Lin Yan looked at the wolf demon’s indifferent expression and thought about how unreasonable mortals were and how they often caused trouble. He became anxious. “I’m talking to you, can’t you hear me, or are you deliberately ignoring me?”
“…” The wolf demon remained unmoved.
Seeing this, Lin Yan couldn’t contain himself. “I’m talking to you, can’t you hear me?” he shouted.
Because no one had been in the great hall for a long time, it appeared vast and empty. The moment Lin Yan shouted, his voice echoed.
Wansha heard the sound, stopped what she was doing, and looked towards Lin Yan, who was furiously glaring at the wolf demon. She said nothing.
The wolf demon calmly raised his head to look at Lin Yan, who was staring daggers at him. “If you’re worried about your master, go and see him.”
“I…”
“Scared?” the wolf demon provocatively asked.
Lin Yan’s gaze flickered. “Your relationship with my master isn’t exactly friendship, but you’re sort of friends, right? You’re so powerful, saving him wouldn’t kill you.”
“You make it sound so simple. If I were to act against mortals, it would bring no benefit to me or him. You don’t even understand this basic logic. Are you truly foolish, or just pretending to be?” The wolf demon knew that Mu Anxiao and Feng Qishi were likely under attack by mortals.
“I…” Lin Yan was speechless.
Seeing Lin Yan’s silence, the wolf demon sighed, stood up, walked around the chair, and went to the door. As he closed it, he said, “If you ask me, we should just wait here. Going there will only add to Mu Anxiao and the others’ troubles.” He then turned around.
Yuan Ye observed this rational side of the wolf demon and recalled what Yuan Yan had told him. “Yuan Yan said they would definitely listen to those people and leave this place.”
Hearing this, Lin Yan was startled. He looked at Yuan Ye again and, after thinking for a moment, asked, “Yuan Yan… wants to capture your ghost?”
Yuan Ye nodded.
“He told you that, not Mu Anxiao?” Lin Yan asked casually.
“Mu Anxiao is surrounded, and we can’t get close at all. Yuan Yan said to tell you that they have left the city,” Yuan Ye replied. Recalling the situation he had just faced, his eyes darkened. “Honestly, even if we went, we wouldn’t be able to help them.”
Lin Yan frowned. “Then just say it directly. Why scare me by saying something happened?”
“I was just relaying the message.”
“You scared me to death.” Lin Yan sighed with relief. He believed those people would only dare to talk, not act.
“In any case, after things are settled, they will come back. That’s what Yuan Yan said.”
The wolf demon stepped forward. “Mu Anxiao and Feng Qishi aren’t foolish. Under the pressure of those people, they will surely choose to leave.” He walked to the table and sat down again. “Let’s just have some tea here. I believe they will definitely return, because my things are still in her possession.” He still remembered his demon core.
“Yes, they’ll definitely find a way back,” Lin Yan agreed.
Yuan Ye nodded, then glanced around. “Huh? Where are the others who were with you?” He thought of Piao, Xie Xin, and the others.
“Upstairs, playing mahjong,” the wolf demon said, pointing towards the stairs.
Yuan Ye froze, looked at the wolf demon, and was speechless.
At the same time, Wansha walked to the table with a tray. “Mu Anxiao will definitely come back. When she does,” she looked at each of them, “put in a good word for me in front of her.” As she spoke, she placed teacups in front of the three of them.
“If you do a good job, I’ll naturally speak well of you. Speaking of which,” the wolf demon looked up at Wansha, “where’s the vine demon?”
“He’s usually not here.”
“Doesn’t come back often?” the wolf demon made small talk.
Wansha nodded. “Mm-hmm.”
“That’s good, saves me from using demon arts,” the wolf demon said, glancing at his own hand, which faintly glowed with demonic energy.
Wansha smiled. “Without even a demon core, don’t push yourself.” With that, she turned and walked away.
Upon hearing this, the wolf demon glared fiercely at Wansha. “For the sake of the milk tea, I won’t argue with you.”
Wansha tilted her head, saying nothing.
Lin Yan chuckled.
Yuan Ye looked at the wolf demon and Lin Yan, then lowered his head, blew on the white steam, and inhaled the tea’s aroma.
Upstairs.
Xiao Zeng stood by the window.
Xie Xin, Mu Xiang, Chen, and Piao were gathered around the table, playing mahjong.
As Piao dealt cards, he said, “Chen, why are you following them and not me?”
“You didn’t let me be your disciple, so why would I follow you? It’s a waste of time.”
Piao glanced at Chen and smiled. “I said I’d take you.”
“When did you say that? I don’t remember.” Chen truly didn’t remember.
Piao smiled. “Anyway, I think I did say that. You’ll follow me from now on.”
“Depends on my mood.”
“What mood? It’s settled then.” Piao said, turning to look at Xiao Zeng, who was standing by the window. “Is he back yet?”
“No,” Xiao Zeng continued to look out the window.
Upon hearing this, Piao immediately stopped playing and stood up.
“What are you doing? We’re not finished yet,” Xie Xin said, annoyed by Piao’s action.
Piao glanced at Xie Xin, then casually looked at Wansha, who had entered the room. “She’ll keep you company,” he said, pointing at Wansha, then walking around the chair and towards Xiao Zeng.
Wansha, carrying a tray, indifferently looked at Piao’s retreating back. She gracefully walked to the table, placing teacups as she spoke. “Yuan Ye is here.”
Hearing this, Piao stopped and turned to look at Wansha. “He’s here? Have Mu Anxiao and Feng Qishi returned too?”
“No. He came to report that Mu Anxiao and Feng Qishi were driven away by those people. They’ve probably left this place by now.”
Piao had long anticipated that they would encounter mortals, but he thought the probability was rather low, so he had Xiao Zeng keep watch. Who knew they would actually meet.
His heart sank, and he began to worry about their safety.
“I’ll go see,” he said.
“I advise you not to,” Wansha said.
“Why?” Piao frowned.
“Those people are already so unfriendly towards Mu Anxiao. What’s more, you are related to Mu Anxiao. If they find out, they will definitely expel you. Then, if they find this place, we’ll have to leave. And if we leave,” Wansha’s reasoning was very clear, “what if she returns and can’t find us?”
“You have a point,” Piao nodded.
“Just stay here. I’ll use demon arts to seal this place. Those people will only think no one is here. Of course,” Wansha added, seeing Piao’s irrationality, “those demon arts are specifically for mortals.”
“…” Piao nodded again, compromising.
“Are you still playing?” Chen asked, looking at Piao.
Hearing Chen’s question, and seeing Mu Xiang and Xie Xin gathered around the table, Piao shook his head. “Not anymore,” he said, then looked at Wansha. “Join us.”
Wansha, having nothing else to do, sat down without a word and started a new round.
Piao turned and walked to Xiao Zeng’s side, putting an arm around his shoulder. He glanced out the window and murmured, “They must be alright.”
“They’ll definitely be alright,” Xiao Zeng said firmly.
Upon hearing this, Piao turned and smiled at Xiao Zeng.
Outside the city.
Mu Anxiao and Feng Qishi stood behind a tree not far from the city gate. Feng Qishi was behind Mu Anxiao. Mu Anxiao leaned forward, looking at the two young men guarding the city gate, and tutted. “It seems they are determined to drive me away.” She then turned to look at Feng Qishi.
Feng Qishi crossed his arms. “Don’t you have me to accompany you?” he said, tilting his chin.
Mu Anxiao showed a look of disdain. “What use is your company? You’ll still have to… sleep outside at night.” She sighed.
“I can give you my jacket to wear,” Feng Qishi said with a smile.
Hearing Feng Qishi’s childish words, Mu Anxiao lowered her eyes and chuckled. “You’re truly optimistic.” As she spoke, she glanced in both directions, her brow furrowing.
Seeing Mu Anxiao’s expression change, Feng Qishi asked, “What’s wrong?”
Mu Anxiao placed a hand on her hip. “Let’s plan.”
“Plan?” Feng Qishi couldn’t keep up with Mu Anxiao’s pace.
Of course, Mu Anxiao didn’t need Feng Qishi to understand everything for now, so she walked past him and took the lead.
Feng Qishi was bewildered, but knowing he could be with Mu Anxiao, he put aside his extra questions and followed her.
In a blink of an eye.
Mu Anxiao led Feng Qishi to the riverbank. Mu Anxiao glanced at the clear river water, then at the small fish swimming in it, and a smile played on her lips. “We’ll stay here tonight.”
Feng Qishi was taken aback. “This is your plan?”
Mu Anxiao nodded. “Plan where to eat and sleep first, then other things. Makes sense.” She turned to look at Feng Qishi.
Feng Qishi looked down at Mu Anxiao, then at the pleasant scenery around them, and smiled. “In the past, when we were in the mortal world, my family and I loved to go camping by the river.”
“What does camping mean?” Although Mu Anxiao had spent a month in the mortal world, there were still many things she didn’t understand.
“It means setting up tents, eating, and sleeping in places like this.”
“Your family was so well-off. I really don’t understand what you were thinking, coming to places like this.”
Compared to roughing it, Mu Anxiao preferred eating and sleeping indoors. Therefore, she couldn’t understand what Feng Qishi was saying.
Feng Qishi laughed. “Yeah, I don’t know what I was thinking. Every time we went camping, I’d end up getting scolded by my mom. But,” he looked at the river, “just looking at the river makes me feel better.”
“…” Mu Anxiao didn’t understand Feng Qishi’s feelings, so she remained silent.
Then, Feng Qishi, like Mu Anxiao, placed his hands on his hips. “Start a fire, or catch fish first? You decide,” he said, looking at Mu Anxiao.
“I just wanted to find a place, and you’ve arranged everything so well.”
“Aren’t you eating?” Feng Qishi countered.
Mu Anxiao took a deep breath and said, “The scenery here is indeed beautiful, and there are plenty of fish. But, right now, I just want to,” she thought of the ghost’s appearance, her eyes narrowing, “find the ghost.”
“I heard those people over there say that ghosts usually appear at night. You now,” he paused intentionally, then continued, “probably won’t be able to find it.”
“Won’t be able to find it.” Mu Anxiao repeated, playing Feng Qishi’s words back in her mind several times, then shook her head. “No.”
“How so?” Feng Qishi frowned.
“I saw the ghost during the day. And those people entered during the day, so we’ll go now.”
“Now?”
“Yes,” Mu Anxiao nodded. “I have a feeling things aren’t that simple. In other words, I feel… they are planning something.”
“Planning…” Feng Qishi thought for a moment and said firmly, “Then we definitely can’t go.”
“Why?” Mu Anxiao was confused.
“They all have plans, which shows they are cunning fellows. Moreover, the number of ghosts is surely not small. If we go directly now, we won’t have a good outcome. Do you understand what I mean?”
“…” Mu Anxiao was stunned.
Seeing Mu Anxiao’s silence, Feng Qishi added, “Silly Mu, do you understand what I’m saying?”
“If we go now, it’s a blind move, and we’ll definitely be in danger,” Mu Anxiao echoed Feng Qishi’s sentiment.
Feng Qishi affirmed, “That’s right.”
“Tell me,” Mu Anxiao stared intently at Feng Qishi’s face, “when will they set out to harm mortals?”
“…” Feng Qishi knew Mu Anxiao was deliberately testing him, so he thought for a moment before saying, “They don’t have the courage to do that yet.”
Mu Anxiao’s eyes lit up. “What do you mean?”
“That’s just my feeling,” Feng Qishi said seriously.
“Your feeling?”
“Yes. Although those people kept talking about ghosts, I noticed they weren’t guarded against them. Instead,” Feng Qishi said, “they were guarded against you. Do you know what that means?”
“What?” Mu Anxiao was completely led by Feng Qishi.
“It means those people have never seen a ghost and don’t truly understand them. In other words, they are treating you that way for a specific purpose.”
“You mean, they drove me away on purpose.”
“Not exactly on purpose, it’s more like fear,” Feng Qishi said calmly.
“Fear…” Mu Anxiao uttered the word and gave a bitter smile. “Indeed, it’s only right for them to fear me. If it weren’t for my existence, they wouldn’t have…”
“If you weren’t the first one to mention ghosts, they wouldn’t have targeted you.”
“I even said the wrong thing,” Mu Anxiao felt troubled.
“Sooner or later, it would have been you to say it. If someone else had said it, they might not have believed them.”
“Crazy Shen, what exactly are you trying to say?” Mu Anxiao was getting dizzy from Feng Qishi’s words.
Feng Qishi reached out and pinched Mu Anxiao’s cheek. “What I mean is, they’ve disliked you for a long time.”
“…” Mu Anxiao froze.
Seeing this, Feng Qishi lowered his hand. “What’s wrong? Can’t accept this reality?”
Mu Anxiao sighed, bent down, picked up some pebbles, and threw them into the water, saying, “I can’t quite accept it. I just don’t understand. Is it my character, or what? Why… do people bother me wherever I go?” As she spoke, she threw all the pebbles into the water.
Feng Qishi looked at the splashing water and said calmly, “It’s because you meddle too much. Your character is fine. Otherwise,” he leaned closer to Mu Anxiao, “I wouldn’t bother with you.”
“Meddle too much,” Mu Anxiao lowered her head. “I don’t want to meddle either, but if I don’t, how can I complete my mission?” She sighed deeply.