On the other side of the door, Mu Anxiao tilted her head slightly, listening to the movements outside. Then, recalling Xi'er’s expression of genuine dislike towards the stirring wind earlier, a smile touched her lips. She thought, "This way, she'll have no reason to harm me." As she thought this, she looked up and discovered... it was a square courtyard. The number of rooms was also clear at a glance. Directly ahead, in the center, was a large room, with two smaller rooms on either side. In the middle of the courtyard was a small, square vegetable patch. Outside the door of the large room stood a round stone table with four small stone stools, and then... there was a bamboo clothes rack for drying laundry.
However, what puzzled her was... after looking around, she couldn't find the kitchen. "That guy lied to me," she muttered. As she took a step, A Xue, along with the Vine Spirit and the Wolf Demon, emerged from the small room on the left.
The Vine Spirit saw Mu Anxiao at a glance. "You're back," he said.
"Why did you all come out from here?" Mu Anxiao asked, walking towards them.
The Wolf Demon replied, "This is the kitchen."
"The kitchen," Mu Anxiao said, approaching them. Disregarding A Xue for the moment, she leaned in to look at the small room they had emerged from and asked, "Isn't this too perfunctory? There's not even a chimney?" Her words fell as she finally turned her gaze to A Xue.
A Xue said, "The tools inside are all very complete. Also, fire is not allowed here; only demonic arts can be used, so there's no chimney."
"Demonic arts... what kind of delicious food can that make?" Mu Anxiao said, suddenly wanting to leave.
The Wolf Demon chuckled, seeing this. "You don't need to worry about that."
"You only know how to cook, how could..."
"I don't cook," the Wolf Demon interrupted Mu Anxiao, looking resistant.
Mu Anxiao had expected the Wolf Demon to be very cooperative about being a chef for a few days. To her surprise, before she had even finished speaking, he was already refusing. Seeing his attitude, Mu Anxiao's temper flared. "Say that again. You're the only one who can cook here. Does that mean..."
"You think my cooking is delicious?" The Wolf Demon understood Mu Anxiao's meaning and no longer seemed so rebellious.
Mu Anxiao replied, "Yes."
"But this job, Xiao Yi handles it all," the Wolf Demon said plainly.
"Xiao Yi?" Mu Anxiao was greatly surprised.
The Wolf Demon nodded.
A Xue glanced at the Wolf Demon and the Vine Spirit, then spread his hand, producing a pastry and offering it to Mu Anxiao. "Try it."
The Vine Spirit smiled.
Then, Mu Anxiao bent slightly, focusing on the pastry placed in A Xue's palm, and frowned. "What is this?" she asked, finding the pastry strikingly familiar... yet she couldn't recall where she had seen it.
"Xiao Yi calls this Date Paste Cake," A Xue said gently.
In Mu Anxiao's memory, A Xue was an arrogant little demon. Now, however, he was introducing the name of a pastry so tenderly. Hearing this, she was also surprised. "Are you alright?" she asked, staring intently at A Xue's face.
A Xue raised an eyebrow. "Try it."
"This..."
"It's not poisoned, and it's delicious," the Vine Spirit said excitedly.
"What's gotten into all of you?" Mu Anxiao couldn't help but be astonished by their reactions. However, seeing their strong insistence, she politely obliged and reached out to take the Date Paste Cake.
A Xue smiled.
The Vine Spirit and the Wolf Demon also smiled.
Subsequently, Mu Anxiao looked at each of their starry eyes, then, with a tentative spirit, took a bite of the Date Paste Cake and was astonished. "Did Xiao Yi make this?" she asked them incredulously.
A Xue nodded. "Yes, it's delicious, isn't it?"
"Made with demonic arts?" Mu Anxiao asked again.
A Xue nodded again. "Yes, it's delicious, isn't it?"
Mu Anxiao looked at A Xue's excited expression and understood... food truly could change anything. Thus, to ensure A Xue was completely swayed by the culinary delights, she responded, "Delicious," and proceeded to eat the rest of the Date Paste Cake.
A Xue smiled. "What this girl makes is truly delicious."
"Then you should go spread the word," Mu Anxiao suddenly said.
Upon hearing this, A Xue's expression grew solemn. "..."
"What's wrong?" Mu Anxiao asked, reaching up to wipe the crumbs from her mouth.
A Xue took a deep breath. "How can I introduce something this delicious? No, I can't do that."
"How can you be so selfish?" Mu Anxiao said with evident disdain.
"I am selfish. From now on," A Xue said, his tone earnest, "you tell me what you want, and I'll bring it to you."
"What if other demons..."
"I'll tell the elders and the sect leader. I'm in charge here, so," A Xue glanced at the kitchen, "you don't need to worry about other demons getting involved."
"You really are deeply passionate about food," Mu Anxiao said, deliberately testing A Xue's fervor for cuisine.
A Xue lowered his gaze...
Mu Anxiao watched A Xue's somber expression and couldn't help but smile. "No, what's wrong now?"
"Ever since I came here, I haven't eaten any decent pastries. This is the first time I've eaten such delicious pastries. It makes me... it makes me think of my mother," A Xue said, his voice cracking.
"Your mother?" Mu Anxiao's mouth twitched.
"Alas, let's not talk about it. In short, this place is mine from now on. You guys clean up. I'm leaving." A Xue said, tears of sadness welling up, and walked past them towards the wooden door.
Then, Mu Anxiao lowered her gaze and thought, quickly calling out to A Xue, "Wait."
Upon hearing this, A Xue immediately stopped, suppressed his sadness, and turned to look at Mu Anxiao. "What is it?" he asked.
"From now on, when you come, knock three times. This is the signal," she said.
"What do you mean?" A Xue didn't understand.
Mu Anxiao smiled. "I'll only let you in and save good food for you." She had decided to win A Xue over.
A Xue heard this, nodded, "Okay," and then turned and left.
After A Xue had completely departed, Mu Anxiao smiled down and looked at the Vine Spirit and the Wolf Demon who were suddenly staring at her. "What are you looking at me for?" she asked.
The Wolf Demon replied, "Why are you being so nice to him?"
"Because he's useful," Mu Anxiao said, then looked at the Vine Spirit. "Do you have something to say?"
The Vine Spirit asked, "Where did you go just now?" His face was full of curiosity.
Immediately, upon hearing the Vine Spirit's question, Mu Anxiao pulled the Vine Spirit and the Wolf Demon to the outside of the small room opposite them and whispered, "From now on, you two will follow me closely. You are not allowed to cultivate demonic arts." She then released her grip.
"Why?" The Vine Spirit sounded a little disappointed.
Mu Anxiao frowned. "There's no 'why.' Cultivating demonic arts in this place will do you no good," she said, pointing at the Wolf Demon. "And you too, remember?"
"Did you see something?" the Wolf Demon asked.
Mu Anxiao's eyes darkened. "Zhao Mei'er and Jiong Ye... were sealed in a place. In twenty days, they will die. If you harbor selfish intentions, that will be your fate." After saying this, she turned and walked towards the kitchen.
"...." The Vine Spirit and the Wolf Demon swallowed hard after Mu Anxiao's words, not daring to ask further questions.
Subsequently, Mu Anxiao entered the kitchen and glanced at Xiao Yi, who was standing by the stove and cooking with demonic arts. "Have you done this before?" she asked, looking at the vegetables that were automatically stirring in the pot.
Xiao Yi replied while operating, "No, but I used to be in the palace's royal kitchen. There, I often watched the chefs cook, and after watching a lot, I learned." She turned her face towards the cutting board. "There are some pastries I've made over there. Try them."
"Okay," Mu Anxiao nodded, realizing... Xiao Yi was different from before.