A moment later, Mu Anxiao and the others stopped in front of the shop. Ouyang Ye watched them standing inside, the corners of his lips curling upwards slightly. Mu Anxiao caught this sight. "What's he smiling about?" she asked, grabbing Guyan, who was about to step out.
Guyan stiffened, turned sideways, and looked at Mu Anxiao with confusion. "What is it?"
"Walk behind me," Mu Anxiao said. Before Guyan could react, she pulled Guyan behind her.
Ouyang Ye watched Mu Anxiao's actions without anger, instead smiling faintly. "It looks like the two of them really do have a good relationship." As he spoke, he glanced at Gu Yan, who had one hand behind her back and was already preparing herself.
Afraid they would notice something, Gu Yan cautiously glanced at Ouyang Ye and asked in a low voice, "Master, when do I make my move?"
"Don't rush," Ouyang Ye replied softly, then turned back to Mu Anxiao standing there and offered a smile.
Gu Yan responded with an "Understood" and took a step back.
Following this, Mu Anxiao moved them all "behind" her, crossed the threshold, and stepped towards Ouyang Ye first.
Under Mu Anxiao's instruction, Gu Tie and the others stood motionless in front of the shop.
Gu Yan, feigning composure, glanced at them standing in front of the shop, mumbling to herself and growing anxious.
Just then, Mu Anxiao passed Ouyang Ye and stopped in front of Gu Yan. "What are you rushing for?" she asked, instantly seeing through Gu Yan's thoughts.
Hearing this, Gu Yan locked eyes with Mu Anxiao. "What are you talking about? I don't understand."
"It's better if you don't understand," Mu Anxiao said, reaching out to steady Gu Yan's shoulder. "Troublemaker, truly formidable." With that, she lowered her head and focused on Gu Yan's hands.
Ouyang Ye looked at the back of Mu Anxiao's head and cleared his throat twice.
Upon hearing this, Mu Anxiao rolled her eyes, immediately retracting her gaze from Gu Yan and turning back to Ouyang Ye, who was using a cough to draw her attention. She stated firmly, "I stand by my words, she is the murderer."
Seeing this, Ouyang Ye stopped coughing and gave Mu Anxiao a faint smile.
"What are you smiling about?"
"I have good news for you," Ouyang Ye changed the subject, a smile on his face.
"..." Mu Anxiao's face hardened.
Ouyang Ye stepped forward and stood in front of Mu Anxiao. "I'm giving you good news, why... aren't you happy?"
"You should know why I'm not happy," Mu Anxiao said coldly.
"Because I don't listen to you, right?" Ouyang Ye said with much self-awareness.
Mu Anxiao nodded slightly.
Ouyang Ye laughed, "I knew it. Your thinking is simple. Gu Tie is fine now, isn't he?" He steered the conversation back again.
Mu Anxiao knew Ouyang Ye wouldn't speak to her kindly, so his series of reactions was within her expectations. Thus, she stopped dwelling on it and asked, "What do you want to say?"
"This good news includes Gu Tie," Ouyang Ye said with a smile.
Inside the shop, as Ouyang Ye spoke, Hun Ling and the others collectively shifted their gaze to Gu Tie's face.
Gu Tie became embarrassed by their stares and, consequently, lowered his head.
Outside.
Mu Anxiao continued to calmly regard the self-important Ouyang Ye before her, saying coldly, "I don't want to discuss this topic with you now." She had the intention of getting Ouyang Ye to let Guyan go.
"Then what topic do you want to discuss? Feng Qishi?"
"Can you please not mention him to me?" Mu Anxiao was angry.
Ouyang Ye was pleased. "Alright, alright. Seeing your attitude, I'm relieved. Fine," he said patiently, "Tell me, what topic do you want to discuss with me?"
"I'm the one who found Gu Tie," Mu Anxiao said pointedly.
Ouyang Ye smiled faintly, "I didn't expect you to be so eager to take credit."
"I wanted to find Gu Tie myself, it has nothing to do with you. As for that Guyan," Mu Anxiao said, intending to extricate Guyan from trouble, "She's truly useless. After searching for so long, she couldn't find Gu Tie, and she even claimed Gu Tie was gone."
"Are you very angry?" Ouyang Ye asked calmly.
Seeing this, Mu Anxiao paused for a moment and responded excitedly, "Yes, I am very angry. And she claimed she would never betray you. It's enough."
"You betrayed me," Ouyang Ye added.
Upon hearing this, Mu Anxiao instantly realized she might have dug a pit for herself. To fill it back, she quickly said, "There's no such thing as betrayal between you and me."
"Then what is there?"
"...I..." Mu Anxiao didn't know how to continue the conversation, so after thinking for a moment, she casually replied, "I don't know."
"You and I are only husband and wife..."
"Shut up," Mu Anxiao hissed, turning to glance at Gu Yan, then continuing, "Now, give me an explanation."
"What explanation?" Ouyang Ye asked, feigning ignorance.
"Stop playing dumb. You asked me to investigate the real killer of Gu Yuan. Now I've found her," Mu Anxiao said, turning to point at Gu Yan behind her. "You tell me, how do you plan to deal with her?"
"It's not her."
Upon hearing this, Mu Anxiao's face hardened, and she let out a cold laugh. "I knew it."
"Knew what?"
"What else could I know? I knew you'd take her side. As expected," Mu Anxiao snorted coldly. "Your relationship with her is unusual." She glared at Ouyang Ye.
"Only the strong can be by my side, not the weak," Ouyang Ye said coldly.
"And then?"
"I am their master. I decide who lives and who dies," Ouyang Ye said, reaching out and grabbing Mu Anxiao's arm. "Guyan cannot live."
"You..."
"Gu Yan, you can go," Ouyang Ye commanded coldly.
Over by the shop, Guyan clearly heard Ouyang Ye's words. Earlier, she had already predicted her own fate. Therefore, facing this situation now, she felt nothing. Instead, she began to comfort Gu Tie and the other two beside her. "You all just stand here and don't move."
Hun Ling frowned. "Are you really willing..."
"My sins are too great, it's all the same sooner or later," Guyan interrupted, looking down at Jia. "I'm sorry about Xiaofei's matter."
"You..."
"Here," Guyan interrupted, handing Jia a transparent pill. "This is the Soul Returning Pill. Find Xiaofei and place this on her. Her consciousness can then return to her soul body."
"This..."
"Take it," Guyan said firmly.
Seeing this, Jia's eyes deepened, and he finally reached out and accepted the Soul Returning Pill. "Are you truly willing to meet such an end?"
"There's nothing to be willing or unwilling about, this is my fate," Guyan said, looking at each of them. "You must not move." With that, she left.