At first, Ouyang Ye had not paid much attention to why Mu Anxiao was in the dilapidated temple outside the city, nor had he given much thought to her whereabouts. But now, after hearing their exchange, he couldn't help but wonder… why had Mu Anxiao appeared there?
However, even with his many questions, he knew this was not the time to inquire about it with Mu Anxiao.
The next second, he dismissed his extraneous thoughts and, along with the woman, fixed his gaze on Mu Anxiao’s face.
Under the dual scrutiny.
This feeling, this atmosphere, also put immense pressure on Mu Anxiao. Swallowing, she slightly turned her head to glance at Ouyang Ye, then her mind raced and she said, "I remember now." She truly couldn't bear being stared at.
The woman smiled, "Speak."
Mu Anxiao looked at the smile on the woman’s face, her nerves tightening. Then, thinking about where she and Ouyang Ye had met, she realized that if she didn't offer some explanation, Ouyang Ye might become suspicious. The immediate priority was to resolve their questions.
With that in mind, she straightened her posture and, with a serious attitude, stated, "I was blown by that gust of demonic wind into the woods outside the city."
"The woods outside the city…" the woman mused, using the opportunity to think. She continued, "I recall that being the forbidden forest. How did you… get out?" She suspected Mu Anxiao was boasting.
At this moment, Mu Anxiao could discern some doubt on the woman’s face. If it weren't for Ouyang Ye, she wouldn't have bothered with such 'frank' talk. She knew that some things, some movements, were better left unsaid. Saying less might earn more trust, while saying too much could backfire and invite suspicion.
But, all because of Ouyang Ye, she could only… speak at length.
"I was often framed in the past…"
"Framed? How are you still alive?" the woman interjected.
Ouyang Ye crossed his arms.
Mu Anxiao knew the woman would never let her finish a sentence without interruption. She expected the woman to pick at her words unnecessarily. Therefore, she took this expected outcome in stride. "I misspoke, it was framed," she deftly corrected.
"Why?" The woman was indeed curious.
Mu Anxiao seized the opportunity to glance at Ouyang Ye and replied, "Why else? Who made me the daughter of a maid? Who made me a concubine's son?"
"Concubine's son… what is that?" the woman asked again.
Mu Anxiao understood… the woman was a demon, so it was normal for her to be unfamiliar with some worldly matters. However, the woman's question was quite time-consuming.
At this point, she needed to expedite her conversation with the woman.
"You don't need to know that." She intentionally evaded.
"You…"
"If you want to know where I was blown, then your constant prying now is perhaps a bit… excessive."
"How am I excessive?"
"I pry into your past, rubbing salt in your wounds. Would you be willing?" Mu Anxiao retorted sharply.
The moment Mu Anxiao uttered those words, the woman was momentarily speechless, then embarrassed. "I was just curious."
"Your demonic aura has also significantly weakened," Mu Anxiao deliberately shifted the topic.
"My demonic aura is my own business. I want to ask you one last question."
"You may, but when I answer, I hope you won't interrupt me," Mu Anxiao said calmly.
The woman nodded.
"Speak," Mu Anxiao gestured towards the woman.
The woman cautiously observed Mu Anxiao for a few seconds and said, "You were framed, why did you manage to come back alive?"
Come back alive?
Yes, why had she managed to come back alive? Thinking back, if not for Jia’s help, Mu Anxiao probably would have… perished long ago? If not for Jia's company, she would have died of boredom in the Mu manor long ago?
With the word ‘death’ in mind, Mu Anxiao finally realized Jia's importance. Thinking of this, she looked towards the back gate of the General’s manor, her heart filled with worry for Jia and Lou Yi’s safety.
Ouyang Ye lowered his head, looking at Mu Anxiao, whose expression had suddenly changed. He frowned and reached out to nudge her shoulder. "…" He deliberately remained silent.
The woman, seeing Mu Anxiao looking back towards the back gate, asked, "What are you doing?"
Following this, prompted differently by Ouyang Ye and the woman, Mu Anxiao snapped back to attention and looked at the woman, "I can climb trees."
"What do you mean?" The woman didn't understand.
Mu Anxiao’s lips curved, "I grew up in the rural forests, so I naturally know the ways of survival in the wilderness. In short," she said, "everything I experienced is beyond your imagination."
"That's why you could come back," the woman believed Mu Anxiao.
Mu Anxiao nodded, "Yes, that's the reason. Alright, you can go back now."
"What are you going to do?" The woman was inquisitive.
"I'm going to hunt demons with him," Mu Anxiao deliberately involved Ouyang Ye in the matter.
Upon hearing this, the woman glanced at Ouyang Ye’s face and realized… the Ouyang Ye before her was indeed no ordinary person. Looking at him, she felt a sense of dread. "Is that so? Then you go ahead." With that, she hastily averted her gaze and moved away.
Seeing this, Mu Anxiao suddenly remembered her promise to Lin Zhao. As the woman passed by her, she reached out and grabbed the woman’s arm. "…" She turned her head to meet the woman’s eyes.
The woman met Mu Anxiao’s gaze and asked, "What is it?" She hadn’t reacted yet.
Mu Anxiao blinked her eyes and said, "Don't go looking for Lin Zhao."
"I…"
"If you dare to look," Mu Anxiao deliberately interrupted the woman, glancing at Ouyang Ye, and continued, "I'll have my brother here deal with you."
"…" The woman’s expression stiffened. She dared not look at Ouyang Ye and nodded.
"Answer me," Mu Anxiao said sternly.
The woman hadn't felt anything initially, but because of Ouyang Ye, she was thoroughly intimidated. Therefore, she dared not respond vaguely to Mu Anxiao’s words. "I understand," she said, her voice trembling, her attitude earnest.
Mu Anxiao liked the woman’s reaction and immediately let go.
Seeing this, the woman nodded slightly, quickly passed Mu Anxiao, and went through the wall without looking back.
After the woman had completely departed, Mu Anxiao suddenly looked at Ouyang Ye. "…"
Ouyang Ye looked down at Mu Anxiao, who was inexplicably looking at him. Instead of surprise, he smiled, "Why are you looking at me?"
"I didn't notice before," Mu Anxiao said nonsensically.
Ouyang Ye frowned, "What do you mean?"
"You're quite useful, but…" Mu Anxiao hesitated, thinking of her 'adversarial' relationship with Ouyang Ye, and snorted, "You're useless to me." With that, she turned and walked forward.
Ouyang Ye lowered his gaze, pondered for a moment, and then followed her.