“You certainly think of a lot,” the second villager said, looking helplessly at Mu Anxiao.
Mu Anxiao replied earnestly, “Of course, I have to think of many things. What if…” her eyes narrowed, “you killed me? What if you tortured me like that monster was tortured?”
“He isn’t someone you know,” the first villager interjected.
“Whether I know someone or not is just a matter of words,” Mu Anxiao said. After glancing at each of them, she tiptoed and suddenly shouted, “Monster, you’re back!”
Following her gaze, they all turned and looked in a certain direction.
Taking advantage of the distraction, Mu Anxiao turned and ran away.
“What was that?” the second villager asked, staring at a large tree in the distance.
Immediately, the first villager understood. He turned, saw her fleeing, and shouted, “No, she’s getting away!” With that, he turned and chased after Mu Anxiao.
The second villager blinked, then hurried after the first villager.
Two quarters of an hour later…
Mu Anxiao squatted in a corner of an alley, looking up at the two villagers who were staring intently at her. “You two are really something.”
“Tie her up,” the first villager commanded.
The second villager nodded, bent down, pulled out a rope from his embrace, and tied Mu Anxiao’s hands.
Mu Anxiao sat on the ground, feeling weak, and looked up at the second villager. “What’s your relationship with that bailiff?”
“It’s none of your business,” the second villager retorted unceremoniously.
A smirk touched Mu Anxiao’s lips. “I can’t manage that, but I heard the female jailer…” she continued, “that painting you made was the result of your hard work. I tore up your painting, and claimed I was from your village. Therefore… I should bear this responsibility. Is that right?”
“Yes,” the second villager nodded, pulling the rope. “Stand up.” He straightened up.
As Mu Anxiao got up, she said, “If I’m not mistaken, this plan was suggested by that bailiff, wasn’t it?”
“It was him, but he doesn’t know about the demon fire,” the second villager explained in detail.
“That’s true, I didn’t scare that bailiff,” Mu Anxiao nodded.
“Let’s go,” the first villager glared at Mu Anxiao and turned to walk ahead.
Mu Anxiao’s mouth twisted, and she followed behind the second villager.
As they walked along the road, many people looked at them. However, the second and first villagers paid no mind. Mu Anxiao, on the other hand, felt embarrassed.
“Hey, can you two stop tying me up and dragging me along? It’s too embarrassing,” she said.
The second villager glanced at Mu Anxiao. “You didn’t seem embarrassed when you were escaping.”
“Of course not, that was a matter of survival,” Mu Anxiao replied.
The second villager glared at Mu Anxiao and looked at the first villager walking ahead. “Where are we going now?”
“To find someone from the cultivation sect,” the first villager said.
Hearing the first villager’s response, Mu Anxiao had a sudden inspiration. “I know people from the cultivation sect.”
Upon hearing this, the first villager stopped in his tracks and turned halfway to look at Mu Anxiao. “You do?”
“Yes, but they committed a crime and are working as laborers in an inn,” Mu Anxiao elaborated.
The first villager pursed his lips and looked at the second villager. “What do you think?”
“I think people from the cultivation sect are quite formidable. Why don’t we go and see?” the second villager suggested softly.
Mu Anxiao looked at the second villager and thought about her previous words. She sighed inwardly, thinking: These two idiots still don’t believe me. Fine, go ahead and provoke the wolf demon to your heart’s content. I’m done with this. With that, she smiled at them.
The first villager glanced at Mu Anxiao. “Alright, we’ll listen to her.”
Upon hearing this, the second villager breathed a sigh of relief and looked at Mu Anxiao. “Where are they?”
“I’ll take you, but untie me first,” Mu Anxiao said, lifting her hands, which were bound by the rope.
The second villager hesitated.
The first villager frowned, stepped forward, and stood before Mu Anxiao. He naturally untied the rope and then grabbed Mu Anxiao’s arm. “Lead the way.”
“Why are you pulling me?” Mu Anxiao asked, looking up at the first villager.
The first villager said, “Lead the way.”
“Annoying,” Mu Anxiao muttered, clenching her fists.
In an instant, Mu Anxiao led them to the outside of an inn.
“Let go,” Mu Anxiao said, looking down at the first villager’s dark hand.
However, the first villager showed no intention of releasing her hand. “Go in.”
“Let go,” Mu Anxiao insisted.
“We can let go, but you can’t tell them we’re the ones who caught you. If they ask, you say we are your friends. Of course,” the first villager glanced at Mu Anxiao, “if you call for help, don’t blame me for being impolite.” He pointed to the dagger at his waist.
“Killing people isn’t good,” Mu Anxiao said softly.
“Don’t force me,” the first villager said coldly.
Seeing the arrogant expression on the first villager’s face, Mu Anxiao couldn’t help but curl her lips. “Fine, I’ll do as you say. Let go.”
The first villager snorted and released her hand.
Following that, a young man arrogantly approached Mu Anxiao. “You’ve actually been released.”
“This is someone from the cultivation sect,” Mu Anxiao said, glancing at the first villager.
“Hello,” the first villager’s expression immediately changed as he smiled at the young man.
The young man froze and looked at the first villager who had greeted him. “Oh, hello.”
“We are from the village. Recently, there have been monsters appearing, and we hope you can help,” the first villager said to the young man with great eagerness.
“Is that so?” the young man chuckled dryly.
Mu Anxiao calmly watched the young man’s awkward expression. “Let’s go inside.”
Upon hearing this, the young man glanced at Tian Jiang, who was standing behind the counter. “Oh, I’m sorry, I have other things to do.”
“That’s alright, we can wait,” the first villager said very politely.
Mu Anxiao cleared her throat.
The young man swallowed. “Then please, have a seat first.” As he said this, he turned and led them to an empty table.
The second villager smiled foolishly at the young man.
Mu Anxiao took a deep breath. “Sit down, he’s busy.”
The first villager glanced at Mu Anxiao and then stepped forward to sit at the table. “Come here.”
“What for?” Mu Anxiao asked impatiently.
The first villager turned his head to look at Mu Anxiao. “Sit next to me.”
Mu Anxiao’s lips twisted. Without another word, she walked around the table to the seat opposite the first villager and sat down.
The first villager looked back at Mu Anxiao, his brow furrowed tightly.
Mu Anxiao said, “I’m here, I can’t run away anyway.”
“Run?” the young man echoed the word.
Mu Anxiao looked up at the young man but said nothing.