The man (Mu Anxiao) looked at the two revealing 'strange' smiles before him, then glanced at the other monsters in their cells who weren't looking their way. He said coldly, "If you've had your fill of laughing, shut up." With that, he shifted his gaze back to the wolf demon's face.
Hearing the man's (Mu Anxiao's) indifferent tone, Jiong Ye immediately stopped smiling.
At the same time, the wolf demon ceased his smile, stepped forward, and stared intently at the man's (Mu Anxiao's) face. "Mu Anxiao, did you lose your memory on this trip out? It's one thing if you don't thank me, but to say..." He couldn't help but imitate Mu Anxiao's tone, "'You are the wolf demon, are you alright?'" After speaking, he reached out to tap the man's (Mu Anxiao's) forehead.
Seeing this, the man (Mu Anxiao) slapped away the wolf demon's hand and said, "I know who you are."
"Still pretending?" the wolf demon exclaimed in surprise.
The man (Mu Anxiao) glared at the wolf demon and, intentionally changing the subject, said, "Speaking of which, you two are quite ungrateful." He finally glanced at Jiong Ye.
Jiong Ye's gaze flickered away.
Conversely, the wolf demon had been displeased from the moment the man (Mu Anxiao) stopped him from laughing. Hearing Mu Anxiao say this now, he became even more annoyed. "How are we ungrateful? Mu Anxiao, you'd better explain yourself clearly."
"I provided you with food and drink, and when Ouyang Ye was here just now, you didn't say a word on my behalf," the man (Mu Anxiao) narrowed his eyes. "Tell me, isn't that ungrateful?"
"That food was for you to..."
"If that's how you see it, then don't eat any food that comes later," the man (Mu Anxiao) interrupted the wolf demon in one breath.
Upon hearing this, the wolf demon felt wronged. "Is this how you bully people? My status here is already lowly, and you still..." He spoke, hiccuped a few times, and continued, "You still threaten me like this, say I'm too much." With that, he plopped down onto the ground.
Immediately, Jiong Ye looked down at the wolf demon who had started to throw a tantrum, blinked, and then looked at the man (Mu Anxiao) who had also lowered his head. "It's not that we don't want to help, but we truly are powerless."
"Not even a word?" the man (Mu Anxiao) said, looking up at Jiong Ye.
Jiong Ye pursed his lips and said, "As everyone knows, you are the Master's fiancée. Even being locked up here, you receive better treatment than other monsters. If we weren't with you, we wouldn't have this treatment at all." His eyes were cautious. "If we had spoken just now, the Master would definitely be displeased."
"You..."
"Ouyang Ye is a highly possessive person," the wolf demon couldn't help but interrupt, standing up. "If we had spoken just now, he would have been jealous. Do you know our fate after he gets jealous?"
"I don't know," the man (Mu Anxiao) replied without any emotion.
From the wolf demon's understanding of Mu Anxiao, even if Mu Anxiao acted ruthlessly, he would surely show sympathy after hearing someone's plight. However, the person before him had an unyielding expression. Narrowing his eyes, he suddenly became suspicious of this person's identity. But lacking evidence, he could only... quietly watch this person.
At the same time, the man (Mu Anxiao) instantly sensed the wolf demon's gaze. "What are you looking at me for?"
"You..." The wolf demon continued to squint and examine the person before him, whispering, "You're not Mu Anxiao."
The man (Mu Anxiao) hadn't expected the wolf demon to be so astute. The moment the wolf demon spoke these words, his heart faltered. "How could I not be Mu Anxiao? Stop talking nonsense." After speaking, he didn't forget to shift his gaze.
Seeing this, the wolf demon's suspicion became even more certain. "Hmph, it seems my guess is correct."
"You..."
"Who are you?" Jiong Ye, prompted by the wolf demon, couldn't help but deeply suspect the man (Mu Anxiao).
Conversely, the wolf demon knew that Mu Anxiao hadn't fully trusted Jiong Ye yet. As for this impostor before him, he thought that since he could come, Mu Anxiao must have already known. If he were to expose him further, it would be meaningless.
Thus, he suddenly laughed. "Just kidding, look at how nervous you are. I know you're Mu Anxiao." Saying this, he struck the man's (Mu Anxiao's) arm with all his might.
The man (Mu Anxiao) winced slightly in pain.
Jiong Ye was bewildered by the wolf demon's sudden change. "No, didn't you just say he was an impostor? Why..." He glanced meaningfully at the man (Mu Anxiao) and continued, "Why the change of heart now? What do you mean?"
"I know Mu Anxiao perfectly well. I was just retaliating against him, alright?" the wolf demon said indignantly.
"Retaliating?" Jiong Ye repeated, giving a wry smile. "You truly are quite foolish."
"He had a bad attitude towards me," the wolf demon said, turning his gaze back to the man (Mu Anxiao). "What was that attitude just now? We've been through life and death together, brothers who shared hardships. It's too hurtful!" While Jiong Ye lowered his head in thought, he winked at the man (Mu Anxiao).
Upon seeing this, the man (Mu Anxiao) instantly understood... the wolf demon was faking. He then looked at Jiong Ye, who was clearly less loyal than the wolf demon, and realized with a sudden enlightenment, "What? I just didn't like how you guys were acting. Ouyang Ye was about to come in, and you didn't stop him. It's infuriating." He perfectly mimicked Mu Anxiao.
The wolf demon breathed a sigh of relief and said, "I've explained everything. You can forgive..." He glanced at Jiong Ye, who had looked up, "...us, right?"
Jiong Ye believed him... and chuckled sheepishly.
With the wolf demon's unconditional cooperation, the man (Mu Anxiao) realized that the wolf demon's feelings for Mu Anxiao were genuine. If he were to continue being ungrateful and looking for trouble, and the wolf demon impulsively revealed his identity, then all his and Mu Anxiao's plans would truly be in vain. Therefore, for the sake of the bigger picture, he had to painstakingly imitate Mu Anxiao.
"Enough, I'm going to rest," he said, turning towards the straw mat.
Seeing this, the wolf demon breathed a sigh of relief.
Unexpectedly, Jiong Ye became curious about the man's (Mu Anxiao's) identity. "Hey, you," he sidled up to the wolf demon and whispered, "Is he the real Mu Anxiao?"
Over there, the man (Mu Anxiao) slightly turned his face and sat down.
Over here, the wolf demon casually threw an arm around Jiong Ye's neck and said, "He is Mu Anxiao."
"But, you..."