Ouyang Ye looked at her, confused. "What are you doing?" he asked, his gaze fixed on Mu Anxiao's wrist.
Mu Anxiao looked up at Ouyang Ye's puzzled expression, glancing at her own wrist. "I think," she said, clearing her throat, "that we should trust each other. This rope..." she continued, "could you consider taking it off?"
"Oh, you mean for me to take off the red rope tied to your wrist?" Ouyang Ye said, a look of understanding dawning on his face as he shifted his gaze from her wrist to meet her eyes.
Seeing this, Mu Anxiao quickly nodded with an innocent expression. "Yes."
"Yes," Ouyang Ye repeated. He immediately reached out and took Mu Anxiao's wrist, then asked in return, "Do you know why I tied this rope to you?"
"You told me," Mu Anxiao replied, making no effort to struggle.
"Then tell me, why did I tie this red rope to you?" Ouyang Ye intended to test Mu Anxiao.
Mu Anxiao knew that Ouyang Ye wouldn't let it go so easily. Reluctantly, she had to earnestly answer his 'question'. "Aren't you afraid I'll run away? You've seen that I have no intention of running away. Besides," she said, "I've already agreed to so many of your requests. Shouldn't you trust me more?"
"I don't not trust you," Ouyang Ye quickly said, as if afraid Mu Anxiao might misunderstand.
Mu Anxiao snorted, "And you say you trust me? You're already this troubled by my simple request. Sigh," she shook her head, "and here I am, constantly agreeing to this and that for you. I..."
"Give me a reason," Ouyang Ye interrupted, unable to listen further.
"I just want you to untie a rope for me, and you want a reason? Tsk tsk tsk, you truly don't trust me." Mu Anxiao spoke righteously, her gaze firm.
"Give me a reason. As long as the reason is reasonable, I'll untie the rope for you immediately," Ouyang Ye said calmly.
"The reason is, you don't trust me," Mu Anxiao also said calmly.
This time, Ouyang Ye was speechless.
Seeing Ouyang Ye like this, Mu Anxiao deliberately added, "This represents your trust in me. If you don't trust me, don't untie it. If you trust me, untie it." As she spoke, she began to anticipate Ouyang Ye's reaction.
Immediately, Ouyang Ye fell into complete silence in the moment Mu Anxiao said this...
Mu Anxiao put on a serious face.
Ouyang Ye looked down at Mu Anxiao's reaction as she put on a serious face and said in a low voice, "I trust you, but promise me, don't..."
"Trust me, and don't say any more nonsense," Mu Anxiao said in a low voice.
"Fine, I won't say it." Ouyang Ye compromised helplessly, then loosened his grip on Mu Anxiao's wrist. The red rope on Mu Anxiao's wrist disappeared.
Following that, Mu Anxiao withdrew her hand, holding her wrist as she said, "There."
"Mhm, it's untied. You..."
"Go release Jiong Ye," Mu Anxiao interrupted, stepping past Ouyang Ye.
Ouyang Ye had never expected Mu Anxiao to react this way. He blinked, speechless for a few seconds, before turning to follow Mu Anxiao's steps.
In a blink of an eye.
Mu Anxiao and Ouyang Ye stopped together outside the great hall.
Just then, Xi'er arrived again.
"Master, why have you come here?" she asked, walking gracefully to Ouyang Ye's side.
Then, Ouyang Ye turned to look at Xi'er, who stood nearby asking questions curiously. He hesitated and was about to speak when Mu Anxiao grabbed his arm, leaned forward, and looked at Xi'er, who was staring at him. "You," she said, "hurry up and release Jiong Ye and Zhao Mei'er."
Upon hearing this, Xi'er was stunned. She quickly shifted her gaze to Mu Anxiao's face. However, because of Ouyang Ye, she dared not show too much disrespect to Mu Anxiao. So, she swallowed her retort and turned her gaze back to Ouyang Ye. "Master, do you really want to release them?"
"You don't need to handle this," Ouyang Ye said, glancing back at Mu Anxiao's face.
Mu Anxiao continued to stare at Xi'er, saying nothing.
Xi'er frowned. "Master, they are guilty. Moreover, they have not reflected on their mistakes. If it's like this, it might not be reasonable. In the future," she said with a worried expression, glancing at Mu Anxiao, "if they spread this matter, your reputation... what will become of it?"
"If you don't say it, and I don't say it, no one will know, unless..." Mu Anxiao made her presence known. "You go blab it out." She stared intently at Xi'er's face.
Hearing this, Xi'er completely shifted her gaze to Mu Anxiao's face.
Mu Anxiao completely ignored Xi'er's gaze, continuing calmly, "What, did I say something wrong?" she said, narrowing her eyes. "But speaking of which, he didn't summon you either. Why are you so fond of lingering around here? It's truly strange."
"You..."
"I asked her to come," Ouyang Ye said, turning his full attention to Mu Anxiao.
"It was you," Mu Anxiao said, tilting her head up to stare at Ouyang Ye. "When did you ask her to come? I had no idea."
"If you knew everything, what would happen?" Ouyang Ye said with a calm expression.
"You truly don't trust me," Mu Anxiao said, releasing her hand.
Ouyang Ye was helpless. "There are some things you'll only understand after you become a demon. Even if I tell you now, you probably won't understand."
"You look down on me," Mu Anxiao said disdainfully.
"How you think is your business. I understand Xi'er's character better than anyone. You don't need to worry," Ouyang Ye said, then turned back to Xi'er. "Alright, lead the way."
"Yes, Master," Xi'er replied, glancing at Mu Anxiao, then turning to leave.
Mu Anxiao glared at Ouyang Ye, then... just as she was about to turn and follow Xi'er, Ouyang Ye grabbed her arm. "Stay with me, don't walk by yourself." After saying this, he pulled Mu Anxiao along to follow Xi'er.
Thus, Mu Anxiao helplessly accepted... Ouyang Ye's unreasonable request.
A moment later.
Mu Anxiao and Ouyang Ye followed Xi'er to the screen where Jiong Ye and Zhao Mei'er were being held. Following that, Xi'er softly called out, "Master," and then stepped aside.
At the same time, Ouyang Ye released Mu Anxiao's arm and said, "Alright, you can let it show itself now." As he spoke, he shifted his gaze to Mu Anxiao's face.
Mu Anxiao was startled. Just as she was about to feign ignorance and say 'What?', the demonic sword voluntarily appeared before Ouyang Ye and Mu Anxiao.
Xi'er's eyes widened.
Ouyang Ye smiled faintly, his gaze still fixed on Mu Anxiao's face. "You're not being honest," he said.
"I... I already said this is the demonic sword's idea. How can I... how am I being dishonest?" Mu Anxiao said, darting her eyes away.
Ouyang Ye's lips curved upwards as he turned to look at the demonic sword...
The moment Ouyang Ye looked at it, the demonic sword emitted a blue light.