"Chen?" Mu Anxiao thought about the relationship between Chen and Piao and was surprised when she heard Wan Sha say, "She's actually taking care of Piao, how marvelous!"
Wan Sha asked, "What exactly did you go through in the Demon Realm? Piao and the others became strange after they returned." She tilted her head.
Listening to Wan Sha's question, Mu Anxiao glanced at Feng Qishi beside her, then thought about Piao's peculiar disposition. She replied, "He didn't tell you."
"No."
"What about A Xia?"
"They're all in my residence."
"What did A Xia tell you?"
"He said you're doing this for our own good."
"Then..." Mu Anxiao hesitated for a moment before asking, "What are your feelings towards me right now?"
"Sometimes, I still hate you, but," Wan Sha looked at Mu Anxiao, "thinking about it, hate is useless."
Mu Anxiao: "..."
Wan Sha was silent for a moment and then said, "Piao and Chen's cooperation amazes me."
"Amazes you?"
"Yes, they spend their days tending to flowers and plants, which really surprises me."
Hearing Wan Sha's words, Mu Anxiao couldn't help but recall Piao and Chen's work in the Demon Realm. She felt speechless for a moment and said, "This might be occupational hazard."
"Occupational hazard?"
Feng Qishi: "..." He increasingly admired Mu Anxiao.
Mu Anxiao: "It means..." She cast her gaze towards Feng Qishi.
Feng Qishi asked, "Why are you looking at me?"
"Explain it."
"That isn't considered their profession!"
"Is cooking considered your profession?"
"No."
Mu Anxiao: "..." She had intended to chat with Wan Sha further on this topic, but now Feng Qishi had completely interrupted her. She could only feel awkward.
Wan Sha said, "That mortal's soul was taken by those demon souls."
Upon hearing this, Mu Anxiao's heart sank, and she thought of Lin Yan. "What did you say?"
"Two days ago, after Piao regained consciousness, he asked me to check that broken temple. But when I went inside, I found," Wan Sha sighed, "the place was in disarray. The mortal lying on the bed had no soul."
"What?" Mu Anxiao exclaimed, turning to Feng Qishi. "Didn't you say they wouldn't find him?"
Feng Qishi: "..." He had always been confident in his magic, and now that they mentioned it, he felt a pang of discomfort.
Seeing Feng Qishi remain silent, Mu Anxiao asked again, "He's not dead, is he?"
"No, it's just soul departure. As long as the soul is retrieved, he'll be fine."
Hearing Wan Sha's words, Mu Anxiao breathed a sigh of relief.
Not long after, they returned to the residence.
Piao and Chen stood before the flowers and plants, watering them and chatting. The scene was idyllic.
"You're back," Chen turned and looked at them.
Mu Anxiao hummed and glanced at Piao. "Is your injury healed?"
Piao: "..." He turned to look at Mu Anxiao.
Mu Anxiao said, "I'm asking you a question."
Piao replied, "I haven't managed to find out where those people are."
"I understand, you're injured," Mu Anxiao said. She looked around and asked, "Eh? Where are Gu Xiao and A Xia?"
Chen stated, "They went out two days ago and haven't returned."
Hearing Chen's calm reply, Mu Anxiao was startled. "They haven't returned, aren't you worried?"
Wan Sha explained, "They say, if someone disappears for two days, don't look for them. If they disappear for five days, then something has happened, and then you go look for them."
"What kind of logic is that?"
Feng Qishi remarked, "The demonic energy here is very heavy." He tilted his head back, looking at the darkening sky.
Mu Anxiao agreed, "It is very heavy."
Piao walked up to Mu Anxiao. "What about Yang Tai's matter?"
Mu Anxiao's eyes darkened. "It didn't succeed."
"It didn't succeed?" Piao was surprised and asked, "You didn't manage to go below?"
"I did go, but my identity was exposed. In short, it's quite troublesome."
"I knew it."
"You knew what?"
"I knew it wouldn't be that easy."
"..."
Mu Anxiao was already feeling frustrated about this matter, and Piao's words made her even more annoyed. "I don't want to talk to you anymore. Get out of the way."
Piao: "..." He consciously moved aside.
Following that, Mu Anxiao and Feng Qishi entered the room with Wan Sha and went to the bedside. They both looked at Lin Yan, who was sleeping peacefully on the bed. Wan Sha said, "He's been sleeping here like this."
Then, Mu Anxiao suddenly remembered Feng Qishi's earlier words and asked, "Didn't you say that if his human aura was hidden, they wouldn't be able to find him? Why did this happen?"
Feng Qishi: "..." He felt guilty.
Mu Anxiao: "..." She understood this sense of frustration and decided not to provoke Feng Qishi further.
Wan Sha added, "Those people might have all been dealt with like this."
Mu Anxiao asked, "What do you mean?"
Wan Sha explained, "Over the past few days, I've been wandering outside and I've noticed that the shops are acting strangely."
"Strangely?" Mu Anxiao was surprised.
Wan Sha nodded slightly. "Yes, I think there's someone inside those shops," he looked down at Lin Yan, "just like him."
Hearing Wan Sha's words, Mu Anxiao lowered her head and focused on Lin Yan's face. "Strange, why didn't they capture him and only take his soul?"
"Could it be that they are intentionally revealing their tracks?" Feng Qishi was excited.
Mu Anxiao: "..." She fell into thought.
Then, a strong wind began to blow outside.
Chen and Piao remained in their positions, then both turned to look towards the main door.
Chen asked, "What's over there?"
Piao raised his hand to shield his eyes. "It smells of human souls," he sniffed the air.
Chen exclaimed, "How can there be human souls? Could it be..." Her eyes widened. "Those people are dead?"
Piao replied, "I don't know." As he spoke, he raised his face, and a gust of wind suddenly blew past.
Instantly.
Piao hurriedly grabbed Chen, and they turned their backs together.
At the same time, Mu Anxiao also sensed the soul aura outside. "Something's wrong." She ran to the door, quickly pulled it open, and looked outside, her eyes widening.
Feng Qishi asked, "What is it?"
Mu Anxiao: "..." She watched as a ghost floated past Piao and Chen and exclaimed, "It's a ghost!"
"Save me," the ghost floated towards Mu Anxiao with vacant eyes.
Mu Anxiao: "..." Just as she was about to step over the threshold, Feng Qishi urgently called out, "Don't go out."
Hearing this, Mu Anxiao froze. As she turned to look at Feng Qishi, the ghost stopped and grabbed her arm, repeatedly murmuring, "Save me."
Then, a group of human souls gradually appeared, crying out, "Save me!"
Hearing those chilling voices, Mu Anxiao shivered.
Immediately, Feng Qishi stared at the ghost's face for a few seconds before quickly shouting, "Soul Sword."
Hearing this, Mu Anxiao was startled, and then a blue light emanated from around her body.
In the next second, as the ghost was enveloped by the blue light, it disappeared.
The human souls also vanished with the blue light.