This was a heart-wrenching issue for Anthony.
Next, he was forced to watch helplessly as Pei Chiyao began gently tempting Zhi Yao to make him an even bigger pom-pom, bigger than the one Ji Qingpei had.
But Zhi Yao couldn't bear to do it, just the fur she had already given caused her immense pain.
Left with no choice, Pei Chiyao had to play his trump card, "Yao Yao, you should know, right? Among the three of us, only I can touch the objects in this world. You really wanted to eat the candied hawthorn fruit sold on the street just now, didn't you? If you make me a pom-pom, I'll take you to eat it later."
This tactic of coaxing like a three-year-old child left Anthony speechless.
But Zhi Yao was truly tempted...
"Really?" The little girl swallowed hard, thinking of the large and beautiful candied hawthorn fruit from earlier, Zhi Yao couldn't hold back anymore.
"Of course it's true."
Alright... for the candied hawthorn fruit, she would reluctantly pluck some more fur...
Zhi Yao began plucking her fur, and while she and Pei Chiyao were both distracted, Pei Chiyao's palm faced the spirit tablet lying on the ground. With a slight application of spiritual power, a transparent light ball emerged from the spirit tablet - the same one that had appeared in the illusion earlier.
This... was what he had left behind at the time.
Now he could take it back.
No one noticed his actions, and by the time he was finished, Zhi Yao had finally made the pom-pom.
The poor girl was so heartbroken that she "whooshed" her big tail back as soon as she finished making the big pom-pom.
"Here you go." Zhi Yao reluctantly handed the big pom-pom to Pei Chiyao.
Pei Chiyao took it, and instantly his entire palm was filled with the big pom-pom, the fluffy touch making him love it to the extreme. Most importantly... the pom-pom in his hand was much bigger than the one Ji Qingpei had.
Pei Chiyao slightly curled his lips, finally revealing an extremely satisfied smile, "Thank you, my little girl, good girl."
It was only because Pei Chiyao offered candied hawthorn fruit in exchange that Zhi Yao reluctantly parted with her beloved fur.
To be honest, Zhi Yao hadn't seen candied hawthorn fruit in a long time. When she was little and went out to play, the streets were filled with candied hawthorn fruit vendors, but she had no money and couldn't steal or rob, so she had never eaten candied hawthorn fruit before.
"Can you take me to eat candied hawthorn fruit now?"
"Of course."
Pei Chiyao took the little girl's hand and smiled softly, "Good girl, I'll take you now."
The group left the Ji family shrine and went to find candied hawthorn fruit to eat.
Following behind the two of them, Anthony was completely dumbfounded.
Wait... weren't they here to find a way to remove Zhi Yao's seal? Why had it now become about pom-poms and candied hawthorn fruit?! What the hell is this?
Watching Pei Chiyao actually buy Zhi Yao a string of candied hawthorn fruit, Anthony was utterly dejected and miserable, especially now that he knew Pei Chiyao was the reincarnation of his own ancestor. He really didn't want to be around Pei Chiyao anymore and had no idea what kind of attitude to take when facing him...
Just as Anthony was about to sneak away, suddenly there was a loud neighing sound in his ear.
Chaos ensued as the out-of-control horse and carriage charged straight towards him.
Anthony stood still, expressionless, not the least bit flustered because he knew this thing couldn't touch him.
Then...
Three seconds later, Anthony was struck.
Like a kite that broke free of its string, he fell to the ground in a free fall.
With a "poof," Anthony coughed up a mouthful of fresh blood.
Zhi Yao, who had been eating candied hawthorn fruit, suddenly snapped back to attention and saw Anthony lying in a pool of blood not far away. She froze for a moment, then tugged on Pei Chiyao's sleeve and said, "Pei Chiyao, that person, he looks kind of familiar, doesn't he?"
"Take out the 'kind of,' and that person is Anthony."
Pei Chiyao stood with his arms crossed, calmly watching from where he was, clearly not intending to go over and check on Anthony's condition.
Zhi Yao was stunned, saying in disbelief, "But... but why?! Weren't we not supposed to be able to touch anything in this place?!"
Wasn't it said that Xuanling Town was a town that didn't actually exist? The only reason they could enter was because there was still residual spiritual power left on this land from the former Xuanling Town. As long as someone with a past connection or destiny with Xuanling Town approached, they would see this scene, like a mirage. But this "mirage" wouldn't last long before automatically disappearing.
Pei Chiyao didn't answer Zhi Yao's question. Not far away, Anthony was moaning in pain.
Zhi Yao couldn't dwell on it any longer. Without waiting for Pei Chiyao's answer, she hurried over, "Anthony, Anthony, are you okay?"
She reached out to shake Anthony, but unexpectedly, Zhi Yao didn't control her strength, and the bone that was almost but not quite broken in Anthony snapped with a "crack."
Zhi Yao: "..."
Anthony: "I... thank you... entire family... ah!"
He was fine before, but Zhi Yao's intervention made him not fine.
The little girl withdrew her hand guiltily and said apologetically, "Sorry, sorry, I'll help you set it back."
She raised her hand, wanting to use her spiritual power to heal Anthony, but then Zhi Yao remembered - she didn't have any spiritual power! She had a little bit of meager spiritual power when she was in the Fox Village before, but now, she truly had not a single shred of spiritual power left.
But the moment this thought appeared, a continuous stream of spiritual power burst forth from Zhi Yao's palm, pouring into Anthony's body. The excruciating pain in Anthony's body miraculously subsided at that moment?
What... what's going on?!
The person who had collided with Anthony also rushed over in a hurry to check on Anthony's injuries. "I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry! My horse was startled just now and spooked you. My apologies! Are you alright?"
Seeing Anthony covered in fresh blood, it seemed he was likely not alright.
However, Anthony suddenly scrambled up from the ground, pointing at the person in disbelief and exclaiming, "You... you can actually see me?!"
