Chapter 288: Daily Teasing of Xiao Bai

Xiao Bai's cheeks turned red like the evening glow in the sky. Her gaze wavered, avoiding direct eye contact with Mu Chen. His bold actions left her with a mix of emotions, yet his heartfelt words brought a faint warmth to her heart.

"Do you always take advantage of people like this?" Xiao Bai lowered her head, her tone laced with a mix of shyness and annoyance.

Mu Chen chuckled, his eyes gleaming with playfulness. "Only with those I like. Otherwise, why waste my efforts?"

"You..." Xiao Bai looked up, her eyes filled with indignation, but the slight curve of her lips betrayed her feelings. She couldn't stay mad at him, especially after what he had just said.

"Xiao Bai," Mu Chen suddenly stopped walking, turning to face her.

"What now?" Xiao Bai asked cautiously, taking a step back as if guarding herself from his antics.

Mu Chen reached into his chest and gently pulled out a small, sleeping snake covered in vibrant, colorful scales. "Is this what feels familiar to you?"

"A snake?" Xiao Bai's eyes widened in surprise, instinctively stepping back further. But then, as she observed the snake, a peculiar sense of familiarity began to well up within her. "Yes, its aura does feel familiar. But... why would I feel connected to a snake?"

"Could it be..." Mu Chen leaned closer, lowering his voice with a teasing grin, "that you are a snake demon?"

"A snake demon?" Xiao Bai's triangular pupils dilated slightly. She glared at Mu Chen, a mix of disbelief and annoyance flashing across her face. "Do I look like a snake demon to you?"

Mu Chen laughed heartily. "You look like a beautiful young lady to me, but appearances can be deceiving. Perhaps deep inside, you truly are a snake demon?"

Xiao Bai rolled her eyes but couldn't help the nagging sense of truth behind his words. She reached out hesitantly, her fingers grazing the vibrant scales of the colorful snake. The snake, still drowsy from its meal, didn't react aggressively but instead nuzzled against her touch.

The sensation of the snake's scales under her fingertips stirred something deep within her. Memories, fragmented and hazy, began to surface, though nothing concrete formed in her mind. "Could I really be...?" she murmured to herself, her voice barely audible.

"If you were a snake demon, would it matter?" Mu Chen's voice interrupted her thoughts. His tone was calm and unwavering, his gaze fixed intently on her.

"Wouldn't you be afraid?" Xiao Bai asked, her voice trembling with uncertainty.

"Afraid?" Mu Chen let out a scoff. "I've faced gods and demons alike. Do you think a mere snake demon would scare me? Besides, who cares about what you are on the outside? What matters is your heart."

"My heart?" Xiao Bai looked at him, her confusion evident.

"Yes," Mu Chen replied firmly. "A person's worth isn't determined by their appearance or origin, but by the goodness in their heart. Even if you were a snake demon, as long as you have a kind heart, nothing else matters."

Xiao Bai's lips parted slightly as if to speak, but no words came out. Her gaze softened as she stared at Mu Chen. His words resonated deeply with her, soothing the turmoil in her heart.

"Thank you, Mu Chen," she said softly, her voice filled with gratitude.

"For what?" Mu Chen asked with a smirk. "I haven't done anything worth thanking me for."

Xiao Bai shook her head. "If not for you, I might still be lying unconscious by that pool. You've saved my life. That alone is worth my gratitude."

"Oh, is that all?" Mu Chen feigned disappointment. "I thought you were about to say something more heartfelt, like how you'd repay me with your life."

"My life?" Xiao Bai blinked in surprise.

"Yes, as in becoming my wife. Isn't that how it goes in all the old tales? A damsel in distress is saved by a dashing hero, and to repay her savior, she marries him." Mu Chen grinned mischievously.

"Absolutely not!" Xiao Bai's immediate rejection came with a fiery blush spreading across her cheeks. "How shameless can you be?"

Mu Chen sighed dramatically, clutching his chest as if he had been struck. "Ah, it seems my face is truly hideous in your eyes. Otherwise, how could you reject me so swiftly?"

Xiao Bai burst into laughter, her initial annoyance melting away under the weight of his ridiculous antics. For a moment, she forgot her troubles, her melodious laughter filling the quiet forest.

As they walked down the winding mountain path, Mu Chen turned to her suddenly. "Xiao Bai, can I ask you something?"

"What is it?" Xiao Bai tilted her head curiously.

"When I asked you to choose earlier, why did you decide to follow me instead of that other guy?" Mu Chen asked, his tone serious for once.

Xiao Bai hesitated, her expression thoughtful. "It's... hard to explain. When I saw you, I felt a sense of familiarity, like I've known you for a long time. That feeling... it made me trust you."

"Familiarity?" Mu Chen echoed, his eyes narrowing slightly. His thoughts drifted to the colorful snake now coiled comfortably around his wrist. "Could it be because of her?" he wondered silently.

Before he could voice his thoughts, a sudden rustling in the bushes nearby caught their attention. A dark shadow shot toward them with alarming speed.

Without hesitation, Xiao Bai raised her hand. A burst of energy surged forth, striking the shadow mid-air and sending it crashing to the ground.

Mu Chen glanced at the fallen figure—a brightly colored, venomous snake. The creature hissed weakly before slithering away into the underbrush.

"That power..." Xiao Bai stared at her hand in disbelief. "How did I...?"

"It seems you're starting to awaken," Mu Chen said with a knowing smile. "Whether you're a snake demon or not, it doesn't change who you are inside."

"But..." Xiao Bai hesitated.

"Look at it this way," Mu Chen interrupted, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Even humans can be more monstrous than demons. As long as you stay true to yourself, it doesn't matter what you are."

Xiao Bai stared at him, her heart inexplicably lighter. Thou

gh his words were simple, they carried a profound truth that she couldn't ignore.