Mu Anxiao watched calmly as the ghastly figures, each brandishing a different weapon, stood before Ouyang Ye, while Ouyang Ye himself eyed them with stern intensity. She couldn't help but ask, "Um... Ouyang Ye, can I ask you a question?"
Ouyang Ye replied, "No." He didn't even spare Mu Anxiao a glance.
"..." Mu Anxiao's expression froze.
Sensing her silence, Ouyang Ye asked, "Why aren't you speaking?" He then looked at Mu Anxiao.
Mu Anxiao scoffed, "You already rejected me. Honestly, what else can I say?" As she spoke, she glanced at You Xian, who was hiding behind her.
Ouyang Ye kept his gaze fixed on Mu Anxiao, hands clasped behind his back, deliberately adopting an air of profound wisdom. "Why were you being so polite? If you had spoken directly, I wouldn't have rejected you."
"..." Mu Anxiao rolled her eyes. "If I had spoken directly, would you have even acknowledged me?"
"Whether I acknowledge you or not is one thing, but I certainly wouldn't have refused to reply."
Mu Anxiao, observing Ouyang Ye's determination to save face, and then glancing at the prepared ghastly figures, conceded, "Alright, I'll ask."
"Even if you ask, I won't answer," Ouyang Ye added.
This time, Mu Anxiao was truly speechless. "..."
Seeing Mu Anxiao's speechless expression, Ouyang Ye inexplicably began to laugh.
Yin Ye watched Ouyang Ye, utterly bewildered.
You Xian, startled by Ouyang Ye's laughter, hid further behind Mu Anxiao, afraid to move.
"...." Mu Anxiao looked at Ouyang Ye's startling reaction with resignation and sighed. "Whether you answer or not, it doesn't matter. I've lost interest in you anyway."
"That's funny, as if you were ever interested in me." Ouyang Ye merely wanted to entertain himself while waiting for the others to arrive.
Conversely, Mu Anxiao didn't grasp Ouyang Ye's intent. She simply found his demeanor to be both childish and tedious.
Thus, she let out a cold snort and remained silent.
Ouyang Ye frowned. "Why aren't you speaking?"
".." Mu Anxiao casually turned her face away.
Seeing this, Ouyang Ye glanced at the ghastly figures holding weapons opposite them, then back at Mu Anxiao. "Aren't you curious how these weapons came to be?"
This was precisely what Mu Anxiao wanted to ask. However, after Ouyang Ye's two rejections, she had lost all interest in the matter.
Therefore, she continued to remain silent.
Ouyang Ye, seeing that Mu Anxiao was ignoring him, felt a pang of insecurity. "Mu Anxiao, are you still angry?"
"I'm not angry," Mu Anxiao replied. She turned back to Ouyang Ye. "I just don't want to talk to you anymore."
"Why?" Ouyang Ye asked, confused.
Mu Anxiao looked at Ouyang Ye's bewildered expression and snorted, "Put yourself in my shoes. If you ask me a question, and I keep interrupting you with other things, and even reject you, would you still want to talk to me?"
Ouyang Ye chuckled upon hearing this.
"What are you laughing at?"
"I'm laughing because you care about me," Ouyang Ye said narcissistically.
"..." Mu Anxiao's face stiffened again.
Ouyang Ye, observing Mu Anxiao's speechless expression, smiled and spoke to himself, "You still care about me. Otherwise, you wouldn't not want to talk to me."
Mu Anxiao truly didn't want to say anything more to someone as emotionally detached as Ouyang Ye.
In contrast, Yin Ye let out a laugh.
Hearing this, Ouyang Ye's expression turned grim as he shifted his gaze to Yin Ye. "What are you laughing at?"
Yin Ye replied, "I'm laughing at your boredom."
Ouyang Ye frowned. "You dare call me bored? Do you wish to become a ghastly figure?"
Upon hearing this, Yin Ye immediately stopped laughing.
Seeing Ouyang Ye threaten Yin Ye, and considering Yin Ye's relationship with herself, Mu Anxiao said, "Ouyang Ye, if you dare turn her into a ghastly figure, I'll be the first one to deal with you." She pointed at Ouyang Ye.
Knowing that Mu Anxiao was capable of anything, Ouyang Ye began to change the subject. "Ask whatever you wanted to ask."
"Didn't you refuse to answer me?" Mu Anxiao stated directly.
Ouyang Ye dropped his playful demeanor and became serious. "Tell me, I was just joking with you earlier."
"Joking with me at a time like this, you're quite absurd," Mu Anxiao said. She scanned the ghastly figures and asked, "How did you conjure these weapons?"
Ouyang Ye responded, "I knew you'd ask this."
"Are you going to tell me or not?" Mu Anxiao asked impatiently.
This time, Ouyang Ye didn't play coy and honestly replied, "I wove them with red thread."
"Will they be able to use them?" Mu Anxiao began to worry if they could defeat Jian Ye's group. She thought that if You Xian was quite capable in some aspects, then those people must be even more so.
Ouyang Ye asked, "Why are you concerned about this? Unless..." he chuckled, "...you're worried about my safety."
"I'm not worried about your safety. I just don't want to see them completely vanish from the world because of you," Mu Anxiao said, glancing at the ghastly figures again.
"You worry too much," Ouyang Ye said, turning back to the ghastly figures with a serious expression. "As long as you stay united, there will be no problem. If you don't, the problems will be immense."
"It's not about unity right now. Jian Ye is their shadow. Furthermore, these weapons are new to them. I'm worried," Mu Anxiao frowned, "they'll find them difficult to wield."
"..." Ouyang Ye took a deep breath and looked at Mu Anxiao. "Mu Anxiao, you're quite peculiar. One moment you worry they don't have weapons, the next you worry they won't be able to use them. Since that's the case, you figure out a solution."
"I have no solution," Mu Anxiao relented.
"If you have no solution, then don't speak," Ouyang Ye said calmly, looking at the ghastly figures whose focus had been swayed by Mu Anxiao. "Don't listen to her. These weapons will help you defeat the enemy."
"Did you enchant them?" Mu Anxiao asked excitedly.
Ouyang Ye sighed and looked at Mu Anxiao. "I am their benefactor, so naturally, I must think ahead for them. Stop worrying needlessly."
Mu Anxiao didn't quite understand what kind of immortal Ouyang Ye once was, but she had witnessed his meticulous approach to matters throughout their journey. Thus, hearing his words, she felt reassured.
"..."
Seeing Mu Anxiao's silence, Ouyang Ye asked, "Why aren't you speaking now?"
Mu Anxiao's gaze darted away. "You've said it all. What else can I say?" She then turned to You Xian, who was staring blankly, and asked, "What's wrong with you?"
You Xian replied, "They're here."
"Here..." Mu Anxiao uttered the word and suddenly smelled a fragrance. "Not good." She then looked at the poisonous scent drifting towards them.
You Xian, without looking back, said, "This fragrant poison is specifically set for Ouyang Ye." She looked at Ouyang Ye.
Ouyang Ye, like Mu Anxiao, looked at the fragrant poison without looking at You Xian. "They can't wait any longer. How amusing." He then raised his hand above his head again.
At that moment, Mu Anxiao and the others became tense.
In the next instant, the pale red fragrant poison suddenly accelerated, flying over Mu Anxiao and the others' heads and disappearing into Ouyang Ye's palm.
Seeing this, Mu Anxiao's eyes widened. She turned and asked, "What are you doing?"
"She provoked me first," Ouyang Ye said, and then closed his eyes.
Mu Anxiao watched the scene unfold, her heart sinking. She realized that Zhao Meier was likely in trouble.
Meanwhile, Zhao Meier, who was sitting cross-legged in the thick fog, suddenly opened her eyes and looked down at the fragrant poison gradually escaping from her palm. She exclaimed, "Not good."
Hai, noticing Zhao Meier's sudden tense expression, asked, "What's wrong?" He couldn't see anything in Zhao Meier's palm.
Zhao Meier didn't have time to attend to Hai. She continued to stare at the fragrant poison draining from her palm, quickly closed her eyes, and began to contend with Ouyang Ye's power.
The residence.
Feng Qishi faced the little girl silently.
The little girl continued to look at Feng Qishi with unwavering belief, smiling. "I truly believe you."
"I truly don't have such abilities." Feng Qishi intentionally continued to belittle himself.
The little girl replied, "I believe you."
A single word of 'belief' could be a great encouragement to anyone, but for Feng Qishi, it was immense pressure. He gave the little girl a bitter smile.
Yuan Yan said, "Feng Qishi, I think she's quite pitiful. Why don't you agree to her request, establish a sect, and take in all these unfortunate people? What do you think?" He arranged it himself, looking expectantly at Feng Qishi.
Subsequently, Feng Qishi looked at Yuan Yan, who spoke so easily, and then at the little girl opposite him, who was still pleading for him to take her in. He fell into thought.
The little girl pleaded, "Please." She clasped her hands together.
Feng Qishi's eyes flickered. "I..."
"Please don't reject her anymore. She really looks quite pitiful."
"This isn't as simple as opening a shelter. Becoming an immortal is a major undertaking, Yuan Yan," Feng Qishi gave Yuan Yan a sharp look. "Can you stop speaking so carelessly?"
"I'm not. I just..."
"Take back your misguided kindness. This is my business. If you interfere again, I'll abandon you," Feng Qishi pointed at Yuan Yan.
Seeing that Feng Qishi was displeased, Yuan Yan dared not say anything more and lowered his head.
Feng Qishi, seeing Yuan Yan fall silent, breathed a sigh of relief and turned to the little girl opposite him. "Come here."
"..." The little girl dared not disobey Feng Qishi's command and walked to his side.
Feng Qishi looked at the little girl, hesitated, and said, "Let me have your hand for a moment."
"Hand..." the little girl repeated the word and obediently offered her hand.
Next, Feng Qishi gently grasped the little girl's wrist, attempting to sense her aura through his powers. He shook his head slightly and released her hand.
Seeing Feng Qishi shake his head, the little girl looked confused. "What's wrong?" She lowered her head to look at her wrist, still warm from Feng Qishi's touch.
Feng Qishi clasped his hands behind his back. "The fact is, you have no affinity for immortality, and you are not suited to become an immortal."
"What?" The little girl froze.
Yuan Yan, seeing the little girl's disappointed reaction and Feng Qishi's composed demeanor, mumbled, "You're being too discouraging."
Feng Qishi ignored Yuan Yan.
The little girl lowered her gaze and said, "I really am not suited to become an immortal."
"Yes," Feng Qishi replied without hesitation.
Upon hearing this, the little girl was silent for a few seconds before looking up at Feng Qishi. "Then can you test the others?"
Others?
However, Feng Qishi had never expected the little girl to say this. He thought she would give up after hearing his words. To his surprise, she was actually 'kind,' wanting to help others.
Feng Qishi now had a new impression of this little girl.
"..." He remained silent.
The little girl asked, "Why aren't you speaking? Is it not possible?"
"Do you think it's possible?" Feng Qishi retorted.
The little girl smiled ruefully. "I think it's possible because I believe you are incredibly powerful."
"Don't flatter me; it's useless."
"I'm speaking the truth. You just held my wrist and knew if I had an affinity for immortality. Back then, when I went to those sects, they had to examine me for a long time, and then they said I could become an immortal..."
"Wait, they all said you could, so why didn't they accept you?" Feng Qishi interrupted.
The little girl sighed. "It was because my money wasn't enough. I only realized when I was leaving that everyone there was wealthy. People like us, with nothing but dreams, without money, cannot succeed." She shook her head.
"How much did they charge?" Feng Qishi asked curiously.
The little girl replied, "Five hundred taels per person."
"And how much do you have now?" Feng Qishi asked again.
The little girl's eyes lit up. "I have three hundred taels. Will you take me?"
"I was just asking casually. Don't take it seriously," Feng Qishi said, thinking that given the fact that she had no affinity for immortality, he had nothing more to say.
"Alright," the little girl said dejectedly, but with a glimmer of hope in her eyes. "Then can you test them? Please." She clasped her hands together again.
Seeing this, Feng Qishi was speechless.
Yuan Yan, seeing the little girl's kindness, said in a low voice, "Help her. It won't take much effort. Don't be so stingy." He lowered his head, not daring to look at Feng Qishi.
Subsequently, Feng Qishi turned his head to look at Yuan Yan, who was whispering to himself beside them. "If you can't stand me, then speak quietly. Don't let me hear you, alright?"
"No," Yuan Yan mumbled, deliberately shifting a couple of steps to the side.
Feng Qishi watched Yuan Yan's cautious movements. "That's strange. Weren't you just defending me? Why are you siding with outsiders now?" He stared intently at Yuan Yan.
Upon hearing this, Yuan Yan looked up at Feng Qishi with a silly grin and said, "There aren't many girls like her who are selfless these days. I was..." He pretended to wipe away a tear, "I was moved." He then let out a fake sob.
Feng Qishi looked at Yuan Yan with disdain and pouted. "Stop pretending; it's too fake."
Hearing this, Yuan Yan stopped his fake sobbing, touched the back of his head, and blinked at Feng Qishi.
Feng Qishi gave Yuan Yan a sidelong glance, then turned his gaze back to the little girl opposite him, who was seeking his help, and asked, "What's your name?"
"I have no affinity for immortality, so I'm not worthy of telling you my name," the little girl said softly.
Feng Qishi replied, "Your name has no direct relation to whether you have an affinity for immortality. Tell me, what is your name?"
"Will you help me?" the little girl asked in return.
Feng Qishi looked at the little girl's expectant expression and said calmly, "Just tell me your name. Don't say anything else for now."