"You're quite self-aware," the wolf demon said, fixing his gaze on Mu Anxiao's tightly clenched fist.
"You give it to me, isn't that sending it..."
"I'm lending it to you. This is Hu Yuan's遗物 (yíwù -遺物), I can't give it to you." The wolf demon said with a serious expression.
Mu Anxiao knew better than anyone that the wolf demon's transformation was inextricably linked to Hu Yuan, who had given him his body. Therefore, when she heard him say these words, a pang of sorrow inevitably arose in her heart. But to avoid completely sinking into the past, she could only force herself to remain clear-headed and say, "I understand."
"You'll return it to me?" The wolf demon was surprised that Mu Anxiao was so obedient.
Under normal circumstances, Mu Anxiao wouldn't have thought of returning anything she took from the wolf demon. However, this item held a special emotional significance for the wolf demon. If she were to keep it, what would that make her? Therefore, being a reasonable person, she decided not to bully him.
"I'm just watching the time to sleep. Don't worry, when..." Mu Anxiao said, her voice lowered, fearing eavesdroppers. "When things are done, I'll return it to you."
"Good," the wolf demon also became exceptionally cautious.
Mu Anxiao looked at the wolf demon's nervous demeanor and couldn't help but smile. "You really are a fool," she said, then tilted her head back to look at the sky.
The wolf demon said, "If we're talking about fools, I think the rattan vine spirit is the fool." As he spoke, he cast a glance towards the kitchen.
Upon hearing this, Mu Anxiao also shifted her gaze towards the kitchen. "Yes, speaking of which, before this, I never really realized he was so narcissistic."
"Mm," the wolf demon nodded, then picked up the bronze mirror again to admire his own face.
"Even if you look, the pimples on your face won't disappear," Mu Anxiao said, staring at the wolf demon.
The wolf demon sighed. "I really don't know what's so good about me. This kind of romantic charm," he said, staring intently at his own face, "is too terrifying."
"A romantic charm like yours is something some men would dream of," Mu Anxiao said, resting her chin on her hand. "We're both suffering from the same ailment this time."
"You're not as good-looking as me," the wolf demon said, putting down the bronze mirror and looking at Mu Anxiao.
Hearing this, Mu Anxiao immediately glared at the wolf demon. "If that's the case, then I'll trouble you to go find Ouyang Ye. Perhaps," she imagined a scene of the wolf demon and Ouyang Ye together, her lips curling into a smile, "your status will soar."
"Are you trying to insult me?" The wolf demon's face turned grim.
"Then don't compare with me on who's better looking. Besides," Mu Anxiao said, a pout on her lips, "you're far from being as good as Feng Qishi."
"Yes, I can't compare to Feng Qishi, but if I can be better than you, I'm already content," the wolf demon said, picking up the bronze mirror again to admire himself.
"You've got a screw loose," Mu Anxiao mumbled, standing up, walking around the stone table, and tiptoeing towards the kitchen.
Seeing this, the wolf demon smiled down and deliberately said, "Mu Anxiao, curiosity killed the cat."
Upon hearing this, Mu Anxiao paused, quickly turned her head to shush the wolf demon, and then continued walking towards it.
"How boring," the wolf demon shook his head and sighed, looking up at the sky.
At that moment, Mu Anxiao stopped outside the kitchen door. She then poked her head in and glanced inside. The rattan vine spirit was still by Xiao Yi's side, insisting on saying things like he shouldn't look at her. Hearing this, a look of disgust appeared on Mu Anxiao's face. "Tsk tsk tsk, you really are persistent," she said and walked in.
Xiao Yi put down the chopping knife, turned, and looked at Mu Anxiao. "You're here."
"Mm, aren't you annoyed by him?" Mu Anxiao got straight to the point, lowering her head to try and find the 'figure' of the demonic sword.
"He was annoying at first," Xiao Yi didn't pay attention to Mu Anxiao's movements. She glanced at the rattan vine spirit, who had finally shut up, and continued, "After hearing it for so long, it just goes in one ear and out the other." After speaking, she wiped her wet hands on her apron.
"It seems you really do like me," the rattan vine spirit said with a smile.
Mu Anxiao felt nauseous.
Xiao Yi sighed. "I've seen narcissistic people, but I've never seen anyone as narcissistic as you. So, now that she's here," she said, looking at the rattan vine spirit, "tell me, what about me do you like?"
"I don't know, but I know," the rattan vine spirit squinted and smiled, "that you like me."
"She's my wife, what are you?" The demonic sword's voice suddenly came from the water vat.
Upon hearing this, Mu Anxiao suddenly lifted her head, turned sideways, and stared in the direction of the voice. "So you're here."
The rattan vine spirit was startled and moved closer to Xiao Yi.
Seeing this, Xiao Yi, not wanting the rattan vine spirit to continue misunderstanding, intentionally took a step to the side.
The rattan vine spirit frowned upon seeing this. "What are you doing? Don't you like me?"
"You're so ugly, I don't like you at all," Xiao Yi blurted out.
Hearing Xiao Yi's words, the rattan vine spirit's expression froze. "You said I'm ugly."
"Your narcissistic appearance is truly ugly, and I don't like you at all. Stop babbling next to me, you're annoying." Xiao Yi hadn't intended to say this, but because the rattan vine spirit was too narcissistic, she had to use this method to wake him up.
Following Xiao Yi's words, the rattan vine spirit left.
After the rattan vine spirit left, Xiao Yi let out a sigh of relief and then lowered her gaze to the rope tied around her waist.
At this moment, Mu Anxiao had stopped in front of the water vat. Then, as the demonic sword remained silent, she curved her lips upwards. "It must be here," she said, casually lifting the wooden lid covering the water vat. She lowered her head and looked into the still water, frowning. "Strange, the sound clearly came from here."
"What's wrong?" Xiao Yi asked, casually untying the rope and placing it on the board. She walked gracefully towards Mu Anxiao.
"The sound came from here just now, didn't it?" Mu Anxiao asked, then replaced the lid.
"I don't know." Xiao Yi had been bothered by the rattan vine spirit the whole time, so she had only heard the sound coming from this direction. As for where exactly it came from... she didn't know.
Mu Anxiao looked at Xiao Yi's sincere eyes and thought for a moment. "It really is strange," she said, looking around with a puzzled expression. "I clearly felt it was here just now." After speaking, she turned sideways and stared at the water vat.
Xiao Yi also leaned in and stared at the water vat. "You looked, and it wasn't inside, was it?"
"Yes, that guy is really like a rat. If I don't catch it, my heart..." Mu Anxiao said, a slight pout on her lips, "just doesn't feel quite right."
"Then let's look again," Xiao Yi suggested.
At that moment, a scream from the rattan vine spirit came from outside...
Upon hearing this, Mu Anxiao and Xiao Yi both turned their gazes in the direction of the sound. "The rattan vine spirit... what's wrong again?" Mu Anxiao said, exchanged a glance with Xiao Yi, and ran towards the direction.
Xiao Yi followed closely.