Jia detested being called a child more than anything. In his heart, despite his childish body, he was already an adult, even the most formidable one. Thus, hearing Mu Anxiao’s mocking words, he became angry.
“What right do you have to say that about me?” He held his head high, determined to regain some dignity.
Mu Anxiao looked down at Jia, this tiny figure, and couldn’t help but laugh. “Your behavior has undoubtedly exposed your immature mind. What, does it only allow others to praise you and not to speak the truth?”
“You…”
“If you ask me, you should learn more about the rules here, lest,” Mu Anxiao deliberately interrupted, glancing at Hun Ling, “you can’t answer when someone asks, and embarrass yourself.”
“I don’t feel embarrassed,” Jia said defiantly.
Mu Anxiao looked at Jia’s stubborn expression and nodded with a smile. “Yes, yes, yes. As long as you’re not embarrassed, everyone else is.”
“What are you talking about?” Jia was displeased.
Mu Anxiao was not intimidated by Jia’s attitude at all; instead, she became even more self-righteous. “I’m just someone who likes to state facts. What can you do about it?” After speaking, she looked up at the misty sky. xxs壹贰
Jia and Mu Anxiao had known each other for a while, though not an extremely long time. During that period, he was often ridiculed by Mu Anxiao, so it had become commonplace for him. However, because of Hun Ling’s presence, he couldn’t let his pride down. “Mu Anxiao, I’ve helped you for so long. Even if I don’t have merit, I have effort, right?”
“What are you trying to say?” Mu Anxiao once again looked down at the aggrieved Jia.
Jia put his hands on his hips. “I think you shouldn’t mock me at this moment.”
“How did I mock you? Just because I said you’re a child? Oh my, you’re too petty. But it’s understandable, you are a child.” After speaking, she crossed her arms in front of her.
“You… say that again.” Jia was flustered.
Mu Anxiao smiled and said, “I don’t say good words twice.”
“Mu…”
“Do you want to achieve something and get promoted?” Mu Anxiao didn’t want to continue and tried to change the subject.
As expected, the moment Jia heard Mu Anxiao’s words, he retracted his defiance and showed a smiling face. “Of course I do.” He was extremely excited.
Beside them, Hun Ling listened to Mu Anxiao’s ‘seamless’ conversation and saw Jia, whose topic had indeed been steered by Mu Anxiao, miraculously ‘turn sorrow into joy.’ He smiled and thought that Mu Anxiao truly understood this guy.
“Yes, I want to,” Mu Anxiao paused, then pointed at Hun Ling. “Then cooperate with him properly.”
“Him… just him?” Jia thought Mu Anxiao would come up with a better plan for him. Hearing her words, he felt a sense of disappointment.
“What, you look down on him?” Mu Anxiao said deliberately.
Hun Ling was still marveling at Jia’s change, but when he heard Mu Anxiao’s words, his anger flared. “He already looks down on me… No, he looks down on us soul spirits.” Saying this, he glared fiercely at Jia.
Jia looked at Hun Ling’s disdainful expression from behind his seemingly unimpressive appearance, and his heart sank. He said, “I’ve already acknowledged you. Do you really need to counter-attack me like this?” He had a premonition that Mu Anxiao would definitely not say anything good.
“You looked down on me… us first,” Hun Ling brought up old grievances.
“You…” Jia hesitated, too lazy to explain further, and turned to look at Mu Anxiao. “It’s all your fault.” To prevent Mu Anxiao from launching a surprise attack, he preemptively blamed her.
Mu Anxiao knew Jia would bite back, so she just smiled faintly and said nothing.
A few seconds later.
Jia looked at Mu Anxiao, who was only smiling and not speaking, with a confused expression, and began to feel apprehensive. “Why aren’t you speaking?” he asked. A cold wind blew from behind him, and then he saw the sinister expression on Mu Anxiao’s face, causing him to shiver involuntarily.
Mu Anxiao: “Do you think I would say something good if I spoke?”
Jia was slightly surprised that Mu Anxiao had such self-awareness. “No.” He shook his head slightly.
Mu Anxiao continued to smile. “Then that’s right. From now on,” she said, glancing at Hun Ling, “you must obey him.”
Hun Ling revealed a surprised expression at this.
At the same time, Mu Anxiao inadvertently noticed the expression on Hun Ling’s face and laughed. “What’s with that expression?”
“…” Hun Ling cleared his throat.
Then, Jia became unhappy again. “Why should I listen to him? I’m an Yin messenger. There’s no such rule in this line of work.” He looked unconvinced.
Hun Ling knew Jia would react this way and dodged his gaze.
Similarly, Mu Anxiao knew Jia would have such a strong reaction, but even so, his resistance did not catch her eye. “There isn’t such a rule, but,” she smiled thinly, “there is another rule, I wonder if you know it.”
“What? Don’t try to scare me,” Jia straightened his back, still feeling a little scared.
Mu Anxiao hooked the corner of her lips. “There’s no need to scare you. Now tell me, do you want to know?” She raised an eyebrow.
“No…”
“Think carefully, this concerns your future,” Mu Anxiao interrupted.
Jia hesitated.
Then, Hun Ling, seeing that Jia still looked down on him, and considering his own identity, said in a low voice, “Mu Anxiao, don’t scare him anymore.”
Upon hearing this, Jia’s eyes lit up. Like a triumphant little person, he pointed at Mu Anxiao with his hands and loudly declared, “I knew it, you were trying to scare me.”
“Scaring you is really unnecessary for me,” Mu Anxiao said, glancing at Hun Ling. “He doesn’t know about this matter either.”
“What you know, he knows. What he knows, you definitely know too. Mu Anxiao, who are you trying to scare?” Jia said arrogantly.
Seeing Jia’s arrogant demeanor, Mu Anxiao turned her head and smiled, saying, “Yes, I know what he knows, but he really might not know what I know.”
“What you’re saying makes sense,” Hun Ling nodded in agreement.
Jia smacked his lips and glared fiercely at Hun Ling, angrily saying, “Can you have some backbone?”
“What he’s saying makes sense. Besides, that has nothing to do with whether I have backbone or not, right?” Hun Ling glanced at Jia, then smiled faintly at Mu Anxiao. “Is there anything you want to add?”
“Alright, I’ll add it now,” Mu Anxiao liked the feeling of being supported and deliberately raised her voice. “The other rule is to seek advice humbly and not to look down on any colleagues without reason. And that includes soul spirits.” After speaking, she fixed her gaze on Jia.
Jia’s expression froze, and he forced a bitter smile. “Mu Anxiao, we’re in the same boat. You doing this… isn’t very nice.” He was scared into submission.