"Isn't it good to return it to its rightful owner?" Nuwa smiled, a half-smile playing on her lips. She casually pointed at the mugwort, and she felt the pendant around her neck fly away—pulling her away with it.

She flew quite a distance, crashing through a pile of rocks and clods of earth.

Ai Cao sat there, covered in dust and panting heavily.

The gap between her and Nuwa was too great. So great that if Nuwa had the will to kill her, she would have no ability to resist at all.

If Nuwa hadn't spared her life, she would probably be dead by now.

A flash of white light.

A woman in a white dress, wielding a long sword, suddenly appeared beside Ai Cao. A long white strip of cloth, seemingly just removed, hung around her neck.

Nuwa raised an eyebrow.

She let out a soft breath, and the women who had stayed there all fell asleep again.

The woman shouted angrily, "What are you doing? Are you crazy?!"

"I'm not sick," Nuwa said with a smile. "I'm still missing one five-colored stone to mend the sky. Would you be willing to fill it in?"

"I'm not a five-colored stone!" the woman shouted. "I'm from the West, and you're from the East! Our cultures are completely different. Where did you get the idea that I'm a five-colored stone!"

“But I feel you’re different,” Nuwa said with a smile. “You’re especially like my lost five-colored stone.”

"..." The woman was silent for a moment. She turned to Ai Cao and asked, "Can you still stand up?"

The mugwort nodded.

She only bumped into some rocks and clods of dirt. With her clothes and armor on, she didn't even get a scratch.

The woman was quick and pulled her up.

The woman said, "I was asked by little Lillian to protect you—how did you get involved with this big guy?"

Ai Cao glanced subconsciously at the long sword she was holding.

It looks familiar.

The longsword emitted an unpleasant humming sound.

It looks even more familiar now.