ed angrily at Xu Yaqi, growling, "Are you done! If you hurt Mu Xiaqiao again, I—""What do you want! Do you love her or not! She's carrying your child!" Xu Yaqi screamed crazily, "You go save yourselve...I had a nightmare all night. Mu Yunliang was covered in muscle and his eyes bulged, scaring me so much that I woke up drenched in cold sweat. I also dreamt of that bloody ghost face laughing maniacally.

When I woke up, I instinctively covered my abdomen. The warmth coming from there allowed me to feel a little more at ease. It was the early morning hours, and my brother and the others were still dealing with the peeling and soul-fixing ritual. My brother sent a message saying that Uncle Cheng Su had come overnight to handle the matter.

I sat up, hugging my knees, trying to calm myself. The bed beside me shifted slightly, and Jiang Qiyun lay on his side, his eyes fixed on me with a cold intensity.

"You're here... Is there any way I can make myself not see these things" I laughed bitterly, such horrifying corpses were too frightening.

"Can't you see Wouldn't that make you even more afraid The unknown is what terrifies people the most." Jiang Qiyun said faintly.

My hand unconsciously stroked my stomach. Perhaps this is a natural instinct after pregnancy, a completely unconscious action. I sighed and said, "I'm always so startled, I'm worried I'll scare the baby. People say that when you're pregnant, you should look at beautiful things. All I see are ghosts and blood corpses..."

Jiang Qiyun's eyes darkened slightly, and he said in a low voice, "He's not that weak. If that ghost had just attacked you, he would have blocked it. Now he's just immune to evil. When he's formed, all the evil energy attacking him will be destroyed by him. Then—"

He paused, frowned, and said no more.

"Then I wouldn't have to be afraid Even if there's evil energy that attacks me, he would protect Mom" I comforted myself with a smile.

Jiang Qiyun's face was somber, his gaze on me was too complex. A look of pity flashed across his eyes, I wasn't sure if I had misjudged him, he seemed to be unwilling to speak about certain matters.

》》》

At the grand ceremony of worshipping deities the next day, everyone was dressed in Taoist robes and wore their hair styled in topknots. I was no exception. After my brother helped me into my robe, it took him a long time to style my hair properly.

"They say long hair means shortsightedness, Xiao Qiao, why don't you consider cutting your hair a bit It's grown to your waist already, don't you find it troublesome" He pinned my hairpin in place and patted my back: "Alright, Fairy, please go down the mountain."

I laughed at my own attire, finding it quite amusing. I pranced in front of Jiang Qiyun, turning half a circle and asking, "Your Majesty, with so many people dressed up like this to celebrate your birthday, don't you find it rather ridiculous"

Jiang Qiyun's lips curled up slightly: "It gets boring after you've seen it too much."

His indifferent chuckle tugged at my heartstrings. A thousand years felt unimaginable in my eyes, and I imagined this old man had little interest in anything.

"Come on, Qiao!" my brother urged.

I used to think Taoist robes were worn by old men, preferably with a few white whiskers, looking like they embodied the essence of immortality. It wasn't until I saw Situ Lin that I realized Taoist robes could also be fashionable.

"Dude, are you here to model" I couldn't help teasing him.

He usually dressed in a suit and tie, so suddenly changing into this, he also felt a little awkward. He asked in a low voice, "Is it strange"

I stifled a smile and shook my head, listening to the real person above reciting the *Fengdu Baoji*. I could recite this text in my sleep, "Great compassion, great mercy, Great Saint, great compassion…" Is he really a compassionate deity

At the very least, he wasn't a compassionate and merciful man towards me. Perhaps my fantasy of calling him "husband" was too much, or maybe I gave my heart and soul to someone I shouldn't have. What kind of ordinary feelings could there possibly be between us

Seeing so many people devoutly bowing and worshipping, I couldn't help but think of his despicable behavior when we were intimate. My face felt hot, and I could only lower my head to try and hide it.

After the sacrifice, the heads of each family, school, and sect met behind closed doors in a side hall to discuss matters. I stood behind my older brother, feeling that these things had nothing to do with me.

Jiang Qiyun seemed unwilling for me to intervene. Last time, when I jokingly mentioned helping maintain the formation in Huangdao Village, his face turned as cold as frost, scaring me into silence.

So I just stood there, acting as a soy sauce bottle, listening until I heard my name come out of Old Madam Shen's mouth.

"...It's enough that someone from the Mu family stands out. Mu Xia Qiao will be ready in two months, right In two months, she—"

"Old woman, at your age, you should watch your words. Are there some things that can't be said publicly!" My brother interrupted Old Mrs. Shen without considering his junior status, and spoke unceremoniously.

Me What does this have to do with me I dazedly looked up.

There are about forty people in this room, all from families and sects involved in maintaining the magic formation. My brother yelled at Old Madam Shen, making her face turn black with anger. She let out a heavy snort, barely containing her urge to continue speaking.

Shen Qingrui didn't care about that. She wished there was a chance to hit me. She sneered, "Young Master Mu, even if you are the acting head of the family, remember your junior status. The fact that you can sit here is already a concession from the elders. Don't be too presumptuous. You have no right to yell at my grandmother!"

Her mocking gaze fell on me: “The reason your Mu family is treated with such importance is because of Mu Xia Qiao, isn’t it If it weren't for the significance of the child in her womb, we would not tolerate your many rude behaviors”

"Shen Qingrui, some words once uttered become karmic obstacles. Keep your mouth shut!" My brother's face was unusually serious.

I looked at everyone in the room, almost everyone avoided my gaze. I tugged on my brother's sleeve and asked, "What's going on What does this have to do with me... Brother, is there something you're hiding from me"

Shen Qingrui sneered, "Of course it's none of your business. Otherwise, do you think you could have lived to this day If it weren't for the fact that your stomach is somewhat useful—"

“That’s enough!” Si Tu Lin suddenly shouted, stood up and glared at Shen Qingrui unpleasantly: “Is it just me who thinks Miss Xiao Qiao made a great sacrifice How can anyone use vicious language to attack her Miss Shen, please pay attention to your tone of voice.”

Shen Qingrui wasn't polite to me at all, and Old Madam Shen also adopted a turn-a-blind-eye attitude towards her. She sneered with confidence: "Young Master Situ, why are you so nervous You'd think she had your child in her belly."

Sipu Lin frowned, a trace of coldness flashing in his eyes.

"What's meant to be will be. Mu Xiaqiao's fate was already decided long ago. What's the point of saying it out loud Just like you guys hiding it from her, pretending everything is fine in the world" Shen Qingrui's haughty voice rang out.

I took two deep breaths and looked at my brother. He had a cold expression on his face and said, “Xiao Qiao, don’t glare at me, I just wanted to find an opportunity to slowly talk to you.”

I nodded and said, "Okay, I'll hear you later... Shen Qingrui, can I speak to you for a moment I want to hear what you have to say."

Shen Qingrui let out a sneer. "Fine, I'm not one to sugarcoat things. Don't come crying to me later saying I bullied you... You're good at charming men, I wouldn't want the men around you to resent me."

She walked out of the side hall, arms clasped, as she spoke. I broke free from my brother's grasp and chased after her.earing flesh and bone. My hands were covered in blood.The dragon ring in his hand dimmed several times, like a frightened child gritting its teeth and enduring the pain before suddenly erupting with...