The painting "Along the River During the Qingming Festival" was not the purpose of my descent this time at all.
When Zheng Shuxuan asked this question, I was a little slow to react.
She looked at me and said, "Haven't you always been looking for the Suihou Bead?"
Hearing this, I jolted violently.
How did she know I was always looking for the Suihou Bead?
"Actually, I'm looking for the Suihou Bead too," Zheng Shuxuan said calmly, looking at me.
My mind spun rapidly, considering all possibilities.
How did she know I was looking for the Suihou Bead?
I had never mentioned this to anyone, not even Wu Tingxiu knew my goal was to find the Suihou Bead.
It could be said that, outwardly, I had always appeared to be helping Wu Tingxiu find the Suihou Bead, while my own purpose had never been exposed at all.
"Do you remember what you told me about your father when we were in Guangbei before?" Zheng Shuxuan asked.
I nodded, "Mm."
"Later, I left Guangbei and found people to investigate your father's affairs..." At this point, she smiled slightly, her smile a little mysterious and full of self-confidence.
Seeing this smile, I felt a pang of displeasure.
"So, what did you find out?" I asked.
"Perhaps I have more information than you think," she said. "Your father went to many places to search for the Suihou Bead back then, and he made many acquaintances, which also got him into some trouble."
I was stunned. "Do you know who those people were who went to see my father back then?"
Zheng Shuxuan shook her head. "If I knew, I would have told you long ago."
"Tell me?"
"Haven't you been investigating this matter?" she pursed her lips and sighed. "Xiang Fei, I know you don't consider me An Ying in your heart, and I don't force you to consider me An Ying. But there's no need for us to be at odds with each other... don't you think?"
In fact, I don't know when it started, but my feelings towards Zheng Shuxuan had become somewhat distant.
It wasn't because she had done anything to wrong me, but rather I didn't want to get entangled in her affairs anymore.
This included her concealing too many things from me; I didn't even know which of the things she told me were true and which were false.
Of course, I didn't consider her an enemy, my feelings towards her had just gradually faded.
"When we met before, I asked you to become a 'Suo Zhe'. I had intended to tell you about your father's matters once you agreed..."
I interrupted her. "And now? You don't plan to tell me anymore?"
Her expression was hesitant. As she pursed her lips and was about to speak, her expression suddenly changed, and she lunged at me.
Before I could even react to what was happening, she had already landed on top of me. By the time I came to my senses, I saw a strange snake that had somehow caught up with us. It had been lurking for a long time while we were talking, waiting for an opportunity to attack me!
This sudden turn of events left me stunned. As I watched Zheng Shuxuan pull the strange snake off her arm, her face contorted in pain.
"Young Lady!" Yang Hanxue ran over, checking on Zheng Shuxuan's condition.
She waved her hand and was about to say something when her eyelids rolled back, and she fainted completely.
I was somewhat at a loss. I got up from the ground, held Zheng Shuxuan in my arms, and checked her injuries.
I had witnessed the power of this strange snake before. When Song Bing was bitten, if he hadn't been rushed to the hospital in time, his life could have been in danger.
"We need to get out of here quickly!" I said.
Yang Hanxue didn't hesitate. He picked up Zheng Shuxuan and told me to lead the way through the ventilation shaft back to the original entrance.
We sped up our pace all the way, my mind in a chaotic state.
When Zheng Shuxuan tackled me, and I realized she had been bitten by the snake to save me, that long-lost feeling suddenly resurfaced.
It was as if "Sister Ying" had returned to my side once again.
During our time in Guangling, didn't Sister Ying take care of and protect me like this?
This time, no matter what, she had saved my life, and I owed her for it.
We followed the ventilation shaft back to the previous warehouse. Then, Fatty replenished some ammunition, and we finally returned to our original path.
When we reached the entrance, Yang Hanxue handed Zheng Shuxuan over to me, asking me and Fatty to take her out first while he stayed to intercept Guan Zhenwan.
"I must get the 'Along the River During the Qingming Festival'," Yang Hanxue said firmly, looking at me. "Brother Xiang, some things are very complicated to explain, and I don't know how to tell you... If you still consider me a friend, I hope you will take good care of the Young Lady."
Hearing him say this, I naturally couldn't refuse. In the end, I could only tell him to be careful.
"Brother Yang, if possible, I hope you won't hurt Miss Guan," I said.
"Don't worry, I won't lay hands on a woman unless absolutely necessary."
After bidding farewell to Yang Hanxue, I carried Zheng Shuxuan and followed Fatty back up the suspension bridge.
On the way back, I constantly monitored Zheng Shuxuan's condition, and my mind was also occupied with one thought.
That was about whether Zheng Shuxuan could truly live forever.
I had always maintained a skeptical attitude towards this matter. Now that she had been bitten by the strange snake, wouldn't that prove whether this was true?
But what if the so-called immortality was a lie?
By the time Fatty and I emerged from underground, I was so exhausted I was on the verge of collapse.
Song Bing and Bai Hanyan, seeing us emerge, rushed to our aid immediately.
"Why are there only three of you?" Bai Hanyan asked. "Did you find Guan Zhenwan?"
"Don't mention that woman," Fatty said with displeasure. "That woman almost got us killed this time!"
"What do you mean?" Bai Hanyan asked.
Seeing that Fatty was about to blab, I quickly glared at him. "We'll talk about it later. We need to get to the hospital immediately; Miss Zheng was bitten by a strange snake."
Hearing this, everyone's attention shifted away from Guan Zhenwan.
We returned to Shizi Ling from Xiaoqing Guan and immediately drove to Mohe.
Perhaps fate was intentionally playing games with us; halfway through the drive, the snow began to fall heavier and heavier, eventually blocking the road. Although the car was equipped with snow chains, we didn't dare to drive fast at all.
Moreover, Zheng Shuxuan's condition worsened, and she even started to develop a fever, her body burning hot.
It took us over thirty hours to finally reach Mohe.
We headed straight to the hospital and took Zheng Shuxuan to the emergency room. Then, I asked Song Bing to take Bai Hanyan to find a hotel to stay, while Fatty and I waited at the hospital for the examination results.
But no one expected that something incredible would happen right before my eyes...