"Exactly, but," Gu Xiao sighed, "that old man was truly pitiful."
Mu Anxiao had almost forgotten about the old man's matter, but now that Gu Xiao brought it up, she thought that without the old man, she probably wouldn't have come up with these ideas.
She then asked, "Where is the old man now?"
"Outside the city," Gu Xiao said excitedly.
"Outside the city," Mu Anxiao repeated, asking, "Is it urgent?"
Piao replied, "Seven days."
"Seven," Mu Anxiao lowered her eyes, considering her own deadline. She said, "In that case, there's still plenty of time."
"Do you need help?" Piao, seeing Mu Anxiao's confident demeanor, asked.
Mu Anxiao asked, "How old is the old man this year?"
"He died at ninety, but the second day is his birthday."
"If he dies tomorrow, he'll be ninety-one."
"Right," Piao nodded, quietly watching Mu Anxiao's face and asking, "Do you have a solution?"
"Not yet, but I heard Hei Feng mention that the old man has some special consideration. I don't know what it is, though," Mu Anxiao said calmly.
"Then I'll thank you on behalf of the old man first." Piao spoke.
Mu Anxiao said, "Don't thank me yet. Thank me after it's done. But before that, I want to ask you," she became serious, "do you know where the old man's home is?"
"What do you want to do?" Piao couldn't quite understand Mu Anxiao.
Mu Anxiao said, "I want to take a look. Perhaps I know that demon soul."
"It was a year ago."
"A year ago..." Mu Anxiao thought of her own bankruptcy a year ago. She took a deep breath. "Then I definitely have to take a look."
"Do you have to see it?"
"Of course. The fact that he could pass under my nose has sparked my strong interest in him."
"I think you should focus on the matter at hand first."
"What do you mean?"
"The issue with the fake Lin Yan hasn't been resolved yet, and you're going to deal with the fake old man. Don't you think you..."
"Are you saying I'm looking for something new while I still have something?"
"Yes," Piao nodded.
Mu Anxiao chuckled softly, "I am looking for something new, so what?"
"You..."
"Don't say anymore. Take me to see it. I always feel there's more to this than meets the eye," Mu Anxiao interrupted.
Piao looked at Mu Anxiao's surprisingly serious expression, thought about the old man's words and appearance, and compromised, "Alright, let's go."
Chen pulled Mu Anxiao's arm, "Your side of things isn't finished yet."
Mu Anxiao's body stiffened. She turned to look at Chen, who was blocking her. After thinking for a moment, she said, "Never mind, I'll go find the old man later."
Upon hearing this, Chen let go of her arm.
Piao remarked, "You're really quite busy."
"It's all thanks to you," Mu Anxiao said, turning and walking towards the dilapidated temple.
In the courtyard.
Wan Sha smiled at Xu Lan and said, "You're very beautiful."
Xu Lan replied, "I know I'm beautiful. You don't need to try to brainwash me with such words to let you go."
As Xu Lan said, Wan Sha indeed thought so, and at that moment, Wan Sha was speechless.
"...."
Yin Cha watched Xu Lan intently, still feeling that Mu Anxiao was problematic.
Wan Sha glanced at Yin Cha and dared not speak.
Seeing Yin Cha's preoccupied look, Xu Lan asked, "Are you still trying to arrest Mu Anxiao?"
Yin Cha replied, "It's not that I'm still trying, but... I personally heard the dagger call her master. If I don't bring her back, it will be difficult to appease the beggars' wounded hearts."
"But the fact is she isn't."
"Whether she is or not, we'll know when we get down there. If I really let Mu Anxiao go now, I'm afraid..." Yin Cha looked troubled, "I won't be able to report back!"
"Report back?"
"Yes, my task is to apprehend the perpetrator. Now I can only focus on Mu Anxiao," Yin Cha continued, "because she is the villain in my eyes."
"The villain in your eyes?" Xu Lan sneered, "You are truly conceited. The dagger was definitely lying. If you can't even discern that, I'm impressed."
"...." Yin Cha lowered his head.
Seeing Yin Cha's silence, Xu Lan frowned and asked, "Do you really want to arrest her that badly?"
"Yes," Yin Cha nodded.
Xu Lan stated, "I can tell you, you are mistaken."
"Mistake or correctness, only the outcome can tell."
"...." Xu Lan had never seen Yin Cha so persistent. Looking at him now, she smiled helplessly, "Fine, I'll indulge you."
"Really?"
"How about a bet?" Xu Lan raised her chin.
"Alright."
"Very well. I bet that Mu Anxiao is innocent and has nothing to do with this matter. If I lose, I'll do as you say for a month. If I win," Xu Lan narrowed her eyes, "you will kowtow to me three times."
"Deal," Yin Cha readily agreed.
"You're definitely going to lose."
"Not necessarily," Yin Cha shook his head slightly.
Wan Sha glanced at the two of them making a bet. She said, "It must be Mu Anxiao who did it. That guy just likes to act in the dark..."
Before she could finish, Mu Anxiao returned. "Wan Sha, it's not good to speak ill of people behind their backs."
Hearing this, Wan Sha, recalling Xu Lan and Yin Cha's conversation, said gloatingly, "Mu Anxiao, your day of reckoning is coming."
Mu Anxiao retorted, "It's yours, isn't it?"
"...." Wan Sha let out a cold laugh.
Then, Yin Cha said, "Mu Anxiao, come down with me."
As expected, Mu Anxiao had anticipated that Yin Cha wouldn't give up when she left earlier.
Therefore, she was not surprised by the current outcome.
"Let's go," she said.
Yin Cha asked, "You're not angry?"
Mu Anxiao let out a soft哼, "Do you know why I'm not angry?"
"Why?" Yin Cha was puzzled.
Mu Anxiao smiled, "Because I'm touched by your spirit."
"My spirit?"
"Yes, your spirit can be summarized by these three points: first, perseverance; second, tenacity; and third," Mu Anxiao put on a serious face, "stubbornness."
"Stubborn..." Yin Cha's eyes widened. "You're scolding me."
"I'm not scolding you, I'm praising you."
"Even if I'm stubborn, you're still praising me. Do you think I'm stupid?"
Mu Anxiao "...." She pursed her lips and smiled.
"Aren't you stubborn?" Xu Lan asked in return.
Yin Cha "...." He looked at Xu Lan.
Immediately, Mu Anxiao also looked at Xu Lan. "Did you make a bet with him?"
Xu Lan smiled, "How did you know?"
"You were speaking so clearly just now, and now you've suddenly changed your mind. It means either you've made some terms with him, or you've made a bet."
"Clever," Xu Lan smiled.
Wan Sha chimed in, "It's all thanks to my influence."
"Why are you so narcissistic?" Mu Anxiao glared at Wan Sha.
Wan Sha glared back at Mu Anxiao and fell silent.
Yin Cha said, "Let's go," and produced a black rope from his palm.
Mu Anxiao asked, "Still binding me? I'll just follow you."