Zhu You smiled, "Thank you."
Seeing Zhu You's demeanor, the wolf demon curled its lips and muttered, "I don't have the habit of eating my own kind." As he spoke, his gaze inadvertently met Wang Hu's.
Wang Hu smiled.
The wolf demon looked confused, "Why are you looking at me?"
"You are a wolf," Wang Hu said plainly.
"I've already told you that."
"Then what's your name?" Wang Hu asked in detail.
Immediately, the moment Wang Hu spoke, the wolf demon's gaze shifted to Mu Anxiao's face. (He remembered that Mu Anxiao disliked him referring to himself as Hu Yuan, so he dared not say it.)
"Why are you looking at me?" Mu Anxiao didn't understand the wolf demon's meaning at all.
The wolf demon frowned.
Wang Hu, seeing the wolf demon's expectant gaze towards Mu Anxiao, couldn't help but smile, "It's just a name, why are you acting like this?"
"I..." The wolf demon stopped mid-sentence, still staring at Mu Anxiao's face.
The vine spirit chuckled.
Wang Hu stared intently at the wolf demon and added, "What's the big deal? Are you going to have me call you 'wolf demon' forever? It sounds so unpleasant. Besides," he said, glancing at Zhu You who was contentedly gnawing on a pork knuckle, "most demons and monsters here have names. If they don't, they'll be discarded like refuse. Some unlucky ones even become tools for that Mo Juan to refine her demonic energy."
"Really, or fake?" The wolf demon was moved.
Mu Anxiao still didn't understand the wolf demon's intention and thus just stared at him blankly, not uttering a single word.
Wang Hu looked sincere, "I'd be a ghost if I lied to you."
"Ghost..." the wolf demon repeated, instantly realizing the gravity of the situation. With a sudden impulse, he introduced himself, "My name is Hu Yuan."
Hu Yuan was from the mortal world. It was because he had given his body to the bodiless wolf demon that Mu Anxiao had always disliked the wolf demon referring to himself that way. Hearing his introduction now, she finally understood why he had hesitated earlier.
And because of this, Mu Anxiao chose to accept this time. "He shall be called Hu Yuan."
At this moment, Mu Anxiao's reaction was truly beyond the wolf demon's expectations. It was also Mu Anxiao's reaction that deeply touched him. Just as he was about to tearfully say 'thank you,' Wang Hu called out, "Hu Yuan."
Hearing this, the wolf demon immediately retracted his welling emotions, turned to Wang Hu, and asked, "What is it?" As he spoke, he did not forget to wipe the tears from the corners of his eyes.
Wang Hu smiled, "Actually, I think you have the potential to become a demon."
Hearing Wang Hu say this, Mu Anxiao's mind flashed with instances of the wolf demon's wickedness. Seeing Wang Hu's eager expression, she became anxious and said, "I don't think he does."
Upon hearing this, Wang Hu frowned and glanced at Mu Anxiao, "You say that as if... you know him very well?"
"I don't know him," Mu Anxiao feigned ignorance.
The wolf demon knew that in Mu Anxiao's current situation, if she directly admitted to knowing him, both she and he would be mired in trouble. Therefore, for her sake and his own, he said with feigned anticipation, "Does this mean you're going to recommend me?" As he spoke, the corners of his mouth curved upwards.
Wang Hu, seeing the wolf demon's elated expression and Mu Anxiao's nervous rejection of the wolf demon's demonic cultivation, smiled, "I understand."
"Understand what?" Mu Anxiao fixed her gaze on Wang Hu.
Wang Hu glanced at the vine spirit and the wolf demon and smiled, "You want to keep them by your side, don't you?"
Mu Anxiao frowned slightly.
Wang Hu continued, "In the palace, only the low-ranking servants are of demon status. If he cultivates into a demon," he looked at the wolf demon, then back at Mu Anxiao, "it will bring you no benefit."
"Yes," Mu Anxiao nodded.
The wolf demon feigned anger, "You can't ruin my future for your own selfish desires."
"Shut up," Mu Anxiao shot the wolf demon a glare. "You're suited to be a demon, don't think about jumping levels."
"You..."
"I haven't even cultivated yet, how can you all become demons?" Mu Anxiao said, glaring at the wolf demon.
After hearing Mu Anxiao's words, the wolf demon lowered his head.
Wang Hu saw Mu Anxiao's anger and, recalling Mu Anxiao's relationship with Ouyang Ye, smiled, "I was just kidding." Rather than helping the wolf demon become a demon, he felt... his own life was more important.
The vine spirit chuckled, "I don't have a name yet."
"What's it to you?" Mu Anxiao glanced at the vine spirit who insisted on butting into the conversation.
At the same time, Wang Hu also looked at the vine spirit, "I know what your name is."
"What's my name?" The vine spirit's eyes lit up.
Wang Hu said with a serious expression, "Vine Spirit."
"..." The vine spirit's face went blank.
Then, the wolf demon raised his head and chimed in, "I also think 'Vine Spirit' is a very suitable name for you." He pointed at the vine spirit.
The vine spirit curled its lips, "I don't like this name at all."
"Then you mean you want me to give you a new name?" Mu Anxiao understood the vine spirit's intention.
The vine spirit nodded.
Mu Anxiao had never seen the vine spirit so stubborn. Seeing him like this, she felt truly unaccustomed to it. But since she had already said as much, she naturally had to take responsibility for the vine spirit. So, for his safety to remain here, she said, "Wait, let me think."
The vine spirit looked expectant.
The wolf demon, Wang Hu, and Zhu You all turned their gaze to Mu Anxiao...
After a moment of serious thought, Mu Anxiao's eyes lit up, and she said, "I know, your name shall be Little Vine."
".." The vine spirit's face froze.
The wolf demon and the others held back their laughter... stifling it.
"What are you laughing at?" Mu Anxiao momentarily ignored the vine spirit and looked at them.
Then, the wolf demon glanced at the vine spirit, who was displeased with his name, and said, "This name is too casual, and besides..." he said, holding back a laugh, "don't you think it sounds a bit familiar?"
"How does it sound familiar?" Mu Anxiao retorted, her eyes wide. "This name suits his identity quite well."
"I also think it sounds familiar," Wang Hu chimed in.
Zhu You glanced at Wang Hu and the wolf demon who had spoken, and just as he was about to join in the fun, Mu Anxiao shot him a glare. "You, don't speak." She pointed at Zhu You.
Seeing this, Zhu You pursed his greasy lips.
Then, Mu Anxiao glanced at Zhu You, turned back, and looked at the wolf demon and Wang Hu, asking, "Tell me, in what way does it sound familiar?"
"I say, don't get angry," the wolf demon said calmly.
"Don't get angry," Wang Hu echoed.
Mu Anxiao clicked her tongue, "You two are quite united now," she said, glancing at Wang Hu, then turning to the wolf demon, "Speak."