After Xi'er, along with the monsters and fiends, departed, Ouyang Ye shifted his gaze to Mu Anxiao's face. "It's your turn," he suddenly declared.
My turn?
Hearing Ouyang Ye's abrupt words, Mu Anxiao recalled the arduous process of helping him locate those monsters and fiends, and the promise he had made. Indignation flared within her. "Ouyang Ye, what do you mean by that?" she asked, her tone stiff.
Ouyang Ye observed Mu Anxiao's indignant expression, then glanced at Zhao Mei'er and Song Xi standing beside him, and said in a low voice, "Here, sorcery is forbidden."
"I've made amends for my wrongdoings, so why," Mu Anxiao realized Ouyang Ye intended to go back on his word. However, for the sake of her mission ahead, she had to force herself to be resolute. "Are you going to arrest me?" she said, narrowing her eyes.
"You have made amends, but you must still accept the due punishment." Ouyang Ye spoke, then suddenly shifted his attention to Song Xi.
Song Xi, unaware of whatever had transpired between them, appeared utterly bewildered. "..." He dared not ask Ouyang Ye for clarification, and could only stare blankly at him.
Seeing this, Ouyang Ye frowned slightly. "Song Xi, you haven't understood my meaning."
Upon hearing this, Song Xi grew fearful. "Master, I... await your command." He quickly cupped his fists and bowed his head.
"Take her to the demon cultivation prison," Ouyang Ye instructed, then turned his gaze back to Mu Anxiao. "You shall go there to reflect on yourself."
"If I don't do as you say, I'll die. Is that what you want to see?" Mu Anxiao said coldly.
Ouyang Ye's eyes darkened. "Rules are rules. Stop quibbling."
"But rules are static, while people are dynamic. Furthermore, without me, you would never have discovered that the true culprit was that female monster. From a rational perspective," Mu Anxiao stated earnestly, "I am a meritorious official."
Ouyang Ye chuckled.
Mu Anxiao, not understanding Ouyang Ye's reaction, immediately knitted her brows. "What do you mean by that laugh?"
"You certainly know how to find justifications for yourself. However," Ouyang Ye said, "you speak the truth. Rules are static, and people are dynamic. But I ask you to remember, this is the Demon Realm under my jurisdiction. Therefore, here, I am the rule. If I decree someone dead, they cannot live. Do you understand me, Mu Anxiao?"
"Then kill me." Mu Anxiao glared at Ouyang Ye.
Ouyang Ye's lips curved. "You know I wouldn't kill you."
"Since you won't kill me, then don't arrest me." Mu Anxiao spoke, a sense of unease inexplicably growing within her.
Ouyang Ye remained silent, his hands clasped behind his back.
"What do you mean by this?" Mu Anxiao asked, glancing towards Ouyang Ye's arm.
"There's a saying in the mortal realm, that even the crown prince is subject to the same laws as commoners. Naturally, if you have made a mistake, you should be punished, correct?" Ouyang Ye said patiently.
"You are truly adept at twisting our mortal realm's sayings." Mu Anxiao remained unyielding.
Ouyang Ye sighed. "Mu Anxiao, don't be so stubborn. Go and reflect on yourself there." He then made to leave.
Seeing this, Mu Anxiao quickly stepped forward and grabbed Ouyang Ye's arm. "We haven't finished talking. You are not allowed to leave."
"I have already made myself quite clear." Ouyang Ye turned his head to look at Mu Anxiao.
Mu Anxiao looked up, glaring at Ouyang Ye. "I don't understand a single word you're saying." She feigned ignorance deliberately.
Hearing Mu Anxiao's words and observing her single hand still tightly gripping his arm, Ouyang Ye let out a cold laugh. "Mu Anxiao, I finally understand what you're afraid of."
"..." Mu Anxiao glared at Ouyang Ye, remaining silent.
Ouyang Ye looked at Mu Anxiao's silent expression, not angry, but rather smiling again. "Do you truly think I would have the heart to imprison you?"
"What do you mean?" Mu Anxiao was startled by Ouyang Ye's rapid shift in demeanor.
Ouyang Ye explained, "It means that all the monsters, all the people, now know that you used sorcery. If I were to let you off easily, I fear," he took a deep breath, "it would be difficult to command their respect."
"You, a cold-blooded demon like yourself, would care about such things? I think," Mu Anxiao said with a cold snort, "your purpose in arresting me is to make a spectacle of me, and in the future, to make it so I can never hold my head high in front of those monsters, right?"
"How could you think that? Moreover, even if I wanted to do that, they would likely not dare to make a spectacle of you."
"You admit it," Mu Anxiao pointed at Ouyang Ye.
Ouyang Ye frowned. "If you don't behave, I will get angry." As he spoke, he reached out with his other hand to grasp Mu Anxiao's wrist. Mu Anxiao immediately let go, and seeing this, he smiled. "Be good, it's only a few days. Just bear with it, and it will pass."
"It seems they are more important than I am."
"I didn't mean that." Ouyang Ye quickly said, worried Mu Anxiao might misunderstand.
"Then don't arrest me." Mu Anxiao said, shaking off Ouyang Ye's hand.
Subsequently, Ouyang Ye looked down at his hand, which Mu Anxiao had just shaken off, and said, "If I don't arrest you, and in the future I encounter another monster like you who uses sorcery, how should I handle it?"
"That is your own business."
"It is my own business, but," Ouyang Ye said, his gaze sharp, "if I let you go, then there will be hundreds, even thousands of 'you' appearing. At that time, this rule of mine will be rendered null and void. Can you… can you try to understand me?"
"I am different from them."
"As long as sorcery is used, the nature of the act is the same." Ouyang Ye insisted.
Mu Anxiao looked at Ouyang Ye's resolute expression and immediately realized that his aversion to immortals was indeed beyond her imagination. If she continued to stubbornly oppose him, it would likely be unrealistic. Therefore, to avoid offending him, she resigned herself to her fate and lowered her tone. "I don't want to go to the prison."
"You..."
"I can reflect on this matter, but I don't want to go to the prison. If it's possible," Mu Anxiao, adhering to the principle of striking first, stated firmly, "you can lock me in the courtyard instead."
"No." Ouyang Ye stated resolutely.
Hearing this, Mu Anxiao's face immediately fell. "Do you want to torment me that much?"
"If I were to lock you in the courtyard, it would be confinement, not punishment." Ouyang Ye spoke entirely according to his own reasoning.
Mu Anxiao let out a cold snort. "You want to lock me up so badly. It shows," she deliberately adopted a jealous demeanor, "that woman must have given you this idea."
"Mu Anxiao." Ouyang Ye said sternly.
Mu Anxiao straightened her back. "They fear you, but I do not. Since that is the case," she said, harboring the intention of making Ouyang Ye feel guilty towards her, "I will go."
"I will go too." the wolf demon suddenly declared.