Mu Anxiao smiled and said, "I'm used to sleeping on my stomach; yesterday was an accident." With that, she turned to wash up.
The red-clothed rabbit spirit watched Mu Anxiao's retreating back and asked, "If those rabbit spirits don't behave, how will you deal with them?"
Hearing this, Mu Anxiao tilted her head and said, "The cart will find its way when it reaches the bridge; starting from the beginning, perhaps your rabbit queen will change her attitude."
The red-clothed rabbit spirit fell silent for a moment after hearing Mu Anxiao's words and said, "This matter might not be as simple as you think."
"Why?" Mu Anxiao asked while brushing her teeth.
"The queen's resentment towards humans far exceeds your imagination," the red-clothed rabbit spirit said, then turned and walked away.
After hearing the red-clothed rabbit spirit's words, Mu Anxiao finished brushing her teeth, splashed some water on her face, stood up, and thought, "It seems this matter is indeed not easy to handle." As she spoke, she remembered stopping Piaos for killing rabbits last night. "Then that means I shouldn't have stopped Piao yesterday. If he had finished those guys off, their messages wouldn't have gotten out, would they? Oh dear, I'm so foolish," she said, patting her forehead.
"Having such thoughts is not right."
Hearing the voice, Mu Anxiao turned to look at Xu Lanyan, who had stopped behind her, and was startled, "Is the matter resolved?"
"It's nowhere near that easy," Xu Lanyan said, exhaling. "There's demonic energy in that demon barrier. The rat demons have spent all night trying to break it but couldn't."
"Failed?" Mu Anxiao asked in surprise.
"You can't say it's a failure; everyone is still trying," Xu Lanyan said in a low voice.
"When everyone else is working hard, why are you back?" Mu Anxiao asked, then thought, "Wait, how did you get in?"
"I don't know why, but the front gate wasn't guarded. I just pushed the door open and came in," Xu Lanyan said calmly.
"No guards?" Mu Anxiao retorted.
Xu Lanyan nodded, then bent down, reached into the water bucket, scooped up water with both hands, and splashed it on his face.
Mu Anxiao, lost in thought, pondered for a moment and said, "They wouldn't have made their move, would they?" Shaking her head slightly, she turned and ran off without another word.
Xu Lanyan hadn't noticed Mu Anxiao leaving. "I'll use your towel," he said. He took a towel from the basin, wrung it out, and casually wiped his face. As he straightened up, he sighed, "Leaving without saying a word." Then, yawning, he walked in the direction Mu Anxiao had gone.
Soon, Mu Anxiao ran into the room and said, "The rabbits are gone."
Hearing this, Piao and Feng Qishi simultaneously turned to look at Mu Anxiao. Piao asked, "How do you know?"
"I... I just know," Mu Anxiao said, not wanting to mention Xu Lanyan's name in front of Piao.
"That's impossible," the red-clothed rabbit spirit said.
"How is it impossible? The front gate wasn't guarded just now," Mu Anxiao said excitedly.
"At this hour, the rabbits aren't even up yet," the red-clothed rabbit spirit said.
"What do you mean?" Mu Anxiao asked, confused.
"The morning we refer to is different from what you consider morning. In our world, there are only two periods of time: we call noon 'morning,' and the other is night," the red-clothed rabbit spirit explained patiently.
"So, you mean they are still resting?" Mu Anxiao asked.
"Yes, they usually work at night," the red-clothed rabbit spirit said.
Mu Anxiao frowned. "You were asleep last night," she pointed at the red-clothed rabbit spirit.
The red-clothed rabbit spirit smiled with lowered eyes. "Wasn't I just following your schedule?"
"That's true," Mu Anxiao replied blankly.
Feng Qishi said, "Mu Shazi, can you please figure things out before speaking? Don't get so worked up; I thought something had happened to you."
"I'm happy to, what's it to you?" Mu Anxiao retorted casually, and as she turned, she happened to see Xu Lanyan entering the room.
Xu Lanyan looked at the red-clothed rabbit spirit and Feng Qishi with a very familiar air and said, "Good morning to you all."
"You look so familiar?" Piao asked, standing up.
Feng Qishi paused for a moment and said, "Don't think about it; you won't be able to remember." He stood up, patted Piao on the shoulder, and then gave Xu Lanyan a meaningful look.
Xu Lanyan watched Feng Qishi's constantly winking eyes and smiled, "What's wrong with you?"
As Xu Lanyan asked this question, Piao turned to look at Feng Qishi. Feng Qishi's eyes returned to their normal size, and he smiled at Piao, saying, "My eyes are feeling a bit uncomfortable." He rubbed his eyes.
"I see," Piao said.
Feng Qishi nodded.
Xu Lanyan, noticing Feng Qishi's unnatural behavior and then looking at Piao, said, "I was passing by and thought I'd say hello. Now that the greeting is done, I bid you farewell." He cupped his hands.
Piao looked at Xu Lanyan and asked, "How did you get in?"
"I..." Xu Lanyan's eyes darted uncomfortably. "It was very simple. I came through the main entrance."
"You were the one who told Mu Anxiao the news," Piao added.
Xu Lanyan glanced at Mu Anxiao and nodded. "It was me."
"Alright, you can leave now," Piao suddenly said.
Xu Lanyan was taken aback and nodded. "Then, enjoy your breakfast." With that, he turned and left.
Mu Anxiao breathed a sigh of relief.
Feng Qishi also exhaled in relief.
Piao, however, looked at Yan, who was staring worriedly in the direction Xu Lanyan had left, and asked, "What's wrong?"
Hearing this, Yan snapped back to attention, looked at Piao, and smiled faintly, "Nothing, I'm just a bit sleepy."
"Then you should rest a bit longer," Piao said.
Yan shook her head slightly. "No need. I'll go wash up." Saying this, she stood up from the table, brushed past Mu Anxiao, and quickened her pace towards the exit.
Mu Anxiao glanced at Yan's retreating figure, then looked at the red-clothed rabbit spirit. "I'll go with you to the kitchen."
"You?" The red-clothed rabbit spirit pointed at Mu Anxiao, thought for a moment, and said, "Alright then, let's go."
Seeing that the red-clothed rabbit spirit had agreed, Mu Anxiao smiled, turned to Piao, and said, "We're leaving."
Piao said nothing and sat down.
Feng Qishi raised his eyebrows at Mu Anxiao, then naturally sat next to Piao and said, "Drinking tea so early in the morning might not be good for us."
"What's not good about it?" Piao said.
Feng Qishi smiled. "It's bad for the skin."
Hearing this, Piao was speechless.
Mu Anxiao sighed, turned to the red-clothed rabbit spirit, and said, "Let's go."
"Mm," the red-clothed rabbit spirit replied, and together with Mu Anxiao, they turned and walked out.
At the same time, Yan caught up with Xu Lanyan.
"Wait up."
Hearing the voice, Xu Lanyan stopped on the stone path, then turned to look at Yan, who was chasing after him, and asked, "Is something wrong?"
"Yes," Yan nodded, stopping in front of Xu Lanyan, breathless. "Are you with the rat demons?"