Bai Qi always felt uncomfortable lying down while talking to me. He propped himself up on his arms, trying to sit up.
I quickly grabbed a sofa cushion and placed it behind his back so that he could lean on it and feel more comfortable.
He gave me a gentle smile and explained to me why he had come to me.
The reason Bai Qi had approached me was indeed not pure, but it wasn't his own intention. It was the person behind him who needed him to get close to me and obtain the snake scale from me.
Because of what had happened with Huai Ji that year, he should have vanished into thin air. It was this person behind him who saved his soul and infused it into a white fox, thus preserving his life. So this person had a life - saving grace for him, and he couldn't refuse this person's request.
He only knew a little about the snake scale. It was said that this snake scale was taken from Nuwa's abdominal scale. In ancient myths, Bai Xi was the left protector of Goddess Nuwa, a female dragon species.
When Nuwa mended the sky, as the five - colored stones she had collected were not enough, she mended the sky with her own body. Bai Xi and Teng Snake also followed and mended the sky with their bodies.
Bai Xi was reluctant to part. To protect her daughter Xi Nv from the suffering of disasters, she asked Nuwa for a snake scale and gave it to Xi Nv for protection.
Nuwa had the merit of creating the world, and her scale had the power to create the world. So whoever obtained the snake scale would surely become the master of the Six Realms.
The person behind Bai Qi had learned through various means that the snake scale was in Gu Yuan's hands. He wanted to get close to Gu Yuan and find out the whereabouts of the snake scale.
But Gu Yuan was no ordinary person. How could just anyone get close to him? So the person behind him thought of using a girl's weakness as a breakthrough.
First, girls were generally soft - hearted. They liked cute, dainty, warm - hearted and considerate people as friends. With Bai Qi to befriend them, no girl could resist.
Second, there was a secret about unlocking the snake scale on me. A powerful person with great magical abilities was needed to protect my safety at all times. When the time was right, the person behind would come and take me away himself.
After much thought, the person behind decided that Bai Qi was the best candidate. But he had overlooked one thing. Bai Qi was a different kind of person. He had once been a great general in the human world with an upright and honest nature.
Moreover, after getting along with me for a long time, he was touched by my kindness. Gradually, his false allegiance turned into sincere protection.
When he said this, Bai Qi conjured up the snake scale from the spirit - locking pouch.
Seeing the snake scale, I was a bit surprised and quickly asked, "You didn't give away the snake scale?"
Bai Qi nodded and said weakly, "I knew that once he got the snake scale, you would be his next target. This is not what I wanted to see. So you should keep the snake scale."
Bai Qi placed the snake scale, as big as a silver plate, in my hand. The snake scale was quite heavy, and it glistened with silver light in my hand. It was extremely beautiful.
"Why was the snake scale in Gu Yuan's possession?" I still had doubts in my mind.
"I guess he is Xi Nv's son and Bai Xi's grandson." Bai Qi's words shocked me. No wonder Gu Yuan was so powerful. It turned out his genes were extremely strong.
"Xi Nv is Gu Yuan's mother? Then who is his father?"
Bai Qi's expression was serious. He shook his head and said, "I don't know. A domineering creature like the silver dragon only appears once every tens of thousands of years. Apart from Xi Nv, I can't think of anyone else in the Six Realms. But there is no record about Xi Nv's husband. Logically, the past of such a famous goddess should have been recorded in ancient books. So it's very likely that someone with ulterior motives concealed it. The person who could conceal the goddess's past must be someone with extraordinary magical powers."
Bai Qi's analysis was reasonable. Only a combination of two powerful forces could give birth to a super - powerful being like Gu Yuan.
After hearing all this, I felt frightened. No wonder when I first met Gu Yuan, he didn't let me pry into his background. It turned out there was such a big secret behind it.
"But what you've said doesn't seem to have anything to do with me?" I held the snake scale in my hands. For some reason, I felt a strong sense of familiarity, as if I had a special connection with it.
"I'm also very curious. The snake scale has a seal on it, and no one can touch it, but you can. When Gu Yuan endured the thousand - year thunder calamity, your heart's blood could help him avoid this suffering. This shows that your background is definitely not simple. It's just that my benefactor refuses to tell me, so I have no way of finding out."
"You're like Gu Yuan's guardian angel. As long as you're around, he'll be safe and sound, but you've endured hardships that you shouldn't have."
When Bai Qi said this, there was a glint of pity in his eyes. He really felt sorry for me. There was no mistaking this feeling.
I wrapped the snake scale in my hand and put it back into the spirit - locking pouch.
"Keep it safe for me."
Bai Qi was taken aback. He looked up at me in disbelief.
"You've also unknowingly shouldered a lot of things that should have been mine to bear. I'm Gu Yuan's guardian angel, and you're mine."
Bai Qi's hand holding the spirit - locking pouch trembled slightly. His eyes sparkled. "Aren't you afraid that I'll really give it away?"
"If I was going to give it to you to give away, I would have done it long ago. As the saying goes, the most dangerous place is the safest place. I believe you'll never betray me."
Bai Qi tightened his grip on the spirit - locking pouch. He had already made up his mind.
"By the way, who on earth is your master?" I asked curiously.
"I've repaid my debt to him yesterday. From now on, I have nothing to do with him. So... Lan Lan, allow me to complete my mission. After tomorrow, I'll be loyal to you alone. When I see him again, I'll speak my mind."
Without even thinking, I nodded immediately.
"Happy cooperation."
I reached out my hand and shook hands with Bai Qi. Then I continued, "From now on, you're one of mine. If you're in trouble, just mention me. It'll work."
Bai Qi was amused by my proud little look. Finally, the heavy stone in my heart fell.
I knew Bai Qi would never betray me. We had a life - and - death friendship.
After everything was out in the open, I helped Bai Qi back into his memorial tablet to rest. I also lit incense for him and placed all kinds of sacrificial fruits. This would help him recover faster.
Taking advantage of the free time, I cleaned the shrine from top to bottom. After I finished tidying up, Gu Yuan and Wu Qingyun came back.
Gu Yuan was in front, and Wu Qingyun was behind, carrying Zhang Man's physical body in his arms.
By now, Zhang Man's body had already lost all signs of life, and she had been in the ice hole for so long.
Her whole body was as hard as a plaster statue, and she was held straight in Wu Qingyun's hands.
This guy didn't know how to be gentle with a beautiful woman at all. He just put her on the ground. If he had been a bit more forceful, she might have broken.
I gave him a fierce glare and quickly grabbed a quilt to cover Zhang Man.
"Gu Yuan, can my classmate be saved?"
"It depends on her. If she can resolve the knot in her heart, she can be saved. If not, no one can save her."
I bit my lip and said, "The knot in her heart is our instructor. As long as the two of them talk things out, her knot will surely be resolved."
"Your instructor is only part of it. Get ready. Invite your instructor. We're going back to the old place..."