The bedroom was so quiet that even the sound of a pin dropping could be heard.

The woman's reflection on the window was like black ink, slowly seeping through the glass into my room.

However, I couldn't see the woman. I could only see her shadow appearing on the walls, even on the ceiling, and finally on the floor.

As the shadow entered the bedroom, the temperature dropped even lower, turning the entire room into a giant freezer. I shivered, feeling as if a layer of frost had covered my body.

I clenched my teeth tightly, trying not to make any sound.

A cold, eerie voice came into my ears, "Yang Cheng, where are you?"

Of course, I dared not answer, pressing my tongue firmly against my teeth.

The woman called my name several times, her voice seductive, as if trying to lure away my soul.

Seeing my lack of response, the woman fell silent.

After a while, an elderly voice suddenly sounded in the room, "Cheng'er..."

Wasn't that Grandpa's voice?

I instinctively wanted to answer, but suddenly, Qingqing grabbed my hand under the covers.

My mouth, which had just opened, shut tight again.

I knew Qingqing was reminding me not to make any noise.

Grandpa kept calling me, "Cheng'er... Cheng'er..."

I bit my lip, still refusing to speak.

After a while, the voice changed again, this time into Mom's voice, tearfully saying, "Cheng'er, my child, where are you? Mom has been looking for you so hard!"

Mom kept crying, and I felt really distressed, my eyes reddening. Several times I wanted to answer loudly, but I managed to hold back.

Wait a minute, this isn't right. Mom clearly knows I'm in the bedroom, why would she come looking for me? And she even said it was so hard to find me?

No, absolutely not right. This must be that dead woman's doing!

Thinking of this, I became even more determined, refusing to be disturbed by that woman anymore. I closed my eyes, pretending to sleep.

After calling out for a while longer, the woman finally lost interest, reverting to her original form and saying fiercely, "Hmph, you may hide today, but you won't escape tomorrow. We'll see about that!"

A gust of cold wind swept through, causing the windows to rattle.

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I opened my eyes to find the woman's shadow gone, the two windows gently swaying in the wind.

I lay in bed, still afraid to move.

After a while, Qingqing's voice sounded in my ear, "She's gone!"

I breathed a long sigh of relief, only then realizing that I was soaked in cold sweat, even the sheets were damp. If someone didn't know, they might think I wet the bed!

"Did I... did I manage to avoid her?" I spat out the "fingernail" in my mouth, trembling with fear.

Qingqing said, "I can't be sure. That woman exudes a strong evil aura. Once she becomes a demon, there will be bloodshed within ten miles!"

I swallowed hard. Bloodshed within ten miles? How terrifying?

"Cock-a-doodle-doo!"

The loud crowing of a rooster came from outside, and a faint light appeared in the distant sky.

Qingqing said, "It's dawn. I need to revert to my true form! Remember, don't talk about tonight's events!"

I nodded, trying to look for Qingqing, but found no one beside me. Where had Qingqing gone?

I lifted the covers and got up, only to see the little jade snake slither out from under the covers, sticking out its tongue at me, and faint laughter echoed in my ears.

I reached out and touched the "fingernail" it spat out, and upon closer inspection, I realized it was actually a small snake scale. The scale was translucent and had a beautiful emerald green color, resembling a tiny piece of jade.

I stared blankly at the scale in my palm, wondering if Qingqing really was the little jade snake.

The first light of dawn pierced the sky like an arrow, sunlight dancing on the window sills. I sat on the bed, numb, recalling everything that happened last night, feeling like it was all a dream.

Was it real or just an illusion?

Did Qingqing really appear?

Did that woman in red really come to my room?

I sat there dazed for a while before finally putting on my coat and searching around. I found that the little jade snake had crawled up onto the rafters, making itself comfortable.

That's good, it's hidden up there, and it's a cool place to relax.

After sweating all night, it felt uncomfortable on my body. I was about to take a bath when I suddenly noticed many muddy footprints on the floor, walls, and ceiling. Judging by the size of those footprints, they looked like they were left by a woman.

I was momentarily stunned. What were these footprints? Who had been in my room? Even if someone had been in my room, it wouldn't be possible for footprints to be left on the walls and ceiling, right?

A chill ran down my spine suddenly. The woman in red!

These footprints must have been left by the woman in red last night. I was a little confused before, not knowing whether last night's events were a dream or real, but now these footprints were enough to prove that everything that happened last night was real, not a dream!

Grandpa and my parents walked into the room, asking me with concern how I had fared last night and if anything had happened.

My parents had obviously stayed up all night again, their eyes bloodshot.

I shook my head, saying it was fine and telling them not to worry.

Grandpa looked up and saw the wall full of muddy footprints, his face twitching involuntarily. He asked with a grim face, "Did that woman come last night?"

I nodded.

Grandpa took a deep breath, "Did the snake wife save you?"

I nodded again.

Grandpa's tense face immediately relaxed. He knelt down at the door, clasping his hands together and excitedly bowing, "Thank you, Fairy Liu! Thank you, Fairy Liu!"

My parents helped Grandpa up, and he said happily, "Quick, go invite Master Ku back. Today, we'll prepare a good feast and I'll thank him in person. He's a great benefactor of our Yang family!"

Seeing me safe and sound, my parents were also very happy, hurrying downstairs to prepare. My mom cooked while my dad put on his coat and went out to find Master Ku.

Grandpa pulled me aside, asking about what happened last night.

Remembering Qingqing's advice, I didn't mention her transforming into a young girl to warm my bed, just saying that I slept soundly last night and only woke up to find a snake scale in my mouth, clearly saved by the little jade snake.

Grandpa didn't doubt my story. He patted my shoulder, "We'll pick a good day later, buy some incense and paper money, and go to the ancestral hall to pay our respects to our ancestors!"