"What makes Miao Silver so special? Can't he marry a woman from the Miao ethnicity? Or... is this trinket a personal item of Bai Zanhe?" Yu Longting's final query struck the heart of the matter.
I nudged my chin against his shoulder. "Have you taken a good look at Bai Zanhe? She always adorns earrings of this particular style, bearing a strong ethnic design."
"I haven't paid much attention, Wanwan. Apart from watching you, I hardly notice other women." Yu Longting let out a soft sigh, his mood noticeably subdued.
Before I could decipher his sentiment, he had already gently placed me onto the bed within the dorm room.
The White Python gracefully slithered down from my cheongsam, then deliberately coiled around me, its belly making contact with my skin.
Using its considerable length, the python began to massage my head, stomach, and feet.
I clutched the White Python close, my fingers lightly caressing its immaculate, flawless scales. "I am alright. In time, the burns inflicted by the Three Corpse God will naturally heal."
"I know it pains you, Wanwan. You tried to hide it from me, forcing yourself to endure the suffering along the way." The White Python's cool head nudged my cheek, and its sightless eye sockets seemed to convey a profound sense of loneliness.
Its cultivation was far too potent; nothing could escape its perception.
Despite my utmost effort to suppress the pain, it had still discovered my suffering.
I let out a quiet sigh internally. Taking out the Copper Key, I dangled it before Yu Longting, attempting to divert his attention. "This key bears a striking resemblance to the one Old Zhao possessed. And Bai Zanhe's earring is by the door! Could it be that the vile spirit's mansion... was originally Old Zhao's?"
"I believe it was his. The mansion's safeguards are formidable, not of this world." Yu Longting reached out and retrieved my phone from my satchel. "But what does any of this have to do with us?"
I held nothing back from Yu Longting and had no issue with him accessing my phone. "That's true. Yu Longting, I'm feeling a bit hungry now~"
"Hold on, I'll feed you." Yu Longting located a video mashup of Chong Lou and Zi Xuan, then affixed the phone to the snake's horn, intending to watch it with me.
He casually produced snacks from a nearby plastic bag and began feeding them to me, one by one.
It felt wonderful to have someone attend to my needs. I watched a scene in the video where Zi Xuan seductively flirted with Chong Lou, all while savoring the beef bites Yu Longting had just given me.
An unprecedented sense of pleasure and ease washed over me, and I unknowingly ate until I was full.
When one is full, sleepiness often follows. I couldn't recall what I was watching when I eventually drifted off.
Regardless, upon awakening, the round, warm presence in my palm...
Upon closer examination, it turned out to be a Demon Core imbued with the fire attribute.
Seeing the Demon Core, I couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
I surmised that Wuyue's Primordial Spirit had most likely awakened, preventing Yu Longting from reappearing. This inner core had been placed in my palm by him just before his departure...
"This... is the Fire Bastard's Demon Core." Wuyue's voice, cold and detached, suddenly echoed beside my ear.
Turning towards the sound, I saw Wuyue standing at the bedside, looking down at me.
His eyes, as profound as a dark abyss, seemed to hold a greater distance from me than before.
I massaged my throbbing temples, not assigning blame to Yu Longting for his display yesterday. The injury from the Three Corpse God was indeed quite severe. Just seeing him brought a sense of healing, and no matter how agonizing the pain, I could bear it. "I encountered a troublesome bastard spirit and had no choice but to eliminate it; this is its inner core."
"Su Wan, where is my fish?" Wuyue inquired, a frown creasing his brow.
Exhausted to the point where opening my eyes was a struggle, I pressed harder on my temples, managing to force a narrow slit open. "I apologize. The oxygen pump malfunctioned overnight, and tragically, two fish perished from a lack of oxygen. It was due to my poor care; I am truly sorry..."
"Deprived of oxygen... dead?? Ultimately dead??" For a fleeting moment, Wuyue's eyes vacant, then he suddenly let out an unnervingly cold, mocking laugh. "Hehehe, some fish are solitary beings. During periods of oxygen deficiency, they will fiercely compete for it; the weaker one perishes. It's always best to keep just a single fish in a tank."
"I have absolutely no experience with fishkeeping; next time, I will certainly be more mindful. I'll purchase a larger tank and confine myself to keeping only one fish. This situation will not recur." I felt an overwhelming heaviness, a genuine reluctance to rise. I simply wished to lie down a bit longer, to wait until the pain subsided before undertaking any further actions. "Once I'm feeling better, I shall visit the market and procure just one this time."
"There is no need. Fish belong in rivers; existing in an unsuitable environment is ultimately just torment. You are not feeling well? Where is the discomfort?" Wuyue leaned closer to my bed, casting his imposing shadow over me. His long fingers clasped my wrist, a chilling intensity flashing within his eyes. "Your Three Corpse God injury, was it inflicted by that man?"
