"I'm busy," Ouyang Ye said.
"Busy," Mu Anxiao said, leaning casually against a stone pillar, "What does that have to do with me? I just want to do nothing. You... must handle it for me, or I'll threaten you with my life."
"Mu Anxiao, don't you think you're being utterly excessive?"
"Excessive, yes, but you've cultivated this behavior in me. It all started with the vine spirit and the wolf demon. If you don't agree to send them over, I'll just lie flat and do nothing, leaving everything to you. Cultivating demonic arts... it has nothing to do with me."
"If they come, you will cooperate with the demonic cultivation." Ouyang Ye only understood this implication.
Mu Anxiao nodded. Regardless of the outcome, it would be the same. She thought, rather than fighting him, it would be better to compromise first. Perhaps in this place, she could find a way to break Ouyang Ye's sorcery. Why not?
"Fine, let's go in," Ouyang Ye compromised.
Mu Anxiao shook her head.
Ouyang Ye looked confused, "What's wrong now?" He couldn't understand Mu Anxiao.
Mu Anxiao put a hand on her hip and glanced at the distant scenery, saying indifferently, "You go get them, I'll wait for you here."
"You want me to go get them?" Ouyang Ye was surprised by Mu Anxiao's arrangement.
Hearing this, Mu Anxiao turned back to Ouyang Ye, who was surprised by her decision, and asked, "What? Do you want to go back on your word? Fine," she smiled, "Take me back. At worst... I'll just fight with that woman and make you angry."
"You..."
"Hurry up," Mu Anxiao interrupted, showing no intention of cooperating with Ouyang Ye.
Seeing this, Ouyang Ye was speechless for a few seconds before saying, "I'll have Wang Hu bring them here." As he spoke, he turned his back.
Then, Mu Anxiao had a sudden thought and said, "I want the ant spirit too."
"Mu Anxiao, you're going too far," Ouyang Ye said, turning his face back to Mu Anxiao.
"How am I going too far? That ant spirit is that woman's subordinate. Hey, I just want to take her subordinate, so what?" Mu Anxiao said smugly.
Initially, Ouyang Ye had come here only to have Mu Anxiao completely shed her spiritual energy and become a true demon. He never expected that what he thought would be easy would become so complicated with every word Mu Anxiao uttered. Looking at her, he was at a loss, "No other requests then?"
"No more. Oh..." Mu Anxiao said, her expression becoming serious, "What about Hun Ling and Jia?"
"They haven't arrived yet."
"Haven't arrived? What do you mean?" Mu Anxiao suddenly had a bad feeling.
Ouyang Ye looked at Mu Anxiao's worried expression for them without any jealousy and said, "From the mortal realm to here, with their abilities, it will take three days."
"Three..."
"There are still some matters to be settled, so it will take at least five days," Ouyang Ye said calmly.
Mu Anxiao thought about what Ouyang Ye said and concluded, "So, they are still in the mortal realm."
"Yes," Ouyang Ye nodded without hesitation.
"I still have to wait for them for nearly five days," Mu Anxiao feigned disappointment, already formulating a new plan.
Ouyang Ye, however, did not see through Mu Anxiao's intention and said as usual, "It seems you're really hoping they arrive soon."
"Of course, once they arrive, they can accompany me in cultivating demonic arts. As the saying goes," Mu Anxiao said, feigning acceptance of reality, "It's better to be unlucky with someone than to be unlucky alone." After speaking, she turned her face away and looked at the distant mountains.
"I thought you would strongly resist demonic cultivation, but I didn't expect," Ouyang Ye walked to Mu Anxiao's side, "you to agree so easily." Then he raised his hand and beckoned twice towards the sky.
Mu Anxiao looked confused, "What are you doing?" She tilted her head slightly, focusing on Ouyang Ye's raised arm.
"..." Ouyang Ye remained silent, and then a large bird with a peculiar appearance fluttered its wings and appeared before them.
Mu Anxiao immediately shut her mouth.
Ouyang Ye instructed the large bird, "Stop Wang Hu from entering the palace and bring them here."
The large bird responded, "Yes," and flew away.
Mu Anxiao watched the answering large bird with disbelief, swallowing, "It can actually talk." As she spoke, she turned her gaze to Ouyang Ye's face.
Ouyang Ye smiled faintly at Mu Anxiao, "You don't need to be surprised. There are many more peculiar things here. When the time comes," he reached out and cupped her head before she could react, "it will surely broaden your horizons."
"That bird," Mu Anxiao said, pulling Ouyang Ye's hand away, "is it a monster, or a demon?" She hadn't sensed anything, so she was confused...
"What do you think?" Ouyang Ye asked back.
Upon hearing Ouyang Ye's words, Mu Anxiao's face immediately fell, "Ouyang Ye, this is childish. If I knew," she said impatiently, "would I still ask you?"
"It's not interesting," Ouyang Ye said, leaning against the stone railing, "but I find you very interesting."
"..." Mu Anxiao disliked Ouyang Ye's attitude, so she shifted her gaze away.
Conversely, Ouyang Ye stared at Mu Anxiao for a few seconds and said, "I've dreamt of bringing you to my side. I never thought," he reached out and placed his hand on Mu Anxiao's shoulder, "that my dream would come true."
"What is it about me that you like?" Mu Anxiao said, looking down at Ouyang Ye's hand.
Ouyang Ye: "I don't know."
"You don't know?" Mu Anxiao repeated, turning back to meet Ouyang Ye's eyes, "Are you crazy?"
"How am I crazy?"
"You don't even know your own heart, yet you brought me back. Not only that... you've so carelessly decided on your marriage. Ouyang Ye," Mu Anxiao narrowed her eyes, "Are you perhaps sick in the head?" She pointed to her head.
"Don't worry, I'm very healthy," Ouyang Ye said, removing his hand from Mu Anxiao's shoulder. "I simply want you by my side. In short, I don't know why, but seeing you always makes me feel particularly at ease." He then crossed his arms.
Mu Anxiao curled her lips, "Seeing you, I don't feel at ease at all."
"Whatever you say. As long as you're by my side now, that's enough."
"You're really easy to satisfy," Mu Anxiao muttered, releasing her arm from the stone pillar and stepping two paces to the side.