"What plan?" Jia’s interest was piqued by Mu Anxiao's words.
"What plan..." Mu Anxiao hesitated, her gaze fixed on Jia's face for a few seconds before she said, "I haven't decided yet."
"Haven't decided? Then why did you say anything?" Jia, loathing being kept in suspense, spoke with disdain.
Mu Anxiao had anticipated Jia’s response and, after he spoke, deliberately mimicked his dismissive expression. "What business is it of yours?" she retorted, glancing at Jia and then turning her attention to the much calmer Hun Ling.
Hun Ling understood Mu Anxiao's intention and said, "I'll go now."
Mu Anxiao nodded.
Following Mu Anxiao's reply, Hun Ling burrowed into the ground and departed.
Jia, utterly bewildered, asked, "What plan have you concocted with him now?"
"We've been together for almost a year, and you still don't understand me. How disheartening," Mu Anxiao said pointedly, then turned to Gu Tie. "Let's go."
Gu Tie, recognizing it as a private matter between them, simply nodded and followed Mu Anxiao.
Jia stood rooted to the spot, watching Mu Anxiao’s mysterious retreating figure. After a moment's thought, he quickly strode forward. "I get it now." He moved to Mu Anxiao’s other side.
Mu Anxiao, carrying the weightless sack, glanced at the unusually excited Jia and curved her lips. "Alright, tell me what you've figured out."
"You want..." Jia began, then lowered his voice, worried about being overheard. "You want Hun Ling to investigate the General's Estate."
"..." Mu Anxiao merely chuckled, offering no reply.
Seeing this, Jia's expression immediately turned confused. "No? Did I say it wrong?" He reached out and tugged at Mu Anxiao's sleeve.
"No," Mu Anxiao stated simply and directly. She cast another amused glance at her sleeve, which Jia was still holding. "It seems you really consider yourself a child."
"A child..." Upon hearing this, Jia quickly let go. "I'm not a child."
"I know you're not a child. Then guess," Mu Anxiao lowered her head, her gaze fixed on Jia's face. "Where are we going now?"
Gu Tie let out a low chuckle.
"I..." Jia stared at Mu Anxiao for a good few seconds before finally saying, "Wherever you go, I go."
"I knew we lacked even this basic understanding," Mu Anxiao remarked, playfully swatting Jia on the head before turning and continuing her journey.
In a dilapidated temple outside the city, Xie Shou and the other demons sat around a dying fire. After exchanging glances in silence, Xie Shou sighed, "Do you think Mu Anxiao is trying to trick me..."
"I didn't expect you all to be so idle," Gu Yan interrupted Xie Shou, stepping over the threshold and entering.
Seeing her, Xie Shou and the others quickly rose to their feet. "Why are you here?" Xie Shou asked.
Gu Yan chuckled softly. "Your master asked you to find the coachman, but you, foolishly believing Mu Anxiao's words, are here leading them to wait for her news." She walked up to Xie Shou. "I truly don't know who your master is, you or the master is you."
"..." Xie Shou's eyes darkened.
Gu Yan, noticing Xie Shou's sudden somber expression, smiled. "However, you're quite lucky. The coachman has already been captured by the master."
"Really?"
"It would be pointless for me to lie to you about this," Gu Yan said calmly.
Xie Shou found Gu Yan's reasoning sound and, after a moment's thought, said, "That's true. Then why have you come to find me?"
"Something has happened in the city."
Upon hearing that something had happened in the city, the demons all stepped forward.
Xie Shou also asked, "Do you need our help?" he inquired, his gaze sharp.
Gu Yan glanced at the demons and replied, "No."
"No? Then why are you looking for us?" Xie Shou asked, confused.
"Your master sent me to check if you were safe. Seeing that you are all safe, I can now rest assured." With that, she turned to leave.
Seeing this, Xie Shou quickly said, "Don't you really need our help? I sense..." He turned his head in the direction of the city. "There seems to be a heavy demonic aura in the city."
"No need..."
"If they aren't going, can I go with you?" Xie Shou interrupted.
Gu Yan looked at Xie Shou's determined expression and hesitated. "Technically, you shouldn't enter the city. If the master finds out, she... will certainly be displeased."
"..." Xie Shou's eyes darkened again. He then asked, "Was it Mu Anxiao who found the coachman?"
"Why the sudden mention of this?" Gu Yan asked in surprise, intrigued by Xie Shou's abrupt change of topic.
Xie Shou explained, "Mu Anxiao guaranteed us that she would find the coachman for us and then return. However..." He glanced back at the demons behind him. "She hasn't returned, so I'm curious if this matter has anything to do with her."
"It has nothing to do with her," Gu Yan replied immediately.
Xie Shou frowned slightly upon hearing this.
As Gu Yan spoke, the demons one by one bared their fangs with grins.
Gu Yan looked at them, chuckled mischievously, and continued, "Do you know Gu Yan?" She feigned sadness.
Hearing this, Xie Shou immediately turned to Gu Yan and asked, "What happened to her?"
Gu Yan let out a sigh.
Xie Shou frowned slightly. "Gu Yan... isn't she with you? What happened to her?"
"Yes, she's my good sister, but..." Gu Yan choked back a sob. "Mu Anxiao killed her."
"When did this happen?" Xie Shou asked in shock.
"Just now. To be frank," Gu Yan said, lightly wiping her eyes with her hand, "she incited the resentment of those souls, turning them all into vengeful spirits. During that process, she killed Gu Yan. That woman is truly detestable."
"Detestable. Gu Yan was so good to us. How could..." Xie Shou lowered his gaze. "She's gone just like that. Mu Anxiao is too detestable."
"Detestable, detestable, detestable," they echoed in unison.
"Therefore, you shouldn't go. It's already difficult enough for us to deal with that one woman. If..."
"I'll go with you," Xie Shou stated firmly.
Gu Yan looked troubled. "This..."
"Let me go," Xie Shou insisted, his gaze narrowing. "I want to confront Mu Anxiao."
Seeing Xie Shou's unwavering resolve, Gu Yan nodded in agreement. "Alright, you'll come with me then."
"Good." Xie Shou nodded, turning to the demons. "Wait for me."
"Kill Mu Anxiao, kill Mu Anxiao," they chanted in unison.
Xie Shou then raised his clenched fist. "You all wait for me." After saying this, he turned back to Gu Yan.
Gu Yan smiled faintly.