"What do you plan to do then, young one?"
Coming back to her senses, Lin Wuyue told the serpent about her encounter with Chen Xi and explained her plan.
"I see… So that boy who approached you asked you to steal the Liquid of Resurrection, gave you a lethal liquid and a sleeping powder. You plan to use that powder tonight to escape, am I right?"
"You understood it perfectly," Lin Wuyue replied calmly. "Spreading the sleeping powder will give me five minutes to get far away. The problem is the uninvited guest outside. It's obvious he's watching me."
"That boy outside is no ordinary person," the serpent said seriously. "He's clearly under twenty years old, yet his cultivation is quite high. Even those brats from the Feng Clan failed to detect him. I'd say that's rather interesting."
"How do you know they're from the Feng Clan?" Lin Wuyue asked. "The surname Feng is common. In some places it's important, in others it isn't. Yet you're certain they belong to the Phoenix Clan."
The serpent laughed loudly.
"Hahahaha! Brat, I'm old and I know a thing or two. The Feng Clan, better known as the Phoenix Clan, was extremely famous—even during my master's generation. Countless heaven-defying talents emerged from that clan. The auras of those two boys are very special. I wouldn't be mistaken—I'd recognize them even with my eyes closed. Hahahaha!"
"Well… the Feng Clan also suffered losses," Lin Wuyue said lightly.
"Oh? Is that so?" The serpent narrowed its eyes. "Girl, I've been cut off from the world for a long time. Enlighten this humble serpent—what happened to the Feng Clan?"
"Nothing special," Lin Wuyue replied calmly. "Honestly, I'm very young. How could this humble mortal enlighten a divine beast like you? I'm inexperienced."
The serpent blinked twice, then suddenly laughed as if it had found something amusing.
"Little brat, you certainly know how to speak. But for someone so young, you know about my master and about ancient clans. You won't fall behind when it comes to insight, will you?"
Lin Wuyue did not answer.
Being ignored for the fourth time since meeting her, the serpent's anger flared.
"Very well, very well! You're quite an intriguing little girl. You dare ignore me?"
Then its voice suddenly turned pitiful, as if Lin Wuyue had committed an unforgivable sin.
"This poor old one merely wishes to know about the world. Sigh. I've been trapped in this forest for so many years and don't expect to leave anytime soon. So don't be arrogant, brat—enlighten this old one."
Lin Wuyue rolled her eyes and replied patiently,
"The Feng Clan was the first clan to produce a child who broke free from mortal shackles and ascended. But just like your master, that person disappeared without a trace, leaving behind only a note saying he didn't wish to ascend and was leaving the Feng Clan. It caused a massive scandal and brought endless ridicule upon the Feng family."
The serpent narrowed its eyes in thought.
"Lin Wuyue, you're young, yet you know many things. You said they were the first clan to produce someone who broke mortal shackles. Even if he wasn't a god like my master, that's still a great achievement. He could have ascended to the Ninth Heaven, but… was there another clan that produced someone who broke mortal shackles?"
Lin Wuyue chuckled softly.
"Besides that man from the Feng Clan, there was another who broke free from mortal shackles. He ascended to the Ninth Heaven, became an emperor, married countless beauties, and kept an enormous harem."
As if telling the most glorious tale in the world, her expression grew exaggerated, almost like Pinocchio's nose growing longer.
"That man, named Jin Shao, was not only handsome and powerful but also incredibly wealthy. There was no man on this land who could rival him."
"Oh? You seem to admire him greatly."
Lin Wuyue: "…"
Of course I admire him. Isn't that me? Naturally I'm amazing, powerful, handsome, and absurdly rich.
"And is that emperor you speak of still alive?"
Lin Wuyue's smile froze. She coughed awkwardly.
"Well… no. They say he committed suicide… hmm… because life felt boring to him?"
"Boring, you say?"
"Mmm. Boring."
The serpent burst into laughter.
"Hahahahahahaha! Interesting. Very interesting. A man who had everything chose death because life bored him? Hahahahaha!"
Lin Wuyue's expression darkened.
"Well… mortal souls don't truly die. Perhaps he simply wanted to reincarnate somewhere else?"
"Impossible," the serpent said firmly. "Immortals do not reincarnate. He likely sealed himself somewhere—just like my master."
Lin Wuyue: "..."
By then, Feng Wu had brought her food, completely unaware that she had just been mercilessly teased by an ancient serpent inside her head. Even if he knew, he'd probably think she'd gone mad.
"Little Xiao Yue, eat up. We'll leave early tomorrow morning, so eat quickly and go to sleep, alright? I'll keep watch tonight, so you can rest easy."
Feng Wu winked at her.
Lin Wuyue said nothing. She ate her portion with a gloomy expression. Feng Wu didn't notice and let her eat in peace.
The night continued. Linyuan had already gone to sleep, and Feng Wu began cultivating.
Lin Wuyue lay with her back to them, the sleeping powder already hidden in her palm.