"This is mine, you can't have it," Mu Anxiao stated.
"..." Bi Dao swallowed, taking two steps back.
Watching Mu Anxiao's domineering expression and the lingering cold on his fingertip, Feng Qishi said, "Mu the Fool, you've used demonic arts again."
"So what if I did?" Mu Anxiao retorted, turning to Feng Qishi.
"Don't you know your identity..."
"I know my identity better than anyone. So what if I used demonic arts?" Mu Anxiao interrupted, reaching out and grabbing the cold energy.
Feng Qishi's eyes widened. "What are you doing?"
"If this is the cold energy between me and Da Ye, then Da Ye's cold energy must contain my spiritual energy. Therefore," Mu Anxiao looked up, meeting Feng Qishi's eyes, "this is mine, give it back."
"You can't use demonic arts. If you continue like this, you'll destroy yourself."
"If I hadn't used demonic arts just now, I would have died down there. So, I've decided that both demonic arts and magical arts are mine, and it's my freedom to use whichever I choose. Don't interfere with me anymore."
"Mu the Fool, now is not the time to be unreasonable."
"I know what I should and shouldn't do."
"If you know, then let go. You cannot have this cold energy."
"In that case," Mu Anxiao released her hand, "destroy it in front of me. In any case, you are not allowed to give it to any other demon, especially her." She pointed at Bi Dao.
Bi Dao's expression froze, and she dared not speak.
Destroy it?
If this cold energy could be destroyed, Feng Qishi would have done so long ago. It was precisely because it couldn't be destroyed that he was trying to find a way to give it away.
Now, seeing Mu Anxiao's aggressive stance, he was at a loss.
"..."
Piao looked at Feng Qishi's frozen face with confusion. Recalling Feng Qishi's earlier dismissive remark, he pondered and repeated, "Can't you just dissolve it?"
Feng Qishi turned to Piao and sighed. "To be honest, this thing cannot be dissolved, and my magic is useless against it."
In fact, as soon as Feng Qishi drew out this cold energy, he had already attempted to destroy it.
But it was to no avail.
Of course, he had intended to gloss over the matter, but Mu Anxiao was not someone who let things go easily.
Thus, after more than ten seconds of internal struggle, he chose to compromise.
"Then give it to me," Mu Anxiao said, extending her hand.
"I'm doing this for your own good."
"I know you are, but I need it," Mu Anxiao stated, her gaze fixed on the cold energy.
Feng Qishi looked at Mu Anxiao's stubborn expression and recalled her pained look during her crisis. He couldn't help but ask, "Are you foolish?"
"On what grounds do you say that?"
Feng Qishi spoke earnestly, "It was drawn from your body. If it hadn't been drawn out, you wouldn't have woken up. And now you want it back. Do you not want to live?"
"I'm saying this precisely because I believe you."
"Eh?"
"No 'eh.' I believe this cold energy belongs to both me and Da Ye, not just me."
Earlier, due to Bi Dao's interruption, Feng Qishi had momentarily forgotten the issue he was arguing with Mu Anxiao about.
Now, hearing Mu Anxiao suddenly say this, he thought she had compromised.
He was surprised, but more so filled with questions. Mu Anxiao's words had made him rethink.
"You believe me, yet you still don't heed my advice?" he asked.
"Initially, to be honest, I was quite resistant to demonic arts. But just now, I started to feel that it's not as bad as you say. Instead, I feel more adept at using demonic arts than magical arts. So, give it to me." She pointed at the cold energy.
"You're cultivating demonic arts? If you do this, your master will be heartbroken."
"I don't use it normally, and if you don't mention it, my master won't know."
"..." Feng Qishi was rendered speechless by Mu Anxiao's persistent attitude.
"I support you," Piao said, smiling at Mu Anxiao.
Mu Anxiao immediately understood Piao's implication. "Even so, I won't be your disciple," she stated, looking at Piao.
Piao's smile faded.
Mu Anxiao glared indifferently at Piao, then turned back to Feng Qishi. "Give it to me. It contains my spiritual energy, so I'll be fine."
Feng Qishi's eyes darkened. "Honestly, your body repels this cold energy, you..."
"That's because I lacked that layer of spiritual energy. Now my spiritual energy is within this cold energy. If you give it to another demon, I can say," Mu Anxiao's playful demeanor vanished, replaced by seriousness, "that you are aiding and abetting evil."
"I won't do anything bad."
"..." Mu Anxiao shot a glare at Bi Dao. "That's my thing, and you won't seize it."
"..." Bi Dao was completely intimidated by Mu Anxiao's gaze and quickly retreated to A Xia's side.
A Xia glanced at Bi Dao but said nothing.
Chen also glanced at Bi Dao, remaining silent.
Gu Xiao scoffed. "You still want something that doesn't belong to you. No wonder people talk about you."
"I just wanted to ease the atmosphere between them; I didn't say I wanted it."
"..." Gu Xiao rolled his eyes at Bi Dao.
The elder sighed softly.
At the same time, Mu Anxiao withdrew her gaze from Bi Dao and turned back to Feng Qishi. "Shen the Mad, if you don't give it to me, I won't talk to you anymore."
"You're threatening me," Feng Qishi frowned.
"You're forcing my hand."
"I just don't want you to harm yourself with demonic arts, you..."
"Did I harm anyone by using demonic arts?" Mu Anxiao interrupted.
Feng Qishi's expression froze. "No."
"Then it's right. Demons can be good or bad. I'm using demonic arts to save people, not to harm them. Therefore," Mu Anxiao's gaze settled on the cold energy, "give it to me."
"..." Feng Qishi hesitated.
Then, Da Ye coughed twice and opened his eyes.
Seeing Da Ye awake, A Long hurried forward, knelt, and supported him. "How do you feel?"
"..." Da Ye looked at A Long and smiled. "You're still alive."
"Yes, are you alright now?" A Long gently stroked Da Ye's chest.
Da Ye replied, "I'm fine." He looked up at Mu Anxiao. "I thought I wouldn't get out. Thank you."
Mu Anxiao then shifted her gaze from the cold energy and looked down at Da Ye. "As long as you're alright, that's all that matters."
"Mhm."
A Long noticed Feng Qishi's hesitant expression and also hesitated before speaking, "The wooden boards covering the cellar can only be opened with demonic arts. If Mu Anxiao hadn't used demonic arts, none of us could have gotten out. Therefore, she is not wrong."
Hearing this, Feng Qishi replayed Mu Anxiao's words in his mind. He ultimately handed the cold energy to Mu Anxiao. "Here, at worst, we'll be punished together."