Xi Qingqing put some small things that a girl would like into the hole, then covered it with dirt again. She placed a small bow on top of the little grave.
Then she walked back toward the straw hut. After a short while, she saw Xue Xi hurrying toward her.
Xue Xi looked her up and down. Seeing that she was clean and safe, he relaxed. Then his face turned red again.
“Female master, this outfit suits you very well.”
She looked down. She was wearing a white shirt and black shorts. There was a small flower pattern on the chest of the shirt. It made her look slim, clean, and elegant.
“You have good taste,” she said.
Xue Xi felt shy and said something softly, but she didn’t hear it. A louder voice came from behind him.
“Xi Qingqing!”
A black snake rushed toward them. Its mouth was open, full of anger.
It turned into a man and grabbed her wrist without hesitation, pulling her away quickly.
He moved so fast that she almost stumbled. Realizing something was wrong, she tried to break free.
At that moment, a golden-red fox tail cut through the air and hit the back of his hand with a loud smack.
Mo Fuqing let go in surprise. “Are you crazy?!”
Xue Xi stepped forward and protected her behind him. “Mo Fuqing, talk properly! Treating the female master like this—do you want to die?”
“Female master?” Mo Fuqing repeated slowly, looking shocked. “What did she do to you?”
It had only been a few days—how had Xue Xi changed so much?
Even if fox beasts naturally depend on females, this was too much. Had he forgotten how afraid he used to be of being skinned?
“She is my female master!” Xue Xi said, a little unsure. “You’re the one being rude!”
Mo Fuqing ignored him.
His eyes locked onto Xi Qingqing. “I knew you would cause trouble after coming back. But I thought three years in prison would teach you something.”
“Why can’t you just behave?”
He stepped closer. His expression was full of disgust.
Xi Qingqing actually liked his type. She was about to speak—
But suddenly, he moved.
His long snake tail shot forward, wrapped around her waist, and pulled her to him.
She didn’t resist.
Mo Fuqing grabbed her neck and looked coldly at Xue Xi. “You’re stupid, so I won’t argue with you. But if you don’t behave, I’ll crush her neck.”
He spoke coldly, “At worst, we all die together.”
Xi Qingqing felt helpless. Why did everyone want to die with her?
She secretly winked at Xue Xi. Xue Xi paused, then slowly stepped back. “Don’t act rashly.”
Seeing him retreat, Mo Fuqing dragged Xi Qingqing back into the hut and shut Xue Xi outside.
Xue Xi got angry and banged on the door. “Mo Fuqing! Open the door! If you dare to take her, then open the door!”
Inside, Xi Qingqing watched as Mo Fuqing took out ropes and quickly tied her to a chair.
He muttered, “That idiot…”
Then he looked at her. “You’re not allowed to go back to the town. Stay here.”
Xi Qingqing didn’t reply. Instead, she asked the system in her mind:
“Does Mo Fuqing have something to do with the infected snake tribe here?”
The system quickly checked.
“Yes. This is his birthplace.”
Xi Qingqing understood.
She had wondered before: Why would they live so close to a polluted area? Male beasts couldn’t purify the pollution.
Now it made sense.
The nearby infected tribe was the snake tribe. Mo Fuqing often disappeared. He reacted strongly to moving.
So maybe… some survivors were still alive, and he was secretly taking care of them.
She asked the system if it knew where they were.
“No. The book didn’t explain.”
The system added, “After you die, An Ning comes and kills all the infected snake tribe. Mo Fuqing tries to assassinate her, but without a female, his power weakens. He is killed easily.”
Xi Qingqing paused.
“They killed all of them?”
Females could purify pollution—so why kill them?
She suddenly felt something was very wrong about this world.
Meanwhile, Mo Fuqing unpacked the things he had just packed.
Then he said, “As long as you behave, I can support you here forever.”
“Thanks,” she replied calmly.
He crossed his arms and stared at her.
She was tied tightly, looking weak and easy to control.
But her eyes…
They looked like… pity.
“I heard from Xue Xi that you don’t come back often. So you don’t really care about this place,” she said.
“If you tell me why you want to stay here, maybe I’ll understand.”
Mo Fuqing laughed. “That’s none of your business.”
He crouched in front of her, his eyes full of open disgust.
Xi Qingqing looked at his face calmly. “I heard the infected beasts are snake beasts. That’s interesting—you’re one too.”
His expression turned cold instantly.
His gaze felt like sharp knives cutting into her.
“Xi Qingqing.”
A cold snake’s tail slowly wrapped around her from behind. The tip gently tapped her cheek.
“My patience has limits.”
His pupils turned into snake eyes. He leaned close, his voice low and dangerous.
“Don’t try to investigate things you can’t control. Understand?”
No, she didn’t.
But she nodded and lowered her head. “I understand.”
“Don’t pretend,” he said, moving closer to her face.
“After prison, your acting is still terrible.”
He thought for a moment, ignoring the loud knocking outside.
“It seems we’ll be living together for a few days.”