fall in love with you. But considering your status, she wouldn't acknowledge that love."
"Do you know her as well?" When are you planning to reveal your identity to Momo?
"No need to reveal it. I have freed myself from the sea of suffering. I am an unfavored, unvalued ornamented prince. To put it plainly, I am like a vase placed somewhere, unnoticed by anyone. That's who I am. You know, my mother was a palace maid, and my birth in the royal family... it's either fighting or fleeing from a distance. Anyway, I consider Bright Moon Villa my home."
Murong Shaofeng smiled bitterly. How wonderful it would be if he could choose his place of residence like He Yunting!
"Don't get drunk tonight."
Murong Shaofeng raised his glass and emptied it, the bitterness in his heart growing stronger.
"Okay! Let's see who gets drunk first."
The floral aroma mixed with the scent of wine added a touch of spring to the silent night...
Inside Mingyue Xuanli, Su Qi carefully examined Xin'er.
Her condition was indeed much better than before.
However, she still couldn't reach the level of running, jumping, and playing in her imagination. She only had slightly better physical strength now.
"Xin'er, you can't form a contract with Phantom Feather yet. Your body is still weak. Forming a contract requires concentration, and you may get distracted due to the pain. After the backlash, all the efforts you've made these days will be in vain. Wait for a while. Brother has found a Phantom Heart Grass that can replace Silver Grass. After you advance two ranks, I will help you form the contract, okay?"
Upon hearing this, Su Xin's hopeful eyes instantly dimmed, and she bit her lower lip.
She bit her lip forcefully, gnawing back and forth with her teeth. Did she really think she could form a contract with Phantom Feather?
Mu Yunxuan looked at his daughter's expression and felt a pang in his heart.
"Qi'er, can you let Daddy help Xin'er form a contract with Phantom Feather?"
"Is it even possible? Do you still think that forming a contract with Phantom Feather is as simple as forming a contract with the Snow Spirit Fox?"
At that moment, Li Zifu walked in and glared angrily at Mu Yunxuan.
Could Uncle Junior have a superior solution?
Mu Yunxuan, not being an alchemist, doesn't face any problem when encountering such issues.
"Of course, otherwise, why would my old man be here without sleeping?"
"What approach?"
"What approach?"
"What can be done?"
Both Su Li and Su Qi asked Mu Yunxuan simultaneously.
Su Xin raised her head abruptly and looked at Li Zifu with hopeful eyes.
"After observing Yuncheng Shenchi for these past few days, I suspect that Xin'er's illness might be related to a certain toxin. It won't be easy to treat. Shenchi is a place where silver plants grow all year round, and it possesses potent remedies for various poisons."
"That's impossible. The four of us, mother and children, grew up in Grandpa Mo's medicine pool. It can be said that Xin'er is invincible. If her body was affected by toxins, we should have been able to address it over the years. Moreover, with my master's cultivation, it's impossible not to notice Xin'er's poisoning," Suzie immediately countered.
"Little one, experience comes with age. You don't understand this. The world of elixirs is vast and profound, with thousands of types of spirit herbs. Xin'er's ailment was inherited since birth, and ordinary healing and detoxification methods won't be effective at all," Li Zifu explained.
"Yes! Shenchi! Why didn't I think of that? Xin'er, Daddy will take you there." Mu Yunxuan's eyes sparkled with excitement as he picked up Su Xin and prepared to leave. How could he have forgotten about Shenchi?
"Xuan'er, hold on. Before we go, we need to solve a problem," Li Zifu calmly stopped Mu Yunxuan in his tracks.
"What problem?"
"Where is the girl? Call her here as well. We need to examine both of you to determine who has toxins in their body—some sort of toxin," Li Zifu replied.
"Toxin?" Mu Yunxuan narrowed his eyes and contemplated.
Suddenly, he exclaimed, "Could it be the bottle of medicinal juice I consumed back then? Maybe it's because of that medicinal juice that Quercus and their three siblings came into existence."
"Medicinal juice?" Su Li, Su Qi, Su Xin, and Qi Qi looked at him in confusion. What does their father's consumption of medicinal juice have to do with them?
"Xuan'er, you're being silly. You consumed the medicinal juice, and that's how their three little ones came into being. Did you give birth to them?" Li Zifu exclaimed, looking at Mu Yunxuan strangely.
Mu Yunxuan's face instantly turned red, and his eyes evaded the gaze.
One by one, he glanced at his three children, each of them looking at him with peculiar eyes.
Even Tongzi regarded him strangely.
"Dad, now that you mention it, we're quite curious. Where did the three of us siblings come from?" Su Qi blinked his crystal-clear eyes, implying something as he gazed at Mu Yunxuan.
"If Daddy can give birth to you, would you still be in exile for five years?" Mu Yunxuan glared at Su Qi angrily. If he admitted it, his wife would surely kick him out of Bright Moon Villa.
"Don't ask about anything else. During the wedding, Zi Void Daoist put something peculiar in the coffin. The bottle of medicinal juice was quite difficult to consume, and afterwards, Honza forgot to inquire about its contents. Zi Void Daoist is in the Cloud City dungeon. It's better to ask him," Li Zifu suggested.
"What kind of medicine did you dare to consume?" Li Zifu's eyebrows furrowed, glaring at Mu Yunxuan. When did Xuan'er become so foolish?
"Huh! What are all of you doing in Xin'er's room?" Su Zimo had been practicing for half an hour and intended to return to her room for rest. But as soon as she entered the house, everyone, young and old, was there.
"Mother, Grandpa Li said he thought of a way to save Xin'er. Xin'er just reached the third level of the Early Xuan Period, but she's unable to form a contract with Phantom Yu," Su Qi quickly explained, assuming her mother would be thrilled to hear the news.
"Xin'er, is it true?" Su Zimo rushed to Mu Yunxuan's side like a swift arrow and embraced Su Xin.
She showered a few kisses on Xin'er's tender face.
"Mother, it's true," Su Xin replied, smiling and biting her lower lip, her clear eyes filled with joy.
Observing Su Zimo's delighted expression, Mu Yunxuan's lips couldn't help but curve into a bright smile.
"Ah! My mother's little darling has finally emerged," Su Zimo exclaimed happily.
Su Zimo looked at Li Zifu and asked, "Uncle Master, please tell me about your method!"
"First, tell this old man what you and Xuan'er consumed that day," Li Zifu inquired.
"What did we eat?" Su Zimo exclaimed. "Could Xin'er's illness be related to what we ate?"
"Why not? Xin'er's illness has been present since birth," Mu Yunxuan interjected, giving Li Zifu a quick glare. It seemed like Uncle Junior had intentionally caused it.