"If the Rabbit Queen finds out, you're as good as dead," said the red-clothed rabbit demon.
"Dead," Mu Anxiao replied, looking down thoughtfully before chuckling. "Do you know what they told me before entrusting their lives to me?"
"What did they say?" the red-clothed rabbit demon asked curiously.
"They told me many things that you don't know, things that concern your safety. However," Mu Anxiao stepped forward, brushing past her as he approached the table, "I'm not telling you."
"Why?" the red-clothed rabbit demon asked, her back to him.
Mu Anxiao picked up a teacup, glancing at Yan, who dared not speak, and said, "You're just a little rabbit. Do you need to know so much?"
The red-clothed rabbit demon swallowed, turned, and said, "Tell me."
Mu Anxiao took a sip of water, turned to face the red-clothed rabbit demon, and said, "If I don't tell you, I'll have no value."
"Even if you don't tell me, you'll still die," the red-clothed rabbit demon stated.
"Oh?" Mu Anxiao feigned surprise. "The outcome is the same, then. In that case, I still won't tell you. It's death either way."
The red-clothed rabbit demon narrowed her eyes. "You just keep your secrets."
"Mm, I will," Mu Anxiao nodded, glancing at the red-clothed rabbit demon's clenched fists and sighing.
Outside the cultivation sect, Xu Lanyan and his companions had returned.
"Is there still demonic energy?" asked the black-clothed demon.
Xu Lanyan tilted his head to look at the sky. "Yes, he has already entered."
"The rabbit demons are connected to demons. No wonder they're so arrogant," the black-clothed demon realized.
"There must be a reason they can establish themselves," Xu Lanyan said, half-turning to look at the lesser demons. "Alright, you all hide. He and I will go in." He pointed to the black-clothed demon.
The black-clothed demon's expression stiffened. "No, why should I go with you?"
"We get along," Xu Lanyan said simply.
"I don't think so," the black-clothed demon replied, shaking his head with a dark expression.
Demon Number One stepped forward and stood behind them, asking, "So, you mean we can leave."
Hearing this, Xu Lanyan looked at Demon Number One and nodded. "Yes, you may leave."
Demon Number One gave an unnatural smile, then looked at the black-clothed demon again. "Then, we'll be going. We await your good news."
"You..."
"Don't 'you' me," Xu Lanyan interrupted, reaching out to cover the black-clothed demon's mouth. "Alright, you can leave."
"Alright, alright," they said in unison, and then they left.
Following that, Xu Lanyan let out a breath and removed his hand. "I think you have potential."
"I wish I didn't," the black-clothed demon's eyes were filled with fear.
"What are you afraid of?" Xu Lanyan asked, tilting his chin up.
"Inside here," the black-clothed demon pointed to the door, "there are demons. Do you know what demons are?"
"Demons are beings that even immortals can't be bothered to deal with. However, I've never truly met one. This will be the first time. I'm quite looking forward to it," Xu Lanyan said with a smile.
The black-clothed demon widened his tear-filled eyes and shook his head slightly. "I'm not looking forward to it. If there's nothing else, I'll be leaving now." As he spoke, he turned and walked away step by step.
"Didn't you say you wanted to follow? Now that you see demons, you're deserting. Your brothers will likely look down on you," Xu Lanyan said, watching the black-clothed demon pause.
Hearing Xu Lanyan's words, the black-clothed demon turned sideways and said, "My principle has always been safety first, face second. Your words are useless."
"Useless? Then why did you stop?" Xu Lanyan asked, pointing at the black-clothed demon.
"I..."
"You haven't done anything wicked. If you cooperate with me this time, I can help you become someone like me," Xu Lanyan said, pointing to himself.
The black-clothed demon was moved by Xu Lanyan's words.
"Do you mean I can become an immortal?" he asked.
Xu Lanyan pondered for a moment and said, "Becoming an immortal is still too far off for you. You can follow me, and I'll help you slowly."
"Why am I too far off?" the black-clothed demon asked.
Xu Lanyan smiled. "I'm not that powerful an immortal, so I can only help you to this extent. However, if you don't want to become one," he waved his hand, "you can leave."
Seeing that Xu Lanyan was no longer trying to persuade him, and thinking of the wonderful outcome, the black-clothed demon stammered, "If I follow you in now, will you let me follow you in the future? Is that what you mean?"
Xu Lanyan nodded slightly.
"Will I die if I go in?" the black-clothed demon asked.
Xu Lanyan smiled faintly. "I just want to find the soul spirit and see how to resolve this demonic... " He stopped mid-sentence, suddenly recalling the scene of parting with the soul spirit. "No, this demonic barrier wasn't set by him."
"Why do you say that?" the black-clothed demon asked, stepping closer.
Xu Lanyan glanced at the door, then reached out and pulled the black-clothed demon a bit further away. "Think about it. If he set it, he would surely stop me, because my actions are all wrong. But he didn't; instead, he supported me. So, it's not right," he shook his head.
"Then the rat demon did it?" the black-clothed demon asked, a spark of inspiration.
"Possibly," Xu Lanyan nodded.
"Then what should we do?" the black-clothed demon asked, not thinking at all.
Xu Lanyan pondered. "I heard the rat demon was captured. If we rescue the rat demon and use that to gain trust, wouldn't that work?"
"That's a good idea, but," the black-clothed demon glanced at the door, "I won't knock in a moment."
Xu Lanyan simply smiled without speaking.
A few minutes later, the black-clothed demon, looking extremely reluctant, glanced at Xu Lanyan and gently knocked on the door.
At the same time, the dog-headed demon happened to be passing by and stopped to ask, "Who is it?"
The black-clothed demon took a deep breath and said, "We are just passing by, lesser demons. May we rest here for a while?" As he spoke, he glanced at Xu Lanyan.
Xu Lanyan gave him a thumbs-up.
As if gaining encouragement, the black-clothed demon felt less afraid.
Hearing the black-clothed demon's reply, the dog-headed demon pondered, then stepped forward and opened the door wide, smiling. "All demons are one family. Come in."
Xu Lanyan looked at the smug expression on the dog-headed demon's face and grabbed the black-clothed demon's arm. "My brother isn't familiar with you, is he?"
"Eh?" the dog-headed demon looked confused.
"Brother," Xu Lanyan said, looking at the black-clothed demon, "I don't think we should go in."
"Brother, you told me to knock, why are you saying this now?" the black-clothed demon was completely unable to keep up with Xu Lanyan's pace.
Xu Lanyan tilted his head to look at the sky. "It's still morning, brother..." he choked, "We still need to find a way to save our eldest brother."
The black-clothed demon echoed Xu Lanyan, calling out, "Brother."