"What of it?" Feng Qishi retorted to Ouyang Ye with feigned indifference.
"That great battle, have you forgotten? Those demons killed your brothers. Without them, your brothers wouldn't have died. And now," Ouyang Ye finally blurted it out, "you put on this expression of not caring. It's truly fake."
"It was you, as expected," Feng Qishi said coldly, his gaze still fixed on Ouyang Ye, his expression unchanged.
"It was me. I am your greatest enemy. Do you... still intend to save them?" Ouyang Ye smiled.
"As the great devil of the Demon Realm, to possess such benevolence," Feng Qishi said, "I am quite surprised, to be honest."
"What are you saying? I don't understand."
"Those consciousnesses... no, those people. If I'm not mistaken, they all experienced tragic lives in their previous lives. In other words, their deaths were all voluntary. And yet, you stand here to save them. Think about it," Feng Qishi sneered, "you truly are a kind devil."
"I'm not as great as you say..."
"I didn't say you were great. I just want to say, if you intend to use them," Feng Qishi took a step forward, "to do evil in the mortal realm, I will not let you off lightly."
"You can't even protect one woman, and you want to protect mortals? Feng Qishi, you are also ridiculous."
"You are also ridiculous, your eyes are full of women."
"You..."
"Mu Anxiao likes me, she wouldn't like you. No matter how much effort you put in, she won't even spare you a glance. Of course," Feng Qishi interrupted, his gaze indifferent, "I can guarantee that Mu Anxiao will never marry you so easily."
"Then, we'll see."
"We'll see. Don't you come crying or fussing then," Feng Qishi said and turned away.
Seeing this, Ouyang Ye quickly said, "You really are going to find those souls."
"It's none of your business," Feng Qishi replied, opening the mansion gate.
Immediately, Ouyang Ye pondered for a moment and then said, "Those souls are all in Mu Anxiao's hands now. Are you sure she will give them to you?"
Upon hearing this, Feng Qishi immediately retracted the foot that had crossed the threshold. He turned and looked at Ouyang Ye, asking, "What did you do to Mu Anxiao?"
"She is my wife. What could I do to her? I just want to tell you, she dislikes you quite a bit."
"I don't need you to manage it."
"If I'm not mistaken, she should have gone to the ruined temple outside the city," Ouyang Ye said with a sinister smile. "I'll give you one hour. If you don't return within an hour, I will kill all those consciousnesses along with everyone in this mansion."
"You dare," Feng Qishi's eyes widened.
Ouyang Ye said dismissively, "Whether I dare is not for you to decide."
"You..."
"Hurry up and go, lest you have to collect corpses when you return. That would be troublesome," Ouyang Ye said. After giving a look to the demon beside him, he disappeared.
Subsequently, after Ouyang Ye left, the two demons who were holding Song Xu exchanged glances with Feng Qishi and then vanished into black light.
Feng Qishi stood rooted to the spot, watching Ouyang Ye and the demons disappear with the light. He clenched his fists. "Damn it," he muttered, turning around and stepping across the threshold, then ran out.
Mu Manor.
Mu Anxiao had already entered the main hall with Shen Lu and Mai Liang. However, to Mu Anxiao's dismay, before she could even ask for the person, the Madam had ordered someone to bring in the second maid, who was currently threatening the first maid. Thus, the first maid... had her way.
Mu Anxiao silenced herself helplessly, standing with them by a pillar, her gaze fixed on Mai Xia, who was being restrained by servants opposite them.
At the same time, the Madam began, "Hong'er, I treated you so well, yet I never expected," she stepped in front of the second maid named Hong'er, and snorted, "that you would have such an unusual relationship with the master. Hong'er, Hong'er, you truly surprise me."
"Madam..."
"Kneel," the Madam roared.
Hong'er shivered, then quickly knelt and said, "Madam, please don't listen to her nonsense. You know, Mu Xiao..."
"Xiang'er, she told you directly that she had a relationship with the master, didn't she?" the Madam interrupted intentionally, looking at the first maid, Xiang'er.
Xiang'er nodded, "Yes, Madam."
"You mustn't talk nonsense," Hong'er said anxiously.
"Nonsense," the Madam lowered her head to look at Hong'er, who was glaring at Xiang'er, and said with feigned gentleness, "It seems, Hong'er, you truly think I've grown old."
Hearing this, Hong'er quickly turned her gaze back to the Madam and said, "Madam, Hong'er wouldn't dare. Hong'er..."
"Your voice, it truly isn't small," the Madam refused to let Hong'er finish her sentence.
Hong'er pouted upon hearing this, "Madam, Hong'er was forced." As she spoke, tears streamed down her cheeks.
"Forced," the Madam said, turning her head to look at Mu Anxiao, who was staring at Mai Xia by the pillar, and said coldly, "Mu Xiao, come here."
"..." Mu Anxiao showed no reaction, her heart still aching as she looked at Mai Xia.
At the same time, Mai Xia, who had been looking down, raised her head to look at Mu Anxiao after hearing the Madam's call.
Thus, their gazes met. In that very instant, Mu Anxiao's eyes suddenly widened. "Mother," she called out casually.
Upon hearing Mu Anxiao's call to Mai Xia, and seeing that Mu Anxiao had completely ignored her, the Madam's anger flared. "Mu Xiao, come here."
As soon as the Madam called out, Mai Xia subtly shifted her gaze towards the Madam, as if to warn her.
Seeing this, Mu Anxiao regretfully withdrew her gaze and turned to face the Madam, who was glaring at her. Without a word.
Seeing Mu Anxiao's silence, the Madam's anger intensified. "Mu Xiao, you truly live up to living in the General's mansion," she said, deliberately glancing at Shen Lu's face. "After not being here for long, you no longer pay us any mind."
"Madam, if you have something to say, say it directly. Why beat around the bush?" Mu Anxiao retorted unceremoniously.
Mu Gui dared not speak.
The Madam snorted, "As expected, you're just like your mother, a seductress," she glanced at Shen Lu's face again. "To casually enter someone's mansion, you truly have no shame."
"Madam, I always thought that the only clean thing about you was your heart... I didn't expect your mouth was also unclean," Mu Anxiao said, her expression unchanged.
Upon hearing this, the Madam's face hardened. "Mu Xiao, truly..."
"Oh, and your hands are dirty too, and your feet are dirty," Mu Anxiao interrupted deliberately.
After hearing this, the Madam's face turned completely green.
Mai Xia frowned slightly, worried for Mu Anxiao.
Mai Liang looked at Mu Anxiao's profile, feeling a surge of exhilaration. However, thinking of the Madam's insidious and cunning methods, she also began to worry for Mu Anxiao.