Flame red

Yanhong went to pick up her.

After eating, Hu Li sat on the sofa expressionlessly, watching the commercials on TV, but her eyes were obviously not on those colorful pictures, and she didn't know if she was thinking or just in a daze.

Mu Yu wanted to ask something, but in the end he felt that even if he knew, he couldn't help Hu Li.At most, it can only be used as an outlet for her to say something that she can't say in front of others. Compared with thinking about it in silence by herself, maybe it would be better to talk to others.

She thought about the time before, when she was alone in the shadow of the snake demon, swaying restlessly, fearing that one day her hands would be stained with red blood.

Layers of danger lay ahead, but the people they depended on sank into the darkness one by one. Mu Yu searched following the peaceful and stable voice of his grandmother, and finally came to Yan Hong.

——If one day she harms that child...

Yan Hong lazily told Mu Yu that when that day came, she would leave.

Mu Yu remembered that night when Yan Hong lay on the bed and looked at him, her eyes were as cold and quiet as a lake, without any fluctuation or emotion.But it was precisely because of this gaze that she felt at ease.

Because looking at Yan Hong like this, she won't give her any chance to hurt herself anytime and anywhere.

Compared to the books and movies where she desperately jumps into a danger that does not belong to her for someone else, Yanhong's almost selfish calm makes Mu Yu trust her from the bottom of her heart, and even has the slightest expectation that she will continue like this forever .

After sitting with Hu Li in the living room for about an hour, he heard movement from the direction of the door.

They turned their heads as if frightened, and saw Yan Hong walking in slowly, alone.

The child put his eyes straight on Hu Li, with a quiet and serious expression on his face.

Then she asked clearly word by word, "Do you believe that there are things in this world that you must do?"

Yan Hong asked this question an hour ago, but Hu Li didn't give any answer at that time.But now, Yan Hong asked her again, her tone was serious, her expression was quiet, and she would not stop until she got an answer.

Hu Li took a deep breath, Mu Yu thought she was finally going to give an answer, but the man still didn't answer whether he believed it or not this time, but asked in a helpless tone: "Is she here?"

"..."

Yan Hong narrowed her eyes, then turned sideways.Mu Yu saw Jian Xiangli walking in with a girl behind his back. His forehead hair was very long, covering his eyebrows, but he seemed too weak, making the exorcist almost hold his breath with care in every move.

Hu Li frowned, a hint of surprise appeared on her originally expressionless face, and then anxiety gradually became apparent.She stood up from the sofa and took two steps forward.

But then stopped again.

Hu Li didn't go forward directly—maybe he planned to do so, but after taking two steps, he froze in place again, staring blankly at the girl.

Yan Hong looked away, clicked her tongue obviously, then ignored her, and directly asked Jian Xiangli to send the girl to her room.

Mu Yu hesitated for a while, and finally followed.

When she was heading towards Yanhong's room, she sneaked a sneak peek at Hu Li, and found that the man was standing there, his shoulders tensed, his loose black hair hanging down the side of his face, and he couldn't see his expression clearly.

That girl's name is Gu He, she seems to live in a far away place, and she wears a school uniform that Mu Yu doesn't recognize.The forehead hair is very long, but it is very beautiful, prettier than Yanhong and many other girls.

Gu He was drowsy and breathless, reminding Mu Yu of the time when he was haunted by evil spirits.Jian Xiangli turned his head to look at the energy-saving lamp, and then said to Yan Hong, "Turn off the light."

Yan Hong nodded, then turned off the energy-saving lamp, leaving a desk lamp dimly lit.The room suddenly became dark, and the figure was distinct.

Without Hu Li's help, Mu Yu would not be able to see the ghosts, but from the changes in the expressions of Jian Xiangli and Yan Hong, she could tell that after the lights went out, the scene in the room must be very scary.

The exorcist clicked his tongue, then asked where the bathroom was.

Mu Yu pointed in a direction, and he walked over quickly.Yan Hong stayed here, turning her head and looking around, as if she was observing something.

"I knew it was not easy to take the exam even if you can't see it with your eyes." She muttered.

Looking at Gu He, who was breathing weakly, Mu Yu put his hand on Yan Hong's shoulder without leaving any trace, and shook it firmly.After the child turned her head in doubt, she said slowly, "When I was young...it is said that I also experienced such a time."

Yan Hong was taken aback. "Why?"

"I..." Mu Yu turned his head and looked outside the door, thinking about what Hu Li was doing at this time, and why he was so trapped that he didn't come in to take a look at Gu He.Finally she sighed and went on to explain. "Because I was entangled by evil spirits, and I fell into a coma because I didn't get timely treatment. Grandma used the inner alchemy of the snake demon to save my life."

"Don't you know it?"

"Well, I remembered it not long ago."

"Then why didn't you tell me?"

She looked at Yan Hong's somewhat annoyed expression, and said lightly: "...There is no practical solution, so what's the point of talking about it?"

"I said it..." Yan Hong didn't seem to think about what to do next, she hesitated for a while, and finally frowned seriously and said to Mu Yu: "I said it, maybe I won't live in school."

Mu Yu was taken aback.

Jian Xiangli brought a bowl of clean water, holding a chopstick in his hand.

They interrupted their conversation and watched the exorcist put clear water on the head of the bed and stand the chopsticks in the water casually. When he let go, the chopsticks stood up without adjusting the support point.

"...Damn it." Jian Xiangli frowned and muttered. "I was caught without saying anything."

Mu Yu couldn't see what was going on, and looked puzzled, while Yan Hong heheed a little stiffly, and said, "They are simply declaring their sovereignty."

Jian Xiangli glanced at the door, and Mu Yu felt that he was wondering why Hu Li didn't come yet.

Then he said: "Gu He can't die, if he dies, he will be in big trouble."

"Then what should we do?" Yan Hong asked.

The exorcist didn't answer right away, but just tilted his head and gestured to the living room.

Yan Hong sighed, Mu Yu thought about it, and said to them: "I'll go talk to Hu Li."

"Ah."

In fact, why Gu He's life and death had something to do with Hu Li, Mu Yu still didn't quite understand, when she walked out of the room, she remembered that she was able to survive back then, it seemed that it was because the inner alchemy of the snake demon was put into her body.Now the exorcist probably wants to take out Hu Li's inner alchemy to save people, right?

Mu Yu didn't know what would happen after the monster took out the inner alchemy, whether it would become extremely fragile like on TV and would die if he was not careful.

If that's the case - she suddenly remembered that Jian Xiangli had fought Hu Li before, and she immediately felt a chill down her back.

If this was the case, then the exorcist might take advantage of this to kill Hu Li.

The reason why Hu Li hesitated, not even approaching the room, was probably because of this consideration.

Then, as Hu Li's close friend and as a human being, if all assumptions are true, should Mu Yu persuade her to save Gu He, or let her go?

She was a little conflicted, and even found that she would have a day when she felt conflicted.

Hu Li was not in the living room, Mu Yu walked around, and finally found her on the balcony.

The man sat on the railing with his back to the night sky and the shining city.I don't know if the expression on his face is soft and distant because of the light of thousands of families against the light.

Mu Yu walked slowly in front of Hu Li, half joking and half serious, and said, "You don't think you can't think about it and prepare to jump down?"

Hu Li smiled. "You can't die from this height."

"Then what are you doing here? Cultivate your temperament?" Mu Yu asked.

"I'm looking at my own shadow."

Following Hu Li's gaze, Mu Yu saw her shadow sitting on the railing printed on the balcony floor, with eight tails stretched out like lotus flowers behind her slender figure.

"...Unexpectedly, after so many years, you still have eight tails." Mu Yu muttered.

Hu Li sighed. "Do you think it's that simple to practice?" After she finished speaking, she hesitated again, and asked cautiously, "What's wrong with that girl?"

Mu Yu tilted his head and said, "Since you're worried, why don't you go and see for yourself?"

The other party smiled, and there was a little loneliness in that smile. "Anyway, she won't ask me for help in the end. I look at it, and I can only try to feel uncomfortable."

"But..." Mu Yu frowned, looking at Hu Li's plain and lonely expression.

--strangeness.

It is true that Hu Li and Gu He must have a deep relationship, and maybe something happened between them.But even though worry could be seen in Hu Li's eyes now, compared with it, there were more contradictions.

What is she contradicting, and why is she so conflicted that she doesn't want to look at Gu He?

Mu Yu hesitated for two seconds, then asked her: "Do you know why Gu He fainted?"

Hu Li didn't respond at all, staring at her own shadow on the floor, she didn't answer, but Mu Yu knew from that person's calm and indifferent expression that this question was a bit redundant.

After being silent for a few seconds, Hu Lichai said slowly, "I was told by an old fortune-teller who was not very pleasant... that before the ninth tail grows, there will be a person who will never leave me for the rest of his life."

"Isn't this great?" Mu Yu said.

Hu Li smiled wryly and looked at her. "You think it's because of love?"

"I didn't say that. I just suddenly remembered that you said before that the happiest thing in this world is to be needed by others."

"……Um."

Hu Li told Mu Yu that when he heard the old fortune-teller say that, he had been blindly expecting to be happy for a long time.I really think that those who need me must miss her day and night, rely on and trust me wholeheartedly.

"I don't understand the standard of being loved or being a lover," she said. "However, I still prefer to think that being missed and relied on all the time should be the so-called love?"

"...You can understand this way, right?" Mu Yu frowned and muttered.

"I want to be loved so much by someone." Hu Li said flatly, without feeling embarrassed.But then a slight sarcasm flashed across her face. "So, after meeting the person who was said to be inseparable from me, I took it for granted that I would be loved."

"It's just that everything doesn't seem to be within your expectations."

"... Gu He doesn't rely on me." The man nodded. "Even if she was injured by monsters, her body will become weaker and weaker once she leaves me. But she is not willing to rely on me at all. Even if I offered to help, I would definitely be rejected."

——Confirmed that Gu He would not accept him, so he didn't come forward just now?

Mu Yu pondered in his heart, and found that even this old fox who lived for 2000 years is sometimes fragile and sensitive inside, completely inconsistent with his easy-going appearance.

She wanted to say something to comfort her, but before she could say it, Hu Li suddenly smiled again. "Then, I decided to leave her and come to you. Apart from Gu He, the only one who needs me in this world is you."

——However, even you, Mu Yu, have that child named Yan Hong by your side.

The old fox said so quietly.

Mu Yu suddenly didn't know what to say, he shut his mouth and looked at her quietly.

Hu Li sighed, seemed to be talking to himself, and laughed in a low voice as if expressing emotion: "It's just that, later on, I found out that after leaving Gu He, I began to miss that guy day and night instead."

"Then go and see her." Mu Yu said.

"..."

"To be honest, Gu He's situation is not good, even if he needs you, he can't say anything." She gestured to the direction of the room, and then told Hu Li thoughtfully. "But I think that maybe she is so independent that she doesn't want to accept you now, but as the most shameless fox, if you want Gu He to realize your existence, why doesn't she have the cheek to stay by her side for 2000 years? "

"...What the hell is that playful fox."

"Don't just let go and leave just because you feel lonely. You know that she can't leave you, and the same means that you can't leave her." Mu Yu sighed, then waved his hand, and found that the role of comforting and persuading others was not suitable for him, so he Straightforward advice. "How do you say that her situation now seems to be very similar to that of me who was haunted by evil spirits before, don't worry about anything, you are the only one in this room who can save Gu He, and you don't want her to have an accident, do you? "

Hu Li frowned slightly, but obediently obeyed her and jumped off the railing.

They came to the room together, and as soon as they stepped through the door, the expression on Hu Li's face sank, and his eyes turned cold for a few minutes.After that, Jian Xiangli didn't need to say anything, a faint blue fox fire flowed out from under his feet like ripples, and he insisted on enveloping the whole room.

Mu Yu was taken aback by the fire, and then heard Yan Hong crying, please don't burn my books too, please.

But Hu Li obviously didn't listen to her words, a threatening heat wave rolled around, the air seemed to be suffocated like boiling, under the dim light of the desk lamp, the books scattered on the desk and bookcase all spontaneously ignited, surrounded by clusters of ghosts. Devoured by the blue foxfire.

And in the blue that jumped up from the head of the bed, countless struggling and screaming faces were clearly seen, passing by in a flash, burning silently until reaching the ceiling, then the ground, and finally Jian Xiangli yelled to move away quickly !

Yan Hong rushed to Mu Yu and pushed her to the corner.

In this small room, the air was restless and scorching hot, and the foxfire kept churning and stirring like a shark trapped in a fish tank, burning blurred faces one after another.

The pages of the book that had been burnt to ashes floated in it, chaotic and tragic, Yan Hong broke down and kept muttering about what to do with my homework.Mu Yu could only casually wrap her in his arms and perfunctorily comfort her, saying that I'll explain it to you later.

In this chaos, only Gu He on the bed remained as quiet as before.Let the fox fire rage, don't move a bit.

Hu Li seemed to be contending with something. Those 2000 years of cultivation should be able to crush ordinary ghosts and evildoers, but now the fox fire in the air seemed to be blocked by something, and rushed to the window several times, but couldn't help it. It was shattered out of thin air and scattered in the corners.

"Get out." She warned coldly.

But for a long time there was no movement at all, the fox fire sweeping in front of the window was still being shattered, and as time passed, Mu Yu clearly saw more and more obvious anger on Hu Li's face, a pair of eyes like glass beads Reflecting the faint blue in the sky, it is as cold and cold as a glacier.

"I said, get out." She warned again.The voice sank a lot, and then, his expression suddenly paused.

It seemed that something provoked Hu Li, saying that his words had touched some inviolable bottom line, which directly caused the obvious outburst of anger.

In an instant, the fox fire became even more rampant like an overwhelming sea. It seemed to be out of control, wrapping around the faces of the people and spreading around.The increasingly hot wave made people unable to see the surroundings clearly, as if it had eroded into the body, and all internal organs were burned to death.

Mu Yu turned his face away in pain, his consciousness was gradually blurred due to suffocation, and in this confusion, he felt uncomfortable as if someone was holding his throat tightly.

She seemed to hear Hu Li roaring: "I can save her!"

"...Too bad." Jian Xiangli at the side was startled suddenly, whispered something, and rushed towards Hu Li regardless of the flames on the ground.

—what's wrong?Is Hu Li going to demolish the house?

Mu Yu unconsciously muttered in his heart, the arms around Yan Hong tightened even more, the child tried to break free several times, but failed.She lowered her head slowly, and suddenly remembered that on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month of that year, the second sister-in-law of the neighbor's house was crushed to death by the cowshed. She was standing on the roof, looking at a big hairy monkey hugging her in the mess. A bloody baby flashed into the opposite street corner.

But the burst of blood in the air seemed to drift from memory to reality.

She opened her mouth and blurted out: "Tu Xin." The voice was obviously not Mu Yu himself.

The surroundings suddenly became quiet.Mu Yu didn't know whether he lost consciousness or because Hu Li stopped burning and anger.

And after that, she only heard herself asking in a cold and soft voice in a voice that didn't belong to her: "Do you believe that there are things in this world that are only for you?"

Mu Yu heard Yan Hong calling her name in a low voice.But she couldn't answer.