Mu Anxiao looked at the path with a trace of demonic energy, recalling Zhao Xiang’s sycophantic demeanor from the previous moment. Her eyes darkened, and after a final glance at the path to her right, she followed She Ning and Zhao Xiang.
Not long after, halfway along the path, it became enveloped in mist, and the temperature began to plummet. Mu Anxiao walked behind Zhao Xiang, observing the sides in silence. She thought, it seemed they were close to their destination.
At the same time, Zhao Xiang sensed something was amiss. "She Ning, are you sure this is the right way?" he asked, patting She Ning's shoulder.
She Ning stopped, glancing warily at the surroundings. He whispered, "My choices have never been wrong. Follow me, and you'll be fine." He looked back at Zhao Xiang, then ahead.
Reassured by She Ning's words, Zhao Xiang said, "Then I'll continue to trust you." He turned his head slightly to look at Mu Anxiao, who was observing their surroundings behind them. "Can you stop being so jumpy?"
However, Mu Anxiao hadn't expected Zhao Xiang to pick a fight with her at a time like this. She withdrew her gaze from the surroundings and looked at Zhao Xiang, who was also enveloped by the mist. "What I want to do is my business, what does it have to do with you," she said coldly. She could barely make out Zhao Xiang's face.
Similarly, Zhao Xiang couldn't see Mu Anxiao's face either. To prevent her from getting lost, he reached out to grab her arm.
Seeing Zhao Xiang's peculiar behavior, Mu Anxiao asked, "What are you doing?"
Zhao Xiang narrowed his eyes. "What else? The mist is so thick, I have to lead you. What if you get lost?" As he spoke, he successfully grabbed Mu Anxiao's arm.
Mu Anxiao felt uncomfortable by Zhao Xiang's sudden pull. "I can keep up with you. Don't pull me," she said, shaking his hand off.
Conversely, Zhao Xiang tightened his grip on her arm. "Even though we don't know Mo Yun's situation yet, if you get lost, I'll have no face to see Mo Yun later. Also," he leaned in to meet Mu Anxiao's eyes, "you still have to help me."
"You..."
"Of course, the most important thing is Ouyang Ye. If you get lost, my parents and I will be in trouble. This responsibility," Zhao Xiang interrupted Mu Anxiao and became serious, "I cannot bear."
"You certainly are thoughtful," Mu Anxiao said. To prevent more people from being implicated because of her, she stopped struggling and let Zhao Xiang hold her arm.
Zhao Xiang smiled and was about to speak when the roars of monsters suddenly converged.
Instantly, Zhao Xiang's smiling face was replaced by sheer terror. "What's going on?" he asked, staring at Mu Anxiao, his voice trembling.
Mu Anxiao knew this would be the outcome and Zhao Xiang's reaction. But at this point, she couldn't be bothered to say anything.
She calmly stared at Zhao Xiang's terrified face, feeling no mockery towards him. Instead, she worried if the number of monsters would exceed her expectations.
Seeing Mu Anxiao's silence, Zhao Xiang grew even more frightened. "How about we run?" he said, taking a step forward, ignoring She Ning behind them.
Mu Anxiao saw this and placed her hand over Zhao Xiang's suddenly cold one. "We can't run," she said.
Zhao Xiang shivered. "Why?"
Mu Anxiao replied, "Why else? We are already in the monsters' trap. Did you really think this mist appeared out of nowhere?" She tilted her chin.
Now, Zhao Xiang could see Mu Anxiao's face clearly. "Then what should we do?" he asked, no longer as arrogant as before.
Mu Anxiao's lips curved into a smile. "Do you still trust my intuition?"
"Intuition..." Zhao Xiang repeated, then forced a dry laugh. "Even if I trust it now, it's probably too late."
"Isn't he here?" Mu Anxiao said, pointing at She Ning, who was still with his back to them.
Upon hearing this, She Ning turned to look at Mu Anxiao. "Do you think they fear me?"
"Just now..." Mu Anxiao hesitated, trying to sniff the air. She found she could only smell dampness; she couldn't detect any demonic energy at all.
The next second, a splash of water hit them. Zhao Xiang tightened his grip on Mu Anxiao's arm and asked, "Are we done for?"
"Shut up," Mu Anxiao reminded him coldly, looking at She Ning. "They can't sense your spiritual energy anymore."
She Ning chuckled. "I see. So," he looked to the sides, "you can't rely on me either. You'll have to do it yourself." With that, he quickly turned and swung his arm forward. At the same time, the screams of monsters suddenly erupted.
"We can't see them, but they can see us," Mu Anxiao instantly realized the gravity of the situation.
She Ning said, "I see. Let's begin."
"It seems we have no choice," Mu Anxiao said, looking down at Zhao Xiang, who was clinging to her arm. "Excuse me, you're getting in my way."
Zhao Xiang's complaint was completely drowned out by his fear. He couldn't hear Mu Anxiao's words and muttered to himself, "I knew I should have trusted you. Such a mistake, such a mistake. She Ning has really harmed me. This is infuriating, utterly infuriating." As he spoke, he pressed his face against Mu Anxiao's arm.
Mu Anxiao looked at Zhao Xiang, who had completely made her his reliance, with a helpless expression. After a moment's hesitation, she raised her fist and punched him twice on the head.
Suddenly stimulated by the pain, Zhao Xiang looked up at Mu Anxiao. "Why are you hitting me?" he asked, looking wronged.
Mu Anxiao held up her 'burning' fist and looked dismissively at the clearly startled Zhao Xiang. "You're too much of a hindrance. Let go," she said, gently trying to move her arm that Zhao Xiang was holding.
Zhao Xiang shook his head. "No."
"If you're scared, hide behind me."
"Behind you," Zhao Xiang said, peeking behind Mu Anxiao. He shook his head. "No, behind you doesn't look safe either."
"Then what do you want?" Mu Anxiao was losing patience with Zhao Xiang.
Zhao Xiang pursed his lips and said shamelessly, "To be with you."
Mu Anxiao was speechless.
Zhao Xiang pouted, winked at Mu Anxiao, and just as he was about to lean on her arm, She Ning shouted, "Move aside."
Hearing this, Zhao Xiang's eyes widened, and he quickly pulled Mu Anxiao to the side. Mu Anxiao jumped in fright and turned to look at a black shadow that whizzed past them. She said calmly, "Indeed, it's not safe."
Seeing this, Zhao Xiang finally let go. "Protect me," he said, patting Mu Anxiao's shoulder.
Mu Anxiao came to her senses and looked at Zhao Xiang, who had completely entrusted himself to her. "You are Ouyang Ye's subordinate, after all. If you can't even deal with these monsters, it's rather embarrassing, isn't it?"
Zhao Xiang averted his gaze and remained silent.