(Oh, oh, oh! What a thrilling statement, young human! I am positively exhilarated, ha ha ha... So, that's why you disregarded the poor little girl? Ah ha ha... You truly are heartless, you rascal, but I find it amusing, hee hee...)
(However, I am quite curious—why do you believe that the little girl approached you with ulterior motives? You have concealed your true strength so deeply that you must appear quite ordinary to outsiders, wouldn't you? What could she possibly hope to achieve by approaching someone who seems utterly devoid of power? I refuse to believe that little girl could discern you as a ninth-tier powerhouse.)
"It is evident," Xiao Mu Yu replied coldly, "that my strength is discernible."
"Indeed, I have concealed my abilities; even those of the same tier may not be able to see through my hidden power. However, I intentionally left a flaw. After all, when one is out in the world, lacking any power would invite numerous troubles. Thus, I left this flaw—one that a perceptive individual could easily detect. It is clear that the woman noticed it, which is why she approached me."
(Hmm? A flaw? What kind of flaw did you leave, young human? I can't see it at all! Ha ha ha... Come on, tell me, so I can broaden my horizons and understand the nature of your flaw!)
"Whether it pertains to magical beasts or humans, the seventh tier represents a significant watershed."
Xiao Mu Yu stated coldly, "Magical beasts below the seventh tier, no matter how formidable, are merely regarded as beasts of low intelligence, while those above the seventh tier awaken a level of intelligence that can surpass that of ordinary humans, especially those with innate racial gifts."
"Likewise, for humans, the seventh tier is a dividing line. Individuals above this tier possess not only greater destructive power but also physical resilience that can withstand extreme temperatures. For those above the seventh tier, environmental influences are minimized; their bodies can achieve a small cycle, rendering the harshness of winter or the heat of summer, or even the nuances of spring and autumn, irrelevant."
(So, wearing only a thin coat and a cloak in the dead of winter clearly marks you as a powerhouse beyond the seventh tier? Hee hee... Is that why you concluded that the poor little girl had ulterior motives? Hee hee... But, dear human, have you considered...?)
(Have you considered that this little girl might simply be an innocent fool, completely oblivious to social nuances? Her initial approach to you bore no malice; perhaps she is just a naive child who hasn't yet reached the age where she can discern someone's nature simply by their demeanor. She might just be a bewildered little fool... Ah ha ha...)
"Ah, indeed, I cannot dismiss the possibility you mentioned. However, her subsequent actions further revealed her ill intentions," Xiao Mu Yu replied with a detached nod.
(Oh? Are you referring to our second encounter with that little girl on the street? Hee hee... What was wrong with her behavior this time? I find it quite normal.)
"Do you recall how she was soliciting customers from across the street?" Xiao Mu Yu asked coldly.
(I do remember, hee hee... Is there an issue with that? It's perfectly normal to solicit customers on a bustling street when unable to find suitable patrons, isn't it?)
"Indeed, her actions can be justified; let's assume she hadn't found any customers and thus resorted to soliciting on the street. However, the location of her appearance is questionable."
Xiao Mu Yu stated coldly, "We first met at the southern gate of Tianxin City, yet our second encounter was in the northern district. Her so-called home is not in the north but in the slums to the west of the city. Even if she were unable to find any patrons and had to change her location, traversing the distance between cities, crossing several bustling streets, and arriving in a less prosperous area to solicit customers—is that something an ordinary person would do? After all, even a three-year-old child should understand that the airship and magical train stations are the busiest places, most suitable for attracting customers to a small inn, wouldn't you agree?"
(Hee hee... Perhaps the poor little girl simply got lost, ha ha ha... That possibility isn't entirely out of the question, hee hee hee...)
Ignoring the demon's raucous laughter, Xiao Mu Yu replied coldly, "From her actions, one thing is certain: this city has been covertly controlled by her faction, which is why she could track my movements and appear promptly upon learning my location. After all, it is far too coincidental for two strangers to encounter each other again in such a vast city within a mere ten hours."
(Oh? It's also possible that they sent someone to secretly follow you, allowing them to track your movements. Just because they can monitor you doesn't necessarily mean they control the city, young human. Hee hee hee... You are being rather hasty in your conclusions.)
"Following? That notion can be dismissed."
Xiao Mu Yu replied indifferently, "As a ninth-tier practitioner, I do not believe they possess the capability to track me for five hours without my awareness. If they truly had such power, they would not need to rely on me to abduct that water songstress; they could act independently."
"Moreover, tracking through magical artifacts is equally implausible. The demonic curse I bear renders me entirely repugnant to this world. Coupled with my identity as a traveler, I am merely an incongruous presence in this realm; all magical detection would fail to capture me."
"Thus, the ability to pinpoint my movements so precisely—right when I had inquired at every inn in the city and confirmed there was no available lodging—only to serendipitously appear before me, presenting what seemed to be a favorable option, indicates that they have indeed seized control of this city."
"Therefore, for them, regardless of when or where I appear, as long as I remain within this city, my presence will undoubtedly be laid bare before their eyes," Xiao Mu Yu stated coldly. "It is now certain that their faction does not belong to Debang, and Tianxin City serves as the capital of Debang's border province. In a sense, no matter how remote a provincial capital may be, it should not be easily controlled by another faction."
"Thus, we can conclude that they are not mere minor players who can be dealt with casually. This formidable power, expending such effort to control a city, must have significant ambitions. The prudent decision is to avoid becoming entangled in this vortex," Xiao Mu Yu declared coldly, "for even a ninth-tier powerhouse could meet their demise on the streets at any moment."