The dirt-faced man watched Feng Qishi gradually weaken and instantly realized the seriousness of the situation. He quickly reached out and supported Feng Qishi's arm, asking, "Where to now?" He felt a sense of crisis.
Feng Qishi raised his other hand and grasped the dirt-faced man's wrist, saying, "Follow me." He frowned slightly and began to move forward step by step, using the dirt-faced man's strength.
In the dirt-faced man's impression, all generals were sure to have fiery tempers, but now he felt... Feng Qishi was actually quite approachable.
He suddenly smiled, as if recalling something.
Feng Qishi glanced at the dirt-faced man, who had a strange expression, but said nothing.
In the guest room, Mu Anxiao was heating water in the teapot while worrying about Feng Qishi.
At the same time, Ouyang Ye noticed the change in Mu Anxiao's expression. "What are you thinking about, so out of it?" He hadn't expected Mu Anxiao to be thinking of Feng Qishi.
Upon hearing this, Mu Anxiao snapped back to attention and looked at Ouyang Ye. "I'm not thinking about anything, I'm just..." She sighed, her expression unchanged. "I'm wondering how much of my spiritual energy it will take to heat this pot of water."
"Don't worry, it won't take much," Ouyang Ye said, glancing at the teapot. "Is the water hot yet?"
"You can touch it to find out," Mu Anxiao replied, continuing to focus her magic.
Ouyang Ye smiled faintly. "You think I'm stupid, wanting me to burn myself on such hot water." As he spoke, he met Mu Anxiao's gaze.
Mu Anxiao pouted and muttered, "If it could really burn you to death, that would be great."
"I heard that," Ouyang Ye said coldly.
Mu Anxiao rolled her eyes at Ouyang Ye. "I said it deliberately so you could hear it," she said, sighing softly. "Why isn't it ready yet? This is so annoying."
"It seems your spiritual energy really isn't that much."
"Even if my spiritual energy were abundant, I wouldn't want to waste it on you."
"No wonder it's so slow, you're distracted all day."
"Mind your own business," Mu Anxiao shot Ouyang Ye a sidelong glance, thinking, 'Healing spells... that's probably how they're used. But that's poison from the demon realm. If I use healing spells... to detoxify them...'
"What are you thinking about?"
Upon hearing this, Mu Anxiao returned to her senses and looked at Ouyang Ye, saying softly, "I'm not thinking about anything."
"Not thinking about anything, yet your eyes are fixed there. Tell me the truth," Ouyang Ye leaned forward slightly, tilting his head to stare directly at Mu Anxiao. "Are you thinking about how to detoxify them?"
"..." Mu Anxiao feigned a smile. For decades, she had been most adept at remaining calm under pressure, and when lying, her expression was always steady, her heart unfazed. Facing this situation, she felt no unease, but rather found Ouyang Ye rather amusing.
Ouyang Ye frowned. "What do you mean by that smile?"
"What else could it mean? I just think you're ridiculous."
"You..."
"Don't 'you' me," Mu Anxiao said, removing her hand from the teapot. "Drink your tea." With that, she picked up the teapot and bowed, offering it to Ouyang Ye.
Ouyang Ye took a look and smiled. "This tea is quite warm."
"Since you know it's warm, then drink it while it's still warm," Mu Anxiao said, turning to look at the girl who was still resentful, staring at the silver rope. A smirk touched her lips. "I remember you." As she spoke, she pointed towards the girl, and the silver rope automatically floated up.
The girl's eyes widened upon seeing this. Just as she was about to reach for it, Mu Anxiao said, "You have the ability to absorb others' magic, and I have the ability to absorb your demonic arts. Want to..." She beckoned, and the silver rope flew over, landing steadily in her palm. "Try it."
"You've already taken the silver rope. Do you think I still need to try?" The girl was not intimidated by Mu Anxiao at all.
Mu Anxiao raised her eyebrows and tucked the silver rope at her waist. "It seems you're very unconvinced... Oh, no," she faced the girl, crossing her arms. "It should be that you're unwilling to accept it."
"You..."
"Stop with the 'you.' Do you want to have a match?" Mu Anxiao interrupted. From her conversation with Ouyang Ye, she realized that the poison had been administered by this girl. Therefore, if she could control the girl now, perhaps... they could be saved.
Hearing this, Ouyang Ye raised his head and stared at Mu Anxiao. "Mu Anxiao, what trick are you planning now?"
"Trick," Mu Anxiao said, turning to look at Ouyang Ye. "I should be the one asking you that."
"You ask me? Go ahead and ask, then," Ouyang Ye tilted his chin.
Mu Anxiao put on a dismissive expression. "Fine, I'll ask you." She glanced at the teapot, which Ouyang Ye hadn't touched at all. "You asked me to heat water for you, why aren't you drinking it?"
"It's so hot, how can I..."
"You don't trust me," Mu Anxiao said, looking for trouble.
Ouyang Ye's eyes darkened. "You'd better not look for trouble. It's..." He widened his eyes. "It's really quite boring."
"Then you shouldn't bother me either."
"When have I bothered you?" Ouyang Ye suddenly couldn't understand Mu Anxiao.
Mu Anxiao glanced at the girl glaring at her opposite, then turned back to Ouyang Ye. "I just wanted to have a match with her, and you're saying things like... 'planning tricks.' Fine," to avoid giving Ouyang Ye any ammunition, she deliberately portrayed herself as unreasonable. "I understand now."
"Understand what?"
"What else could it be? You're just feeling sorry for her, right?" Mu Anxiao glared at Ouyang Ye as well.
When Ouyang Ye heard Mu Anxiao's words, he couldn't help but laugh. "You're jealous."
"Jealous?" Mu Anxiao scoffed. "Why would I be jealous of you? I just think it's unfair. Why are you calling me out for planning tricks? You don't even have basic trust in me, so why should I trust you? Ouyang Ye, I've truly seen through you." As she spoke, she suddenly sensed the presence of a soul. She looked down and indeed... a soul was peeking its head out, looking at her. Then, the soul used its mind to remind her: 'Feng Qishi is seriously injured. Leave this place to me.' After that, it retracted its head.
Upon hearing this, Mu Anxiao's heart sank.
Ouyang Ye thought Mu Anxiao was angry and said, "It's not that I don't trust you. Don't misunderstand me. I..."
"You just don't trust me," Mu Anxiao said, taking a step back. "Don't follow me. I need some time alone." With that, she glared at the girl and ran towards the door.
Seeing this, Ouyang Ye casually instructed, "Keep an eye on them," then abruptly stood up, skirted around the table and chairs, and chased after her.
The girl watched Ouyang Ye's receding back as he pursued, her eyes darkening. She looked at Jia, who was lying on the ground, and muttered, "The silver rope has been taken."
Just then, a voice came from behind the girl. "That silver rope never belonged to you."