"Human... demon..." Mu Anxiao looked at the fourth evil spirit's neurotic demeanor, thinking about Ouyang Ye's relationship with them. She asked, "Ouyang Ye saved you, didn't he?"
Upon hearing this, the fourth evil spirit somewhat regained composure and said, "Yes, he saved us, but before that, only Wei had seen him. He said that only by seeing him and receiving his consent could we enter the city to harm mortals."
"How long have you been here?" Mu Anxiao tried to inquire about the evil spirits' affairs.
The fourth evil spirit, prompted by Mu Anxiao's words, pondered for a moment and said, "In the beginning, we were always starving, feeling groggy. If you want me to give an accurate time, I really can't say."
"..." Mu Anxiao nodded and asked again, "Then you haven't seen that person... or demon?"
"I saw them once, but I don't remember the appearance very well."
"Do you remember any other characteristics?"
The fourth evil spirit, guided by Mu Anxiao's words, thought for a moment and said, "I remember, he liked to wear black clothes."
"Black clothes..." Mu Anxiao repeated, her first thought going to Jiong Ye, but she couldn't be sure. She merely nodded and said, "Alright, I understand."
"You understand what that means? Do you know that person?" The fourth evil spirit seemed to have discerned the answer from Mu Anxiao's expression.
Mu Anxiao couldn't be bothered to lie to the fourth evil spirit, so she said, "It's not that I know them, I just know *of* them, but I can't confirm if it's him."
"You can't confirm." The fourth evil spirit suddenly became dejected.
Seeing the fourth evil spirit like this, Mu Anxiao felt confused, "What's wrong?"
The fourth evil spirit said, "If I go back now, they'll definitely drive me away. If I leave here, that fellow will discover me immediately. What should I do?" He lowered his head.
Mu Anxiao replied, "Why don't you just follow me?"
However, this was exactly what the fourth evil spirit wanted to hear from Mu Anxiao. The moment she uttered these words, he smiled and said, "Thank you."
"It seems this was your goal," Mu Anxiao revealed.
The fourth evil spirit chuckled foolishly.
Mu Anxiao smiled at the fourth evil spirit's silly appearance. Just as she was about to speak again, a sharp pain suddenly surged through her back. She slightly lowered her head, closed her eyes, and gritted her teeth, waiting for the pain to pass.
Seeing Mu Anxiao wasn't well, the fourth evil spirit quickly moved behind her. He looked at her wound and his eyes widened, "So much blood."
"Don't mind me," Mu Anxiao turned her face slightly.
The fourth evil spirit asked, "Why don't you use your magic to heal your wound?" As he spoke, he saw Mu Anxiao's unsteady body and quickly stepped forward to support her arm.
Mu Anxiao forced herself to stand steady, turned her head to look at the fourth evil spirit who was showing concern, and after a moment of thought, said, "Help me sit down."
"Alright," the fourth evil spirit agreed. He carefully helped Mu Anxiao sit down where she was, then squatted beside her and asked, "What are you going to do?"
Mu Anxiao said, "Watch over me." She then sat down cross-legged and added, "Turn your back. I won't let you turn around, so don't. Do you understand!"
"I understand," the fourth evil spirit agreed and stood up. After casting one last glance at Mu Anxiao, he turned around cooperatively and said, "I'm ready."
Mu Anxiao looked up at the fourth evil spirit's retreating back and said faintly, "I see." With that, she closed her eyes and began to search for Feng Qishi.
The residence.
Feng Qishi sat casually at the table, picked up his chopsticks, scooped a piece of braised pork, put it into his mouth, chewed it casually for a moment, and then spat it out.
Zhao Mei'er stood by the table, looking down at Feng Qishi who had been making things difficult for her since she entered. She timidly asked, "What exactly do you mean?"
"This braised pork, it takes at least an hour to stew. How long did you use?" Feng Qishi retorted, picked up his cup, took a sip of water, rinsed his mouth, and spat it onto the carpet.
Zhao Mei'er glanced at the carpet and said, "I..."
"Did you make this meat?" Feng Qishi interrupted.
Zhao Mei'er's eyes darted away, "I... that..."
"What did I just tell you?" Feng Qishi intended to make things difficult.
Zhao Mei'er replied, "You said you wanted to eat braised pork that melts in your mouth."
"You're being perfunctory."
"I'm not," Zhao Mei'er, afraid of offending Feng Qishi, said, "I really made it for you with all my heart."
Feng Qishi looked at Zhao Mei'er's pitiful expression and sneered, "Let's not talk about that for now. This," he pointed at the braised pork, "did you make it?"
"Yes... I did." Zhao Mei'er lacked conviction.
Feng Qishi observed Zhao Mei'er's face, then looked at Yuan Yan opposite him, who was holding chopsticks, not daring to move, only daring to stare at him. He said, "Eat it. Why are you looking at me?"
"I am a demon soul, even if I eat it, I can't taste it."
"You can handle physical objects, and you can't taste? What kind of joke is this?" Feng Qishi deliberately adopted a bad attitude.
Yuan Yan chuckled dryly, "I..." He uttered one word, swallowed, immediately picked up a piece of braised pork, put it in his mouth, and swallowed it forcefully, saying, "It melts in your mouth."
"..." Feng Qishi's face was filled with dark lines.
Yuan Yan looked at Feng Qishi's darkened expression and felt a bit awkward. He said, "Really, as soon as the meat hit my mouth, it went down. Isn't this...?" He chuckled dryly, "...melt-in-your-mouth?"
"Melt-in-your-mouth," Feng Qishi repeated.
Yuan Yan nodded.
Feng Qishi also nodded and said, "Fine. If you like it, take this plate out, and then..." He trailed off as Mu Anxiao's weak voice reached his ears, "Shen Fengzi, are you there?"
Hearing this, Feng Qishi slightly angled his eyes and responded mentally, "Wait." Then he looked up at the aggrieved-looking Zhao Mei'er and revealed, "Alright, don't say anything else. I know this wasn't made by you."
Zhao Mei'er was flustered, "I..."
"I don't like it when people lie to me. When he was advising me just now, I heard your sincerity in his words, but," Feng Qishi sneered, "based on this braised pork alone, you've already disappointed me enough."
"Just one braised pork, and you... you negate me?" Zhao Mei'er couldn't stand it anymore and spoke impolitely.
Yuan Yan remembered Feng Qishi had told him not to speak. So, carrying Feng Qishi's instructions, he picked up the plate of braised pork, stood up, and without a word, walked around the chair and turned to leave.
Feng Qishi glanced at Yuan Yan's主动 departure, then turned back to Zhao Mei'er and said provocatively, "I don't care. Today, I will only eat the braised pork you made. Otherwise, I will keep finding fault with you."
"You..."
"Go. I hope the next plate of braised pork will satisfy me. If you lie to me again, I will torture you to death," Feng Qishi said deliberately.
Zhao Mei'er saw that Feng Qishi had softened his stance and nodded with her previous grievances, "I understand."
"Good that you understand. Go," Feng Qishi said indifferently.
Zhao Mei'er pursed her lips, turned, and walked towards the room door. As she did, Feng Qishi added, "I've been poisoned, and I need to rest. I can't be exposed to the wind. Close the door."
Zhao Mei'er responded, "Okay." She walked out of the room without looking back and closed the door herself.