Originated from mountains and seas, life never ends

"Did he say anything to you?"

On the way down the mountain, Qin Xiao asked Mo Hanyu.

Mo Hanyu hesitated for a moment and then stated Zhu Yin's conditions.

Qin Xiao didn't say anything after hearing this, but just nodded to show that he understood.

Mo Hanyu stared at him hesitantly, as if he was struggling with something.

Qin Xiao glanced at him and smiled: "I'm fine."

Mo Hanyu frowned in confusion.

He's smiling like this, and he's okay?

Mo Hanyu glanced at Qiongqi who was following behind him, and gently moved closer: "Are you really okay? What did you remember?"

"...Just some things." Qin Xiao obviously didn't want to elaborate and shook his head.

Mo Hanyu frowned, knowing that he shouldn't ask any further, but he still couldn't help being curious: "Why...?"

"You said I lied to you, what is it?"

Mo Hanyu was very confused about this: "Did I do something bad to you in my previous life?"

Qin Xiao paused: "...No."

Qin Xiao turned his head and pushed aside the vines that blocked his eyes: "It's just... nothing."

Qin Xiao closed his eyes: "It's my fault."

Mo Hanyu:?

Mo Hanyu was still confused and wanted to ask more questions, but when he saw that Qin Xiao looked really sad, he shut up.

Qin Xiao leaned over and slid down the slope. As he went down, the jade pendant on his chest stuck to his chest, emitting a cold breath.

As if thinking of something, Qin Xiao took off the jade pendant and stretched out his hand to Mo Hanyu who had just slipped down: "This is for you."

Mo Hanyu was stunned: "Isn't this yours?"

"...No." Qin Xiao tightened his fingers, "It's yours. You asked me to keep it in your previous life, but it was damaged... Now I'm returning it to you."

Mo Hanyu stared at the blue jade pendant that was gleaming coldly in the moonlight. He could even see the cracks on it under the bright white moonlight.

When Qiongqi heard this, his face immediately turned cold and he turned to look at Qin Xiao.

"……No."

Before Qiongqi could speak, Mo Hanyu refused first.

"You said I gave it to you in my previous life, and now I have no memory or anything, what are you doing for me?" Mo Hanyu pushed Qin Xiao's hand back, "Although I don't know what's going on between you... but you seem to care about him a lot, this thing should be very important to you. In that case, you can keep it, you don't have to give it to me."

Mo Hanyu finished speaking and smiled: "Even if you want to return it, you have to wait until I recover my memory, right?"

Qin Xiao frowned and looked at him hesitantly.

Mo Hanyu took the necklace and hung it on him, and touched Qin Xiao's chest: "Take it."

After saying that, he turned around and hurried on his way.

Qin Xiao looked at his back, the darkness in his eyes becoming darker.

"This thing is useless now." Qiongqi's voice sounded behind him. Qin Xiao turned his head and saw Qiongqi staring at him with his head tilted, and his dark golden pupils pierced his soul like a sharp sword.

"Are you feeling guilty?"

Qin Xiao paused and lowered his eyes: "You are right. If it weren't for me, he wouldn't have died."

"His life or death is his own choice. You don't have to be sad about it."

Unexpectedly, Qiongqi comforted him.

"He had already anticipated the ending when he gave it to you. This was his decision, and it's not your fault."

The night wind blew Qiongqi's hair, and its wings trembled gently in the breeze. Qiongqi folded its wings, and two glowing wing patterns appeared on its back, making it look like an ordinary black tiger.

"We all agree that human life span is very short. He chose you despite knowing the truth, which means he is willing to accept the consequences." Qiongqi said. Perhaps because he had just killed someone and he had vented some of his anger, his tone was very calm.

Qin Xiao was silent for a moment, then said softly, "Thank you."

"I'm just making this clear to you. There's no need for you to be like this." Qiongqi turned his head away and ignored his thanks.

Qin Xiao ignored his awkwardness and followed him forward: "What are you going to do in the future? I want to go home."

When Qiongqi heard this, his eyes rolled around, and his golden pupils smiled slightly: "I believe you will not reject a cat that has nowhere to go, right?"

As he spoke, his body shrank to the size of a kitten, and he hid his wings. Judging from its appearance, it was indeed a kitten that was just a few months old, with black fur with a few white stripes.

But Qin Xiao, who knew the truth, had a complicated expression and looked at him hesitantly.

Qiongqi's true colors showed up in less than three seconds: "What's that look in your eyes? Am I not cute? Don't I look like a cat?"

Qin Xiao: "...If you don't say anything, it's still somewhat similar."

Qiongqi snorted coldly: "Don't worry about it. I have nothing to do anyway. What? Are you unhappy that I follow you?"

Qin Xiao didn't dare to say yes, he could only sigh in his heart: "No... How could it be, it's just a legendary person like you-"

Qin Xiao thought for a long time but couldn't think of what to call Qiongqi, so he just ignored it: "——Follow me, I am flattered."

Qiongqi narrowed his eyes, waved his hand, and raised his chin: "Okay, don't say so much, I'm free anyway, so I'll just follow you around."

Qin Xiao was not stupid enough to believe everything Qiongqi said: "But...we have to make an agreement."

"what?"

"Don't eat people casually after you go out." Qin Xiao squatted down and stared at the black cat sitting on the ground seriously.

Qiongqi rolled his eyes: "Okay."

"..."

As soon as Qin Xiao saw his expression, he knew what he was planning. Although he didn't expect him to agree so easily, he still couldn't help but sigh.

"Then how about this, you don't hurt the people around me, is that okay?" Qin Xiao compromised.

This time, Qiongqi agreed readily with a smile on his face.

What a big deal...

Qiongqi grinned.

"Owl?" Mo Hanyu, who was walking in front, finally realized something. He poked his head out from behind the tree and looked at them in confusion.

Qiongqi jumped onto Qin Xiao's shoulder and said, "Let's go."

Qin Xiao: ...

Qin Xiao looked at him helplessly, quickened his pace and followed him: "Here I come."

……

“…are they all dead?” Dong Muqi leaned against the tree, his eyes scanning Qin Xiao.

Qiongqi crawled into Qin Xiao's clothes and rubbed his furry body against him.

Qin Xiao's expression remained unchanged: "Yes, the black beast flew away after saying that."

"If I remember correctly, you were the one who brought that thing in, right?" Dong Muling folded her hands and looked at Qin Xiao with questioning eyes.

"Not really." Qin Xiao looked at her, "I don't know what happened, he just suddenly appeared. You also saw that he can grow and shrink, how can I know such a thing?"

Facing the suspicious looks of Dong Muqi and Dong Muling, Qin Xiao said indifferently: "So can we leave now?"

"You said everyone inside is dead, but where is the evidence? We still need to verify it." Dong Muqi frowned.

Dong Muling rolled her eyes: "You are so powerful, why don't you just leave by yourself? Why do you have to wait for us to say you can leave?"

"No." Qin Xiao finally looked away slightly.

"Huh?" Dong Muling looked at him suspiciously.

"It's too far, we can't run there." Qin Xiao spread his hands, "Didn't we have that magical beast when we came here?"

Dong Muling: ...

Dong Muqi: ...

"It seems like you just want us to take you with us when we go out to play World of Warcraft?" Dong Muqi said unhappily.

Qin Xiao frowned: "No?"

"Are you going to take care of me?" Yin Xihui was horrified.

Feng Yaoshan gave him an indescribable look: "...That's not the case."

Yin Xihui breathed a sigh of relief: "That's good, that's good..."

Dong Muqi had a headache: "What is going on..."

"I'll go up and take another look... Are you sure that the black monster has left?" Feng Yaoshan looked at Qin Xiao.

Qin Xiao nodded.

"Then I'll go and take a look." Feng Yaoshan said, and his red clothes instantly caught fire. His whole body turned into a ball of fire and went up the mountain.

Dong Muqi and Dong Muling looked at each other, and followed Feng Yaoshan up the mountain. Before leaving, they did not forget to say, "If you are willing to wait, wait here."

Watching the three figures disappear, Qin Yun'an, who had been silent, was about to ask something, but saw Qin Xiao raise his hand, signaling him to be silent.

Qin Xiao sensed that there was still one person who had not left. He was standing quietly on a branch in the distance, looking at this side.

Qin Xiao didn't look over there, but turned to talk to Mo Hanyu: "Then wait here."

Mo Hanyu was stunned for a moment. He also noticed the figure lingering on the tree, but he didn't understand the meaning of what Qin Xiao said.

"Speaking of which, where is your hometown?" Yin Xihui took the initiative to start the topic.

"In Yuhua." Qin Xiao took the initiative to speak and started chatting with Yin Xihui.

Qin Yun'an didn't understand what they meant. He looked at them in confusion but didn't say anything.

After a moment, the figure seemed to have finished observing and left quietly.

They both stopped talking and fell silent.

"...So, what's going on?" Yin Xihui leaned against the tree trunk and looked at Qin Xiao.

Qin Xiao said the words he had prepared long ago: "When I came here, I met a strange-looking monster. The monster was injured, and I helped it. When it heard where I was going, it told me some strange stories. Mo Ze was one of the protagonists in the stories it told. Because I only remember this name, and I heard Mo Hanyu mention it when I talked to him before, so I asked them just now."

"I didn't expect that what the monster said was actually true."

"What did the monster say?" Yin Xihui asked.

"It was said that a long time ago..." Qin Xiao frowned and thought for a long time, then shook his head. "I forgot the details, but it said that Mo Ze died here, on this mountain."

Qin Xiao said, thinking that this was the place where Mo Ze died, his brows could not help but be stained with murderous intent: "He died in the cave just now."

Yin Xihui didn't say whether he believed it or not after hearing it. He just looked at Qin Xiao deeply and turned his head away: "In that case, it's a coincidence."

"Is he still with you now?"

Everyone knew who Yin Xihui was referring to. Qiongqi emerged from Qin Xiao's collar and looked at him: "What's wrong?"

Yin Xihui thought of his performance in the cave just now and didn't dare to provoke him. He shook his head, then thought of something else, reached into his clothes, and dug out a furry, fleshy, palm-sized Taotie.

"What about him? If nothing unexpected happens, we'll go home, and he——"

"Ask him." Qiongqi looked at Taotie with disdain, "He's not mouthless, why are you asking me?"

Yin Xihui: ...

Yin Xihui pursed his lips and closed his eyes.

He was looking at the intimacy between Qiongqi and Taotie and thought that Qiongqi might take Taotie away, but he didn't expect that he would say that.

Yin Xihui had a headache.

He certainly couldn't treat Taotie the same way he treated a lamb, but the key point was that he didn't know what this thing was thinking all day long. If he took it back and it exploded one day, he would have to reshuffle the cards.

Qiu Puyue, who was standing next to him, noticed Yin Xihui's hesitation and took the initiative to take on this important task: "How about I do it...?"

Taotie finally opened his blurry eyes and glanced at them lazily: "Is your family rich?"

Qiu Puryue:……?

Qiu Puryue: "No... not very much."

Taotie yawned and turned his gaze to Mo Hanyu.

Mo Hanyu said without hesitation: "No."

He looked at Qin Xiao again.

Qin Xiao stretched out his hand: "Qiongqi has decided to follow me."

Slowly looked at Qin Yun'an.

Qin Yun'an looked confused: "...Me?"

Turning away, forget it, it doesn't look very smart.

Taotie automatically ignored Tian Miao, who was still confused about what was going on, and looked at Mo Hanyu again.

"Don't you need pets at home?" Taotie tried hard to open his big, bright eyes.

It's a pity that his eyes are located in the wrong position. Not only does he not make people feel any pity for him, but he also gives people goose bumps.

Mo Hanyu hesitated for a moment, and said sincerely: "My family really doesn't lack...pets that can swallow a mountain."

The last two words were particularly difficult for Mo Hanyu to say.

Taotie hung his head in disappointment, looking pitiful.

Qiu Puyue's heart softened: "Maybe I can--"

Before Qiu Puyue could finish her words, a heavy little thing appeared on her shoulder.

Taotie smiled happily, showing his sharp white teeth: "Then it's settled."

Qiu Puryue looked at Taotie's expression with a complicated look.

She felt cheated.

But she had already said it and couldn't refuse. What if Taotie got angry and crazy because of her rejection?

Qiu Puyue smiled bitterly. She saw Qiongqi out of the corner of her eye and suddenly thought of his horrible appearance. Although Taotie has always been cute, looking at Qiongqi like that... What if Taotie gets angry one day and kills them all - oh no, with his personality, he should eat them all?

When Qiu Puyue thought of this, her face turned pale.

As soon as Yin Xihui saw her expression, he knew what she was thinking. He patted her shoulder in amusement, as if to comfort her, but the smile on his face revealed a bit of gloating.

Qiu Puryue glanced at him and shook his hand away.

Taotie seemed to have eyes on the back of his head at this time, and patted Qiu Puryue's shoulder comfortingly: "Don't worry, I won't eat you unless I'm too hungry."

This promise is not reassuring at all, okay?!

Qiu Purue looked at him bitterly and patted his head helplessly.

"Don't feed him too much." Qiongqi spoke at this time, "Don't promise him everything."

Qiu Puyue was stunned and looked at Qiongqi unexpectedly: "...Is it okay?"

"Of course." Qiongqi didn't think there was anything wrong. "He has been sleeping for hundreds of years. It's nothing if he starves for a few more decades."

Taotie raised his head suddenly and looked at him in disbelief: "You are not the one who is hungry, right? How dare you say that..."

Qiongqi turned his head away in annoyance and ignored him.

Qiongqi kept his mouth shut, but secretly complained to Qin Xiao in his heart.

[You don’t know, I’ve been looking for him for hundreds of years and couldn’t find him. The smell was clearly nearby, but I couldn’t see it… In the end, I found out that this idiot was afraid that someone would disturb his sleep, so he dug a hole to bury himself underground…]

The corners of Qin Xiao's mouth twitched slightly. He couldn't help but glance at Taotie, who had a face full of grievance, and smiled while turning his head.