When her tears finally ran dry, she squatted weakly on the ground. The wide boots that never seemed to fit her properly hung loosely on her feet. Her round body wobbled unsteadily, so she simply plopped her bottom back onto the dirt.
Suddenly, a hand gently rested on her head.
It was so light and tender, just like how her mother used to hum lullabies to coax her to sleep when she was a child, her fingers brushing past her cheeks and caressing the top of her head.
It was as if she were a precious treasure that had been lost and found.
She slowly lifted her face from her handkerchief, and through her tear-blurred vision, she saw that it was still the same young woman.
The young woman smiled at her again, her expression tinged with pity. Her voice was as soft as a gentle spring breeze brushing across the heart; even though that place was barren and desolate, it coaxed forth new green shoots.
"Were you born in Sanchao County? It must have been very hard for you to make it all this way, hasn't it?"
Tears clung to the corners of Zhu Yu's eyes.
She had almost forgotten all the bitter hardships she had endured.
Because there was no one she could confide in, she had always just gritted her teeth and swallowed the pain. But suddenly being asked this question, a wave of sourness surged up her nose. Overwhelmed by the unexpected kindness, she didn't even know how to answer.
"If you were truly greedy for money, you wouldn't have opened a dilapidated inn in this remote backwater. There are plenty of good storefronts out there," Chai Xiaomi looked at her and said earnestly.
"When you fell just now, the mutton-fat jade thumb ring on your hand cracked, but you didn't even spare it a glance. You only cared about touching the wooden ring on your little finger. Wood isn't worth much, yet you treasure it so deeply, which shows it holds extraordinary meaning to you. It also proves you are not a greedy person at all. You didn't set up this array to boost your luck and get rich, did you?"
"The reason you didn't want to tell us the method to summon the ghost infant back is because you're afraid we'll disperse its soul. In truth, you're trying to protect it, right?"
Zhu Yu blinked blankly, astonished that her earlier blustering yet flawless acting had actually been seen through by such a young girl.
"Right... but not entirely right."
This girl had guessed most of it correctly, but there was also a very small reason born out of her own selfishness.
When the Soul-Locking Array was set up, the item the ghost infant cared about most had to be placed in the eye of the array to lure it in and confine it to this tiny space.
However, the Yin energy is heavy at night, and the array must not let in any sinister drafts. Otherwise, the ghost infant, being curious by nature, would likely slip away quietly through the gaps.
If it really did accidentally escape the Soul-Locking Array, she would have no choice but to ignite that item. Once the ghost infant sensed it, it would anxiously rush back.
And this item was not only what the ghost infant cared about most, but also what she cared about most.
Zhu Yu lowered her head and gently twisted off the wooden ring on her little finger.
This was the only relic her mother had left behind.
If she wanted to summon it back, she could only burn this wooden ring. But if she didn't summon it back—leaving aside whether it would cause trouble—a little ghost with such weak cultivation would be swallowed in a single bite if it happened to encounter a slightly more powerful monster.
Thinking back to when she first found it, it had been dying, on the verge of turning into ashes.
Yet, because of its extraordinary obsession and resentment, it had actually struggled to hold on for more than twenty years until she finally found it.
"Are you certain you won't disperse its soul?"
Jiang Zhiyu, having realized from their conversation that the matter was not so simple, said, "As long as it absolutely never does anything to hurt people again, I can spare it this once."
Chai Xiaomi added, "We keep our word. Or, how about I swear an oath to you too?"
Wu Li: ...
The young man silently turned his back to them.
For the near future, he didn't want to hear the word "swear" ever again!
After a few moments of hesitation, Zhu Yu finally ignited the wooden ring.
The firelight danced, unexpectedly emitting a faint purple glow that was exceptionally beautiful.
Chai Xiaomi hugged her knees and watched quietly for a moment. Suddenly remembering something, she turned and ran excitedly over to Wu Li, reaching out to gently pat his back.
"Lili, look quickly!"
"Look at what." He couldn't be bothered with her and remained completely motionless.
With her meager strength, she felt like someone who hadn't eaten enough; her touch was too light even for a scratch. He figured she didn't have the capability to push him a single inch.
But Chai Xiaomi didn't give up, tugging at him forcefully. "Just look!"
"Try tugging again? Are you tired of living?"
"Not tired, not tired," she replied verbally, but undeterred, she walked around to stand in front of him. She gazed toward the cluster of purple fire in the distance, then pointed to her own eyes.
"See that? The color of this flame is just as beautiful as your purple pupils!"
Beautiful.
It was the first time someone had ever said his heterochromatic eyes looked good.
From childhood to adulthood, these eyes had always been regarded as demonic and ominous, drawing nothing but disdainful mockery and disgust.
Even strangers who didn't know him, upon first seeing his face, would experience a brief moment of stunning awe before inevitably taking a second look at his eyes. That look was always full of hidden wariness and scrutiny. In short, it was never affection.
Chai Xiaomi seemed to be the only person who would earnestly stare right into his eyes.
Wu Li slowly lowered his gaze, meeting her eyes.
In her dark, bright, and clear pupils, he saw that small, dancing cluster of fire.
The firelight reflected in her eyes, swirling and swaying like a pool of warm spring water rippling with fine waves. If one wasn't careful, they would fall right in.
The young man suddenly snapped back to his senses. He crossed his arms and put on an expression as if he were looking at an idiot.
"Can your black eyeballs even reflect purple?"
"Ah... right, eyes aren't mirrors." Chai Xiaomi smiled sheepishly.
"Idiot."
"Idiot."
One voice fell, and another sounded.
Obviously, they didn't come from the same person.
Chai Xiaomi frowned and looked toward the sound, only to see a tiny, naked little dumpling lying by her feet at some unknown point, completely bare.
She instantly realized—this was the ghost infant.
At this moment, it no longer had the scarlet pupils she had seen under the covers; instead, it had reverted to a pair of dark, round eyes.
Its appearance couldn't really be called cute. Its skin was wrinkled and hadn't fully filled out, revealing an unfaded redness, entirely unlike the white, plump look of a normal baby.
It was even... a bit ugly.
It was understandable, though; it was likely a baby who had passed away shortly after birth.
"Idiot... Idiot..."
The little thing persistently called out non-stop. With a hint of fawning in its tone, it stretched out its short arms toward Chai Xiaomi, as if begging for a hug.
Wu Li leaned over, lowered his eyes to inspect it for a moment, and commented flatly, "Ugly doll."
Chai Xiaomi closed her eyes. Sometimes she really wanted to find a needle and thread to sew his mouth shut.
It was fine to just think it, but did he really have to say it out loud!
"Get this straight, is 'idiot' something you can call her?" He raised an eyebrow, his tone revealing his imperious nature. "Only I can call her that. Step aside!"
The ghost infant froze, tilting its little face up in half-understanding.
But when Wu Li glared at it with his gloomy eyes, it grew terrified.
"Wah—" it cried out in fright.
In the corner, the waiter had long since rolled his eyes back and completely passed out.
Zhu Yu hurriedly ran over, carefully scooped the ghost infant into her arms, and gently patted it to soothe it. "Don't cry, don't cry, there's a good girl, sister is here, don't cry..."
A heavyset adult cradling a wrinkled little baby and calling her "Sister."
The scene was as bizarre as it could possibly be.
After finally managing to coax the sobbing ghost infant to sleep, Zhu Yu lifted his head and explained in a hushed voice,
"She is... my older sister. She died thirty years ago."
