"Show me your leg." Euni deadpanned.

"What?" Bai Cheng titled his head to confirm if he heard correctly.

"Bai Cheng, I am asking you to show me your injured leg." Euni's eyes glared at him as if eyes were enough to rip him.

Wei Wuxian at first got confused but when he saw the confidence in her eyes, he realized her move. When he saw Bai Cheng had no intention of following Euni's order, he decided to interfere.

"Young Master Bai, don't you think you should follow her words?" Wei Wuxian said in his cold voice, giving out Yiling Laozu vibes.

Bai Cheng sensed that the situation was going out of control. So he decided to follow Euni's words. Taking a deep breath, he looked at her while keeping the same smile on his face.

"As you wish princess." Bai Cheng crouched down and lifted his long robes, showing a cut on his lower leg.

Euni almost squatted there, examining the wound while Zhiquiang stared at her. After a few seconds, she looked at Wei Wuxian with disappointment in her eyes and shook her head in disappointment.

"What happened to your leg?" Wei Wuxian asked.

"I was running after my brother and I tripped over and fell down." Bai Cheng replied.

"Bai Cheng ah Bai Cheng, perhaps you are forgetting that I am the Yiling Laozu, no one dares to lie to me." Wei Wuxian's facial expressions grew darker. "Your wound isn't caused by spiritual weapon or sharp object, but due to some blunt object like a sharp stone or something like that. Care to spill the beans now?"

"Young Master Wei, I dare not to lie to you." Bai Cheng bowed to Wuxian. "This afternoon I was roaming around the streets when I saw a man covered with entire black, I decided to follow him but I ended up getting hurt."

"Why did you follow him?" Jiang Wanyin asked.

Bai Cheng looked at Euni before speaking while the latter slightly shook her head. Bai Cheng understood her signal and smiled. "A person in black robes stole my precious things. So from that day, I am trying to find him."

"Why should we believe in your words?" Jin Ling crossed his arms across his chest.

"I am speaking the truth, clan leader Jin." Bai Cheng bowed to Jin Ling. "I swear on princess."

"Don't swear on her." Zewu Jun interrupted.

"Sorry clan leader Lan but still, I like her the most. So I never dare to watch her in trouble." Bai Cheng smiled. "So I swore on her."

Euni's eyes widened at Bai Cheng's open confession while Zhiquiang's brows got knitted together. Wei Wuxian arched his brow witnessing the current situation while a slight frown formed on Jade Twin's faces.

"Hey! Bai Cheng, can you stop flirting in front of seniors?!" Euni gave a friendly punch on Bai Cheng's arm. "It's already 5 pm, now leave for your home."

"Jiejie, are you driving us out?" SiJun pouted.

"Aiya, big brother, how can I drive you out, hm?" Euni gently pinched his cheeks. "I am worried that if you reach home late then the snake monster will attack my big brother."

"Bai Cheng, return home," Zhiquiang said in his cold voice. "Don't waste your time here."

Bai Cheng bowed and left the place. After Bai Cheng's figure disappeared into the crowd, Euni turned towards Zhiquiang.

"Woah! Lan er Gonzi can speak long sentences with strangers as well?!" Euni exclaimed.

Wei Wuxian pressed his lips together trying to control his laughter while Lan Wangji looked at Euni.

"Ridiculous!" Zhiquiang rolled his eyes.

Euni pouted and continued her adventure through the shops. Jingyi and Jin Ling joined her while Sizhui and Zizhen were walking beside her. As they were walking, suddenly they came across a brand new food shop.

"Handsome young master, please come to our shop." A young lady bowed and Wei Wuxian returned to his usual self.

"Young miss, is this shop new here?" Wei Wuxian smiled.

"Yes young master, the food is very good and tasty here." The young lady replied.

"Jiang Cheng, what do you think?" Wei Wuxian nudged to his brother.

"I don't know." Jiang Wanyin rolled his eyes.

"If wine is good here, then I won't mind trying." Wei Wuxian wiggled his brows while the lady blushed.

"Don't flirt," Wangji said in a cold tone, making Euni chuckle a bit.

"You two look like a newly married couple." The lady said looking at Euni and Zhiquiang. "There is a discount for newly married couples."

"Hah?" Euni's jaws almost dropped to the ground. "I am n-."

"Sure miss." Wei Wuxian smiled, cutting Euni's words.

The lady bowed and escorted the young masters inside the shop. Only four people could sit at a table. Hanguang-Jun, Wei Wuxian, and Zhiquiang, Euni sat together. The remaining juniors sat at the adjacent table while Wanyin and Xichen sat at another table. Wei Wuxian and Euni sat beside each other while the Lans sat together.

"Wei gege, when did I get married?!" Euni huffed.

"It means you and Zhiquiang look good together." Wei Wuxian chuckled.

"Hey! Zhiquiang, why didn't you protest, huh?" Euni slammed the table.

"Manners Euni," Zhiquiang said without looking at Euni.

"Fuck the manners!" Euni spat. "Couldn't you just say no to her words?!"

"Euni...Hanguang-Jun is here. You cannot use those words randomly." Jingyi said in low voice.

"Young Miss, why aren't you sitting beside your husband?" The girl bowed, putting the tea at the table.

"She is angry with me," Zhiquiang replied in an indifferent voice, making Euni's eyes bulge out while Wei Wuxian pressed his lips together as he was amused by that reply.

"Jiejie, can you please bring two bottles of wine." Euni smiled.

"For you and your husband?" The lady chuckled.

Euni controlled her urge to hold her wrist and tell her that she was single but since Zhiquiang already decided to play the game, Euni won't back off.

"Jiejie, wine is for my Wei gege and me. My husband has a very low alcohol capacity." Euni used her fingers to show how low Zhiquiang's alcohol capacity was. "If he drinks more than a cup of wine, I am afraid he will lose his control and I won't be able to walk tomorrow."

Lan Wangji got chocked on the tea he was drinking while Zhiquiang almost spat the tea he was drinking. He immediately lifted his head to find a Euni smiling at the lady while she was trying to hide her grin. Wei Wuxian's lips twitched as he was trying hard not to laugh.

"Then...don't make him drink wine too often, miss. You look so soft and fragile. I will be bringing your food soon." The last smiled. "Please do sit with your husband. You look like an ideal couple with him."

"Sure, Miss." Wei Wuxian chuckled before taking his seat beside Lan Wangji and sending Zhiquiang beside Euni.

"Do we look good now?" Euni smiled.

The lady nodded shyly and went away.

"A-Ni, what was that?!" Wei Wuxian burst into laughing. "How did you know that Zhiquiang will get drunk after a cup? Are you experienced?"

"Am I wrong my husband?" Euni said, nudging Zhiquiang. "Don't you get drunk after a cup?"

"I don't know." Zhiquiang ignored her. "I have never drank before."

"Then how did you know that much about your HUSBAND?" Jin Ling asked from the adjacent table.

"Lingling, don't say that this poker-faced ice prince is my husband. I would rather die than marry him." Euni's lips got pulled to a side, making a weird face.

Soon the last served them food and wine. Euni was about to put her food into her mouth, another young man came to their table.

"Young Master, you and your wife are supposed to be a lucky couple. So please do come with me." The man said. "Young Masters, you too please follow me."

Euni looked at Wei Wuxian and Wangji. When the seniors nodded in response, she stood up along with Zhiquiang and followed them. Wangji and Wuxian decided to follow their juniors. Zewu Jun and Jiang Cheng looked at their brothers if they needed any help but Wangji just nodded his head, signaling that they would be alright. The man lead the four of them through a back door. As they exited the shop, he led them through a dark alley that looked abandoned.

"Zhiquiang, don't you think it's suspicious?" Euni whispered.

"Follow for now," Zhiquiang said in low voice. "We will figure out that later."

Euni smiled as a mischievous plan came into her mind. She suddenly snaked her hand around Zhiquiang's arm, clinging onto him.

"My husband, I want to drink more wine," Euni whined. "The wine is so good here."

"Zhang Euni!" Zhiquiang glared at her.

"Lan Zhan, it looks like A-Ni is greater flirt than me." Wei Wuxian chuckled witnessing Euni's strategy as they were following her.

"I can feel how Zhiquiang is feeling now," Wangji said in his usual cold voice.

"Lan Zhan, let's see the drama. I think A-Ni is up to something." Wei Wuxian smiled as he followed them.

"Husband..." Euni clung to Zhiquiang's hand like a baby panda. "Are you ignoring me? You haven't kissed me the entire day!"

"Euni!" Zhiquiang glared at her as he couldn't believe how shameless she was.

"What!?" Euni pouted. "Young master, see, my husband is ignoring me. Where are you taking us?" Euni asked as she was following the man into dry woods. It was already 7 pm and the area looked, even more, darker than normal area.

"Young master, don't ignore your wife. She looks so soft." The man said in a low voice while his face flustered at Euni's shameless words.

"Husband, my legs are hurting, can you please carry me?" Euni shamelessly asked, making Wei Wuxian and Wangji got chocked.

"What's wrong with you?" Zhiquiang said in a cold voice.

"Do as I am saying," Euni whispered.

Zhiquiang narrowed his eyes to study Euni's instating words but he decided to follow them.  He lifted Euni in bridal style and continued walking.

"Lan Zhan, my husband, carry me too." Wei Wuxian pouted. "Look how your student is carrying her."

"Wei Ying, I still don't understand where that man is taking us," Wangji said looking at Wuxian worriedly.

"Follow for now Lan Zhan. Let's see what happens." Wei Wuxian sighed before looking at his juniors.

"Young Master, where are you taking us?" Euni asked the man.

Suddenly the man ran away from then. Just then they realized that they reached to the middle of the extreme dark forest where the moonlight could barely make its way into the forest floor.

"Put me down, Zhiquiang," Euni said in a low voice while Zhiquiang gently made her stand on the ground. "Hanguang-Jun, where are we?" Euni asked, scrutinizing her surrounding carefully.

"I think it's a trap." Wei Wuxian said, observing his surroundings.

"Then why did that man called only four of us?" Zhiquiang glanced at Wei Wuxian.

"Silence," Wangji uttered while his eyes were fixed on the tall trees. "Focus on the surroundings. Otherwise, you won't predict unknown danger."

Suddenly Wei Wuxian heard the rustling of leaves and the next moment he sensed an arrow coming towards them.

"A-Ni, the arrow!" Wuxian yelled making Euni immediately pay attention. She swiftly moved her body to a side, dodging the arrow. "Zhiquiang, protect A-Ni. We will handle this."

Zhiquiang nodded and tried to escape but a group of tribal people stopped them. Euni who was wearing girls' clothes, looked extremely soft and delicate. So she decided not to interfere unless it's necessary. Zhiquiang unsheathed his sword, waiting for the tribal people to attack them.

On the other hand, Wangji unsheathed his Bichen. Wei Wuxian was about to take out his flute, Chenqing, Wangji objected to him.

"Wei Ying, don't use Chenqing," Wangji said.

"Why?" Wei Wuxian looked at his husband.

"Don't ask too many questions," Wangji said, focusing on the tribal people.

Suddenly one of the people threw a talisman towards Wangji while the latter's sword stopped it. The tribal people started to use their most powerful talismans while Wangji kept stopping them.

"Lan Zhan, these are not ordinary talismans." Wei Wuxian said, throwing a talisman. "They are using wicked sorcery."

Suddenly they heard Euni's scream. Wei Wuxian turned towards the source of sound only to find Zhiquiang blocking a spear. As Zhiquiang was stopping to spears at a time, suddenly he felt a warm back touching his back.

"Euni?" Zhiquiang muttered as he realized that the delicate warmth belonged to Zhang Euni. She was stopping the blow of another spear with her infamous sword Seo Yeon, protecting him from getting hurt.

"Zhiquiang, I think we should join Hanguang-Jun," Euni said pushing the spear. "He isn't allowing Wei gege to use his demonic cultivation."

As Euni was about to join Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji, a few men rushed towards them holding spears, circling around them. Euni and Zhiquiang stood touching their backs while Wei Wuxian and Wangji did the same. 

"Hanguang-Jun, any command?" Euni shouted, asking if there was any quick plan.

"Don't hurt them." Wei Wuxian replied, holding talisman in his hand.

As the tribal people were about to attack them, suddenly an enormous white snake with red eyes appeared from nowhere and pushed the attacker who was attacking Euni.

"ShingShing!" Euni uttered in a low voice as her eyes almost bulged out, witnessing the snake there.

"What is it doing here?" Zhiquiang asked in a low voice. "Did you summon it?"

"No!" Euni shook her head. "I don't know how she sensed my location."

The enormous white snake kept pushing the tribal people who were attacking Euni but didn't even glance at Wangji and Wuxian.  It kept throwing away the people while glancing at Euni as if it was asking for permission. Euni slightly shook her head, commanding it not to reveal it's true self.

"How dare they!" A shrill voice thundered, catching the attention of everyone.

A young woman with pale skin, wearing dark robes and embellished with heavy ornaments and a crown, stood before them, holding a huge spear in her hand.

"How dare you silly cultivators to harm my people?" She growled while the other tribal people bowed to her.

"Young Miss, we didn't attack first." Wei Wuxian bowed to her gently, guessing her to be a powerful woman.

"I freaking hate liars!" She snarled, holding the first firmly in her hand.

"He is not lying, Young Miss." Euni protested.

"She is our clan leader! Show some respect!" The woman standing beside the clan leader yelled.

"Sorry clan leader. But your men brought us here and attacked without any warning." Euni bowed to her.

"Who are you?" The clan leader glared. "You look like a normal girl, yet dare to carry a sword?"

"I am not," Euni replied in a confident tone. "Clan leader, we didn't intend to harm you."

"Since you are already here and have high confidence about your abilities, how about a dual fight?" The woman smirked. "If you win, then we can have a nice talk but if you lose, no one is going to protect your life."

"Sure. I accept the clan leader's challenge." Euni's lips curved upwards as she accepted the challenge.

"A-Ni, don't take random decisions." Wei Wuxian rushed to her side. "It risks your life!"

"Wei gege, others are waiting for us. We need to go there as soon as possible." Euni said in a gentle voice. "Moreover, she is a woman. So it's okay for me to accept the challenge."

"Be careful," Wangji said as his eyes were fixed on the female clan leader.

"Great." The clan leader smirked.

"The dual should occur with equality." Euni's gaze was fixed on the clan leader while she handed her sword to Zhiquiang. "I will use the spear." She spread her arm and following the clan leader's words, a man gave her a sword. Meanwhile the snake, ShingShing hid behind the bushes, watching her owner getting ready for a fight.

Everyone kept their distance from the two females while they took the spears and took their positions, walking around in circles in a tensed up position, getting ready for the combat.

With a scream, the clan leader attacked Euni and the latter was ready to face the attack. The two spears collided while both the owners held their own spears at the two points, making the spears look like a cross. Euni applied force and pushed her, making her stumble a bit. This hit the leader's nerve. Using the jump position, she held her spear pointing it towards Euni's forehead. Euni bent her body backward, dodging the attack while she used her leg to kick the spear.

The female clan leader was a strong a capable fighter. She quickly found her position and attacked Euni fiercely before the latter could take her position. In due course of dodging the attack, the head of the clan leader's spear formed cut on her lower arm, where she already had the injury.

"Ah!" Euni winched in pain as blood started to flow freely from her wound, making it difficult for her to move her arm.

As the blood started to ooze out from her wound, the smell of her blood assaulted Shing and suddenly the snake took her form into a dangerous white snake while a smoke started to gather around it.

When the clan leader was about to attack Euni, the Shing slapped her with its tail, throwing her to a distance of few inches. Euni's jaws slacked witnessing such a dangerous form of her pet snake, Shing.

"ShingShing, calm down," Euni whispered but it didn't affect the snake.

Wangji and Wuxian stood beside each other while Wangji took out his zither. Wangji was about to play his zither to control the enormous white snake, Wei Wuxian stopped him.

"Lan Zhan, don't." Wei Wuxian put his hand on his husband's, stopping him from touching the zither strings. "The snake is only attacking the one's who are attacking Euni. It looks like something is fishy here." Wei Wuxian's eyes were fixed on the snake. "It looks like A-Ni is hiding something. The snake is glancing at Euni as if it's asking her command. Just wait and watch."

Wangji nodded and ran his hand over his zither and it got vanished. On the other hand, the snake was about to hit the clan leader, Euni threw her talisman at the Shing's tail, making it stop its movements. With a jump, she stood in front of the clan leader, protecting her from the snake's gaze.

"Go back!" Euni commanded. The snake stopped it's movements and looked into Euni's eyes. She opened her eyes wider, signaling it to go away from there.

The snake seemed to understand Euni's expressions. It lowered its hood, bowing to Euni before going away from the place. Euni heaved a sigh of relief as she successfully protected both the clan leader and her little pet.

"Clan leader, are you okay?" Euni asked, turning towards her.

"Thank you, Young Miss Zhang Euni." The clan leader bowed to her.

"Huh!?" Euni's jaws slacked. "You know me!?"

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This story won 2nd Place in the Empire Awards. Thank you for reading this book and giving me the confidence to continue writing it.

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