At the same time, Xiao Yao noticed Mu Anxiao's dazed expression and asked, "What's wrong?" He reached out and gently patted Mu Anxiao's shoulder.
Mu Anxiao then snapped back to reality and said, "Nothing," she replied, glancing perfunctorily at Xiao Yao. "Alright, go on with your business and don't mind me."
"Okay," Xiao Yao nodded, then looked at Wang Hu, who was standing behind Mu Anxiao. He cupped his fists and said, "Ambassador, I'm going to stand guard."
"Go ahead," Wang Hu waved his hand, then stepped up to Mu Anxiao's side. "Are you shocked by the sight before you?"
"No," Mu Anxiao stubbornly replied. She never wanted to admit how good this place was, because if she admitted it... she would never be able to leave.
Wang Hu chuckled, "The Master said that Jin Cheng is a dull place, with no interest whatsoever."
"He's only doing this to make himself happy," Mu Anxiao said in a low voice, lowering her head deliberately to avoid being captivated by the scene.
Wang Hu also looked down at Mu Anxiao's duplicitous demeanor and smiled, "What do you want to eat? Tell me."
"You don't have any money," Mu Anxiao cast a sidelong glance at Wang Hu, then turned to the wolf demon and vine spirit, who were also mesmerized by the scenery. "Can't you two be less spineless?"
"I've been outside for so long, I've never been inside," the wolf demon said, looking at Mu Anxiao. "I never expected it to be so much better than the mortal realm."
"Yes, back then... to avoid being killed, I hid among the corpses of those monsters, so I never got a chance to see the sights of this city. I never expected," the vine spirit's eyes lit up, as if seeing a pretty dress like a little girl, "this place to be so beautiful."
"You..."
"An, don't leave," the vine spirit's eyes lit up as he fixed his gaze on Mu Anxiao. (He liked the name Mu Anxiao.)
"..." Mu Anxiao narrowed her eyes.
Seeing this, the vine spirit continued, "To be honest, everything I've done is to become a demon. This place..."
"When did I say I was leaving?" Mu Anxiao, sensing something was amiss, said hastily.
Beside her, Wang Hu, who had already put on a stern face, immediately broke into a smile upon hearing Mu Anxiao's words. "I knew it, how could you possibly want to..." he paused intentionally, "escape."
At this moment, Mu Anxiao heard a deep threat in Wang Hu's tone. She swallowed and slowly tilted her head up to look at Wang Hu, who was grinning sinisterly at her. "When did I say I was escaping? He was just speaking rashly out of excitement. Please don't take it to heart."
The vine spirit, hearing this, immediately realized he had said the wrong thing and quickly averted his gaze... clapping his hands in approval.
At this, Wang Hu continued to stare at Mu Anxiao and said in a sarcastic tone, "I don't like seeing the Master unhappy. If you leave, the Master will be displeased."
"I didn't say..."
"If you dare to do anything against the Master, I'll be the first one to not let you off," Wang Hu interrupted, then bared his teeth and smiled. "Alright, tell me what you want to eat."
Mu Anxiao was somewhat frightened by Wang Hu's sinister demeanor. It was then she decided that before she could figure out Ouyang Ye's true nature, she should get to know him first, lest she wouldn't even know how she died in the end. And before that, she decided not to provoke him.
"I want to eat... stir-fried dishes," she said faintly.
Wang Hu smiled. "Let's go, I know a tavern where the food is especially delicious." With that, he turned and led the way.
Mu Anxiao breathed a sigh of relief and was about to follow when the wolf demon tugged her sleeve and whispered, "Be careful."
Mu Anxiao nodded and, along with the vine spirit and the wolf demon, followed Wang Hu's steps...
Just then, Xiao Yi, holding a token, entered the city and immediately saw Mu Anxiao and the others. She muttered, "Aren't those the three guys?" Thinking to herself, she quietly followed them.
In a flash.
Mu Anxiao and the others followed Wang Hu into the tavern. At the same time, Xiao Yi also entered. "Why are you together?" she asked as she crossed the threshold.
Hearing this, Mu Anxiao and the others stopped in unison and turned to look at Xiao Yi.
Startled by their sudden gaze, Xiao Yi felt a bit awkward and shifted her attention to Wang Hu's face. "Wang Hu, aren't you looking for Mu Anxiao? Come..."
"An, you guys go ahead and sit with the waiter," Wang Hu interrupted, not wanting Xiao Yi to know everything.
Mu Anxiao saw what Wang Hu meant, exchanged a look with the vine spirit and the wolf demon, and then turned and followed the waiter without another word.
"What do you mean by this?" Xiao Yi asked angrily.
After being outmaneuvered by Xiao Yi, Wang Hu had completely lost his previous amiable demeanor towards her. "Come out," he said, walking past Xiao Yi and towards the exit.
Xiao Yi pondered for a moment, then turned and followed him out.
In the next moment, Wang Hu led Xiao Yi to a stop at the mouth of an alley next to the inn. Wang Hu, with his back to Xiao Yi, said coldly, "Did you find it?"
Xiao Yi disliked Wang Hu's attitude towards her and became angry. "That's a question I should be asking you."
"Xiao Yi," Wang Hu said, slowly turning to stare at Xiao Yi's face. "It's your business if you're looking for Mu Anxiao. Now, if you're going to disrupt my meal with my friends, I won't be polite to you."
"You're not looking for Mu Anxiao anymore? Aren't you afraid..."
"I understand the Master's temperament better than anyone. In this situation, the Master should be looking for her himself. As for me," Wang Hu stretched lazily, "I wouldn't find her even if I tried. Rather than waste time, I'd rather have a good drink with my new friends."
"Aren't you afraid the Master will kill you?" Xiao Yi frowned slightly.
"Do you like me?" Wang Hu suddenly asked.
Xiao Yi became angry upon hearing this. "How can you be so shameless? Who likes you? I just saw those three beggars here and was curious, so I followed. Who knew you'd be here too? I..."
"I know," Wang Hu smiled.
Xiao Yi was taken aback and became impatient. "What do you know now?"
"You like one of those three," Wang Hu said, deliberately making it up.
"Stop talking nonsense. I... I'm not talking to you anymore." Xiao Yi said furiously, reached out and hit Wang Hu on the shoulder, then turned and left.
Afterward, Wang Hu brushed off his shoulder where Xiao Yi had touched him and sneered, "Little demon... truly overestimating herself." He said, then looked down and smiled, only to be startled. "You heard that." He stared at Mu Anxiao in utter horror.
Mu Anxiao said, "Tsk, tsk, tsk. Two faces." With that, she turned and walked away first.
Wang Hu's expression froze. "Why did you follow me down?" he asked, catching up to Mu Anxiao.