C4 Good and Evil.

Bai Mang was deep in hibernation, slumbering peacefully with the expectation of sleeping straight through the winter, only to awaken with the arrival of spring next year.

But, as it turned out, an unexpected disturbance had occurred.

Two intruders had inexplicably entered her hibernation cave and had the audacity to start a fire. The warmth from the flames caused the cave's temperature to rise, rudely rousing Bai Mang from her deep sleep.

Irritated by the disruption, Bai Mang couldn't help but think, "Do they really take me for someone with endless patience?"

She might have overlooked their presence if they were simply seeking refuge from the harsh winter, but their actions had crossed a line by interrupting her hibernation—a line she was not willing to ignore.

As Bai Mang flicked her tongue, she overheard a young girl nearby offering a bow and expressing gratitude, "Thank you, esteemed and unknown ancestor."

A smirk formed in Bai Mang's mind.

She anticipated the girl would be terrified at the sight of her.

With a swift motion, Bai Mang's jade-white head emerged before the girl and the elder, her tongue flickering, exuding an intimidating presence.

The girl, Xuan'er, was startled; her initial excitement replaced by fear as she collapsed to the ground. Confronted with such a formidable creature, she was utterly petrified.

Yet, she bit back her fear, refusing to cry out.

Her father had taught her never to scream in the face of danger, as it would only provoke the adversary unless help was at hand.

Her master bravely shielded Xuan'er, reassuring her, "Don't be afraid, Xuan'er. I'm right here with you."

The elder, with gritted teeth, faced the imposing creature. The sheer force of its presence caused him to tremble, but with Xuan'er depending on him, he dared not show his fear.

He was frustrated with himself for feeling relieved earlier that they hadn't encountered any large beasts, only to end up in the lair of one and inadvertently awaken it from its slumber.

Their luck had turned sour indeed.

It was a stroke of fortune that the serpent hadn't attacked them outright; otherwise, they might have already met their demise.

He was acutely aware that he was no match for the serpent before him. Their only hope was to appease the creature and seek an opportunity to flee.

Otherwise, neither he nor Xuan'er would make it out alive.

"O Snake Immortal, we mean no offense. We merely sought shelter from the storm and had no idea of your presence. We intended no disturbance. We will depart posthaste," the elder implored cautiously, uncertain if the serpent could comprehend his words but hoping to pacify her nonetheless.

As he spoke, he edged backward, inching closer to the cave entrance.

Xuan'er clung to his leg, shaking. The serpent's oppressive aura was enough to unnerve the elder, and all the more so for the young Xuan'er.

That the little girl had not succumbed to tears was a testament to her resilience.

Upon hearing their plea, Bai Mang scoffed inwardly, "You think you can simply leave after waking me? It's not that simple."

With a flick of her tail, Bai Mang blocked the cave's exit.

The elder's heart skipped a beat. He realized, "This White Snake must possess Spiritual Intelligence. If I can reason with her, perhaps we can negotiate our departure."

Blocking the entrance to trap the pair inside was not the behavior of a typical wild animal.

Clearly, the White Snake seemed to understand their words.

The old man was filled with both joy and trepidation.

A Demonic Beast capable of comprehending human speech must be of a high realm, far beyond the capabilities of a cultivator at his level to handle.

Bai Mang flicked her tongue, eyeing the elder intently. She had caught a scent earlier—a fragrance emanating from something he carried, specifically from the bundle in his possession.

"What valuable item could this old man be carrying?" Bai Mang mused, "Should I take it from him?"

Yet, to do so would be to commit a misdeed.

Still, the system had never stipulated she couldn't perform such acts. Besides, they had disturbed her slumber first. She had already shown restraint by not taking their lives.

Requesting some form of compensation from them wouldn't be unreasonable.

As the elder contemplated his next words, Bai Mang's tail reached out swiftly and removed his bundle. The man, in a panic, attempted to retrieve it but was halted by Bai Mang's intimidating gaze.

"Snake Immortal, this medicine is vital for my disciple's survival. You mustn't take it! It's the key ingredient for a pill I need to craft to save my disciple. Without it, my disciple is surely doomed."

He had intended to deceive her, but in the end, he chose honesty. Lying would only ensure the loss of the medicine and place them in peril.

He hoped that the formidable White Snake before him possessed enough spiritual intelligence and a moral compass akin to that of humans to return the medicine to him.

The stakes were high—it was a matter of life and death for his disciple. Despite the slim chances, he had to try.

Xuan'er clung to her master, staying silent.

The elder bowed to Bai Mang, pleading, "Lord Snake Immortal, I implore you to give back the medicine. In exchange, I offer you a cultivation blessing, drawing upon my family's fortune to aid your practice. My lineage may have dwindled, and I am the last of my kin, but I am prepared to pay this price."

His offer was laid bare, his sincerity palpable, as he stood on the brink of kneeling.

Bai Mang, lacking eyebrows, couldn't express her irritation with a frown. Her tail swished in annoyance at the disturbance, and she held onto the bundle a moment longer.

She was familiar with the concept of a cultivation blessing but had little interest in such shortcuts. Moreover, with the elder being the last of his line, his offer to bestow a blessing would not impact his family's fortunes—only his own.

"Should I return the medicine to him?" Bai Mang's heart softened, moved by compassion for the young girl.

Her principles remained, despite the erosion of her past life's morality.

The elder's words rang true, and Bai Mang could see he was not lying.

Yet, the medicine was aged and potent. Consuming it would grant her immense energy, saving her years of cultivation.

With that, Bai Mang was lost in contemplation.

Finally, Bai Mang posed a question to the system, "If I give back the medicinal herbs, how many merit points will I earn?"

The system remained silent, seemingly incapable of responding to Bai Mang's inquiry.

Undeterred, Bai Mang pressed on, "What sickness afflicts the little girl? What kind of medicinal pill does she require?"

She hoped to directly obtain the pill for the girl, allowing her to take the herbs with a clear conscience.

Yet, the system offered no reply.

Clearly, her plan was not feasible.

She was left with only one decision to make.

After a moment's hesitation, Bai Mang flicked her tongue. She handed the bundle back to the elder, snuffed out the flame with a flick of her tail, plunging the cave back into darkness, and then she slithered back to her hibernation spot.

"Here is the medicine that can save the young girl. I will leave it be."