The itch was heart-piercing; every part of her body felt miserable. It was as if there wasn’t just one gu inside her, but enough to fill her entire husk.
She had truly underestimated the indigo-clothed woman’s parasites. If this continued, she would surely collapse.
Feng Yun’ai was forced to stop. She bent down to pick up the fodder, and just as she was about to stand, a sharp whistle pierced the air from behind.
It was the bug whistle.
The sound was sharp and loud, seemingly directed at her.
In the next moment, Feng Yun’ai’s body jerked sideways. Like a marionette, she was violently pulled around.
The gu in her meridians moved slowly, the aching itch flooding toward her feet, forcing her to walk back step by step.
However, the whistle only sounded once. After a short while, the gu lost its direction and gradually dispersed back through her body. She was no longer driven to walk forward like a stiff corpse.
How strange.
Feng Yun’ai was deeply confused. If she were being forced to return, why would the whistle only sound once? Suppressing her discomfort, she bent down to gather more fodder. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a dark shadow slither quickly through the lush grass.
Was it a snake?
Feng Yun’ai held the fodder and walked back. When she returned, she saw the indigo-clothed woman playing with something coiled around her wrist.
The object was wrapped several times, like a thick bracelet, glowing brilliantly under the moonlight.
The light was dim, and Feng Yun’ai couldn’t see it clearly at first, but then the thing opened its mouth and hissed. She understood immediately.
It wasn’t a bracelet at all. It was a living thing—a snake.
Feng Yun’ai froze, meeting Sang Chencao’s gaze, which also seemed snake-like.
It was damp and sinister, carrying an inexplicable smile.
“Where did that snake come from?” Feng Yun’ai pursed her lips. “Did the whistle you just blew call it?”
Sang Chencao pulled down her sleeve, covering the coils of the snake’s body and leaving only the bared fangs of the head exposed. She smiled. “It’s been on me all along. I just let it out to forage. The whistle was to call it back.”
Feng Yun’ai felt a wave of skin-crawling dread. She didn’t know if the creature was venomous, yet it had been wrapped around Sang Chencao’s wrist this whole time.
“Don’t be afraid. It doesn’t bite easily; it’s very well-behaved.” Sang Chencao extended her index finger, scratching the snake’s head twice before pointing to the spot beside her. “Sleep here. I imagine you won’t be comfortable if you stay too far away. Speaking of which, where were you wandering off to just now?”
Feng Yun’ai felt something was wrong. She asked coldly, “How did you know I walked away?”
Sang Chencao gave a small laugh and pointed toward Feng Yun’ai’s heart from a distance. “With the gu inside you, is there anything I wouldn’t know?”
“If I walk away, do you also feel an aching itch?” Feng Yun’ai didn’t sit down. She stood firm in the moonlight, looking down at the woman sitting beneath the tree.
“Hmm?” Sang Chencao raised an eyebrow and shook her head. “No. If that were the case, wouldn’t the world be turned upside down?”
Feng Yun’ai stared at the woman for a moment before silently sitting down with her sword. She turned her head away, avoiding the other’s gaze.
“How exactly did Feng Rong raise you? Did you really never see anyone else on Listening Goose Peak?” Sang Chencao asked with keen interest.
Feng Yun’ai was unwilling to speak to her. She closed her eyes and remained silent.
“Tell me, did she hide you away so tightly for your sake, or for her own?” Sang Chencao’s words were laced with hidden meaning.
Feng Yun’ai couldn’t stand such provocative words. She opened her eyes, letting the white silk veil fall. She glared with her grey eyes and snapped, “Whether it was for herself or for me, what does it have to do with you?”
She paused, then added, “How did Wen Lanxin raise you? Did she raise you out of selfish desire, or for your sake?”
Originally, Feng Yun’ai was just speaking in anger, throwing the question back at her. Unexpectedly, she detected a trace of chill in the woman’s smiling eyes.
That chill was mixed with an indescribable hatred and resistance.
Feng Yun’ai was stunned for a moment, then turned her head away and fell silent again.
Sang Chencao let out a scoff and said indifferently, “What if I told you that Wen Lanxin raised me using the same gu I use to control you? Would you believe me?”
Feng Yun’ai was shocked. For some reason, she almost believed her.
Sang Chencao continued, “You think Feng Rong’s heart was filled with nothing but righteous duty for the martial world. In reality, she was just a mortal. And mortals have selfish desires.”
“What are you trying to say?” Feng Yun’ai’s voice was cold. They were clearly talking about Wen Lanxin; she didn’t know why this person had suddenly dragged her own business into it.
“She didn’t let you show your face because she didn’t want you to ruin the saintly image she held before the world. Otherwise, with her abilities, how could she fail to protect you?” Sang Chencao spoke slowly. “She and Wen Lanxin studied under the same master. Do you want to guess if Wen Lanxin is just as selfish?”
It was a classic case of hurting the enemy but wounding oneself even more.
Then again, this indigo-clothed woman never seemed to favor Wen Lanxin. Whether she was hearing others criticize her or mocking her herself, she always maintained that arrogant posture of fearing nothing in heaven or earth.
“Feng Rong…” Feng Yun’ai frowned. “She was not selfish.”
“Then tell me, why did she never let you descend the mountain?” Sang Chencao asked meaningfully.
Feng Yun’ai remained silent, her lips pressed tight.
“She kept you on the mountain, ignorant of the world and knowing nothing of human nature, living a life of total confusion,” Sang Chencao said sharply.
“I—” Feng Yun’ai moved to argue.
Sang Chencao sneered. “Forget it. Don’t admit it if you don’t want to. You’ll admit it sooner or later.”
Feng Yun’ai truly regretted responding to her. After tying the white veil back over her eyes, she stopped speaking entirely.
The indigo-clothed woman also fell silent. She crossed her arms and fell into a deep sleep, seemingly unafraid of any sudden attack. The snake on her wrist slowly extended its body, noiselessly approaching the other person nearby.
Unaware, Feng Yun’ai suddenly felt a chill at the side of her neck. When she turned her head, she was caught off guard by those cold, reptilian eyes.
She felt the gu hidden within her body twitch.
