“Is that… a human voice, or a demonic one?” Jia frowned, shifting his gaze to Hun Ling’s face.
“I don’t know,” Hun Ling replied casually, a sudden unease stirring within him, a sensation he’d never experienced before and found deeply uncomfortable.
Noticing Hun Ling’s distracted air, and hearing another roar, Jia surmised, “Could it be… they’re in trouble?”
“Gu Yan should be able to control them, but…” Hun Ling spoke, recalling the red light on Gu Yuan’s hand earlier and the resolute look in Gu Yuan’s eyes when they had cooperated. He immediately met Jia’s gaze. “Do you think Gu Yuan will be alright?”
“What could happen to her? Although I haven’t interacted much with Gu Yan, considering her relationship with Mu Anxiao, I’m sure she’ll protect Gu Yuan.”
“Really…”
“Even if she can’t, Gu Yuan has her own skills. What are you worried about?”
“I just feel… anxious,” Hun Ling murmured.
Jia chuckled. “I didn’t expect you, a soul spirit, to be so sentimental.” He then glanced at the impassive servants and stepped through the large gate.
Following Jia, Hun Ling abandoned his extraneous thoughts. “She’ll definitely be fine.” With that, he ignored the roars behind him and passed through the gate.
Because of Ouyang Ye, the entire general’s mansion was now permeated with demonic energy, making their search for him considerably more difficult. “It’s all demonic energy,” Jia said, surveying the surroundings before turning to look at Hun Ling, who had caught up.
Hun Ling stopped before Jia, glancing to both sides. “We need to come up with a plan.”
“What plan?” Jia didn’t understand.
Seeing Jia’s confused expression, Hun Ling curled his lips. “I thought you were smarter. After all this time… this is all you have.”
“You…”
“Have you forgotten that Ouyang Ye poisoned you?” Hun Ling interrupted.
“Poison,” Jia repeated, his mind flashing back to his encounter with Lou Yi. He suddenly realized, “If I find Ouyang Ye now, he’ll definitely ask me a lot of questions. If I can’t answer them… the outcome will be dire, won’t it?” He looked at Hun Ling, recognizing the gravity of the situation.
“So,” Hun Ling said, “before I find a way, you should figure out your reasons.”
“But…”
“No buts. Time is of the essence. If I’m not mistaken, those roars we just heard might have come from those souls,” Hun Ling said, turning his back.
At that moment, Jia gained a new understanding of Hun Ling, even recalling his master from his previous life. Though their conversations were infrequent, his master always helped him resolve difficulties. Now, Hun Ling was doing the same.
Driven by this sentiment, Jia pouted. “I miss my master.” He then let out a loud wail.
Startled, Hun Ling immediately withdrew his gaze from searching for a direction, turning to look at Jia. “What’s wrong with you now?” he asked, his tone filled with disdain.
“My former master liked to think of me the way you do, you…”
“Don’t misunderstand, it was Hei Feng who asked me to help you,” Hun Ling, unable to tolerate Jia any longer, revealed the truth.
Upon hearing this, Jia immediately stopped reminiscing and put on a look of disdain. “Hei Feng again.”
“Oh, it’s just a mission, don’t think too much about it.” Hun Ling realized his impulsiveness and pointed at Jia. “Hurry up and think, this isn’t the time for you to be temperamental.” He then quickly turned his back again.
Seeing this, Jia snorted. “Hei Feng is quite formidable.” With that, he rolled his eyes and cleared his mind completely.
Hun Ling tilted his head, continuing to search for Ouyang Ye’s direction.
Meanwhile, Ouyang Ye was still in the process of detoxifying Feng Qishi.
Due to being controlled by demonic arts, Feng Qishi was unable to move and could only watch helplessly as Ouyang Ye administered the antidote.
Outside the barrier, Mu Anxiao anxiously watched Feng Qishi, who still appeared to be in pain. “Ouyang Ye, are you done…” she started, but Hei Qi quickly turned and hushed her.
Mu Anxiao pointed at the barrier, signaling for Hei Qi to let her in.
At the same time, Hei Qi understood Mu Anxiao’s intent and whispered, “Wait.”
“You…”
“Mu Anxiao, if you interfere and I fall into qi deviation and accidentally kill him, don’t blame me,” Ouyang Ye said coldly without looking back.
Hearing this, Mu Anxiao, for Feng Qishi’s sake, immediately ceased her words and glared at Ouyang Ye’s retreating back. “…”
Seeing Mu Anxiao fall silent, Hei Qi breathed a sigh of relief.
Then, as Mu Anxiao remained quiet and cooperative, Ouyang Ye removed his hand from Feng Qishi’s shoulder. “You do the rest yourself,” he said, glancing down at Feng Qishi before stepping back.
Following Ouyang Ye’s prompt, Feng Qishi moved slightly and discovered that the constraint Ouyang Ye had placed on him had been broken.
“Feng Qishi, you can move now!” Mu Anxiao exclaimed excitedly.
Hearing Mu Anxiao’s joyful words for Feng Qishi, Ouyang Ye’s heart sank. “You’ll have to expel that poisonous qi yourself using your spiritual energy.”
“Why didn’t you help him finish it completely?” Mu Anxiao disliked Ouyang Ye’s half-hearted actions.
“Why do you think?” Ouyang Ye retorted, turning to face Mu Anxiao.
“How would I know?” Mu Anxiao replied righteously.
“Yes, you’re so clumsy, how could you possibly know,” Ouyang Ye said coldly, turning back to Feng Qishi. “I’ve controlled the poisonous qi. As soon as you use your spiritual energy, it will come out. If you don’t believe me, then continue to suffer.”
“I believe you,” Feng Qishi said. He sat down cross-legged and began to circulate his qi.
Mu Anxiao felt something was amiss and quickly called out, “Feng Qishi, wait…”
“If you disturb him now, he might fall into qi deviation,” Ouyang Ye interrupted Mu Anxiao, turning and coming before her.
“What exactly are you trying to do?” Mu Anxiao asked in a low voice.
Ouyang Ye lightly tapped the barrier, and it vanished. “I said I would save him, and I will. I advise you not to ask any unnecessary questions.” He met Mu Anxiao’s eyes intently.
Mu Anxiao glared at Ouyang Ye and said coldly, “Fine, I’ll trust you one more time. If Feng Qishi’s poison isn’t cured,” she said, raising her hand and gripping Ouyang Ye’s collar, “I’m not done with you.”
“You care about him so much,” Ouyang Ye’s eyes darkened, and he directly grasped Mu Anxiao’s wrist.