After finding enough food, they returned to the pit they had dug.
Water had already begun to collect inside, though not enough yet.
As night fell, they decided to stay in the mountains.
Worried about wild beasts, they split into two groups—one to keep watch in the first half of the night, the other for the second half.
Liu Ji’an cleared a clean spot and laid down his outer robe.
His wife was a fairy, so she had to sleep somewhere clean—even if conditions were limited.
“Wife, sleep here.”
Shen Qingge returned his robe. “This is fine. You’re still injured. If it gets worse, no one will take care of you.”
Liu Ji’an spread it on the ground again. “It’s okay. I’m not cold.”
Seeing his persistence, Shen Qingge didn’t argue.
She sat on the robe, leaned against a tree, and closed her eyes.
Before she fell asleep, she felt someone staring at her.
It made her uncomfortable.
“If you can’t sleep, go stand watch. Don’t disturb me.”
“I’ll sleep right away,” Liu Ji’an said.
But she could still feel his gaze.
She opened her eyes and met his.
Startled, Liu Ji’an turned away and pretended to sleep.
Soon, he actually fell asleep, his breathing becoming steady.
With the gaze gone, Shen Qingge drifted into a light sleep.
She never slept deeply—years of habit made her wake at the slightest movement.
Suddenly, something fell onto her.
Her eyes snapped open, alert.
Looking down, she saw Liu Ji’an’s head resting on her shoulder, occasionally rubbing against her cheek unconsciously.
“…”
She pushed his head away, but it kept coming back.
After several attempts, it was the same.
Eventually, his face ended up buried in her neck, his warm breath brushing her skin. Her ears turned red.
If not for his steady breathing, she would have thought he was doing it on purpose and beaten him up.
Just as she tried to push him away again, a sharp scream rang out.
“Ah—!”
In the silent night, it sounded especially clear.
Everyone woke instantly.
Liu Ji’an instinctively shielded Shen Qingge. “What happened?”
Someone on watch shouted, “Bad news! Gouwa slipped and fell down the mountain!”
They rushed to the spot, but Gouwa was gone—only crushed grass showed where he had fallen.
“Who has a rope?” Liu Ji’an asked.
“I do.”
Without hesitation, Liu Ji’an tied it around his waist.
The other end was tied to a tree, with others ready to pull him up.
Holding a torch, he climbed down following Gouwa’s trail.
Shen Qingge watched anxiously from above.
Liu Ji’an moved quickly and found Gouwa unconscious in a cave.
But as he entered, countless glowing eyes appeared.
Snakes!
It was a snake pit.
Dozens, even hundreds of snakes.
Even Liu Ji’an felt fear.
But Gouwa lay nearby. If he didn’t save him, the snakes would devour him.
Holding the torch tightly, he moved slowly, trying not to provoke them.
After some time, he reached Gouwa.
He grabbed him and tugged the rope.
“Pull him up!” Shen Qingge shouted.
The others pulled with all their strength.
Just as they reached the top, a stone suddenly fell, making a loud noise.
The snakes were disturbed and began slithering upward.
“Quick!” Liu Ji’an shouted.
They pulled harder.
As soon as he reached the top, the snakes were close behind.
“What’s that sound?” Shen Qingge sensed something wrong.
“Silver ring snakes—highly venomous! Run!”
Liu Ji’an carried Gouwa and told everyone to flee.
Shen Qingge glanced at the approaching snakes and quietly took out a pistol from her space.
“Bang! Bang! Bang!”
Low, rapid shots rang out as bullets struck the snakes precisely.
The leading snakes were killed one by one, slowing the swarm.
This bought them enough time to escape.
After handing Gouwa over, Liu Ji’an grabbed a bow and ran back.
When he arrived, dozens of snake corpses lay on the ground.
The smarter snakes had already retreated.
He was stunned. “Wife… this… you did all this?”
Shen Qingge didn’t deny it.
“Call them back. The heads are venomous, but the meat is edible. Don’t waste it.”
Still excited, Liu Ji’an looked at the pistol. “What weapon is this? Can I see it?”
She handed it over.
Such a small weapon, yet so powerful.
If it could be mass-produced, their army would be unstoppable.
Shen Qingge immediately cut off his thoughts. “Impossible. With current technology, it can’t be made, let alone mass-produced.”
That sobered him.
If the emperor knew, he might see it as a threat instead.
Liu Ji’an returned the weapon and warned, “No one saw you clearly. We’ll say we killed them together.”
“And this weapon—don’t let others know unless absolutely necessary. It could bring you danger.”