Mu Anxiao observed Jiong Ye’s reaction with a calm expression. Just as she was about to speak, Jiong Ye sincerely said, "I'm sorry," and handed the rope to Mu Anxiao.
Seeing this, Mu Anxiao immediately realized the gravity of the situation. She quickly took the rope, her eyes widening as she exclaimed, "This is bad." As she gently tugged the rope, she discovered… it had already broken into two pieces.
Jiong Ye meticulously observed Mu Anxiao’s demeanor, feeling guilty. “I just saw you dropped something on the ground and thought I’d help you pick it up. Who knew,” he dared not lie, “as soon as I picked it up, the thing over there started to struggle. If I hadn’t been quick-witted just now, I would have been dragged away. I… I’m sorry.” He lowered his head.
Under Jiong Ye’s detailed explanation, Mu Anxiao sighed softly and said, “Ignorance is not a crime. Perhaps,” her eyes darkened, “it was not meant to die.”
“You’ve really caused big trouble,” the female monster deliberately teased Jiong Ye while he was feeling guilty.
As expected, Jiong Ye dared not react at all this time.
Instead, Mu Anxiao shifted her gaze directly to the female monster’s face. “Your business isn’t finished yet, and you’re already showing off here. It seems,” she narrowed her eyes, her gaze inadvertently falling on the female monster’s injured hand, “your hand has healed.”
The female monster smiled.
Upon hearing this, Mu Anxiao was about to continue threatening the female monster when the latter suddenly grabbed Jiong Ye’s arm. Mu Anxiao saw this and sternly reprimanded, “What are you doing?”
Jiong Ye looked bewildered.
“A hostage, understand?” the female monster said, pointing her claws towards Jiong Ye’s neck while backing away a few steps with him.
Mu Anxiao dared not act rashly, remaining in place and asking, “What exactly do you want?”
“My actions are quite clear,” the female monster said, spitting a breath towards Jiong Ye. Jiong Ye lowered his head.
Looking at the female monster’s action, Mu Anxiao couldn't help but blame herself. But… she thought that as things had come to this, no matter how much she blamed herself, it had already happened. The most important thing now was to solve the problem.
Thinking this, she immediately cleared her mind of superfluous thoughts and said coldly, “You want to live.”
“Let me go, and I’ll let him go. Otherwise,” the female monster sneered, “I guarantee he won’t have an easy time.”
“You can have me let you go too,” Mu Anxiao said, intentionally hiding her concern for Jiong Ye. “But I’ll say it upfront, this is Ouyang Ye’s territory. Whether you can live or not depends on him.”
“As long as you plead for me, he will definitely let me go,” the female monster said confidently.
“Alright, I promise you.” Mu Anxiao didn’t know what the demon sword was thinking, but she knew that if Jiong Ye really died, the demon sword would also be sad. Therefore, for the sake of the demon sword, she had to save Jiong Ye’s life.
Seeing this, the female monster smiled. “I never expected you, little immortal, to be so loyal to monsters.”
“It’s none of your business. Let him go, and I’ll go back with you to find Ouyang Ye. You…”
“I’ve changed my mind,” the female monster said suddenly.
Upon hearing this, Mu Anxiao’s face fell. “What do you mean by that?” She was quickly losing patience with the female monster.
The female monster smiled. “I suddenly thought that if I went back with you now, it would be suicidal. So, I’m lowering my demands.”
“Lowering your demands?” Mu Anxiao felt a sense of unease the moment the female monster said that.
“Yes, lowering my demands,” the female monster said, glancing at Jiong Ye, and continued, “You two can leave, but the condition is that you are not allowed to speak of my affairs.”
“If you continue like this, it won’t be good for you,” Mu Anxiao began to think of those monsters.
The female monster snorted coldly. “You know, I know, he knows. As long as Ouyang Ye doesn’t think of me, then things won’t be exposed. Besides,” she said, “those monsters Ouyang Ye sends here are all wrongdoers. Even if I eat them, what of it?”
“Do you know what Ouyang Ye hates the most?” Mu Anxiao skipped over what the female monster said and asked.
“Him?” the female monster said, lowering her eyes and smiling. “How would I know?”
“He hates subordinates who act sneakily the most. If you keep going like this, you’re bound to have a bad ending.”
“Whether I have a good ending or not, you don’t need to worry about it. I just want you to let me go and forget about me. Of course,” the female monster said, lightly stroking Jiong Ye’s face with her fingertips twice, continuing, “if you don’t agree to my terms, then don’t blame me for being impolite.”
“He is Ouyang Ye’s capable assistant. Killing him will do you no good,” Mu Anxiao finally reminded her.
“I dare to kill you, so I still have…”
“I can’t guarantee my discretion, but I can hand over my life to you. However… the condition is that you must let him go,” Mu Anxiao interrupted. She didn’t know what other tricks the female monster had, so she decided to take a risk. At least… on this basis, Jiong Ye would not be in danger.
“You are truly selfless,” the female monster said. She lightly brushed Jiong Ye’s face with her hand, and Jiong Ye regained consciousness. She continued, “She wants to exchange with you.” She stared at Jiong Ye’s profile.
Hearing this, Jiong Ye turned his head to look at the female monster’s face and frowned. “You mean…” he said, shaking his head slightly before quickly looking at Mu Anxiao as if he realized something, “you want to exchange with me.”
“Let him go,” Mu Anxiao ignored Jiong Ye and fixed her gaze on the female monster’s face.
The female monster’s lips curved. “Come here, and I’ll let him go.”
“You…”
“To borrow a mortal saying, cash on delivery. As long as you come here, I will definitely let him go,” the female monster said, patting Jiong Ye’s face hard twice.
Immediately, Jiong Ye’s expression froze. Just as he was about to speak, Mu Anxiao spoke before him, shouting, “You shut up.” Then she strode towards them.
Jiong Ye closed his mouth at Mu Anxiao’s command.
The female monster smiled.
At this moment, Mu Anxiao quietly placed one hand behind her back. “You can let him go now,” she said, stopping in front of the female monster.
“What are you trying to do?” the female monster asked, looking down at the hand Mu Anxiao deliberately kept behind her back.
Mu Anxiao said faintly, “I do this when I’m nervous.”
“I think you want to summon your weapon,” the female monster saw through Mu Anxiao’s intention in one go.
Upon hearing this, Mu Anxiao gave a cold smile. “I don’t have that kind of leisure time.” Saying this, she brought her hand out and held it up in front of the female monster.
“It seems I misjudged you,” the female monster said, releasing Jiong Ye. “You can step aside,” she glanced at Jiong Ye.