Mu Anxiao had encountered many thick-skinned individuals like the man in the bamboo hat. By all rights, she should have grown accustomed to it. However, his secretive movements and sudden appearance made her suspicious once more.
"Didn't you go to fight monsters?" she asked directly, having no patience for further pleasantries.
The man in the bamboo hat let out a laugh to emphasize his emotions.
Mu Anxiao narrowed her eyes, signaling that she didn't understand the man's amusement.
The man in the bamboo hat seemed to glean her thoughts from her expression. He inhaled sharply and casually said, "It's all your fault."
"..." Mu Anxiao was bewildered, deliberately narrowing her eyes into slits.
"What, are you speechless?" The man in the bamboo hat pointed at Mu Anxiao's face and chuckled again. "In any case, you owe me compensation."
Mu Anxiao remained silent, crossing her arms in front of her. She wanted to see what else this shameless man in the bamboo hat would say to try and extort her.
Similarly, Zhao Xiang and She Ning were instantly perplexed by the man in the bamboo hat. He was the one who had urged them to keep a secret, then vanished, and also the one who bid them farewell. Now, after they had finally managed to conceal the matter and earn Mu Anxiao's trust, he suddenly reappeared, spewing words that could easily be misunderstood. The two exchanged glances and continued to remain silent.
The next moment, after a brief standoff with Mu Anxiao, the man in the bamboo hat shifted his gaze to them.
Seeing this, both of them tensed up instantly.
The man in the bamboo hat smiled at them and finally looked at She Ning, "Your injury has healed."
She Ning nodded, unsure of what else to say.
The man in the bamboo hat smiled, "Are you feeling much better after taking my pill?"
She Ning couldn't quite grasp the man's intentions, but considering he was his savior, She Ning chose to cooperate. "Much better," She Ning replied honestly.
"That's good," the man in the bamboo hat said, then turned his gaze back to Mu Anxiao, who remained unwilling to speak. "There's no such thing as a free lunch, nor a free pie."
"That's your business, it has nothing to do with me." Mu Anxiao understood his meaning.
The man in the bamboo hat smiled.
Mu Anxiao frowned, deciding not to waste any more time. "Can you stop laughing? Your laugh is truly unpleasant."
"You're the one who made me laugh," the man in the bamboo hat replied, picking up his bow and arrow again.
This time, the moment Mu Anxiao saw him pick up the bow and arrow, she retreated two steps. "What are you doing?" She glanced at the bow and arrow in his hand, her heart pounding with nervousness.
Zhao Xiang frowned, utterly confused.
She Ning glanced at Zhao Xiang, then at the man in the bamboo hat opposite them, and deliberately asked, "Didn't you go to fight monsters? How come... you followed?" He regarded the man in the bamboo hat as his benefactor and wanted to help him out of this awkward situation.
To his surprise, the man in the bamboo hat didn't even spare She Ning a glance. Instead, his gaze was fixed on Mu Anxiao's face. "I told you, I feel sorry for you."
"Sorry for me?" Mu Anxiao retorted. After scrutinizing the man in the bamboo hat, she added, "You're quite contradictory. First, you say I owe you compensation, then you say... sorry. Are you out of your mind?"
"Love at first sight, understand?" the man in the bamboo hat said suddenly, his tone sickeningly sweet.
Love at first sight?
Zhao Xiang and She Ning had never witnessed such a scene before. Now, at this unexpected declaration, they both wore expressions of astonishment.
Subsequently, Mu Anxiao repeated the words 'love at first sight' and said, "You mean you fell in love with me at first sight." She remained expressionless.
Throughout all this, the only person who had ever stirred Mu Anxiao's heart was Feng Qishi. Thus, she felt nothing towards the man in the bamboo hat's sudden confession.
Hearing Mu Anxiao's nonchalant reply, the man in the bamboo hat let out a laugh. "So calm."
"Or else?"
"I did fall in love with you at first sight," the man in the bamboo hat stated calmly.
"So what? Though, I must say," Mu Anxiao curled her lips and nodded slightly, "you have excellent taste. I have countless admirable qualities."
However, Zhao Xiang and She Ning were completely taken aback by Mu Anxiao's blunt response. Mulling over her words, they couldn't help but reveal expressions of disdain.
Similarly, the man in the bamboo hat smiled, "Are you rejecting me, or..."
"Rejecting you," Mu Anxiao interrupted coldly.
Upon hearing this, the man in the bamboo hat laughed even more unrestrainedly. "Haha, that's the most direct rejection I've ever heard. To be honest," he suddenly dropped his smile, "I'm quite vengeful." He stared intently at Mu Anxiao's face.
Mu Anxiao remained unfazed, staring back at the black cloth covering the man in the bamboo hat's face. "Vengeful? I have plenty of enemies. Actually," she said nonchalantly, "one more or one less makes no difference to me."
"You..."
"I don't owe you anything. That pill was for him," Mu Anxiao said. Remembering She Ning's earlier attempt to defend the man in the bamboo hat, she chuckled. "Besides, from what I know, he's quite grateful to you. If you have any issues, go find him. I'm not one to meddle in others' affairs."
"I just want you to repay him."
"Not a chance," Mu Anxiao flatly refused. She then looked up at the high wall and said, "I have a way." Ignoring the man in the bamboo hat, she turned to Zhao Xiang.
"What way?" Zhao Xiang asked, not forgetting to glance at the man in the bamboo hat.
Mu Anxiao: "I'll climb over. You guys wait here for me."
"You..."
"Your physical condition isn't too good, is it?" the man in the bamboo hat interrupted Zhao Xiang.
Hearing this, Zhao Xiang pursed his lips, no longer daring to speak.
Mu Anxiao's brow furrowed. She turned to the man in the bamboo hat who had rudely interjected, tutting. "Was I talking to you? Why are you so impolite?"
The man in the bamboo hat didn't feel he had done anything wrong and deliberately shrugged at Mu Anxiao.
Seeing the man in the bamboo hat's shameless gesture, Mu Anxiao curled her lips and turned back to Zhao Xiang, "Can you do it?"
"You'd better take me with you," Zhao Xiang said softly, his face filled with apprehension.
"Perhaps the coachman isn't inside. If you go in with me now, won't you risk being discovered by Ouyang Ye?" Mu Anxiao said.
"You can hide yourself..." Zhao Xiang, realizing he had spoken out of turn, abruptly turned his face towards She Ning.
She Ning startled, "Why are you looking at me?" he asked, glancing at Mu Anxiao as well.
The man in the bamboo hat watched Mu Anxiao's slightly shifting gaze and smiled down.