"Brat, you dare to play this trick on me." The man stepped forward and stomped on Mu Anxiao's back.
Mu Anxiao slightly lifted her dirty face, which had just been close to the ground, and pleaded, "Please let me go, I really didn't mean to. Great immortal, great demon, please let me go. I'm just a mortal, and my lifespan is so short. Don't you think it's boring to always bully me?"
"Let me see if I can turn you into an old woman," the man said, looking down at the back of Mu Anxiao's slightly raised head.
Upon hearing this, Mu Anxiao quickly cried out, "No, no! If you want me to help you, I'll help you. Please, don't do such a cruel thing. I beg you, demon."
"Are you sincere?" the man asked, pressing down harder on Mu Anxiao's back.
Mu Anxiao said uncomfortably, "I'm telling the truth. Look, I've already helped that woman. As long as you don't kill me, I'll help you too."
"Alright, you can get up." The man withdrew his foot.
Mu Anxiao shakily pushed herself up from the ground and asked, "Tell me, what do you want me to help you with?"
"Gather all the maidens who have a predestined affinity with immortals for me."
"All of them?" Mu Anxiao asked softly.
"Yes," the man leaned down to meet Mu Anxiao's eyes. "And be quick about it."
As the man moved closer, Mu Anxiao felt a chilling gust of wind brush across her cheek.
"Yes," she agreed without daring to think further, turned, and began knocking on doors.
The man took half a step back and disappeared.
From yesterday until now, Mu Anxiao had been threatened by two strange demons. This feeling could only be described as painful to her, as no other words came to mind.
"Who are you?"
Standing before the first door, Mu Anxiao smiled at the old man who asked the question. "I'm the person who came to see you yesterday. Is your maiden with a predestined affinity here?"
"My maiden is not called 'Predestined Affinity'," the old man said in a hoarse voice.
Mu Anxiao gave an awkward smile. "No, don't you have a maiden in your family who has a predestined affinity with a god? Is that maiden here?"
"Oh, you mean the maiden in my family who has a predestined affinity with immortals." The old man suddenly came to his senses, his expression stunned.
Mu Anxiao looked at the old man's state with confusion, let out a dry laugh, and waved her hand in front of his eyes. "Sir, why aren't you speaking?"
Then, a series of snores followed.
Mu Anxiao's face instantly fell. A corner of her mouth twitched stiffly outward as she looked helplessly at the old man, took a deep breath, and muttered, "This old man shouldn't have morning grumpiness, right?"
As she spoke, she was about to reach out and wake the old man when he suddenly replied, "No, don't worry, I don't have morning grumpiness."
Mu Anxiao jumped back half a step in surprise and smiled. "Sir, you're awake."
"Mmm, what were you just saying?" the old man asked again.
Mu Anxiao maintained her smile and said, "I was asking where the maiden with a predestined affinity in your family is. You said yesterday that you had one."
"Oh, that maiden..." the old man paused, then suddenly pouted and started crying. "Oh, my dear wife, my wife with a predestined affinity! If only you had married an immortal back then, you wouldn't have to die like this. Oh, boo hoo hoo."
At that moment, Mu Anxiao seemed to understand something and asked, "Sir, the maiden with a predestined affinity you're talking about... isn't it your wife?"
The old man raised his arm, wiping the snot and tears from his face. "Yes, in my heart, my wife is forever that maiden with a predestined affinity, she was so beautiful." He shook his head and sighed.