"No," Zhao Mei'er said, her gaze clearly avoiding Mu Anxiao's. She continued, "I just heard them say you were going into the palace." As she spoke, she glanced at Jiong Ye, who was glaring at her.
"Your news is quite well-informed, but I think this matter has already spread here, so," Mu Anxiao's expression was extremely unfriendly, "Speak, why are you here looking for me?"
"I just want to ask what you need?" Zhao Mei'er's attitude was cautious.
Mu Anxiao's mood was very complex after the man's decisive departure. Seeing Zhao Mei'er's hesitant demeanor, she became impatient. "Just say what you have to say. Dawdling and being secretive, it's tiresome, isn't it?"
"I... I'm here to take your measurements," Zhao Mei'er said in a low voice.
"Take my measurements? Since when did you become a tailor?" Mu Anxiao asked, stepping back, clearly not wanting Zhao Mei'er to touch her.
Following that, Zhao Mei'er gave Mu Anxiao a dry laugh and said, "I just met the Master outside, and the Master said to hand this matter over to me." She spread her hands, producing a soft tape measure. "I can only do it."
"You are Mo Juan's assistant. If you are measuring me for clothes," Mu Anxiao said, tutting twice, "Mo Juan would probably not be happy, would she?"
"..." Zhao Mei'er averted her gaze.
Mu Anxiao snorted, "Since you're still afraid of her, then don't do it, lest..."
"This is the ceremonial attire for the engagement. If I don't measure you, and the Master blames me, it will be a big problem," Zhao Mei'er said with a look of concern.
Mu Anxiao had never seen Zhao Mei'er so conflicted. She pondered Zhao Mei'er's relationship with Jiong Ye and deliberately said, "That has nothing to do with me," she said, glancing at Jiong Ye. "Right, Jiong Ye."
Hearing this, Jiong Ye came back to his senses, closed his dry eyes forcefully, and said, "Right." Then he scanned Zhao Mei'er from head to toe. "Aren't you Mo Juan's lapdog? How did you switch allegiance?"
"You..."
"What, you're not even allowed to speak the truth now?" Jiong Ye interrupted deliberately.
Zhao Mei'er clenched her fists in anger. "Jiong Ye, this is none of your business. I advise you to say less," she said, fixing her gaze directly on Jiong Ye's face. "Otherwise, I'll make you regret it."
"You'll make me regret it? Mu Anxiao, *she* will make me regret it," Jiong Ye shifted his gaze back to Mu Anxiao's face.
Mu Anxiao glanced at Jiong Ye and snorted, "Jiong Ye, when did you become so timid? You're even afraid of her. Don't forget," he said, staring at Zhao Mei'er, "If it weren't for you, she'd be long gone. By rights, you are her master."
"Mu Anxiao, you..."
"Oh, you dare to call my name? In that case, I won't give you a chance to report back," Mu Anxiao said, waving her hand. "Get out."
"Then what do you want me to do to make you cooperate?" Zhao Mei'er knew very well that in Ouyang Ye's eyes, she was not even worth a fart. If she went to complain now based on Mu Anxiao's attitude, Ouyang Ye certainly wouldn't believe her, so she could only yield.
"You are of no use to me, unless," Mu Anxiao's lips curved into a smile, "you give up following Mo Juan. Perhaps... I can consider it."
"It was the Lord who gave me this opportunity. If I do this, it would be betrayal. I... I will not betray the Lord," Zhao Mei'er said emotionally.
Mu Anxiao crossed her arms. "Since that's the case, hurry up and leave."
"You..."
"Mu Anxiao, see who this is?"
At the same time, Mu Anxiao recognized Ouyang Ye's voice by ear. She immediately withdrew her taunting of Zhao Mei'er and looked in the direction the voice came from. Ouyang Ye had captured the man. Her heart sank, and she said, "Ouyang Ye, what do you mean by this?" Even though she was angry with the man, she didn't want to implicate him because of her own status, so she played dumb.
Seeing this, Zhao Mei'er quickly bowed in greeting.
Jiong Ye and the wolf demon also lowered their heads at the same moment.
Ouyang Ye ignored them, strode up to Mu Anxiao, and said, "You truly don't recognize him." He stared at Mu Anxiao's face.
Mu Anxiao's eyes were firm. "No."
"No?" Ouyang Ye repeated, looking down and smiling. "Then analyze this for me: why is he here? Moreover, how did he pass through the wall from your cell?"
"He's just a demon with his face covered. Besides, this is your territory, not mine. You ask me these questions, how would I know."
"But he has spiritual energy," Ouyang Ye said again.
Mu Anxiao stared at Ouyang Ye without shifting her gaze, frowning. "Spiritual energy? You mean, as long as a demon has spiritual energy, it's related to me?" she said. "Alright, tell me, what did he say to you?" Because the man's face was covered, she couldn't discern anything. So she could only guess blindly and speak haphazardly.
"He said nothing," Ouyang Ye said calmly.
Mu Anxiao knew that the man's mouth must be very tight. However... what surprised her was that Ouyang Ye wasn't supposed to be here at this time, and she had only argued with the man a short while ago. Considering the time, it wouldn't be such a coincidence, would it? Thus, she stared at Ouyang Ye for a few more seconds, realizing... Ouyang Ye might have already known about the man's 'intrusion' into the demon realm. It was just... the man was unlucky and happened to be caught by a little demon who was looking for him.
Thinking this, she tried to probe Ouyang Ye's attitude. "You knew he was coming long before this?"
Ouyang Ye smiled.
Mu Anxiao frowned. "What are you smiling at? You..."
"Do you know him?" Ouyang Ye interrupted, his implication clear.
Mu Anxiao's eyes darkened. "What exactly do you want to say? This is inexplicable."
"Zhao Mei'er, tell him everything you saw," Ouyang Ye said, looking at Zhao Mei'er.
Zhao Mei'er responded, "Yes." Then she glanced at Mu Anxiao and said, "Master, I felt spiritual energy when I came here just now, and also her..."
"Are you here to investigate me?" Mu Anxiao interrupted Zhao Mei'er's words, realizing... all of this was Ouyang Ye's scheme.
Zhao Mei'er smiled faintly. "It was my men who discovered that man outside just now, and it was me," she said triumphantly, "who informed the Master of this news."
"You're quite the actress," Mu Anxiao said softly, understanding... she really couldn't outplay Ouyang Ye. So, to conceal their task, she casually admitted, "Yes, I do know him. So what?" she looked at Ouyang Ye.
Ouyang Ye narrowed his eyes.
Mu Anxiao's face turned cold. "I just want to leave here, so I kept a backup plan for myself and brought a helper," she said, glancing at the man. "Let him go, he doesn't know anything." She didn't want this incident to delay the plan to rescue the immortals, so she took all the blame upon herself.
"I don't think his purpose for coming here is..."
"I'm here to take her away," the man interrupted, taking off his hat and mask. "Ouyang Ye, she's my woman."