The snake pit was no longer filled with hissing; it was littered with the corpses of snakes, a truly gruesome sight. Sang Chencao was unmoved. She stepped over the snake corpses and walked through the deep pit, heading straight for the depths of the cavern. Her unhurried pace was that of a Living Yama.
There were no more hidden passages in the depths, but the mud walls were riddled with holes, none larger than a fist, as if something had burrowed through.
Sang Chencao leaned over to look closely. She slowly pulled the insect whistle from her lapel and blew a sharp note. There was a rustling inside the holes. Moments later, several snakes crawled out as if looking for food, their behavior extremely docile.
Sang Chencao let out a scoffing laugh. Without hesitation, she caught one of them, pinching it at its seven-inch mark. “You look sleek and black. You’ll do.”
The snake was covered in blue rings, its scales shimmering with a dark silver light. It was clearly no ordinary creature. Judging by its long, pointed head, it was extremely venomous. Yet the snake didn’t move, allowing Sang Chencao to hold it in her hand as if it were made of clay.
Having secured the snake, Sang Chencao coiled it around her wrist. Her steps were incredibly light and slow as she left, as if she were up to no good.
The person on the horse remained unconscious, slumped over and unmoving. Sang Chencao pressed the insect whistle back onto the scabbard. Using the hand that had held the snake, she pinched Feng Yun’ai’s chin, leaning in to inspect her.
The white-clothed woman looked completely vulnerable. Perhaps because the inner qi in her body hadn’t been settled yet, her lips were somewhat pale, and her entire being looked like a piece of fine, white paper. Because Sang Chencao’s complexion was a bit darker, it only emphasized the other woman’s whiteness.
Sang Chencao looked for a moment and then released her. She touched the eyelashes that brushed against the other woman’s eyelids and said softly, “You sealed my acupuncture points; I had to pay you back. Don’t blame me.”
The black snake on her wrist suddenly moved. Perhaps it recognized Feng Yun’ai as someone it could be close to, as it raised its body and arched its head to rub against her cheek.
Sang Chencao laughed and pinched the snake’s head, pressing its closed mouth against Feng Yun’ai’s neck. She said leisurely, “Why are you rubbing against her? Bite here.”
As soon as she spoke, the previously docile black snake opened its massive mouth, revealing exceptionally sharp fangs. It left a deep bite mark on the side of Feng Yun’ai’s neck. The bite mark turned black instantly, but within moments, the color faded as if the toxin had seeped entirely into her system.
Sang Chencao stroked the bite mark twice. Then, she brought the snake’s mouth to her own neck, tapping the snake’s head as if to urge it.
After letting the venomous snake bite Feng Yun’ai, she tested the venom on herself. She remained calm and composed, pulling down her sleeve to hide the black snake on her wrist before mounting the horse to leave again.
Feng Yun’ai still hadn’t woken up. Her skin tended to mark easily, so the traces on her neck were particularly obvious. Sang Chencao sat behind her to guide the horse. With a slight lowering of her gaze, she could see the flush on the other woman’s neck.
The horse traveled for several days. By the time they returned to Haosi City, it was so exhausted it could barely move, no matter how much the whip was cracked.
At sunset, the crowds in the market began to disperse. The streets were empty, even quieter than usual. Just as the sun was about to slip behind the mountains, the white-clothed woman slumped over the table opened her eyes, her head throbbing.
The moment she opened her eyes, Feng Yun’ai drew Solitary Gall and pointed it at Sang Chencao. She shook her head slightly, her body swaying as if she couldn’t even sit steadily. However, the sword in her hand was firm, pointing straight at the indigo-clothed woman lying on the bed.
The indigo-clothed woman looked surprised. Her eyes curved, and her gaze drifted over without fear or shock. “You’re awake?” she asked slowly.
Feng Yun’ai was also somewhat startled. After composing herself, she scanned her surroundings out of the corner of her eye. “Why are we still here?” she asked coldly.
The indigo-clothed woman walked forward, pressing her index finger against the tip of the sword and gently pushing it away. She leaned one arm on the edge of the table. “What are you talking about? You and I walked into this inn together. Are you still half-asleep?”
“There was an attack at night. We clearly left Haosi City overnight,” Feng Yun’ai said, her expression growing colder.
Sang Chencao replied, “We only checked into this inn today. What attack?”
Feng Yun’ai’s head was still pounding. She stared straight at the woman in front of her, her resolve beginning to waver.
“Were you dreaming?” Sang Chencao asked with a smile.
Feng Yun’ai still held her sword. In her peripheral vision, the inn’s layout was exactly the same as before, with no signs of damage. She was stunned. Could I really have been dreaming?
Sang Chencao slowly poured a cup of tea and placed it by Feng Yun’ai’s hand. “Moisten your throat. Tell me about this dream you had.”
Feng Yun’ai’s breath was unstable. In her daze, she sensed a wisp of scorching heat circulating through her meridians. She suddenly thrust her sword toward Sang Chencao’s neck.
That was the inner qi the indigo-clothed woman had forced into her. She had lost consciousness before she could internalize it, and as a result, that wisp of qi was now rampaging through her body, making her feel miserable.
