Although he still couldn't recall the past, Li Ye was certain that in his previous life, he was unrivaled!
This was the self-confidence of a powerhouse, beyond any doubt.
As his emotions intensified, the ring in his pocket flashed a red light.
But he and Ning Wei were so engrossed in their discussion that they completely missed this detail.
As the moon climbed higher, a chill like a thin veil fell upon Ning Wei, and she couldn't help but sneeze.
"Let's go back and sleep," Li Ye offered.
"Everything can wait until tomorrow." Seeing Ning Wei's worried eyes, Li Ye guessed her thoughts.
Ning Wei nodded. "If the white snake comes looking for me again tonight, I'll deal with it first."
"Your safety is the priority, nothing else matters." Li Ye gently stroked Ning Wei's soft, long hair, and tenderly watched her return to her room.
Through the closed door, Li Ye heard Ning Wei undressing and getting into bed, and the slight creak of the wooden bed as she lay down.
His eyes were deep as he reached into his pocket, tightly gripping the ring and the bead, his fingers so tight that their tips turned white.
While everyone else was asleep, he slipped out of the Meng family's house. Where he went, no one knew.
After pouring her heart out to Li Ye, Ning Wei felt a significant burden lifted from her.
She could now face what was coming with ease and drifted into a natural sleep.
As expected, she was pulled into another space, and confronted a pair of glowing red eyes.
Ning Wei startled and took a step back, then clearly understood her surroundings.
A white snake coiled its body, its head tilted slightly, its red eyes like rubies, fixed intently on her.
In truth, compared to the completely black space, this place was much more calming for Ning Wei.
Ning Wei had a vague feeling that she might have grasped the difference.
"You don't have time to consider," the white snake spoke.
"What?" Ning Wei looked at it, utterly confused.
"It has made its move. If you don't help me, all your friends will die here," the white snake continued.
Ning Wei thought of Song Zhi and the others going to the Mountain God Temple that day, and immediately asked the white snake, "Are there two mountain gods, one black and one white, representing the light and dark sides?"
The white snake nodded. "You've finally caught on, but you're mistaken about one thing: neither of us are Mountain Gods."
"Then who are you?"
"We are all the obsessions in people's hearts, the truth that this town of Bai Xian has deliberately concealed."
The white snake spoke in riddles, and Ning Wei couldn't fully grasp its implied meaning.
However, one thing was certain: that black snake was causing trouble everywhere, and it had occupied the Mountain God Temple, absorbing the incense offerings of the townspeople and enjoying their worship.
"What do you want me to do?"
"Defeat it." After saying this, the white snake turned into a wisp of white smoke.
Seeing it vanish, Ning Wei instinctively reached out, wanting to catch it. She still had many unanswered questions, and only the white snake could provide them.
Unfortunately, as soon as she extended her hand, she felt herself falling into a vortex.
Amidst the dizziness, a rooster's crow woke Ning Wei.
She opened her eyes, and for a moment, they were bloodshot.
Ning Wei sat up and looked at her four sleeping female companions.
They were all still asleep, but after the white snake's warning, Ning Wei felt they might not wake up easily.
Ning Wei softly called their names, but there was no response from anyone.
Ning Wei then took a blade and cut her own hand, drawing a formation in the room, using her own power to forcibly bring them back.
Because she used more blood this time, the scent of blood was quite strong, and Ning Wei, pale-faced, persisted.
The door suddenly opened, and Ning Wei glanced over, her tension easing as she confirmed it was Li Ye.
In Li Ye's eyes, Ning Wei's entire face was drained of color.
The formation she had drawn consumed spiritual energy directly to counter another force.
In the clash between the two, her body would become as weak as if she were ill.
"Let me help you." Li Ye picked up the blade from the table and squeezed it hard.
His blood was a deeper red, and with his addition, Ning Wei felt the energy draining from her body at a slower pace.
The others also showed faint signs of waking up. Li Ye immediately withdrew his hand.
He glanced at Ning Wei's hand, pulled her into his embrace, and then sat on the stool behind them.
Ning Wei nestled into Li Ye's arms like a small bird, but the blood on her hand was a stark contrast.
Li Ye took a mouthful of his own blood, then leaned over and embraced Ning Wei. Their eyes met, and to Ning Wei's surprise, his lips moved down.
A cold sensation landed, followed by a cooler liquid flowing down her throat from her lips.
Li Ye's injured hand tightly grasped Ning Wei's, their blood mingling.
Initially, blood dripped from their clasped hands, but as the blood flowed from his mouth, the pain in Ning Wei's hand lessened.
When their lips parted, both of their lips were stained with blood, giving them a seductive hue.
Ning Wei felt a bit uncomfortable, or rather, she was uncharacteristically shy.
She looked down at her palm, which had already healed, and murmured, "Is it always this dramatic to heal a wound now?"
Li Ye chuckled and couldn't help but hold her tighter.
"Let's go out. Everyone will be waking up soon." Li Ye held Ning Wei's waist, helping her to stand slowly.
Ning Wei glanced at Tang Tang and the others, her brow unfurrowing. They looked truly asleep now.
The two of them walked out of the room. Ning Wei couldn't help but look towards the adjacent room; she hadn't forgotten their two male teammates were in there.
She didn't need to speak. With just a gesture, a glance, Li Ye could guess her thoughts.
"Don't worry. I got them out before I came. They're just very sleepy right now, so they're sleeping normally."
Ning Wei finally felt at ease and sat with Li Ye under the grapevines, watching the sunrise over the distant mountains.
They had woken up very early; even Uncle Meng and his wife were not yet awake.
Seizing the moment of solitude, Ning Wei recounted her conversation with the white snake to Li Ye.
Li Ye reached out and gently pressed Ning Wei's forehead. "Don't frown, don't worry. I'm here for everything."
His gaze towards Ning Wei was ambiguous yet tender, but Ning Wei felt a sense of unease.
Perhaps it was due to being single her whole life, she thought, that she wasn't accustomed to this.
Tang Tang and the others slept until almost lunchtime.
Ning Wei and Li Ye were already in the kitchen, helping Aunt Meng cook.
Aunt Meng was still curious. "They usually wake up so early. Why are they so sleepy today?"