Suddenly, a terrifying roar echoed from the cave, followed by a large black bear charging out.
Ning Beichen immediately stepped in front of Li Haitang, a simple bronze dagger appearing in his hand, his expression tense.
Such a black bear was no joke; a single swipe of its paw could shatter stones.
"Don't be afraid, this is our Miao tribe's sacred animal. You are with me, so it won't harm you," Li Haitang told Ning Beichen. She then took out a leaf and blew a certain sound. The bear immediately became docile, walked over to Li Haitang, and rubbed its head against her.
Li Haitang stroked its head, then pointed to the offerings. The black bear happily began to eat.
"Let's go, we're going in," Li Haitang said to Ning Beichen.
Ning Beichen looked back at the bear with lingering fear and followed Li Haitang into the cave.
"Haitang, why do I feel like you treat that bear better than me? I eat sticky rice with pickles, but it gets to eat big fish and meat," Ning Beichen grumbled.
"You're so old, and you're jealous of a bear? How about you stay here and guard the cave, and I'll bring you food every six months?" Li Haitang retorted with a roll of her eyes.
"No, no, actually, I think sticky rice with pickles is quite good," Ning Beichen quickly shook his head.
It was a joke; he'd rather die than be left alone to guard this cave.
Inside, Ning Beichen found many stone statues arranged in the cave. They appeared to have been there for a very long time, at least over a hundred years.
"Haitang, where is this place?" Ning Beichen asked curiously.
"This is the ancestral shrine of the Miao Gu, and also the place of inheritance for the Miao Gu," Li Haitang replied.
"You want to come in and receive the Miao Gu's inheritance?" Ning Beichen, being quick-witted, asked.
"That's right, I'm here to receive the inheritance," Li Haitang admitted.
"Is the inheritance process dangerous?" Ning Beichen recalled her earlier words.
"The danger doesn't come from the outside, but from within. I'm not entirely sure myself, I only heard from the previous Holy Maiden. When receiving the inheritance, some dangerous and mysterious things will appear. At that time, I will lose consciousness. It will be up to you then to prevent those things from getting close to me," Li Haitang explained to Ning Beichen.
"Mysterious things? Can I handle them?"
As Li Haitang's life was on the line, Ning Beichen dared not be careless. He felt it was better to clarify things. He didn't want to get hurt, and even less did he want Li Haitang to be in danger.
"Take this. If anything approaches me, use this to attack it," Li Haitang handed Ning Beichen a peculiar wooden knife, about the size of a palm, and taught him how to use it.
"Ning Beichen, this is my first time receiving the inheritance, so I don't know what the consequences will be or how dangerous it might be. You carry my aura, so besides me, you will also be a target for those things."
"If... I mean, if you're not willing, I won't force you," Li Haitang said very seriously to Ning Beichen.
"What yours and mine? Mine is yours, and yours is mine. Don't ask if I'm willing. As long as you don't ask me to marry you, I'm willing to do anything. Haitang, I won't let anything happen to you," Ning Beichen held her hand, looking into her eyes, and answered earnestly.
This was his true feeling.
"Ning Beichen, I know you care about me, but... if things truly become impossible, I don't want you to die here with me. Promise me, if something happens to me, you must survive and leave," Li Haitang leaned against Ning Beichen's chest, moved.
"Don't worry, I'm a timid person who fears trouble and won't go to my death," Ning Beichen said with a verbal promise, to ease her worries.
However, in his heart, he thought that if Haitang were truly in danger and he couldn't handle it, he would immediately drag Li Haitang and flee.
Abandoning Li Haitang to escape on his own was something Ning Beichen could never do.
After Li Haitang finished her instructions, she continued walking further into the cave.
Although the cave didn't appear large from the outside, it was a world unto itself. After walking through a long, narrow passage resembling a sky-slit, they arrived in a more open area.
It looked like a temple, dark and dim inside, with terrifying statues all around. If he had been alone, he would have felt uneasy.
Li Haitang took out an oil lamp from her backpack and lit the surrounding lamps, illuminating the interior.
With the light, Ning Beichen saw that the ground was shaped like a giant human face, not drawn or carved, but giving the impression of a real face, which made Ning Beichen's hair stand on end.
Whether it was Western or Eastern sorcery, it was something beyond ordinary understanding.
"Ning Beichen, I'm about to begin. Be ready," Li Haitang said to Ning Beichen.
"Okay, I will protect you," Ning Beichen held the wooden knife in his hand, his aura shifting, transforming from a lazy man to a confident and reassuring one.
Li Haitang, in front of Ning Beichen, removed all her Miao clothing.
This was probably why she had brought Ning Beichen here; she wouldn't have felt comfortable undressing in front of anyone else.
Next, Ning Beichen watched as Li Haitang, barefoot, swayed the silver bracelets on her wrists, producing rhythmic sounds. She began a mystical dance on the face-shaped ground.
Watching Li Haitang's graceful dance, Ning Beichen's eyes nearly bulged out. If they hadn't fought all night yesterday, he might have started bleeding from his nose by now.
Because...
The scene was too stimulating!
This was a witch dance.
It was a dance performed by ancient Miao witches when sacrificing to the four directions of heaven.
The dance conveyed many meanings, including prayers for a bountiful harvest, and also for drought or rain.
Li Haitang moved with her toes barely touching the ground, performing strange movements, then prostrating herself on the ground, worshipping the spirits of the four directions.
With the flickering firelight, Li Haitang appeared both mysterious and beautiful, making Ning Beichen incapable of any impure thoughts towards her body.
The dance lasted for about half an hour before Li Haitang sat down, her body curled up, and she continuously shook the silver bracelets on her wrists, creating clinking sounds.