Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Gu Mengmeng gave a sly smile and leaned her body slightly forward. Looking at Ellie as if she was looking at an idiot, she said, “Do you assume that I can’t differentiate the unique mark used by messengers?”

Ellie bit her lower lip and with a ghastly pale face, she stared intently into Gu Mengmeng’s eyes and said, “Although this is my counterfeit copy, the information written on it will definitely not be wrong. I drew it exactly the same, if you don’t believe….don’t believe, you can go to the Snake King valley and compare it to the original one from the Snake King.”

Gu Mengmeng chuckled and said, “If you, a native born in the Snake King valley, can’t even find the way back, how can I, an outsider, find the place? And moreover, if I acquire the original version from the Snake King, why would I still need this counterfeit copy of yours?”

Ellie was shocked beyond words and she said, looking as if she was finally flustered, “Then… you’re not willing to let me return to Saint Nazaire?”

Gu Mengmeng shook her head and said, “That’s not it too. Although it’s a counterfeit copy, the information on it should be real. Since I’ve gotten the information, I’ll be faithful in my words and let you return to Saint Nazaire. But you’ve to remember, although the information on this piece of scale is real, it has no value to me. I’m letting you return just purely because of the nine partners you’ve from Saint Nazaire. If any of them are injured one day… both Saint Nazaire and I will not let you off.”

Ellie understood that Gu Mengmeng was not allowing her to treat any of the nine of them as storage food during winter.

Clenching her fists, Ellie eventually still nodded her head in utmost respect and said, “Alright, I understand. Thank you mighty messenger for your benevolence.”

Gu Mengmeng shook her hand and said, “Alright, let’s continue our journey.”

Elvis and Lea exchanged gazes with each other. Both of them had an unspoken common consensus to not ask Gu Mengmeng what was written on that piece of scale.

Until that night, the mass mating sound rose one after another to the extent that Gu Mengmeng could not stand it anymore. She asked Elvis and Lea to bring her out and lie low until it was all over. Auretin wanted to follow them but was rejected by Lea. After all, Auretin was not a member of Gu Mengmeng’s family and he had not gotten complete trust from them yet.

“Elvis and I will protect Mengmeng, you stay behind to control the situation. After all, since we’re not present, it’ll be easier for some people to exploit the situation.” Lea said as he pointed at Ellie who was standing at the side of the female crowd and added, “We’ve got to guard against those betrayers who returned.”

Auretin nodded, implying that he understood. Thus, he leaned against a big tree trunk and pretended to take a nap. His entire body, however, was exceptionally on alert towards everything happening in the surroundings, especially Ellie’s movements.

Elvis and Lea brought Gu Mengmeng out to a faraway place and until they ensured that nobody could eavesdrop on them, they then whistled to call Ian out.

Gu Mengmeng took out that piece of snake scale and handed it to Elvis. Elvis frowned in detest and rejected her, “I won’t touch other females’ things, it’s gross.”

Gu Mengmeng then handed the snake scale to Lea but Lea backtracked even more as he said, “I won’t touch it too. Among so many tribes, I hate the snake tribe the most. They’re so scheming and cunning and it’s hard to interact with their strange personalities. Most importantly, they’re ugly-looking.”

Gu Mengmeng sighed and said, “Alright, you two can’t recognize the words on it either.”

Ian said faintly, “Why don’t you let me take a look?”

Gu Mengmeng turned around and look at Ian. His thin and frail body looked like it would get blown away by the wind anytime. A tinge of hatred was written on his sickly face, resembling Lin Daiyu by quite a fair bit.