Zhao Xiang was completely unaware of She Ning’s presence, instead continuing to force himself to get a clear look at the straw-hatted monster over there.
Unexpectedly, at this very moment, the straw-hatted monster noticed Zhao Xiang. “Who is it?” he roared.
Mu Anxiao’s heart sank as she heard the straw-hatted monster’s sudden shout. She continued to stare at the straw-hatted monster before her, remaining outwardly calm.
It was at this time that Zhao Xiang discerned from the straw-hatted monster’s voice and appearance that he indeed had an unusual connection with Ouyang Ye. Thinking this, Zhao Xiang cast aside all fear, and once he had identified its identity, he walked around the large tree and approached the straw-hatted monster with steady steps.
Just then, the straw-hatted monster gradually saw Zhao Xiang’s face through the black veil. At this moment, his eyes widened. “It’s you.”
Upon hearing this, Mu Anxiao immediately turned her gaze to Zhao Xiang’s face. This further confirmed for her that there were indeed a series of connections between the straw-hatted monster and Ouyang Ye. At this moment, she clearly felt like an outsider. Facing everything before her, her heart began to feel nervous.
She was too lazy to say more.
Zhao Xiang frowned. “You’ve seen me.” He only remembered seeing the straw-hatted monster, but not where he had seen him. However, from the straw-hatted monster’s calm words, he sensed that the monster definitely remembered where they had met.
“I have. Your name is Zhao Xiang,” the straw-hatted monster stated firmly.
Mu Anxiao glanced at each of them but remained silent.
Zhao Xiang looked at the straw-hatted monster with no surprise, and said in a low voice, “It seems I left a deep impression on you.”
“…” The straw-hatted monster chuckled softly.
Seeing this, Mu Anxiao was also baffled.
She Ning listened to Zhao Xiang, who was conversing with the straw-hatted monster below. He then thought about Mu Anxiao’s desperate attempt to conceal Zhao Xiang just now and frowned, muttering, “Are they working together or not?”
An immortal, a person, and a monster. Such a combination of characters would naturally raise doubts in anyone who saw them.
Naturally, She Ning was no exception.
But, after muttering, he suddenly recalled his conversation with Mu Anxiao and her determination to oppose killing. He then lowered his gaze, momentarily focusing on Zhao Xiang, and replayed Mu Anxiao’s words in his mind. He wondered if this person she had hidden was the one she was looking for?
With these doubts, he crossed his arms in front of him.
Zhao Xiang calmly watched the straw-hatted monster opposite him, who had suddenly chuckled. The sound of the demonic wind echoed in his ears, and the smell of dust and blood filled his nostrils. It all felt unreal, yet very real. Snapping back to reality, his eyes widened.
Seeing Zhao Xiang’s eyes suddenly widen, the straw-hatted monster was also startled. “Zhao Xiang, why are you widening your eyes like that?”
“Where did you see me?” Zhao Xiang returned his eyes to their normal size.
The straw-hatted monster said, “It was that time.” He had a playful expression, as if he and Zhao Xiang had a deep friendship.
Zhao Xiang was also confused. “That time? Which time…” He narrowed his eyes. “Can you tell me clearly?” After speaking, he frowned deeply.
The straw-hatted monster said, “It was that time we went to the master’s house. We met before coming here.” He pointed to himself and then to Zhao Xiang. “You were standing by the master’s side then. Although you seemed distracted, we could tell that the master valued you greatly.”
However, Mu Anxiao had never expected Zhao Xiang to be so popular among these monsters. It was the same at the ruined temple, and it was the same now. Looking at him, she suddenly realized… it was better for her to remain silent.
Listening to the straw-hatted monster’s rough explanation, Zhao Xiang suddenly remembered leaving home. At that time, he actually did not want to leave his home, but Ouyang Ye had repeatedly insisted, and if he refused, he would be courting death. Helplessly, he followed Ouyang Ye to an unfamiliar place.
There, everyone was strange. They all had different appearances. As it was his first time facing such a scene, he hadn’t even dared to lift his head. Therefore, what the straw-hatted monster was saying now piqued his interest.
“You mean, I didn’t speak to you,” he said.
Upon hearing Zhao Xiang’s words, the straw-hatted monster chuckled innocently.
Mu Anxiao fixed her gaze on Zhao Xiang’s face. At this moment, she became curious about the relationship between Zhao Xiang and the straw-hatted monster.
Zhao Xiang asked, “What are you laughing at?” He could no longer understand the straw-hatted monster.
The straw-hatted monster continued to chuckle innocently. “I just felt… you looked very familiar, and your aura was also familiar, but I just couldn’t recall where we had met.” As he spoke, he leaned forward, peering through his black veil at Zhao Xiang.
Seeing the straw-hatted monster like this, Zhao Xiang frowned. “…” At this moment, he began to search his memory, using the aura of the straw-hatted monster as a guide.
The straw-hatted monster’s mouth, hidden behind the black veil, curved upwards.
Immediately after, Zhao Xiang shifted his gaze and glanced at the monsters behind the straw-hatted monster. Thinking that they all had the same face, the image of the monsters who were calmly sitting on horseback, raising their sabers and using magic to kill the imperial guards, suddenly flashed before his eyes again. He said, “So it was you.”
Hearing this, the straw-hatted monster ignored Mu Anxiao and chuckled at Zhao Xiang. “You remember me.”
“You…” Zhao Xiang took a deep breath and turned his gaze back to the straw-hatted monster. “Have you been to the battlefield?”
Battlefield?
Zhao Xiang’s question undoubtedly stirred the straw-hatted monster’s memories. Swallowing, he forgot everything else, raised his hand, took off his straw hat, and stared intently at Zhao Xiang.
Flat head, bulging eyes, black face, fangs.
At this moment, Mu Anxiao could only describe the straw-hatted monster, who differed from the other monsters, with these words. Looking at him, her expression was blank, and her heart remained unmoved.
Conversely, Zhao Xiang was startled. “So this is what you look like,” he said.
Hearing Zhao Xiang’s words, the straw-hatted monster’s eyes darkened. “You’re afraid of me.”
“Why should I be afraid of you?” Zhao Xiang was merely surprised, not frightened.
The straw-hatted monster smiled. “It’s good that you’re not afraid,” he said, extending his hand. “Let’s shake hands.”
“Hand…” Zhao Xiang uttered the word, then lowered his head to look at the straw-hatted monster’s hand, only to discover… that the gaps between his unusually long fingernails were filled with something red. Based on his experience, the red substance in his fingernails was none other than blood.
Therefore, he swallowed his next words and remembered the monsters who had discarded their swords and brandished their claws. “Have you been to the battlefield?”
“…” The straw-hatted monster suddenly smiled at Zhao Xiang.
Zhao Xiang looked at him, utterly bewildered. “What are you smiling about?” he asked.