Then, the soul sword turned, offering itself to Mu Anxiao.
Mu Anxiao: "....." As her hand closed around the hilt, she froze.
Piao's lips curved into a smirk: "It really works."
Feng Qishi: "It chose Mu Shazi."
"My soul sword suits her perfectly, I was right." Piao said excitedly.
Monster Number One stared at Mu Anxiao, who had caught the soul sword, with disbelief. It thought for a moment, "I remember this sword... it belongs to Gu An."
"What did you say?" Mu Anxiao, feeling as if she had received crucial information, asked excitedly.
Monster Number One: "If you don't kill me, I'll tell you." It glanced at Feng Qishi and Piao, then took a half-step back.
Mu Anxiao: "That depends on whether what you have is worth your life."
"You..." Monster Number One was startled by Mu Anxiao's cold gaze and the full beard around her mouth. "It's definitely valuable."
"....."
At this moment, Feng Qishi was also surprised by Mu Anxiao's demeanor. In his memory, Mu Anxiao was a cowardly person who feared death. In such situations, she would have immediately caved. He even doubted she could handle those monsters.
However, he was wrong. While dealing with the monsters earlier, he had noticed her movements were so decisive and swift, which surprised him again.
Seeing Mu Anxiao remain silent, Monster Number One continued, "It's definitely valuable, as long as you let me go."
"If you don't let me go, you won't tell me," Mu Anxiao's eyes lit up with a blue glow.
"If you don't let me go, I'll surely die. If I'm dead, how can I tell you?"
"I can kill you after I hear what you have to say."
"Don't."
"....." Mu Anxiao tilted her head. "Then what do you mean?"
"If you let me go, I can help you."
"Help me?" Mu Anxiao pointed to herself, a smile playing on her lips. "Tell me, how will you help me?"
"If you help me, I... I'll put in a good word for you with our boss. That way, you can go anywhere in this demon forest where monsters appear. Those monsters will definitely let you pass, definitely..."
"You mean, I can pass through the demon forest freely, and those monsters won't bother me."
"Yes." Monster Number One was excited.
Mu Anxiao thought for a moment, "But I don't need to."
"....." Monster Number One gave a wry smile. "Why? This is..."
"Don't 'this is' me," Mu Anxiao looked up at the light beams scattering outside the demonic mist, "If I'm not mistaken, there are many monsters in this demon forest, and you basically don't recognize each other. You're just trying to save your own life, aren't you?"
"......"
Over the decades, Mu Anxiao had captured countless demon souls. Many demons had tried to trick her in similar ways before.
Initially, she had been moved by them, but the consequences, as one could imagine... had led to much trouble!
From then on, she firmly told herself, trust anyone but these kinds of characters.
Now, Monster Number One had touched upon Mu Anxiao's sensitive spot.
"Speak," she said, lifting her chin.
Piao: "....." He glanced at Monster Number One.
Feng Qishi: "....." He quietly watched Mu Anxiao.
Monster Number One cautiously glanced at Feng Qishi and Piao, thinking that if this stalemate continued, he would surely anger them. Therefore, he had to be quick. "As long as you promise to let me go, I will."
"Why are you so long-winded?"
"I just want to live."
"Live? When you came to kill me," Mu Anxiao narrowed her eyes, "why didn't you consider if I wanted to live?"
Monster Number One: "......"
"I killed your brethren. You'll definitely go back and plan how to kill me. If I don't kill you, I'll be the next to die. Do you think I'm stupid?"
"I won't kill you."
"With the way you look, I don't believe you."
"Then if I were good-looking, would you believe me?"
"I can consider it."
"It's not good to judge... monsters by their appearance."
"It's not good, but the fact is, the wound on my back was caused by you."
"Then if you draw a wound on my back, we'll call it even, okay?" Monster Number One asked cautiously.
Mu Anxiao smiled, "You're really... good at calculating."
"I'm not."
"Not yet, but you're already talking about 'calling it even,' so you're definitely calculating," Mu Anxiao said, her soul sword beginning to stir in her hand.
Monster Number One glanced at the soul sword in Mu Anxiao's hand and chuckled foolishly, "Let's talk properly, don't be like this."
"Tell me, what do you know about Gu An?"
"I..."
"If you don't," Mu Anxiao lowered her head and looked at the soul sword in her hand, "I can't control this sword."
Previously, Monster Number One had witnessed the power of the soul sword. Back then, it was because of this soul sword that Gu An lost his demonic essence and became a mortal with some sorcery.
Therefore, it said, "This soul sword belonged to Gu An. It was because of it that Gu An was locked onto by the Yin-Yang division. It was also because of it that Gu An lost his demonic essence and became a mortal who only knew a little bit of sorcery."
"Is it considered Gu An's artifact?"
Monster Number One shook its head. "No, Gu An picked it up along the way. Its owner is someone else."
"Who?"
"I don't know that. I only know the power of this soul sword," Monster Number One swallowed, and took a half-step back. "It's very strong."
"....." Mu Anxiao frowned, looking down at the soul sword.
"....." Piao and Feng Qishi, listening to Monster Number One's explanation, understood why the soul sword didn't harm Mu Anxiao. It seemed it knew Gu An.
Monster Number One: "This is all I know. I don't know anything else."
"Okay..."
With that single word, Mu Anxiao's eyes suddenly brightened. The soul sword then began to control Mu Anxiao's hand.
Monster Number One, terrified, turned and fled.
However, before it could run a few steps, Mu Anxiao uncontrollably swung the soul sword.
Immediately, a large gash was torn open on Monster Number One's back.
Dust flew, and it collapsed onto the ground.
Mu Anxiao stared in disbelief at the blood glowing red on the sword tip, exclaiming, "You can control me." Saying this, she stepped closer to Monster Number One.
Monster Number One gasped in pain and said, "I'm not dead."
Mu Anxiao looked down at Monster Number One and said coldly, "I'm letting you go. Next time we meet, you won't be so lucky."
"Thank you." Monster Number One turned into black smoke and disappeared.
Mu Anxiao: "....."
Feng Qishi stared at the claw marks on Mu Anxiao's back. He quickly took off his outer garment and glanced at Piao, who was also looking at Mu Anxiao's back. "Close your eyes. You're not allowed to look."
"Okay." Piao averted his gaze.