The fact that the master and madam of the Mu residence had gone to the palace because of Mu Hua was something Mu Anxiao had never anticipated. The servant's words earlier struck her as odd, and she couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss. Pausing, she lowered her gaze and thought more deeply, realizing the situation was indeed not right.
Therefore, she turned sideways and looked back at the residence, which was now enveloped in a thick fog. Frowning slightly, she addressed the spirit she had sent out but who had unexpectedly returned, asking, "Did you go?"
Upon hearing this, the spirit's eyes flickered, and it replied, "I did."
"But the ruined temple outside the city is quite far from here. How did you return so quickly?" Mu Anxiao voiced the task she had quietly assigned to the spirit.
Jia, upon hearing this, showed surprise. "Oh, I see. You sent him to the ruined temple outside the city, didn't you..." He then realized something was off and looked confused. "No, why would you send him there? Is there anything important at that ruined temple?"
Mu Anxiao ignored Jia and focused her gaze on the spirit.
The spirit's eyes then darkened, and it confessed, "I'm sorry, I lied."
"Why?" Mu Anxiao asked.
The spirit pursed its lips and explained, "I felt that with the current situation, it's more important to protect the mortals in the city. And I also believe... Ouyang Ye might not be hiding the consciousnesses with bodies there."
"You really didn't understand my meaning," Mu Anxiao thought. She had always considered Jia to be the least inclined to think, so she was too lazy to assign him certain tasks, intending for the spirit to handle them. Little did she know, while the spirit understood the implication, it missed her true intention. Looking at him, Mu Anxiao didn't know what to say.
Hearing Mu Anxiao's words, the spirit inquired, "Didn't you... want me to find them?"
"No."
"No?" The spirit was startled. After a moment's thought, it asked, "Then what exactly did you want me to do at that ruined temple?"
"Ouyang Ye has already sent Gu Yan there. There are a group of monsters he keeps there. I was worried he might unleash them into the city to harm the people. Now..." Mu Anxiao paused, glancing at the spirit's innocent, ugly face, and sighed, "Never mind."
"Then I'll go wait by the city gate," the spirit offered, attempting to rectify its mistake.
"You? You alone... can you stop them?" Jia exclaimed in surprise.
The spirit glanced at Jia, then back at Mu Anxiao, saying, "Don't worry, if anything happens, I'll notify you immediately."
"Go," Mu Anxiao decided to trust the spirit one more time.
The spirit nodded and burrowed into the ground, leaving.
Subsequently, Jia looked down at the ground and clicked his tongue. "I knew the spirit was acting shifty earlier. If you hadn't said anything," he looked up at Mu Anxiao, "I would have forgotten you sent him out."
"You should say less," Mu Anxiao replied, her gaze once again fixed on the residence.
Seeing this, Jia looked puzzled. "You don't still want to go in, do you?"
"I'm not that foolish," Mu Anxiao said, turning around and walking towards the small path leading to the residence's back door.
Jia quickly followed, asking, "What are you doing?" He caught up to Mu Anxiao's side.
As she walked, Mu Anxiao explained, "I have to go in. The madam and master are definitely still in the residence."
"Do you really have to find them?" Jia grabbed Mu Anxiao's sleeve.
Mu Anxiao, disregarding Jia's action, continued walking and talking, "I still have things to ask them. If..."
"Even if you find them, you might not be able to save Mu Xiao's mother," Jia interrupted, hoping she would approach the problem rationally.
Upon hearing this, Mu Anxiao suddenly felt that Jia's words had some merit. She slowly stopped and looked down at Jia, saying nothing.
Jia released her hand and added, "From the day you went to the General's mansion, they already abandoned you. What does it mean if you go back to find them? Besides," his gaze was firm, "that madam has always tried to harm you. Do you think she would help you?"
"What you're saying makes sense," Mu Anxiao murmured.
"If you think what I said makes sense, then I think," Jia glanced at the path leading to the back door and continued, "we should just not go. At this juncture, it's better to rely on ourselves than to find them."
"How do we rely on ourselves?"
"How else but by saving all the people in the city?"
"Will saving them... be useful?" Mu Anxiao seemed to have become foolish.
Jia looked up at Mu Anxiao's innocent expression, a slight smile forming on his lips, a fake smile, "What do you do all these tasks for?"
"To earn money."
"Don't be so superficial."
"Spiritual energy..."
"What did Hei Feng get after completing that big task?" Jia deliberately used Hei Feng to prompt Mu Anxiao, enduring the pain in his heart.
"Hei Feng..." Mu Anxiao repeated the name, thought for a moment, and then realized. "Oh, he got promoted and became rich."
Seeing this, Jia immediately raised his hand and snapped his fingers in front of Mu Anxiao's face.
Mu Anxiao looked at him and smiled. "Your little hand can even make a sound."
"Enough with the nonsense. Do you understand what I mean now?"
"You mean, if I earn merit, I can get promoted and rich in this Golden City. But," Mu Anxiao shook her head slightly, "this is not what I want."
Jia narrowed his eyes.
"What's wrong?" Mu Anxiao was genuinely startled by Jia's expression.
After a moment, Jia took a deep breath and said, "You are truly... when it comes to being a celestial being, you're uncompromising. But when it comes to being a person, you're muddle-headed."
"What exactly are you trying to say?" Mu Anxiao was getting anxious.
Jia sighed helplessly. "This matter must have already reached the palace. You can see the current situation among the common people. So, as long as we eliminate this pervasive corruption, you will earn merit. Then, you can deal with the Mu family however you want. Do you understand what I mean?"
"Oh, you mean, I should... earn merit through this incident and gain special privileges."
"Yes, that way, Mai Xia's life will be guaranteed," Jia said with a confident grin.
This time, Mu Anxiao finally understood Jia's words completely. "Alright, I'll listen to you."
"It's right to listen to me," Jia said, as if finding his purpose. He glanced around and then asked, "Alright, where do we go next?" He looked up at Mu Anxiao.
Mu Anxiao smiled. "I'm listening to you now. Wherever you say we go, I'll go."
"You're too lazy," Jia exclaimed in surprise.
"It's not that I'm lazy, it's that I think what you're saying makes sense. Just tell me where we're going now."
"Don't you have a plan?"
"I do, but I haven't fully thought it through."
"You... are you really willing to hand over the decision-making power to me?" Jia never expected Mu Anxiao to trust him.
Mu Anxiao hummed in response, deciding to rest her mind for a while.