Chapter 8: Guilt

The school corridors were filled with memories.

This was something Jiang Mengxin had heard, and of course, she was feeling sentimental about it right now.

“The last time I walked this path, it was in the opposite direction!”

“What, are you unhappy walking with Lord Mu?”

“Oh, that’s not what I meant.” Jiang Mengxin let out a soft laugh. “I just feel like I’ve suddenly lost something, but gained something else…”

“You lost the river hippo monster who pressured you every day.” Su Mumu lifted her chin. “And you gained the chance to take classes with Lord Mu.”

“Yes, yes, I love Lord Mu the most~~”

“Hey — let go! Your chest is suffocating me!”

“No way! I’m hugging you!”

“1,000 per second.”

“Wow, you might as well just rob me!”

Jiang Mengxin curled her lip and released Su Mumu from her embrace.

Around them, some passing students looked over curiously, but they quickly averted their eyes.

“Looks like the number one spot on the school beauty ranking is about to change,” Jiang Mengxin said.

“Wouldn’t it be better to just take me off the list?” Su Mumu asked.

“I forgot the account password, so I can’t take it down!” Jiang Mengxin replied.

The corridor wasn’t particularly long, but they both happened to stop in a moment of unspoken understanding. Leaning against the wall, they stared blankly at the azure sky.

The breeze felt comfortable.

The sunset glow hid behind the clouds, occasionally piercing through with thin slivers of light that fell upon the patterns of the leaves, making them shimmer brilliantly.

“Is it really okay if we don’t go back to the classroom?” Jiang Mengxin asked.

“Why should we go?” Su Mumu yawned and narrowed her eyes.

“Lao Deng told us to head back,” Jiang Mengxin said.

Su Mumu thought for a moment. “Xin Xin, do you want to go?”

Jiang Mengxin was slightly taken abandoned. “What do you mean?”

“Xin Xin, you’re too serious about everything,” Su Mumu said. “Every time, I worry you’ll get hurt because you work too hard on missions.”

Another gust of wind blew past, fluttering the young girl’s hair.

Jiang Mengxin dazed for a moment. “That won’t happen anymore. Don’t worry.”

Su Mumu was surprised by the answer.

‘Did my best friend finally see the light?’

‘Exactly! Working hard is useless; being a proper salted fish is the only way to enjoy life!’

“Lao Deng made a lot of sense.” Jiang Mengxin sighed, clenching her pink fist. “As long as you have an inner pursuit, you just need to persevere.”

“Inner pursuit?” Su Mumu asked curiously. “What’s your pursuit, Xin Xin? A handsome guy?”

To her surprise, Jiang Mengxin curled her lip. “No way. I’d rather pursue Mumu.”

That was a thunderous statement!

Su Mumu winced instantly. “Huh!?”

Jiang Mengxin showed a triumphant smile. “I’ve got you now, Mumu.”

“I advise you to be kind.” Su Mumu hugged herself in fear.

“I’m just thanking Mumu for helping me vent my frustrations.”

Jiang Mengxin leaned on the edge of the wall, using her arms as a pillow, showing the joy of a young girl. “Leaving the elite class feels like such a relief.”

Su Mumu studied Jiang Mengxin. She seemed to have changed a bit.

“What do you plan to do next?”

“Well… I still have to attain the Dao!” Jiang Mengxin said.

“Attain… the Dao?” Su Mumu was stunned.

“The Changsheng Immortal Sect, the most professional demon catcher academy in the central state, is actually hiding a fox demon — one in human form, at that.”

Jiang Mengxin’s eyes sparkled, as if she could already see an ideal future. “Nobody would believe it if word got out, right?”

The wind stopped.

The sunset glow was covered by thick clouds.

Shadows fell, enveloping everything, including the frozen expression on Su Mumu’s face.

“Since the Xianzong didn’t issue an alert… I’m likely the only one who saw this fox demon?” Jiang Mengxin speculated. “Or maybe others saw her, but the news hasn’t leaked yet.”

“Y-Yeah…” Su Mumu responded.

“I have to catch her. That’s my new goal, and I’m definitely not giving up.” Jiang Mengxin’s gaze practically pierced through the clouds; her eyes were always so bright.

Su Mumu didn’t quite dare to look at her.

However, she quickly adjusted her mindset.

‘Why am I panicking? I’ve already turned back into a human. I’ll never turn into that fox girl again, so what do I have to fear?’

“Mumu, will you help me?”

Jiang Mengxin turned her gaze toward Su Mumu.

The air felt a bit stuffy. Seriously, why did the wind suddenly stop!

Su Mumu smiled. “Of course. I’ll help catch the fox demon too.”

“Waaaah.” Jiang Mengxin rubbed her eyes. “Mumu, it’s so good to have you!”

Then, in a sudden, warm breeze.

As the fragmented sunset glow entered her eyes and blurred her vision for a split second.

Su Mumu felt a gentle embrace.

A pair of soft hands had wrapped around her waist.

“Mumu, you smell a little stinky,” Jiang Mengxin sniffed.

“I… forgot to shower.” Su Mumu felt a bit awkward.

“I don’t mind.”

Jiang Mengxin pressed her face into Su Mumu’s neck.

She was always like this; she was a creature of pure emotion — upright, honest, and brave, able to express her feelings properly.

Su Mumu really liked that about her.

Su Mumu knew she was a bit of a blockhead and was rather dull when it came to interpersonal relationships, so she felt very lucky to have such a friend.

But this time, a heavy sense of guilt surged within her.

It felt as though her heart was clogged with glue, making it difficult to breathe.

Su Mumu lowered her gaze. “I’m sorry.”

Sure enough, Jiang Mengxin was baffled. “Sorry for what?”

“I shouldn’t have caught a cold,” Su Mumu said.

“You don’t need to apologize for that.” Jiang Mengxin was confused.

“I should have dealt with that hippo earlier.” Su Mumu’s voice grew much softer. “I made Xin Xin wait a long time.”

Jiang Mengxin’s soulful eyes fluttered. “Does this count as a confession?”

Su Mumu’s instinctive reaction was to refuse.

But on second thought, she changed her mind. “Whatever you want.”

“Mumu, do you have something on your mind?” Jiang Mengxin suddenly asked.

There were no more students in the corridor.

Class was about to start.

The entire world belonged only to the two of them. In the spacious and quiet environment, they could even hear each other’s heartbeats — or rather, maybe just Su Mumu’s own heartbeat.

Su Mumu mocked herself inwardly.

‘I really can’t hide anything from my best friend…’

“Actually…”

“Mumu, you don’t have to say it. Don’t force yourself,” Jiang Mengxin said.

“Don’t be like that…” Su Mumu felt a bit lost.

Jiang Mengxin was silent for a while, staring at Su Mumu’s face and her flickering, evasive eyes.

After a moment, she asked, “Did Mumu do something very bad?”

“That…” A look of painful conflict appeared on Su Mumu’s face. “I don’t know.”

“Then it’s not bad,” Jiang Mengxin said.

“Huh…?” Su Mumu was dazed.

“My best friend will always be the best,” Jiang Mengxin said.

Su Mumu was even more speechless.

“So, no matter what happens, I’ll always support you. Do whatever you want to do. It’s fine even if you skip school. Everyone has their own thoughts. Let all those worries get lost! Let them vanish into thin air!” Jiang Mengxin said.

Su Mumu’s brow twitched for a moment, her heart filled with a complex mix of emotions.

“Lord Mu, you’re acting fragile,” Jiang Mengxin teased.

“Hmph.” Su Mumu suppressed the trembling in her heart. “It’s all because you were flirting with me, Xin Xin.”

“Is Lord Mu blushing?” Jiang Mengxin covered her mouth.

“Alright, alright. Let’s go back to class.” Su Mumu turned her face away and spoke softly.