It was around 2:15 am when Zhiquiang came out of the room, feeling thirsty. He already finished the water in his room before going to bed. So he walked towards the kitchen. Suddenly he heard some faint sound coming from Euni's room. As he proceeded towards her room, he heard Euni's muffled voice asking for help. He rushed to her room, knocking the door. Receiving no response from her, he used his talisman to open the door. As he entered the room, the pinch black environment welcomed him while his eyes bulged out when his eyes fell on the particular person laying lifelessly on the floor.

"Euni!" Zhiquiang exclaimed before lifting her in his arms. He walked towards the bed and gently put her on it. Sitting beside her, he took a talisman and lit the nearest lamp. Taking her head in his lap, he shook her gently, trying to wake her up. "Euni, open your eyes." His voice trembled as he tried to keep his cool.

Upon receiving no response, he quickly looked around and found the water pot in her room. He quickly took some amount of water and sprinkled it on her face, making Euni frown. She gently moved her face while her closed lids opened slowly. Suddenly she gasped and sat at once, trembling like an autumn leaf.

"Euni?" Zhiquiang held put his hand on her shoulder, trying to calm her down.

"Please don't leave me." Euni hugged him tightly, burying her face into his chest. "I lost my powers. H-he will kill me."

"Euni, calm down. Everything is fine." Zhiquiang hugged her, sliding his fingers into her long strands of hair, messaging her scalp. "Who will kill you?"

"Zhiquiang, I-I...I can't use my powers anymore." Euni sniffed while hiding her face into Zhiquiang's chest.

"Euni, look at me." Zhiquiang tried to break the hug but Euni had no intention of letting him go. She held him tightly, making him unable to move. He sighed and hugged her lightly, caressing her back. "Euni it's okay now. I am here with you, right? I will protect you."

Euni seemed to relax in Zhiquiang's arms and the latter gently broke the hug. He cupped her face with both his hands, looking at her teary eyes which looked at him as if he was her angel. He gently wiped her tears and kissed her forehead softly.

"It's okay. I am with you. Nothing with happen to you. Do you trust me?" Zhiquiang tried to make his voice as gentle as possible.

"Mn." Euni nodded her head like an obedient kid.

"Euni, try to use your powers." Zhiquiang smiled.

"I-I lost them." Euni sniffed and a drop of tear escaped her eye.

"No no. Don't cry." Zhiquiang quickly wiped her tear. "But...how are you so sure that you lost your powers?"

"T-that...I woke up suddenly and found some black smoke around me. There was no light in the room. I tried to use my talismans but they didn't work. I even summoned my sword but it too didn't come. That black smoke was trying to kill me. I really lost my powers." Euni sobbed. "What will I do now?"

"Euni, you trust me, right?" Zhiquiang again asked her and she nodded. "Close your eyes for a moment and try to summon your sword."

"It won't work." Euni sobbed.

"Just try it once. Just trust me." Zhiquiang held her shoulder, assuring her that he would protect her.

Euni pouted before closing her eyes. She spread her palm and his lips quivered, chanting something, and the next moment a green shine appeared on her palm. Within a blink of an eye, her sword, Seoyeon, appeared on her palm. Euni's eyes almost popped out of her sockets as she saw her sword in her hand.

"H-How?" Euni looked at Zhiquiang with hundreds of questions in her eyes.

"Try to use your talismans." He said gently yet in a commanding manner.

Euni nodded and held her first two fingers of her right her in an upright position and closed her eyes. He chanted something and in a split of second, glittering talisman appeared in her hand.

"It's working! My...my powers are back!" Euni screamed. "Yes, they are working!" She almost yelled and hugged Zhiquiang tightly. "Thank you for making my powers work again."

"You are welcome, silly girl." Zhiquiang chuckled before breaking the hug. "Euni, tell me something. Did you ever encountered the black smoke as you said before?"

"No." Euni shook her head. "I don't know. It worked only on me. The moment you came inside the room, the black smoke disappeared. It means it doesn't work on Lans."

"I think we need to inform Hanguang-Jun about this," Zhiquiang said.

"Mn." Euni nodded.

"It's already 3 am. Sleep now. We have to wake up early tomorrow." Zhiquiang smiled and got up from the bed. "Good night."

"Wait." Euni held his hand when he was about to leave. "C-can you p-please stay here with me?" She shuttered, looking everywhere but Zhiquiang.

"Hm?" Zhiquiang arched brow questioningly.

"I am afraid. Please stay with me." Euni pleaded.

"Okay." Zhiquiang smiled and Euni moved her body so that Zhiquiang could fit on the bed.

As Zhiquiang laid on the bed, she moved closer to him, putting her head on his chest while her arms rested on Zhiquiang's chest.

"W-what are you doing!?" Zhiquiang glanced at her with bewilderment in his eyes.

"I am sorry." Euni looked at him. "Can you please hold me like that day you held me at that inn when I got drunk? I am so scared Zhiquiang." A type of fear was clear in Euni's voice, making him smile.

"Sure." He smiled and put his arm around her shoulder, pulling her closer while she snuggled into his chest, finding the warmth in him. Soon the sleep conquered her. Zhiquiang smiled at sleeping Euni and softly implanted a kiss on her forehead. "Good Night my Queen." He said before closing his eyes.

The sound of the chirping birds rang in Zhiquiang's ears, making him squirm in his sleep. He felt a weight on his chest. He opened his eyes and looked down to see Euni sleeping peacefully while clinging to him. A soft smile appeared on his face as he saw the innocent face sleeping like a baby. He gently tucked a few strands of hair that were blocking his view from her beautiful face.

"Why are you aggressive when you are awake?" Zhiquiang said softly and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead.

He gently withdrew himself from her and went behind the section to fresh up. When he can after freshening up, he saw Euni sitting on the bed while her eyes were still half-lidded, showing that she was sleepy.

"Good morning, Euni." Zhiquiang smiled as he came out of the parting section.

"Good Morning," Euni said in a sleepy tone. "I am still sleepy. It's only 4:55 am. Why did the birds start to chirp so soon?"

"Euni, get ready. We have to capture the snake." Zhiquiang chuckled at how Euni was sitting with half-lidded eyes, pouty lips, and messy hair.

"Mn mn." Euni nodded before dragging her body lazily and going behind the parting section to get freshen up.

Zhiquiang shook his head and sat on the bed, trying to figure out what exactly happened with Zhang Euni the previous night.

"Zhiquiang?" Euni suddenly called.

"Hm?"

"What do you think about the smoke?" Euni asked from the other partition as she was changing her clothes.

"I didn't see it. So I cannot say anything right now." Zhiquiang said in his usual cold tone.

"Well, I think it's related to that unknown clan leader," Euni said coming out of the partition section. She changed her clothes to her usual one while her hair was still untied, leaving it hanging at her waist.

"Why haven't you tied your hair yet?" Zhiquiang asked. "Are you planning to go with your open hair."

"Tch..." Euni rolled her eyes before holding all of her hair in her hand. "I am tying it." Euni twisted her hair before turning it around making a small ponytail.

Zhiquiang was about to say something, he suddenly heard a knock at the door. Euni's brows got knitted together as it was 5:15 am and no one was supposed to come out. Zhiquiang let out a deep breath and opened the door.

"Hah? Zhiquiang, what are you doing in A-Ni's room?" Wei Wuxian's voice echoed in the room, making Euni flinch.

"Wei gege?" Euni came out. "What are you doing here?" She blurted out before averting her gaze to Lan Wangji. "Come in first."

As the seniors entered the room, Zhiquiang closed the door. The juniors bowed to the seniors and the seniors sat on the bed while Euni and Zhiquiang were standing before them.

"Wei gege, why are you here so early in the morning?" Euni asked.

"Did I disturb you guys?" Wei Wuxian asked in a mocking tone.

"No no. We just got ready." Euni chuckled awkwardly.

"A-Ni, did something strange happen yesterday night?" Wei Wuxian asked in a serious tone.

"Huh?" Euni's eyes widened. "Don't tell you too encountered black smoke!"

"I thought I was the only one." Wei Wuxian let out a deep breath and looked at Zhiquiang, demanding an explanation.

Euni looked at Zhiquiang before she narrated the entire incidents that happened from 2 am. Wei Wuxian's brows got knitted together as he listened to each and every single word of Euni.

"Something is greatly wrong!" Wei Wuxian shook his head. "The same thing happened to me. Lan Zhan went to the partition section for a few minutes and I experienced the same. My powers didn't work until Lan Zhan entered the room again."

"Senior Wei, does this risk both yours and Euni's lives?" Zhiquiang asked while there was him of worry in his voice.

"Still we are not clear if it's only happening to Wei Ying and A-Ni," Wangji replied.

After their conversation, they went out of the room at around 5:45 am and by then all of the young masters were waiting for them at the drawing-room.

"Jiang Cheng..." Wei Wuxian smiled and stood beside his brother. "Did something happened yesterday night?"

"Why would something happen?" Jiang Cheng rolled his eyes and Wei Wuxian understood that Jiang Cheng didn't face the problem.

Meanwhile, Euni asked Jin Ling, Jingyi, receiving the same response as Jiang Cheng. Wuxian looked at Euni and she shook her head with anguish. They baded goodbye to madame Wen and left for the forest.

"Senior Wei, do you really think the snake will come out in daylight?" Jin Ling asked while walking through the forests.

"Stop talking and it will come out." Jiang Cheng replied.

"Jiang Cheng, don't scold A-Ling." Wei Wuxian chuckled as Jiang Cheng always acted as a strict parent with Jin Ling. "Jin Ling, just keep patience, hm?"

Jin Ling nodded while Jingyi chuckled, yearning a friendly smack from Zizhen. Euni smiled while Zhiquiang maintained his stoic expressions.

"We are setting our feet into the darkest part of the forest." Zewu Jun said in a serious tone. "Be careful and keep all your senses active."

Soon they entered a darker part of the forest. The crowns of the trees were spread vastly, blocking the rays of the sun from touching the forest floor. There was a damp smell everywhere while a type of chill was present in the environment. The forest looked like it was wrapped with a smokey covering.

"Pay attention to each and every sound." Wei Wuxian asserted.

"Use your glitter talismans," Wangji commanded in his cold voice.

"Unsheathe all of your swords." Jiang Cheng growled while his fingers formed a fist, causing the zidian to radiate a violet spark.

All of them formed a circle and closed their eyes so that their ears could detect even the slightest moment of leaves. Suddenly the sound of rustling leaves disturbed their attention and all of them opened their eyes at once.

Wei Wuxian threw a red-colored fire-split talisman into the bushes which were the source of the rustling sound. And the next moment a gigantic five-headed snake emerged from the bushes, showing it's deadly fangs.

"Move back!" Wei Wuxian yelled as all of them broke the circle and moved back to a safe distance.

Meanwhile, Jin Ling took his bow and arrow and aimed at the snake. As he released the arrow, it got pieced into its tail. This stirred the temper of the snake. It violently shook its head before turning into a more dangerous form and the arrow got disappeared.

"Jin Ling!" Jiang Cheng growled. "Why are you so stupid?"

"Jiang Cheng, don't scold him now." Wei Wuxian said as he moved back, trying to keep a safe distance from the snake. "Use your zidian."

Jiang Cheng nodded and touched his ring, Zidian. The next moment a purple lightning whip appeared. He pulled his hand back before swiftly moving it forward, making the whip coil around the snake's neck. As it successfully got coiled around the snake's neck, Jiang Cheng pulled his hand back, tried to tighten the coiling around the snake's neck.

The snake started to struggle, trying to get rid of the material around its neck. It started to thrash violently, making it difficult for Jiang Cheng to control it. The snake harshly pulled its head backward with huge force, making Jiang Cheng lost his balance and flew towards its direction. It shook his head to a side and Jiang Cheng's body got hit to a nearby tree, making him fall down and the purple lightning whip got disappeared.

"A-Cheng!" Zewu Jun rushed towards his husband, helping him to stand up. "Are you okay?" He asked, supporting him by holding both his shoulders.

"I am fine." Jiang Cheng said in a weak tone.

"Protect the girl." Wei Wuxian said coldly before putting his hand on his flute Chenqing. As he was about to use it, Lan Wangji stopped him.

"You aren't using it," Wangji said glaring at Wei Wuxian. "It will spread rumors that the snake is controlled by you and its master is you."

"Lan Zhan, we need to control it before our juniors get hurt." Wei Wuxian held Wangji's hand.

"Still no," Wangji said as he took out his Zither. "Use your talismans." He said.

Meanwhile, the snake got even angrier when Jingyi, Zizhen, and Sizhui tried to use their powers against it to capture it. It moved its tail with a huge force, throwing three of them to a good distance.

"It's going out of control Lan Zhan!" Wei Wuxian almost screamed.

Wangji looked at his older brother and Zewu Jun understood what his brother wanted to mean. He immediately took out his xiao.

Wangji nodded as he started to play a moderate tune through his zither while Zewu Jun started to play his xiao, in order to make the snake calm down.

But the snake showed no positive response. Instead, it turned even more violent, thrashing around while trying to move towards the juniors. Wei WuXian and Jiang Cheng used their talismans to stop the snake from moving towards the juniors while Zewu Jun and Hanguang-Jun played violent music, trying to capture the snake. When the snake didn't show any response, Lan Wangji started to lose his cool. He played the most powerful music that could control any evil spirit while Zewu Jun played his xiao rhythmic to his brother's zither.

The snake hissed and its eyes turned into a darker shade of red. It moved its hood a little backward, before moving with a huge speed towards Wangji, attacking him. Wangji used his bichen spark before he moved back.

The snake seemed to move a little back due to the effect of the bichen but the next moment it opened its mouth widely, emitting black smoke from it.

"They won't ever be able to control the snake without Yiling Laozu," Euni mumbled. She took a deep breath before flying to a nearby tree. She jumped to a higher branch.

"A-Ni!? What are you doing!?" Wei Wuxian screamed as he saw how Euni jumped to the branch nearest to the enormous snake.

Euni didn't reply. She held her fingers in two fingered position and green sparks appeared. She threw the green sparks into the snake's eye, distracting it from Hanguang-Jun and Zewu Jun.

As the sparks entered the snake, it restlessly moved its head, trying to get rid of the burning sensation. Meanwhile, Euni took out her flute from her sleeves and started to play a soft tune, leaving all the others thunderstruck except Zhiquiang.

"She knows how to use a flute!?" Jiang Cheng said unconsciously while Wei Wuxian looked at her with bewilderment in his eyes.

As Euni started to play the flute, the snake averted its gaze to her. It moved its hood, trying to attack her while she jumped to another branch, proceeding with playing her flute. The snake hissed in anger and started to move it's hood violently, determined to sink its fangs into Euni while the latter successfully dodged its attacks by jumping to higher branches.

Once she reached the highest branch, she turned towards the snake and started to play a soft gentle yet high-frequency tune. Miraculously, the snake's movements decreased by little as it kept staring at her. While playing the flute, she threw a talisman trying to stop its movements. The snake moved a little back but it didn't attack her. Instead, it kept looking at Euni while moving it's hood slowly.

Zhiquiang realized that it was impossible for Euni to control the snake all by herself. So he too flew to the opposite branch where Euni was standing. He moved his hand swiftly and his zither appeared. Euni glanced at him while playing the flute and Zhiquiang nodded, assuring her that she was on the right way. He played a soft tune, matching with Euni's, making the snake cease its movements completely. It stood like a statue while its eyeballs moved continuously, averting from Euni to Zhiquiang and vice versa.

Zhiquiang stopped playing his zither and spread his palm, summoning a sky blue glow. Then he threw it towards the snake. No sooner the blue glow entered the snake, it jerked for a moment. Euni immediately stopped playing her flute and spread her hand, making a green glow appear. As she threw the green glow towards the snake, the snake's movements completely ceased. It stood like a statue but it was still alive.

"Euni, again!" Zhiquiang yelled and the next moment both of them spread both their hands, and huge blue and green sparks appeared on their hands. They directed the sparks at the same time towards the snake. This time a snake froze and turned into small form while a turquoise glowing covering appeared around it.

"Hanguang-Jun, capture it," Euni screamed and pushed the snake
that was covered by the glowing cover, with her powers towards Hanguang-Jun.

Wangji immediately opened a powerful evil spirit capturing pouch and the snake with the glowing cover entered inside it. Once it entered inside, Wangji chanted some spells and the snake was bounded to stay inside.

Zhiquiang sighed and got down from the tree while Euni was still standing there. The seniors looked at her to come down but she stood like a doll on the branch.

"A-Ni, come down." Wei Wuxian screamed.

"Wei gege, I don't know how to climb down," Euni said nervously.

"Just climb down the way you climbed up." Jiang Cheng shouted.

"I cannot." Euni almost cried. "I am afraid."

"Zhang Euni, just jump we will catch you," Jingyi shouted and the others spread their arms so that they could catch her.

"Are you sure that you won't miss catching me?" Euni asked, trying to make sure before jumping.

"Trust your Jingyi, Euni. Now jump." Jingyi yelled.

Euni took a deep breath and closed her eyes before jumping.

THUD

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So...I wanted to tell you that I am planning to write an Indian Historical FF in the English language with a female protagonist as the main lead. Well, I will write the ZhanYi version of it as well. Will you guys like to read it?