Listening to Yan’s words, Mu Anxiao thought of herself over the past fifty years. She looked up at Yan’s gaunt face and blurted out, “What are you planning to do?”
“I…,” Yan hesitated and said, “How about we figure out a way to escape right now?”
“You’re not saving them anymore?” Mu Anxiao asked.
Yan pursed her lips and said, “No, I’m not. I’ve already made a fool of myself in front of them. After we go back, they’ll surely spread the embarrassing things I did. So,” she shook her head, “I won’t save them. I’ll just save myself.”
“What if they make it back?” Mu Anxiao countered.
Yan hadn’t thought that far and fell silent.
Seeing Yan’s silence, Mu Anxiao asked, “Did they make fun of you just now?”
“I was already captured, so I didn’t have the leisure to pay attention to them,” Yan said.
“That’s true,” Mu Anxiao nodded and said, “Did those fellows do anything wicked?”
“Wicked,” Yan repeated and laughed, “Your wording is quite serious.”
“So that means they haven’t,” Mu Anxiao said.
Yan, hearing this, quickly said, “They have, they have.”
“You’ve seen it?” Mu Anxiao asked in surprise.
“They did wicked things to me, so on that basis alone, I won’t save them. It’s a waste of time,” Yan said matter-of-factly.
Mu Anxiao was silent for a moment and asked, “If they go back, how will you explain yourself?”
“I have a premonition that they won’t be able to get out,” Yan stated confidently.
“Tell me, what is this premonition based on?” Mu Anxiao smiled.
Yan sat down cross-legged and said, “Just based on the fact that the rabbits here are no pushovers, and I’ve heard that no demon that gets caught here ever gets out alive, so…” Halfway through, she suddenly frowned and asked, “Wait, how did you get in?”
“Why do you ask that?” Mu Anxiao shifted her gaze and asked.
“I recall the dead rabbits here seeking us out, begging us to help them set up a demon barrier. We did, and if I remember correctly,” Yan narrowed her eyes, “No matter who it is, or any immortal, anyone who enters the demon barrier will surely die. How are you unharmed?”
“That demon barrier must be from the lower realm,” Mu Anxiao said.
Yan’s expression stiffened, “How did you know it was from below?”
“Though I am an old immortal, I could capture your mother. You should know what my status is,” Mu Anxiao said sternly, intentionally.
Yan glanced aside, “Weren’t you abandoned?”
“Yes, but I still have antibodies,” Mu Anxiao said, not knowing why she uttered such words.
Yan thought for a moment and said, “True, you’re still a wicked villain who catches demons indiscriminately.”
“I don’t like what you just said,” Mu Anxiao pointed at Yan.
Yan let out a cold laugh and remained silent.
Looking at Yan’s suddenly silent expression, Mu Anxiao asked, “Were you involved in the construction of the demon barrier?”
“Me,” Yan pointed at herself and snorted twice, saying, “I’m a half-demon who can’t even use demon arts. How could they possibly ask for my help? They avoid me.”
“That’s good then,” Mu Anxiao nodded.
“What do you mean by that?” Yan asked, utterly confused.
“It means that they, too, did wicked deeds, so we have the right to…”
“Stop right there,” Yan raised her hand and said, “That demon barrier was a gift from them to us rat demons after you captured my mother. They said, to prevent rat demons from consorting with humans, they made us set this up in our territory and then spread a legend in the human world to deter people from approaching. So, what you’re saying is incorrect.”
“Your grandmother told you,” Mu Anxiao said.
Yan nodded firmly.
Seeing Yan’s demeanor, Mu Anxiao suddenly laughed, “I thought you were truly that heartless. Turns out, you’re not.”
“You did that on purpose,” Yan widened her eyes.
“Getting back to the topic,” Mu Anxiao said, leaning forward to meet Yan’s gaze, “Save them or not?”
“I…”
“I have a premonition that they will return, so,” Mu Anxiao reached out and cupped Yan’s head, “This is your chance to turn things around.”
“Chance to turn things around? What does that mean?” Yan frowned.
“It means that if you handle this well, when you return, they will worship you and even teach you demon arts. Of course,” Mu Anxiao’s lips curved, “If you rely on your so-called sixth sense and get out, your consequence might be expulsion from the rat tribe.”
Yan’s expression darkened, “It can’t be that serious, can it?”
“I don’t understand the psychology of you rats. This is just my opinion. As for you,” Mu Anxiao removed her hand and leaned back against the wall, “You can listen to me or not. I won’t force you. Anyway, if it were me, I would definitely go save them.”
“If I save them, and they still treat me like that… when we get back?” Yan said with concern.
Mu Anxiao smiled, “How they treat you is their business. At least,” she smiled, “Your conscience will be clear.”
“My grandmother never told me these things,” Yan said.
Mu Anxiao chuckled, “I don’t know your grandmother’s thinking, but I know you can definitely understand me. After all, you are half a demon, with the other half being human blood.”
“I don’t want to be a half-demon,” Yan said.
“Half-demons have a higher chance of becoming immortals, provided they haven’t done anything wicked,” Mu Anxiao said indifferently.
“I haven’t done anything wicked,” Yan said excitedly.
Mu Anxiao looked at Yan’s innocent expression and couldn’t help but smile, “You, who can’t even use demon arts, how can you talk about wickedness? But speaking of which, why aren’t you afraid of the demon barrier?”
“Grandma gave me a pill. Otherwise, how could I go out and play?” Yan said.
Mu Anxiao nodded, “Your grandmother is quite thorough in her planning. But I want to tell you… never mind, I won’t say it.”
“If you want to say something, say it all. This suspense is really boring,” Yan said.
“I wanted to say that since your grandmother thought so thoroughly, it proves she doesn’t want you to be harmed. In other words, your grandmother doesn’t want you to be like your mother, which is why she deliberately didn’t teach you demon arts,” Mu Anxiao said.
Yan sighed, “I’ve thought about that too, but when I asked Grandma, she said it wasn’t so. She said I had no aptitude.”
“Uh, you really ask about everything,” Mu Anxiao said with a helpless expression.
“My grandmother has other grandchildren, so naturally, she dotes on whoever has the aptitude. I understand this,” Yan said with a hint of despair.
Mu Anxiao asked, “Is your grandmother your biological grandmother?”
“Of course not,” Yan replied immediately.