"I have done evil," Hun Ling said.
"I think you haven't," Mu An Xiao said, reaching out to pat Hun Ling's shoulder, but then retracting her hand upon considering her own situation. "It's them who didn't listen to you, and walked their own crooked paths."
"If it weren't for me, they couldn't possibly have..."
"Then, according to your logic, if a mother gives birth to a child, and that child grows up, develops their own thoughts, and commits a bad deed, should the mother be held accountable and pay with her life?" Mu An Xiao asked.
Hun Ling said, "Isn't it said that 'to raise without instruction is the father's fault'? Your words are incorrect. So, it's still my fault?"
Mu An Xiao, weary of Hun Ling's extensive knowledge, looked at his earnest expression and asked, "Who taught you that?"
"Feng Qi Shi said it last time I saw him," Hun Ling replied blandly.
Mu An Xiao's lips twitched. "How is it that guy again."
"What's wrong?" Hun Ling asked.
Mu An Xiao sighed and said, "Since you've put it that way, let me ask you, did you raise those rabbits? Did you correct their mistakes? Did you stop them at the time?"
"I..." Hun Ling hesitated for a moment and said, "I didn't raise them, but I watched them grow up. And I did correct their mistakes, but... they wouldn't listen. I also tried to stop them, but they wouldn't listen either."
"Then that's their business, and it has nothing to do with you," Mu An Xiao said, breathing a sigh of relief.
"It really has nothing to do with me?" Hun Ling pointed to himself.
Mu An Xiao nodded firmly and said, "Every demon has its own thoughts; you can't change them. As for you, the only way you can atone is, as I said before, by capturing them."
"I understand. You're asking me to cooperate with Feng Qi Shi, right?" Hun Ling suddenly had an idea.
"Yes," Mu An Xiao nodded.
"I understand," Hun Ling's eyes deepened.
Mu An Xiao, seeing Hun Ling's sudden dejected expression, said, "Half of what I meant was for you to cooperate with Feng Qi Shi, but the other half was to help you, truly."
Upon hearing this, the dejection on Hun Ling's face faded, and he looked up at Mu An Xiao, asking, "What do you plan to do?"
"We'll go find the Rabbit Queen in a bit. You, on the other hand, should control those rabbit spirits and prevent them from going to the Rabbit Queen. That way, they'll perfectly miss the departure time," Mu An Xiao arranged.
"I understand. I'll use carrots to control them then," Hun Ling said.
Mu An Xiao thought for a moment, a smile playing on her lips. "If necessary, you can add some medicine to the carrots to make them fall asleep. That would be more convenient."
"If they don't cooperate, I'll do that," Hun Ling said, having his own methods.
Mu An Xiao nodded. "Okay, let's do that."
"Can we go now?" Hun Ling gestured to the food on the table.
"Let's go," Mu An Xiao nodded.
Hun Ling grunted and turned, casting a spell on the tray, which then floated into the air.
"Will it follow you?" Mu An Xiao asked.
"Yes," Hun Ling nodded.
Mu An Xiao smiled. "That's amazing. Can you teach me that spell?"
"Well... if I go back down, I'll teach you," Hun Ling said blandly.
Mu An Xiao pointed at Hun Ling. "I'll be waiting."
Hun Ling smiled and agreed, "Okay."
Soon, they returned to Yan's room.
"You're back," Yan said, standing up from the table.
Hun Ling followed into the room and, upon seeing Piao, a look of disgust appeared on his face. "Let's eat," he said.
Piao, hearing the tone of Hun Ling's voice, frowned. "Hun Ling, I know you hate me because you've always been jealous of me, haven't you?" He looked sideways at Hun Ling.
Hun Ling stood still, casting a spell to place the tray steadily on the table. "Jealousy isn't the right word. It's just hate."
Piao glanced indifferently at the food on the tray, then looked back at Hun Ling. "I can understand."
"What can a demon like you understand?" Hun Ling pretended to be proud, crossing his arms and turning his face away.
Piao smiled at Hun Ling's feigned demeanor. "I understand you. You feel like I've stolen your spotlight with the rabbits. If I recall correctly, you were their first savior."
"I dare not accept the compliment," Hun Ling said coldly.
Piao was not angered. He looked at Hun Ling and smiled, "Then you know more about the Rabbit Queen than I do."
"If it weren't for you," Hun Ling had intended to restrain himself from confronting Piao, but for some reason, as soon as he saw Piao's face, he lost all control. "They would never have become like this."
"If it weren't for me, they wouldn't have been able to take human form, nor would they have been able to connect with other demons, let alone set up a demon barrier to prevent humans and immortals from invading."
Hun Ling let out a light scoff and stepped forward, reaching Piao.
Piao stood up.
Hun Ling looked up at Piao, remaining silent.
Piao said, "You think spreading some rumors can stop humans? You're too naive."
"Why can't it?" Hun Ling asked.
Piao sneered. "Of course, it can't. You have no idea about human curiosity."
"What do you mean by that?" Hun Ling frowned slightly.
"Create a legend, and humans will indeed be afraid. But do you think their descendants will be afraid?"
"How..."
"They won't be afraid. On the contrary, they'll become curious about this place. If there were no demon barrier, those guys would come here and find them, and their lives would be ruined. Do you understand?" Piao became inexplicably agitated.
Mu An Xiao watched Piao's agitated expression and then glanced at the stunned Hun Ling. She thought to herself: It seems Piao does care about the rabbit spirits after all. She swallowed.
Feng Qi Shi looked up at Piao's profile and said, "If you're doing this for their own good, why did you kill them?"
Upon hearing this, Piao stiffened and looked down at Feng Qi Shi. "The Rabbit Queen doesn't know that those rabbits I killed had already made contact with humans. If I hadn't killed them, something bad would have happened here."
"How do you know they were in contact with humans?" Mu An Xiao frowned. "Why didn't you say so before?"
"I didn't want to say it before. Anyway, I don't care about the rumors they spread about me," Piao said indifferently, but with a hint of bitterness in his tone.
Mu An Xiao looked at Piao's face and said, "I don't believe you don't care."
"I..." Piao glanced at Mu An Xiao unnaturally. "I just don't care. To be a demon, if you care, then you are not worthy of being a demon."
Mu An Xiao looked at Piao's forced demeanor and then at Hun Ling's gaze fixed on Piao, she was speechless.
"I was wrong," Hun Ling suddenly said.