In a moment, Shen Lu abruptly opened his eyes, his gaze fixed on Mu Anxiao’s face.
Mu Anxiao felt an ominous premonition at Shen Lu’s sudden stare. "What is it?" she managed to ask.
Shen Lu stared at her for a few seconds, then shook his head slightly. "Nothing, I just wanted to tell you, that demonic energy..." he began, his eyes darkening, "is spreading from Mai Xia."
"Mai Xia?" Mu Anxiao was deeply surprised.
"In any case, be careful," Shen Lu said calmly, glancing again towards the back door. "Also, I'm going with you."
"So, the demonic energy in this city has nothing to do with Ouyang Ye?" Mu Anxiao was surprised once more.
Shen Lu nodded. "Yes, it has nothing to do with him."
"Is this related?" Mu Anxiao asked, holding up the sack in her hands to Shen Lu.
"No."
"But..."
"The demonic energy within this couldn't possibly cause the current situation," Shen Lu finished, walking around Mu Anxiao towards Jia and Mai Liang.
Mu Anxiao had always believed that the demonic energy and the strange occurrences in the city were all related to Ouyang Ye, but now Shen Lu had given her such an answer. She found it difficult to accept this reality. Lowering her eyes slightly, she paused for a long moment before turning to walk towards them.
Seeing Mu Anxiao approach, Shen Lu said calmly, "Let's go in."
"Go in?" Mu Anxiao didn't react immediately. She walked forward and stopped in front of them.
"You tell her," Shen Lu said, glancing at Mai Liang and intending to give Mai Liang the right to explain everything.
Mai Liang nodded, cautiously looking at Mu Anxiao. "Madam says that only if she kills you will she spare Mai Xia."
"My life in exchange for Mai Xia's life," Mu Anxiao summarized.
Mai Liang affirmed, "Yes."
"Since they want my life, they should just take it," Mu Anxiao suddenly said.
Mai Liang’s body stiffened, completely unprepared for this decision from Mu Anxiao.
At the same time, Shen Lu was genuinely startled by Mu Anxiao's sudden decision. "Are you crazy?"
"Only this way can Mai Xia be saved, only this way," Mu Anxiao said, thinking of Ouyang Ye, who was fixated on marrying her. "Can I escape that guy."
"If you die, I..."
"Shen Moyun, stop talking, this is my decision." Mu Anxiao, worried Shen Lu might reveal too much, quickly interrupted.
Jia looked up at ‘Feng Qishi’, who showed no signs of tension, then glanced at Mu Anxiao, who had made this decision, and smiled. "Mu Anxiao, I understand."
Hearing this, Mu Anxiao immediately withdrew her gaze from Shen Lu’s face and looked down at Jia. "What do you understand?"
"Come here," Jia said, hands behind his back, walking past Mu Anxiao towards the alley entrance.
Seeing this, Mu Anxiao thought for a moment, turned, and followed Jia.
After the two walked away, Mai Liang looked at Shen Lu. "Will you really save Mai Xia?"
Shen Lu retracted his gaze, turned to look at Mai Liang, and said coldly, "Didn't you say I was negligent in my duties?"
"You’re still holding a grudge," Mai Liang said, startled.
"Don't say it, my greatest advantage is holding grudges."
"You..."
"I am a general, I don't have the right to try such a prisoner. It was not easy to take charge of Mai Xia’s matter in the first place. Now," Shen Lu said seriously, "as you can see, there are many things happening in the city recently, and my subordinates have been helping me find evidence. Also, I have another purpose for being here."
"What purpose?" Mai Liang asked curiously.
"To find Mai Xia."
"You know Mai Xia was taken away by them?" Mai Liang was surprised.
Shen Lu said calmly, "Although I just found out, my subordinates also reported that Mai Xia escaped. I didn't even have time to order them to search for her before I met you here. Since that's the case, this matter will be easier to handle."
"How will it be easier?" Mai Liang suddenly felt that everything Shen Lu said was very pleasing to hear.
"Breaking out a prisoner is no small crime."
"You want to arrest Madam?" Mai Liang’s eyes lit up.
"That's exactly the intention. As the saying goes, if you don't let me have peace, I won't let you have peace either."
"You are protecting Mu Anxiao."
"..." Shen Lu, upon hearing this, fixed his gaze on Mai Liang's face.
At the alley entrance, Mu Anxiao stopped behind Jia and asked, "Can you say you know what happened?"
Jia lowered his eyes and smiled, then turned to look at Mu Anxiao, smiling faintly. "You want to fake your death."
"..." Mu Anxiao’s eyes flickered.
"You want to escape Ouyang Ye's clutches by faking your death, am I right?" Jia said, hands behind his back, his face full of excitement.
Mu Anxiao looked down at Jia’s self-satisfied expression and couldn't help but smile. "Yes, that's right, but..." she reached out and cupped Jia's head, "I don't intend to fake my death."
"You want to do it for real?" Jia was surprised.
"Yes, during this period, help me find a good body. I..."
"Mu Anxiao, are you insane?" Jia said urgently.
Just as Jia shouted this, Mu Anxiao burst out laughing.
Jia, seeing this, frowned slightly. "What do you mean by this?"
"Alright, I admit it, you were right, I do want the fake death pill. Now," Mu Anxiao said, extending her hands, "can you give me the fake death pill?"
"This..." Jia hesitated.
Mu Anxiao, seeing Jia's hesitant expression, couldn't help but click her tongue. "What is this, give it to me."
"This has an expiration date. If the time passes, you will truly... be dead," Jia explained patiently.
"Dead, I know more about this thing than you do. Give it to me."
"But..."
"Jia," Mu Anxiao interrupted sharply.
Hearing this, Jia showed a distressed expression. "If you take it now, you will collapse immediately. I..." he said, seeing Mu Anxiao’s unfriendly expression, he dared not continue. "Alright, I'll find it for you." Saying this, he began to search his body for the fake death pill.
Mu Anxiao crossed her arms and said nothing more.
Then, Jia grinned at Mu Anxiao and chuckled foolishly. "Sorry, I don't have it."
"Don't have it?" Mu Anxiao repeated, disdainfully. "If you try to trick me again, give it to me."
"I really don't have it," Jia stated firmly.
Mu Anxiao frowned. "Every Underworld Messenger has that pill, and you’re telling me you don’t have it," she said, her brow furrowed slightly. "Who are you trying to fool?"
"I really don't have it," Jia emphasized. "If I'm lying to you, may lightning strike me." He pointed to the sky.
Following Jia's words, Mu Anxiao slowly tilted her head back to look. The sky... remained unchanged. "It seems you're telling the truth," she said, lowering her head to stare at Jia.
Jia chuckled foolishly.