Since the incident with the fourth evil spirit just now, they all feared Mu Anxiao. So the moment Mu Anxiao spoke, they responded in unison, "We dare not."
Mu Anxiao nodded in satisfaction and, with a wave of his hand, quietly set up a barrier around the woman before walking ahead.
The fourth evil spirit dared not make a sound, and with its last shred of longing for 'the world,' it followed Mu Anxiao's footsteps.
The woman did not sense that Mu Anxiao had placed anything around her. In any case, the instant Mu Anxiao froze her in place, she realized... Mu Anxiao was far more terrifying than these evil spirits.
On the other side.
Ouyang Ye sat leisurely under a tree, his head propped up by one hand, looking at Wei, who was guarding him, and smiled, "I can say you are monitoring me."
Wei shook his head, "I dare not."
"Dare not, yet you are here. Why not go and see that person?" Ouyang Ye had never participated in their actions and naturally did not understand Wei as well. However, he knew that every evil spirit would become excited upon hearing that someone was coming. Therefore, he was curious about what Wei was thinking.
Wei replied, "I'm not interested in people."
"The way you put it," Ouyang Ye chuckled, "as if you've never laid hands on anyone."
"..." Wei lowered his head.
Ouyang Ye continued, "Just admit you're monitoring me. It's not like you to deny it."
"I..." Wei spoke, his eyes sinking, "I don't want Mu Anxiao to see me doing evil."
"What do you mean?" Ouyang Ye asked, standing up.
Wei looked up at Ouyang Ye, who was slightly taller than him, and said, "She used to treat me very well. I don't want to disappoint her."
"As it turns out, you already have," Ouyang Ye stated bluntly.
Wei nodded, "I know, but... I don't want her to see me doing such things. Or rather," he paused, then continued, "I'm quite surprised by her reaction, because the souls she captures all say she has a bad temper, especially... her attitude towards souls who do evil is always so harsh, yet... she wasn't like that with me."
"...." Ouyang Ye inexplicably chuckled.
Following this, Wei asked, "What are you laughing at?"
Ouyang Ye explained, "Back then, I remember you said you would never forgive Mu Anxiao. It was precisely because of that statement that I saved you. Now, you're soft-hearted towards her again." He shook his head slightly, "I realize I truly cannot understand you."
Wei pursed his lips, "I'm sorry."
"Don't apologize to me. Tell me the truth," Ouyang Ye smiled again. "I knew you couldn't truly hate Mu Anxiao. Also, without you, I really wouldn't have known where Mu Anxiao was. You are, in a way, a contributor." He reached out and patted Wei's shoulder.
Wei gave a wry smile.
Ouyang Ye also smiled, lowered his hand, and turned to look at the Second Female Evil Spirit in red, who was rushing over, asking, "What is it?"
"Mu Anxiao," the Second Female Evil Spirit stopped in front of Ouyang Ye and said, "Mu Anxiao has gone mad."
"What?" Ouyang Ye thought he had misheard and deliberately glanced at Wei.
Seeing Ouyang Ye looking at him, Wei inquired, "How has Mu Anxiao gone mad?"
The Second Female Evil Spirit explained, "She said we evil spirits owed her money, and then she almost killed us with a dagger... no, she almost killed the Fourth."
The Fourth she referred to was the fourth evil spirit, which Wei knew but Ouyang Ye did not.
"Who is the Fourth?" Ouyang Ye asked.
The Second Female Evil Spirit quickly replied, "The greedy, foolish, and cowardly one, the one whose hair... is always messy."
"..." Ouyang Ye thought about it based on her description and realized, "Oh, you mean him, the dirtiest one of them all."
The Second Female Evil Spirit nodded.
Ouyang Ye stated plainly, "He's dead."
"No, he almost was," the Second Female Evil Spirit said calmly.
"Is that so," Ouyang Ye replied indifferently. He knew Mu Anxiao wouldn't be serious, so he continued, "Then you've had a tough time. Thank you for coming back to tell me. Alright, you can go now, and you don't need to come again next time."
Upon hearing Ouyang Ye's words, the Second Female Evil Spirit hastily said, "That's not what I meant. Please, help us!" Her face was sincere.
Ouyang Ye countered, "I said I wouldn't get involved in your affairs."
"I know, but... we really need you."
"Need me," Ouyang Ye repeated, glancing at Wei, and shaking his head, "Let's not. If I help you, I'm inviting trouble upon myself. Besides, Mu Anxiao..."
"Mu Anxiao is injured!" the Second Female Evil Spirit interrupted excitedly.
Hearing this, Ouyang Ye's expression stiffened, "What did you say?"
"I said, Mu Anxiao is injured," the Second Female Evil Spirit added, seeing Ouyang Ye's strange expression, "It wasn't us. It was that woman."
"The woman? The one she was trying to save?" Ouyang Ye became serious.
The Second Female Evil Spirit nodded, "Yes, that woman insisted on overestimating herself and attacking us. Then Mu Anxiao tried to dissuade her, and during that time, she stabbed Mu Anxiao in the back with her weapon. Mu Anxiao has been using spells to relieve the pain, but it doesn't seem to be very effective."
"..." Ouyang Ye frowned.
Seeing Ouyang Ye's silence, the Second Female Evil Spirit glanced at Wei again. Just as she was about to continue, Ouyang Ye said, "Serves her right."
The Second Female Evil Spirit was taken aback.
Wei then asked, "You're not going to save her?"
"She's an immortal; she can definitely save herself. Why should I go?" Ouyang Ye said, turning his back.
The Second Female Evil Spirit looked troubled, "But if you don't go, we..."
"Who told you to provoke her? Anyway," Ouyang Ye was still annoyed that Mu Anxiao called him a 'fool,' so he remained unmoved, "she won't die."
"You..."
"I'll go with you," Wei interrupted, now concerned for Mu Anxiao's safety.
Immediately, the Second Female Evil Spirit looked at Wei eagerly and nodded.
Wei glanced at Ouyang Ye and said, "You go first, I'll be right behind you."
"Alright," the Second Female Evil Spirit, as if finding hope, turned and ran off.
Then, Wei said, "Are you sure you're not going?"
"She didn't listen to me, so serves her right."
"What if she dies?" Wei countered, walking up to Ouyang Ye and staring directly at his profile.
Ouyang Ye replied, "She won't die. If you mention her dying again," he glared sideways at Wei, "I'll make you accompany her."
"..." Wei was startled.
Ouyang Ye glared fiercely at Wei, clasped his hands behind his back, stared straight ahead, and said, "Go."
Fearing Ouyang Ye would make good on his threat, Wei said without thinking, "She definitely won't die," and ran off.
Subsequently, Ouyang Ye snorted coldly, looked up at the black shadow in the tree, and asked, "Xi'er, how is she?"
The next second, Xi'er's voice came, "She won't die." After saying this, she flew away.