Symmetrical now, feeling satisfied?

Before Xu Yao could even utter a word, a resounding slap landed sharply across her face.

Xu Yao was completely stunned.

Clutching her stinging cheek, she had no idea what was happening. But realization dawned upon her almost instantly.

"Jiang Ciyou, how dare you hit me?"

Jiang Ciyou replied with a chilling gaze, "Why, is there an auspicious hour required just to slap you?"

With that, she turned and stepped straight into the tent.

Frenzied, Xu Yao chased after her. Following right behind Jiang Ciyou, she lashed out with a slap of her own.

Yet, it was as if Jiang Ciyou had eyes in the back of her head. Just as Xu Yao’s hand was about to strike, Jiang Ciyou whirled around and intercepted Xu Yao’s suspended arm with a swift counter-grab.

Holding one of Xu Yao’s arms firmly in place, her other hand whipped across Xu Yao’s face with another fierce slap.

A cold smirk played at the corner of her lips. "Symmetric now. Feel better?"

Jiang Ciyou held nothing back. Both strikes were delivered with pinpoint accuracy and brutal force.

Xu Yao’s face swelled up instantly like a steamed bun, bearing two vivid, distinct handprints on either side.

Pressing her hands against her burning face, a flicker of panic flashed through Xu Yao’s eyes. Jiang Ciyou’s movements were fiercely swift, precise, and backed by formidable strength. She realized that if it came down to a physical fight, she was no match for her whatsoever.

"Jiang Ciyou, what gives you the right to hit me?"

Meanwhile, Shen Qingqing hurried into the tent just in time to witness the tail end of the beating. Given that Xu Yao had saved her earlier, she stepped forward out of obligation to intervene. "Sister Jiang, hitting people is wrong."

Seeing she had someone to back her up, Xu Yao clutched her face and burst into tears.

"Jiang Ciyou, are you holding a grudge just because I pulled Qingqing out and left you behind? But under those circumstances, Qingqing was the closest to me, so I only pulled her. Is that really a crime?"

"Teacher Jiang, I know you’re just blaming the two of us for running out first. Since you didn't dare take it out on Qingqing, you're using me as a scapegoat."

No matter what, Xu Yao was determined to drag Shen Qingqing down with her. With Shen Qingqing as her shield, she wouldn't have to fear this violent maniac, Jiang Ciyou.

"Given the situation back then, did you expect me to disregard my own life and fight off a snake with my bare hands just for you? Is your life the only one that matters while ours are worthless? Teacher Jiang, isn't this attitude of yours a bit too selfish?"

Listening to Xu Yao's words, Shen Qingqing flushed with shame. Regardless of the circumstances, they had indeed left Jiang Ciyou behind alone. Since they shared a tent, they should have helped and faced danger together when trouble struck.

Yet, she had acted like a deserter.

Even though it was Xu Yao who had dragged her out, a deserter was still a deserter.

Shen Qingqing walked forward, a look of profound guilt on her face. "Sister, it's our fault. You have every right to be angry with us. We shouldn't have run away like that."

Otherwise, they wouldn't have left Sister Jiang behind to face such a terrifying venomous snake all by herself. Three people were always better than one.

Looking at Shen Qingqing’s innocent expression, Jiang Ciyou let out a soft sigh. "Qingqing, this has nothing to do with you. I hit her not because I blame you two for running first. In that kind of situation, running away was the right thing to do."

"Remember this: at any given moment, your own life is the most important thing. No one has the right to use morality to manipulate you."

Hearing this, Shen Qingqing’s eyes turned red with emotion. "But, Sister Jiang..."

Hearing those words, Xu Yao grew even more furious.

"Jiang Ciyou, so you're just targeting me, aren't you?"

"I actually thought you were some kind of noble, aloof person who feared no power and disdained currying favor with others. Turns out you're nothing special either. Jiang Ciyou, how are you any better than me? If anything, you might even be worse."

"If that's the case, why put on such a righteous, saintly facade for outsiders? You wear two completely different faces for me and for Qingqing. Why are you such a hypocrite?"

Shen Qingqing was momentarily stunned, finding it hard to untangle the web of truth and falsehoods.

Jiang Ciyou let out a cold laugh. "Xu Yao, I didn't hit you because you are two-faced, hypocritical, or fake. I can tolerate your little schemes. I hit you because you harbor malicious intent and are so deeply vicious that you actually tried to get me killed."

Her words left both Shen Qingqing and Xu Yao frozen in place. A distinct trace of guilt flickered across Xu Yao's eyes, though she desperately tried to maintain her composure.

"Jiang Ciyou, I have no idea what you're talking about."

Without wasting any more breath on her, Jiang Ciyou turned, walked over to her inflatable mattress, and flipped it up in one swift motion.

From underneath, she pulled out an object wrapped in banana leaves.

"What is that?"

Panic finally broke through Xu Yao’s defenses. "What is that... how should I know..."

Gathering her courage, Shen Qingqing stepped forward, took the banana leaves from Jiang Ciyou’s hand, and unfolded them.

Nestled inside was a completely intact snake egg.

Of course, she recognized it. It was the exact snake egg Xu Yao had brought back from outside the other day. That day, Xu Yao had returned with a batch of king cobra eggs. Startled by something, she had dropped them on the ground, smashing most of them to pieces, though one or two had remained intact.

At the time, nobody else had touched those eggs; Xu Yao had handled them all herself.

Now, a pristine snake egg, carefully wrapped in banana leaves, was found hidden beneath Jiang Ciyou's bed. There was only one possible explanation.

It was Xu Yao who had placed it there.

The entire sequence of events clicked into place in Shen Qingqing's mind. Stunned beyond words, she stared at Xu Yao in absolute disbelief.

"Teacher Xu, how could you do something like this?"

Xu Yao had actually attempted to murder Jiang Ciyou. Such venomous intentions were simply unimaginable. They were strangers who had only known each other for a few days—how could someone harbor such monstrous malice toward another person?

Still in denial, Xu Yao stammered, "I have no idea how a snake egg got under your bed. What makes you think I put it there? Do you have any proof? Stop framing me with baseless accusations."

Jiang Ciyou chuckled. This Xu Yao rivaled Xia Ling in her shamelessness.

*Smack! Smack! Smack!*

Jiang Ciyou delivered several more rapid slaps across her face.

"Jiang Ciyou! You... have you lost your mind?!"

Raw fear finally surfaced in the depths of Xu Yao's eyes. This Jiang Ciyou was a madwoman; she resorted to violence over a disagreement without giving anyone a chance to defend themselves.

Startled, Shen Qingqing took a step backward.

Cracking her knuckles until the joints popped, Jiang Ciyou rolled her neck from side to side. "It’s been a long time since I stretched my muscles. Xu Yao, congratulations on successfully awakening my competitive spirit."

Before stepping forward, Jiang Ciyou glanced at Shen Qingqing. "Qingqing, what’s about to happen isn't suitable for young viewers. You should step outside."

Shen Qingqing pressed her lips together. Although she opposed violence, Xu Yao was simply too wicked. This time, she had no desire to interfere.

Nodding, Shen Qingqing said, "Sister Jiang, be gentle. Don't hurt your hands."

With that, she cradled the snake egg and hurried out of the tent.

Moments later, the sound of Xu Yao’s piercing screams echoed from inside the tent, followed closely by desperate pleas for mercy.

Outside, Shen Qingqing ran straight into Bo Jinxiu.

Bo Jinxiu had built a campfire between the two tents and was currently sitting on a dead log, feeding fresh branches into the flames.

In truth, he had overheard fragments of the commotion from inside the tent just moments before.