1314: A Thousand Peonies Bloom
The Half Serpent Woman

Shuwan, still upset by Zhang's treatment. He did not talk to her throughout the trip. Zhang started the conversation.

“Are you mad at me again, Shuwan?” 

“You did an outrageous thing, how could I not be angry. Without my consent, you immediately kissed me by force.”

“That time, I warned you not to get too close to other men. But you ignored him, and instead did something that made me so unhappy. Let's just say what I did was a small warning to you. If it repeats, then I can do more.”

Such a ridiculous thing he considered as a warning? Shuwan snorted in annoyance. “What is your right to me, to the extent that what should I do needs to get your approval?”

“Of course, you're responsible for the feelings I have. Hence, I will not let you off easily.”

Hid. He's a real bitch. But, did he actually go on a show not recognizing me? Didn't Zhang in his past life say that I'm the only one who won't remember him?

Hyaa...

Zhang increased the speed of his horse. It was clear that the echoes were generated from the horse treads in the silent forest.

It did not feel like the sun had moved away from the dispute. The forest became darker because there was no light. 

“What if we rest first here?” yu Hao asked after finding a lake located within the forest.

“It looks like it's a good idea. There is also a water source here. We can quench thirst, and also give these horses a drink,” Zhang said.

They finally decided to rest there. Shuwan took the medicine that Ying Jie had brought him. He swallowed it quickly because of the unpleasant smell, plus the taste was so bitter. 

The other two men were preparing a fire to warm their bodies.

The four of them then sat coiled around the fire. Trying to warm the body from the cold of the night wind.

“Our journey is still so far away?” jiao asked curiously.

“As Ying Jie said, our journey should only be 15 days away, if there are indeed no obstacles during the trip,” explained Yu Hao.

“Hm... 15 days it is still quite a long time,” Jiao sighed deeply. His gaze was straight ahead looking at the fire that had warmed them. “Eh, wait a minute. Why do I feel the strange air?” jiao's chirps were awakened from her daydream. 

“Shuwan? Zhang? You guys don't fight anymore, do you?”

“Of course not. Our relationship is getting more intimate. Right, Shuwan?” zhang said with a beaming face.

What the fuck? Why does his face look so happy? It was as if nothing had happened between us. Shuwan then smiled, and responded to Jiao's question as well as Zhang's statement. “It's true. Our relationship is both fine. Because very tired, so I just shut up,” Shuwan chimed.

“So apparently. Thank goodness it's okay. Hoam.... I think I'm getting sleepy. How will we take turns keeping watch?” ask Jiao.

“You and Shuwan just rest. Me and Yu Hao will be on guard.”

“That Zhang said was correct. You guys just rest. After all, Shuwan's condition also still needs a lot of rest,” added Yu Hao.

Shuwan and Jiao nodded in agreement.

The night is getting late, the air is getting colder. Jiao had already fallen asleep first. As for Shuwan, he cannot sleep. The cold that was so piercing made the pain in his body feel even more pain.

Meanwhile, Yu Hao and Zhang were still focused on guarding. Although Katuk has attacked both.

Everything still feels normal, until suddenly there is a bell sound from the other side of the forest. 

“Jiao, Jiao. Did you hear that voice?” shuwan whispered while shaking Jiao's body to wake up. However, several times he tried somehow Jiao did not wake up.

Finally, Shuwan got up from his bed. He was shocked to find Zhang and Yu Hao sleeping just like that. “A-what really happened? Why are they both asleep too?”

Shuwan trudged towards Zhang. “Zhang... Zhang... Hey wake up!” The result remains the same. Zhang did not wake up either.

When he tried to wake Yu Hao up, a similar thing happened as well. 

“What really happened? Why are they sleeping so fast?” Shuwan. He doesn't understand what's going on. The storyline of the red book that had changed, plus his weak physique made him feel so worried.

“Hahahaha..”

“Who's there? Don't just dare to hide. Out!”

“With your weak body, it turns out your guts are still big too huh, Miss?”

Shuwan's eyes widened after seeing the form of the woman who spoke to him. “S-who are you?” shuwan asked the half-snake woman who was now in front of him.

“I? Hahaha, that's not important. Now, hand over the Dragon Tears you brought.”

Dragon Tears? How did he know that thing? “Why should I hand it to you?” reply Shuwan with a throb.

The woman brought her face closer to Shuwan in the blink of an eye. His hands that had red-painted pointy nails stroked Shuwan's face. “Of course you have to hand it to me. Because if you don't, your three friends will be in danger.”

“So it was you? Quickly recover my friends!”

“You're ruling me? Just dream!”

Blarrs...

A fireball strike almost hit Shuwan. Shuwan's camel can still dodge, with his current limitations.

“You want to avoid? Let's see, how far you can survive.”

The half-snake woman continued to attack Shuwan. Shuwan was exhausted by it. He did not have enough strength to fight it.

Blarrs... Blarrs... Blarrs...

Only the woman's attack echoed within the forest.

Damnit damnit! My energy's almost over. How can I win against him under these conditions?

Grebe...

The woman wrapped around Shuwan's body which began to weaken. “Just as soon as you've bowed. I don't have to expend a lot of energy to finish off ants like you.”

Ughhhh... 

Shuwan groaned in pain. Just now that his ribs had recovered, he now had to fight against such a powerful twisting.

My breath is starting to cramp. My whole body feels very painful. My bones felt like they were being slowly crushed. Shuwan's tears just flowed. He doesn't know what else to do.

“I won't kill you. You must hand the Dragon Tears to me first. Then I'll get you out of this world once. Hahaha!”

“How... How did you know I had that thing?” shuwan asked in the middle of his tent.

“I have keen senses. So I can track the whereabouts of that precious thing.”

“Why do you need it?”

“Even when your death is near you still talk a lot huh? Well, it's okay. I'll give you the reason anyway, you'll soon die in my hands too,” the half-snake woman grinned. His hunting gaze really made people afraid to fight him.

“The reason I needed that thing was to make myself young. That way, I can obtain the perfect human form, and obtain prey easily. Hahaha!”

“You cruel and cunning demon,” Shuwan said.

“Crue. You'd better hand over the things I asked for. Or, your friends will not survive,” threatened the female demon.

“What exactly did you do to them?”

“I bring their souls in my illusion. They should be able to hang in there. If they fail, they will die too. Hahaha!”

“You are really outrageous!”

“I am the ruler of this forest. Of course I should, otherwise, those in this forest would easily step on my head. All who are before me must submit and obey. Otherwise, I will wipe them off the face of this earth!” 

The woman grinned amid Shuwan's pain. Just now that he had escaped death, he now had to fight with death again. It seemed, the god of death was so close to him.