Chapter 2, Self-Sword

Er Sheng no longer persuaded, but caught the blue worm and "slurped" it into his mouth, chewing while mumbling indistinctly: "When you are hungry, I will catch some more and bring them to you, these are mine now"

Under the same azure sky, Ersheng finally ran out of the forest behind the village. By the roadside, the two children from the Liu family at the village entrance were playing. She gasped for breath and shouted: "Snotty Liu brothers! Come here quickly!"

"Have you seen the snake demon! Hey!" Ersheng exclaimed in anger, "These two little snot-nosed kids! I'm not even going to hit you, why are you running away!" Suddenly, she remembered something and patted her head, saying, "Right! I also need to run quickly, further away from the woods, so that the snake demon won't see me and be the first to eat me."

He glanced at the giant tree above him, its leaves swirling and falling, and then looked at the distant azure sky. A flicker of excitement could not help but rise in the calm depths of his black eyes

It will surely make the married women in the village seethe with resentment, while the unmarried girls will be consumed with jealousy, their eyes turning purple and veins bulging.

Er Sheng nodded, then suddenly pounced in front of him, smiling brightly: "What is the beautiful one's name?"

Looking at the girl's earnest eyes, Chang Yuan suddenly felt an impulse to sigh: "I will not marry."

In fact, the man was indeed still there. His injuries were so severe that he not only lost his divine power but also found it extremely difficult to rise and walk. Just as he was closing his eyes to rest and regulate his internal energy, he suddenly heard a voice in the distance growing louder as it gradually approached him. He opened his eyes to see that the figure rushing over from the sea of flowers, stepping unevenly, was none other than Ersheng.

He shook his head: "I am not hungry, there is no need to eat"

After a while, the person hoarsely asked, "Si Ming?"

Er Sheng shot him a sidelong glance, chewing on the pig bone worm in his mouth, while he picked up a smaller pupu worm and stuffed it into Chang Yuan's mouth. Before he could react, Er Sheng had covered Chang Yuan's mouth and said domineeringly: "Chew."

Chang Yuan, having sustained serious injuries that have yet to heal, is unable to leave even if he wishes to do so

Simi, the world outside is indeed as beautiful as you have described

I am Ersheng. Never mind, let's not talk about that for now, take a look at this!" Ersheng pointed to the object in his hand and said, "The black one is a pig bone worm, a large insect that grows on pig bone trees, and it is quite delicious. This red one is a pufu worm, which lives in the soil and makes a popping sound when it digs its nest; it has a chewy texture. And this blue one is my favorite to eat because it grows under the leaves, so it is very clean and can be eaten raw without washing; it is crunchy when chewed. However, no one has ever told me its name, so I call it the crackling crispy worm." This red one is a pufu worm, which lives in the soil and makes a popping sound when it digs its nest; it has a chewy texture. And this blue one is my favorite to eat because it grows under the leaves, so it is very clean and can be eaten raw without washing; it is crunchy when chewed. However, no one has ever told me its name, so I call it the crackling crispy worm.

She lay down to fasten her belt, wiped her tears twice, and cursed: "Damn you! My name is Ersheng! Damn it! In this day and age, saving someone still gets you your pants pulled down; I will never be a good person again"

All are ... ... insects

Er Sheng saw him, snatched the quilt, and ran away. Zhu's second son blocked the door, lifting Er Sheng as if he were a small chick, reeking of alcohol, and said, "Stealing from my family?" After saying this, he began to beat Er Sheng mercilessly. Zhu's wife was terrified, fearing that someone might be killed, and called for family members to come out and persuade him, which eventually stopped Zhu's second son.

It was just now, but it is not now

After pondering like this, Ersheng could no longer sit still. She stood up and ran into the woods, her mind filled with the thought of marriage. A snake demon? A snake demon cannot compete with her for a man.

"You have already consumed my food, which means you are half mine now." Er Sheng patted Chang Yuan's shoulder, "Logically, you should come home with me, but given your serious injuries, you cannot walk, and I probably lack the strength to drag you back. So, once you recover and are able to walk, let us return together to hold a wedding and have children."

Er Sheng pulled out a poorly crafted short sword from his sleeve and handed it to Chang Yuan, saying solemnly: "This is a self-recommendation." It was indeed a self-recommendation... Chang Yuan remained silent and did not dare to take the sword. Er Sheng continued to persuade, "This is a family heirloom passed down from my ancestors. I willingly offer this sword, um... what was it again, oh yes, to form a family with you and raise a bunch of little kids together"

Er Sheng looked at him with a puzzled expression: "What does it mean?"

Unequal in length, Yuan nodded, and Ersheng had already pounced: "Husband, husband! I knew I wasn't mistaken about you!"

Long Abyss

Chang Yuan shook his head, unsure of how to explain to her the selection criteria for dragons. A body resembling a snake, covered in scales, with two horns on its head that resemble those of a deer? She might not meet any of these standards.

The village remained as tranquil as ever. Everything seen in the forest seemed to be an illusion created by her.

Er Sheng had no idea what he was thinking. Suddenly, standing ten steps away from him, he asked with a serious expression: "Were you trying to kill me just now? Are you trying to kill me now?"

Chang Yuan slowly shifted his gaze to Er Sheng's face: "Do you like eating these?" In his impression, the things that Si Ming liked to eat seemed to be completely different from these.

Er Sheng pouted and said: "Here, I give you one."

He touched the wound on his chest, his expression slightly changed. The severe injury had caused him to lose all his divine power, but he managed to escape from that place.

You ...? ... what do you understand? Before Changyuan could ask, Ersheng turned and ran towards the village, leaving only a shout in the wind: "Wait for me! I will come back tomorrow!"

Er Sheng thought: He was covered in blood, and he must have sustained serious injuries. Even if he wanted to leave, he wouldn't be able to go far; he would definitely still be lingering in that place.

That person did not expect things to turn out this way, and a hint of surprise crossed his eyes. However, when he noticed the red mark on Ersheng's hip bone, his wariness gradually faded, and his expression slowly softened.

You are injured here and unable to move, with no water to drink and nothing to eat; sooner or later, you will starve to death. I will bring food to sustain your life, and when you recover, I will be your savior, and you will owe me a debt of gratitude. I have already thought it through; you came here all alone, with nothing else on you, and I do not want much more, just your life in return.

Where does Changyuan live? Does he have a wife at home?

Er Sheng waved his hand desperately: "Beauty! Beauty!"

Er Sheng pondered his meaning to himself and said: "So what you mean is that you still don't think highly of me now, right"

Chang Yuan's expression darkened, and with no way to spit it out, he could only chew as instructed. As the initial fishy taste dissipated, a rich and sweet aroma spread from between his lips and teeth. He raised his eyebrows in surprise, and what was even more unexpected was that before he could swallow it, a warm sensation began to rise slowly within his abdomen. It gradually traveled through his limbs and bones, warming his body that had been cold and stiff from his severe injuries.

The person frowned slightly, almost as if murmuring to themselves: "Have you forgotten about being reborn in the mortal realm?"

Does Si Ersheng wish to learn the art of Taoism?

Er Sheng did not utter a word, shouldering the quilt and running away. When she returned home to pack her things and intended to find Chang Yuan, her head was spinning uncontrollably. The quilt she held was soft and warm, and she was reluctant to let it go, so she dozed off on the bed for a while, only to find that she had slept straight through to early morning. It was only then that she hurriedly rushed over.

Er Sheng became increasingly excited as she recalled that the man had also seen her bare bottom. According to the customs, it was only proper for her to marry him.

Er Sheng's eyes brightened as she continued to ponder: She had no parents, no dowry, and the men in the village did not want her. Her lifelong affairs still depended on her own relentless efforts. Just at this moment, a stranger had stumbled into her path; this man was unaware of the local customs. She could easily deceive him, and once they were married and had children, he would have no way to escape even if he wanted to.

Chang Yuan looked at her and asked, "What do you intend to do?"

"I was raised on these. Don't be fooled by their appearance; they are a different kind of exquisite delicacy once they are in your mouth!" Ersheng pushed the insect in his hand towards Changyuan, staring at him with wide eyes, "Give it a try."

She believes that person is more handsome than all the men in the village combined. He should also be better than all the men in the village combined. If such a person could accompany her every day, if she could marry such a person, if she could wander around the entire village with him.

The man did not pursue her. He leaned against the tree roots, his gaze following her increasingly distant figure, and suddenly sighed: "How could I have developed such a temperament, it is truly... too strikingly similar."

Chang Yuan fell silent for a moment and rephrased it simply: "A method that will never lose when fighting with an ordinary person"

The mist swirled through the forest, making the giant velvet flowers and trees appear even more like a realm of immortals. Chang Yuan was meditating with his eyes closed when he suddenly heard hurried footsteps approaching him. He slightly opened his eyes and thought to himself that the current Si Ming was straightforward as ever, yet had become considerably more reckless than before

Changyuan, I hope you weren't too cold last night

In fact, the bruises on Ersheng's face, which are a mix of green and red, were inflicted by the neighbor, Zhu Laoer.

Er Sheng usually lives a somewhat self-sufficient life

Food

Chang Yuan was taken aback, not expecting her to arrive at such a conclusion. However, he privately pondered for a moment, believing that Er Sheng could never meet the dragon's requirements. He then nodded and said: "It can be said this way"

Er Sheng was furious; not only did this person pull down someone’s pants, but after doing so, he even called out a completely nonsensical name. Such behavior is akin to slapping you and then claiming it was a mistake in identifying the person.

Not giving Changyuan a chance to speak at all, Ersheng continued, "I was careless yesterday and forgot to bring you a blanket in the evening. Just wait, I will get it for you right now." After saying this, she hurriedly ran off, leaving Changyuan alone in the sea of white flowers with a sigh that went unheard.

Chang Yuan quietly watched Er Sheng eat the insects one by one, the look of enjoyment on his face causing his stomach, which had remained still for tens of thousands of years, to stir slightly

What is that

Because her family members all passed away early, she lived alone like a rough-and-tumble person for many years, relying entirely on herself for food and expenses, stubbornly grinding through life. Therefore, she was not shy like most girls. However, even a boy would cry for a while if his pants were pulled down, let alone Ersheng, who was actually very sensitive at heart

The next day, Ersheng joyfully ran up to him holding a pile of messy items. The smell wafting from them made him feel quite uncomfortable, and he frowned slightly, asking: "What are these?"

Er Sheng's quilt at home was thin, and she feared it would not be sufficient to ward off the chill from the woods, so she went next door to borrow a thick quilt from the Zhu family. The Zhu family's sister-in-law was a simple-hearted girl, soft-hearted, and after a few pleas from Er Sheng, she readily agreed. Just as she was bringing the quilt out of the house, she encountered Zhu's second son, who was drunkenly returning home in broad daylight. This man was a local bully, often running rampant in the village, using his bulk to oppress the weak. Er Sheng had suffered at his hands before.

The ancient memories have become vague; Changyuan only remembers that ancient humans consumed grains and cooked wild beasts, yet he does not know what constitutes normal food for contemporary humans. He simply does not want to eat things that smell so repulsive.

This expected response left Chang Yuan momentarily speechless

Of course, Er Sheng would not tell Chang Yuan about the incident. Chang Yuan did not ask further, but he understood in his heart that she had been bullied by someone else

I will not take a wife ... ...

The two children were young, and on ordinary days, they only heard negative remarks about Ersheng from the adults, so they naturally did not have a good impression of him. The older brother and younger brother exchanged glances and turned to run away.

Why?

After Deng Ersheng covered him with the quilt, Chang Yuan suddenly said: "The spiritual energy here is abundant, even the insects born and nurtured in this environment are healing treasures. You have grown up here since childhood and have fed on these insects, so it is likely that you have accumulated a considerable amount of spiritual power within you. If you practice a little, although you may not master profound spells in a short time, you will certainly be more than capable of protecting yourself in the human realm."

How proud this should be!

Er Sheng's hand, which was covering him with a quilt, slightly stiffened, and she said irritably: "It was snatched by a pig."

The man furrowed his brow again, clearly she had just run for her life, yet now she was recklessly running back... Truly a style characteristic of Si Ming

The two of them stared at each other for a long time, and Ersheng took a deep breath: "Alright! I understand!"

Simi... ...

Taking advantage of his distraction, Ersheng stood up and stepped back a little, estimating that he wouldn't be able to catch her for a while. She stuck out her tongue at him, made a very ugly face, and then turned around and ran off without looking back

Er Sheng was not discouraged: "In that case, what must I do for you to take a liking to me?"

At this moment, Ersheng had only two crispy worms left to eat. She glanced at Changyuan and asked, "Do you want some?" As soon as the words left her mouth, she made a move to put both worms into her mouth. However, to her surprise, Changyuan replied, "Yes."

"Unable to find a suitable one," Chang Yuan thought, for he was the only dragon left in this world

She hurriedly pulled up her pants, crawling away with both hands and feet for quite a distance. Turning back with tears in her eyes, she looked at that person with a face full of panic

Chang Yuan looked at her for a long time before shifting his gaze away. The air was silent for a moment, and then Chang Yuan said淡淡道: "What happened to your face?"

Chang Yuan waited until the next morning.

As evening approached and the sun set in the west, Ersheng found it difficult to remain still. The thought of the extraordinarily beautiful person she had seen in the forest stirred her heart with an insatiable longing.

Er Sheng still remembers that when she was very young, her mother told her that a woman is destined to marry, and that marrying a good man is the only way to live a good life for the rest of her days. Er Sheng wholeheartedly agreed with this.

When Changyuan saw Ersheng running towards him through the thin mist, holding a bundle of blankets, he was slightly taken aback. Ersheng, while repeatedly mumbling apologies, draped the blanket over him and carefully tucked it in.

In Ersheng's eyes, brilliance surged as he grasped Changyuan's hand, his gaze fixed intensely upon him: "Can Changyuan teach me?"

This time, Changyuan did not hesitate for a moment to chew the insect into pieces and swallow it. Indeed, a warm current surged within his abdomen, and Changyuan focused his mind and regulated his breath according to the flow of energy within his body. A faint trace of divine power gradually began to condense in his blood. Although it was small, it was enough to bring him great joy; with divine power, healing his wounds was merely a matter of time.

I am Ersheng

Very delicious

However, she sat in her dilapidated wooden house all afternoon without seeing any snake demons emerge from the woods

Chang Yuan stared at the short sword and said, "You are my dear friend, Si Ming"