Listening to Mu Anxiao's hasty words, Shu Jia couldn't help but frown, "Um, I didn't quite understand what you said?"
"You'll know after you accompany her to find Shen Fengzi."
"Is that so? Then you can hand him over to me then."
"Fine, but you can't tell him you're the Yin messenger who captured him."
"Why?" she asked with feigned confusion.
Mu Anxiao cleared her throat and said, "I told him that I'm in charge of him. If you say you handed him over to me, he definitely won't cooperate, and then everything will be a mess." She tilted her chin up.
"That makes sense. Then we're leaving." Shu Jia's spirits soared upon hearing she had a mission.
Seeing Shu Jia's energetic demeanor, Mu Anxiao felt reassured. "Go ahead then."
"Okay!" Shu Jia nodded, looking forward to her task.
Conversely, Mu Miy an revealed a reluctant expression, "Master, we just met and now we have to part again." She pouted.
Mu Anxiao looked at Mu Mi Yan's sad expression and considered the actual time she had known her, stating directly, "Don't worry, I won't let you wander alone."
She knew Mu Mi Yan was a person who lacked a sense of security. Moreover, Guan Mian had caused her so much harm before; that alone had left a deep shadow on Mu Mi Yan.
She knew even more that Mu Mi Yan considered her the most important person. And she could understand Mu Mi Yan's feelings.
It was like when she first followed Shen Yan, she didn't want to leave Shen Yan's side for half a step, fearing she would revert to being a lonely beggar who could be bullied by anyone.
It wasn't until the incident at the Immortal Cultivation Sect that she truly began to grow.
From that moment on, she understood... growth was accumulated step by step. Mu Mi Yan's growth was also like this.
"Master..."
"Alright, trust him," Mu Anxiao said, giving Shu Jia a knowing look.
Upon seeing this, Shu Jia immediately grabbed Mu Mi Yan's arm and led her away.
Then, after Mu Mi Yan and Shu Jia had left, Ouyang Ye showed a perplexed expression, "..." He watched the direction Mu Mi Yan and Shu Jia were heading.
Mu Anxiao turned her head to look at Ouyang Ye's face and frowned, "What's wrong?"
"I have a question for you." Ouyang Ye withdrew his gaze and fixed it on Mu Anxiao.
Mu Anxiao knew that her only hope now lay with Ouyang Ye. Naturally, she should respond to the questions he raised.
Thus, she said, "Ask away."
Ouyang Ye: "Mu Mi Yan is human."
"Mhm," Mu Anxiao nodded, her eyes narrowing. "She's my disciple. Don't even think about laying a hand on her."
Hearing this, Ouyang Ye's expression stiffened noticeably. "Can't your thinking be less strange? I'm being very serious."
"Alright, you're serious, continue," Mu Anxiao said perfunctorily, extending her palm towards Ouyang Ye.
Ouyang Ye continued, "Yin messengers are a type of ghost. How could he possibly affect your disciple?"
However, this was a question Mu Anxiao had never considered. On the contrary, she had never felt any doubt about it because she knew... Shu Jia was a person who could find ways to do things. Thinking about it, if it weren't for her, Lin Yan would not be alive today.
Therefore, Mu Anxiao didn't bother to overthink anything Shu Jia did.
At this moment, hearing Ouyang Ye's puzzled question, she could only say, "She has her ways."
"Has her ways?"
"Mhm. As for what ways," Mu Anxiao shrugged, "I don't know either."
"Alright," Ouyang Ye nodded, his expression becoming thoughtful.
Mu Anxiao also understood Ouyang Ye's intentions and said, "Don't even think about asking him for help. Even if he agrees, I won't let him help you."
"I can deal with Yin messengers."
"I know you can, but," Mu Anxiao said seriously, "I also know how much mischief you're capable of. Don't try to scare ordinary mortals with such tricks."
"..." Ouyang Ye indeed had that intention.
Seeing Ouyang Ye suddenly fall silent, Mu Anxiao let out a cold laugh, "It seems I've hit the mark."
Ouyang Ye chuckled dryly, "I didn't expect you to be so clever."
"You doing this is only to give the immortals above more work. I'm telling you, as long as I, Mu Anxiao, am an immortal, I will never let you succeed!" Mu Anxiao said, forgetting her own position.
Ouyang Ye looked at Mu Anxiao's determined expression and tilted his head to look upwards. "Mu Anxiao, what good does offending me do for you?"
Hearing this, Mu Anxiao froze.
Immediately after, Ouyang Ye bent down again, meeting Mu Anxiao's eyes, and said, "Do you still want to find the benefactor of the evil spirits to save Feng Qi Shi?"
"Yes," Mu Anxiao realized she had become a bit too agitated and then forced a stiff smile, chuckling dryly at Ouyang Ye.
"You want to," Ouyang Ye repeated, reaching out and pinching Mu Anxiao's face, "and you still talk to me like this. Do you think that's appropriate?"
"I have my principles," Mu Anxiao said, glancing sideways at Ouyang Ye's hand.
Ouyang Ye continued to pinch Mu Anxiao's cheek, "If you have principles, then you won't help me."
"I can't help you. Besides," Mu Anxiao realized she couldn't argue with Ouyang Ye, so she softened her tone, "that person can only grant such abilities to my disciple alone; other... people, he can't help either."
"You say he can't."
"It's the truth. Look... his tasks all have to be dug out from me. Do you think," Mu Anxiao glanced at Ouyang Ye's hand again, continuing, "he can help you?"
"Can you help me?" Ouyang Ye asked, lowering his hand.
Mu Anxiao habitually took a step back and said, "To put it bluntly, I'm just a laborer. I've never enjoyed any benefits. For decades, I've only seen silver. I haven't seen any elixirs, or any... miscellaneous good things. Including the silver rope I'm using now, it was given to me by a predecessor."
The predecessor she spoke of was 'Hei Feng'.
Ouyang Ye looked at Mu Anxiao's serious expression as she explained and laughed, "Mu Anxiao, you're truly laughable."
"..." Mu Anxiao gave a dry laugh, raised her hand to scratch the back of her head, and asked, "How am I... laughable?"
"That's just my thought. Whether it succeeds or not, I don't really care. What I want to do now, you should know, right?" Ouyang Ye's gaze began to roam over Mu Anxiao's face.
Mu Anxiao shook her head.
"You're pretending," Ouyang Ye said softly.
Mu Anxiao genuinely didn't know what Ouyang Ye wanted.
But, hearing Ouyang Ye's low voice, she worried about offending him. So, without thinking, she blurted out, "What you want to do now... should be to drive away the evil spirits, right? Otherwise, how can you rest?" she said with a bitter smile, "Am I right?" She tilted her chin up.
Ouyang Ye's face turned cold.
Seeing Ouyang Ye's expression suddenly turn cold, Mu Anxiao thought about what she had just said. Her eyes darted involuntarily, "I said something wrong again."
"Mu Anxiao, you are my person," Ouyang Ye said, extending a finger and tapping Mu Anxiao's forehead, "Remember that."
Mu Anxiao hated this feeling, but currently, only Ouyang Ye could help her rescue Feng Qi Shi.
Therefore, as if for Feng Qi Shi, she loosened her clenched fist and forced a smile, "I belong to myself. I don't belong to anyone." Saying this, she took two steps back, thinking this statement wouldn't provoke him.
Ouyang Ye maintained his previous posture, glanced at the finger pointing at Mu Anxiao, and said, "Just say one word to cooperate with me, is that going to kill you?"
"It won't kill me," Mu Anxiao shook her head and then added, "I just don't want to deceive you."
"What do you mean?"
"I can't do things that deceive others' feelings. Moreover, I simply don't like you. If I say I like you, it would be a violation of my conscience," Mu Anxiao decided to be clear, "So, I can't say it."
"What you're saying makes me feel truly uncomfortable," Ouyang Ye stated directly.
Mu Anxiao smiled, "Why are you uncomfortable? You are an evil spirit. Remember your identity. Nothing should make you uncomfortable, unless..." she raised an eyebrow, "you like me."
She believed that after she said this, Ouyang Ye would definitely change the subject.
As expected, after Mu Anxiao finished speaking, Ouyang Ye was silent for a few seconds and then said, "Let's go."
"Oh," Mu Anxiao breathed a sigh of relief, then intentionally smiled and said, "You don't like me, do you?"
"It's always others who like me."
"Then... who is that other person?" Mu Anxiao became increasingly audacious.
Ouyang Ye's face turned cold, "It's you." After saying this, he turned and walked away first.
Subsequently, Mu Anxiao gagged slightly and followed Ouyang Ye.
At this time, Feng Qi Shi had already been brought by Zhao Mei'er to a residence not far outside the city.
Feng Qi Shi lay on the bed, unconscious.
Conversely, Yuan Yan, lying on the cold ground, opened his eyes, "Where is this?" he asked, holding his head and sitting up.
Zhao Mei'er stood by the bed and said without turning her head, "You belong to me now."
"Belong to me?" Yuan Yan, still not fully awake, patted his head hard.
Zhao Mei'er clearly heard the sound of Yuan Yan patting his forehead and clicked her tongue before turning to look at him, "The fragrance is useless to you. Why are you pretending to be a mortal?"
"Useless to me?" Yuan Yan retorted, standing up, "Then why did I faint? Your words are quite contradictory."
Hearing Yuan Yan's words, Zhao Mei'er's eyes flickered inadvertently. "It does have an effect, but it won't produce toxins in the body. At most, you'll just faint."
"..." Yuan Yan shook his head, "What exactly do you want to do?"
"It's very simple," Zhao Mei'er said these words inexplicably.
Yuan Yan was completely confused. "Very simple, what does that mean?" he asked, glancing at the bed. "Is he okay?"
"He will die," Zhao Mei'er said casually.
Upon hearing this, Yuan Yan's expression turned astonished. "You are killing an immortal. Do you know your crime?"
"You really believe Mu Anxiao's words? Let me tell you, she's not a good person. She's just a brat who values her mission above all else. Back then," Zhao Mei'er said with a bitter smile, "I explained it so clearly to her, yet she still wanted to capture me. I only did those things because I had no choice. She, on the other hand, didn't listen at all. Since that's the case, then don't blame me for being impolite." As she spoke, she turned to look at Feng Qi Shi.
Seeing Zhao Mei'er's demeanor, Yuan Yan's eyes darkened. "What's wrong?"
"I don't want to bring up past events anymore. I..."
"You don't want to bring it up, so why are you opposing Mu Anxiao? Why did you capture Feng Qi Shi? Your words," Yuan Yan interrupted, arguing earnestly, "are quite contradictory."
Hearing this, Zhao Mei'er's face fell. She turned to look at Yuan Yan, "Yuan Yan, I know you. Aren't you the one who's always whispering nonsense beside Shen Yan?"
"You..."
"Didn't you have immortal destiny back then? If I remember correctly, you even said..."
"Shut up," Yuan Yan didn't want to hear any more.
Then, Zhao Mei'er deliberately shut her mouth and smiled, "You don't want to hear it anymore, do you?"
"I have a slight impression of you, but not a deep one. Also, I find you annoying when I see you. I won't believe your nonsense. I believe Mu Anxiao will definitely come to save us." Yuan Yan had placed all his hopes on Mu Anxiao, believing that Mu Anxiao would definitely help him reincarnate.
"..." Zhao Mei'er looked at Yuan Yan's expression of firm hope and smiled, "You're mistaken. She won't be able to find the benefactor of the evil spirits because I deliberately told her the benefactor of the evil spirits was a woman, but in reality... it's a man."
"You..." Yuan Yan's eyes widened.
Zhao Mei'er continued, "She's in a precarious situation herself. In other words, evil spirits like to move in groups. They generally don't act alone, so," she smiled, "just imagine, how could a little immortal like Mu Anxiao, who has been poisoned by the aphrodisiac, possibly fight against a group of evil spirits?"
"..." Yuan Yan was stunned.
Seeing Yuan Yan's startled expression from her words, Zhao Mei'er smiled and said, "If you ask me, her fate is to be torn to shreds. No sorcery or magic will be useful."
"You..."
"Oh, right, I forgot to tell you. The place where those evil spirits are located is a large forest. It takes demons seven days to get out once they enter, and Feng Qi Shi only has five days." Zhao Mei'er interrupted, smiling.
Yuan Yan's eyes darkened, "You're lying to her again."
Zhao Mei'er smoothed a strand of hair and said, "I didn't expect... she would be so easily fooled. This point," she lowered her eyes and smiled, "is indeed different from that year."
"You wicked, ugly woman," Yuan Yan clenched his fists, gritted his teeth, and said, "I believe Mu Anxiao will definitely come to save us."
"You think she'll save you?" Zhao Mei'er said abruptly.
Yuan Yan frowned, "..."
While Yuan Yan was thinking, Zhao Mei'er said, "To tell you the truth, even if Mu Anxiao... no, assuming Mu Anxiao returns, she won't save you. She'll only save him, because you are a demon soul."
However, the fact that Yuan Yan was a demon soul was known only to Mu Anxiao until now. Now, Zhao Mei'er had revealed it. Yuan Yan was stunned. "How do you know I'm a demon soul?" he asked.
Zhao Mei'er: "I overheard it."
"You..."
"Follow me, and you won't have to reincarnate. You can also get revenge, and you'll never be deceived or bullied by any damned immortal again. Isn't that great?" Zhao Mei'er attempted to brainwash Yuan Yan.
Yuan Yan: "..." He lowered his head.