“Even if my sorcery is weak, I can still help you,” Hong Yan said, her heart growing anxious as she gazed at the dark clouds gathering outside the window.
“Mu Anxiao, that fool, has attracted many demons. It would be disadvantageous for you if you went. Be obedient,” the green-clad man said seriously.
“But…”
“No buts. I am an immortal; I am naturally more powerful than you. You just stay here and don’t move.” With a wave of his hand, the green-clad man cast a protective barrier around the room. “Only mortals can enter; demons cannot. Rest assured, you’ll be safe here.”
“Alright,” Hong Yan nodded and said, “You must be careful.”
“Don’t worry,” the green-clad man replied, then turned and climbed out the window.
Hong Yan took a step forward, about to reach out, when the celestial light enveloping the window suddenly flashed. Seeing this, she quickly retreated a step and said, “Young master, you must be careful. Mu Anxiao must not die either.” She clasped her hands together.
At the wonton stall, Mu Anxiao stared in surprise at the demons appearing before her eyes, a twitch at the corner of her mouth. “Observe carefully,” she said, looking at Feng Qishi.
Feng Qishi curled his lips. “I never expected your appearance as an immortal to be so unsightly, yet to have so many demons favor you. It’s truly frightening.”
“You’re the only one who knows how to talk,” Mu Anxiao said, standing up.
“Mu Anxiao, it really is you,” one of the leopard-patterned demons said, pointing at Mu Anxiao.
“Who are you?” Mu Anxiao turned her head and asked the leopard-patterned demon.
“You captured me but failed. I said I would avenge my elder brother. Tell me, where have you hidden him?”
“Does it need to be hidden? Of course, he’s been sent below,” Mu Anxiao said dismissively.
Following that, the leopard-patterned demon’s eyes widened. “Indeed. In that case, you’ll come with me to rescue my elder brother, and then I’ll let you go.”
“You think too easily,” Mu Anxiao said, pointing at the leopard-patterned demon.
Shi Yi, watching Mu Anxiao deliberately provoking the leopard-patterned demon, said softly, “You should say less.”
“Can’t they see us?” Feng Qishi asked in surprise, looking at the demons who were only focused on Mu Anxiao.
Hun Ling shook his head. “Perhaps. They desire her so much that they’ve overlooked those of us around them.” He pointed to himself and then to Feng Qishi.
“Indeed, they are very impatient,” Feng Qishi said, shaking his head in感慨.
Mu Anxiao glanced at Feng Qishi, remaining silent.
The leopard-patterned demon sneered. “The vine spirit has masked your immortal energy with sorcery. Those immortals can’t detect your presence. You’d better be obedient, or I’ll kill you.”
“So we are indeed being ignored,” Feng Qishi pouted.
“Not just you; I’ve been ignored too,” Shi Yi said, glancing at Feng Qishi and Hun Ling.
Hun Ling sighed.
Mu Anxiao let out a light哼, bypassed the chairs, and walked up to the leopard-patterned demon. She then scanned the various demons behind him and said, “With so many of you, anyone looking down from above can see you. You’re too naive.”
“That’s true,” the second leopard-patterned demon standing behind the first nodded.
The first leopard-patterned demon frowned, turned to the second leopard-patterned demon, and said, “Since you know, why aren’t you quickly casting a sorcery to mask our demon energy?”
“I don’t have that ability,” the second leopard-patterned demon said with a grin.
The first leopard-patterned demon glared at the second leopard-patterned demon and then looked at another group of demons. “Esteemed elder brothers, I request your…”
“Didn’t we agree to capture her together? Why are you the boss now?” the third large-headed demon asked, pointing at the first leopard-patterned demon.
The first leopard-patterned demon smiled at the third large-headed demon. “No, I was just testing her for you.”
“Testing her? I think you want to claim her for yourself,” the fourth large-headed demon said, pointing at the first leopard-patterned demon.
The first leopard-patterned demon looked embarrassed. “No, no, how could a mere demon like me dare?”
Mu Anxiao watched the first leopard-patterned demon, who had quickly backed down, and said, “You just told me to follow you to save your elder brother. I thought these demons were all your subordinates, but it turns out they aren’t.”
“What do you mean by that?” the third large-headed demon asked, confused.
“It means he recruited you all, saying he was cooperating to capture me, but in reality, he’s treating you as his subordinates,” Mu Anxiao said, hands on her hips.
“I also feel something is amiss. According to what this girl said,” another demon leader from a different group stepped forward, “it really seems to be the case.”
“Exactly. I was wondering what was going on just now. It turns out… we were being used by this old fellow.”
And so, because of Mu Anxiao’s words, they fell into a dispute.
Mu Anxiao crossed her arms in front of her chest, looking at the demons before her, and said, “Have you found them?” She glanced at Hun Ling.
Hun Ling, completely forgetting the purpose for which Mu Anxiao had lured the demons, blinked his large eyes and asked, “What do you mean by that?”
“Eh?” Mu Anxiao’s mouth twitched, and she turned her head sideways. “The rabbit demon, you fool.”
“Oh,” Hun Ling replied calmly. He looked around and said, “No.”
“Doesn’t my immortal energy attract them?” Mu Anxiao furrowed her brow.
The moment Mu Anxiao finished speaking, Hun Ling hurriedly said, “Three.”
“Three?” Mu Anxiao repeated, glancing at Feng Qishi. “Didn’t you say there was only one?”
“I was just saying casually. Besides, didn’t you hear this fellow talking about numbers just now?” Feng Qishi pointed at Shi Yi.
Shi Yi glanced at Feng Qishi and offered no comment.
Mu Anxiao glanced at Shi Yi as Feng Qishi pointed, then turned to look at the demons who had started fighting. “Is it those three women?” she asked, pointing sideways to three women standing behind the fighting demons and looking this way.
Hun Ling followed Mu Anxiao’s gaze in that direction, then lowered his head. “It’s them.”
“Why are you lowering your head?” Feng Qishi asked, confused.
“They all recognize me. If I look up, I’ll be discovered,” Hun Ling whispered.
Mu Anxiao glanced at Hun Ling, then turned her gaze to the three women. “So, it seems they aren’t looking at me, but at you.”
Hun Ling began to tremble. “Protect me, protect me!”
“Can’t you have some dignity as a Hun Ling?” Mu Anxiao said, hands on her hips.
“No, they’re just too good at acting cute, you know? I always lose to that,” Hun Ling said, head bowed.
“You mean, those rabbit demons are very good at acting cute?” Mu Anxiao asked.
Hun Ling hummed in agreement.
“I never thought you, a Hun Ling, would be afraid of such petty tricks. How shameful,” Mu Anxiao said, shaking her head in exasperation.
“You have something you’re not afraid of, though,” Hun Ling said softly.