Mu Anxiao watched Zhao Xiang deliberately avoid her gaze and sighed, "Some things you still have to overcome yourself." As she spoke, she looked around and noticed that the mist surrounding them had dispersed. Now she could clearly see Zhao Xiang's face.
After Mu Anxiao finished speaking, Zhao Xiang lowered his head thoughtfully.
Mu Anxiao curled her lips. Thinking of the cruelty of war, her heart softened. "I don't know what you've been through. Since you don't want to face it, then..." She reached out and placed a hand on Zhao Xiang's shoulder. "I'll protect you, but only if you stand on my side."
Upon hearing Mu Anxiao's words, Zhao Xiang quickly raised his head and fixed his gaze on her face. "How do you want me to stand on your side?" he asked, not understanding her meaning. But after her words, his heart truly wavered.
Mu Anxiao said, "Tell me Ouyang Ye's plot." A hint of threat flickered in her eyes.
Zhao Xiang froze.
Seeing his reaction, Mu Anxiao added, "I mean, after your parents are rescued." She didn't want to pressure him and, the moment he showed that expression, she changed her mind.
"What if they can't be rescued?" Zhao Xiang knew nothing of the situation in the city or his parents' whereabouts. Out of helplessness, he could only view everything pessimistically.
Mu Anxiao understood his worry and decided to drop the topic. "Hide behind me," she said, turning her head to face the monster slowly emerging from the thick fog.
Zhao Xiang blinked, looked down at the back of Mu Anxiao's head, and murmured, "I haven't even agreed to you, and you're already protecting me." He felt uneasy.
Mu Anxiao remained silent, her gaze fixed on the monster slowly approaching.
Then, Zhao Xiang inadvertently looked at Mu Anxiao's clenched fists and muttered, "I'm talking to you, why aren't you replying." He looked up and, at that exact moment, saw the monster.
Mu Anxiao heard Zhao Xiang's words and, to reassure him, turned her head slightly towards him. "What I said earlier, we'll talk about it after we leave here." As she spoke, she offered him her arm.
Zhao Xiang didn't hesitate, grabbing Mu Anxiao's arm.
After Zhao Xiang took her arm, Mu Anxiao quickly turned back to face the monster, which had suddenly stopped moving. "I am Ouyang Ye's capable assistant," she said, deliberately impersonating Zhao Xiang's role.
The monster tilted its head slightly upon hearing Mu Anxiao's words.
Seeing the monster's unyielding demeanor, Mu Anxiao felt a surge of nervousness. "What, you don't believe me?"
"Why are you dodging?" the monster suddenly asked.
Mu Anxiao was taken aback.
At the same time, Zhao Xiang tightened his grip on Mu Anxiao's arm. "Don't talk to him, he can't understand," he whispered.
Unexpectedly, Zhao Xiang's words were clearly heard by the monster. It immediately ignored Mu Anxiao and leaned towards Zhao Xiang. "..." It let out a roar.
Zhao Xiang flinched in fright.
Mu Anxiao also keenly felt Zhao Xiang's fear, as her arm was starting to hurt. But remembering the situation at Fengqi, this pain was nothing to her.
"Why are you looking at him?" she said, steeling herself.
At her words, the monster shifted its gaze back to Mu Anxiao's face and said in a rough, layered voice, "You are the master's capable assistant, who is he?" It pointed its blood-stained finger at Zhao Xiang.
Mu Anxiao snorted, "What kind of nonsense are you asking? I am, and so is he." As she spoke, she glanced at Zhao Xiang.
Zhao Xiang chimed in, "Yes, I am too."
"How could there be a coward like you by the master's side? You probably can't even protect your own family. How about this, tell me your home address, and after I kill you, I'll go kill them. What do you say, coward?" the monster looked at Zhao Xiang and said.
Upon hearing "coward" and "family," Zhao Xiang's mind went blank, and he shouted, "How dare you call me a coward, how dare you speak of my family!" He released Mu Anxiao's arm.
Mu Anxiao was startled by Zhao Xiang's sudden reaction.
Then, Zhao Xiang glared fiercely at the monster before him.
The monster said, "Someone like you, who can anyone protect? You even need a woman to protect you now, how shameless." It glanced at Mu Anxiao, who was dressed in men's clothing.
Hearing the monster's words, Mu Anxiao instantly realized that nothing could be hidden in this mist. She suddenly worried if the monster would see through her identity the next moment.
Thus, she stared intently at the monster, her brow furrowed.
Zhao Xiang let out a soft哼, "If I make a move, you'll be finished immediately." He narrowed his eyes and raised his hand.
Mu Anxiao was also surprised by Zhao Xiang's demeanor.
At this moment, the monster recognized Zhao Xiang's identity at a glance. "You truly are the master's capable assistant," it said, its already bulging eyes widening.
Mu Anxiao frowned slightly, preparing to cast a spell.
Zhao Xiang said, "Since you recognize me, then tell them to get lost." He didn't know where this courage came from, but for some reason, a fire ignited within him, and under its influence, he felt a surge of 'killing intent.'
Seeing this, the monster became fearful. "What do you want to do?"
"If you say another word, I'll kill you," Zhao Xiang's eyes flashed with a red glow.
Mu Anxiao, hearing Zhao Xiang's unexpectedly fierce words, felt an inexplicable nervousness. "What's wrong with you?"
Zhao Xiang ignored her.
Meanwhile, She Ning withdrew his hand and came to stand behind Mu Anxiao. "He's been pushed to his limit," he said, suddenly grabbing Mu Anxiao's arm.
Mu Anxiao's body stiffened, and she turned to look at She Ning. "What do you mean?"
"It means..." She Ning looked down at Zhao Xiang's hand. "He has killing intent." After saying this, he quickly pulled Mu Anxiao back, and they stood by a tree shrouded in dense fog, releasing their grip.
Mu Anxiao didn't understand She Ning's words at all. She quickly withdrew her gaze from Zhao Xiang, turned to She Ning, and asked, "Are you sure we won't be attacked standing here?"
"This is a blind spot," She Ning looked down at Mu Anxiao, then back at Zhao Xiang. "If we go over there, that guy will treat us as enemies too. So, let him have his fun, then we'll go."
"Why did he become like this?" Mu Anxiao suddenly felt everything was extremely bizarre, though she didn't overthink anything else.
She Ning sighed. "You seem quite intelligent, but I didn't expect it was just an appearance," he said, crossing his arms.
Mu Anxiao glanced at the monster's bloodstains on She Ning's sleeve. "He was fine just now, how could he..." She paused mid-sentence, as the monster's earlier words to Zhao Xiang flashed through her mind.
Seeing this, She Ning sneered. "You figured it out."
"He's truly a filial son," Mu Anxiao murmured, realizing that it was likely after the monster mentioned his family that he exploded.
She Ning patted Mu Anxiao's shoulder. "Not bad, that guy is a very filial son." As he spoke, he glanced at Zhao Xiang, who was on the verge of an outburst, and a smile played on his lips.