Mu Anxiao smiled faintly and turned her gaze back to Alung's face.
This time, Alung truly felt embarrassed by Mu Anxiao's stare. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
Mu Anxiao sensed something was off with Alung, but she couldn't figure out why. She also couldn't connect Alung with Ouyang Ye in any way.
So, she continued to remain silent, waiting to see what Alung would say.
"..."
Alung: "What is wrong with you?" She couldn't stand it any longer.
"..." Mu Anxiao continued to stare at her without a word.
Alung felt uncomfortable.
Seeing Mu Anxiao like this, Bidao also felt uneasy. "Mu Anxiao, what are you doing?"
Upon hearing this, Mu Anxiao merely glanced at Bidao, then pursed her lips and said, "Alung, this plan of yours, it wasn't your idea, was it?" She raised an eyebrow.
Alung's eyes darted away. "What do you mean by that, are you suspecting me?" After asking, she realized she had said the wrong thing, and her expression stiffened slightly, but it was only for a moment before returning to normal.
"I didn't say I suspected you," Mu Anxiao replied, glancing at the demonic barrier. "I was just wondering if you think you can handle these monsters?"
Alung: "What's the big deal? With demonic arts..."
"This isn't something that can be solved with just demonic arts. Of course, I can handle it alone. As for you guys," Mu Anxiao looked at Bidao, then back at Alung, "you're a bit of a hindrance."
"You think we're a hindrance?" Alung was taken aback.
Mu Anxiao: "Yes, although I don't know who told you this plan, I can give it a try, but on the condition that you all stay far away."
Alung hadn't expected Mu Anxiao to be so direct. After hearing Mu Anxiao's words, Alung became even more guilt-ridden.
So, she asked, "Did you figure something out?"
Mu Anxiao smiled. "I did. Although I don't know who told you the plan, I have good eyes. Since you don't want to say, I won't force you."
"..." Alung felt uneasy.
Bidao heard this and looked at Alung. "Do you have a master?"
Alung: "No." She cautiously glanced at Bidao.
Bidao furrowed her brow. "Then how do you know these... useful methods? Could it be... you've met a powerful demon?" Alung, listening to Bidao's relentless questioning, felt her heart sink. She glanced at the demonic barrier and said, "It was Ouyang Ye."
Mu Anxiao's eyes widened.
Although Bidao hadn't interacted with Ouyang Ye directly, she had gained a general impression of him when he was in his original form. She recalled that the only impression he left on her was one of insidious cunning.
Now, hearing Alung say this, she suddenly had nothing more to say. Instead, she shifted her gaze to Mu Anxiao's face.
Alung looked at Mu Anxiao's reaction and said in a low voice, "I originally wanted to follow him, but I was discovered."
"Where is he now?" Mu Anxiao, worried that Ouyang Ye might make a move, decided to find out.
Alung: "Over there." She pointed towards the demonic barrier.
Mu Anxiao followed Alung's finger and turned her head, her entire nervous system tensing. "Over there." As she said this, she realized... the demonic barrier before her was no longer transparent at all.
Alung: "..." She cautiously observed Mu Anxiao, not daring to speak.
Mu Anxiao blinked and asked, "Alung, what did he say to you?" She turned back to look at Alung.
Alung: "He had two offers. One was... you agree to marry him, and then he would help you, returning the spiritual energy in this demonic barrier to you. The other offer," she swallowed, "is the one I just mentioned."
"The second offer, it couldn't be this simple," Mu Anxiao said in a low voice.
"We'll help you, that way you might be able to save some energy..."
"You guys can't deal with those monsters. Besides, my spiritual energy is already insufficient. If I go up there and suddenly use my magic..." Mu Anxiao interrupted, clenching her fists. "I definitely won't be able to sustain it. In the end, we'll only end up with mutual destruction."
"Then what should we do?" Bidao asked.
Mu Anxiao lowered her eyes and thought, falling into silence.
Alung: "He said, your demonic arts would be useless."
"..." Mu Anxiao glanced at the axe in her hand and said, "It seems I've fallen into his trap."
"..." Alung clenched her fists and looked at the demonic barrier.
Bidao: "He just wants you to marry him and then beg him."
Mu Anxiao fell silent again, tilting her head to look at the sky. She couldn't help but recall Zhang Yan's words and thought, Surely, master wouldn't lie to me about this?
With that thought, she looked down at the axe again and decided to continue using her demonic arts to attack.
Seeing Mu Anxiao about to move forward, Alung quickly asked, "What are you going to do?"
Upon hearing this, Mu Anxiao raised her axe and said, "Only a fool would fall into a trap twice." With that, she began to gather her demonic energy and strike at the demonic barrier.
Alung: "You..." She stopped herself from saying more.
Bidao: "She won't marry that guy." With that, she also began to help.
Alung's eyes darkened, and she walked to Mu Anxiao's side, starting to unleash her demonic arts.
On the other side of the demonic barrier, Ouyang Ye watched Mu Anxiao completely disregard him and let out a cold snort.
Xi'er: "It seems she doesn't appreciate your offer."
"I didn't expect this," Ouyang Ye stared at Mu Anxiao, a sly smile curving his lips. "She's not as... useless as they say, nor does she have the habit of stealing other people's cultivation."
"What do you mean by that?" Xi'er asked, confused.
Ouyang Ye: "Don't you know? Mu Anxiao became an immortal after stealing Shen Yan's immortal blood. If she follows that pattern, she," he narrowed his eyes, "should steal my evil arts. I didn't expect her to be different from what those despicable immortals said."
Mu Anxiao's ascension was a widely known event throughout the immortal realm, and it was another impression Ouyang Ye held of her, besides 'rotten luck'. As he said, he had expected Mu Anxiao, unable to endure everything, to seek his help, perhaps even to trick him into helping her, just like when she 'stole' Shen Yan's immortal blood that year.
Who would have thought... the outcome was completely different from what he expected.
Xi'er: "Then, in that case, she's no different from her brother."
Ouyang Ye smiled. "Oh, you mention it, and I realize it. You're right, it does seem quite similar. Because of that, Shen Yan hated her for fifty years. Yet, she continued to live the life of an immortal. Speaking of which, her thick skin is quite something. She shows no remorse and continues to stay in the mortal realm, completing missions. If it were me, I wouldn't have the face to live."
"..." Xi'er frowned. "In that case, you and Shen Yan are truly alike."
Ouyang Ye laughed. "You brought this upon yourself. Shen Yan had no choice. xxs"
"I think it's the same," Xi'er said in a low voice.
Ouyang Ye smiled seeing Xi'er like this. "Alright, if you feel you are like him, then so be it. But speaking of which, do you think she can do it?" He nodded towards the demonic barrier.
Xi'er, hearing Ouyang Ye's words, looked back at Bidao and Alung, who had already stopped fighting, and snorted, "Those two can't even hold on. She, definitely can't."
"What do you mean?" Ouyang Ye continued to stare at Mu Anxiao.
Xi'er said indifferently, "Because those monsters are controlled by her. The monsters are all cowering and not daring to come out, which proves that her heart is close to fear."
Ouyang Ye, upon hearing this, realized. "Ah, you didn't say it, and I forgot. The monsters are controlled by emotions. The more timid the monsters are, the more it means she is afraid. It seems..." he clicked his tongue, "she's not as strong as I thought."
Xi'er nodded.
Ouyang Ye smiled and eagerly anticipated Mu Anxiao's fate.
Over there.
Mu Anxiao lowered her hand, panting, and looked at the monsters hiding in the distance within the rift. She narrowed her eyes and suddenly remembered... the connection between the demonic barrier and her emotions.
Instantly, she looked down at the axe in her hand and thought, If the monsters are controlled by me, then... this means these monsters represent me. The more I fear, the more cowardly and insignificant these monsters become. Although they won't disappear because of this, I am their master.
With that thought, her eyes lit up. She quickly turned to look at Alung and asked, "Alung, didn't Ouyang Ye say that if I agree to marry him, he would help me?"
"Yes," Alung nodded.
Bidao was startled. "Mu Anxiao, what are you doing?"
The monsters, influenced by Mu Anxiao, also stopped their cries. Thus, it was very quiet here, and naturally... Feng Qishi could hear their conversations clearly from the door.
"What does she mean by that?" He didn't understand and looked at Yue Ci.
Yue Ci: "Perhaps she's going to get married." That was all he could understand.
Hearing this, Feng Qishi, filled with a sense of crisis, his heart tightened. He quickly shouted, "Mute girl, don't marry him! Let me out, I'll help you! Mute girl, quickly break the barrier!" He slammed his hands against the door.
Seeing this, Piao quickly grabbed Feng Qishi's arm, stopping him from banging on the door.
Feng Qishi glanced at Piao and continued to shout, "Mute girl, did you hear me? Mute girl!"
Upon hearing this, Mu Anxiao glanced towards the reception hall and, with a flash of inspiration, shouted, "Crazy Shen, we have no fate in this life. In the future, take good care of yourself, and also help me take care of Master."
Feng Qishi's face instantly contorted upon hearing Mu Anxiao's words. "Mute girl, who says we have no fate? I'm telling you, if you dare to agree to marry that guy, you just wait. I'll definitely snatch you back, marry you, and then imprison you in the celestial realm, so you'll never achieve your dreams. If you don't believe me, just try it."
Piao and Yue Ci were stunned.
After hearing Feng Qishi's words, Hei Feng helplessly covered his face and stepped forward, saying softly, "Feng Qishi, haven't you realized she's tricking that guy? Don't take it too seriously."
After decades of understanding Mu Anxiao, Hei Feng knew that Mu Anxiao was not someone who gave up easily, and everything she did in critical moments had her reasons. Just like now, he was sure she had her own ideas.
Therefore, to prevent Feng Qishi from disturbing Mu Anxiao, he told him the truth.
Feng Qishi was startled and turned to look at Hei Feng.
Hei Feng smiled. "Be quiet."
Outside, after hearing Feng Qishi's words, Mu Anxiao felt utterly embarrassed. She then glanced at the secretly smiling Alung and Bidao and said, "What are you laughing at? Rather than marry a normal demon, I'd rather not have anything to do with such a childish immortal." With that, she slanted her eyes.
Bidao was shocked. "What did you say?"
Mu Anxiao sighed, retrieved her axe, and said, "My magic can't completely remove this demonic barrier, let alone demonic arts. Everything I'm doing now is futile. Rather than this, I might as well choose something simpler."
"You're crazy," Alung exclaimed excitedly.
Mu Anxiao: "I'm not crazy. Anyway, the immortals in the celestial realm don't accept me as a liar. So, I might as well find a comfortable way to live." With that, she turned to face the demonic barrier. "Ouyang Ye, if you truly want to marry me, then come over. I want to talk to you about our future."
Bidao frowned.
Alung stepped forward and grabbed Mu Anxiao's arm. "Mu Anxiao, you like Feng Qishi. Doing this..."
"I don't like him," Mu Anxiao interrupted, and then a heavy stone seemed to lodge in her heart, making her feel uncomfortable.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing," Mu Anxiao shook her head and continued, "Ouyang Ye, if you're a man, then come over. I want my spiritual energy." With that, her nose stung.
"..." Alung was stunned.
Unable to bear the feeling of discomfort, Mu Anxiao began to cry.
Alung looked at Mu Anxiao's profile, and thinking of her own experiences, also felt sad. "Mu Anxiao, if you marry him, it will be rotten luck. You will never be happy in your life. You... you need to think clearly."
"If it can bring safety to the common people, what does it matter if I sacrifice myself." With that, Mu Anxiao suppressed the inexplicable discomfort and began to recall with divided attention what Ouyang Ye had done to her not long ago.
Outside the demonic barrier.
Xi'er looked at Mu Anxiao's sad expression as she spoke and asked, "Do you think her words are true or false, Master?" She looked at Ouyang Ye.
Ouyang Ye: "I didn't expect her to like Feng Qishi." With that, he lowered his eyes and smiled.
Xi'er: "Master, what do you mean by that?"
"Don't you know? Feng Qishi is Shen Yan's reincarnation. Meeting in two lives shows their deep connection. In that case, there must be a red thread connecting them. If I interfere," Ouyang Ye smiled, "then this will truly be rotten luck. How wonderful."
Xi'er was shocked. "You believe her words?"
Ouyang Ye: "Some emotions cannot be faked. It's clear that Mu Anxiao has genuine feelings for Feng Qishi." With that, he fixed his gaze on Mu Anxiao's face.
Xi'er: "Her tears might be fake."
"Fake or real," Ouyang Ye said with a cold smile, "I don't want to know. I just want to hear her compromise." With that, he turned to look at Xi'er and took a step towards the demonic barrier.
Xi'er, seeing this, quickly said, "Master, do not act rashly. What if it's a trap?"
Upon hearing this, Ouyang Ye withdrew his foot, which was about to enter the demonic barrier, and turned sideways to look at Xi'er. "A trap? Do you think she can trap me? Alright, stay here and don't move." After saying this, he turned back and took another step.
Xi'er was speechless.
In the next moment.
Ouyang Ye passed through the demonic barrier and stood before Mu Anxiao. "You're crying," he said, looking down at Mu Anxiao, who intentionally lowered her head.
Mu Anxiao: "..." She pretended to sob.
Ouyang Ye reached out and held Mu Anxiao's shoulders, then looked at Alung, who was standing beside Mu Anxiao. "Thank you for delivering the message. You can step aside now. I need to say a few words to my fiancée."
"You..."
"Go," Ouyang Ye interrupted, his gaze cold.
Alung, startled, instinctively took a step back to Bidao's side.
Bidao glanced at Alung but said nothing.
In the reception hall, Feng Qishi clenched his fists upon hearing the title Ouyang Ye bestowed upon Mu Anxiao.