Mu Anxiao simply wanted to make these fiends obey her. Of course, her main intention was to scare the woman, to let her know just how dangerous this place was.
Now, after the second fiend spoke, she had inexplicably become their 'savior'.
Conversely, her understanding of fiends was truly shallow. Therefore, looking at their expectant eyes now, she felt the pressure and said directly, "So, you mean if I help you, you'll sell yourselves to me."
"Yes," the third fiend chimed in, egging them on.
The other fiends looked at each other and then shouted in agreement.
The woman, unable to move, watched the unfolding situation. Hearing Mu Anxiao's voice, she felt a sense of crisis.
Mu Anxiao couldn't be bothered to stop them. She turned, walking towards the woman while dispelling the barrier protecting her. She then stopped in front of the woman and snapped her fingers, removing the spell that had sealed her mouth.
"Speak," Mu Anxiao said.
The woman: "Let me go."
"Let you go, and you'll come back, won't you?" Mu Anxiao said, glancing meaningfully at the short blade at her side.
The woman lowered her gaze, "My father gave this to me. I can't give it to you."
Mu Anxiao crossed her arms, "I didn't say I wanted it. I just wanted to say, your abilities are quite good. If you were to be a chivalrous woman in the martial world, it would be more than enough. Conversely, if you insist on confronting these fiends, I can only say," she reached out and patted the woman's shoulder, "you are overestimating yourself."
The woman: "I understand." She was scared.
Seeing the woman's completely changed attitude, Mu Anxiao smiled, "Since that's the case, you may leave." With that, she patted the woman's shoulders twice more and stepped back.
At the same time, the woman could move again. "You don't want the silver anymore?" she stretched her limbs.
"If you come again, the silver will be double, and I'll also give you a life," Mu Anxiao's objective was achieved.
Hearing Mu Anxiao's words, the woman's nerves tensed. She then cautiously glanced at the group of silent fiends before turning and leaving.
Mu Anxiao watched the woman's retreating figure, pouted, and turned back to the group of fiends staring at her. Remembering what the fourth fiend had said, she asked, "Were you all harmed? Is that right?"
Wei was surprised that Mu Anxiao would bring up this topic and froze.
The fourth fiend dared not speak further.
The first fiend, having witnessed Mu Anxiao's strength, no longer spoke arrogantly. "This, you have to ask him." He pointed at Wei.
Upon hearing this, Mu Anxiao followed the first fiend's gesture and looked at Wei, "What exactly happened to you all?"
Wei: "This..."
"Rather than asking him, ask me."
Hearing this, Mu Anxiao furrowed her brow and looked at Ouyang Ye, who had descended from the sky. Her expression turned cold, "They are about to get a new benefactor. You can leave now."
Ouyang Ye: "You think you can handle it?" He walked up to Mu Anxiao.
Mu Anxiao nodded.
Ouyang Ye sneered, "You're wrong. They are a group of cursed fiends. If they don't harm people, they will soon perish. You," he leaned in to meet Mu Anxiao's eyes, "do you know why that fellow dares not come here?"
"..." Mu Anxiao shook her head slightly.
"Because this is my territory. This place is filled with my aura. I decide who lives, who can live, and who dies, who must die. You..." Ouyang Ye scanned Mu Anxiao's face, "Do you understand what I mean?"
"You doing this..."
"If I want you to live, you can live. If I want you to die," Ouyang Ye interrupted, grabbing Mu Anxiao's neck, "you will die immediately." He then withdrew his hand.
Mu Anxiao frowned slightly, cautiously glancing at Ouyang Ye's hand, and said, "You don't want me to have them all to myself."
"You don't have the ability," Ouyang Ye said calmly.
"I..." Mu Anxiao's gaze flickered, "I can find a way."
"Ways are devised by people, not by fools like you," Ouyang Ye said. He then glanced at the bloodstains on Mu Anxiao's body, changing the subject, "She did it."
"Why are you asking this?" Mu Anxiao suddenly had a bad premonition.
Hearing Mu Anxiao's words, Ouyang Ye narrowed his eyes, "Precisely." He then pulled Mu Anxiao aside and looked at the woman brought back by Xi'er, sneering, "Quite capable, aren't you, Youxian?"
Hearing this, Mu Anxiao frowned, turned around, and her eyes widened, "Xi'er."
Xi'er didn't even look at Mu Anxiao. She held the woman named Youxian tightly and said, "Master, how should I deal with her?"
Youxian pursed her lips.
Seeing this, Mu Anxiao quickly said, "Let her go."
Youxian dared not cry, only daring to look at Mu Anxiao.
Hearing Mu Anxiao ordering Xi'er, Ouyang Ye said coldly, "You are not qualified to command her. In other words, I am helping you."
"You didn't show up when I was saving people, but you show up when people are being harmed. Ouyang Ye," Mu Anxiao's eyes were filled with anger as she glared back at Ouyang Ye, "You are truly despicable."
"If I were a decent person, I wouldn't be talking to you," Ouyang Ye said expressionlessly.
Mu Anxiao was speechless.
Youxian watched the scene unfold and, with a glint in her eye, said, "You liar, you're just messing with me, aren't you?"
Hearing this, Mu Anxiao's heart sank. She then turned to the blaming Youxian, her brows furrowed, "..."
"This is human nature," Ouyang Ye said, looking down at Mu Anxiao's back, "When they need you, when they beg you, they are one way. Once their interests are touched, they turn their backs on you, and they are another way. Mu Anxiao, after living for so long, haven't you... seen this clearly."
That's right, he did this precisely to make Mu Anxiao see Youxian for who she was.
And Mu Anxiao already knew what kind of person Youxian was? Her doing this was only to make Youxian give up and stop overestimating herself.
In other words, her actions were also to avoid creating trouble for herself later on.
But then, Ouyang Ye was lecturing her. Turning to look at him, her face was filled only with speechlessness.
Ouyang Ye looked down at Mu Anxiao and smiled, "Tell me, how should she be dealt with? I'll help you." He knew Mu Anxiao wouldn't be able to go through with it.
Mu Anxiao: "I don't need your help." With that, she turned back to Youxian, who was glaring at her, "Whether you believe me or not is up to you. Anyway, I'm not with them."
"If you're not with them, why are you together? You..."
"Shut up," Mu Anxiao interrupted, looking at Xi'er, who was holding Youxian. Just as she was about to speak, she suddenly remembered the tone in which Ouyang Ye had called out Youxian's name. She froze and asked, "You know her?" She looked at Ouyang Ye.
Ouyang Ye smiled, "Your reaction is too slow."
Mu Anxiao was momentarily stunned and then asked, "How do you know each other?"