Lin Zhao’s eyes widened in fright as the woman looked at him.
Mu Anxiao, still calmly observing the woman on horseback, continued their conversation. "So, if I were a man, you would give Nightmare to me?" As she spoke, she sniffed the air, still tinged with the smell of manure, but found no trace of demonic energy.
At this, the woman let out a cold laugh at Lin Zhao, then turned back to Mu Anxiao, saying, "If you were him, I doubt you would have gotten yourself into that state." She then met Mu Anxiao's gaze intently.
Mu Anxiao looked up at the woman with the cold laugh and said softly, "It seems you have a history with him."
Hearing Mu Anxiao’s words, Lin Zhao quickly interjected, "I've never even met her. She and I have no history." He swallowed, taking a step back.
The woman then fixed her glare on Lin Zhao. "It’s precisely because you’re like this that I must give you such a gift," she said, looking down at Mu Anxiao. "Step back a bit, I’m getting off."
At the woman’s words, Mu Anxiao consciously took two steps back.
Immediately after, the woman leaped off the horse and calmly looked at Lin Zhao, saying, "You didn’t say that before. You used to say I was the most beautiful, that no matter what I became, you wouldn’t be afraid, that no matter what I became, you would still love me. Now," she narrowed her eyes, "you deny it."
"When did I ever say that? I don’t even know."
"You don’t know," the woman laughed. "As expected of someone who drank the soup; your memory is gone."
"What soup? I don’t understand what you’re talking about," Lin Zhao said, leaning against the wall. He urgently looked at Mu Anxiao, "Cao Gen, help me! You said you would help me."
"I didn’t say I wouldn’t help you," Mu Anxiao replied. She turned to the woman who was about to approach Lin Zhao. "I advise you not to go any closer."
"My business with him has nothing to do with you."
"I didn’t say it did, but do you really think it’s appropriate to torment his spirit like this?" Mu Anxiao countered, fixing her gaze on the woman’s profile.
Hearing Mu Anxiao’s words, the woman shot Lin Zhao a fierce glare, then looked at her. "What, you’re feeling sorry for him now?"
"The Nightmare you gave him is actually your own experience, isn’t it?" Mu Anxiao said softly.
At this, the woman’s expression froze.
Seizing the moment, Mu Anxiao reached out and took the woman’s arm. "It seems I hit the mark." As she attempted to sense any demonic energy within the woman’s body, the woman began to cry.
Seeing this, Mu Anxiao was stunned.
Lin Zhao, rubbing against the wall, slowly crouched down and buried his head in his hands.
The next second, the woman, while crying, said, "I was so good to him, and he so cruelly pushed me into the abyss. Thousands of hands, ceaselessly, ceaselessly grabbing my feet. That feeling," she lifted her tear-streaked face, "do you understand?"
"I don’t, but I know this," Mu Anxiao said, deliberately tightening her grip on the woman’s arm. "By doing this, you’re not punishing him, you’re harming yourself." As she spoke, she sensed demonic energy within the woman, but it was impure, mixed with spiritual energy.
"I..." The woman sobbed and then laughed. "You outsider, you don’t understand my situation at all." With that, she put on a stern face, immediately shook off Mu Anxiao’s hand, and vanished.
Mu Anxiao felt nothing from this. Instead, she looked down at the cellar and said, "I won't tell anyone you're here." She then crouched down and placed the dry grass back on top.
At the same time, Lin Zhao looked over. "Why didn’t you just eliminate her?"
Hearing this, Mu Anxiao paused, then looked up at the distraught Lin Zhao. "It wasn’t necessary."
"She harmed me so much," Lin Zhao said, pushing himself up from the ground unsteadily. "And you say it wasn’t necessary? Cao Gen, were you attracted by her beauty? Were you..."
"Shut up," Mu Anxiao interrupted. After covering the last layer of dry grass, she stood up and said, "She has her own difficulties. You just sleep well at night."
"Can I sleep? She’s still here," Lin Zhao said, his voice hoarse.
Mu Anxiao looked at Lin Zhao’s expression, which clearly conveyed his desire to see the woman completely gone, and smiled helplessly. "You sleep soundly, I’m here, aren’t I?" With that, she walked out of the stable.
Lin Zhao fell silent.
Seeing this, Mu Anxiao sighed lightly and said, "Don’t worry, I’ll make sure you sleep well." She then stepped in front of Lin Zhao.
Lin Zhao looked down at Mu Anxiao, his eyes darkening. "Remember your words," he said, casting one last glance at the stable before leaving.
After Lin Zhao had gone, Mu Anxiao turned to look at the stable. Just as she was about to speak, there was a knock on the back door.
Hearing the knock, Mu Anxiao’s body stiffened. She turned and asked, "Who is it?" She deliberately deepened her voice.
"Cao Gen, right?"
"It’s me." Mu Anxiao didn’t recognize the voice and asked again, "Who are you?"
"It’s me, your boss."
"Boss..." Mu Anxiao repeated. She glanced back at the stable, then quickly walked to the door and opened it, looking directly at Ouyang Ye, who had brought Lin Zong back. She exclaimed in surprise, "Boss, who is this?" She then grinned mischievously.
Seeing Mu Anxiao act this way, Lin Zong grabbed Ouyang Ye's arm.
Ouyang Ye looked down at Lin Zong and said, "You don’t need to worry about that. Move aside."
"Oh." Mu Anxiao nodded, gave Lin Zong a simple smile, and moved aside. As she did, she glanced at the horse on the pile of dry grass and let out a sigh of relief.
Then, as Lin Zong passed Mu Anxiao, he was so scared that he tightened his grip on Ouyang Ye's arm.
This scene also happened to catch Mu Anxiao’s eye. "This young lady is a perfect match for you," she said. As they entered, she closed the door and bolted it.
Hearing this, Ouyang Ye glanced back at Mu Anxiao’s retreating figure and said, "Cao Gen, I advise you not to speak carelessly, or don’t blame me for being impolite." He then led Lin Zong inside.
Mu Anxiao chuckled to herself, thinking, 'If I find a wife for Ouyang Ye, will I be safe?' With that thought, she turned and followed them.
Moments later.
Mu Anxiao followed them back outside the coachman’s room. At the same time, Lin Zong looked around and then at Ouyang Ye, saying, "Didn’t you say you were taking me to see Shen Moyun?"
"You can’t see Shen Moyun yet," Ouyang Ye replied, pushing the door open.
Seeing this, Gu Yan quickly reverted to her original appearance and walked over.
Mu Anxiao followed behind them, feigning surprise. "You’re here to find Shen Moyun."
Inside the room, Gu Yan stopped the moment she heard Mu Anxiao’s voice.