Mystique Soul: A Cultivator's Flame
Chapter 82

Chapter 82: Chapter 82

"Sister, I cam find him" Mo Tianze stated, excited to be able to help.

"Oh?" Liang Feng asked. "What can a little kitty do?" He teased making Mo Tianze Puff up.

"I’m a scary fox..." He meekly defended himself.

"Pfft" Feng Jiao Xue tried to hide her laughter as even she sometimes forgets that he is a fox demi-beast, not a kitten. "Ehem" she coughed when Mo Tianze looked at her with a pout.

"Scary Fox, Scary Fox" She agreed with a thumbs up, mirth dancing in her eyes. Remembering how insecure he was before, Feng Jiao Xue is just glad that he is starting to find his own self without being dictated by others who he should be.

"My Mo Tianze is the mightiest of all foxes." Feng Jiao Xue told him sincerely with a small smile.

Mo Tianze’s tail that was flickering proudly puffed up and shyly flickered instead as he bashfully looked down.

"Sister... Sister is the best too" He replied as he held her pinky.

"Ehem, ehem, coming through." Feng Zhenhai walked between them despite the wide berth by their side.

"Your Majesty, no need to worry the juniors. I will personally investigate this matter" Feng Zhenhai spoke up before looking at everyone. "Everyone, thank you for coming to congratulate me on my ascension but seeing this turn of events, it’s best if everyone go back and rest its already late."

The onlookers and guests nodded and bidded goodbye to the emperor first before the patriarch before walking away.

"Man, I bought fireworks and booze for nothing. Old man, here" Feng Haoyang handed the old patriarch the aged wine he was reluctantly saving as he walked away.

"Your majesty, have a pleasant night" Feng Haoran also bowed before bowing again to his father. "Haoran congratulates father again for his safe ascension" he stated sincerely before walking to Feng Haoyang who was starting to flirt with the ladies, twisting his ear and drawing him away.

"Feng girl" The emperor looked at Feng Jiao Xue. "You go rest too. It’s already late"

"Come on, Jiao Xue, I’ll walk you back" Liang Feng immediately offered only to be stopped by his father.

"You, on the other hand, help the Feng Patriarch investigate this matter" The emperor ordered before walking away.

The cool night air carried the scent of damp earth and crushed leaves as Feng Jiao Xue and Mo Tianze descended the mountain path. The moon hung low, casting silver light over the winding trail, while the rustling of unseen creatures echoed softly in the distance. Each step down the slope felt lighter than the weighty silence they had left behind in the emperor’s court.

Yin Xiao secretly followed the two in the shadows, happily try to make their walk romantic enthusiastically. Leading butterflies to them, rustling the leaves with his mists to make the leaves fall, parting branches so that it frames them perfect, while Feng Jiao Xue pretended not to notice the silly machinations of the "sneaky" deer.

Yin Xiao saw a beautiful wild rose bush and bit it, using his mist to float slightly above them, shacking the uprooted bush.

"Woah" Mo Tianze’s eyes brightened as petals rained on them.

Feng Jiao Xue’s lips quirked up slightly.

"Huh?" Feng Jiao Xue stopped Mo Tianze from looking up when dirt also mixed with the petals.

"Must have been blown by the wind." Feng Jiao Xue lied, Yin Xiao covering his eyes with his hooves while chanting "You can’t see me, you can’t see me, i can’t see you so you can’t see me" in his heart.

Mo Tianze nodded and easily believed her as he walked a little ahead, his white tail swaying idly behind him, occasionally brushing against Feng Jiao Xue’s robe. His golden eyes flickered with something contemplative as he kicked a stray pebble down the path, watching it disappear into the darkness.

"Sister" he said suddenly, his voice quieter than usual, "why do people do bad things?"

Feng Jiao Xue slowed her pace. The question was simple, almost childlike, yet it carried a weight that was anything but naive.

She glanced at him, taking in the way his brows furrowed, his lips pressing into a thin line. Mo Tianze had never known the world as kind. He had been shackled, treated as less than human, and yet he still asked with such sincerity, naivety.

"There are many reasons" she said finally. "Fear. Greed. Desperation. Some people do terrible things because they believe they have no other choice."

Mo Tianze hummed, processing her words. He was silent for a few more steps before tilting his head back, looking up at the vast, star-strewn sky. "That official... the one who tried to poison His Majesty. He said he just wanted his wife back."

Feng Jiao Xue exhaled softly. "Yes."

"But if he loved her that much... wouldn’t she hate him for what he did?" Mo Tianze turned to face her, his golden eyes gleaming with curiosity and something deeper, something aching. "Wouldn’t she rather he stayed good?"

Feng Jiao Xue stopped walking. Mo Tianze took a few more steps before realizing and turned to look at her, ears twitching slightly in the wind.

"That depends," she said, voice steady. "Some people believe love can justify anything. Others believe love should never come at the cost of one’s own conscience."

Mo Tianze stared at her for a moment before stepping closer, his expression unreadable. He wasn’t a child, not anymore. There was something almost painfully earnest in his gaze, like he was searching for an answer beyond words.

"Then what about you, Sister?" he asked, his golden eyes turning into slit slightly, undiscernable unless you focus on his pupils, sharp and caculating instead of the ussual purity and clarity it holds "What do you believe?"

"Hm?" Feng Jiao Xue raised a brow at that question.

After some time, Mo Tianze hesitated before speaking again. "Sister, if you ever wanted something badly enough... would you be willing to do something wrong to get it?"

Feng Jiao Xue’s steps slowed, and for a brief moment, she seemed to consider his words. Then, turning her gaze to him, she asked, "And if I said yes, what would you think of me?"

Mo Tianze frowned, clearly not expecting the question to be turned back on him. "I... I don’t know. I don’t think I’d like it. But I also don’t think I’d stop you."

His honesty surprised even himself, and for some reason, it made his ears warm. His fingers twitched at his sides, an impulse to reach for something he didn’t quite understand yet.

Feng Jiao Xue let out a soft chuckle, the sound light and fleeting like falling petals. "Then I suppose it’s a good thing I don’t believe in harming others unless they apharm you first. It creates needless enemies."

Feng Jiao Xue told him based from her expirience before, she reached out, brushing the dirt that has fallen on top of his head, her fingers lingering just a little longer than necessary.

"But sometimes, I wont hesitate to do whats necessary for my goal" she started, then shook her head. " What about you, Tianze?"

He blinked at her, surprised. Then, after a moment, his ears flattened slightly, and his tail flicked in thought. "I think... I don’t want to be the kind of person who would make the people I love sad just to get what I want."

Feng Jiao Xue noted that he only said "people I love" not "people" in general.

A small, almost imperceptible smile tugged at the corner of Feng Jiao Xue’s lips. "Then hold onto that," she murmured, "because the world will try to make you forget."

The night air pressed between them, thick with unspoken things. Mo Tianze watched her, his golden eyes reflecting the starlight, something warm and unknown stirring in his chest. He didn’t understand it yet, not fully, but he wanted to stay by her side, no matter what the world tried to take from him.

Seeing the atmosphere not right, Yin Xiao tilted his head in though before tripping Mo Tianze he had seen ladies do this before.

Feng Jiao Xue would not trip easily but Mo Tianze is an easier target he though.

Condensed mist appeared below Mo Tainze’s foot as he took a step, Yin Xiao concentrating on moving a rock.

As he had expected, Mo Tianze’s eyes widened as he stumbled, Feng Jiao Xue reflexively pulling him to steady him, their eyes widened as they’re lips pressed together.

Yin Xiao’s doe eyes widened as he covered his eyes with his hooves yet peeking between it’s crack.

Feng Jiao Xue and Mo Tianze immediately broke apart. The tips of Feng Jiao Xue’s ears reddening while Mo Tianze was already a full on tomato.

"Come" she said, resuming their walk down the path as if nothing happened. "It’s late."

Mo Tianze nodded, falling into step beside her. And though the night stretched on, though the wind whispered secrets they couldn’t yet name, neither of them felt the cold.