"That's more like it," the Yin Shi said, binding Mu Anxiao's hands with a black rope.
Soon, Mu Anxiao was led by the Yin Shi to the hall where she was to be interrogated.
"This is it," the Yin Shi said.
Mu Anxiao followed the Yin Shi, not even glancing at the hall. "Why so much nonsense? Let's go."
Hearing this, the Yin Shi felt awkward, turned to look at Mu Anxiao, and said firmly, "You are definitely guilty."
Mu Anxiao replied, "I truly look forward to seeing you kowtow to Xu Lan."
"You..."
"Hurry up," Mu Anxiao interrupted, glaring.
The Yin Shi was speechless, snorted, and deliberately tugged the rope, saying, "Move."
Mu Anxiao remained unmoved, watching the Yin Shi's retreating back, and quietly uttered, "Immature."
At the next moment.
Mu Anxiao stopped in the center of the hall, then glanced at the Yin Shi who had come to witness her humiliation, curling her lips. She turned back to Xu Lan, who was sitting upright at his desk, looking at her sternly, and thought, it seems they're going to play for real.
As she thought, she swallowed.
Then, Xu Lan waved his arm, and as the lanterns beside him instantly lit up with a green glow, he said, "Mu Anxiao, do you plead guilty?"
"What crime have I committed?"
"Those ten lives, they were not caused by you."
Mu Anxiao knew this was a serious place, so she did not argue with Xu Lan. She shook her head and said, "No."
"No?" Xu Lan repeated, looking at the Yin Shi beside him. "You arrested her."
The Yin Shi cupped his hands. "Yes, my lord."
"Since that is the case, if she denies it, do you have evidence to prove it is her?"
"Yes."
"If you have it, then present the evidence."
"Evidence?" The Yin Shi was bewildered.
"Didn't you say you had evidence?"
"I don't have physical evidence, but they can testify." The Yin Shi pointed to several Yin Shi nearby.
The moment the Yin Shi offered them this opportunity to speak, those Yin Shi said in unison, "Yes, we can testify."
The Yin Shi breathed a sigh of relief and turned to Xu Lan. "My lord, we all heard the dagger call her master, and the dagger also said that she... killed someone herself."
"A dagger can talk?"
"Replying to my lord, that dagger is a demon."
"A demon?" Xu Lan repeated, gasping. "If it's a demon, it proves she has her own consciousness."
"Yes..." As he uttered the word, the Yin Shi suddenly realized something was wrong and quickly said, "My lord, those demons usually transform into their original forms because she likes..."
"Stop right there, are you her?" Xu Lan interrupted.
Mu Anxiao cautiously glanced at Xu Lan and smiled faintly.
The other Yin Shi immediately averted their gaze from the Yin Shi's face the moment Xu Lan asked the question, feigning an indifferent expression.
The Yin Shi awkwardly replied, "My lord, of course I am not her."
"Then what you said makes it sound like you know her very well," Xu Lan said, narrowing his eyes. "No, could you be related to that dagger? Do you not know that you cannot be related to demons?"
Listening to Xu Lan's convoluted questions, the Yin Shi smiled bitterly. "My lord, how could I possibly be related to a demon? You know, I run away the moment I see one."
"Are you a Yin Shi?" Xu Lan countered.
The Yin Shi's eyes darted, as if he had been trapped, and he let out a bitter laugh. "Ha, of course I am."
"During the recent training, were you not taught how to catch demons? Now you say you run away when you see one," Xu Lan said, his face turning cold. "I am now seriously doubting your abilities."
"My lord, I..."
"Enough, stop talking," Xu Lan interrupted, turning to the witnesses. "You speak."
The Yin Shi: "..."
"Why are you not speaking?"
Following that, one of the Yin Shi stepped forward and said, "Replying to my lord, those beggars were all killed in the dark. They didn't know who killed them, but they only remembered that the dagger was very sharp. However, a few who resisted hadn't even recovered yet, so we are not sure if it was her."
"Alright, I understand," Xu Lan said, looking at Mu Anxiao. "Mu Anxiao, do you have anything to say?"
"Yes," Mu Anxiao nodded, glancing at the Yin Shi who dared not look up. "However, he needs to untie me first." She raised her hands.
Then, Xu Lan looked at the Yin Shi. "Untie her."
"Yes." The Yin Shi reluctantly agreed, walked in front of Mu Anxiao, and as he untied the black rope, he whispered, "You are definitely guilty."
Mu Anxiao coldly glared at the Yin Shi and snorted.
The Yin Shi took back the black rope, snorted in return, and moved aside.
Xu Lan asked, "What are you going to do?"
Mu Anxiao remained silent, directly untied the handkerchief that was wrapped around her wound and threw it on the ground, then raised her hands.
"What are you doing?" Xu Lan asked, confused.
Mu Anxiao replied, "If I were the owner of that dagger, it would not have hurt me."
"You were wounded by the dagger?"
"Yes."
The Yin Shi frowned and said urgently, "You must have cut yourself."
Mu Anxiao looked at the Yin Shi. Considering the situation, she did not argue with him and calmly said, "Alright, in that case, lend me a dagger."
"What are you doing?" the Yin Shi asked, confused.
Mu Anxiao said, "Less nonsense, give it to me." She lowered her hands.
The Yin Shi: "..." He looked at Xu Lan.
Xu Lan looked at the Yin Shi and said faintly, "Since she asked you to give it to her, then give it to her."
"Yes." The Yin Shi reluctantly agreed, took out a dagger from his embrace, walked forward, and handed it to Mu Anxiao.
Mu Anxiao said, "Unsheathe it."
"You..." The Yin Shi hesitated, then cooperated by drawing out the sheath and asked, "And then?"
Mu Anxiao extended her injured hand. "Give it to me."
The Yin Shi was stunned. "Your hand is injured."
"It's none of your business, give it to me."
"You..." As he uttered the word, the Yin Shi was still helpless against Mu Anxiao, so he cooperated by placing the dagger into her hand.
Mu Anxiao endured the pain, took the dagger, and said, "Watch closely." She gripped one end of the dagger, her forehead beaded with sweat. "See if I did this to myself." After saying that, she suddenly raised the dagger and slashed it directly into the palm of her good hand.
In the next second, all the Yin Shi were astonished.
Xu Lan: "..." He frowned, but to help Mu Anxiao clear her name, he could only feign a cold expression.
The Yin Shi: "..." His eyes widened.
Then, Mu Anxiao closed her eyes, dropped the blood-stained dagger on the ground, and said, "See?" She swallowed and held up her hands to the Yin Shi.
The Yin Shi said, "This proves nothing?" He deliberately looked away.
Seeing the Yin Shi's reaction, Mu Anxiao gasped and growled, "I told you to look, so look! Why so much nonsense?"
Due to the pain, her breathing became hoarse.