The neglected stupid serpent was very angry. Before, this human ignored it, which it might have tolerated, but now she dared to let others ignore it so flagrantly. Intolerable!
The stupid serpent got furious, and its tail swept over like a growing vine. It directly attacked Ming Shu and Xiao Rufeng, trying to wrap them up.
Ming Shu moved her body aside easily to avoid the tail. But the escorts who were carrying Xiao Rufeng were scared by the attack and dropped her quickly. Then Xiao Rufeng was successfully wrapped in the serpent's tail.
"Hiss hiss—" Hateful humans, I'm going to tear you up.
Especially that evil woman.
The stupid serpent lifted its entire body up and tried to attack Ming Shu. But suddenly, its body froze in midair for a second, and the next second it swiftly slipped backward and ran away.
In the dust, the golden figure of the serpent gradually disappeared. If it were not for the messy ruins everywhere, it would seem as if the golden serpent had never showed up.
This was it?
"What happened?"
"Why did it leave? Are we good here?"
"Xiao Rufeng was taken away…"
Hearing the name of Xiao Rufeng, everyone was silent for a moment. In these people's minds, Xiao Rufeng was nothing but a loser, a total disaster. But now the golden serpent took Xiao Rufeng and left Ming Shu here… This undoubtedly confused them.
Ming Shu propped her chin on her fingertips with smiling eyes. It really is Xiao Rufeng's golden finger…
After a few moments, she grabbed a piece of dried meat from her sleeve, chewed it, and turned to look at the crowd.
No condemnation or anger could be seen in her eyes; instead, she looked calm and mild. But it was precisely this indifference that made others feel cold and creeped out.
The Xiao and Bai families were showing the most unpleasant faces. Since they'd just offended her, the possibility of getting her to see patients was zero.
"Well…" Ming Shu put her hands behind her and dragged her words out. "Do you want to pack me up and send me to the stupid snake?"
"…"
"Hui Xue, remember: For all these people who are present today, our Death Valley will never treat them. All their relatives and the 18 generations that succeed them are not allowed to seek our help."
Hui Xue was slightly surprised. Our Miss is so cruel. But these people deserve it. They actually wanted to trade our Miss's life for their peace.
After announcing a new rule for Death Valley, Ming Shu left unhurriedly with Hui Xue and Liu Feng. But her brisk voice could be clearly heard from afar.
"Let's go to eat some roasted duck."
"Miss, you are still hungry?"
"I was scared today so I need to eat much more food to comfort myself."
"…" You were scared? We were scared, okay?!
"Lord… is that woman really the master of Death Valley?" Feng Cheng's guard was skeptical. "She used to follow Miss Bai…"
Feng Cheng looked murkily in the direction Ming Shu left. A piece of red cloth was disappearing from his sights. "Go check it out."
There must have been some signs of this new master of Death Valley.
"Yes, my Lord."
"Lord, the saint beast… it took Xiao Rufeng away. It didn't seem like it was going to hurt her. Was there some trick?"
Even the guards sensed something unusual, so naturally Feng Cheng also thought about it.
But Feng Cheng was a little confused at this time. He kept silent for a moment. "Clear up the mess first. The rest will be discussed later."
"… Yes, my Lord."
...
"Miss…"
After the golden serpent disturbed Xiling, the whole city was caught up in a strange atmosphere. In this situation, the most common scene was that of the master of Death Valley coming in and out of all restaurants.
More than that, occasionally the escort of the master could be seen dragging a spirit beast back to the city.
Then some smoke would arise from somewhere.
"Miss, it's here." The maid pointed at the smoke not far away and whispered, "Miss, even the lord didn't persuade her. Do you really want to go?"
Bai Yanran had a veil over her face, and the smoke was reflected in her gloomy eyes. "My face… It can only be cured by Death Valley, right?"
The maid slightly lowered her head, looking scared. "Yes…"
The lord had turned to many people for help, but everyone said only Death Valley could cure it.
Bai Yanran clung to her clothes, her heart sinking. "Let's go."
"Miss…"
The maid walked faster to catch up with Bai Yanran. They headed toward the smoke.
This was a quadrangular courtyard. It seemed very noisy and children's laughter was coming from inside continuously. Bai Yanran pushed her way in, and the scene presented to her was unexpectedly harmonious.
Several children were running and singing around the campfire. The meat was roasted in the middle, already changed into an attractive color. In the air was the tempting smell of food.
In the corridor nearby, a girl in red was leaning against a pillar, a faint smile between her eyes and brows. She watched the playful children while nibbling at a piece of meat.
A dark shadow suddenly appeared in front of Bai Yanran. The chilled air almost sent her hair standing upright.
Liu Feng blocked her gaze and stared at her with cold eyes, obviously indicating she was unwelcome here and had better leave.
Bai Yanran took a deep breath and raised her head. "I'm looking for Zhi Po."
"The Miss won't see any guests now." Hui Xue stepped up from the side, only to blink and walk closer. "Bai Yanran?"
This woman dared to come to the Miss?
Isn't she afraid the Miss will kill her?
"What are you doing here?" Hui Xue asked with her hands on her hips.
"I'm looking for Zhi Po." Bai Yanran pointed to Ming Shu as she answered. The maid pulled her clothes behind her lightly. Although Bai Yanran was somewhat impatient, she softened her attitude a little. "I'm looking for your master."
Hui Xue sneered. "Our Miss won't see any guests now. As I just said. Miss Bai, please go back."
This woman treated the Miss so miserably before, now she dares to come to us. Who gave her the courage?
Bai Yanran didn't move. She looked over Hui Xue and stared at Ming Shu, shouting, "I know why you were coming to me before, Zhi Po. Your master asked you to protect me, right? The master owed my mother, and he wanted you to repay her for him. Are you going to violate his wishes?"
Ming Shu lifted her head slightly. The children in the yard suddenly stopped playing and looked at Ming Shu with innocent expressions. Showing a warm smile, Ming Shu waved at them and said, "You should go back to class. Come on, this sister needs to handle something."
The children then ran to the door with hands covering their smiling mouths. Some slow kids looked back as they were running. "Sister, don't tell the teacher that we came to you."
"Okay." Ming Shu smiled in answer.
These children were students from an old-fashioned private school next door. There was a door connected to the other side, so the smell of roasted meat lured them over.
Ming Shu didn't drive them away. Thus, from time to time, they would sneak in to share the meat.
After all the children left, Ming Shu threw out the bones in her hands and pulled out a handkerchief, wiping slowly. "You're right."
Bai Yanran suddenly breathed a sigh of relief. This secret was discovered in the belongings left by her mother, but she was not sure if it was true. Now that Ming Shu admitted it in person, she was completely relieved.
Now there might be some hope that her face would be cured.
However, Ming Shu's next sentence extinguished Bai Yanran's faint hope immediately.
Ming Shu stepped down elegantly, an extremely soft smile on her face. "So what?"
That was the mission Zhi Po needed to accomplish, not her.
She was Ming Shu, not Zhi Po. She was here to acquire Hatred Points. Nothing more, nothing less; it was that simple.
"You…" Bai Yanran's eyes widened. "You must protect me. This was the agreement between my mother and your master. How can you break it?"