Mu Anxiao’s lips curved upward slightly as she listened to Zhao Xiang’s excited reply. "Yes, you’ve thought it through. Choose him, or me." She pointed to Zhao Xiang, then to herself.
She Ning sized up Mu Anxiao and Zhao Xiang, who stood before him with identical expressions, and sneered, "I don't want to choose."
"You must choose," they said in unison.
However, Mu Anxiao’s goal was to distance herself from She Ning. The reason she had said so much was actually to shake off Zhao Xiang. But, she could also tell that She Ning was not a simple person. If she were to convince him alone, it would surely be impossible.
Now, Zhao Xiang had also become entangled in her plan. This way, she could quietly go and appease Ouyang Ye.
In any case, in Mu Anxiao’s eyes, all three of them were trouble.
After they spoke in unison, She Ning laughed.
Immediately, Zhao Xiang’s expression turned bewildered. "What are you laughing at?" He straightened his back, his competitive spirit piqued. "Choose quickly. Do you want me to help you, or does she?" He glanced at Mu Anxiao.
"Together," She Ning persisted.
Mu Anxiao and Zhao Xiang were left speechless.
Then, She Ning continued, "And can you two stop being so impatient? I haven’t even told you what I need help with, and you’re already making decisions. What’s the meaning of this?" He deliberately questioned them. "Are you toying with me?"
"I certainly don’t mean that. She," Zhao Xiang quickly distanced himself from Mu Anxiao to protect himself. "She might have meant to toy with you."
Upon hearing this, She Ning’s gaze once again fixed on Mu Anxiao’s face.
Mu Anxiao shrugged. "I wish I had meant to toy with you, but I can’t think of a way. Let me tell you the truth now." She became serious. "He and those monsters share the same master, so seeking his help will definitely be effective."
Hearing Mu Anxiao’s words, Zhao Xiang’s heart suddenly skipped a beat. Then, he suddenly realized… he seemed to have fallen into Mu Anxiao’s trap. But, since he had already spoken, if he were to refuse again, She Ning would surely become suspicious and might even renege on his word, taking his life.
For him, offending either side would result in suffering for himself. Rather than that, it was better not to offend anyone.
And the way not to offend them was… not to get involved in their affairs.
Thinking this, he seized the moment while She Ning was contemplating and a thought struck him. "I’ll tell you a secret." He fixed his gaze on She Ning.
Upon hearing this, She Ning immediately withdrew his extraneous thoughts and looked back at Zhao Xiang, saying mockingly, "You, of all people, have secrets?" He said, his face turning cold, "Your secret better be valuable, otherwise, don’t blame me for not being polite." His eyes were sharp, as if he could see through Zhao Xiang.
Similarly, Zhao Xiang felt a chill under She Ning’s gaze, but even so, he could not show any fear. "It will definitely be valuable." He contorted his face, smiling unpleasantly.
Mu Anxiao had a bad premonition, so she quickly said, "What I told you has..."
"Shut up." She Ning shot Mu Anxiao a look, then turned his gaze back to Zhao Xiang’s face.
Hearing She Ning’s words, Zhao Xiang’s hanging heart finally settled. "Can I speak now?" He cautiously observed She Ning.
She Ning nodded. "Speak, but as I said before," he coldly eyed Zhao Xiang, "it must be valuable, or I’ll make you regret it." He raised his hand slightly, then put it down.
Unexpectedly, She Ning’s raised hand made Zhao Xiang flinch. "I’ve spoken." He concealed his fear and continued to grin menacingly.
She Ning nodded.
Then, Zhao Xiang glanced at Mu Anxiao and said, "Actually, her name isn't Cao Gen." After saying this, he lost the courage to look directly at Mu Anxiao.
Mu Anxiao was surprised by Zhao Xiang’s quick thinking. Moreover, she was even more surprised that Zhao Xiang would strike first and expose her. Hearing this, she resigned herself to bad luck, clasped her hands behind her back, and looked at them with feigned composure, saying nothing.
She Ning frowned, not even glancing at Mu Anxiao, and said, "Then what is her name?"
Zhao Xiang cleared his throat and said in a low voice, "Her name is Mu Xiao, and she is a..." He swallowed, took a step to the side, and continued, "She is a woman."
A woman?
However, She Ning didn’t find this to be any shocking news. On the contrary, he looked at Mu Anxiao calmly, deliberately remaining silent, and scrutinized her.
Mu Anxiao became uncomfortable under She Ning’s gaze. "You want to kill me." Her eyes became indifferent.
Zhao Xiang cautiously glanced at Mu Anxiao and dared not speak.
She Ning: "Looking at you now, you are quite delicate. The name Mu Xiao..." She frowned slightly, "sounds familiar."
"You know Mu Xiao?" Mu Anxiao asked casually.
She Ning shook his head.
"You don't know her, yet you say she sounds familiar. How..." Mu Anxiao suppressed her fear and continued to look at She Ning opposite her calmly, saying in a low voice, "Are you deliberately trying to get close to me?"
"Not at all, but I’ve heard it before..." She Ning paused, thinking for a moment, and said, "So your name sounds very familiar to me."
"A familiar name? What familiar name?" Mu Anxiao asked, suddenly thinking of her bad reputation and becoming nervous.
She Ning: "..." He fell into thought.
Zhao Xiang glanced at both She Ning and Mu Anxiao, pursed his lips, and dared not speak.
Mu Anxiao couldn't be bothered with Zhao Xiang and continued to stare at She Ning, asking, "What are you thinking about?" She guessed… he was about to reveal her real name.
"Wait." She Ning was still thinking.
Mu Anxiao said, "Oh," and suddenly had the idea of cooperating with She Ning.
She thought, no matter what, they were immortals.
After She Ning said that, Zhao Xiang instantly felt a sense of guilt towards Mu Anxiao. But, as things had come to this, he couldn't say anything. So, he moved another step closer to Mu Anxiao and reached out to nudge her arm, trying to make her understand his intentions through his actions.
Then, Mu Anxiao’s body stiffened. She withdrew her gaze, turned to look at Zhao Xiang, and remained silent.
Zhao Xiang fixed his apologetic gaze on Mu Anxiao’s face.
Mu Anxiao raised her eyebrows. Recalling that she had the opportunity to communicate with Zhao Xiang mentally, she deliberately met his eyes and asked with her mind: ‘What is it?’
Hearing Mu Anxiao’s mental inquiry, Zhao Xiang’s eyes widened.
Seeing this, Mu Anxiao continued mentally: ‘Why are you pushing me? Answer.’ She frowned slightly.
Zhao Xiang twisted his expression and tried to communicate with Mu Anxiao using his eyes. ‘I don’t want to die. I didn’t mean to. Please don’t blame me.’
‘Is there anything else you want to say? Tell me, so I can be mentally prepared.’ Mu Anxiao raised her eyebrows.
Zhao Xiang gave a dry laugh.
Mu Anxiao narrowed her eyes, ‘What? Still want to give me a surprise.’
‘I won’t go too far, don’t worry.’ Zhao Xiang spoke with his eyes and reached out to pat Mu Anxiao’s shoulder.
Mu Anxiao froze.
Then, Zhao Xiang felt relieved and moved another step to the side.
Mu Anxiao couldn’t be bothered to guess Zhao Xiang’s thoughts. She sighed softly and turned to look at She Ning, who had suddenly fixed his gaze on her, and was taken aback.