Xu Lan felt there was no need to conceal such matters, so she frankly confessed, "That's right, I was tricked."
"Me too."
"You weren't willing?"
That's right, Xu Lan had always thought Mu Anxiao willingly consumed that meal. Hearing Mu Anxiao's words now, she was also surprised.
"Who would willingly eat that kind of thing? If I hadn't been eating wild fruits so often recently, I wouldn't have fallen for it."
"Wild fruits?"
"Yes. To be frank, I came here to complete a mission."
"A mission?"
"Yes, I have to complete my mission. My mission," Mu Anxiao said, recalling how she had disguised herself as Xu Lan earlier to deceive herself, so she decided not to tell the truth, "is to travel all over the Demon Realm."
"Aren't you a Hell Messenger?"
"...."
"Why aren't you talking?"
"It's a long story. In the past, I did something excessive, which provoked some Hell Messengers. This time, I just wanted to see if I could..."
"Are you a Hell Messenger who specifically catches soul demons?"
Hearing Xu Lan's seasoned words, Mu Anxiao became even more convinced that she and Xu Lan were definitely on duty in the underworld.
"Yes," she nodded.
"...." Xu Lan frowned slightly. "Then, aren't you that person's subordinate?"
"He was talking nonsense. You believe him?"
"Why did you bring me to your room?"
"Because," Mu Anxiao was too lazy to beat around the bush, "I want to know why Xu Lan, after reincarnating, still uses this name. Most importantly, why does he still remember the memories of his past life?"
Xu Lan: "...." She had long suspected that Mu Anxiao had a purpose in finding her. Indeed, her guess was correct.
"What's wrong?"
"I've already said, I know nothing."
"Do you think I'll believe you?"
"You..."
"You know about Gu An and Xu Lanyan, which means your master has told you quite a lot," Mu Anxiao picked up the teapot, intentionally refilling the cup. "You say you don't know; I don't believe it." She shook her head slightly and pushed the teacup towards Xu Lan.
Xu Lan looked down at the tea that made her feel nauseous and said, "My master said he doesn't want to mention it. It's probably not good for you to be so aggressive."
"Yes, I know it's not good."
Originally, Mu Anxiao didn't want to delve that deep, but as soon as she thought of Xu Lan's perfunctory attitude towards her, she became even more curious about why he was like this!
"You know it's not good, yet you ask?"
"It's precisely because I know it's not good that I have to ask," Mu Anxiao looked down at the teacup she had handed to Xu Lan. "You say you are a Hell Messenger?"
"...."
"So, Xu Lan is also a Hell Messenger now."
"What exactly do you want to say?"
"Then, did Xu Lan's master pull strings for him? Oh dear," Mu Anxiao shook her head slightly, intentionally provoking, "He made such a big mistake, and yet he can still stay in the underworld. It's truly unfair."
"What nonsense are you talking about?"
"Am I wrong?" Mu Anxiao said in a nasally tone.
"Master achieved his position today through his own efforts. Our ability to establish ourselves in the underworld is our capability. What do you mean by pulling strings?"
"Why does your master remember his past life's memories?"
"My master..." Xu Lan's eyes darkened as she spoke halfway. "My master only lived to fifteen years old in his life. He saved many people during his lifetime, so when he reincarnated, he was noticed by Hell Messengers. However, the premise was that he had to recall the most painful memory in his soul. That's how he remembered. From then on, he changed his name to Xu Lan, and he also remembered many people and events that had nothing to do with him..."
"Then how did he become your master?"
"In life, I contracted a serious illness. He found me on the road and took me to find many doctors. He spent all his money on me, but I still died in the end." Xu Lan's eyes darkened. "After death, I became a Hell Messenger. From that moment, I vowed that if I ever met him again, he would be my master."
"You died before him?"
"Yes."
"...." Mu Anxiao had always thought Xu Lan was demoted here by his master. After hearing Xu Lan's words, she suddenly felt that he was quite tragic.
"Are you satisfied now?"
Mu Anxiao snapped back to attention and asked, "What do you mean, satisfied?"
"Digging up other people's most painful memories, is that very satisfying for you?"
"I didn't..."
"You didn't? Then why are you asking me?"
"Who told you to lie to me from the start? And call yourself a helper."
Hearing this, Xu Lan recalled the series of erratic conversations she had with Mu Anxiao after transforming into Xu Lan. She said calmly, "Then why are you still talking to me?"
"This is what I call politeness."
"Politeness? I don't think you're a polite person at all." Xu Lan glared at Mu Anxiao and deliberately pushed the cup towards Mu Anxiao, saying, "You drink it."
"I won't drink it."
"I believe you also know about our... unfriendly past with yours, right?"
"...." Mu Anxiao hadn't expected Xu Lan to say this.
"I know you're lying to me. Your purpose is to come here, but you haven't found your destination yet, have you?"
Mu Anxiao asked, "How do you know?"
"I lied to you before, and you're lying to me now. We're even. Next," Xu Lan smiled, "it's time for us to help each other."
"Help each other?"
"To be frank, there's a soul demon in this inn."
"A soul demon?"
"My master and I came here to catch that soul demon."
"Don't you only catch humans..."
"That demon cultivated from a human."
"Human... demon?"
Obviously, Mu Anxiao hadn't caught a human demon in a long time. Hearing Xu Lan's words now, her heart couldn't help but flutter with excitement.
"A person who cultivates demon arts."
"Similar."
"If you can help, we'll take you to our underworld."
"Really?"
"Really."
After going in circles, Mu Anxiao ended up helping. She felt a sense of inexpressible emotion.
"Then will your master agree?"
"If I'm not mistaken, the one who called you a subordinate is a celestial being."
"You sensed it?"
Before coming here, Mu Anxiao had specifically cast demonic energy onto Feng Qishi.
She hadn't expected Xu Lan to discover it.
This made her feel defeated in an instant.
"From the moment I first saw you, I knew you weren't from the Demon Realm. You must be like me, so I went to find you. Originally, I wanted to forcibly make you an assistant, but," Xu Lan said, "when you mentioned Gu An and Xu Lanyan, I immediately didn't want to talk to you anymore."
"Are you afraid these two will stir up painful memories for your master?"
"Yes, but I wandered around the inn and found... everyone here is a demon. In the end," Xu Lan sighed, "I could only come to you to get acquainted. Who knew my master would come along."