Mu Anxiao understood Zhao Xiang's worries, but the spell to hide her spiritual energy was something Zhang Yan had never taught her. Zhao Xiang's current reaction was clearly putting her on the spot. Thus, she fixed her gaze on Zhao Xiang's face, deliberately remaining silent.
Zhao Xiang grew anxious under Mu Anxiao's stare. "What do you mean, just looking at me without saying anything?"
"Don't you think your thinking is a bit too simplistic?" Mu Anxiao said calmly.
Zhao Xiang's expression froze. "What do you mean by that?"
"You're asking me to hide my spiritual energy. Have you ever thought about why I ended up in this situation?" Mu Anxiao tilted her chin up.
"Master relies on spiritual energy to find you. If you can be found, it's undoubtedly because you didn't hide your spiritual energy well. Since you already know the reason, you should hide it. You..." Zhao Xiang stopped mid-sentence, suddenly recalling Mu Anxiao's inherent abilities. He then thought of Mu Anxiao's experiences when she was Cao Gen. His eyes darkened. "..." He realized he had said the wrong thing.
"Have you figured it out yet?" Mu Anxiao asked.
Zhao Xiang sighed lightly. "Then what should we do? Master must have returned to the General's Mansion by now. Given the current situation, as soon as you enter the city, he'll be able to sense your spiritual energy immediately. By then, no matter how much you want to do, it won't be possible." He began to worry for Mu Anxiao.
Similarly, Mu Anxiao had also considered the gravity of the situation, but her thoughts differed from Zhao Xiang's. She believed that no matter what means she used to find the coachman, Ouyang Ye couldn't say anything once she found him. Moreover, the inn where A Chu stayed was filled with fragrance, making it safe. Most importantly, she thought Ouyang Ye would never imagine she would go to his secret base.
With these thoughts in mind, she felt no pressure.
But for some reason? After listening to Zhao Xiang's analysis, she suddenly perceived Ouyang Ye's cunning. With Ouyang Ye's capabilities, would he be unable to find the coachman? With these chaotic thoughts, she frowned slightly and shifted her gaze to Zhao Xiang's face. "Then what do you suggest we do?" she asked, unable to come up with a solution herself.
Zhao Xiang replied, "How should I know?"
"Do you want to earn merit?" Mu Anxiao asked.
"Of course, I do."
"If you do, then think of a way for me," Mu Anxiao said, looking up at the city wall, her heart sinking. "This matter is truly troublesome."
"Master letting us find the coachman outside must have its reasons," Zhao Xiang added.
Reasons?
Listening to Zhao Xiang's words, Mu Anxiao considered Ouyang Ye's usual behavior and his forceful separation of her and Feng Qi Shi. She said in a low voice, "There's another possibility."
"What possibility?" Zhao Xiang asked excitedly.
"He did it on purpose," Mu Anxiao said calmly.
"On purpose?" Zhao Xiang repeated, not quite understanding Mu Anxiao's meaning.
Mu Anxiao replied, "He deliberately prevented me from entering the city." She then lowered her eyes, pondered for a moment, and asked, "Did you come from the General's Mansion?" She fixed her gaze on Zhao Xiang.
Zhao Xiang nodded.
"If that's the case, tell me the truth. Have there been any changes at the General's Mansion?" Mu Anxiao worried that Ouyang Ye had already begun quietly arranging the wedding venue.
"..." Zhao Xiang averted his gaze and lowered his head.
Seeing this, Mu Anxiao narrowed her eyes. "Zhao Xiang, how much have you been hiding from me?"
All along, she had felt that Zhao Xiang was a bit off, but because of his relationship with Feng Qi Shi, she hadn't thought too much about it. At the same time, because of this relationship, she had often chosen to forgive him and deliberately played dumb.
However, given the current situation, she felt there was no need to play dumb anymore. Some things she had to know.
"I haven't hidden anything," Zhao Xiang said in a low voice.
"You were sent by Ouyang Ye, weren't you?" Mu Anxiao said coldly.
Upon hearing this, Zhao Xiang quickly looked up and said, "I wasn't. I just came out to look for my parents myself. You... don't talk nonsense." He said, his tone showing a hint of fear as he saw Mu Anxiao's serious expression. "Also, I have absolutely no intention of betraying you. Don't overthink it."
"No intention of betraying me, you..." Mu Anxiao stopped mid-sentence, suddenly thinking of the man in the straw hat. She then slightly lowered her eyelids and mumbled, "He's not from a cultivation sect, nor does he have any demonic or spiritual energy. He looks like an ordinary person, yet he possesses a pill to save an immortal life. That fellow is truly remarkable."
"What are you talking about?" Zhao Xiang asked, not having heard clearly.
Hearing this, Mu Anxiao thought for a moment, then looked up, ignoring Zhao Xiang, and turned to She Ning. "What do you think about this matter?"
"What do I think?" She Ning was bewildered.
Mu Anxiao frowned. "Do you think he's a good person?" She pointed at Zhao Xiang.
Zhao Xiang became anxious. "Mu Xiao, can you stop acting like this? What we should be thinking about now is not being discovered by Master once we go inside. Doing this..." he clicked his tongue, "is pointless."
"Answer," Mu Anxiao continued to ignore Zhao Xiang, staring intently at She Ning.
She Ning, listening to Mu Anxiao, unconsciously shifted his gaze to Zhao Xiang and said, "If you ask me, he's just a cowardly and timid wretch. He doesn't have the cunning you're implying."
Upon hearing She Ning's words, Zhao Xiang breathed a sigh of relief and smiled.
"You mean I'm overthinking it," Mu Anxiao said in a low voice, glancing at Zhao Xiang again. Zhao Xiang smiled at Mu Anxiao.
She Ning slightly furrowed his brow and put on a thoughtful expression. "However," his voice grew louder.
The moment She Ning became serious, Mu Anxiao met his eyes intently.
She Ning cleared his throat and said, "However, his reactions are indeed suspicious, especially the way he acts when he loses his composure. I'm very interested in that." He glanced at Zhao Xiang.
Zhao Xiang was stunned, not expecting She Ning to directly voice his opinion.
"That makes sense," Mu Anxiao said, finally shifting her gaze back to Zhao Xiang's face.
Under Mu Anxiao's gaze, Zhao Xiang sighed. "Whatever you want, do as you please. Anyway, I understand now."
"Understand what?" Mu Anxiao raised an eyebrow.
Zhao Xiang chuckled. "Anything I say is wrong. Fine, do as you please, you all..."
"Putting on an act," Mu Anxiao interrupted.
Zhao Xiang was speechless.
Mu Anxiao watched Zhao Xiang while thinking about the people at the General's Mansion. Her eyes darkened, and she reached out to grab Zhao Xiang's collar. "What have you been hiding? Tell me."
"I haven't hidden anything," Zhao Xiang said righteously, meeting Mu Anxiao's eyes squarely.
Mu Anxiao tightened her grip on Zhao Xiang.
Zhao Xiang said, "If you keep wasting time, you..."
"Was that fellow in the straw hat one of Ouyang Ye's subordinates?" Mu Anxiao deliberately interrupted Zhao Xiang.