form was now more complete, having apparently absorbed a lot of Lili's life force. It looked like a whole human figure, but it still hunched over and was pitch black all over."Mu... Mu... Xia Qiao..."..."This isn't seaweed, is it I lie on the stone and look down."

Because of the previous earthquake, there were many strange things in the water, such as boulders, pots, pans, and other utensils, quilts, clothes, and even bodies.

I frowned, looking down at the shallows. The boulder was close to the riverbank, but still a distance from the riverbed below. Beneath it lay a small slope of gravel, and the shallow river water lapped gently there.

I don't know what this river was like before, but since I first saw it, it has experienced two earthquakes. The water has been churned up and made murky by the earth's tremors.

Besides the sliding sand that accumulated, there were many sinkholes on the riverbed, making the whole river look extremely dangerous.

Beneath the ripples of water that rose layer by layer, there seemed to be black aquatic plants spreading and surging. After observing carefully for a while, I discovered that those black things were moving.

That's not entirely accurate. It's definitely floating in the water, but those blacks seem to be moving on their own, with a sense of being about to leap out.

I became alert and reached out to touch Bai Ni's head.

The scale on its head was still bald, and it didn't know how many years it would take to grow back. It understood what I meant and gracefully extended its neck, leaning down from the boulder.

Grace... I would never have used that word to describe a serpent. My worldview has truly been altered.

Bai Ni's head was reflected on the water surface. The black clump seemed to sense something, and it immediately scattered in fright, swimming toward the depths.

This is really alive! It even knows how to hide.

I tipped the rice from my lunchbox onto the lid, clutching the container as I carefully walked around the boulder and to the riverbank.

I supported Bai Ni's head, scooping a ladleful of water from the cracks in the rubble with my hand.

Inside the lunchbox, there was a faint black mist. I couldn't see any creatures, it just seemed like the mist was moving.

"......Little Luo'er, what are you doing" Mu Wanchen appeared on the boulder. That was where he had just left. He had only stepped away for a moment and found that I had actually run to the riverbank. He stared at me with displeasure.

"Wàn Chén, look at this..." I quickly handed the lunchbox over to him.

He jumped down from the rock, grabbed my wrist and pulled me toward him. I was afraid the water in my hands would slip, so I protected them with both hands.

"What are you protecting this for You should be protecting your stomach, right" Mu Wanchen frowned at me, his voice stern.

"...Huh Are you threatening me" I was a little surprised.

Besides the initial period when we didn't know each other and he was harsh towards me, his voice towards me is noticeably softer by several tones in our usual conversations.

It's a bit exciting to be spoken to so harshly all of a sudden.

He was taken aback for a moment, looked away, and shook his head. "Not blaming you... I'm afraid you might slip."

"What are you afraid of I'm not a novice swimmer, I can swim! Besides, Bai Ni is here too." I chuckled silently to myself.

It's really interesting to see Mu Wanchen like this.

Usually appears calm and collected, giving off an aloof and intimidating aura. They are also silent and reserved.

He seemed to know I was itching for a fight. He gave me another fake glare and then looked down at the water in his lunchbox, frowning and asking, "What are you messing with You're not even eating."

"This, look, uh—"

I pointed to the lunch box, inside was a box of clear water, nothing else.

Damn, did I go blind!

It's impossible, Bai Ni just saw it too. It lowered its head to the water's surface and checked, and those black things floated away.

Darn it! Where did it go

"Just now I clearly saw a black mass floating in the water, drifting with the waves, it seemed to be alive. I asked Bai Ni to take a look, as soon as her head dipped down, those black things dissipated. I scooped some up with a food box spoon, wanting to keep it for you to see, but now it's gone..." I frowned and said.

Mu Wanchen let out a soft sigh, pouring the water from the food box back into the river and then tossing the box aside.

"It's probably just a little fish in the river," he said.

“Impossible, Xiao Yu I would be able to tell That’s just a cloud of black mist! Didn't see a fish tail.”

"... Little Luo'er, a lot of people drowned in this river before. Some small fish ate the flesh of the dead and grew very quickly. We have to kill them all, otherwise they will eat all the fish and shrimp in the river. Maybe you saw such a school of fish." Mu Wanchen pulled me away from the riverbank.

Ugh, he put it that way, and I feel like the water is so gross. No wonder they've all been using spring water to cook lately.

But...fish wouldn't just vanish out of thin air, would they" I continued to search the water's surface for any sign.

Mu Wanchen said with a helpless sigh, "Now there's no information about the situation on the water surface. I can't say what it is. Let me send someone to keep an eye on it... You better come back with me quickly."

He unceremoniously pulled me from the riverbank.

I leaned against his shoulder, gazing at the large rock and saying, "The view is pretty nice here. If only there hadn't been an earthquake..."

"What's good about this place Previously, Master ruthlessly exterminated Corpse Refiners, severing their souls and scattering their spirits, all right here." Mu Wanchen frowned slightly.

It seems that the start of this tribulation began with that blaze.

"...Wàn Chén, you wouldn't blame Di Jun, would you If it weren't for his inferno burning the mountains, we probably wouldn't be in such a precarious situation now." I asked cautiously.

He smiled faintly: "Strange All things in the world have cause and effect. Today's events are nothing but a sip and a peck from past lives... Perhaps the Emperor sensed this, so he also provided help within a certain range."

"But..." He sighed deeply, paused for a moment, and then gave me a knowing smile. "Perhaps the secrets of heaven are truly unfathomable. I wonder how the Zu Wu managed to both defy and coexist with Heaven and Earth…"

"Ancestor Witch Are you referring to the Ten Witches of Ling Shan"

"Hmm."

"It seems from the Jade Emperor's words, the Ten Witches of Spirit Mountain are quite rebellious, aren't they"

Mu Wanchen smiled. “Perhaps. In the vast wilderness, humans are like ants and blades of grass. They struggle against natural disasters and fight each other for survival space. Back then, the Shamans carried a different kind of responsibility.”

"Why is your temper so mild then" I touched his earlobe.

"Gentle" Mu Wanchen frowned, "Have you forgotten how much it hurt"

Well, I guess he's talking about when the venomous female worm bites through the skin and enters the body, right It sounds so embarrassing!

“What are you thinking about Your ears are red.” He leaned his head slightly, his lips against my earlobe.

That low, throaty voice sent shivers down my spine and goosebumps all over me—it was so smooth, I could barely handle it.

"…"Thinking of you, what else is there to think about that would make my face red" I put on a thick-skinned and honest tone.

At this moment, with no one else around, Mu Wanchen stopped and asked seriously, "......Want to get intimate"

I... !

This leaves me speechless!

He was still looking at me seriously, his expression unchanged, but a hint of a smile playing at the corner of his mouth betrayed his scheming nature.

"No, it won't work."a man in mourning clothes came striding toward me from the side and startled me!"Hey hey, what are you doing! I can't even recognize you!" My brother reached out and helped me up in time."You...you sc...