"Ning Beichen, do you know that if I really wanted to put a curse on you, you wouldn't be able to escape no matter how far you ran. Also, your thing entered my body, and my body already contains my witch insects."
"Ah, did you really put insects into my body?"
Ning Beichen was startled.
"Just kidding, I don't raise insects. Do you think witch insects are that cheap? They are treasures passed down from generation to generation by the Holy Maidens. You can't have them even if you want them."
Seeing that Ning Beichen was truly scared, Li Haitang said to him with a smile.
"It's good there are no insects. I didn't expect you, a Holy Maiden, to dare to lie."
Ning Beichen lightly slapped her on the backside.
"Serves you right. Who told you to leave me alone and run off? But don't get happy too soon. I didn't have a chance to act then, but it might be different now."
Li Haitang smiled creepily at Ning Beichen.
"Haitang, what do you mean?"
Ning Beichen suddenly had a bad feeling.
"It means... it's not too late now!"
As Li Haitang finished speaking, her red lips covered Ning Beichen's mouth. Ning Beichen felt something enter his mouth.
"Mmmph..."
Ning Beichen grunted a few times, wanting to spit it out, but his mouth was tightly sealed by Li Haitang. Soon, Ning Beichen felt that thing had entered his stomach.
Only then did Li Haitang release him, her face flushed.
Ning Beichen's first reaction was to try and induce vomiting. He had been so careful, not falling for traps even in Rome, only to be caught here. Who could he cry to?
"Haitang, you're too unethical."
Ning Beichen, on the verge of tears, mumbled incoherently as he stuck his fingers into his mouth.
"Alright, stop trying to vomit. I was just scaring you. That was my tongue."
Li Haitang, bent over with laughter, said.
"Is your tongue that long?"
Ning Beichen looked at her as if he didn't believe her, yelling in his heart.
"I really hate sorcerers, I really hate witchcraft, I really hate witch insects."
"Really, you're scared like this, a grown man."
Li Haitang almost couldn't stop laughing.
"Okay, Li Haitang, I think you need to be disciplined."
Ning Beichen was so angry he gritted his teeth. He walked over, scooped her up in a princess carry, and with a kick of his right foot through the air, he sent the door shut.
Bang!
The force of Ning Beichen's airborne kick slammed the door shut. He then walked towards the bedroom.
"Ning Beichen, Ning Beichen, what are you doing?"
Li Haitang panicked and quickly called out to him.
"Of course, I'm going to... teach you a lesson."
Ning Beichen gave her a mischievous smile.
...
An hour later, Li Haitang lay on Ning Beichen's chest, exhausted, and glared at him.
He was like a bull, and after his rough treatment, she felt like her bones were about to break.
"You never come to see me without a reason. You don't usually look for me. Tell me, why are you here this time?"
Li Haitang asked him weakly.
Ning Beichen told her about his encounter with the witch and asked for her help to deal with her.
"Western sorcerers? They dare to call themselves sorcerers? That's just old stuff our ancestors played with."
Li Haitang said proudly.
"I thought the same thing. Haitang, see, I've traveled so far to find you to deal with her."
Ning Beichen flattered her.
"Alright, I want to see how powerful these Western sorcerers really are."
Li Haitang readily agreed.
"Haitang, you're the best. Mmm, mmm, mmm..."
Ning Beichen flipped over and kissed her passionately.
After Li Haitang struggled for a bit, they began their battle again.
Another hour later, the battle ended. Both of them were almost paralyzed, neither wanting to move.
"Ning Beichen, I can agree to help you deal with that witch, but you have to agree to one thing for me."
Li Haitang traced patterns on Ning Beichen's chest with her finger, her expression hazy and her demeanor lazy.
"As long as it's not marrying you, I'll agree to anything."
Ning Beichen said contentedly, holding her.
"Are you that afraid of marrying me? I'm a Holy Maiden of the Miao ethnic group, and I'm confident I'm not inferior to anyone in beauty. Am I not good enough for you?"
Li Haitang squeezed his thigh hard, making Ning Beichen let out a pained cry.
"Haitang, I didn't mean that. I'm not saying you're not good enough for me, but rather, I'm not good enough for you. I'm a bird with no feet, destined to fly in the sky forever. When I land, my life will end."
Ning Beichen said to Li Haitang with deep affection.
"Ning Beichen, do you think I'm a savage from the mountains? Haven't you watched "Days of Being Wild"? A bird with no feet? Do you want me to cut off your bird right now and send you to the palace to stay for life?"
Li Haitang squeezed him hard again, leaving his thigh bruised.
"No, no, I was just using a metaphor."
Ning Beichen explained, wanting to cry.
"Not flying anymore?"
Li Haitang asked.
"Not flying anymore."
Ning Beichen shook his head like a rattle drum as he felt Li Haitang's hand moving.
He couldn't remember who said it, but never try to reason with a woman in bed. Ning Beichen realized he had made precisely that mistake.
"Look at your thoughts. You just want to live a life of chasing butterflies, afraid of being tied down by me, aren't you?"
Li Haitang saw right through him.
Ning Beichen nodded, nodded, and nodded again.
Let alone spending his life in these mountains, he couldn't even stand being here for three days.
"Alright, you want to marry me, but I don't want to marry you. Our Miao ethnic group's Holy Maidens are not allowed to marry for life."
Li Haitang told him.
Hearing Li Haitang's words, Ning Beichen immediately quieted down. He even lost the mood for joking.
Because he could tell that Li Haitang was not joking. What she said was true.
"Haitang..."
Ning Beichen thought of many things to say, like what era it was now, and that such rules still existed, and he was about to persuade Li Haitang to disregard them.
But before he could speak, Li Haitang stopped him.
"Ning Beichen, don't say anything more. I know what you want to say. I am not pitiful, nor do I feel sorry for myself, so you don't need to pity me either. This is the inheritance of our lineage of Holy Maidens, and I chose it willingly. No one forced me."
"Haitang, doesn't that mean you'll have to stay in this place forever? Won't that be too much suffering?"
Ning Beichen said to her with heartache.