As if hearing the call, Acheron slowly turned her head, her amethyst-like eyes shimmering beneath the moonlight.
She did not respond. Instead, she lightly lifted her foot clad in black high heels and walked toward the two at a composed pace, her shadow stretching long beneath the moonlight.
Just as the two sisters were about to turn their heads, Acheron's cold, ethereal voice suddenly came from behind, carrying a distant echo.
"The evening rain is coming; the silent waters are about to stir."
The expressions of the Mo sisters froze as they turned back blankly to look.
Tap! Tap! Tap!
The crisp sound of footsteps reached their ears clearly, coming from far away and gradually drawing closer, each step seeming to tread directly upon their hearts.
Acheron slowly approached beneath the moonlight, her thin lips parting slightly.
"In the long night ahead, you will likely encounter many setbacks and witness many tragedies.
Finally, all that remains in your sight will be black and white."
In the blink of an eye, Acheron arrived before them, the tips of her purple hair swaying gently in the night breeze, making her look exceptionally cold and captivating.
Mo Xi subconsciously raised her head slightly, her gaze meeting Acheron's directly.
"But please believe that in that black-and-white world, there will be a fleeting speck of red, and when you make your choice
—it will surely manifest once more."
Acheron did not stop. As her sleeves fluttered, she had already passed them by.
The Mo Xi sisters subconsciously turned their heads, their eyes following that purple figure as it slowly moved away.
A night breeze happened to brush past their ears, carrying the chill of the night and delivering Acheron's final murmur to them.
"And you must carefully chew over its meaning, then return to the waking world."
Mo Xi's eyes flickered as she watched the receding figure, her gaze churning with complex and indiscernible emotions.
In a daze, the purple silhouette in her sight seemed to have all its vibrant colors drained away, leaving only monotonous black and white.
Only a striking speck of red, like a congealed drop of blood, stung the eyes in that grayness.
"We will all find the answer there."
As the words fell, everything returned to silence, as if nothing had happened.
Mo Xin and Mo Xi subconsciously glanced at each other, then silently withdrew their gazes.
The same thought occurred to both of them: Was Sister Acheron trying to tell them something, or express something to them?
Mo Xin blinked blankly.
In her moment of brilliance, she finally recalled where she had heard the term [Nihility] before.
Wasn't this exactly what Sparkle had mentioned when visiting Senior Qing Yutong?
Mo Xin (๑°⌓°๑): 'No wonder when I first met Sister Yutong, the impression Senior gave me was so familiar. She's just a weakened version of Sister Acheron!'
A short while later.
The three sisters successfully returned home.
After entering the living room, they were greeted by their parents' concern.
"You're back?"
"How was shopping as three sisters? New Year's Eve is coming soon; is it very lively outside?"
"Exactly! Mom, come look at this..."
Having never experienced such a lively and affluent New Year's Eve, Mo Xin soon began chatting enthusiastically with Mo Qing. The two of them huddled together, chirping away, discussing the exquisite desserts on the table and then the New Year's clothes, their eyes full of excitement.
Seeing her mother greeting them warmly, Mo Xi wanted to stay quietly on the side but was pulled over by her sister without a word.
Looking at the scene of laughter and joy before her, a hint of warmth quietly rose in her heart.
Acheron held a peach, not participating in the lively discussion and simply sitting quietly to the side.
Just then, she felt something on her shoulder, carrying a faint warmth.
Turning her head, she saw that it was a coat handed over by Ye Guizhou. He was standing beside her, a hint of concern in his otherwise expressionless eyes.
"Be careful not to catch a cold."
Ye Guizhou tucked the coat around her shoulders.
"Thank you."
Acheron nodded slightly.
With her constitution, this bit of night breeze was nothing at all, so she naturally wouldn't catch a cold.
But she didn't refuse the warmth, letting the coat's warmth envelop her.
...
New Year's Eve was approaching.
The parents were particularly attentive to this year's family reunion, not only listing the New Year's Eve dinner menu a week in advance but also specifically buying new spring couplets and 'Fu' characters, decorating the house with a festive atmosphere.
However, considering Mo Xin had classes the next day, the festivities didn't last too late.
Mo Xin: "Feed me peanuts!"
In Mo Xin's room, a warm yellow desk lamp cast a soft light.
She burrowed herself entirely into the fluffy blankets, with only her puffed-up little head showing, grumbling indignantly at the ceiling.
"As the protagonist who will protect world peace in the future, why do I still need to attend classes! I even have to think about how not to fail my courses!"
After muttering to herself for a long time, Mo Xin finally lost her steam, slumping limply on the bed and staring blankly at the ceiling, her previous indignant tone long gone.
After a while, she suddenly turned onto her side, her fingers skillfully reaching under the pillow. After fumbling around for a moment, she pulled out an exquisite mask.
"Hiss—I shouldn't be that unlucky, right?"
This was precisely the White Fox Mask Sparkle had once given her.
Because this thing was such a scam, she had taken the opportunity to hide it in the safest place she could think of.
Thinking of Acheron's hints today (though she didn't understand them), combined with the recent unusual situation in Muyun City, Mo Xin felt increasingly uneasy.
She unconsciously took the mask out from under the pillow again, examining it carefully.
"I really hate riddle-makers the most in this life... except for Sister Acheron."
Mo Xin turned the mask over and over, examining it several times, but still found nothing.
If it weren't for Master Yunli advising her not to throw it away yet, plus the case of Sister Yutong, she would have tossed this scammy thing away long ago to save herself from the frustration!
After all, besides playing pranks and teasing people, what else could this thing do?
But then, Mo Xin's eyes suddenly darted: "Maybe I should let Stelle try wearing it another day."
After a long while, Mo Xin, unable to figure anything out, put the mask away properly, thinking it might come in handy sometime.
...
On the other side, in Mo Xi's room, the warm yellow light illuminated the entire room.
She sat by the bed, looking at the gift box on the bed with a complex gaze, her heart full of surprise and curiosity.
A few minutes ago.
When the door was lightly knocked, Acheron was standing outside, her purple robes shimmering faintly beneath the hallway lights.
"Though it's a bit early, Happy New Year."
With that, Acheron casually took out a gift box longer than her own arm from her sleeve.
Mo Xi: (●—●)?
Mo Xi looked at the gift box, and after a moment of hesitation, she gently opened it.
Her fingers trembled slightly, her heart full of expectation and tension.
The moment the gift box opened, the item inside was presented directly before Mo Xi's eyes.
Her eyes widened as she looked at the New Year's gift Acheron had given her in surprise, a joyful smile appearing on her face.
"This... this is?"
She never expected Acheron to give her such a gift, and her heart was filled with emotion.
The New Year's gift Acheron had given her was neither a delicate ornament nor an interesting toy, but a snow-white long sword.
Mo Xi's jade-like hands trembled slightly as she carefully took the long sword out of the gift box.
The blade was long and slender, feeling warm and fitting perfectly in her hand, clearly a style designed specifically for women.
Her fingertips gently brushed over the blade, feeling the delicate patterns on it, her gaze involuntarily drawn to the sword's body.
The sword's body was crystal clear, and as she held it, she could feel the icy texture of the metal. However, its color was not dull like ordinary iron. Instead, it was as clear as ice and snow, shimmering with a faint cold light beneath the lamp that made one afraid to look directly at it.
At this time, Old Meng in her mind also happened to see this item.
"I didn't expect your sister to be so thoughtful?"
Although Mo Xi could condense weapons herself using her Special Ability, it was always more convenient to have a weapon of her own for regular use.
Acheron's New Year's gift had just solved her urgent need.
Mo Xi couldn't help but smile sweetly as she placed it into the matching scabbard in the gift box.
"Frost like snow, the sword's ring like the sound of ice cracking in the netherworld... From now on, I shall call you 'Frost Spring Sword'!"