As Hei Feng understood, Mu Anxiao’s appetite was indeed piqued.
"Why can't we demon catchers go?" she asked.
"Because that is the Demon Realm. If we are tainted by demonic aura, upon returning to our own domain, we will be suspected of consorting with those from the Demon Realm. Therefore, we cannot go."
Mu Anxiao was rendered speechless by Hei Feng’s flimsy explanation.
"....."
Seeing Mu Anxiao stare at him blankly, Hei Feng curled his lips. "Alright, alright, I'll tell you the truth. It involves passing through the Demon Realm, and the Demon Realm is home to many unknown monsters. If you were to go, you might… never return."
"That's not right. Don't the underworld envoys who capture souls have to go through the same process?"
"No, they have exclusive passages."
"Then couldn't I also use an exclusive passage?"
"You are not qualified."
"Are you qualified then?"
"I... of course I am." Hei Feng averted his gaze.
Mu Anxiao, observing Hei Feng's guilty expression, remarked, "I recall you had some run-in with the underworld envoys who capture souls, didn't you?"
"...." Hei Feng.
In this matter, Hei Feng was truly deserving of his predicament.
On one occasion, a demon killed a person. Because the underworld envoy tasked with capturing the soul arrived a step later than he did, Hei Feng, for some reason, met the envoy after his arrival.
Subsequently, for reasons unknown, they got into an argument. Hei Feng boasted about his superiority, claiming that capturing souls required no skill, and so on, provoking the envoy.
After that incident, Mu Anxiao never heard Hei Feng mention anything about that matter again.
Looking at Hei Feng’s expression just now, she suddenly remembered this detail.
"Do you feel embarrassed?" Mu Anxiao asked.
Hei Feng rolled his eyes. "Forget it, I'll be honest with you. After that incident, they changed the passage location and revoked my pass. So," he lowered his head, his voice shrinking, "I am not qualified."
"But I have nothing to do with you. I..."
"Because of my actions, the underworld envoys on our side have had a falling out with theirs."
"What do you mean by that?"
"It means nothing."
Seeing Hei Feng’s hesitant demeanor, Mu Anxiao grew impatient. "Forget it, let's not talk about other things. Just tell me, can this matter of mine be resolved?"
"Yes, but..."
"If yes, then give me the transit token. I need to go quickly, or the matter will be delayed."
Hei Feng hesitated for a moment. "The Vine Demon is currently on the very edge of the Demon Realm. If you go there and encounter him, wouldn't that solve it?"
The words, which could have been stated clearly, were instead twisted and turned.
At this moment, Mu Anxiao had lost her patience. "I just want to see if those five women have reincarnated yet, and to uncover their crimes. Other than that, I have no desire to discuss with you."
Hei Feng understood that Mu Anxiao was impatient; once a matter arose, she wanted to resolve it immediately. Furthermore, when it came to missions, she had never feared death.
However, this particular matter, if anything, was his fault. If he had not offended those people, perhaps the path to that place would have been much smoother.
But, Hei Feng thought, this was not the time to dwell on self-recrimination.
Therefore, he pondered for a moment. "Alright, I'll talk to you properly."
"Go ahead."
"This matter isn't that troublesome. As long as you reach the location, they will let you in."
"How can it be that easy?"
"I'll tell you the truth," Hei Feng rubbed the back of his head. "I made a mistake, and they revoked my right to go there. However, they said that as long as one of our underworld envoys could go there and apologize, our feud would be settled."
"Then why don't you go?"
"Didn't I already tell you? It involves passing through the Demon Realm, which is too dangerous. Who would be willing to risk their life?"
"Coward."
"If you succeed, remember to apologize for me."
"I think you might be more useful."
"They said that my mistake is equivalent to all of us offending them. Therefore, a single apology from anyone counts as an apology from all of us."
"If I apologize, wouldn't that be admitting defeat first?"
"Yes, but we've discussed it with the Judge. If it means admitting defeat, then so be it. It's been many years since any of us have captured a soul of a demon who cultivated from a human, and they're going to take them."
"I knew it, why haven't I captured any human demons before?"
"You have."
"I don't remember."
"I figured you wouldn't remember."
"Let's not talk about this for now," Mu Anxiao was still concerned about Yang Tai. "Will I be forgiven as soon as I arrive, and then be allowed in?"
"Yes."
"But I am an immortal. I don't represent the underworld envoys, do I?"
"As long as you have a soul-locking rope, you are considered one of us," Hei Feng said confidently.
"Really?"
"Tsk, when have I ever lied to you?"
"You haven't lied to me much, but you've tricked me quite a few times."
"Alright, stop dwelling on the past. So, how do you plan to get there?"
"...."
After all that talking, and with Hei Feng arranging so much, Mu Anxiao had always thought that Hei Feng had a solution. To her surprise, he was now asking her, leaving Mu Anxiao truly... unsure how to respond.
Hei Feng asked, "Why aren't you talking?"
"What should I say? You've made it all sound so good; you're helping me, aren't you?"
"No, you were speaking so well just now. You must have a way."
"I..."
At this moment, Feng Qishi walked to Mu Anxiao's side and reminded her, "Mu fool, if we have to pass through the Demon Realm, we can just ask Piao for help."
Hearing Feng Qishi's reminder, Mu Anxiao's fear dissipated, and she said, "Okay, I have a way now."
"You do?"
"Mmm."
"So confident. Which powerful demon do you know? Tell me about them."
"I..."
As Mu Anxiao uttered a single word, Feng Qishi quickly said, "Don't tell him. He's always been vague with you, so you be vague with him too."
Upon hearing this, Mu Anxiao tilted her head and, following Feng Qishi's advice, a smile played on her lips. "I'm not telling you."
Hei Feng curled his lips. "You're just boasting."
"In any case, I already know what to do. You guys go catch demon souls. Leave Yang Tai to me."
Hei Feng snorted and walked away.
Feng Qishi said, "I'll go with you."
"When haven't you gone with me?" Mu Anxiao retorted.
Feng Qishi: "....."
Mu Anxiao sighed, contemplating her tenuous relationship with Piao. She suddenly felt uncertain about this matter, but to help Yang Tai and salvage her reputation, she turned and looked at Feng Qishi again. xxs one
Feng Qishi looked down at Mu Anxiao's mischievous expression and asked, "What do you want?"
Mu Anxiao: "Help me tell Piao, that's your job."
"Why?"
"You can talk to Piao, but I... can't."
"Beg me."
"I beg you," Mu Anxiao clasped her hands together.