Feng Qishi watched Xu Lan’s surprised expression without saying anything.
After repeating Mu Anxiao’s name a few times, Xu Lan looked at Feng Qishi again. "Where is she now? Do you know?"
Feng Qishi probed, "Do you really think she can find that demon soul?"
Xu Lan countered, "Can you?"
"I cannot."
"Since you can't, I can only place my hope on her."
"Aren't you an Yin Messenger too? Why can't you find it?"
"To be honest, this is my very first demon soul capture mission in the truest sense, and also the most troublesome one I've ever encountered. We've been searching for that demon soul for a long time. Of course, if you help me this time, I'm willing to take you where you want to go."
"You know where we want to go?"
"That group of Yin Messengers who captured the demon soul offended us. If Mu Anxiao is a professional, I assume you are also here specifically to resolve the grievances between us!"
Feng Qishi said, "Don't worry, she definitely can."
On the rooftop.
Mu Anxiao’s hair was disheveled by the wind.
Xu Lan squatted there, not daring to move, gazing up at Mu Anxiao with caution, swallowing hard.
Subsequently, Mu Anxiao tightened her grip on the silver rope in her hand and asked, "Did you tell Xu Lan?"
"What?" Xu Lan’s hairs stood on end.
Mu Anxiao asked, "The agreement you made with me."
"Not yet, I will after this is over."
Hearing Xu Lan’s honest confession, Mu Anxiao couldn't help but recall the sachet that had previously fooled her so completely.
Then, she lowered her gaze, withdrew the silver rope, and said, "Let's go down!"
"Why?"
"No reason. You and I will go down, and after you talk to him, I'll begin."
"You don't trust me?"
"You could say that." Mu Anxiao felt there was no need to be polite with Xu Lan, so she spoke directly.
Xu Lan: "..." She gave a bitter smile.
Then, Mu Anxiao turned and immediately jumped down.
Xu Lan sighed and was about to get up when a hand suddenly pressed on her shoulder.
Startled, her eyes widened. She turned and saw a man with half his face concealed staring fiercely into her eyes and saying, "Don't move!"
Xu Lan, hearing the man's cold tone, swallowed hard.
Seeing Xu Lan's compliance, the man's eyes showed a flicker of movement. He then slightly straightened up, looked down at Mu Anxiao, who had already landed steadily, and said, "You go down." As he spoke, he forcefully pushed Xu Lan's shoulder.
The next second.
Xu Lan lost her balance and fell directly down.
Mu Anxiao remained standing in place, one hand on her hip, looking at Feng Qishi and Xu Lan approaching step by step. Just as she was about to speak, Xu Lan's scream reached her ears.
"Ah... get out of the way."
Hearing the scream, Mu Anxiao frowned, instinctively stepped back a few paces, and then turned to look. She saw Xu Lan lying prone on the ground.
"Are you alright?" she asked, startled.
On the rooftop.
The man watched Mu Anxiao below, who was safe and sound, then glanced at Xu Lan, who was lying steadily on the ground, unharmed. He clicked his tongue, turned, and disappeared.
Below.
Xu Lan struggled to prop herself up and said, "Someone pushed me."
"Who?" Mu Anxiao unhurriedly bent down and took Xu Lan's arm.
Xu Lan shook her head slightly. "I don't know who it was, but the person was wearing a mask. However, I can confirm it was a man."
"A man?" Mu Anxiao repeated. As she helped Xu Lan up, she looked up at the rooftop and asked, "In your mission, was there any mention of whether the demon soul you're trying to capture is male or female?"
"No."
Hearing this, Mu Anxiao fixed her gaze on Xu Lan's profile. "No? Then it must be him."
"You mean, he's the demon soul?"
"Yes. I think he wanted to use you to injure me so I wouldn't be able to investigate him. He's really cunning." Mu Anxiao chuckled softly and turned to look at Feng Qishi and Xu Lan, who had stopped in front of them.
Xu Lan feigned ignorance. "Weren't you two going to the latrine?"
"We were."
"Go to the restroom up there." Xu Lan had witnessed Xu Lan's entire fall.
Mu Anxiao asked, "So, you saw her entire fall?" She intentionally tried to change the subject.
"Yes."
"Is she your partner? Are you her master?"
"What are you talking about?"
"Then why didn't you come to catch her? That's truly heartless."
"What does that have to do with being heartless?"
"In your eyes, it has nothing to do with it, but in mine..." Mu Anxiao pointed to her eyes, "...it does."
Xu Lan: "..."
Xu Lan worried Mu Anxiao might slip up.
So, she quickly said, "I'm used to falling. Besides, it wasn't high here, so I'm fine."
"..." Mu Anxiao glanced at Xu Lan and continued, "Xu Lan, she's a girl after all, and you..."
"Silly Mu, you should say less."
"You called me silly?" Mu Anxiao shifted her gaze back to Feng Qishi.
Feng Qishi: "..." He blinked.
Mu Anxiao: "..." She sighed and said, "Alright, I won't say more. You get to the point, Xu Lan."
Xu Lan glanced at Mu Anxiao, then at Xu Lan, and asked, "Master, if they help us, can we take them to the underworld?"
Xu Lan: "..."
Seeing Xu Lan's silent expression, and then looking at Xu Lan waiting for Xu Lan's reply, Feng Qishi said, "Your master agreed."
However, before Xu Lan could speak, Mu Anxiao excitedly asked, "Really?"
Feng Qishi replied, "Of course it's true. He said it himself." He pointed to Xu Lan.
Xu Lan cleared his throat. "Brother Qi, can't you give me a bit more mystery?" He glanced at Feng Qishi.
Feng Qishi chuckled. "I'm afraid if you continue to be so mysterious, you'll scare your pet into crying."
"Pet?" Xu Lan didn't understand?
Mu Anxiao understood Feng Qishi's mention of "pet," so she took a deep breath. "He, she's your pet." She pointed at Xu Lan.
Xu Lan asked, "What does 'pet' mean?"
The moment Xu Lan asked this, Feng Qishi regretted what he had said.
Mu Anxiao glanced at Feng Qishi, then at Xu Lan's expectant expression, and said, "A dog’s mouth can’t spit out ivory. That’s what he is."
"What?" Xu Lan was stunned.
Mu Anxiao didn't want to continue this topic, so she said, "Crazy Shen, you'll follow me from now on."
Dog's mouth?
Feng Qishi heard Mu Anxiao's rude remark and his heart sank. "Silly Mu, what do you mean by 'a dog's mouth can't spit out ivory'? Can't you speak properly?"
Mu Anxiao had intended to ease Feng Qishi's awkwardness.
Unexpectedly, she offended him again. Taking a deep breath, she was speechless.
Feng Qishi: "..." He stared at Mu Anxiao quietly.