Amdo was overjoyed at the sight.
But he waited a long time, and the insect never came back.
At this moment, beneath the wide cape, it so happened that Yun Jinnian could see the insect, and the insect stared back at Yun Jinnian.
One person, one insect—they looked at each other, eyes locked.
Yun Jinnian knew that the insects of Nanjiang were no ordinary creatures; they were very spiritual. Seeing that the insect changed several colors upon noticing Yun Jinnian's gaze and then rolled around on the ground.
It seemed to be courting Yun Jinnian's favor.
Yun Jinnian was momentarily taken aback, then gently reached out to the insect, which immediately lay down on the ground as though waiting for Yun Jinnian to touch it.
As soon as Yun Jinnian moved, many people woke up.
But since she made no significant movements, they all pretended to be asleep, and no one stirred.
Yun Jinnian hesitated for a long time before finally pressing her finger on the insect's head.
Withdrawing her hand, the insect quickly rolled around several times, then buried its head low, once again awaiting Yun Jinnian's touch.
Only after several back-and-forth exchanges did the insect stick out its tongue at Yun Jinnian and lick around its mouth.
Yun Jinnian suddenly remembered that the insects of Nanjiang were bloodsuckers.
She drew a silver needle from the bracelet on her wrist, pricked her finger gently, and squeezed out a drop of blood.
The insect immediately widened its eyes at the sight, waiting for the blood to fall, and quickly sucked it up.
Then, satisfied, it collapsed on the ground, motionless.
Yun Jinnian found it amusing and reached out to the insect again; it leaped into her palm and looked up at her expectantly.
Yun Jinnian fed it another drop of blood, and this time, after eating it, the insect thoroughly fell asleep.
Yun Jinnian poked it; there was no response.
She poked it again; still no response.
Yun Jinnian thought for a moment, wrapped it in a handkerchief, and placed it inside the pouch containing the small cauldron.
Everyone in the cave knew Yun Jinnian had moved, but they did not know what she did.
Amdo waited a long time without seeing the insect return. At first, he could remain calm, but as he waited without any sign of the insect, he began to grow anxious and sweat formed on his brow.
That was the sect's only Spiritual Poisonous Insect.
Heading out this time, the elder had charged him with the insect that could find the Snow Lotus of Tian Mountain; if it were lost...
Not daring to ponder deeply, Amdo swiftly pricked his own finger, hoping to lure it back with the scent of blood.
However, no matter how long he waited, the Spiritual Poisonous Insect did not return. Little did Amdo know that the insect had eaten Yun Jinnian's blood and, being placed next to the small cauldron, had long since escaped from the handkerchief and burrowed into the cauldron to sleep.
Even the Heavenly King himself wouldn't be able to coax it out now!
Amdo became both anxious and panicked, tumbling out several Poisonous Insects that the Spiritual Poisonous Insect liked to eat the most. As soon as these Poisonous Insects hit the ground, they panicked and scrambled onto Amdo's body, with two of them even convulsing a few times and dying from fright.
Amdo did not understand what was happening, but dared not make any more rash moves.
Yun Jinnian, on the other hand, quickly fell back asleep, a smile curling up at the corners of her mouth as she thought of the insect.
Money Mama knew that Yun Jinnian had woken up, but having spent days together, she felt a hint of pity for Yun Jinnian. Therefore, she closed her eyes as if asleep and, seeing that Yun Jinnian had gone back to sleep, she too drifted off.
At the break of dawn, the men in the cave rose first, went outside to relieve themselves, then set up a pot to melt snow into water before they each freshened up simply.
The female guards also washed up very simply.
Yun Jinnian awoke faintly, her eyes still moist and slightly dazed.
Zhou Yunshen looked at her, his eyes deepening, but then he saw Chu Yu quickly walk in front of Yun Jinnian, blocking his view.