One step away.
The last second.
Four.
Thud.
Along with a plume of snow mist erupting in his vision, the figure that was quickly approaching instantly disappeared.
Zhang Shutong heard a muffled groan from the snow pit. The girl's voice was clear and emotionless, but at this moment, it carried a hint of pain.
Zhang Shutong did not approach rashly. Instead, he took a few steps back and waited for the snow mist to dissipate. His eyes were fixed on the top of the snow pit. Qingyi and his friends had dug it deep enough, leaving no room for her to maneuver. At this moment, he couldn't even see the top of Lu Qinglian's head. This kind of snow pit was either one you didn't fall into, or if you did, the loose snow around you would only make you sink deeper the more you struggled.
But this was just theory.
Zhang Shutong counted a few seconds in his heart until there was no sound from the snow pit before he cautiously approached.
Looking down, he happened to see Lu Qinglian lift her beautiful face. There were no emotions in her peach blossom-like eyes, or rather, all emotions had frozen. She was just staring at him intently.
The cold and aloof girl from moments ago was now covered in snow on her hair and face. Her long hair was stuck to her face, making her look like a celestial being who had fallen to earth, a sight of utter disarray.
"I'm sorry." Zhang Shutong squatted down and sighed. "Maybe you have a reason, but no matter what, you shouldn't have done anything to Gu Qiumian."
Lu Qinglian frowned at his words.
Then, she spoke.
The woman who was sealed in a black-and-white album eight years later seemed to reappear before him:
"Zhang Shutong. You. Are. Not. Bad."
Lu Qinglian said word by word. Her expression didn't change, but Zhang Shutong felt a deep chill.
"What's the point?" He looked away, unwilling to meet her gaze. "I didn't want this either."
In fact, in the past, when he faced murderers, whether it was Li Yipeng, Zhou Ziheng, or his father, or the arsonist on the commercial street, he never bothered to say anything unnecessary to them.
He had always been a direct person, focusing only on efficiency. Because of this, he often overlooked the feelings of others. It was already impossible to trace when this personality trait had developed, but it was precisely this version of him who now wanted to say a few more words to Lu Qinglian.
It was a feeling of pity.
Because the trigger for his regression was attending her funeral.
And also because even after returning to eight years ago, the first words he had spoken were to Lu Qinglian.
"Anyway, you haven't done anything yet. I can't really do anything to you," Zhang Shutong rambled a bit. "What's the hidden story, the motive, and who else was involved? Why don't you tell me everything now? We can pretend nothing happened. You can continue to go to school, and I won't threaten you."
"Threat?" He saw Lu Qinglian say coldly again. "Is this not a threat?"
"I have no choice."
"How did you guess?" Lu Qinglian just asked.
How did he guess?
Whether it was the poisoned dog or the tattoo, it was all from the last timeline.
It was actually a little sad that he had to lie even about this.
"Answer my questions first." So Zhang Shutong didn't want to explain. He didn't answer her question. Revealing the answer to a mystery was something he used to think was his greatest moment.
It was hard to say he felt any joy. He just wanted to take a deep breath and let out a light sigh of exhaustion.
Lu Qinglian also ignored his words. She blinked uncomfortably, seemingly trying to get rid of the snow on her eyelashes, and quickly analyzed:
"You've been prepared since you saw me get in the car? With the help of your friends?"
"Not that early. It was when I was changing clothes." Zhang Shutong was silent for a while. "You're too hard to control. I have no choice."
"What other preparations are there?"
"None." He spread his hands. "As you can see, it was a hasty preparation. I wasn't even sure if it would succeed."
"Who else knows?"
"Don't worry. I haven't told anyone about my suspicion of you. I just told Qingyi about some unusual things. Of course, the two of us didn't figure anything out." Zhang Shutong held up three fingers. "Except that your fingers are very flexible."
"You know," he continued, "there are too many mysteries about you, but no matter how I ask, you won't say anything. This is the only way I can think of."
"You're the same." The girl's expression did not soften, and the words she spoke were like sharp blades.
"We are still a little different." Zhang Shutong couldn't stand her cold stare. "At least I don't have the intention of harming others."
"Then what is this?"
Zhang Shutong was silent again. To be honest, he was already a little tired.
Interrogating someone in the snow was not an easy job.
"Let's get back to business. I ask, you answer." Zhang Shutong said, "What does the Green Snake Temple, or the green snake, mean? The versions I know say that the green snake represents immortality and is still alive today. Some say that you temple keepers are the descendants of the green snake. I don't know if your fighting skills are related to this... Of course, these versions are not all correct. What is the truth?"
Lu Qinglian remained silent.
Zhang Shutong waited for a while and then asked again:
"Why did you harm Gu Qiumian and take her to the restricted area... that barren land by the lake to the west? Don't ask me how I know. It's your turn to answer me. Also, was it just because her family wanted to tear down your temple? Was there any other reason?
"Oh, and another thing, what is the connection between you and those frozen snakes? Were they transmitting information? Are they venomous? I used to not believe in these things, but it seems there really are some supernatural things out there. Of course, maybe they can be explained by science. If someone can train a dog, it's not impossible to train a snake. It's just that the methods have always been very secretive."
Zhang Shutong said a lot of things in one breath, but Lu Qinglian didn't say a single word. He was getting a bit of a headache now. He had thought the other party would surrender, but who knew she would rather die than give in? And in this situation, there was no way to even call the police.
Lu Qinglian just kept staring at him, giving him the feeling that she had been betrayed. Of course, this might not be what she meant. It could be that his mind was in a mess, and his thoughts were constantly flying around him, tormenting him.
"Don't look at me like that. Do you want some apple?"
Zhang Shutong didn't dare to get his hand too close. What if she grabbed it?
Who knew that Lu Qinglian would finally speak:
"Are there any other questions?"
"Not for now." Zhang Shutong was relieved. If she still didn't say anything, he would have to go look for the rope and shovel Qingyi had left behind. This was for the best. "You pick one and answer it first."
"Is that really all?"
"Yes..."
He didn't finish his sentence before he was stunned.
Although Zhang Shutong hadn't had much interaction with her, it was strange that he could always guess what she meant. Just like at this moment, that strange emphasis made him feel an ominous premonition.
This was not the reaction of someone who was trapped...
This thought just came to his mind;
Then he saw that familiar, playful smile on Lu Qinglian's lips.
Zhang Shutong's hair instantly stood on end.
Oh no!
This is a snake!
Patient and cunning.
He had almost forgotten that he was catching a snake!
That look in her eyes was not one of betrayal at all. She was constantly looking for his weak point!
A fatal blow!
His eyes still couldn't tell what was going to happen, but his subconscious had already reacted for him. Almost a muscle reflex, Zhang Shutong immediately stood up and backed away—
But it was too late!
The girl who was trapped in the snow pit suddenly burst out!
How is this possible...
In a plume of snow mist, he widened his eyes in disbelief. It turned out that Lu Qinglian hadn't fallen in at all!
She had already reacted the moment her foot became loose!
She pushed forward with one leg and bent the other back, using an incredible amount of flexibility to brace herself in the snow pit. She had been maintaining this posture, waiting for this moment!
As soon as she exerted force, she could get out at any time. And now, it was the time for this snake to deliver a fatal blow!
At this point, it was too late for him to run. The wind was sharp in his ears. A leg that was almost a blur was rapidly approaching. He braced his arms in the fastest reaction he could. Even so, he still felt a huge force coming from his chest. Then his body uncontrollably fell backward. His feet stumbled, almost leaving the ground, and he fell directly into the snow.
Snow flew everywhere. He was dizzy. Zhang Shutong vaguely heard the girl's clear voice.
"You are, not bad."
He struggled to prop himself up. His chest was burning with pain. In his sight was the hem of a green robe, covered in snow. Looking up, Lu Qinglian was looking down at him condescendingly.
She walked closer step by step. Her steps were light, but they carried an unparalleled sense of oppression.
"Zhang Shutong." She said expressionlessly, "You have more guts than I thought. I thought you would always be timid, but you actually dug a pit in advance and successfully made me fall into it."
Zhang Shutong opened his mouth, but he couldn't speak anymore. He took a few deep breaths, stopping the churning in his chest. He was breathing heavily and coughing violently. In front of him was a bleak sky. He couldn't see any clouds, just like he couldn't see any opportunity. But at this time, all he could do was keep his mouth shut and regain his strength. He would wait for the next opportunity, if...
It really still existed.
"It seems you still don't understand." Lu Qinglian said indifferently. "I have already warned you. If you don't want to get into an accident, don't pry into my business. Why must you act so smart?"
"Never mind." She lowered her eyes. "There's no point in saying these things anymore. I believe you were prepared for this outcome before you came. You'd better not beg for mercy. That would be very boring."
Zhang Shutong just tried his best to calm his breathing. He was now lying on the snow in a very pathetic posture. Even he himself couldn't tell what his posture was. He only knew that he had tried to sit up a few times but failed.
At the same time, his brain was running at full speed. He knew that Lu Qinglian wouldn't do anything meaningless. Since she wasn't trapped at all, why did she stay in that pit for so long? Was it just to get information out of him?
But she could still do that after kicking him down...
An opportunity.
He was still looking for an opportunity.
Where was it?
Sure enough, Lu Qinglian spoke calmly again:
"You are very smart, but you still think too little. To be precise, your imagination is too limited."
"What... do you... mean..." Zhang Shutong finally squeezed out a sentence through his gritted teeth.
"It means that you have no idea what you're up against.
"You asked me what the green snake means, whether it's a legend or a fact, whether it's immortality or a descendant. I can answer all of your questions one by one. Now, listen carefully."
Her amber eyes flickered with a cold light, radiating a chilling killing intent:
"In fact, you are very close to the correct answer, but what if I told you that all those legends are completely wrong and completely right at the same time?"
What did it mean for them to be completely right and completely wrong...
A cold guess suddenly came to Zhang Shutong's mind, making him shiver. Zhang Shutong had never been so shocked, because this guess had completely exceeded his imagination, even common sense...
"That's right—"
Lu Qinglian held up three fingers, just like she did that day at school. For every word she said, she retracted a finger in a way that was impossible for a normal person to do. Her voice was flat, her words were clear, and they were deafening:
"The, snake, is, me."
"..."
"But you guys gave up on this guess yourselves. I remember someone asking me before." She said thoughtfully, "Why do you act so mature, not at all like a sixteen-year-old peer? I'll tell you together, anyway, dead people keep secrets. What if I said..."
She smiled playfully:
"I'm not sixteen years old as you think. What if I said I'm ten times that number? What if I'm one hundred and sixty years old?"
Zhang Shutong was speechless.
His chest was burning, but at the same time, it was cold. It was like a dream. His breathing stopped for a moment.
One hundred and sixty years old...
The embodiment of a snake...
At this moment, this mysterious girl finally dropped her disguise...
It turned out that she wasn't human at all!
His brain could not digest this information at all, but Lu Qinglian did not give him any room to breathe:
"By the way, there's also Gu Qiumian. You thought you protected her so well? You thought staying in the villa meant you were safe? You thought..."
She paused and then said coldly:
"There were only two frozen snakes? They were really unable to move? Do you remember what I told you in the car?"
Zhang Shutong instantly recalled those words.
At the same time, the girl in front of him said word by word:
"A frozen snake doesn't mean it's dead. It will regain its vitality when the temperature rises, and now..."
She looked up at the bleak sky, as if she had expected it long ago, and said softly:
"It's already morning."
Morning...
Zhang Shutong also remembered the snakes he had seen on the mountain road. Their frozen, dense figures were hidden under the heavy snow, and now...
"You can make a call now."
Zhang Shutong hurriedly took out his phone and dialed Old Song's number. He wanted to wait patiently, but no matter how long he waited, all he heard was a busy signal.
He then dialed Gu Qiumian's number, but it was the same.
He had the worst guess.
Those snakes...
They had probably all entered the villa.
The three of them were surrounded by countless snakes and probably had no time to worry about themselves.
No, this was not the worst outcome, because he was still betting on one possibility. Could he go back to eight years later again? He remembered that the regression at midnight was like this. Zhang Shutong gritted his teeth. So all he could do now was stall. Only by stalling would everyone have a chance to survive. However, this guess was also mercilessly shattered as the woman in front of him slowly spoke:
"In fact, there was one thing you got wrong in those legends you mentioned.
"The secret to immortality is not shedding skin. It's eating people.
"Devouring living people."
She extended her artistic hand with the birthmark and squatted down, gently covering Zhang Shutong's eyes. The woman's voice had no emotion, as if it was commonplace, and it was also like a comfort:
"Close your eyes. For the sake of that cup of hot water, it won't hurt."
It won't hurt...
...
He didn't know how much time had passed. On the boundless snowfield, there was only silence in his ears, and he could only hear the sound of his heart beating violently.
When Zhang Shutong opened his eyes again, the woman in front of him had already stood up and was quietly standing by his side.
He subconsciously felt for any changes in his body, but there were none. Only the pain in his chest reminded him that he was still alive.
He raised his hand, looking at the lines on his palm. They had never been so clear. Zhang Shutong opened his mouth but didn't know what to say.
Devoured... Am I dead already? Or is this a hallucination?
He twisted his face and looked at the woman in front of him, unable to speak. However, at this moment, Lu Qinglian suddenly curled her lips slightly:
"Classmate Zhang Shutong, it's interesting. It seems you also have other expressions."
"...What do you mean?"
He suddenly looked up, his voice a half-beat slower, just asking in a daze.
"It means," Lu Qinglian's smile vanished in an instant, and her tone became calm again, "that all of this was fake."
"...Fake?"
"Yes, I just made it up based on the stories you told me. I should have reminded you about this," she said expressionlessly. "Some of my words are serious, and some are just casual. Don't scrutinize every word I say."
She found a hair tie from her green robe and calmly tied up her hair:
"Your imagination is more vivid than I thought. Or are you boys all this childish? Snakes? Immortality? Shedding skin? What other stories are there? Tell me. I can tell them to people who come to the temple later."
"You..."
Zhang Shutong was about to say something, but he found his hand felt lighter. It turned out that Lu Qinglian had taken the bag of apples. She nonchalantly opened the bag, pinched a piece of fruit, put it into her small mouth, and slowly chewed it. Although her expression was still the same:
"Did I not remind you several times not to doubt me? Although I don't know why you think I'm the murderer, this kind of low-level behavior of digging a pit for someone without saying a word is very bothering to me. I thought that a good explanation wouldn't make you believe me either, so I had to take some measures. Please forgive me."
"...Then what about Gu Qiumian?"
"Her? I don't know. She should be at home right now. By the way, those snakes were also a lie. There were actually no more than ten of them, and most of them are likely to be gone." Lu Qinglian said indifferently again. "Looking at you now, are you trying to ask me why you couldn't get through to them on the phone?"
Zhang Shutong subconsciously nodded.
"Because there's no signal here."
"..."
He stared at the apple-eating girl in front of him in disbelief, confirming again:
"It was all a lie?"
"Yes."
"You're not a snake?"
"Of course."
"One hundred and sixty years old?"
"I'm only sixteen, the same age as you."
"Then what about your fingers?"
"I've specifically trained them."
"Then why were you in my family's car today?"
"I did have something to talk to you about. I would have gone to your house even if I hadn't run into your mom. I didn't expect it to be such a coincidence."
"Then you put your hand on her headrest..."
"Because it was in the countryside, the car was a little bumpy, so I needed to hold on to something."
"Why didn't you hold on to the handle on the ceiling?"
"Handle? The steering wheel?" The girl tilted her head. One side of her cheek was puffed out from the fruit. She looked confused and said, "What is that? I've only ridden in Teacher Song's car. I don't know what you're talking about."
Okay, she didn't even have a bicycle. Maybe she really didn't know what the handle on the ceiling was.
This didn't sound like a lie.
"Why are you so obsessed with these details?"
He was too embarrassed to say that he was worried she would snap his mom's neck.
Zhang Shutong's heart was filled with a mix of emotions.
He lay on the ground in a huff. The back of his head hurt again, and the only thing he could hear was the girl's clear and rhythmic chewing sounds.
Zhang Shutong breathed heavily:
"Since it was all a lie, that kick was really harsh."
"You suddenly tricked me into that pit. My ankle is sprained, so it's probably hard for me to walk. It's an eye for an eye. This is normal." Lu Qinglian's tone returned to its calm state. "And I deliberately held back my strength. You should know what happened to that poacher, or you wouldn't still be able to talk consciously."
He struggled to look up and found that the girl was indeed lightly standing on one leg. From her hair to her clothes, she was covered in snow. She was no better off than he was in terms of her disheveled state.
"I'm sorry." Zhang Shutong felt deeply remorseful.
"I've already let out my frustration. It's fine." She nodded nonchalantly.
"So you were lying to me the whole time?"
"No. Actually, before you suddenly turned and ran, I was prepared to have a serious talk with you."
"Then why didn't you say that in the car?"
"Are you sure you want your mom to know about these things?"
Lu Qinglian said indifferently:
"If you're okay with it, I don't mind. Also, I said before that if you want to be honest, you should show the corresponding attitude. I already asked you on the rooftop yesterday, but you hid things from me at that time.
"You should have just told me all your suspicions then. That would have been better for everyone."
Zhang Shutong's face was a little flushed because of that photo and the three tattoos. His attitude toward Lu Qinglian had always been one of suspicion.
But from her perspective, his suspicion was baseless, like a lunatic with no evidence.
Zhang Shutong even felt that she was already pretty good-tempered.
But then came a deep sense of bewilderment:
Since Lu Qinglian wasn't the murderer.
Then what did those tattoos mean?
Was he completely wrong?
It seemed there was a deep misunderstanding between the two of them, but Zhang Shutong couldn't figure it out at the moment.
"Okay, now it's my turn to ask."
Lu Qinglian picked up another piece of apple. She was eating quite fast and narrowed her peach blossom-like eyes:
"I've been wondering about one thing. Your attitude yesterday was fine. If my understanding of you is correct, why did you suddenly look so scared, even a little triggered, when you saw me today? Did I do anything to you?"
"That's what I want to ask..."
He finally felt his breath evening out. He rolled over on the snow and unsteadily stood up:
"Why did you go to that barren land in the west last night and squat on the shore, and then suddenly run away when you saw me?"
Who knew that when he said this, the chewing sound suddenly stopped.
In his line of sight, he saw the girl named Lu Qinglian frown deeply. Her eyes looked into his with an unusual focus:
"Zhang Shutong, what I'm about to say is serious. I can responsibly tell you now—
"I was never there last night."