Chapter 7: Stinky

Behind her came Bingyou’s indifferent voice.

A small, ice-clear medicine flask suddenly flew in front of her.

Inside was a potion personally made by Bingyou.

She glanced at Yi Yao. Yi Yao walked over, signaling her to feed it to the Devourer Serpent.

She did as instructed.

“This is Recovery Water, crafted by the Lord of the Tomb himself. In the Ice Tomb, a single Revival Herb takes a thousand years to grow. Making just one bottle of this potion requires three whole plants.” Yi Yao explained.

If it was so precious, why would Bingyou give it to her to save the Devourer Serpent? Either he was unimaginably wealthy… or perhaps he was simply kind-hearted. She looked at Bingyou again, her gaze carrying a hint of complexity.

But with his cold, distant demeanor and sharp, commanding aura, kindness hardly seemed to match him.

“Is your Lord of the Tomb absurdly rich? Like, incredibly wealthy?” she whispered to Yi Yao.

“Hm?” Yi Yao froze, stunned that anyone would ask such a strange question.

After drinking the Recovery Water, the Devourer Serpent’s charred body was restored as if it had never been burned. In its smaller form, it looked rather cute and harmless, lacking the oppressive presence of a massive beast.

Mu Shuiqi poked its forehead with her finger. “So, you’re alive again? Wake up!”

Its whole body shuddered. After taking a deep breath, it slowly opened its eyes. Golden pupils swirled with light, and its long lashes fluttered as it blinked.

“Lord, the Recovery Water truly lives up to its name—its spiritual energy has returned.” Yi Yao smiled as he reported to Bingyou.

It was Yi Yao’s first time seeing the Lord of the Tomb use Recovery Water for someone else.

“This Recovery Water is that powerful? Can it bring the dead back to life?” she asked Yi Yao.

Yi Yao replied, “It can’t resurrect the dead, but it can restore vitality to those on the brink.”

“So the Devourer Serpent wasn’t actually dead just now?”

“That’s right. It was hanging on by a single breath.”

The serpent flew around in the air, feeling its body brimming with clean, pure energy.

“Thank you, Lord of the Tomb, for saving me. And thank you, young lady, for sparing me.” Its voice no longer boomed with dominance but instead sounded soft and childlike, like that of a toddler.

She chuckled. “So you’re actually pretty cute when you’re small. Still want to eat me? Now that you’re tiny, I could snap your tail in seconds!”

“I won’t! I won’t! I was blind and foolish to offend you, young lady.” The serpent blinked its large, round golden eyes pitifully.

“You said if I saved you, you’d serve me loyally.” She casually reminded it.

In truth, she didn’t need a servant. She was just a college student who spent her days going to classes—what use would she have for a monster?

The serpent nodded, then flew toward Bingyou.

“Lord, may I serve as your bonded beast?”

After all, it was Bingyou who had saved its life.

It knew full well it wasn’t worthy of being Bingyou’s bonded beast, but it still couldn’t help but ask.

Bingyou didn’t even glance at it. Instead, his gaze shifted toward Mu Shuiqi. “I don’t need a bonded beast.”

The serpent understood his meaning. Bowing respectfully, it flew toward Mu Shuiqi.

Mu Shuiqi didn’t know what it intended, so she quickly ducked behind Yi Yao, peeking out nervously.

Seeing her fearful behavior, Yi Yao teased, “What are you afraid of? Didn’t you just say you could snap its tail in seconds?”

She laughed awkwardly, straightening her back.

“Master,” the serpent said, “I am about to become your bonded beast. We need to perform a small ritual to complete the bond.”

“What nonsense?” She didn’t understand a word. “You—”

Before she could finish, the serpent darted toward her, sinking its fangs lightly into her forehead.

She didn’t even have time to react. All she felt was a warm force flowing into her head, then spreading through her limbs and body.

Just as she was about to grab the serpent and beat it, the ritual ended. The serpent released her, circling her three times.

“The ritual is complete. From this moment onward, I am your bonded beast.” The serpent lowered its head in reverence, as if worshiping her. “Master, please grant me a name.”

She froze, touching the spot on her forehead where it had bitten—surprisingly, there was no wound.

“Give it a name. From now on, it will be your beast companion.” Bingyou said indifferently.