After a good night's rest, Mu Anqi felt fairly energetic. After washing up and changing, she actually wanted to lie down on the recliner for a while before resting, but… the recliner had already been moved to the General's residence.
Covering her face with her hand, Mu Anqi sat on the bed and sighed. What exactly was General Ji thinking? On one hand, Mu Anqi longed to understand Ji Huaichu's thoughts; on the other, knowing that Ji Huaichu had been a general in life and, after death, had spent an unknown amount of time living and training on the Shattered Mirror Continent, she felt a slight awe toward her strength and mysterious aura. This might not be a contradiction, but trying to probe the mind of a powerful and mysterious ghost was inherently somewhat contradictory. In this relationship, as a recruit, Mu Anqi was in a passive position. If General Ji did not allow it, then…
Mu Anqi didn't dwell on it. Shifting her thoughts, she reminded herself that the General's favoritism and attention toward her were genuine.
Forget it… better not think about it for now. Mu Anqi calmed herself, steadied her emotions, and then took out the token to convey her intention to teleport.
…Almost the next second, it was approved.
…
"The recent Black Mirror vortexes are very strange, as if mixed with other elements," little Xia Fenghua continued reporting. She had also obtained data on the vortex with lethal contamination, along with some Black Mirror vortexes within the Taiyin Realm that were not highly polluting. "The ghosts pulled into the Black Mirror vortexes seem to undergo mutations and enhancements. In reality, Black Mirror vortexes created by entry-level ghosts without special abilities haven't appeared for a long time."
"I am aware. At the next Feast of Bliss, this issue will be discussed," Ji Huaichu said, standing up and walking outside.
"…Ah?" Xia Fenghua looked at the report in her hands. She had spent a long time collecting this data together with the ghost generals and worked hard to write it. This report was only halfway through. Although the General's expression remained unchanged, cold and emotionless, just…
Xia Fenghua sensed it slightly, and in less than three seconds, the General had already left the residence.
Was it really necessary to be in such a hurry? …Mu Anqi has arrived?
Xia Fenghua placed the report on the desk with a somewhat strange expression and silently sighed. After all, she had never imagined that the General would catch up with the trend of a "human-ghost romance." Although Mu Anqi wasn't exactly human, but a player, and had been recruited by the General…
Hmm, a "master-servant human-ghost romance"?
That seemed even more exciting…
Fortunately, Ji Huaichu had already left and didn't know the chaotic thoughts running through Xia Fenghua's mind; otherwise, the work in her hands would probably have doubled.
—"General!"
Arriving at the city gate, she indeed saw the little Money Tree running over with a smile. This scene wasn't appearing for the first time, but this time, Ji Huaichu clearly sensed Mu Anqi's hesitation and uncertainty. Although the little Money Tree hid it well, it was far too obvious to Ji Huaichu, who had been closely observing her.
"What are you thinking?"
"I was… thinking… when will the General hold me?" Mu Anqi looked at Ji Huaichu's face, and all her worries and entanglements were instantly overshadowed. She smiled nervously, deliberately saying this. Unexpectedly, the moment the words left her mouth, Ji Huaichu stepped forward in long strides, enveloping her completely in her arms and holding her close.
"You did very well in this game," Ji Huaichu's voice came from above Mu Anqi's head. Normally, the General's body should have been icy cold; after all, even an accidental touch with Mu Anqi had felt that way before, and even without contact, just being near her could make one sense that piercing chill and yin energy.
But this hug… was exceptionally different. The yin energy and chill seemed deliberately restrained. When Mu Anqi touched Ji Huaichu's body, she could feel the arm around her waist, and this series of touches… carried warmth.
Ji Huaichu slightly lowered her head, her chin lightly brushing Mu Anqi's neck. The embrace was too close, too intimate, and her gaze deepened, but her voice remained controlled and gentle: "Are you satisfied with this hug?"
"Is this… also a way of using yin energy?" Mu Anqi felt the warmth of the embrace, and even sensed a certain sense of security from it. Her face flushed crimson, her whole body uncontrollably heating up. Trying to calm herself, she asked this question, attempting to divert her attention.
"Yes, it's a bit special. Generally, no Ghost King bothers with such things," Ji Huaichu said in a low voice. From a distance, it looked like a couple embracing intimately and whispering to each other.
Those words…
Mu Anqi couldn't help but interpret them as, "But I'm bothering with it for you."
"General, you…" Mu Anqi's mind was a little chaotic. In this warmth, she felt incapable of thinking calmly, even forgetting her previous worries. Her heart thumped uncontrollably, the feelings of excitement and joy nearly overwhelming her. Mu Anqi gritted her teeth and lightly pushed Ji Huaichu's shoulder, signaling that she had already received this reward. But this gentle push elicited no reaction from Ji Huaichu.
"General?"
"…" Only then did Ji Huaichu slowly release her hold. She took a step back, maintaining a calm expression, yet her eyes remained fixed on Mu Anqi. She lowered her head slightly, leaning closer, her voice faintly husky: "Mu Anqi, would you… be willing to… reconsider…?"
Mu Anqi's heart leapt into her throat. She vaguely felt that General Ji's words carried the meaning she had been thinking of. However, just as Ji Huaichu, for the first time, seemed about to "show weakness" and speak her true feelings, an unexpected visitor arrived at the city gate.
The White Fox Demon King's smile stiffened slightly. She clearly hadn't expected that her impulsive visit—intended to ask Ji Huaichu's permission for Mu Anqi to have another Black Mirror vortex session with Wu Sansheng—would collide with such a dramatic scene the moment she arrived at the gate.
Her demonic aura was neither hidden nor fully released. Her entire fox tail bristled wildly, and she froze at the gate, afraid to move.
"I… I just teleported here…" Bai Yulai offered a faint explanation. "J-just give me a minute, as soon as the cooldown ends I'll teleport away immediately…"
She didn't dare meet Ji Huaichu's eyes, but even without looking, the General's gaze, filled with anger and murderous intent, made her feel like needles were pricking her back.
"General," Mu Anqi felt a bit embarrassed, but after being interrupted, she also felt a sense of relief mixed with slight regret. Seeing the yin energy on the General seemingly struggling to be contained, she hurriedly called out, her eyes shimmering as if with starlight, carrying a mix of nervousness, hesitation, and anticipation: "Am I the most special one?"
"…Yes." Ji Huaichu withdrew her gaze from the White Fox Demon, restraining her emotions to the extreme. Her voice softened. "I hope you can reconsider our relationship."
"A player from the Nirvana Space and a Ghost King from the Shattered Mirror Continent. Being recruited and doing the recruiting… a closer relationship beyond that."
"You have enough time to think about it. I will not interfere. Training will continue as usual."
Perhaps having spoken it aloud, Ji Huaichu seemed less tense and awkward when mentioning the latter part. She didn't want to put too much pressure on Mu Anqi, nor did she want it to affect the little Money Tree's opinion of her. But…
"My nature is that of a ghost, my temperament is unstable, and I tend to be somewhat stubborn. Although I have been restraining myself, there are times I lose control. I hope you take all these factors into consideration."
If Mu Anqi agreed after thinking it over… Ji Huaichu thought, she would try to show as many sides of herself as possible, allowing Mu Anqi to understand her.
"All… all right." In a sense, a player is also eternal, but this "eternity" requires continuously entering the game. Here, the game is the one created by the ghosts of the Shattered Mirror Continent, and it's not just this kind of game—Black Mirror vortexes also count toward progress. After entering a Black Mirror vortex, one receives a seven-day rest period. Ji Huaichu already enjoyed clearing the Black Mirror vortexes herself to calm her emotions and strengthen herself. Thus, Mu Anqi was not constrained by lifespan.
Her heart stirred, she felt affection, and she did not fear the General. She felt joy and excitement from her favor… yet Mu Anqi still wished to decide carefully after calming down.
What had troubled her before was the General's attitude; this time, the General had made her stance completely clear.
—Even with the White Fox Demon King glowing at the side, the General still said these words.
"Mm, you go in first. You can go to the General's residence or find Mu Xiaobai," Ji Huaichu said. After speaking, she looked expressionless at the White Fox Demon King at the city gate, who seemed eager to dig a hole and disappear. "The White Fox Demon King seems to have something to discuss with me. I'll handle that first."
"Ah, okay." Mu Anqi obediently replied. She didn't even bother to look at the expression of the White Fox Demon King outside the gate, and quickly entered the main city, heading toward Mu Xiaobai.
She needed a good meal to adjust her mood and calm herself. Otherwise, with the General's beauty and favor occupying her mind, it would be difficult to consider the General's other side and make a true choice.
Besides, she hadn't had breakfast yet today…
Bai Yulai watched Ji Huaichu walk toward her with a smile, and recalling the series of "forced" revelations she had just overheard, her whole fox body felt off. Confessions were nothing to her; as the White Fox Demon King, what kind of "scholars" hadn't she seen? She could confess to anyone attractive, male or female—it never cost anything. But this was Ji Huaichu's confession…
"I-I've finished my teleport cooldown. As long as you agree, I'll disappear immediately!"
"No need." Ji Huaichu glanced at Bai Yulai. "You've collected quite a few storybooks? Pick some interesting ones and have them sent to my residence."
"As for Wu Sansheng, take her through a few Black Mirror vortexes first," Ji Huaichu said coldly. "I won't interfere with her team formation, but the players you recruit must have at least some self-protection ability."
"This time she has gained a decent mental attack ability, and her skill that grants immunity to mental attacks has been upgraded once. She can temporarily share this ability with her teammates," Bai Yulai said, her tail swaying unconsciously. "I'll take her to the Black Mirror vortexes, but I'm not very skilled at handling them. If possible… Xia Fenghua, can I borrow her?"
"…" After a brief thought, Ji Huaichu nodded. "You may."