Chapter 25 Part 1

The winding, deep cave was dim as night. Even so, the silhouettes of two women were visible in the darkness. One sat against the cave wall, her hands forced high above her head. The other was right in front of her, but below her waist was not a pair of human legs, but a long serpent’s tail.

This thick, long serpent tail coiled around her, its tapering end suddenly arcing up, passing over her head from behind, and wrapping around the wrists of the one leaning against the stone wall, binding them forcibly.

These two were, of course, Li Jiangying and Li Yueying.

Li Jiangying was so furious she nearly fainted. She recalled the humiliation of being powerless to resist when she first arrived. No, in truth, she had always been powerless. Even when facing the simpleton Li Yueying, she only managed to vent a sliver of frustration by relying on Yueying’s obsession with her.

Bastard… Li Jiangying gnashed her teeth audibly. With her hands restrained, she could only kick at Li Yueying, but because her strength was inferior, her legs were pinned down just the same.

The delirious Li Yueying couldn’t listen to reason. Only one thought filled her mind: heal Jiangying, don’t let her be hurt.

She had already leaned down, extending her sharp claws to carefully peel back Li Jiangying’s clothes, torn and stained with blood. Gently and with pity, she licked at the wound, treating her Jiangying the way a wild beast heals itself.

The bruises and swelling from the fall, the scraped, broken skin and blood, the bumped and torn flesh and bone… every inch, every spot, Li Yueying treated her while murmuring her name.

“Jiangying… Jiangying… does it hurt?”

Li Jiangying bit her lower lip in embarrassment and shut her eyes tight. She couldn’t say a word anymore. She just wanted this crazy, beautiful snake woman to hurry up and finish!

But Li Yueying didn’t consider this a matter to be treated lightly. She went even lower. Li Jiangying gasped sharply, a throbbing pain shooting through her head, enraged by her and poisoned by the smoke.

“Li Yueying!” Li Jiangying roared angrily. The string called reason snapped with a twang. Without thinking, she fiercely slammed her head downwards, attempting a headbutt to stop her. But in her anger, she forgot for a moment that her hands were still pinned above her head.

So it was that as Li Jiangying suddenly lowered her head, the reaction force from her arms and shoulders snapped her head back up— thud! The back of her head knocked against the stone wall. Her mouth opened and closed, letting out a weak, muffled groan before her eyes rolled back and she fainted.

Li Yueying looked up at the sound and saw her carefully tended Jiangying suddenly, somehow, had passed out. Li Yueying froze.

Li Jiangying had a fever. Her whole body burned, and her head ached as if splitting apart. She trembled restlessly, trapped in a dream as thick and sticky as a swamp, unable to wake. Slowly, she felt a cold presence nearby. Subconsciously, she leaned towards it, using both arms and legs to cling to that icy, cool thing.

So comfortable… Her burning cheek pressed against the cold surface, and gradually, she finally felt some relief. But it wasn’t enough. Physical cooling could only provide temporary respite; it couldn’t resolve the inflammation inside her sick body.

At the same time, due to the fever, her throat was parched and cracking. Li Jiangying furrowed her brow tightly, her face full of pain, and hoarsely rasped: “Water…”

After she called out twice, she suddenly felt something cool, soft, wet, and slippery pressed against her mouth. She subconsciously bit it. It was springy, thin, pliant, and slightly sweet. …Mm, and forked.

Before she could further investigate what had been put into her mouth, a fishy-sweet liquid flowed down her throat, relieving the dryness and discomfort.

This fishy-sweet liquid not only quenched her thirst but also soothed the sickness in her body. Slowly, a peaceful expression appeared on Li Jiangying’s face. She was finally able to fall asleep within this chaotic, upside-down dream.

When Li Jiangying woke, she found that most of her discomfort had vanished. Her stomach growled loudly with hunger. She wanted to get up but discovered that, somehow, she and Li Yueying were entangled in an embrace.

Although the little madwoman had never been shy about clinging to her to sleep before, now it was different. Now, this little madwoman only had scales, no clothes!

Fine, it could barely pass as a form-fitting leather suit.

Speaking of clothes, Li Jiangying suddenly remembered something. She quickly looked down and slowly let out a sigh of relief.

Thank goodness, her clothes were still on her body, though they were tattered and torn like a beggar’s rags.

Remembering what had happened before she fainted, Li Jiangying couldn’t help but grit her teeth hatefully and glare at Li Yueying, who was also slowly waking up. She raised her hand to feel the back of her head. Luckily, it wasn’t serious; she hadn’t given herself a concussion.

The drowsiness and pain from the smoke poison had mostly faded too. Li Jiangying opened her mouth to speak but suddenly noticed a bloody taste in her mouth.

She couldn’t help but frown and ask, “What did you feed me?”

This fishy-sweet taste definitely wasn’t from that dead bull.

Li Yueying propped herself up on her elbows and moved. She slithered in front of Li Jiangying, wearing a chilling smile, and reached out to grab her: “Jiangying, it’s me…”

“Stop!” Li Jiangying tried to raise a hand to stop her, but this Li Yueying was different from the little madwoman. She hugged her regardless, pressing her against her own chest.

Li Jiangying felt like she was being smothered. Pressed tightly against the softness of her embrace, her face instantly flushed as if the fever had returned.

“Let go of me! Ah! Bastard!” Li Jiangying cursed furiously, “You lunatic!”

Li Yueying simply nuzzled against the crown of her head, giggling foolishly, an exceptionally creepy sight.

The weak, helpless mortal struggled for a long time but couldn’t break free. Finally, resigned, she gave up. Wearily, she let herself lean in her arms and whispered, “Let go of me… you lunatic.”

“Jiangying… Jiangying…”

Li Jiangying sighed softly, “I’m hungry.”

Unexpectedly, these words actually made Li Yueying release her!

Li Jiangying’s eyes lit up, and she quickly said, “I want some water.”

Li Yueying slowly bent down, leaning her head in front of her. Her disheveled long hair hung before her eyes, revealing two scarlet phoenix eyes. She asked eerily, “Jiangying… will you run away?”

Li Jiangying thought: ‘Oh no, this version of Li Yueying might actually remember her first escape attempt at night when she just arrived at Moon Shadow Devil Palace.’

So she could only force an awkward laugh: “What nonsense are you talking about? We’re on the same side!”

The snake pupils flickered with cold light. The demonic being seemed to stare into the depths of her soul as if scrutinizing her. After a moment, Li Yueying smiled very faintly. She raised a sharp claw covered in fine scales, gently stroking Li Jiangying’s face.

She said, “Jiangying is so obedient.”

Li Jiangying smiled wryly: “Li Yueying, are you still lucid? We can’t stay here forever. We need to get to Flying Swallow Capital.”

Li Yueying smiled slowly at her, her gaze hooking onto Li Jiangying’s flesh and blood like a barb: “Jiangying must be obedient. I will give you everything.”

At this moment, Li Yueying seemed like the complete opposite of that silly little madwoman. The little madwoman had reason but no brains; this snake demon had brains but seemed to lack much reason. And the one with both brains and reason… ha, she wanted to kill her.

Feeling utterly miserable, Li Jiangying could only do her best to placate Li Yueying: “I will stay by your side, alright? Just let go of me first. I need to go outside and look around.”

Their eyes met. Li Jiangying’s gaze was firm as she raised her hand, took hold of Li Yueying’s claw, and slowly pulled it away from her face.

She held it in return, carefully coaxing, “Let’s do it together, okay?”

Finally, Li Yueying nodded slowly.

Li Jiangying let out a breath of relief. She turned and walked towards the direction where faint light was coming from. One hand held Li Yueying’s, the other braced against the wall. Li Yueying followed her in silence, slithering along.

Soon they reached the cave entrance. Li Jiangying saw that the sky outside was already dawning; the sun would likely rise soon. After thinking for a moment, she turned back into the depths of the cave and picked up the short sword and mask that had fallen on the ground.

This sword was actually quite good. Although it had been dropped many times, its edge hadn’t dulled. Li Jiangying wiped it with her sleeve, unsure which was actually cleaner, her sleeve or the sword.

The bull carcass was already starting to stink. Afraid of getting an upset stomach if she ate it, Li Jiangying had to give up on it. Wearing the mask and holding the short sword, she walked out of the cave with Li Yueying.

They were now halfway up some nameless low mountain, surrounded by trees. The ground was covered in wild grass, the air filled with the incessant chirping of frogs and insects. Every so often, they could see the grass rustling, as if small animals were scurrying away underneath.

Li Jiangying bent down to tie her pant legs tight, picked up a branch to use as a pathfinder stick, and slowly advanced while sweeping and beating the grass. But even so, hidden dangers still lurked beneath the dense undergrowth.

Li Jiangying stumbled over a rock. Fortunately, she was holding onto Li Yueying and didn’t fall. Just as she steadied herself, her body was suddenly lifted into the air. It turned out Li Yueying had scooped her up horizontally in her arms.

Li Jiangying was dumbfounded and glared at her: “What are you doing?!”

Li Yueying grinned: “Jiangying is good.”

Helpless, Li Jiangying let her carry her. The snake demon dragged her long, thick tail through the underbrush. The pressure of a high-ranking demon spread out, instantly causing countless small animals to flee into the distance in terror.

Li Jiangying, however, wasn’t affected. Perhaps Yueying was deliberately controlling it to protect her.

Li Jiangying had a good sense of direction. She carefully observed her surroundings and found the direction of Flying Swallow Capital. However, after moving from the original location to here, she wasn’t sure if the path ahead was now parallel to or diverging from the route to Flying Swallow Capital.

There was no other way; they would have to try asking someone they met on the road.

“Is there a water source around here?”