Ning Xiang had not slept long before she sensed the ghostly energy around her growing stronger.
She opened her eyes. Mingyuan was sitting at her bedside, wiping down Soul-Rending, its spearhead gleaming with an icy chill.
Ning Xiang raised a hand to touch her neck. Why did it feel so chilly? She pressed down on Mingyuan's hand. "Calm down. I don't have much meat on me. Don't eat me!"
Mingyuan: "..." She had left him at a complete loss.
"You weren't polishing Soul-Rending so you could kill me and eat my meat?" Ning Xiang sat back down. "Then are you keeping watch here to protect me?"
"If you want to be eaten, that can be arranged."
"No, no. If I die, you won't have any Happy Water to drink." Ning Xiang hurriedly conjured some Happy Water, followed by dried fish she had made herself, and respectfully offered them to Mingyuan.
Mingyuan glanced at her. "I've been eating your food and drinking your drinks all this time. Shouldn't I give you something in return?"
Had it been Iceberg Lu, Ning Xiang would certainly have demanded repayment in spirit stones. But how could she dare ask Mingyuan for anything? So she said, "We're all friends. It's just a few snacks, and I couldn't finish them on my own anyway. There's no need to stand on ceremony, Lord Demon Venerable."
"Mortals have a saying: a mouth fed by others grows soft, and a hand that takes from others grows short. I find it quite reasonable. As it happens, I have a gift for you too." Mingyuan put Soul-Rending away and took out a small, exquisite black jade bottle.
Then Mingyuan took her hand. Before Ning Xiang could react, he swiftly cut a slit in her palm. A translucent, crystalline insect immediately burrowed into