Mu Anxiao watched Xi'er disappear completely, then observed Youxian's actions, which were utterly without hesitation. She couldn't help but recall her own previous injuries and felt a chill run down her spine as her eyes darkened.
At the same time, after Xi'er's departure, Youxian, holding her short knife, turned to Mu Anxiao and said, "If you keep stopping me, I won't be polite."
"Your short knife is useless now," Mu Anxiao stated coldly, stopping opposite Youxian.
"Naive," Youxian replied, raising the short knife and swinging it directly towards Mu Anxiao's head.
Ghost Number One's eyes widened.
Ghost Number Two quickly said, "This is bad, she's going to die." As he spoke, he hastily retreated with the other ghosts.
Mu Anxiao remained unfazed. She opened one hand, producing a silver rope.
The next second, just as the short knife was about to strike Mu Anxiao's forehead, the silver rope shot out from behind Mu Anxiao, coiling around the useless short knife.
Then, Youxian exerted all her strength, pulling the short knife wrapped in the silver rope, flying back a few steps and stabilizing herself.
Ouyang Ye, following Mu Anxiao's instructions, remained in place, quietly observing the unfolding situation.
Seeing Ouyang Ye motionless, Wei also looked confused. "Why aren't you going to help her?" he asked, walking up to Ouyang Ye's side.
Ouyang Ye crossed his arms. "If she kills someone, she can never turn back," he said, looking at Wei. "You understand what I mean."
Upon hearing this, Wei suddenly realized. "You want to make her like you."
"Yes, only after experiencing different degrees of harm can there be significant change. That Youxian can provoke her."
"You arranged all of this?" Wei exclaimed in surprise.
Ouyang Ye tutted. "Why do you think that too? I don't have that kind of ability."
"It's not you..." Wei said, then paused to think. "It's all a coincidence."
"One can only say that Mu Anxiao is quite fated with this mission. Of course," Ouyang Ye added, glancing at Wei, "this mission is not easy to complete. With the slightest carelessness, she could lose her immortal status and her life."
"It's so dangerous, yet you let her go."
"Are you ignoring my words?"
"She's already dead, how can she become a 'demonic entity' like you?"
"When the time comes, I'll save her, and then she'll be like me."
"Brainwashing," Wei murmured.
Ouyang Ye nodded slightly. "However, if she's lucky, my objective might not be achieved."
"You can make a move," Xi'er suddenly appeared beside Ouyang Ye.
Wei jumped in fright and took half a step back.
Xi'er glared at Wei, then shifted her gaze back to Ouyang Ye's face.
Ouyang Ye replied, "A move? I don't want Mu Anxiao to see me as an enemy. Besides, if I were to make a move, the higher authorities would know immediately. Do you think they are all fools?"
"I..." Xi'er lowered her head slightly. "I was being talkative." With that, she took a step back and vanished again.
Ouyang Ye glanced in the direction Xi'er had disappeared, then turned his attention back to Mu Anxiao, who stood her ground, controlling the silver rope and engaged in combat with Youxian. He commented, "I didn't expect her to be so lazy."
Ghost Number Four chimed in, "She just doesn't want to get hurt anymore."
"..." Ouyang Ye heard this and looked at Ghost Number Four. "You know quite a bit."
Ghost Number Four dared not make eye contact with Ouyang Ye, so the moment Ouyang Ye responded, he quickly averted his gaze.
Seeing the fear in Ghost Number Four's eyes, Ouyang Ye said mildly, "I am your benefactor, so naturally, I will protect you. Don't be afraid of me."
"Mm," Ghost Number Four nodded slightly, then looked at Ouyang Ye again.
Ouyang Ye looked at Ghost Number Four, a hint of a smile flashing in his eyes, then turned back to Mu Anxiao's direction, speaking no more.
Meanwhile, Wei suddenly recalled what Youxian had said earlier, and observing Youxian's fluid movements as she fought against the silver rope, his eyes darkened. He said, "Benefactor, she wants to kill us."
"Yes," Ouyang Ye nodded.
"Kill..." Wei felt a sense of crisis and quickly looked towards them again. "Then we must leave quickly."
"No," Ouyang Ye said quietly.
"Why?" Wei didn't understand.
Ouyang Ye glanced left and right. "Based on my senses, the demon that captured you has already entered the forest. If you disperse and move away from here, your subsequent fate..." He looked at Wei. "You should know best."
Hearing Ouyang Ye's words, Wei lowered his eyes, pondered for a moment, and then quickly looked back towards Mu Anxiao. "Did you intentionally let Mu Anxiao use her immortal energy to conceal our soul energy?"
"No, this is a hidden area. He can't easily find you. Moreover..." Ouyang Ye furrowed his brow. "I don't have a clear understanding of exactly how many guys have arrived, but as long as you follow me, you'll be fine."
"Mm," Wei trusted Ouyang Ye, then turned and inadvertently looked at Ghost Number Seven, who was attempting to leave the group. His eyes widened. "A ghost seems to be leaving, I'll go check."
"Go," Ouyang Ye glanced at Wei.
Wei nodded and walked towards Ghost Number Seven.
On the other side.
Mu Anxiao held the silver rope tightly, looking at Youxian, who was relentlessly hacking at the rope with her short knife, with a ferocious expression. "What exactly are you?" she asked, sensing a peculiar power emanating from Youxian's body.
Youxian glared at Mu Anxiao with malice, ceasing her attacks on the silver rope. She flew upwards, looking down at Mu Anxiao, who was enveloped by the silver rope, and said, "Is this all you've got?"
Mu Anxiao tilted her head back, looking at Youxian hovering above through the gaps in the silver rope. "You are a mortal, why do you have such ability? Tell me, who exactly is your father?"
Youxian looked down at Mu Anxiao. "If you retract this damned thing, I'll tell you who my father is."
"..." Mu Anxiao narrowed her eyes.
Ouyang Ye also looked at Youxian, who was suspended in mid-air, and said coldly, "No wonder you're so arrogant. Your abilities have improved remarkably."
Hearing Ouyang Ye's words, Mu Anxiao couldn't help but recall Youxian's obedient departure not long ago. Then, thinking of the wind that suddenly struck her when she met Feng Qishi's soul, she muttered, "Something's not right." As she spoke, she suddenly remembered Jiong Ye and hurriedly called out to Feng Qishi in her mind, "Shen Fengzi."
Youxian ignored Ouyang Ye.
The residence.
Feng Qishi sat at a table, glancing at Yuan Yan, who was reaching for the teapot to refill his tea, while casually discarding melon seed shells onto the table. He lowered his eyes and asked in his mind, "Mu Shazi, are you alright?"
Mu Anxiao replied mentally, "I'm alright, Shen Fengzi. Do you remember that gust of wind when you were teaching me healing techniques?"
"Wind..." Feng Qishi repeated mentally, a frown creasing his brow. "Ah, that wind."
Hearing Feng Qishi's response, Mu Anxiao breathed a sigh of relief. She controlled the silver rope with one hand and created a barrier beside herself with the other, continuing, "You said that wind felt familiar, what did you mean?"
"Don't you not want to know?" Feng Qishi retorted mentally, his brow furrowing. "Mu Shazi, you haven't gotten into trouble, have you?"
Mu Anxiao replied, "Just tell me why that wind felt familiar. There are some things now that I can't explain clearly." As she spoke mentally, she glanced again at Youxian, who was hovering above the silver rope, waiting for her to lose strength.