"Damn it!" I slapped my thigh, thinking it was all over. It had stopped glowing and was now just like an ordinary pebble. With so many stones around, could I ever find it again?
I hurriedly searched in the direction where I had thrown the Nuwa Stone. It should be around here.
Beneath the bright moonlight, I stared at the stones on the ground, filled with annoyance.
No matter how excited I was, I shouldn't have forgotten about the important task. Now, I had lost the only thing that could help me find the snake scale.
I had almost strained my eyes, but still couldn't find that little thing.
"Chiyu, where are you? It's time to go back," Gu Yuan called for me to return to the cave when he noticed I wasn't by his side.
"I'm here. I'll be back soon."
I searched a bit more, but Gu Yuan had already turned around and started walking towards the cave.
"Wait for me," I said to Gu Yuan, feeling even more anxious. If he went back to the cave, what would happen if that red - clothed woman showed up again?
Just when I was on the verge of despair, a small glimmer of light suddenly appeared in the distance.
Although the light was very faint, I could clearly tell it was the Nuwa Stone I had thrown earlier.
Overjoyed, I turned to Gu Yuan and said, "Wait for me. Don't leave me alone. I'm a bit scared."
Gu Yuan held a wooden stick in his hand. Instead of walking forward, he stood still and silently waited for me.
Seeing that he didn't go back to the cave, I dared to walk towards the glowing Nuwa Stone.
I wasn't sure if it was because I was getting closer or if the stone was getting brighter on its own.
Anyway, the closer I got, the stronger the light of the Nuwa Stone became. By the time I got close enough to pick it up, the stone could illuminate an area within a two - meter diameter.
Its brightness was comparable to a night - light. As I got near the Nuwa Stone, a white light flashed, and colorful lights began to circulate around the stone.
This Nuwa Stone... seemed...
I didn't dare to think further. For some reason, I had a bad feeling in my heart.
It couldn't be. There must be something wrong. I didn't dare to pick up the Nuwa Stone. Instead, I turned around and walked towards Gu Yuan.
As I walked further away, that "broken stone" became dull again and blended in with the small stones by the stream.
No wonder the Nuwa Stone had been extremely bright when I held it in the tree hole earlier.
I still wasn't willing to give up. Stubbornly, I thought the stone must be broken. I turned around and walked towards the stone again. I did this three times, but the result was always the same.
At that moment, I squatted beside the Nuwa Stone, completely disheartened. It seemed that it wasn't the stone that was broken, but my mind. I just didn't want to accept this reality.
The Nuwa Stone had sensed the presence of the snake scale. And that snake scale was truly something that was hard to find but came easily.
Now I had to accept the reality that the snake scale was on Chiyu. In other words, Chiyu's true form was that snake scale.
But there was still one thing that confused me. What about the snake scale in the Teng Snake scroll in my family?
Could that be Chiyu? And who was I?
My mind was in a complete mess, so chaotic that I was on the verge of a breakdown, so exhausted that I was at my wits' end.
"Chiyu, it's time to go home," Gu Yuan stood still, seemingly sensing that something was off.
Although I was in a state of collapse, my mind was still somewhat rational. This time, I didn't throw the Nuwa Stone away. Instead, I carefully put it in my pocket.
I turned around and walked towards Gu Yuan. In my hurry, I kicked a stone with my right foot and jumped in pain.
"What's wrong?" Gu Yuan asked with concern.
"It's okay... It's okay... I walked too fast and kicked a stone. It hurts so much that I'm on the verge of tears. It really hurts... Hehe..." I said, pretending to be calm.
"Is your foot injured? Let me carry you back..."
"No... I can manage..."
Before I could finish my sentence, Gu Yuan had already carried me on his back.
I looked at the road ahead while Gu Yuan carried me towards the cave.
This scene was really comical. I wrapped my arms around Gu Yuan's neck, feeling a complex mix of emotions. But I didn't want him to worry. Looking at the two of us, I couldn't help but burst out laughing.
Hearing my laughter, Gu Yuan pretended to be helpless and said, "Still laughing? Does your foot not hurt anymore?"
"No, it hurts. It hurts so much. Don't you think we're a funny pair? One blind and one lame. I'll be your eyes, and you'll be my legs. We're really a perfect match."
Gu Yuan carried me steadily, quite helpless with my optimistic attitude. When we got back to the cave, he put me on the wooden couch and helped me take off my shoes and socks.
My fair instep was exposed, but my ankle was swollen, red, and hot.
At first, Gu Yuan didn't notice anything amiss. But when his hand touched my foot, he paused for a moment. By the light, a blush rose on Gu Yuan's already fair face. He was actually embarrassed.
Looking at his slightly shy face, I felt a strange emotion. At this moment, he probably didn't know that I had secretly made up my mind to go to the Heavenly Emperor myself, using myself as a bargaining chip, in the hope that he would spare Gu Yuan and restore his sight.
"Hey, are you blushing? Haha, Gu Yuan, you look so cute when you blush," I joked with Gu Yuan.
Hearing the hint of schadenfreude in my whisper, Gu Yuan didn't care about being offended anymore.
He directly placed his hand on my ankle. His strength was a bit too strong. As soon as he pressed down, I let out a scream of pain.
I wanted to pull my foot back, but his big hand was pressing on it, and I couldn't move at all.
I could only push his shoulders with both hands, asking him to be gentler.
"Still making fun of me?" Gu Yuan asked.
"No, I'm not. I've never made fun of you."
"Ah..." My ankle ached again. I heard two "crack" sounds, and I turned pale with fright.
Could it be that he had heard my thoughts and deliberately broken my foot?
I looked at my poor ankle with a worried expression. Gu Yuan's hand was still on it.
A cool sensation enveloped my ankle. Just a moment ago, I was in excruciating pain, but now it had eased a lot.
I had seen Gu Yuan's healing ability before. With just a gentle kiss, he had healed all my scars. A simple foot injury was, of course, nothing to him.
Gu Yuan's healing ability was given to him by me. The dragon scale had once said that this kind of healing ability could only be achieved by the Nuwa snake scale, which could heal all things in the world.
This further confirmed Chiyu's identity. It seemed that her true form was indeed the snake scale.
In a short while, the injury on my foot had completely healed. The swollen and red skin had become fair and smooth again.
Gu Yuan's hand slid across my ankle, as if touching silk. The blush on his face didn't fade at all.
Seeing him like this, I couldn't help but want to rush up and kiss him.