"He'll see right through you," Mu Anxiao said faintly, propping herself up with her hands on the ground, her mind racing through various counter-spells. She found none that could be used against this female monster.
"So what?" the female monster chuckled.
Mu Anxiao narrowed her eyes. "So what? Aren't you afraid he'll take your life?"
"By then, you'll be scattered into oblivion, leaving only this husk in the mortal world. If he kills me," the female monster smiled, "he'll lose his only anchor. Therefore, I guarantee he won't kill me."
"It seems you still don't understand him," Mu Anxiao said coldly, standing up.
The female monster’s face fell. "As if you understand him better."
"Compared to you, I indeed understand him better."
"You..."
"He only desires this identity of mine. There's no attachment, no affection, none of that. So, you shouldn't waste your demonic energy on me."
"Is that so?" the female monster remained composed.
Mu Anxiao nodded. In her desperation to avoid being killed by the female monster, she had completely forgotten the monster's previous intentions.
The female monster chuckled.
Mu Anxiao looked confused. "What's so funny now?"
"I just want to waste my demonic energy on you. What can you do about it?" the female monster retorted.
Mu Anxiao's expression stiffened. "That's your business, but..."
"The demons I've harmed all said the same thing as you, even some were more eloquent. But their fate," the female monster interrupted Mu Anxiao, a cold sneer on her lips, "I imagine you can guess without me having to say it."
"You... you're determined to kill me," Mu Anxiao’s heart sank as she spoke.
"If I weren't determined, I wouldn't have pursued you here," the female monster replied. She deliberately stared at Mu Anxiao for a few seconds and asked, "By the way, you really want to know my name, don't you?"
"I..."
"Since you're about to die, I might as well tell you my name, so you don't have to fret about it in death," the female monster said with a faint smile. "My name is..."
"Mo Jian," Mu Anxiao suddenly cut in.
Upon hearing this, the female monster's expression changed instantly. "Mu Anxiao, have you no manners? I was introducing myself, and you cut me off. You're just asking for death." As she spoke, her eyes widened, and Mo Jian, the sword, zipped past her and stopped in front of Mu Anxiao.
Seeing Mo Jian suddenly appear, Mu Anxiao’s eyes welled up with tears. "Mo Jian, you're here."
Mo Jian pointed at Mu Anxiao's hand.
The female monster, witnessing this scene, froze in place.
"You want me to take you," Mu Anxiao said, slowly raising her hand. Just as she was about to grasp the soul sword, Chongzi appeared within their sight. "You're here too." She was surprised, yet she grasped Mo Jian.
Chongzi smiled. "I knew you'd be fine." As he spoke, he turned towards the female monster and his eyes widened.
"It's you," the female monster suddenly said.
"It is. I didn't expect you, this demon-slaying monster, to still be alive," Chongzi exclaimed in surprise.
At the same moment, Mu Anxiao's hand holding Mo Jian began to burn. Then, just as she tried to let go, Mo Jian transformed back into the Soul Sword. Seeing this, tears streamed down Mu Anxiao's face. "Soul Sword."
The Soul Sword tugged at Mu Anxiao's hand twice.
Mu Anxiao smiled. "You remembered."
The Soul Sword moved twice again.
Mu Anxiao was overjoyed, tears of happiness flowing.
Across from them, the moment Chongzi spoke in surprise, the female monster threw her head back and let out two loud laughs. "It seems I have a very rich meal today." With that, she raised her claws.
Mu Anxiao, seeing this, quickly shouted at the stunned Chongzi, "Get out of the way!"
Hearing her, Chongzi stiffened, glanced back at Mu Anxiao, then swiftly reverted to his original form and hid.
Seeing this, the female monster continued to laugh. "You think you're so powerful just because you're holding a broken sword? Hmph, how ridiculous." She then strode towards Mu Anxiao.
This time, Mu Anxiao no longer feared her. She advanced towards the female monster, saying, "Originally, I didn't want to kill you, but now it seems you truly don't need to live." As she spoke, she gently waved the Soul Sword towards the female monster. The long hair that cascaded down the monster's front was severed and fell to the ground.
Immediately, the female monster stopped as Mu Anxiao made her move. "What did you do to me?" she asked, her face a mask of shock, looking down at the fallen strands of hair.
Mu Anxiao let out a cold snort. "This lock of hair is just the beginning." With that, she raised the Soul Sword again.
"You can't kill me," the female monster suddenly said, lifting her face.
Mu Anxiao narrowed her eyes. "I said the same thing just now, but how did you answer me?" Her tone was indifferent.
The female monster replied, "I was sent here by Ouyang Ye to guard the cave. If you kill me, Ouyang Ye will surely be furious when he finds out."
"And then?" Mu Anxiao retorted.
The female monster's eyes darted away. "Then, you're finished."
Mu Anxiao smiled.
The female monster flinched. "What are you smiling about?"
"I found you quite imposing when you were trying to kill me, but now that a lock of your hair is cut, you're backing down," Mu Anxiao deliberately taunted. (The moment she recognized the Soul Sword, she had tried to guess if the female monster's weakness might be this long hair. As expected, her guess was correct.)
"You..."
"I've already given you a chance," Mu Anxiao interrupted.
The female monster frowned. "If you have the guts, put down that sword and fight me one-on-one."
"One-on-one," Mu Anxiao said, looking at the female monster who was clearly trying to stall for time. Recalling what the monster had done to her earlier, she continued, "I don't want to fight you one-on-one. I'm determined to take your life." With that, she tightly gripped the Soul Sword and began to approach the female monster again.
From a tree nearby, Chongzi watched a dagger float before him with surprise. "Why aren't you going over?" he asked, knowing it was also one of Mu Anxiao's weapons.
The dagger replied, "You'd best stay quiet here."
"Oh, are you alright?" Chongzi asked again.
"I don't need your concern, you filthy bug. You sure are quick to flee," the dagger said with a tone of disdain.
Chongzi, upon hearing this, became displeased. "Mu Anxiao told me to leave. I was only following her orders, and..."
"If that's the case, then go help," the dagger deliberately provoked.
Subsequently, under the dagger's persistent torment, Chongzi fell silent.
Meanwhile, the female monster, forced back by Mu Anxiao's powerful advance, crashed into a tree. "What exactly do you want?" she rasped.
Mu Anxiao deliberately pressed the sword hilt against the female monster's shoulder. "To kill you," she said coldly. Then, she kicked the female monster's leg. As the monster grunted in pain, Mu Anxiao continued, "But I don't want to end you directly. That would be too boring."
"What exactly do you want?" the female monster was now terrified.