Feng Qishi patted Shi Yi’s shoulder, “Kid, you’ve gotten smarter.”
“I’ve always been smart,” Shi Yi said, pushing Feng Qishi’s hand away.
Mu Anxiao asked, “Can you two find them?” She glanced at Hun Ling and Feng Qishi.
Feng Qishi shook his head slightly.
Hun Ling said, “It’s very difficult, because they took human form using human soul essence. They had a presence just now, but…” He sensed again and said, “It’s gone now.”
“And you?” Mu Anxiao looked at Feng Qishi.
Feng Qishi shook his head, “Gone.”
“Then what should we do?” Mu Anxiao was anxious.
Hun Ling said, “We can only search blindly, but,” a flash of inspiration struck him as he looked at Shi Yi, “He should be able to find them more easily than us.”
“Me?” Shi Yi pointed to himself, flashing a simple smile, “You must be joking, I can’t possibly.”
“You’re a demon, your body’s…”
Hun Ling trailed off as Mu Anxiao tugged at the sachet around her neck, interrupting, “Wait, if we can’t find them, I’ll lure them out.” With that, she took off the sachet from her neck.
“What are you doing?” Hun Ling asked, surprised.
“I have immortal energy on me. As long as I stay here motionless, they’ll come to me automatically,” Mu Anxiao said, handing the sachet to Shi Yi, “Hold this for me.”
“What if this attracts other demons?” Shi Yi asked, looking down at the sachet that had landed in his hands.
Mu Anxiao picked up her teacup and said, “The better if it attracts them. That way,” she looked at Feng Qishi, “He’ll have someone to practice on.”
Hearing this, Shi Yi glanced at Feng Qishi.
Feng Qishi frowned, “You really know how to seize an opportunity.”
“That’s a given. Since you’re the one who catches demons, and I have this connection, if you don’t use it well,” Mu Anxiao pointed at Feng Qishi, “then you’re just foolish.”
“Fine, I’ll catch demons, and you’ll get paid. I’ll give you a share,” Feng Qishi smiled.
“That’s rightfully yours,” Mu Anxiao said, turning to Hun Ling, “Remember to protect me later.”
“I dare not,” Hun Ling shook his head.
“You know demonic arts, so you can naturally defeat them. Have some confidence,” Mu Anxiao smiled, reaching out to pat Hun Ling’s shoulder, then recalling that she couldn't touch him, she withdrew her hand.
“I heard you could touch Hun Ling before?” Hun Ling asked, looking at Mu Anxiao’s hand.
“Don’t ask. I’m useless now. Looking at me should give you more confidence,” Mu Anxiao smiled.
“Your smile is creepy,” Hun Ling said, looking at the stiff curve of Mu Anxiao’s lips.
Mu Anxiao sighed, “Every time I call myself useless, I feel exceptionally depressed. Feng Qishi,” she looked at Feng Qishi with determined eyes, “You must fight demons well. Only then can I get rid of this feeling.”
“What does that have to do with me?”
“You figure it out yourself,” Mu Anxiao said, looking at Shi Yi holding the sachet, “Hurry and put it on. I might attract a rat demon, so wear it if you want to live.”
“I’m not afraid,” Shi Yi declared firmly.
“You’re not afraid?” Mu Anxiao was surprised, “No, weren’t you very scared before?”
“I don’t want to live like this, always running away. I want to live openly, so,” Shi Yi pursed his lips and smiled, “I’ll listen to you. I want to protect the rat demon and gain its trust.”
“This matter hasn’t been confirmed yet, what if…”
“Alright, it’s decided,” Shi Yi interrupted, tossing the sachet back to Mu Anxiao, “If there’s danger, wear it. It can save your life.”
“You’re right,” Mu Anxiao nodded, reaching out to take the sachet.
Shi Yi smiled.
Feng Qishi looked at the expression on Shi Yi’s face, recalling his earlier frenzied demeanor, and thought: Strange, what’s going on with this guy? Why is he always showing a relieved expression after returning? He furrowed his brow.
A quarter of an hour later, the sky changed drastically, and Mu Anxiao’s expression turned tense.
“What’s going on?” The owner of the wonton stall asked, looking at the sky with confusion.
Feng Qishi glanced at the owner, then back at Mu Anxiao, asking, “Strange, why can this owner see?”
“Most of the people here are demons. Their ability to conceal their presence is weak, so they are easily discovered,” Mu Anxiao explained casually.
“What you’re saying means that demons…”
“Demons don’t like to interact with humans, so they conceal themselves to create the illusion for the world that they don’t exist. This way, no one interferes with anyone else’s life,” Shi Yi interrupted the explanation.
Feng Qishi smiled in realization, “You actually know quite a lot.”
“People and demons here are not that harmonious,” Shi Yi sighed.
“They all need human soul essence, hence the disharmony,” Mu Anxiao said.
“Makes sense,” Feng Qishi nodded.
Hun Ling looked around and said, “There’s no supervision from soul spirits here. If there were, these demons wouldn’t dare to act so recklessly.”
“They can’t defeat these demons, so naturally, there are none,” Mu Anxiao said faintly.
“It was in this area that I encountered the demon back then,” Hun Ling said in a low voice.
“Time will prove your innocence,” Mu Anxiao said, turning to look at Hun Ling.
“I don’t want to prove myself to anyone anymore. Anyway, I’ll be punished when I go back,” Shi Yi said dejectedly.
Mu Anxiao was speechless.
Shi Yi looked at Hun Ling’s expression and said, “I think Mu Anxiao is right.”
Feng Qishi looked at Shi Yi and said excitedly, “Yes, I think so too.”
“Thank you,” Hun Ling said with a wry smile.
Mu Anxiao glanced calmly at Hun Ling, stood up, and said, “They’re here.”
“Mm,” Feng Qishi nodded, turning to look at the fleeing mortals, “They’ll be here soon.” He then took out silver from his sleeve, walked around the chair to the owner, and said, “Go back.”
“Yes, thank you,” the owner nodded, took the silver, tidied up, and left.
The other people in the wonton stall had also fled.
The restaurant where the man in green and his companions were did not close. Hong Yan stood up and looked down at the fleeing crowd in the street, saying, “The sky is not right.” She then looked up at the hazy sky.
The man in green stood up and walked to the window, looking up at the sky and saying, “Not good, there’s a demon.”
“A demon…” Hong Yan repeated, stepping back behind the man in green, “Young Master, could it be because of Mu Anxiao?”
The man in green looked at the gray mist gathering in one direction, saying, “It seems possible.”
“Then we must hurry and see,” Hong Yan said excitedly.
The man in green sighed, turned to look at Hong Yan, and said, “You stay here, don’t go.”
“Why?” Hong Yan took a step forward and asked.
“It’s too dangerous. Your demonic arts are too weak,” the man in green said faintly.