It seemed Han Xue's strictness had truly carved itself into their hearts.
Han Xue's appetite was light. After only a few bites, she rose to her feet, her eyes like cold stars as they swept across the tents before settling on Han Chong.
"Those on duty tonight are not to drink," she said, her voice calm yet brooking no argument. "The rest of you, drink less. Tomorrow, we pass through the territory of the demon snake Xia Mang. Stay alert."
She did not linger after those words. With unhurried, light steps, Han Xue returned to her tent, and soon the soft glow within was snuffed out, leaving only the dim shimmer of moonlight draping over the silent fabric.
The once-lively atmosphere of the camp quietly dulled in her wake. A few men frowned, muttering under their breaths with subdued curses.
Even from a distance, Xiao Hua caught every word. Most of them clearly loathed the snake demon. Yet he merely sipped his wine in silence. There was no need to trouble himself over a mere little snake.
After all, he had already conquered the Snake Queen—one who bore the majesty of a sovereign. Why, then, would he concern himself with some base creature ruled by its own lust?
"Ugh… damn it, I'd almost forgotten about that greedy, lecherous bastard," Han Chong grumbled, tipping the wine jar high and downing the last mouthful before flinging it aside. He rose to his feet, voice deep and firm. "Enough drinking. Double the night watch. Make sure nothing goes wrong."
The others exchanged reluctant looks, but one by one they cast aside their jars as well. Soon, the celebratory clamor faded, replaced by the sound of men moving with purpose as the camp's defenses and patrol lines were swiftly reinforced.
Xiao Hua quietly returned to his tent after finishing his wine, lying down flat upon the bedding. Just as he was about to close his eyes, Yu Ru Meng's soft voice drifted into his mind.
"Are you planning to assist them?"
"If that little snake dares to come and cause trouble for them, I will step in," Xiao Hua replied calmly. "I owe them that much. Besides… she is my junior's younger sister. Knowing how generous and kind she is, I naturally cannot stand by if she's in danger."
As he spoke, he retrieved the jade bottle Han Xue had given him. The healing medicine within would have little effect on him—like a drop of water upon a blazing flame. He decided to keep it for now, planning to return it to her before he left.
"Now that I think about it," Yu Ru Meng mused, a faint hint of amusement in her tone, "one of your lovers is from the Snake-People, isn't she? And not just anyone… but a proud and majestic empress. You truly are remarkable, managing to win her heart."
"Hehe… I won't deny it—even I was surprised by that," Xiao Hua admitted, a faint pride stirring in his voice. "At first, I only helped her because of her close bond with Zi Yan… yet somehow, things turned out this way."
He chuckled softly, but soon his thoughts drifted to that little lass who was forever pestering him for pills. Even during their journey, she had never stopped asking, knowing well that he carried an enormous stock within the Mysterious Heaven Ring thanks to the System.
A wry smile touched his lips as he shook his head helplessly, recalling how Zi Yan treated him like nothing more than a walking pill vault.
'Now that I think about it… the three Dragon Kings of the Ancient Void Dragon tribe have been strangely quiet. I should check on them after bringing Cai Lin to the Nine Serene Spring to inherit the legacy of the Heaven Swallowing Python tribe,' Xiao Hua thought silently as he set his next path in mind.
"Even so," Yu Ru Meng continued, her voice tinged with curiosity, "I'm even more impressed that little Gu lass actually allowed you to marry another woman—let alone several. I always thought a proud young lady like her would never permit such a thing."
"That is the best part about Xun'er," Xiao Hua said softly. "Her devotion makes me feel as though I am cherished by a celestial fairy. Though she wears an indifferent mask before others, I alone know the tenderness hidden beneath—a warmth that belongs only to me."
"There is the gentleness of Xian'er, whose presence soothes me like a quiet stream under the moonlight. She is ethereal and warm, her every gesture soft and comforting, yet I know—should anyone provoke her—this fairy could turn into a death god that reaps without hesitation."
"There is the allure of Fei'er, sly and cunning as a cat, always teasing with her playful smiles. Yet when her gaze falls upon me, she becomes an enchanting siren, weaving temptation around me with a sweetness I cannot resist."
"And then there is Cai'er, regal and majestic, as though she were born to be an empress who stands above all beneath the heavens. To the world she is cold, mesmerizing, untouchable—but before me, her private smile carries a warmth so rare and deep, it lingers in my soul."
Yu Ru Meng quietly listened, her heart light and pleased as Xiao Hua spoke of his lovers. A faint smile curved her lips; she truly enjoyed hearing him speak of Gu Xun Er, Cai Lin, Little Fairy Doctor, and Ya Fei—and even of Xiao Yuyan, the daughter he shared with Cai Lin.
The night quietly slipped away as Xiao Hua continued talking about his family, until the first rays of dawn scattered across the earth.
Xiao Hua opened his eyes when the bustle of the campsite reached his ears. He hadn't even realized when sleep had claimed him. As he clenched his fist and felt the dull ache fading within his body, a faint smile touched his lips. Perhaps it was because he had grown accustomed to injuries, but his recovery speed… even he found it astonishing.
"Not really a fun experience, if you ask me."
Yu Ru Meng's voice echoed faintly within Xiao Hua's mind, drawing a bitter laugh from his lips.
After rising and straightening his robes, Xiao Hua stepped out of the tent. He greeted Han Chong's group with a small smile as they busied themselves packing up the camp, then walked over to lend a hand.
Knowing Han Xue's temperament well, they didn't turn him away. Instead, they smiled and passed him some of the simpler tasks.
Xiao Hua tossed the folded tent in his hands into a carriage and had just turned around when a faint, serene fragrance drifted past him. A graceful figure paused nearby, her pretty eyes sweeping over him as an indifferent voice sounded,
"You will remain in the carriage today. Do not come out."
She did not give Xiao Hua the opportunity to speak. She returned to her own carriage. After which, a moving cold cry was emitted from within it.
"Start the convoy!"
Without giving him a chance to reply, she turned and returned to her own carriage. Moments later, a clear yet icy voice rose from within it.
The corner of Xiao Hua's mouth twitched as he watched the line of carriages creak forward across the sands.
"This lass isn't bad," Yu Ru Meng said with quiet approval. "Though her demeanor is cold, the care and gentleness hidden beneath… truly make me think she is worth helping later."
Xiao Hua chuckled softly and nodded, agreeing with Yu Ru Meng's quiet assessment of Han Xue's nature.
…
A dry, sandy wind swept across the desolate desert, its mournful howl echoing through the sky. Waves of fine sand were lifted and carried afar, veiling the horizon in a hazy blur.
Faint black specks slowly emerged from the far end of the road. Before long, they drew closer—revealing a moving convoy. Nearly a hundred guards flanked its sides, their expressions stern as their wary gazes swept across the barren surroundings. Hands gripped tightly onto the weapons strapped to their backs, knuckles faintly pale from tension.
This stretch of the desert lay close to the outer reaches of the northern Central Plains. Now and then, one or two wandering figures could be seen in the distance, only to vanish in the blink of an eye. The only sounds accompanying the convoy were the steady rhythm of pounding hooves and the occasional cry of eagles circling high above.
Inside a gently swaying carriage, Xiao Hua leaned against the window, his gaze drifting over the guards of the Han Clan. The atmosphere today was markedly different from their usual relaxed manner.
Even those who normally joked and laughed daily had gone silent. Their hands flexed restlessly around the grips of their weapons, tightening and loosening in turn—subtle signs betraying the unease building within their hearts.
It was clear that this so-called demon snake, Xia Mang, carried a fearsome reputation. To think he could drive even the seasoned guards and convoy of the Han Clan into such visible unease…
Xiao Hua sat cross-legged within the carriage, eyes gently shut as he silently regulated his breath…
The carriage rumbled on for nearly two hours before its motion abruptly ceased. Xiao Hua's eyes slowly opened. Through a narrow gap in the window, he caught sight of a distant mountain peak—steep and jagged, its midsection split open as though cleaved by a blade. The resulting fissure stretched dozens of feet across, like a dark maw yawning between the cliffs.
At that very moment, Xiao Hua's Spiritual Perception stirred. He could faintly feel the quickening of heartbeats outside—subtle, yet telling. It seemed they had reached the infamous Ten Thousand Snake Gorge.
After several moments of preparation and murmured encouragement from Han Chong, the convoy began to move again. Yet, Xiao Hua noticed Han Chong quietly breaking away from the formation, slipping toward his carriage.
Han Chong's voice was low and firm as he urged Xiao Hua to take Han Xue and flee should the coming negotiations collapse into bloodshed.
Only then did Yu Ru Meng inside Xiao Hua's spiritual sea understand the true source of their tension—it was not their own lives they feared for, but hers. Their gazes carried not only vigilance, but a silent resolve, as if they had steeled themselves to face a mortal foe.
After offering what he believed were words of reassurance, Han Chong departed again to scout the cliffs.
Xiao Hua merely leaned back, lips curling faintly as the carriages, including his own, rolled forward into the gorge.
"Well… nothing will happen anyway, so it should be fine."
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