Chapter 67

When the words "Little White Lady" slipped out, Wei Shizhi immediately felt it was inappropriate. She was a white snake spirit with thousands of years of cultivation, and calling her "lady" was too frivolous. He quickly corrected himself, calling her "Senior" and expressing his apologies.

The white snake spirit didn't care about such formalities. Whether she was called a white snake spirit, Little White Lady, or Senior, these titles held no meaning in her long life. She casually asked, "Young man, why have you come to Jietian Ridge?"

Wei Shizhi carefully chose his words and cautiously replied, "To be honest, Senior, I am Wei Shizhi, a disciple of Xiandu Sect. This time, I followed my uncle to Jietian Ridge for the 'Winter Hunt' to collect some demon cores to bring back to the sect for alchemy. I apologize for any offense."

"Demons eat humans, and humans kill demons; there's no real offense in that. Jietian Ridge is a hunting ground for the seven branches of Kunlun, and the 'Winter Hunt' has been held every other year for hundreds of years. If someone dies at your hands due to lack of strength, it's just fate."

The white snake spirit was very open-minded, and Wei Shizhi felt relieved. He said, "Yes, all beings are equal."

"Who was that child you were so eager to send away?" The white snake spirit asked about Sun Erdou, seemingly not concerned about his plan to take snake eggs.

"He is Sun Erdou, a disciple of Pingyuan Sect's Qi Du. By seniority, I should call him Uncle."

"Do you care about him?"

Wei Shizhi hesitated for a moment and honestly replied, "I wouldn't say I care, but I was afraid he might say something rash and anger you, so I quickly sent him away. His master said... Senior has a gentle disposition and rarely harms others. I thought maybe I could bluff my way through."

"You don't need to worry, young man. I won't harm you." The white snake spirit repeated this, not as a promise but as a statement of fact. "Has anyone ever told you that you are not purely human?"

Wei Shizhi's heart raced, as if he was about to break through a thin layer of paper to see a whole new world. "A friend mentioned it. I have a trace of demon blood."

The white snake spirit was taken aback and said, "Your friend is remarkable. What's his name?"

"She is a Kunlun disciple, surnamed Ruan, named Jing."

"Ah, that little girl! No wonder!" Xiao Bai clearly knew Ruan Jing and spoke with a hint of affection. "Did she tell you which demon blood you have?"

"She didn't tell me."

"Actually, there's no harm in telling you... Do you have any abilities that are unusual for a human?"

"Consuming the flesh and blood of demons can convert into essence energy. Does that count?"

"Yes, that's it. It's the innate ability of the Longze Bashe. You have Bashe blood in your body. In a way, we can be considered kin."

Bashe eat elephants and shed their bones after three years... Grandma didn't harm you because she discovered you had a trace of demon blood and felt pity... Think about it, do you have any abilities that ordinary people don't have... Young man, I won't harm you... In a way, we can be considered kin... Countless voices echoed in Wei Shizhi's ears, and he fully understood. He was not purely human; he had demon blood. He was a... hybrid!

The white snake spirit saw the conflicting emotions on his face and her eyes showed pity. "Besides Ruan Jing, has anyone else known your secret?"

Wei Shizhi shook his head.

"Humans are greedy and suspicious. Don't let anyone know your secret, not even your closest people. Ruan Jing is trustworthy; you can seek her help if needed."

Wei Shizhi sensed something and tentatively asked, "Is Ruan Jing... also a snake?"

"No, her status is far more noble than you can imagine. If you want to live well, it's not a disgrace to rely on her."

"Understood, thank you for your advice, Senior."

Half-human, half-demon hybrids struggle to survive, neither accepted by humans nor demons. Only one in a hundred survives to adulthood. Because of his Bashe blood, the white snake spirit felt a natural kinship with Wei Shizhi. After a moment's hesitation, she taught him a mantra to lock the Bashe blood deep within his body, making it undetectable.

Before parting, Wei Shizhi couldn't help but ask, "Senior, with your great powers, why stay on Jietian Ridge? The world is vast; where can't you find a place to live?"

The white snake spirit smiled sadly. "The Demon Suppressing Tower is a cage, Jietian Ridge is a cage, Kunlun Mountain is a cage, and this world is a cage. It's all the same wherever I am!" Her smile held many indescribable emotions, making his heart tremble.

Wei Shizhi bowed and disappeared into the vast mountains alone.

The white snake spirit watched him go, thinking, "Young man, live well. The blood of the Longze Bashe may only remain in you..."

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