The monster in the straw hat maintained the smile on its face and said indifferently, "I wasn't laughing at anything. I just found your question particularly amusing, and also," it said, deliberately meeting Zhao Xiang's eyes, "it seems you were indeed distracted that day."
"How was I distracted?" Zhao Xiang asked, growing impatient.
"That day was a ceremony specifically held by our master for our reintegration. You didn't know that," the straw-hatted monster chuckled. "And you still ask if you were distracted? Zhao Xiang, how did such a careless fellow like you get noticed by the master?"
"You've fought on the battlefield before," Zhao Xiang said softly.
The straw-hatted monster was unfazed and laughed, "Yes, I have. I was the leading monster. If not for me," it began to boast intentionally, "the chance of winning that battle might have decreased. Though not by much, it certainly would have lessened."
Hearing the straw-hatted monster's obvious bragging, Zhao Xiang's body stiffened. He said, "So, you killed people." As he spoke, he didn't forget to glance at Mu Anxiao.
Mu Anxiao noticed Zhao Xiang's gaze and subtly furrowed her brow.
The straw-hatted monster remained indifferent. "On the battlefield, there are always casualties and injuries. Shen Moyun over there killed many of our monsters too," it said, becoming serious.
"You know Shen Moyun," Zhao Xiang said calmly.
The straw-hatted monster laughed. "Of course. Although I haven't fought him, his abilities are truly strong. Yet, he doesn't admit that he's using abilities," it sighed lightly. "That person is truly strange."
"He is strange," Zhao Xiang said, feigning composure, his hand behind his back already clenched into a fist.
Mu Anxiao inadvertently noticed Zhao Xiang's clenched fist and cleared her throat, remaining silent.
The straw-hatted monster chuckled. "But he was also lucky. Just as we were about to attack, the master ordered us to withdraw. Without the master's command," it laughed, "that Shen Moyun would probably have been a goner."
Listening to the straw-hatted monster's casually spoken, boastful words, Mu Anxiao thought to herself, *it should be you who died*.
Zhao Xiang fell silent.
Then, the straw-hatted monster pointed at Mu Anxiao, who was standing still, and asked, "Do you know each other?" it looked at Zhao Xiang.
Zhao Xiang replied, "If I say we know each other, we do, but if I say we don't, we don't." As he spoke, he glanced at the straw-hatted monster.
Upon hearing this, the straw-hatted monster looked at Zhao Xiang and smiled, "Then you don't know each other."
The straw-hatted monster had listened very carefully to what it had said to Mu Anxiao earlier. So, the moment it heard the straw-hatted monster say this, Zhao Xiang's heart skipped a beat, and he asked, "What do you want?"
The straw-hatted monster smiled at Mu Anxiao.
Seeing this, Zhao Xiang frowned. Just as he was about to speak, the straw-hatted monster said, "You've made your choice, haven't you?" it stared at Mu Anxiao.
Similarly, Mu Anxiao pointed at Zhao Xiang.
Seeing this, Zhao Xiang stopped talking.
The straw-hatted monster said, "What are you looking at him for? You should be answering me," it said, tilting its chin upwards.
Hearing this, Mu Anxiao turned to look at the straw-hatted monster, her confidence instantly boosted. "He and I are on the same side. Are you sure you want me to make a choice?" Earlier, she had been trying to figure out if it had any connection with Ouyang Ye.
Now, after Zhao Xiang's conversation with the straw-hatted monster, she had finally solidified her stance.
With that, she was no longer afraid of it. Although, she had never been afraid of it.
The straw-hatted monster was taken aback at first glance.
Subsequently, the monsters waiting for Mu Anxiao's reply began to howl.
In an instant, the previously quiet atmosphere was shattered by their howls.
Mu Anxiao calmly watched the monsters, a smile playing on her lips. She then turned her head and saw that Zhao Xiang had frozen.
Unexpectedly, this scene was also caught by the straw-hatted monster. "You're scared, aren't you?" it said, leaning its head to meet Zhao Xiang's eyes.
Zhao Xiang was originally human. After some events, he was infused with a demon soul by Ouyang Ye. As for these monsters, they had evidently become his shadow. Therefore, when facing them, he involuntarily displayed a look of fear.
Especially when they howled, he remembered the scenes on the battlefield. Clenching his fists, he was afraid.
"..." His eyes were filled with dread.
Seeing Zhao Xiang like this, the straw-hatted monster laughed even more heartily.
Mu Anxiao looked at Zhao Xiang's timid expression and then at the wildly laughing straw-hatted monster. Her heart sank, and she said, "You're really afraid of him? You..."
"I don't know her well," Zhao Xiang suddenly interrupted.
Upon hearing this, Mu Anxiao's body stiffened, and her eyes widened.
Immediately after, the straw-hatted monster, like a villain gaining the upper hand, turned its head and stared at Mu Anxiao, "..."
Mu Anxiao swallowed and gave up struggling, feigning composure as she looked at the straw-hatted monster opposite her. She said coldly, "Are you sure you want me to make a choice?" She tilted her chin up.
The straw-hatted monster smiled, its face filled with terror.
Mu Anxiao, with basic professional demeanor, continued to look calmly at the straw-hatted monster before her and said, "It seems I must make a choice," she said, glancing at Zhao Xiang. "However, he is Ouyang Ye's capable assistant. If I become like you, he will be the first to report it to Ouyang Ye. By then, when Ouyang Ye discovers he's lost a helper, he'll definitely be angry."
"You are an immortal," the straw-hatted monster suddenly said.
Mu Anxiao smiled, lowering her gaze. "I am not an immortal. I am actually like him," she pointed at Zhao Xiang, then turned back to the straw-hatted monster. "If you don't believe me, then you can await Ouyang Ye's retribution."
The straw-hatted monster let out a cold laugh. "Don't try to scare me. Don't think you can intimidate me just by saying that. Don't underestimate me." As it spoke, it widened its already bulging eyes.
"Then I choose to defect," Mu Anxiao added.
Hearing Mu Anxiao's words, the straw-hatted monster laughed. "Since you choose to defect, it means you are human," it said, pointing at Mu Anxiao.
Mu Anxiao smiled.
The straw-hatted monster, seeing Mu Anxiao's smiling expression, also couldn't help but laugh. "Give me your hand," it extended its hand.
Mu Anxiao looked, handing her hand to the straw-hatted monster, and said, "Aren't you curious what I came here to do?"
Upon hearing this, the straw-hatted monster paused.
The moment Mu Anxiao said this, She Ning lowered her head and fixed her gaze tightly on Mu Anxiao.
Seeing the straw-hatted monster like this, Mu Anxiao added, "I came to find someone."
"Find someone?"
"Yes, our master sent me to find someone. Actually, if you think about it," Mu Anxiao sighed, "the task assigned by the master is quite troublesome. Now that I've defected to you and taken on your appearance, he won't be able to find me. Even if he searches, he'll search for you. In this way, I..."
"Did the master really give you such a task?" the straw-hatted monster became nervous.
Mu Anxiao nodded slightly, deliberately trying to instill fear in the straw-hatted monster.
Concurrently, Zhao Xiang came back to his senses and fixed his gaze on Mu Anxiao's face.