"My problems are too many. If you want to leave, hand over that guy's soul," Mu Anxiao insisted, drenched but unyielding.
The Devouring Beast snorted, "You little celestial are so stubborn. Fine, since you want to know, I'll tell you." It said, glancing at the long beard wrapped around Mu Anxiao's hand, and continued, "But only if you let go."
"You tell me, and I'll let go," Mu Anxiao said, her gaze firm.
"I ate him until nothing was left, not even his soul," the Devouring Beast said in a rough voice.
"Nothing left..." Mu Anxiao murmured, looking down at the water's surface, then shaking her head. "No, you're lying to me."
"How can I lie to you, you..."
"His demonic energy is still here," Mu Anxiao interrupted, tilting her head to look above the waterfall.
Seeing this, the Devouring Beast's eyes widened. "I ate him! You... don't talk nonsense."
"This is really strange," Mu Anxiao mused, turning back and suddenly meeting the Devouring Beast's eyes. "There are fish in this water."
"What are you trying to say?" The Devouring Beast, drawn in by Mu Anxiao's inexplicable reaction, couldn't help but ask.
A smile tugged at Mu Anxiao's lips. "I want to say, why don't you eat the fish in the water, but instead eat demons? Also," she narrowed her eyes, continuing, "you said you ate that guy until nothing was left, but there's nothing in your teeth. Instead, his demonic energy is on you. You..."
"I didn't eat him," the Devouring Beast couldn't stand Mu Anxiao anymore.
Mu Anxiao smiled faintly. "I knew it. You definitely didn't manage to eat him."
"You knew, yet you still asked me. It seems you are indeed seeking death," the Devouring Beast said, its eyes instantly flashing red.
Mu Anxiao realized the gravity of the situation, but she had completely lost any chance of escape. Its beard flicked, and Mu Anxiao began to spin in mid-air, propelled by the beard. "What are you doing?" she shouted.
The Devouring Beast replied, "If you don't let go, I'll make you let go." As it spoke, it began to spin in the water as well.
Thus, Mu Anxiao angered the Devouring Beast, but she remained unafraid. "Alright, you broke my trust in you first," she said. Under the effect of the dizziness, she raised her dagger and 'hacked' at the beard.
After a few strikes.
The beard snapped. The Devouring Beast roared and swung its tail towards Mu Anxiao. Seeing this, Mu Anxiao quickly dodged and, without a second thought, cast a spell, enveloping it in blue light. "My life is not yours to take if you wish," she said, swiftly changing her hand seals and releasing a long line to bind the Devouring Beast.
The next second, after a few hisses, the Devouring Beast spoke, "Using magic in the demon realm will be punished."
"Being punished is better than having my life taken by you," Mu Anxiao replied, looping one end of the long line around her hand and flying towards the top of the waterfall.
The Devouring Beast was unable to move.
At the same time, as Mu Anxiao ascended, waves of bloody scent washed over her. Pushing aside the mist, she endured the smell and landed on the shore. "You really did kill quite a few demons," she said, tugging the line and looking down at the ground, which was covered in blood of various colors.
"This is my territory. I want to..." Before it could finish, the Devouring Beast felt a tightening around its neck and its words were cut off.
Above, Mu Anxiao's lips curled into a smile. "Don't speak too confidently. Ouyang Ye can't see through you, nor can those demons, but I can." As she accepted the scents, she stepped on bloody stones and walked towards the nearby bushes.
Below.
The wolf demons and the others had heard all the commotion from the waterfall. However, without Mu Anxiao's command, they dared not act rashly and could only stand their ground, waiting anxiously.
"Do you think Mu Anxiao will be alright?" Zhao Mei'er clutched the wolf demon's arm tightly.
The wolf demon looked down at Zhao Mei'er, who was holding his arm, and said, "It's quiet over there now. Can you let go?"
"I won't. Just tell me," Zhao Mei'er had no intention of letting go, instead tightening her grip. "Will Mu Anxiao be alright?"
"If something happens to her, can you go there?" the wolf demon retorted.
Zhao Mei'er flinched at the wolf demon's words and avoided his gaze. "Don't talk about me. Can't you give me some comfort?"
"No," the wolf demon said coldly.
After the wolf demon's single word, Zhao Mei'er pouted. "Then, does that mean Mu Anxiao is possibly in mortal danger? Then..." Tears streamed down her face. "What do we do?"
"I knew your concern for Mu Anxiao wasn't pure," the wolf demon said, angrily shaking off Zhao Mei'er's hand.
Zhao Mei'er stiffened, then quickly grabbed the wolf demon's arm again. "I am genuinely concerned for her, but I am also concerned for our own safety. If... if she really dies, we'll just be buried with her. You..."
"Zhao Mei'er, your abilities have degenerated to this extent. I'm truly impressed," Xi'er couldn't bear it and intended to interrupt Zhao Mei'er.
Upon hearing this, Zhao Mei'er turned her gaze directly to Xi'er's face. "I'm just grieving. Do you have to say such demeaning words?"
"She's right. Your abilities have degenerated to this point," the wolf demon chimed in, siding with Xi'er.
Hearing this, Zhao Mei'er burst into tears.
Xi'er looked at her with disdain. "Just keep crying. If the Devouring Beast hears crying, it'll come over. Then, if we become its food, I won't let you off even as a ghost," she said, glaring fiercely at Zhao Mei'er's face.
"Fine, I won't cry," Zhao Mei'er immediately conceded, stopping her tears and asking softly, "Can you tell me if Mu Anxiao is alright or not?"
Xi'er, too lazy to reply, looked away.
The wolf demon also turned his face aside.
Finally, Zhao Mei'er shifted her gaze to Song Xi.
Song Xi glanced at the wolf demon and Xi'er, then responded helplessly to Zhao Mei'er, "Mu Anxiao is a celestial. The Devouring Beast won't do anything to her. Also," he frowned, "you really don't sense Mu Anxiao's spiritual energy?"
"Spiritual energy," Zhao Mei'er repeated, quickly glancing in a random direction. "You mean... Mu Anxiao used magic here."
Hearing Zhao Mei'er's surprised words, Xi'er and the wolf demon simultaneously turned their disgusted gazes to her face.
Conversely, Song Xi said helplessly, "You're looking in the wrong direction. It's over there," he pointed behind himself.