"Self-preservation," Mu An Xiao repeated, recalling the despicable methods of the vine spirit, then thinking of Gui Xiao’s elusive actions. She suddenly felt her worries were entirely unnecessary.
Yang Tai, seeing Mu An Xiao trail off, looked at her with confusion. "Are you worried about him?"
Hearing this, Mu An Xiao snapped back to attention and looked at Yang Tai. "No, I was just mumbling to myself." With that, she turned her face towards Feng Qi Shi.
Feng Qi Shi asked, "Why are you looking at me?"
Mu An Xiao’s lips curled, and she said with her mind, "What else? Help me call Hei Feng and the others. My spiritual energy is damaged, and I have no strength."
Feng Qi Shi let out an "Oh," and turned to cast a spell to summon Hei Feng and the others.
Immediately after, Mu An Xiao turned her gaze back to Yang Tai.
Yang Tai, met with Mu An Xiao’s sudden stare, appeared uncharacteristically embarrassed. "Why are you looking at me?"
"Why did you kill those five people?" Mu An Xiao asked.
Previously, when Mu An Xiao had captured Yang Tai, she hadn't asked anything. Yang Tai had immediately engaged her in a contest and made conditions, leaving her with many unclarified questions. Therefore, taking this opportunity, she wanted to understand.
Yang Tai was silent for a moment, then said, "If you don't know, why did you catch me?"
"I was just completing my mission. Now, if you tell me clearly, perhaps," Mu An Xiao paused, "I can help you."
"Help me? I don't believe it," Yang Tai shook his head.
Mu An Xiao looked puzzled. "Why don't you believe me?"
"You are just a minor immortal. How can you help me? Is it possible that I can directly reincarnate?"
"Reincarnation is not possible; your time has not come. However, if you tell me the reason, I can help reduce the lifespan of one human life to fifteen years."
"Forget it!" Yang Tai refused.
If it had been in the past, these words from Mu An Xiao would have made these demon souls excited. But in their current state, it made her feel as though... she had spoken a string of nonsense.
"..."
Yang Tai asked, "What's wrong?"
Mu An Xiao gave a wry smile. "Nothing."
"Nothing? What's wrong then?"
Hearing Yang Tai's almost aggressive questioning, Mu An Xiao finally spoke. "Actually, I feel I have the right to understand your past, including your motivations. But your silence truly disappoints me."
"You weren't this proactive that year either."
"Yes, I wasn't that proactive, but people change, even gods change. I just want to know your past."
It was less about wanting to know and more about Mu An Xiao's curiosity. Why had he been moved by a simple comment about his good looks? Why... had he spoken to Gui Xiao in that manner?
So, she added, "Just tell me!"
"Killing them... was because they ruined my appearance."
"Ruined your appearance?" Mu An Xiao was startled. She looked at Yang Tai's face and asked, "There are no signs of disfigurement. Are you sure you remember correctly?"
Yang Tai: "...."
"...." Mu An Xiao, seeing Yang Tai’s strange reaction, hesitated before saying, "Yang Tai, speak clearly if you have something to say."
"Why is it that when we harm mortals, we must suffer, but when they harm us, they commit no crimes? Tell me," Yang Tai's eyes filled with hatred, "why is that?"
This question had not only been asked by Yang Tai but also by many other demon souls to Mu An Xiao. However, due to her status, she knew she was not qualified to explain.
Every time it came to this point, she would usually fall silent.
But since Yang Tai had asked like this, she couldn't avoid answering. Yet, if her answer wasn't to his satisfaction, he might try to escape, and that would be troublesome.
In an instant, Mu An Xiao found herself completely trapped in a pit she had dug for herself.
Mu An Xiao: "....."
Yang Tai sneered, "I knew you wouldn't be able to say."
"....." Mu An Xiao averted her gaze, instinctively seeking Feng Qi Shi's help. But Feng Qi Shi was busy casting a spell to summon Yin messengers, so she couldn't call out.
Helplessly, she could only remain silent.
Gu Xiao, seeing Mu An Xiao's troubled posture and Yang Tai’s expectant expression, sighed. Then, without regard for protocol, he walked to Mu An Xiao's side and said, "Just tell him directly that killing is wrong."
Hearing this, Mu An Xiao was startled by Gu Xiao's firm advice. She swallowed and opened her mouth as if to speak, but then closed it again.
Gu Xiao said, "Just say it directly. If you don't, he'll develop prejudice against you and escape. You won't have a chance to keep him. Trust me."
Gu Xiao's urgent tone also sparked courage in Mu An Xiao. Taking a deep breath, she organized Gu Xiao's words in her mind and then spoke them in her own way, "There is no 'why.' Those people ruined your appearance, so you killed them. But I want to ask you, how did you know them? You're a demon, why would you get involved with that group of people?"
Yang Tai: "...."
Gu Xiao knew Yang Tai would be speechless, as he had told him this before. Back then, Yang Tai had also remained silent, and there was no follow-up.
"Why aren't you saying anything?" Mu An Xiao feigned composure.
Yang Tai blinked his eyes and said, "Mu An Xiao, you are truly annoying."
Mu An Xiao's heart sank.
Yang Tai continued, "There's nothing worth saying about my past. Those people, I just wanted to kill them. If you want a reason, I can't give you one."
"I know why you killed them," Mu An Xiao suddenly said.
One incident was not enough to enrage a demon. It only happened when things accumulated, and when their actions became truly excessive, that it was possible to infuriate a demon dwelling in the mountains.
From Yang Tai's despairing tone, she deduced that he must have once been a kind demon, and quite handsome. After being disfigured, he became self-conscious, so self-conscious that he wanted revenge.
Yang Tai said, "What do you know?"
"You didn't do it intentionally."
"I didn't do what intentionally?"
"You didn't intentionally want to kill them."
"...."
"I guessed right."
Yang Tai shook his head. "I just wanted to kill them. The desire to kill them had been building for a full ten years. Only after I killed them did I realize," his eyes became listless, "how dirty it was." xxs
"You..."
Yang Tai interrupted, "You have no idea what reason I killed them for, and you're trying to trick me with these words. Don't think I can't see through you."
Mu An Xiao said firmly, "You killed them out of self-consciousness."
Yang Tai's eyes widened. "How did you know?"
"You killed only women, five of them. If I'm not mistaken," Mu An Xiao narrowed her eyes slightly, "you were once... a woman."
After Mu An Xiao said this, Yang Tai knitted his brows tightly. "Mu An Xiao, you really are good at making things up."