"Not yet. These are the tools you used to beat me before," the wolf demon said, his gaze cold as he looked at Villager No. 4.
Villager No. 4 pouted, "We already let you go. Why are you still holding onto us?"
"When those two come back, I'll let you go," the wolf demon said, then slowly landed.
The old man glared fiercely at the wolf demon. "You damned monster, you'll face retribution for doing this."
"When you slandered me, why didn't you think about retribution then?" The wolf demon walked up to the old man and crouched down, meeting his eyes. "You look like a kind old man, but I didn't expect you to be so ruthless."
"You..."
"Tell me, where did they go?" the wolf demon interrupted.
The old man lowered his head. "I don't know."
"You don't know," the wolf demon repeated, standing up. "Fine, fine. No, I'll stay here with you." Having said that, he tilted his head back and glanced at the villagers on the other trees.
Old Man No. 2 coughed a few times. "I didn't expect you to be so vengeful."
"Thank you for the compliment," the wolf demon smirked, turning his back.
The villagers began to wail.
In the cell, Mu Anxiao stood up and looked at the clouds outside the window, her mind dwelling on the wolf demon's situation over the past two days. An inexplicable sense of unease washed over her.
"Could there be a trick?" she mumbled.
"It's time to eat."
Hearing this, Mu Anxiao turned to look at the female jailer standing at the door. "Has there been anything happening outside recently?"
"No, it's the same as before." The female jailer pushed open the door and walked to Mu Anxiao with a food container, squatting down.
"Oh," Mu Anxiao nodded and squatted down to open the food container herself. "It's noodles today."
"Yes, last night I heard you muttering in your sleep about wanting noodles, so I went back and had my cook prepare them," the female jailer said.
"You were the one who tucked me in last night?" Mu Anxiao asked, reaching for the chopsticks.
The female jailer smiled sheepishly.
Mu Anxiao picked up the not-too-hot bowl of noodles from the food container. "Have you eaten?"
"You eat first, I'll eat later," the female jailer replied.
"Alright," Mu Anxiao said and lowered her head to start eating.
A few minutes later, Mu Anxiao looked up at the female jailer who had been staring at her without speaking. "Is there something wrong?"
"The bailiff asked me to let you go," the female jailer suddenly said.
Upon hearing this, Mu Anxiao casually put down her bowl and wiped the oil from her lips with her arm. "Really?"
"Yes," the female jailer nodded, looking at Mu Anxiao with reluctance. "You can leave in a little while."
"Why would he let me go?" Mu Anxiao asked, puzzled.
"I think, perhaps it's your friend..." The female jailer glanced around and whispered, "Your friend went to scare them, didn't he?"
Mu Anxiao frowned upon hearing this. "How is that possible?"
"What's wrong?" the female jailer asked, confused.
"My friends have other things to do these days, and besides, I didn't ask him to help me with this. Why would the bailiff suddenly decide to let me go?" Mu Anxiao grew suspicious.
"You're not happy that you're being released?" the female jailer whispered.
Mu Anxiao didn't answer the female jailer's question but remembered what the wolf demon had said over the past three days.
First: "Why do I feel like the people in that village knew I was coming? They didn't even show surprise when they saw me."
Second: "That's strange, the people are gone."
Today... there was still no news.
"What are you thinking about?" the female jailer asked, her face full of confusion.
Mu Anxiao snapped back to attention and looked up at the female jailer. "Nothing, I was just thinking about where I'll go after I get out."
"If you have time, come back and see me," the female jailer said shyly.
"You're still reluctant to part with me?" Mu Anxiao smiled and added, "But I'm not coming back. This place isn't a good place to be."
"You're right," the female jailer replied with a bitter smile.
Mu Anxiao looked at the female jailer's face and frowned. "Why do I feel like something is off with you?"
The female jailer lowered her eyelids. "There's something I need to tell you, and you might be surprised."
"What is it?"
"Actually, someone came to bail you out, but that person..." The female jailer turned to look behind her and continued, "They looked like they were from that village, and they didn't seem right."
"You mean, the bailiff didn't really intend to let me go?" Mu Anxiao asked.
The female jailer nodded slightly. "Yes."
"I've been sold off in a roundabout way?" Mu Anxiao asked.
The female jailer pursed her lips. "I didn't want to tell you the truth, but you've been good to me these past few days, and I don't think I should hide it from you."
"No, if the bailiff acts like this, isn't anyone going to stop him?" Mu Anxiao asked excitedly.
"No," the female jailer shook her head slightly.
"Is there any law left in this place?" Mu Anxiao exclaimed angrily and looked down at the remaining soup in the bowl. "Never mind, I'll deal with it after this meal." She then picked up the bowl and continued eating.
The female jailer said, "They'll be here soon."
After drinking the soup, Mu Anxiao asked, "How much did that village pay?"
"Nothing," the female jailer shook her head.
"Nothing?" Mu Anxiao repeated in disbelief. "You mean I've been handed over?"
"You could say that," the female jailer nodded slightly.
"Can you be clearer? My..." Mu Anxiao touched her head. "My brain is all confused by you."
"Alright, I... actually, just now, two villagers came with the bailiff. The person who burned the portrait was from their village. They came to vouch for her, and when the bailiff heard that, he thought of you," the female jailer said timidly, pointing at Mu Anxiao.
Mu Anxiao stated, "They found me to handle this matter."
"Yes," the female jailer nodded.
"So, it seems I was already targeted by them," Mu Anxiao said lightly.
"Yes, the portrait was drawn with great effort, but... you tore up their portrait, and you are from the village, so... you should be the one to bear this matter," the female jailer continued.
Mu Anxiao let out a cold laugh. "So, after all this, they've come to question me."
The female jailer nodded.
Mu Anxiao thought for a moment, then looked up. "So, what you said earlier about being sold or handed over was all fabricated. This is the real reason."
"I'm sorry," the female jailer lowered her head.
"I understand," Mu Anxiao nodded slightly.
The female jailer pursed her lips. "They said they'll come to pick you up a quarter of an hour after you finish lunch."
"They can take me without payment?" Mu Anxiao asked.
The female jailer hesitated for a moment. "They said you would pay."
"Huh?" Mu Anxiao was startled.
"But don't worry, I've already given the money to the bailiff," the female jailer said calmly.