Gu Yanye’s words were well-founded, and Ouyang Ye found no reason to doubt them. He shifted his gaze back to the spirits. “They can’t stay here,” he said, raising his hand.
Gu Yan quickly interjected, “Master, the matter hasn’t been investigated thoroughly. It might be unwise to take them back just yet.”
Ouyang Ye paused, his hand still raised, and turned to Gu Yan. “What are your thoughts?”
“Master, I still believe some things should be investigated. What if,” Gu Yan glanced at the spirits, “they’ve been ensnared by demonic arts? If those arts retaliate upon our return, things could get complicated.”
Gu Yan, who had initially remained silent, couldn’t help but let out a cold laugh at Gu Yan’s words. “That’s utter nonsense. You’re really pushing it, aren’t you?”
“What do you mean?” Gu Yan asked, annoyed.
“There’s no demonic aura emanating from these spirits, yet you speak of demonic retaliation,” Gu Yan said, looking at Ouyang Ye. “What you’re implying is that you look down on Master.”
“You…”
“What ‘you’? Dare you say you don’t think that way?”
“I don’t!” Gu Yan exclaimed.
Gu Yan crossed her arms and surveyed Gu Yan from head to toe. “No means yes. You really are…”
“Gu Yan, you’re unusually agitated today,” Ouyang Ye interrupted, unable to watch any longer.
Gu Yan looked at Ouyang Ye. “She looks down on you. You’re so powerful, yet she uses the word ‘retaliation.’ I think that’s disrespectful to you.”
“You, be quiet,” Ouyang Ye said coldly, then looked at Gu Yan. “What do you think?”
Gu Yan lowered her eyelids slightly. “Master, I dare not speak anymore.”
“It’s alright, speak your mind.”
“But…”
“I believe you,” Ouyang Ye said with genuine sincerity.
Gu Yan looked up at Ouyang Ye, speaking earnestly. “Based on our discussions, I’ve realized this matter has nothing to do with Gu Yan or myself. And the spirits are our secret. Logically, no one should know, yet the spirits have indeed been brought here by someone. I just wonder who that person is.”
“Who do you think it is?” Ouyang Ye probed.
Gu Yan pursed her lips and shook her head slightly. “I don’t know.”
“You don’t know?” Ouyang Ye said, shifting his gaze back to Gu Yan. “Gu Yan, what do you think?”
Gu Yan had targeted Gu Yan because she feared being framed. However, Gu Yan’s brief statement had instantly cleared her name. Therefore, she abandoned her pursuit of Gu Yan. After a moment’s thought, she said seriously, “I know, but I don’t know if it’s appropriate to say.”
Gu Yan felt a pang of anxiety, but even so, she had prepared her words to clear herself.
Ouyang Ye said, “Speak.”
“Then I’ll say it,” Gu Yan said, glancing cautiously at Gu Yan. “I think it’s Mu Xiao.”
This was the outcome Gu Yan had wanted. Her heart, which had been in her throat, finally settled.
“Mu Xiao.” Ouyang Ye’s eyes darkened.
Gu Yan, hearing Ouyang Ye’s low tone, became fearful. “If you think what I said is inappropriate, then…”
“I’ve always suspected her,” Ouyang Ye interrupted.
Gu Yan was startled. *Could it be that Mu Xiao predicted this?*
Gu Yan was also surprised. “If you knew, why did you still target us?” she looked at Gu Yan.
“I just didn’t believe she had that kind of ability. But after communicating with you, I realize I truly underestimated that person,” Ouyang Ye said, looking down and spotting a piece of paper on the ground. “What is that?”
Gu Yan saw this and quickly asked, “Do you want to see it?”
Ouyang Ye didn’t reply. He stepped forward, bent down, and picked up the paper.
Gu Yan felt a surge of nervousness.
“Be careful,” Gu Yan said.
“It’s just a piece of paper, nothing to be nervous about,” Ouyang Ye said. He unfolded it and was stunned.
The content read: “These spirits are mine, Mu An Xiao’s. No one is allowed to touch them.”
Looking at the simple message, Ouyang Ye was speechless.
“What is it, Master?” Gu Yan asked, staring intently at Ouyang Ye’s face.
Gu Yan glanced at the paper in Ouyang Ye’s hand but said nothing.
At the same time, Ouyang Ye crumpled the paper into a ball, threw it on the ground, and said, “Take them away.”
“Why? Aren’t we waiting for Mu Xiao?”
“Mu Xiao is dead,” Ouyang Ye said, waving his arm, and he, along with the spirits, disappeared.
Only Gu Yan and Gu Yan were left.
Gu Yan became very interested in the paper. She stepped forward, bent down, picked it up, and unfolded it. “This is too childish,” she said.
“What did it say?” Gu Yan asked, feigning curiosity.
Gu Yan read, “These spirits are mine, Mu An Xiao’s. No one is allowed to touch them.” She frowned. “Mu An Xiao, isn’t that Mu Xiao?”
“I heard she has two names: Mu Xiao and Mu An Xiao,” Gu Yan said.
“You know quite a lot,” Gu Yan said, crumpling the paper and throwing it on the ground. “Let’s go too.”
“Mm.” Gu Yan agreed, then suddenly remembered the strong wind outside and asked, “What about the wind?”
“It’ll stop in a while,” Gu Yan replied, then leaped upwards and disappeared.
Gu Yan sighed and followed Gu Yan away.
The servants outside remained in their circle, waiting for the wind to pass.
At the same time, the soul of the deceased maid arrived at the door, her gaze fixed intently on the crumpled paper.
Not far away.
Mu An Xiao stood behind a tree, looking up at the dissipating red beams of light. “They’re gone,” she said.
Feng Qishi stood behind Mu An Xiao, a look of confusion on his face. “What did you say?” He hadn’t noticed the situation over there, being more concerned about the ominous wind.
“I said Ouyang Ye and the others have left,” Mu An Xiao said, looking down at Feng Qishi’s hand, which was about to cast a spell. “You can stop the wind now.” She then moved aside.
“Didn’t you say this wind had nothing to do with Ouyang Ye?” Feng Qishi was angry.
When they had arrived, the wind had already started blowing. At that time, seeing the situation, Feng Qishi had been anxious and was about to go find Ouyang Ye. However, Mu An Xiao had worried that if Feng Qishi went, he would disrupt their original plan. To ensure the mission’s success, she had stopped Feng Qishi and even claimed the wind had nothing to do with Ouyang Ye. Feng Qishi had calmed down because of Mu An Xiao’s words. Now, they were gone, and Mu An Xiao claimed it was related to Ouyang Ye. Feng Qishi found this rather surprising, but more than that… he was indignant.
“Why are you angry? Even if you went, you might not have seen him. Instead, he would have seen through you.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“It means that guy was invisible just now,” Mu An Xiao said blandly.
Feng Qishi frowned slightly.