However, those people paid no mind to Yuan Yan. They didn't react to Yuan Ye's shouts at all. The three young men who had been watching them turned back towards Mu Anxiao the moment Yuan Ye directed his attention to Yuan Yan.
Mu Anxiao heard Yuan Ye’s words. She had expected these people to fix their gaze on Yuan Yan one by one, but to her surprise, they had no intention of looking at Yuan Yan. They continued to glare at her, spewing all sorts of abusive words.
Listening to the constant shouts of "monster" and "bringer of ill fortune," Mu Anxiao was certain she had no value in staying here.
One voice could never outshout many. Feng Qishi's words were not entering their ears at all, so he stopped trying to explain. He took Mu Anxiao’s arm, deciding to face everything with her.
Yuan Ye was stunned.
In contrast, Yuan Yan did not get angry. Instead, he looked at Yuan Ye calmly and let out a cold laugh, "You are truly naive."
"Why don't they believe my words?" Yuan Ye, worried about Yuan Yan harming himself, took half a step back.
Yuan Yan watched Yuan Ye's subtle retreat and glanced sideways at the chattering people who seemed to have found an outlet for their grievances, constantly cursing. He said, "What they've decided cannot be changed. This principle," he turned back to Yuan Ye, "you don't even understand."
"Mu Anxiao clearly didn't hurt them," Yuan Ye said sadly for Mu Anxiao. "Why are they targeting her like this?"
"This is human nature."
Yuan Yan had been hurt. He still didn't know how he had offended his wife, and to this day, he couldn't believe his wife had left him simply because he was useless.
For two people to come together was a process, a process of understanding. He had always believed his wife understood him, and he had always been sure he understood his wife.
But it was precisely because of this "certainty" that he was betrayed and murdered.
From a certain point on, he stopped believing in people, stopped believing that someone would truly be good to another. He stopped believing that everything you gave to someone would be reciprocated.
It was like Mu Anxiao. She had tried everything to save mortals, only to be rewarded with such a reputation. In an instant, she had degenerated into a "bringer of ill fortune" reviled by everyone.
Looking at her over there, he felt no pity, only amusement.
Yuan Ye listened to Yuan Yan's reply and then looked at the mortals who the day before had lauded Mu Anxiao to the heavens. His heart sank, and he said, "Why? Why don't they believe Mu Anxiao?"
"She was the richest boss here, and she's the one who hasn't aged. Now, she's making a scene in this matter. Naturally," Yuan Yan sighed, "they can't stand her. They'll blame her for everything. In short, this must be her fate."
"Fate..." Yuan Ye repeated, glancing at Mu Anxiao. "This is her fate..." He didn't know what else to say.
Yuan Yan glanced at Yuan Ye's stunned expression and said indifferently, "This is my conclusion. I don't know what they're truly thinking."
"..." Yuan Ye lowered his eyes, recalling Mu Anxiao's resolute declaration that she was a "bringer of ill fortune." He shook his head. "She's not a bringer of ill fortune. She's the one who saved us." Saying this, he prepared to go over.
Seeing this, Yuan Yan quickly blocked his path and said, "You can't go."
"I want to help her," Yuan Ye stated firmly.
Yuan Yan: "This isn't the time for you to play the hero. If you go, you'll never be able to return."
"But..."
"No 'buts'," Yuan Yan interrupted, glancing unintentionally at the trembling woman standing in the last row. His eyes darkened, and he turned back, saying, "I understand now."
Yuan Ye asked in confusion, "Understand what?" He stared at Yuan Yan's face.
Yuan Yan: "They are afraid."
"Afraid?" Yuan Ye was bewildered. He abandoned the idea of going over and asked, "What do you mean by that?"
"Are you afraid?" Yuan Yan countered.
Yuan Ye was taken aback. He thought back to Mu Anxiao's words at the inn and nodded, "Afraid."
"It's right to be afraid. I think, on one hand, they are jealous, and on the other, they are terrified. They are afraid that if Mu Anxiao is here, those things will happen again. They don't want to live in that kind of fear anymore. In other words, that period was their..." Yuan Yan recalled everything Mu Anxiao had summarized for him, his eyes darkening. "...it was their shadow."
Yuan Ye's eyes darkened. He thought of himself and those people fleeing and hiding from lone souls on the streets, and the days they were locked in dark rooms by demon souls. He said, "It's a shadow." The light in his eyes vanished.
Yuan Yan: "Just like I am your shadow. Don't worry," he said, looking at Yuan Ye's slightly hunched shoulders, "I won't kill you anymore. You can go."
"Go?"
"There's nothing for you here anymore. Go."
"But..."
"Those three people probably don't remember you well. Go find Mu Anxiao's companions now and tell them that Mu Anxiao has left the city."
"But she... hasn't left?"
"She will leave. You should remember their appearances. Now... just go look in the various inns." Yuan Yan arranged this, knowing clearly that Mu Anxiao could not stay here any longer.
"..." Yuan Ye looked at Yuan Yan's determined gaze and then at the situation over there. He agreed, "Alright, you two be careful."
"Yes. If you find them, remember to tell them not to leave their rooms and to wait for further instructions." After interacting with Mu Anxiao, Yuan Yan had gained a completely new understanding of her. He believed that even if he didn't say it, Mu Anxiao would make such arrangements.
"Okay." Yuan Ye nodded. He glanced at Mu Anxiao and Feng Qishi, who were surrounded over there, and turned to run away.
Yuan Yan watched Yuan Ye's retreating figure and let out a sigh of relief.
In the crowd.
Mu Anxiao and Feng Qishi had grown accustomed to their noisy shouts and curses.
Now, they were rendered speechless. Helpless, Feng Qishi tightened his grip on Mu Anxiao's arm, lowered his head, and communicated with her mentally, "Mu Noodle-head, what do we do?"
Mu Anxiao leaned against Feng Qishi's arm, completely out of patience. She lowered her head and said mentally, "You're tall. See if Yuan Ye has left yet?"
As Yuan Yan had surmised, Mu Anxiao realized from their anger that Yuan Ye couldn't stay here. Once they compromised, these people would definitely shift all the blame onto Yuan Ye.
By then, they would be gone, but Yuan Ye would surely not fare well. So, before that happened, she wanted Feng Qishi to check if Yuan Ye had left.
If he had left, there would be no problem. If he hadn't, she would have to cover his escape.
Feng Qishi understood Mu Anxiao's intention. So, while those people were talking amongst themselves, he raised his head, his gaze soaring over their heads towards Yuan Yan's position. He let out a sigh of relief, lowered his head, and said mentally, "He's gone."
"Really?" Mu Anxiao dared not look up, so she tilted her eyes.