"Since you've said it all, then make your move," Mu Anxiao said, betting on luck, and closed her eyes.
Seeing Mu Anxiao's tightly shut eyes, Piao chuckled, removed his hand from her neck, and said, "Cowards have timid hearts; that's exactly you."
Upon hearing this, Mu Anxiao slowly opened her eyes, "You're not going to kill me anymore?"
Piao stood up and said, "Killing you would dirty my hands."
Mu Anxiao fell silent.
Piao glared at Mu Anxiao and turned to leave.
Mu Anxiao breathed a sigh of relief, gently touching her neck, "That scared me to death."
Outside the woodshed, Piao glanced back at the door, a smirk played on his lips, and he walked away.
The second Piao left, Mu Anxiao lay down again.
At the same time, Hun Ling arrived outside the room where Yan and the others were and knocked, asking, "Anyone home?"
Inside, the red-clothed rabbit spirit, not recognizing Hun Ling's voice, nervously put down the teapot she was holding. She glanced at Yan, who had also put down his teapot, and said, "I'll go open the door."
"Mhm," Yan nodded.
The red-clothed rabbit spirit stood up and gracefully walked to the door, asking, "Who are you?"
"Open the door," Hun Ling stated flatly.
Upon hearing this, the red-clothed rabbit spirit quickly opened the door and, seeing him, breathed a sigh of relief, "It's you."
"Why are you here?" Hun Ling asked, unaware that Mu Anxiao had been captured.
"I thought it was a great demon, which scared me to death," the red-clothed rabbit spirit said, relieved, and took a half-step back.
Hun Ling stood at the door, peered inside at Yan standing by the table, and asked, "Huh? Where's the person I captured?"
"You mean Mu Anxiao?" the red-clothed rabbit spirit asked.
Hun Ling grunted in affirmation.
The red-clothed rabbit spirit curled her lips and said, "Thanks to her, I've become a target of the great demon."
"Where is she?" Hun Ling asked, surprised.
"Her..." the red-clothed rabbit spirit habitually crossed her arms, "If I told you she was dead, would you believe me?"
"Dead? How could she be dead?" Hun Ling became anxious.
"Why are you so nervous?" the red-clothed rabbit spirit asked, looking at Hun Ling with confusion.
Hearing this, Hun Ling blinked guiltily and then, trying to maintain his composure, said, "I went through immense effort to capture her, so of course, I'm nervous."
"Her life already belongs to the great demon; what you say now is useless," the red-clothed rabbit spirit said, turning to walk towards the table.
Hun Ling crossed the threshold and followed her closely to the table. He looked at Yan, who smiled politely at him, and said, "Please, have a seat."
"You sit too," Yan said politely.
Hun Ling nodded slightly and naturally sat down at the table, saying, "Then tell me, where is she now?"
"How would I know where the great demon is?" the red-clothed rabbit spirit asked, pouring herself a cup of tea.
Hun Ling reached out and took the cup, "I'm talking about Mu Anxiao." Saying that, he picked up the teacup and drank it in one gulp.
The red-clothed rabbit spirit glanced at her cup, which Hun Ling had snatched, and asked, "You're not planning to strike first, are you!"
"How did you know?" Hun Ling feigned surprise.
The red-clothed rabbit spirit's eyes flickered, and she excitedly said, "You're openly defying the great demon; I advise you not to do this."
"What if I defy him? I've never taken him seriously," Hun Ling said arrogantly.
"Since you say so," the red-clothed rabbit spirit pointed at Hun Ling, "then fine, I'll go report you right now."
"You dare," Hun Ling said agitatedly.
The red-clothed rabbit spirit grinned, "See, you're still afraid of him!"
Hun Ling fell silent.
Yan glanced at the red-clothed rabbit spirit, blinked, and deliberately said, "Mu Anxiao's life belongs to me; don't you dare go to the woodshed to find her."
"The woodshed," Hun Ling repeated.
The red-clothed rabbit spirit blinked in surprise and turned to look at Yan, "Why did you say that out loud."
Yan remained silent, his eyes filled with hatred.
Hun Ling smiled at the red-clothed rabbit spirit, "I know now; she's in the woodshed." With that, he stood up and quickly left the room.
Yan furrowed his brow.
The red-clothed rabbit spirit gave Yan a thumbs-up and said, "Have some tea."
"I didn't mean to let it slip; I'm sorry," Yan said.
The red-clothed rabbit spirit glanced sideways at the door, which Hun Ling hadn't closed, and said, "Yan, even though you let it slip, it's fine. Anyway, this is just between him and the great demon; it's best if we don't get involved."
Then, Yan deliberately patted his own mouth in feigned annoyance, saying, "It's all my fault."
"It's alright, it's alright; continue practicing pouring tea," the red-clothed rabbit spirit said, pointing at Yan.
Yan nodded.
In an instant, Hun Ling arrived outside the woodshed. After confirming there were no demons, he stepped forward and gently pushed the woodshed door. To his surprise, he said, "Since it's not locked." With that, he opened the door and walked in. He glanced at Mu Anxiao, lying on the ground, and smiled, "You're quite relaxed!"
"Not bad," Mu Anxiao said, sitting up. She glanced behind Hun Ling and asked, "Did you not see that great demon."
"No," Hun Ling said, walking up to Mu Anxiao.
Mu Anxiao breathed a sigh of relief, "I thought he was still here!" she said, pausing before continuing, "You know, I almost died just now."
"What happened?" Hun Ling asked.
"I..." Mu Anxiao began, then abruptly realized and asked, "Wait, how did you know I was here again?"
"I just went to the room, and Yan deliberately let it slip, so I came over," Hun Ling explained.
"I didn't expect Yan to become so smart by following me," Mu Anxiao said with a smile.
"He was always smart," Hun Ling said, glancing back over his shoulder, "I need to tell you something."
Seeing Hun Ling's serious expression, Mu Anxiao also became serious, "Tell me, what is it."
Hun Ling lowered his gaze and said, "Xu Lanyan hasn't accomplished that thing yet."
Mu Anxiao's eyes darkened, "I knew it wouldn't succeed."
"You knew?" Hun Ling was surprised.
"Mhm, Yan explained all the drawbacks, but I didn't expect that kid Xu Lanyan to come in," Mu Anxiao said, looking down before raising her head to face Hun Ling.
Hun Ling said, "I didn't expect it either. I was startled when I saw him with that dog-headed demon just now."
"How did he end up with the dog-head?" Mu Anxiao asked, surprised.
"Who knows. Seeing him getting along well with the dog-head, I guess that's his skill."
"Yes, that skill is certainly remarkable. I really couldn't have imagined he could chat with the dog-head. If it were me," Mu Anxiao shuddered, "I wouldn't even bother saying half a word to the dog-head."
"You're afraid of him, aren't you," Hun Ling exposed her.
Mu Anxiao's eyes flickered, and she said, "No, no matter what, I've been through storms. How could I be afraid of a..." She trailed off, feeling embarrassed by Hun Ling's stare, and then reluctantly admitted, "Alright, I'm afraid of him."
"I knew it," Hun Ling smiled. Search for "An Xiao Feng Qi Shi Jie Zhong Wen Xue" on Baidu for the latest chapters, available for free reading.