"I need that woman even less to teach me rules, because I have a shadow from her, including," Mu Anxiao said, pointing at Xiao Yi, "her."
"I understand."
"Understand what?" Mu Anxiao asked back.
"I understand you hate Juan'er. Since that's the case, I'll listen to you. I won't let her interfere in your life anymore. I was wrong today, don't take it to heart."
"They are with me." Mu Anxiao pointed at the vine spirit and the wolf demon.
Ouyang Ye responded, "Alright."
The vine spirit and the wolf demon were thrilled to hear this.
"Let's go," Mu Anxiao said, pushing Ouyang Ye's hand away again.
Ouyang Ye realized something was amiss and his face turned serious. "Mu Anxiao."
Hearing this, Mu Anxiao was startled and immediately turned to look at Ouyang Ye, asking, "What is it?"
"No... you still want to bring them?" Ouyang Ye suddenly realized, glancing at the vine spirit and the wolf demon.
Seeing this, the wolf demon and the vine spirit tensed up.
"You already agreed, why are you asking?" Mu Anxiao said indifferently.
"I didn't react just now. Don't you think you're being a bit excessive?" Ouyang Ye said abruptly.
In the mortal realm, Ouyang Ye had always appeared as a cunning villain in Mu Anxiao's eyes. She hadn't noticed him being so petty. Now, hearing this and seeing him, she suddenly realized... Ouyang Ye truly was someone who went back on his word. She took a sharp breath and said, "If it weren't for them, I would be dead."
Ouyang Ye narrowed his eyes.
"In the water, I was constantly supporting myself with my spiritual energy," Mu Anxiao said, intentionally not mentioning the dagger in front of Ouyang Ye. "I thought you would find me. Who knew... never mind, let's not talk about that. In short, after you left, if they hadn't found me, I would have truly met my end. Now, I want to cast aside everything from before and regard them as my saviors."
"You think very highly of yourself," Ouyang Ye said faintly.
Seeing this, Mu Anxiao immediately sat on the ground. "Alright, alright, I do think highly of myself." She tilted her face up to look at Ouyang Ye. "Besides, I was a beggar before. I could survive in those harsh conditions, and I can do the same here."
"You..."
"You don't need to threaten me. I, Mu Anxiao, will definitely find a way out and leave this place," Mu Anxiao declared boldly.
"It seems," Ouyang Ye crouched down, "you don't want to cooperate with the souls anymore."
Mu Anxiao: "You want to threaten me again."
"I..."
"They are yin emissaries and souls from the underworld. According to the rules, once you kill them, the underworld will know immediately. By then," Mu Anxiao said, looking to both sides with a faint smile, "whether this place of yours can be kept safe is another matter."
"Mu Anxiao, you've learned a lot," Ouyang Ye said coldly.
Mu Anxiao hummed, "Following you, if I don't learn some skills, I fear I'd be letting you down."
"You really can't threaten me anymore," Ouyang Ye said, glancing at the vine spirit and the wolf demon. He conceded, "Fine, I agree to your terms." With that, he stood up.
Upon hearing this, Mu Anxiao quickly stood up, exclaiming in surprise, "Really?"
"I have no reason to lie to you. However, after we return, you are not allowed to meet them," Ouyang Ye said.
Mu Anxiao was unconvinced. "Why? I brought them in, so naturally, they should stay by my side. You... this is unreasonable."
"The unreasonable one is probably you," Ouyang Ye fixed his gaze on Mu Anxiao's face.
Mu Anxiao's eyes darkened. "How am I unreasonable? It took me so long to meet them, and we haven't been together for long." She feigned sadness, raising her hand to wipe away tears. "And you're going to tear us apart? It's unfair, too unfair."
"Enough," Ouyang Ye said softly.
"I can go on, but you must promise me," Mu Anxiao resumed her persistent mode. "You must let them stay with me."
"There's a difference between men and women. Don't worry," Ouyang Ye seemed to have given in to Mu Anxiao, his tone clearly softening. "I will arrange a good position for them."
Position?
The wolf demon and the vine spirit only wanted to leave this place. If they were to get positions here, how would they escape then?
So, for their own future, the wolf demon proposed, "We two will not enter the palace." He raised his hand.
The vine spirit did not want to become a lock again and also said, "We two will not enter the palace."
"You..."
"You have no say in it," Ouyang Ye said coldly.
Upon hearing this, they dared not speak.
Mu Anxiao wanted the vine spirit and the wolf demon to stay by her side so they could cooperate with her in investigating Ouyang Ye's plan against the celestial realm. Therefore, their sudden retreat from the plan was also a disruption to her grand strategy.
Thus, after Ouyang Ye spoke, she also said, "You two must stay with me." Her gaze was sharp.
Seeing this, the vine spirit and the wolf demon dared not speak even more.
Ouyang Ye heard this and turned to stare at Mu Anxiao's profile.
Immediately, Mu Anxiao gasped and turned her gaze back to Ouyang Ye's face. "Arrange it as you wish."
"Mu Anxiao... I'll go back to being a lock," the vine spirit blurted out impulsively.
"Don't let him go back to being a lock," Mu Anxiao said, seizing upon the vine spirit's words.
Ouyang Ye smiled. "As long as you agree to them not staying by your side, I can agree to any of your requests."
"Give them respectable positions, otherwise," Mu Anxiao said, looking at the vine spirit and the wolf demon, "my reputation will be tarnished."
"Is your reputation that important?" Ouyang Ye asked deliberately.
Mu Anxiao's face stiffened.
Ouyang Ye saw this and smiled faintly. "Alright, I'll listen to you," he said, seemingly having completely accustomed himself to Mu Anxiao's unkempt demeanor. "Come, I'll take you somewhere." After speaking, he took Mu Anxiao's arm.
Mu Anxiao was startled. "Didn't you dislike me..."
"Wang Hu, take them back first. Also, don't make any arrangements yet. I will make them myself when I return," Ouyang Ye instructed Wang Hu, then disappeared with Mu Anxiao.
Xiao Yi was stunned for a moment and turned to look at Wang Hu, saying, "Accompany me." She thought Mu Anxiao would return with them and had hoped Mu Anxiao would accompany her to find Mo Juan. Now... with Mu Anxiao being taken away, her hope had also been dashed.
"Why should I accompany you?" Wang Hu said, looking at the intimidated vine spirit and wolf demon with a smile. "Don't worry, Master listens to Mu Anxiao very well. Let's go."
"Really?" the wolf demon asked fearfully.
The vine spirit pondered for a moment and said, "Don't be so worried. Even if something happens, I believe Mu Anxiao will save us." He patted the wolf demon's shoulder.
Wang Hu smiled. "I think so too." After speaking, he led the wolf demon and the vine spirit ahead.
Immediately, Xiao Yi thought for a moment and quickly followed them, bothering Wang Hu...