Rumble—!
Outside the window, electric serpents slithered through an ink-black sky, thunder deafening. Torrential rain pounded the banana leaves and lotus pads with booming thuds. The curtains at the window swayed, and now and then raindrops were blown into the study, wetting the painting paper, books, and ink. The ink stains spread, dyeing into a black plum blossom.
Bai Yujun sat sideways in her wooden chair, staring blankly at the downpour outside.
The breeze heavy with moisture whipped her hair into a wild dance. Her Phoenix Eyes blinked only once every half-incense stick of time. Not bad—at least she could blink now, unlike before she had taken human form, when she never blinked at all.
She wanted to use the icy rainwater to cool her mind and consider how she should walk the road ahead.
Mu Duo, dressed in Jiuli attire, entered the study. She quietly walked to the window and shut it, then picked up the painting papers the wind had scattered everywhere. The curtains stopped flailing and returned to calm. She knew what Bai Yujun was worried about. Like Mu Duo herself, Bai Yujun was burdened by her people, exhausting heart and mind to plot their future. That carefree, heedless Little Snake Demon from back then now bore worry at the corners of her eyes.
There was a saying: the greater the ability, the greater the responsibility. What difference was there between one who possessed immense power yet felt neither emotion nor desire, and mere earth and stone?
"Don't move. I'll massage it for you."
Mu Duo stood behind Bai Yujun and gently rubbed her temples.
Bai Yujun sighed.
"Tell me... was what I did right or wrong?"
Mu Duo did not directly answer whether it was right or wrong. Instead, she explained the ways of survival for