Nan Yue looked at Gu Xiang Kai. "Do you know where her nickname came from?"
Gu Xiang Kai thought about it. "No idea. I just heard she’s pretty crazy during missions. I thought it meant she was just really good at cursing people out."
Nan Yue thought to herself that she had assumed the same thing.
"So what’s the situation? Is it an illness?"
Nan Yue looked at Wen Xiang Yuan, who nodded.
"In a way. It’s likely a split personality."
Gu Xiang Kai blinked. "...Split what? Split into what?"
Wen Xiang Yuan didn't seem surprised by their curiosity and explained it to them in detail.
"You can think of it like this: most of us have one soul, but Xi Ning has two. Her other soul usually doesn't come out."
Gu Xiang Kai turned his gaze to Zhu Xi Ning and asked hesitantly, "...Does it feel a bit crowded in there?"
Zhu Xi Ning felt like she should laugh at the sheer absurdity of the question.
Wen Xiang Yuan actually did laugh. "It doesn't work like that. Generally, the two personalities—the two souls—aren't aware of each other’s existence. However, there are cases where a sub-personality knows about the primary one, even if the primary one is unaware of them."
"Based on Xi Ning’s description, it’s possible that the sub-personality only appears to protect her during life-threatening situations. Have you encountered any fatal dangers since then?"
Zhu Xi Ning thought carefully. Although scavengers were always in danger during missions, she usually managed to get through them without a scratch.
Especially after teaming up with Nan Yue and upgrading her awakened ability, she hadn't faced a single life-or-death moment.
Zhu Xi Ning nodded hesitantly, having never imagined she possessed two souls.
She suddenly grew worried. What was the other soul like? Was she really a "Mad Woman"? Would she be unkind to Nan Yue and the others? Would she accept their little team?
Zhu Xi Ning’s face clouded over with worry, which Wen Xiang Yuan found slightly amusing, though she quickly turned serious.
"Actually, it’s not a major issue, especially since it doesn't happen often to Xi Ning. But I don't know what Ga Ya meant by her words. We need to be on guard against whatever she’s planning."
The group fell silent. They hurried to the ancestral hall to find Xie Roufen. Nan Yue resolved that if they made it out, she would find a way to understand Zhu Xi Ning’s condition.
When they arrived at the ancestral hall, they didn't go deep into the area where the stone coffin was kept. Xie Roufen was already in the outer room filled with ant stone statues.
The others were surrounding her, everyone talking at once.
Shang Xi told Nan Yue that Xie Roufen truly hadn't encountered anything last night. It seemed the Ant-red Flower could prevent the Ant God from killing her.
Nan Yue remained noncommittal. If what Ga Ya said was true, then these things were useless—nothing more than a psychological placebo for the villagers.
Xie Roufen was also terrified after hearing that Zhou Jie Feng had died.
"Ga Ya said I have to stay here for one more night."
She was somewhat frustrated. While it was safe, no one wanted to stay in such an eerie place alone.
Ga Ya arrived then and gestured for Xie Roufen to follow her for the exorcism ritual. Everyone followed, and Chen Bin and the others even considered asking Ga Ya to perform it for them as well.
The so-called exorcism ritual involved building a straw platform. Xie Roufen sat on it, surrounded by Ant-red Flowers.
Ga Ya also had the villagers crush the Ant-red Flowers and mix them into water for Xie Roufen to drink.
The ritual dragged on for several hours. Ga Ya wouldn't let anyone else drink the flower water, and a few people were starting to get restless.
When the ritual ended, Chen Bin asked Ga Ya if he could take some Ant-red Flowers back with him.
Ga Ya looked up at the sky and pointed to the Ant-red Flowers scattered on the ground near the straw platform, indicating he should help himself.
Then, Ga Ya waved her hand, signaling for the villagers to return home.
"What’s wrong?"
Seeing the villagers hurrying back, Nan Yue grabbed Luo Liu. Luo Liu scratched his head and looked at the sky. "It... it looks like it’s going to rain."
"The villagers believe it’s unlucky to be caught in the rain."
To be safe, the scavengers also hurried back. However, He Jiang still wanted the Ant-red Flowers and told Chen Bin and Jiang Mingfu to get them.
The two were incredibly reluctant, but seeing He Jiang’s persistence, they hurriedly picked up the petals from the ground.
The others had just entered the stone house and were watching them from the doorway. He Jiang was still discussing with Dong Sheng about bringing them straw raincoats.
Nan Yue initially thought the rain would take a while to start, but it began unexpectedly in an instant.
It started as a light drizzle. As soon as the two felt the rain, they scrambled to get back. Jiang Mingfu, being heavy-set and slow, trailed behind. Chen Bin got a bit wet but made it back to the stone house just as the downpour intensified.
However, Jiang Mingfu was drenched like a drowned rat. He let out a miserable cry as he ran back into the room, collapsing onto the floor in a panic.
"Are you alright?" He Jiang looked at him with a face full of concern. "Old Jiang! Do you feel any discomfort?"
Jiang Mingfu panted heavily, patting his body. He froze for a moment. "...I think... I’m fine?"
"Fine?" A glint flashed in He Jiang’s eyes, but his expression remained anxious. "Why don't you drink some of this Ant-red Flower water?"
However, the Ant-red Flowers the two had brought back were soaked, and it was unclear if they would still be effective.
Jiang Mingfu stood up and checked himself from all angles. "I really do seem fine."
"It’s just ordinary rainwater."
Chen Bin agreed. "It’s just too hot in this place. Even with the rain, it doesn't feel cool. I feel like this rain is actually warm."
It was exactly as Chen Bin said. Despite the rain, the stifling humidity didn't ease. Instead, the air pressure dropped even further, making every breath feel sticky.
Everyone felt as if they were submerged in water, their breaths heavy with moisture, making them feel quite uncomfortable.
"Forget it. Since the villagers find it taboo, we shouldn't test it."
Liu Kai Xu had gone to He Jiang’s stone house, as they were on better terms now.
He Jiang frowned and shook his head. "That won't do. The flowers they brought back are all wet. What if they’re useless?"
"Someone can wear a straw raincoat and go pick some more. That basket of flowers isn't wet yet."
He Jiang was referring to a basket of Ant-red Flowers placed between two large trees. Because the thick foliage blocked the rain, that patch of ground was still dry.
But if this continued, they would eventually get wet.
Hearing this, Dong Sheng stepped back a few paces, worried He Jiang would ask him to go.
To his surprise, He Jiang changed his tone. "Give me the straw raincoat. I’ll go."
No one expected He Jiang to risk himself like this. Dong Sheng was moved. "Brother He!"
With a look of righteousness, He Jiang told him to stay silent. "I’m the big brother here. If I don't go, who will? Rest assured, I’ll share the flowers I bring back with everyone."
Song Sisi and the others, who previously had a poor opinion of He Jiang, were also surprised and gave their awkward consent.
He Jiang had initially wanted to say something to Nan Yue, but upon meeting her meaningful smile, he immediately shut his mouth, put on the straw raincoat, and headed out.
Rate on N.U.
