Mu Anxiao hurried to the spot Shen Yan had indicated, stopped to catch her breath, and began her work.
"Let's start with this one," Mu Anxiao murmured, pointing to a nearby courtyard gate. Taking a deep breath, she stepped forward and gently knocked on the door.
A young man opened the door and asked, "Are you begging?"
Mu Anxiao couldn't help but look down at her incredibly dirty clothes and smiled, "I'm not begging. I am a cultivator, here to help my junior brother find a girl with immortal affinity so we can ascend together."
"My sister has immortal affinity," the young man said excitedly.
"Oh? May I see her then?"
"Of course," the young man readily agreed.
Mu Anxiao grinned. "Thank you."
"Why thank me? I should be thanking you," the young man replied politely.
"I should thank you, I really should thank you," Mu Anxiao continued politely.
The young man was at a loss for words with Mu Anxiao's politeness. He smiled and said, "Please come in."
"Oh, no need. It's like this, you and your sister wait for me at that slope ahead. I still need to find other girls."
"Ah?" The young man's face fell. "Aren't you just looking for us?"
"I'm sorry," Mu Anxiao didn't know what else to say, so she could only respond like this.
"It's alright," the young man said. "I'll take my sister there now."
Mu Anxiao never expected the young man to be so cooperative. With a face full of gratitude, she thanked him repeatedly, turned, and continued to the next house.
Meanwhile, Shen Yan arrived outside Ye Yin's courtyard.
"Is Ye Yin here?" he asked.
"Why are you here?" Ye Yin asked, sitting on the wall and looking down at Shen Yan.
Shen Yan stepped back a few paces, looking up at Ye Yin sitting above. "Your collaborator has been ambushed."
"What?" Ye Yin was shocked and leaped gracefully in front of Shen Yan.
"Now she has gathered all the women with immortal affinity at the slope. Go see for yourself," Shen Yan said, then turned and vanished.
Ye Yin's eyes widened, she clenched her fists, and roared, "Mu Anxiao, you traitor!" With that, she turned into a wisp of green smoke and disappeared.
At this moment, Mu Anxiao had arrived at the last door. Taking a deep breath, she raised her hand and gently knocked. A very unfriendly male voice came from inside.
"Who is it?" the man asked.
Hearing this, Mu Anxiao jumped, thinking, 'Well, it seems this family is not to be trifled with. I must be careful.' With that thought, she grinned brightly at the door.
"Who is it? Can't you speak out there?" the man said angrily.
Mu Anxiao couldn't help but wrinkle her nose and said softly, "I am a cultivator..." Her voice trembled slightly. "My junior brother is looking for a cultivation partner. Um... could you please open the door?"
"No." The man flatly refused.
Instantly, all of Mu Anxiao's good mood was shattered. But being accustomed to keeping her head down, she dared not get angry. She could only say in a soft, pleading tone, "Everyone is gathering out there. If you miss this opportunity, it will be your loss."
The man's tone became more arrogant as he said, "Our girl is already betrothed."
"To a cultivator?" Mu Anxiao pressed her ear to the door and asked.
The man loudly declared, "Who would marry a cultivator? Even marrying a cultivator wouldn't protect our village. It's better to leave this godforsaken place."