As his vision blurred with longing, about to brush against Gongsun Xiangyi's skin, a small head with a tiny horn poked out from behind her. Its bean-sized eyes blinked, staring straight at Ye Jingyu, while a crimson snake tongue flickered out, swaying back and forth before him...

"Hiss..." Ye Jingyu instinctively recoiled, snatching back his outstretched right hand. His previously pliant body instantly froze rigid, though one part that had been quite hard immediately softened...

Cold sweat broke out on his forehead...

Every hair on his body shot straight up...

He was indeed bold...

His strength was undeniable...

And it was true he feared no savage beast...

But when you’re on the verge of achieving something tender and intimate, only to have a cold little snake suddenly emerge, who wouldn't feel utterly unnerved...

"I... Xiao Hua, why did you come inside instead of staying out?" Ye Jingyu’s surging wicked heat was instantly extinguished by Xiao Hua's appearance, and he burst out in a torrent of curses...

Spoiling his good time was a minor issue; frightening the little treasure he hadn't even managed to fight yet would be a catastrophe...

He certainly didn't want to be the first virgin...

But Xiao Hua seemed not to understand Ye Jingyu at all, flicking its tongue as its tiny body prepared to slither toward the tub, apparently wanting to join the bath as well...

"Hey, hey, hey... What are you doing... Hey..." Ye Jingyu retreated in fright. Seriously, taking a bath with a cold snake? That was not his idea of a relaxing hobby...

"Xiao Hua, go out," Seeing Ye Jingyu’s panicked state, Gongsun Xiangyi almost laughed, but she suppressed it, letting out a soft hum.

Xiao Hua, having already reached the edge of the tub, shook its head and swam reluctantly toward the doorway...

"Xiangyi... You... you should go out too. I can manage by myself now..." Whether it was the shock of Xiao Hua’s sudden arrival or the thought that Gongsun Xiangyi spent so much time dealing with these snakes and scorpions, Ye Jingyu felt goosebumps erupting all over his body and spoke up...

Gongsun Xiangyi paused. Noticing Ye Jingyu's slightly ashen face, her expression dimmed, but she didn't say much, simply turning and walking out...

Ye Jingyu didn't notice the shadow in Gongsun Xiangyi’s eyes. He was only recalling the canyon that day, the countless, densely packed venomous snakes, their slippery bodies, their crimson tongues, and the fangs occasionally bared at the corners of their mouths. His body couldn't help but tremble...

Fortunately, the water was hot, bringing him a sliver of warmth, allowing him to see the strange flowers floating on the surface, and the water that had already changed color...

These were the medicinal herbs Gongsun Xiangyi had brought in, said to have profound healing effects on his body, helping him recover faster—medicines she had sought out through immense hardship...

Seeing all this, Ye Jingyu suddenly recalled Gongsun Xiangyi's kindness, then her tragic childhood, and finally the words he himself had just spoken...

"Damn it, how could I say something like that?" Ye Jingyu slapped himself hard, instantly filled with bitter regret...

Gongsun Xiangyi had dealt with these snakes since childhood, and because of that, she had no friends, no warmth—only a group of cold, lifeless serpents. Yet, it was these very snakes that became the only companions in her life...

Perhaps some feared her poison...

Perhaps some pitied her fate...

Perhaps some coveted her beauty...

But absolutely no one ever saw her as a normal woman. Even those greedy for her looks, upon learning she constantly mingled with venomous snakes, imagining those reptiles slithering over her body, would likely lose all further interest—except, perhaps, for Ye Jingyu, as the others might already be dead...

Yet, from this alone, one could discern how deeply insecure and fragile her innermost self must be...

How much she longed for others to treat her like an ordinary woman, a tangible woman one could actually touch, rather than this 'Snake Woman' whom people only dared to look at but never approach...

Ye Jingyu, hailing from the technologically advanced modern era, naturally understood Gongsun Xiangyi's heart, yet he had uttered such words. Though it was a simple phrase, he knew it must have inflicted the deepest wound upon Gongsun Xiangyi, this woman who had suffered endless hardship in her youth...

Inevitably, after only a moment, Hu Yanmeng’s figure appeared in the tent. She glared heavily at the dazed Ye Jingyu in the tub, let out a cold snort, and turned to leave...

For a mere slave to dare speak to her master with such anger—only Hu Yanmeng would dare. But at this moment, Ye Jingyu felt no inclination to reprimand her...

No matter what, Gongsun Xiangyi had treated him as her young master, wholeheartedly concerned for him, while he had spoken words so hurtful. It was inexcusable...

Ignoring his own injuries entirely, Ye Jingyu grabbed the clothes nearby and struggled to dress...

Before he was even fully clothed, he rushed toward the tent flap...

"Where is Xiangyi?" Rushing out of the tent, Ye Jingyu found Chi Yixiu, Hu Yanqi, and even Ying Xiaoxiao staring at him with strange expressions. Bing Ming was nowhere in sight, though Ye Jingyu distinctly felt his presence nearby...

The group remained silent, simply pointing their fingers toward the front left simultaneously...

Ye Jingyu didn't ask further questions and rushed in the direction they indicated. Unfortunately, his internal injuries had not yet healed, and the sudden run caused him to collapse...

The sight terrified Chi Yixiu and the others, their faces changing dramatically. Ying Xiaoxiao was the quickest; stepping sideways, he was already in front of Ye Jingyu, catching him before he hit the ground...

"I say, General, you don't need to be in such a hurry..." After steadying Ye Jingyu, Ying Xiaoxiao smiled strangely...

"Shut your mouth if you don't want to die! Help me find Xiangyi now, quickly!" Ye Jingyu, vexed and agitated, had no patience for Ying Xiaoxiao's joking and cursed him directly...

Ying Xiaoxiao actually stuck out his tongue like a little girl and made a face at Chi Yixiu ahead of them, but he dared not speak further, merely supporting Ye Jingyu as they headed toward the left side of the camp...

Leaving the campsite and passing through a stretch of woods, they saw a graceful green figure sitting on a rock, hunched over her knees, sobbing softly, while Hu Yanmeng, clad in her leather skirt, stood silently watching the scene not far away...