Gu Yan listened to their thoughts align with her own and felt a wave of relief. She then glanced at each of them, still hesitant to speak.
Next, Feng Qishi shifted his gaze to Bing'er. "So, that means Ouyang Ye let Bing'er go," he said, eventually directing his eyes to Mu Anxiao's face.
Mu Anxiao calmly met Feng Qishi's question. After a moment's thought, she replied, "I believe that's the case. But speaking of which," she continued, shifting her gaze to Zhao Xiang, "do you know where Ouyang Ye took the coachman?"
"And Xiao Fei," Jia added urgently.
Hearing this, Mu Anxiao finally remembered Xiao Fei, whose consciousness had been taken. She sighed softly, glancing at Xiao Fei lying on the bed with A Mei. Then, turning back to Jia, who had suddenly spoken, she was about to reply when she suddenly remembered that Xiao Fei was dead. Thus, she quickly shifted her gaze back to Zhao Xiang.
Zhao Xiang flinched under Mu Anxiao's gaze and, recalling her question, hurriedly said, "You ask me where the coachman is, and I truly don't know."
"I wasn't asking you that. I wanted to ask you," Mu Anxiao paused in thought and continued, "Do all consciousnesses have bodies?"
Zhao Xiang stopped at her words.
Seeing Zhao Xiang's completely clueless expression, Mu Anxiao frowned slightly. She then shifted her gaze to Gu Yan, who seemed to know something. "Since he doesn't know anything, you answer this question for me, alright?"
"I think I've explained this to you before," Gu Yan recalled having told Mu Anxiao.
However, after Gu Yan's words, Mu Anxiao's frown deepened. "You explained it to me," she murmured, her memory in disarray. After carefully considering the question, she said, "You know, I really did forget about that."
Seeing Mu Anxiao's bewildered expression, Gu Yan couldn't help but chuckle. "I thought you remembered everything I said," she said, feigning a look of disappointment. "Indeed, important people have forgetful minds."
"Don't speak to me in such ambiguous ways, or I'll get angry," Mu Anxiao said, her gaze becoming firm. "If you know, then answer."
"Some consciousnesses have bodies, but some do not. Those without bodies have also... willingly given up their consciousness. As for where such consciousnesses are taken," Gu Yan said, shrugging her shoulders, "I really don't understand."
Mu Anxiao had always assumed Xiao Fei's consciousness could be found quickly. She had also believed that Xiao Fei's soul had left under duress. Little did she know that Gu Yan would bring her this news. In that instant, she thought of the person Xiao Fei hated the most. Swallowing, she suddenly worried... that Xiao Fei had already left.
However, without certainty, she couldn't speak carelessly. Helplessly, she could only remain silent.
At the same time, Jia became concerned about Xiao Fei and also considered Mu Anxiao's question. But unlike Mu Anxiao, he voiced it directly, "Could Xiao Fei have already left here?"
Mu Anxiao stiffened at his words and immediately shifted her gaze to Jia.
Jia looked at Mu Anxiao with a hint of fear, blinked, and asked, "What are you thinking?" He walked around the table and chairs towards Mu Anxiao.
Mu Anxiao looked at Jia, who was walking towards her, and as she thought about a multitude of things, she became troubled. "I don't know either," she replied evasively, finally shifting her gaze to Feng Qishi.
Feng Qishi looked calmly at Mu Anxiao, remaining silent.
Zhao Xiang and Gu Yan exchanged a glance and dared not continue the topic, as they could both see Jia's concern for Xiao Fei. They figured that if they said another word, they would instantly anger Jia. Gu Yan was particularly fearful, as she was a demon soul.
Jia stopped beside Mu Anxiao. "What do you mean you don't know?" he asked, his brow furrowed tightly.
Mu Anxiao lowered her head to look at Jia, suddenly finding herself in a difficult position.
Jia looked up at Mu Anxiao's troubled expression, then glanced at Feng Qishi. "You've gone out so many times, but you haven't gone to look for Xiao Fei, have you?" He had stayed put because he believed that after Mu Anxiao completed her mission, she would also help him find Xiao Fei. To his surprise, after going through all this, she gave him such a reply. The more he thought about it, the more enraged he became. It wasn't because of Xiao Fei, but because he felt Mu Anxiao had played him.
Mu Anxiao calmly watched Jia's agitated expression and, after a moment, said, "That's not what I meant. I just didn't think that far ahead." She sighed softly. "In other words, before this, I had indeed forgotten that she didn't have a body. Don't worry, I think she shouldn't have left yet."
"She did it willingly," Jia suddenly said.
Mu Anxiao's nerves tensed as she looked at Jia speaking loudly. "I know. This mansion isn't very big, nor is it small. She doesn't know any demonic arts. Besides," she mused, "Ouyang Ye would definitely want to use them. So, I think she's definitely being held together, right?" She looked at Gu Yan.
Gu Yan nodded. "Yes, I think she might have been taken by Gu Yan. Because Ouyang Ye doesn't want trouble, naturally," she said earnestly, "he definitely won't let the consciousnesses he captures leave this place."
"Are you sure?" Jia was swayed by Gu Yan's words.
Gu Yan nodded.
Seeing that Gu Yan wasn't being perfunctory, Jia felt relieved and returned to the table.
After Jia walked away, Gu Yan shifted her gaze to Mu Anxiao. "I'll help you look later, don't worry too much," she said, then glanced at Zhao Xiang, who was staring at her, and asked, "Why are you looking at me?"
"You know quite a lot," Zhao Xiang muttered, then smiled at Feng Qishi.
Feng Qishi ignored Zhao Xiang and directed his gaze to Jia. As he contemplated the process of Xiao Fei's demise and Mu Anxiao's captured 'mother', he fell into deep thought.
In reality, Mu Anxiao had many concerns, and many burdens weighed on her shoulders. At this moment, she thought of You Xian, whom she had persuaded to enter the palace, and a sinking feeling settled in her heart. She realized she had to enter the palace. However, before that, she decided to speed up and resolve the current matters.
With that in mind, she looked at Gu Yan. "Let's not talk about that for now. How is the matter I assigned you doing?" she asked, her expression becoming serious.