Chapter 24 Rebirth "No one can bully me anymore."

“Misty, misty.”

"misty……"

So dark, an endless, boundless darkness.

A vast and empty abyss, an intense feeling of weightlessness, and an endless fall.

She had already bled to death, and a bone-chilling cold permeated her entire body. Why wasn't she dead yet?

"misty……"

Someone was calling her, their voice so gentle and affectionate.

"How are you all taking care of the little princess?! Are you all dead?! Her nightmares at night are so severe, hasn't anyone come up with even the slightest useful idea?!"

"Your Highness, the young prince's problem with nightmares has improved considerably; it only happens occasionally these past few years. Today..."

"So that's why you all don't care! You think it's nothing once in a while? Mengmeng has a good temper, but I'm not someone to be trifled with! My Mengmeng is sleeping so restlessly, and none of you seem to care. When I return to the Heavenly Emperor tomorrow, I'll banish you all!"

A chorus of pleas for mercy rose and fell. Mu Meng frowned. It was so noisy. The Celestial Race was different from the Human Race. Didn't they not have reincarnation? How come her soul didn't dissipate but went to the Ghost Realm instead?

She didn't care where she went, as long as she could see her relatives and clansmen who died because of her or were implicated by her again, even if she suffered in the eighteenth level of hell for ten thousand years, she would be willing to do it.

Mu Meng's eyelids twitched slightly, and she slowly opened her eyes.

The snow-white, soft gauze curtains hung extremely high, adorned with a beautiful glass goblet, its pale golden light shimmering.

So beautiful, but...

Mu Meng's clear eyes revealed a look of confusion and doubt. She propped herself up on her elbow, wanting to lean closer to take a look.

How come the glass lamp in the ghost realm is exactly the same as the one in her bedchamber?

"Mengmeng, you're awake?" Before Mu Meng could get closer to see clearly, she was suddenly enveloped in a warm embrace. "You scared me to death! I couldn't wake you up no matter what I did. Look at your face covered in cold sweat. Cover yourself up first, so you don't catch a cold."

In an instant, Mu Meng froze, his eyes slowly turning in disbelief until he could clearly see the woman's face beside him. His lips began to tremble: "...Sister?"

Mu Luo smiled and affectionately pinched Mu Meng's small nose: "Aren't you surprised to see your older sister? Mengmeng, your coming-of-age ceremony is in two days. Heaven... Father Emperor has granted me a pardon, so this day is indispensable..."

"elder sister?!"

Mu Luo paused, her expression grave, and stopped speaking. She gave the kneeling palace servants a cold glance before turning back to ask, "Mengmeng, was it a nightmare...?"

"Sister! Sister!" Mu Meng suddenly hugged Mu Luo tightly, tears streaming down her face as she sobbed uncontrollably, almost fainting. She was incredibly strong, and before Mu Luo could even ask what was wrong, she suddenly let go of her.

My neck... my neck is fine... my arms... my arms are still there... my legs aren't injured either...

Mu Meng frantically grabbed Mu Luo, looking her up and down, crying and laughing at the same time: "Sister... I'm sorry... I'm sorry..."

She was pitifully frail and delicate, kneeling on the bed, her black hair disheveled, with a few strands clinging to her tear-streaked, snow-white cheeks.

Mu Luo's heart nearly ached: "What's wrong, Mengmeng? Why are you crying like this? Why are you apologizing to your sister? You never need to apologize to me."

She hurriedly wiped away Mu Meng's tears. Seeing her like this, her own eyes welled up with tears. Her precious younger sister had only cried when she was hurt by a heartless man and imprisoned by their father, and when Mu Qingheng returned from several battles injured. Apart from that, she had never seen her sister cry.

But all of that was because she felt sorry for them. She only felt sorry for them and found them cute. Unlike today, when they were desperate and terrified, she didn't know how much they had suffered.

"Sister... I've seen you again..."

Mu Meng held Mu Luo's hands gently, as if afraid of hurting her. She pressed her cheek against Mu Luo's palms, a sense of relief showing in her bright dark eyes. However, she suddenly froze and hurriedly let go of her.

Her left cheek was so swollen; her sister would be heartbroken to see it, and her heart too… Mu Meng frantically looked down, covering her face with her hand—her heart—

Her heart is still there.

It was perfectly intact, warm to the touch, and its beating was steady.

Mu Meng was completely stunned. How could a ghost still have a warm body? How could it still have a beating heart?

"Go and summon the Immortal Physician. Get all of them." Mu Meng was still in a daze when she suddenly heard her sister's cold and angry voice.

She seemed extremely anxious, turning around and shouting, "Why aren't you going? What are you all standing there for?!"

Mu Luo's eyes were a little red, but her tone suddenly softened when she faced Mu Meng: "Mengmeng, tell your sister the truth, has someone bullied you? Who has the audacity to touch you? I will tear him to pieces!"

"Is Mu Qingheng dead? How did he take care of you? I must ask him..."

Mu Meng suddenly rushed forward and hugged Mu Luo's neck tightly: "Sister, don't be angry."

She choked up and said, "I won't let you get hurt again, I'll never let you leave me again."

She didn't know if the nagging suspicion in her heart was true; she hadn't died, she had returned to that night before she became an adult.

If it's true... Mu Meng silently hugged her sister tighter—if it's true, she still has many things to do.

The physician examined the child repeatedly but could not find a solution. The young prince's recurring nightmares had been a problem since childhood, and while they had improved in recent years, the root cause remained elusive.

To cure an illness, one must address its root cause. If we could know what the young prince dreamed about, we might be able to find the reason and prescribe the right medicine. However, for so many years, the young prince has never remembered his dreams.

Mu Meng lay quietly on the bed, listening to her sister's cold and anxious questions and the healers' trembling answers. Her heart gradually settled down, and everything around her began to feel real.

She knew why she couldn't describe the content of her dream.

Because her dream had no content.

There was only darkness, and she kept falling and falling in this boundless darkness.

Heaven had already given her a warning, but she was oblivious to it.

She won't be that foolish again, never.

She had no marks or signs of injury. The healers examined her carefully three times but found nothing amiss.

Mu Luo had personally inspected the area and felt a little relieved, so she had everyone leave.

Mu Meng stared at Ling Wei's retreating figure for a moment, then lowered his eyes without making a sound.

"Mengmeng, are you really alright? If anything happens, you must tell your sister," Mu Luo said tenderly, gently stroking Mu Meng's hair and pinching her soft cheek. "Although your sister may not be very useful, if my little Mengbao'er is bullied, I will fight tooth and nail to get justice for you."

"It's really nothing, sister, I just had a nightmare." Mu Meng didn't dare tell Mu Luo about her rebirth. If Mu Luo knew what she had experienced before, she would probably immediately seek revenge on Mu Qingheng. But now, among all the Heavenly Clan, no one is a match for Mu Qingheng.

Mu Luo persisted, "What kind of nightmare did you have? Don't you really remember anything?" Seeing her sister's strange behavior when she first woke up, she felt that she was hiding something.

My sister is different from others; she's not so easily fooled. Mu Meng thought for a moment, then smiled faintly and said sweetly, "I remember a little bit, but it's too embarrassing to talk about. I dreamt that someone was hitting and scolding me, and I felt both embarrassed and ashamed."

She spoke in a deliberately light tone, but lowered her head without revealing her true feelings—as she spoke these words, she couldn't help but recall the pain that had been inflicted upon her, and the countless kisses that trampled on her dignity in the long darkness.

"Who dares to be so bold? Not even in a dream! I will teach them a lesson!" Mu Luo was naturally cold and domineering, and spoiled his younger sister to an unreasonable degree. Seeing that she was still in fear, he frowned and said indignantly.

Mu Meng nestled gently in her sister's arms: "I don't know them, they're not important people here, why get angry? It's not worth mentioning. Now that I'm out of this dream, no one can bully me anymore."

*

For the next two days, everything was the same as before. Mu Meng finally became convinced that this was not just a pipe dream, and that he would never return to that boundless darkness and shame.

On this day, the Heavenly Emperor came to visit Mu Meng. When Mu Luo learned that the Heavenly Emperor was coming, she immediately got up and went out, saying that she was going to show her younger sister the clothes she would wear on her coming-of-age ceremony.

Mu Meng felt helpless. Her sister had only been away for a few days, and once her coming-of-age ceremony was over, she would have to return to that quiet and desolate place. Even so, she didn't even want to see her father.

A moment later, the Heavenly Emperor walked in, his voice hurried before he even arrived: "Mengmeng, your father has been so busy these past two days that I haven't had a chance to come see you since I heard you were sick. Are you feeling better now?"

He sat down by the bed and looked at Mu Meng with concern. Seeing that his daughter's complexion was alright, his gaze slowly softened: "You seem fine. I've been busy with affairs these past two days, and Heng'er is away fighting without anyone to help share the burden. Father is late. I hope my Meng Bao'er isn't angry?"

Mu Meng curled her lips: "Father, what did the people you sent tell you these past two days? I've never been sick. I'm perfectly fine, except I had a nightmare the night before last, and it must have been quite frightening. My sister felt sorry for me, so she summoned all the medical immortals."

The Heavenly Emperor nodded, then casually glanced around: "Where is your sister?"

"My sister always has the best taste. She went to help me choose clothes. Father, shall we go and take a look too?" Mu Mengwen advised. Her father had finally taken the initiative to ask about her sister. If they could meet, and she could mediate between them, perhaps they could break the ice a little.

“No, since she has gone out and refuses to see me, I don’t know what to say to her,” the Heavenly Emperor sighed immediately, shaking his head in refusal. “It is my own fault for being so useless. My own daughter is being bullied, and I have no way to immediately pacify the East Sea. I can only keep her locked up at home for now. I am such a useless Heavenly Emperor.”

Mu Meng gently patted her father's hand, understanding his predicament. She felt the same way, heartbroken that her sister was imprisoned in the Heavenly Prison, yet also fearing that her sister might risk everything to perish with the East Sea—if it weren't for her coming-of-age ceremony, which her sister had taken so seriously, she feared her sister would seek revenge as soon as she gained her freedom.

If even she was in such a dilemma, one can only imagine the torment her father was going through when he made the decision.

Looking at the striking white hair at the Heavenly Emperor's temple, Mu Meng felt a pang of sadness. "Father, are you very tired? It's all my fault for being so immature before. I'll help you share the burden from now on."

The Heavenly Emperor raised an eyebrow in slight surprise: "So you know how to care for your father now? It's true what they say about growing up. How did my precious darling grow up so fast?"

Although he smiled and teased, the joy in his eyes was very genuine: "You don't have to share any burdens. As long as you are safe and carefree, nothing is more important to your father."

Mu Meng suppressed the stinging sensation in her nose. She longed to throw herself into her father's arms and cry her heart out, telling him all the humiliations and suffering she had endured.

But she couldn't. Before she was certain she could kill Mu Qingheng, saying anything would only alert him.

Mu Meng's eyes were a little red from holding back her tears. When the Heavenly Emperor saw this, he couldn't help but ask in confusion, "Mengmeng, are you feeling unwell? Why are your eyes so red?"

"No," Mu Meng raised his hand to press his eyes, suppressing the soreness, and casually made up an excuse: "It's just that I've been thinking these past few days that my name has a bad meaning. Father, could you change it for me?"

The Heavenly Emperor shook his head and chuckled, revealing deep laugh lines at the corners of his eyes: "What's wrong with it? Tell me."

"The word '蒙' is not good. It sounds like someone who has been blindfolded, deceived, or misled. In short, it doesn't have any positive connotations."

Mu Meng hugged her knees, resting her chin on them, curling up into a small ball. She wasn't wrong; her whole life had been one of being blindfolded and deafened, living like a puppet manipulated at will.

"What are you thinking about all day long? You just said you've grown up, but now you still have the mind of a child," the Heavenly Emperor said with a smile, poking Mu Meng's forehead. "Where is there no good meaning? This is your mother's nickname."

He recited softly: "The moss flowers seem to love me, dancing in the frost and wind, amidst the snow. The day Father and Mother met was truly beautiful."

The Heavenly Emperor's gaze gradually deepened, and his tone was leisurely, like a sigh: "We met on Mount Luoxiang in the human realm. We originally agreed that the children's names would be in memory of this place, but... your mother died in childbirth, so I changed the character 'Xiang' that was originally meant for you to 'Meng' to express my remembrance."

Mu Meng had only said it casually, not expecting there to be such a reason behind it. However, upon hearing it, he found it somewhat strange: "Father, according to this logic, there is an elder brother above my sister. Shouldn't he be the one to claim the title of 'Luo' first?"

The Heavenly Emperor paused slightly, so quickly that no one could detect it. His gaze snapped back from his distant memories, and he smiled kindly again: "Heng'er is a boy, and the eldest son. You may not know this, but in the past, the eldest son of the Heavenly Clan had to have his name bestowed by the Holy Ancestor through an altar ceremony. How could he make such a decision on his own?"

Mu Meng nodded and gently pursed her lips—it was a pity that this good name bestowed by the Holy Ancestor was taken by a shameless, despicable, and wicked son of the Demon Clan. Her real brother was killed and died unjustly while still an infant.

It's just a pity that over the years, her father genuinely loved the heinous murderer, while she regarded him as a god and was filled with adoration for him!

"Alright, don't mention the name change again," the Heavenly Emperor said, feigning seriousness, but then couldn't help but laugh. "Mengmeng, get some rest. I know you must miss your brother. It's been so hard for you two to be apart for so many months. Don't worry, the war in the southwest is coming to an end. Heng'er will definitely not miss your birthday celebration tomorrow and will be back tonight."

Tonight?

Mu Meng lowered his eyes.

...

In the southwestern desert mountains, the long moon hangs like a hook.

A biting, icy wind blew against his face, and Mu Qingheng slowly opened his eyes.

His face was expressionless, his extremely handsome and dashing eyebrows and eyes were empty and lifeless, his dark eyes were as beautiful as stars, beautiful but dull and without light.

A cold wind howled, mixed with faint whispers of conversation.

"What are you doing here? You've been infiltrating the Celestial Clan with your master, and you've dared to come here so brazenly. If you're discovered, you'll be in serious trouble."

"Lord Cangbi, we are both envoys of the Demon Realm. There's no need to speak to me in such a tone. The war is over, and this place is full of our people. What do you think? Besides, do you think I would only come here as a last resort?"

"Yu Da, if you have anything urgent, just send a message. Too much movement isn't good for you..."

"Alright, alright, you're not even here to offer your master some advice. The war is long over, he should return to the Celestial Clan as soon as possible. Tomorrow is Mu Meng's coming-of-age ceremony. He's a 'good brother' who loves his younger sister. If he doesn't come back soon, what if people suspect him... all his efforts and humiliations over the years will have been in vain."

“Master knows what he’s doing. You should go back now. Fighting for the Celestial Clan isn’t for nothing. So many prisoners of war have had their spiritual energy drained; they need to rest. Don’t worry, no matter how much he dislikes that delicate little princess, he won’t disregard the bigger picture.”

"Also, Lingwei sent word that Mu Meng seems to have fallen ill these past two days, and quite seriously. Your master is willing to listen to you, so please take the time to persuade him. Don't make excuses like being too tired from the journey or not being able to see people. It would be best to visit him immediately."

"Don't overdo the acting. Your master is more discerning than you, so don't worry about it. Your master's spiritual power has reached a certain level, and he will soon begin the Cloud Marsh Realm plan. You need to be even more careful during this time..."

It's so noisy.

It's been a long time since I've heard a human voice.

Anyone who dares to come here and disturb him is asking for death.

The rustling sounds of conversation continued to fill his ears, but Mu Qingheng didn't bother to listen. His eyes flashed with murderous intent as he quietly sat up and walked outside.

He had only taken two steps when he suddenly stopped, turning his head slowly and stiffly to survey his surroundings inch by inch.

The simple, light tents offered only a weak defense against the cold wind.

There were very few decorations.

The longsword on the table was still stained with blood.

The subtle vibrations in his chest gradually accelerated. Mu Qingheng held his breath slightly, placed his hand on his chest, and felt the strong, powerful impacts clearly striking his palm, as if to prove something.

Mu Qingheng's hands trembled slightly, and a thin layer of tears welled up in his eyes. He slowly took a deep breath, lifted the curtain, and walked out.

Cangbi and Yuda immediately stopped talking and bowed respectfully.

Yu Da looked up and frowned slightly: "Master, why haven't you treated your external injuries? Let me help you."

Mu Qingheng ignored her and didn't even stop. He walked forward and gazed at the distant mountains.

This is the battlefield in the southwestern desert mountains.

Judging from the scenery, it seemed to be the tenth day after his great victory in battle. Everyone had their spiritual energy drained and were being hastily buried on the spot.

Mu Qingheng's thick, raven-feather-like eyelashes trembled slightly, and a strange light shone in his eyes. He looked down blankly at his hands: "I succeeded..."

Cangbi and Yuda exchanged a puzzled look, and Yuda pleaded again, "Master, your injuries..."

“You don’t need to worry about it,” Mu Qingheng lowered his eyes and examined the various wounds on his body. As if thinking of something, his gaze softened. “Just leave these wounds as they are.”

Cangbi quietly pressed Yu Da's hand. This was evidence of his master's hard work fighting for the Celestial Clan. What use was there in bandaging it up? Besides, it was just a few superficial wounds, and he didn't care at all.

Right now, it's more important to persuade him to go back as soon as possible: "Master, Mu Meng's coming-of-age ceremony is tomorrow. It's getting late, you should set off as soon as possible."

Mu Qingheng did not turn around. He nodded slightly, and the corners of his lips curved up slightly, almost uncontrollably.

"Go and prepare." Mu Qingheng said this and walked into the dirty and bloody battlefield without looking back.

No one knew what he was there for, and no one dared to ask too many questions. Mu Qingheng gathered a bit of spiritual power at his fingertips and carefully explored every inch of the area.

After a long while, his expression softened, and he bent down to pick up a small object from under the corpse on the ground.

It was a peace charm. Although the edges were a little dirty, the remaining spiritual energy was pure and flawless, faintly carrying a familiar and sweet scent.

Mu Qingheng carefully and gently wiped the dirt off the amulet, as if holding a fragile and rare treasure. With a slight smile, he opened the amulet and took out the small note inside.

The words on the white paper, written in black ink, were slightly childish, as innocent and endearing as their owner: May my elder brother, Mu Qingheng, be safe and sound, free from harm and suffering—respectfully presented by your son, Mu Meng.

Mu Qingheng read it three times without saying a word, as if trying to see every word into his heart. He pursed his lips tightly, and a thin layer of tears welled up in his eyes.

He closed his eyes, placed the note against his chest, and felt his heart pounding powerfully.

One tap after another, as if expressing his joy and gratitude on his behalf.

He once looked down on it and discarded it like trash.

Now, after many hardships, it has finally been regained.

No, he will never lose his treasure again.

...

That night, Mu Meng begged Mu Luo to sleep with her.

Mu Luo readily agreed. When her younger sister was little, she initially asked Mu Luo to sleep with her. Her sister's big, bright, clear eyes were so cute and adorable that they melted Mu Luo's heart. However, Mu Luo had always been reserved and composed, and although she was very happy inside, she still made excuses to refuse her.

Unlike her decisive and ruthless nature, Mengmeng was gentle, lovely, and so well-behaved and sensible that it was heartbreaking. Although she loved her dearly, she dared not spoil her, fearing that she might end up with a weak and incompetent personality, which would be undesirable.

To everyone's surprise, she refused, so Mengmeng went to Mu Qingheng to keep her company. That bastard had no bottom line at all, indulging her in everything. He would grant her every wish, even plucking stars and the moon from the sky. He spoiled her to the bone. How could his sister not be close to him?

She must have often regretted it. No matter how much she pampered and spoiled Mengmeng, she had developed a gentle yet firm character, tender but not weak, and decisive of her own. If she had known this would happen, she would have let that utterly detestable Mu Qingheng have her way.

Mu Luo hadn't been this close to her sister for many years, and lying in bed, she couldn't bear to fall asleep: "After your coming-of-age ceremony tomorrow, I will no longer be free, and we will have to wait until your birthday to see each other again."

As she spoke, she sighed softly. She had almost no other attachments in this world, and the only thing she couldn't let go of was her little sister who had just come of age.

Mu Meng squeezed Mu Luo's hand back: "Sister, do you... feel very resentful towards Father?"

“Actually, it’s not really true,” Mu Luo sighed softly and said quietly, “Back then, I was blind and loved the wrong person. I broke with the Heavenly Clan for him, led my private army to rebel and flee to the East Sea. My father lost face. It’s already kind of him that he’s willing to take me in now. It’s just that I’ve gotten used to him over the years, and I don’t know what to say when we meet. So let it be.”

"If I had to name a grudge, the only person I hate in this world is the King of the East Sea," Mu Luo said in a low voice, not wanting to show her sister the twisted, churning hatred in her eyes, so she could only desperately lower her voice, "He stole my proud spiritual power and ruined me to this miserable state—even if it's partly due to my own foolishness, the East Sea has really gone too far..."

The East Sea is a branch of the Outer Immortal Clan, and they keep to themselves and do not provoke each other. When she married the King of the East Sea, she had already given up her identity as a princess of the Heavenly Clan. She was an orphan with no clan or roots. Therefore, when she was deceived and hurt, the Heavenly Clan could not seek justice for her and could only suffer in silence.

But the King of the East Sea tricked her out of his powerful spiritual energy, trampled on her dignity, and is still at large. She can never swallow this insult.

"Sister, let me help you deal with that ungrateful scoundrel from the East Sea," Mu Meng suddenly said in a low voice.

Mu Luo almost thought she had misheard: "What did you say?"

"I will avenge you."

Mu Luo frowned, almost shouting sharply, "What nonsense are you talking about?! Do you think I don't know? You went to the East Sea three times for me. If Mu Qingheng hadn't gone to find you, how much would you have suffered?! You were punished so severely by Father when you came back, haven't you learned your lesson yet? Why are you thinking of going astray again today?!"

Mu Meng clenched her fingers. She had always wanted to seek justice for her sister, but she was too weak and too foolish. She always thought that only by cultivating herself and gaining great power could she defeat those bad people.

It wasn't until Mu Qingheng personally taught her that many things in the world don't need to be too particular, and that scheming can kill people invisibly.

Mu Meng's eyes were stubborn, but he didn't say much. He just insisted, "I have the Crimson Heart Pill. I will definitely cultivate well and will never let anyone bully you again."

Mu Luo smiled helplessly, and after scolding him, she felt reluctant and gently pulled Mu Meng into her arms: "That's not allowed either. Little Mengbao, I won't allow you to take risks for me. You have the Red Heart Pill, just take good care of yourself, and I'll be content."

Mu Meng's eyes stung with tears, but she suppressed the urge: "Alright, sister, it's getting late. You should go to sleep early and not ruin your health."

Mu Luo only felt relieved after confirming several times that Mu Meng would not impulsively seek revenge in Donghai. She was indeed a little sleepy and soon fell into a deep sleep.

Above the soft, thin bed curtains, a crystal-clear glass lamp emitted a soft glow, casting a gentle and warm light.

Mu Meng gazed at Mu Luo's sleeping face in the light. The light softened her sister's cold and stern features, and she stared at her without blinking, unwilling to look away.

After watching for a while, Mu Meng gently reached out and extinguished the glass lamp, while simultaneously casting a layer of light white spiritual energy above Mu Luo's head—so that no matter what happened later, she could sleep peacefully without being disturbed.

Withdrawing her hand, Mu Meng felt a pang of bitterness in her heart: how spirited her sister was back then, with powerful spiritual energy that could rival Mu Qingheng, and even slightly surpass him, but now, she couldn't even detect her little spell.

She touched Mu Luo's cheek tenderly, then whispered for Ling Wei to come in.

Lingwei entered quickly, still as calm and gentle as ever: "What are your orders, Your Highness?"

Mu Meng looked at her, speechless for a moment.

Having been reborn, her feelings for Lingwei are complex. In her previous life, Lingwei had been an undercover agent by her side for many years, yet in the end, she genuinely wanted to save her from the clutches of evil, even losing her life at the hands of the devil. But regardless, there is no doubt that Lingwei was indeed Mu Qingheng's spy planted beside her.

Mu Qingheng... Mu Mengjin's hand under the quilt slowly clenched.

"Your Highness?"

Mu Meng responded with a light smile, "My sister is already asleep. Turn off all the lights outside. You should all go and rest too. I'll go to sleep soon as well."

Lingwei paused for a moment, then her expression returned to normal: "But... His Highness the Crown Prince is returning victorious tonight. He hasn't seen you in a long time, so he'll probably come to visit you. Should I go and say hello to His Highness and tell him he doesn't need to come?"

“Okay,” Mu Meng said without hesitation, her tone still gentle, even considerate of others. “He always tidies himself up before seeing me. Since he has traveled a long way and is tired, he shouldn’t bother. Get some rest, and you’ll see him tomorrow.”

Lingwei, unsuspecting, nodded, smiled, and replied "Yes" before respectfully withdrawing.

After she left, Mu Meng gently tucked the blanket around Mu Luo and tiptoed out of bed.

She held her breath, gradually sealed off all her spiritual power, and moved very slowly to the door without disturbing anyone.

Her breath-holding technique was not yet at its peak and needed more time to prepare. But once it flowed through her entire body, she would be no different from a flower or a book in the hall, and no one would be able to detect her presence.

In his previous life, Mu Qingheng arrived at 11:45 AM. Mu Meng was prepared to wait, but he did not expect that just two incense sticks later, after he had completed the breath-holding technique, there was a noise outside the door.

A faint smell of blood wafted over, followed by hushed conversations.

"Master? You...you still came? Your subordinate...your subordinate has already sent people..." Lingwei's voice was deliberately lowered, but her tone was flustered; she was nervous.

"I know, I came to see Mengmeng." Her clear, deep voice was like the gentle tinkling of jade pendants in the quiet night, melodious and captivating.

That voice...that voice!

Mu Meng nearly clenched her teeth and struggled to control her trembling. She covered her mouth, afraid of making a sound, but her mind was already in complete chaos.

A domineering and unrefusable, rough kiss...

The hands that roamed over her body...

There's nowhere to hide from this extremely aggressive embrace...

She was confined to a dark corner like a captive, a tool to be wantonly humiliated, her warm breath spraying onto her face, lips, and neck...

Countless terrifying and disgusting memories flooded his mind, and Mu Meng gripped his arm tightly—

Don't be afraid! Don't be afraid!

This is my only chance to vent all this useless fear and weakness. Tomorrow, I must not let him see anything amiss!

Mu Meng gritted her teeth and curled up into a small ball, hugging herself tightly.

***

“Master, but the young princess is already asleep... and Mu Luo is here with her tonight, it's not appropriate for you to go in…”

Lingwei felt uneasy and lowered her head, not daring to look at Mu Qingheng's expression: "Master, actually, the little prince has been waiting for you. It's probably because Mu Luo was tired and fell asleep. She felt sorry for her sister, so she asked the lights to be turned off and went to sleep."

Mu Qingheng seemed not to hear, staring blankly at the closed door, his cold, hard features inexplicably showing a sense of peace and gentleness.

He didn't change his clothes or even tidy himself up. This man, who was always spotless and aloof, had a faint smell of blood on him, and even his fingertips were still covered in dirt.

But he seemed unaware of his disheveled appearance; in the dim light, a tender look appeared in his eyes and brows.

"It's good that you're asleep; it's so late."

His voice was low, as if he were afraid of disturbing someone's sweet dreams.

However, the tone was too low, making it difficult for people to hear the profound emotions within.

Lingwei was already at a loss and uneasy, and from Mu Qingheng's tone she could only sense his displeasure and indifference: "Master, rest assured, I know how to answer His Highness tomorrow, and I will make sure you don't make this trip in vain."

"What?"

Lingwei forced a smile and said in a low voice, "Master, please calm down. I know you are enduring humiliation for the sake of the greater plan, and I understand that you despise Princess Mumeng so much, but she..."

"Shut up." Mu Qingheng's voice was extremely cold, his face was displeased, and his eyes seemed to contain ice shards. "If I hear you say this again, whether in front of others or behind their backs, I'll rip out your tongue and feed it to the dogs."

Lingwei was terrified and stammered, "Master, rest assured, I will never..." She wanted to say "I will never let anything slip in front of Mu Meng," but when she met Mu Qingheng's cold and intimidating gaze, she swallowed the rest of her words.

Mu Qingheng didn't say anything more.

He used to be heartless and cruel, but now he has been reborn. He hates those two words, and just hearing them makes him unable to bear it.

He closed his eyes, feeling the sense of security that the atmosphere here brought him. His heart, which had been pounding because of Lingwei's words, gradually calmed down—so sweet, so obedient. For so long, he finally felt Mengmeng so close to him again.

She seemed so close, as if she were right in front of me.

Inside the door, Mu Meng slowly closed his eyes.

Utterly disgusting.

That's right. If he didn't despise her to the extreme, he wouldn't have humiliated and trampled on her to the extreme before cruelly torturing and killing her, leaving her to die a hasty and miserable death.

But what exactly did she do wrong?

She still remembered that night in her past life when he returned injured. She felt so sorry for him that she took out the best medicine and carefully applied it to his wounds.

His voice was low then: "Mengmeng, I miss you so much."

It's a pity that at the time she was so focused on his wound that she didn't even look up at him. His gaze, like the words he spoke, conveyed all his longing.

— Probably not. He loathed her and always played along. Even when he came to visit her, his subordinates had to be careful, for fear of offending him.

The elders of the Celestial Clan say that one must have a beautiful dream the night before the coming-of-age ceremony and absolutely, positively, must not shed tears. Otherwise, one's life will be full of stumbles and hardships.

She held back her tears, afraid that he would feel sorry for her.

She thought that her brother loved her so much, and he would feel guilty if he saw her crying because of these injuries.

Only after he left did she hide under the covers and cry out of heartache for her brother.

Unfortunately, her sincere admiration was nothing but "utter disgust" in his eyes!

Mu Meng bit her slender white index finger, until tiny bloodstains appeared on her skin—she would never shed another tear for him, never.

Mu Qingheng suddenly frowned outside the door.

A long, pale hand slowly pressed against his heart—it hurt terribly. It hurt so much.

Demons can endure countless kinds of suffering in the world without changing their expression, but they cannot bear the heart-wrenching pain that arises from being moved by love.

This is their calamity. Once a demon develops a heart for love, it will be a catastrophe. Heaven or hell depends on the other person's single thought.

If the other party is even slightly gentle and compassionate, they will be overjoyed and sweet, offering their sincerity and love with both hands, wishing they could hold it even closer; if the other party is cold as ice, or cruel enough to take back even the slightest bit of love, they will only wither away in endless torment and pain, living a life worse than death, beyond redemption, slowly exhausting their lives.

Furthermore, they constantly find joy in their loved ones' happiness and suffer greatly from their loved ones' sorrow.

Mu Qingheng knew very well that along with him, his almost perfect heart had also returned from the dead. The excruciating pain he felt just now was because he sensed the sadness of his beloved.

What's wrong with Mengmeng? Did she have another nightmare?

Could her sadness be because she saw Mu Luo and felt sorry for her after thinking about her experiences?

The matter of Mu Luo...

Mu Qingheng frowned with worry, suppressing a layer of pain born of love, and feeling heartache that Mengmeng was actually grieving. The two pains mingled, and his lips quickly turned pale. But his expression was calm, showing no sign of the torment he was enduring.

Seeing that Mu Qingheng remained silent for a long time, Lingwei kept her head down and dared not speak casually. Suddenly, she remembered something and had to ask in a low voice: "Reporting to Master, there is another matter... I don't know if I should pay attention to it, so I can only report it to Master for decision."

Mu Qingheng didn't want to leave the door for the time being, but if he stood there talking and continued to do so, and his body still smelled of blood, it would be even worse if he disturbed Mengmeng's rest.

Furthermore, the matter Lingwei wanted to report to him must be the heartless, ruthless, and utterly immoral things he had done in his past life, and he really did not want to discuss it at the entrance of Mu Meng's bedroom.

Upon reaching the outer hall, Mu Qingheng asked in a deep voice, "What is it?"

"Reporting to Master, today Mu Luo mentioned the East Sea during her conversation with the young prince. The young prince was indignant and said he wanted to go to the East Sea to avenge his sister. Although Mu Luo persuaded him to stop, and the young prince promised not to go, it's better to be safe than sorry."

Lingwei carefully explained the potential problems she had been considering: "Although the possibility of this is extremely small—if the young prince really goes to the East Sea, and if anything is revealed and she discovers what we did to the King of the East Sea back then… Master, your Yunze Realm plan is urgent, and if any unexpected complications arise…"

"Alright, no need to say anymore," Mu Qingheng interrupted in a low voice.

His thin lips were pressed into a thin line, and they were completely bloodless from the force of his movements.

"When will Mu Luo return to the Heavenly Prison?" he asked.

Lingwei immediately replied, "The young princess's coming-of-age ceremony will end tomorrow night. Don't worry, Master, the Heavenly Emperor has been sending people to watch over her, so she won't have a chance to run away from the Heavenly Clan to do anything."

As for Mu Meng... she dared not comment, and lowered her head to quietly await Mu Qingheng's decision.

Mu Qingheng slowly turned around with his hands behind his back.

His movements were slow and deliberate, as if he were deep in thought.

With his back to Lingwei, Mu Qingheng's worry gradually surfaced: "You don't need to worry about anything. Just take good care of Mengmeng, and I'll take care of everything else."

Lingwei's expression softened a bit: "Yes." She carefully examined Mu Qingheng, thought for a moment and said, "Master, your injuries should be treated. They look like they've become somewhat festering."

"Hmm," Mu Qingheng responded casually, without saying whether it was possible or not. He glanced back, his voice carrying a hint of expectant gentleness, "We'll talk about it tomorrow."