Song Xi cleared his throat and said, "This is the Master's arrangement; I have no right to interfere." As he spoke, his gaze flickered away.
"You have no right to interfere, but if I recall correctly, you are the master of this demonic land," Mu Anxiao said coolly.
"Yes, but," Song Xi replied calmly, "I still have to obey the Master. You will stay here. When it's mealtime, I will send monsters to bring you food."
"The environment here isn't good, and the food is likely to be terribly bland," Mu Anxiao said, deliberately picking at it.
Song Xi's expression stiffened. "I have never been here before, so... I don't know."
"This place is your territory, no matter what. I don't believe you're unaware of the food situation here," Mu Anxiao stated, harboring an idea to win Song Xi over.
Song Xi wondered why Mu Anxiao was speaking to him at length. However, considering Mu Anxiao's future status, he lost the courage to oppose her and answered truthfully, "I don't know, but I can help improve your meals."
"If you don't improve our meals, I'll report you," the wolf demon chimed in, afraid Song Xi might forget about him, asserting his presence.
Hearing this, Song Xi immediately shifted his gaze to the wolf demon. But just as he was about to refuse, Mu Anxiao deliberately spoke first, "They followed me in, and they should share the same meals as me. Go prepare them."
"You want them now?" Song Xi withdrew his gaze, looking surprised.
Mu Anxiao nodded, a smile curling her lips. "However, you must be the one to deliver them."
"Me?" Song Xi pointed to himself, a hint of resistance on his face. "The Master only told me to bring you here. I'm afraid I cannot do anything else."
"If you don't, we'll all go on a hunger strike," Mu Anxiao declared, intending to leverage Song Xi.
Song Xi thought Mu Anxiao was making things difficult for him, his impatience evident. "What... what do you want?" He had discerned Mu Anxiao's ulterior motive.
At the same time, Mu Anxiao noticed Song Xi's suspicion and decided to be direct. "There are countless monsters here who want to harm me. If it's about trust, I trust you more."
"You're afraid some monster will poison you?" Song Xi understood Mu Anxiao's implication.
Mu Anxiao nodded. "Yes, I'm afraid some monster will poison me, so this meal," she gestured to Song Xi, "you must deliver it."
"You're not afraid I'll poison you," Song Xi deliberately said.
Mu Anxiao smiled faintly. "If you dared to, Xi'er's life might not be safe either."
"You're threatening me..."
"Help me, and I'll help you when I get out. It's that simple," Mu Anxiao interrupted Song Xi and turned her back.
Song Xi stared at the back of Mu Anxiao's head. "You'd better remember your words." With that, he turned to leave.
Simultaneously, Mu Anxiao slightly turned her face and added, "Also, bring me a set of bedding. Rest is also crucial for me." She then walked towards the straw mat.
Song Xi knew Mu Anxiao wouldn't let him off easily, so he heeded her words and left.
After Song Xi had completely departed, Jiong Ye and the wolf demon turned and walked to the straw mat. "You did that on purpose?" the wolf demon asked, meeting Mu Anxiao's eyes.
Mu Anxiao placed her hands behind her back, tilted her head up, and stared at the wolf demon for a few seconds before saying, "Don't ask what you shouldn't."
"You..."
"This place has nothing to do with you. I really don't know why you're meddling," Mu Anxiao said, crossing her arms and suddenly glaring at the wolf demon.
The wolf demon was surprised that Mu Anxiao was holding him accountable now. Seeing her serious expression, he became flustered. "I thought we were friends who shared hardships. If you came in and I was still living freely outside, wouldn't that..." he said, scratching the back of his head, "make me seem disloyal?"
"If you were truly loyal, that would be great, but unfortunately..." Mu Anxiao shook her head slightly. "You're not."
"I came in with you, and you still say this about me. That's too much," the wolf demon complained, appearing wronged.
Mu Anxiao let out a cold laugh, sat down, and said, "You came with me to escape a certain demon, didn't you? You," she sat cross-legged, "I understand you."
"What do you understand about me?" the wolf demon retorted, his gaze shifting evasively.
Jiong Ye noticed the wolf demon's subtle expression, but considering the relationship between the wolf demon and Mu Anxiao, he didn't dare to say much and stepped back.
"Since you're so unwilling to admit it, I'll say it for you," Mu Anxiao said, grabbing a handful of dry grass and burying it around the wolf demon's feet. She continued, "You just want to hide from Mei Gui, don't you?"
Upon hearing this, the wolf demon's expression froze.
Jiong Ye knew Mei Gui, but he didn't know that Mei Gui and the wolf demon knew each other. Therefore, hearing Mu Anxiao say this, his curiosity was immediately piqued. "What happened between you and Mei Gui?" he asked, looking at the wolf demon.
The wolf demon was embarrassed. "What business is it of yours? You'd best keep your mouth shut." He glanced at Jiong Ye, then back at Mu Anxiao. "I just felt I couldn't abandon you. How can you think of me like this? It hurts my heart."
"If it were another demon, I might think positively, but you, forget it," Mu Anxiao said, stretching her neck, then looking up at Jiong Ye. "How much do you know about Ouyang Ye?" she asked.
"Why are you asking this?" Jiong Ye inquired, feeling nervous.
"Just tell me how much you know about Ouyang Ye. Keep the other nonsense to a minimum," Mu Anxiao stated deliberately.
Jiong Ye dared not refuse to answer Mu Anxiao, but considering Ouyang Ye's abilities, he felt a slight fear. "I don't know him," he said in a low voice.
Mu Anxiao narrowed her eyes. "The fact that you could defy him like that shows you know him quite well, doesn't it?" As she spoke, she stood up.
Seeing Mu Anxiao rise, Jiong Ye instinctively took a step back. "I used to think I knew him well, but now..." He recalled the entire process of being 'punished' by Ouyang Ye, his heart sinking. "I've discovered that he is truly unfathomable."
"I think so too," the wolf demon interjected.
"What business is it of yours?" Mu Anxiao glanced disdainfully at the wolf demon, then looked back at Jiong Ye. After a moment of hesitation, she asked, "Did you summon the Demonic Sword?"
Jiong Ye shook his head.
Mu Anxiao frowned. "If you didn't summon it, how did it come to save me?" She was still puzzled by the appearance of the Soul Sword.
"This, you should know better than I do," Jiong Ye said, not daring to speculate further.
"Then aren't you heartbroken to return the Soul Sword to me?" Mu Anxiao asked again.
Upon hearing this question, Jiong Ye sighed softly. "I treated the Soul Sword poorly. I'm happy for you that it remembers you," he said, feeling a sense of loss.