Chapter 212
Chapter 212
After hearing Xia Ximo’s explanation, Ren Fengjue nodded instinctively. “All right.”
Then he added, “I will see whether… the residence has prepared breakfast.”
He hurried out the door, his retreating figure betraying a hint of panic.
From within the Soul-Ferrying Lantern, Wuyou could not resist asking, “I did not frighten him, did I?”
Xia Ximo tapped the Soul-Ferrying Lantern. “What exactly did you mean by all that?”
Wuyou explained quietly, “The Earth Lord ordered me to do it.”
“As for his purpose, I do not understand and would not dare guess. Perhaps he simply wanted to… enjoy the spectacle?”
Xia Ximo frowned.
The mighty Earth Lord of the Underworld Administration actually enjoyed such spectacles?
“He must have too much time on his hands.”
She delivered the cold assessment.
Yet her heart was not as calm as she appeared.
Ren Fengjue returned a short while later carrying a food box that held two bowls of hot wontons.
Apparently, the residence had not prepared breakfast, and he had bought them outside.
Xia Ximo had already washed and dressed. She sat down at the table as a matter of course and took one bowl.
Ren Fengjue sat opposite her.
Each occupied with private thoughts, they ate in silence.
Xia Ximo always ate slowly, chewing each bite thoroughly, but this morning she quickly finished the entire bowl of wontons.
After setting down her bowl and chopsticks, she looked at him and suddenly asked, “Is there nothing else you wish to ask?”
Ren Fengjue paused, then unhurriedly put down his chopsticks.
Xia Ximo placed the Soul-Ferrying Lantern on the table before saying, “What you saw earlier was the Lamp Spirit inside this lantern.”
“I understand…”
Ren Fengjue did not seem particularly surprised. He even offered an explanation. “I… was not unsettled because of Wuyou.”
“I know you were not afraid of Wuyou.”
Xia Ximo studied him. “But do you not wish to ask why a Lamp Spirit exists inside this lantern?
“Or what my true identity is?”
Her questions were so direct that Ren Fengjue’s newly calmed heart began to churn again.
He lowered his head and considered for a moment before answering, “I know Miss Xia is unwilling to reveal too much. I did not ask because I did not want to annoy you.
“Far too much has happened recently. If one examines everything carefully, there are indeed many suspicious points.
“But I trust you. You must have your reasons for what you do.
“Therefore… I never asked.”
After saying this, he looked up at her. There was not the slightest doubt in his eyes, only sincerity.
Xia Ximo paused, then said frankly, “Ever since I entered the capital to break our engagement, you must have investigated my movements in secret.
“You could not possibly have felt no suspicion about my identity. If you knew something was wrong, why did you still choose to trust me?”
Now that the subject was open, Ren Fengjue thought back carefully before replying, “Perhaps because… I discovered that after every murder, you were helping the wronged souls of the victims.
“You… may appear aloof and unfeeling, but in truth, you possess more loyalty and compassion than many people in this world.
“I did suspect your identity. I even sent people to Xiling County to investigate. They uncovered Mu Tingting’s impersonation of the general’s daughter, as well as certain ‘strange events’ surrounding you.
“But gradually, I stopped caring whether you were real or false. Or perhaps I should say that the ‘Xia Ximo’ in my heart is precisely who you are.”
At those words, Xia Ximo’s heart inexplicably trembled.
She had always regarded herself as merely a “traveler” through the mortal realm.
Thus, she had never cared about the identity of this “body.”
She had also believed that her connection with Ren Fengjue began with “Xia Ximo” and would end with “Xia Ximo.”
Only now did she realize that their connection was not limited to those identities.
That was precisely what troubled her most…
“The real ‘Xia Ximo’ is already dead.”
After some thought, Xia Ximo decided to tell him. “Breaking the engagement was one of her final wishes.”
“As for me, I merely borrowed this body to come to the mortal realm and finish certain matters.”
At those words, Ren Fengjue’s eyes darkened slightly, and ripples of shock seemed to break across his expression.
After a moment, he regained his calm. “I anticipated that long ago.”
Back in the capital, their repeated dealings had already led him to suspect that there was something unusual about her identity.
Again and again, she dealt with the souls of the dead. Again and again, she returned from death.
How could he possibly have noticed nothing?
Xia Ximo fell silent, her fingers tightening involuntarily inside her sleeve.
Ren Fengjue hesitated before asking, “According to the rumors at Mu Manor, the… general’s daughter froze to death in a side courtyard. Is that true?”
“Yes.”
Ren Fengjue sighed softly, then asked, “What is your name?”
Their eyes met, and she froze, as though she had never expected him to ask that question.
“You do not need to know.”
Xia Ximo continued, “Her final wishes have been fulfilled. Now that she has reached the Underworld Administration, she should reenter the cycle of reincarnation and be reborn.”
Ren Fengjue nodded and asked, “May I continue calling you Miss Xia?”
“As you wish.”
Xia Ximo added, “I merely want you to understand that I am not the real ‘Xia Ximo.’
“Once I finish what I must do, I will leave.”
Ren Fengjue paused, then could not help asking, “Are you suddenly telling me this because… you are eager to sever all ties with me?”
Something unusual clearly flashed through Xia Ximo’s eyes, but she replied, “There are no ties to sever. There was never anything between us.”
The light in Ren Fengjue’s eyes immediately dimmed.
She saw it and involuntarily lowered her gaze.
“I… understand.”
Ren Fengjue suddenly rose and inclined his head slightly. “In the future… I will be sure to observe the proper boundaries.”
He turned toward the door and nearly collided with Yu Lang.
“My lord, Young Master Zhong is awake. He…”
Yu Lang stopped when he saw how grim Lord Ren looked.
He paused and asked quietly, “My lord, how did you and Miss Xia end up quarreling so early in the morning?”
Ren Fengjue glanced at him. “Get to the point.”
Even his voice was frighteningly cold.
Yu Lang immediately became serious. “Young Master Zhong is awake and asked to see you.”
“Very well.”
Without another word, Ren Fengjue walked straight out of the guest room.
Yu Lang cautiously glanced toward Xia Ximo’s room. Unable to suppress his curiosity, he asked, “Miss Xia, what exactly happened to our Young Marquis?”
Xia Ximo calmly replied, “I do not know.”
Yu Lang could guess that something had happened between them.
But he had never truly expected to get an answer from Xia Ximo.
He merely smiled and hurried after Ren Fengjue.
Inside the guest room, Wuyou could sense that the Soul Ferryman’s heart was in complete turmoil.
Wuyou did not dare emerge and invite a scolding, so they spoke quietly from inside the lantern. “Mogu, there was no need to sever your ties with him in such a hurry. Have you forgotten what the Earth Lord said?
“Your connection extends beyond this lifetime.”
Xia Ximo said, “You are not to mention this again.”
She glanced at the table. Several wontons remained in Ren Fengjue’s bowl, faint trails of steam curling through the cool morning light.