Swamp

Perhaps some believed that those with profound cultivation could move mountains, fill seas, command clouds and rain, bring down sweet dew, and resolve disasters. A fine idea—but how would cultivators capable of moving mountains and filling seas differ from immortals? How could this world contain cultivation so profound? With a wave of the hand, they could tear the earth apart; with a single move, they could split the heavens. Such a thing was simply impossible in the mortal world. By the time one reached that level of cultivation, heaven and earth would likely have already cast them out. Do not dream of defeating heaven and earth. You were born in this world, grew in this world, and absorbed this world's spiritual energy to cultivate—how could you possibly defeat this world?

After collecting supplies and leaving the county town, Bai Yujun once again set out on foot to patrol the wilderness.

Recently, there had been more and more types of evil cults, and their numbers were growing ever larger. The smaller ones had dozens of members, while the larger ones had thousands. Their various names sounded earth-shaking, and their doctrines were all exceedingly righteous. Of course, what people said was never as good as what they actually did.

The rebels claimed that the emperor's lack of virtue had brought down the natural disasters, and that they would lead the people into the imperial city to eliminate the tyrant.

What did refugees know? They did not even know where the county town was and could only echo whatever others said. Hearing that their hunger and the deaths of their family members were all the emperor's doing, they joined the rebellion without a second word.

Naturally, none of this had anything to do with Bai Yujun. Chunyang Palace was also unwilling to involve itself too deeply in worldly affairs. These were all matters of the mundane world.

Rumor had it that a monster somewhere was devouring children. Whenever demons and evil spirits caused trouble, Chunyang Palace disciples had to deal with it. With a book box on her back and weapons at her waist, Bai Yujun headed for the monster-haunted place like a human-shaped rack of goods.

After traveling for two days, she arrived at the site of the incident.

The few remaining households were all filled with weeping. Everyone wore grief-stricken expressions. Adults could be seen everywhere, but not a single child.

Bai Yujun carefully sniffed the air in the village, her face turning troubled. Demonic aura had indeed appeared here. The scent was fishy and foul, carrying the stench of rotting mud, much like the putrid stagnant water decaying in a swamp. It had been here at least the day before yesterday. Many animals liked rotten marshes, but if one had to name the creature in a swamp most likely to become a monster and enjoy eating people, there was only one: a crocodile.

Logically speaking, this region's climate was not suited for crocodiles. When something was abnormal, there had to be a demon behind it. Clearly, that crocodile already counted as a monster.

When the villagers saw a female Daoist arrive, they all dropped to their knees before Bai Yujun, begging her to save their children.

It took Bai Yujun a flurry of hurried effort to get the villagers back on their feet.

Ordinary folk truly had it hard. In their daily lives, they were bullied by landlords, local gentry, wealthy merchants, even household servants and vicious lackeys. They toiled themselves to death year-round, sometimes unable to fill their bellies at all. The little pitiful fat on their bodies was scraped clean by the Greedy Ones. When trouble came, all they could do was kneel before statues of gods and beg cold, unfeeling deities for mercy.

After calming the villagers, she followed the scent trail out of the village, racing along the barely visible footprints by the fields...

To be honest, Bai Yujun was not entirely confident.

She had not fought monsters to the death many times. The most dangerous encounter had been in the Hundred Thousand Mountains with that Grey Wolf monster. It had been a bloody battle, and she had nearly died in the wolf's jaws. Still, this was the area under her responsibility, so it would not do to ignore it. She would sneak a look. If the monster was too strong, she would call Senior Sister Wei. If she had a chance of winning, it was better to fight personally—it could temper her combat skills, and she could also... feast to her heart's content.

Yes, exactly. As a White Snake, if she did not eat something now and then, she always felt her life as a snake was somehow incomplete.

Filled with hunting thoughts, she leaped and raced ahead. Yet wishes were beautiful while reality was a rough sketch. When Bai Yujun reached a swamp hidden deep in the mountains, she completely gave up on the idea of filling her stomach.

The swamp was disgusting.

She could smell it even from far away. The foul stench, like swamp gas, made her sensitive snake sense of smell suffer miserably. Any creature that did not belong in a swamp would surely dislike the prey within it.

She found a Big Tree, climbed up it, and watched from afar.

She had no choice but to be cautious. That monster had actually gone into the village to snatch children while showing no interest in the adults. From that alone, it was at least a shape-shifting demon with greatly awakened Spiritual Intelligence. How could an ordinary Wild Beast monster abandon an entire village of adults? Animals rarely had the habit of wasting food.

After watching for half the day, she cursed the severe nearsightedness of snakes.

The drifting miasma seriously interfered with her sense of smell, preventing her from figuring out the enemy in detail. Nor did she possess the legendary ability to use Spiritual Sense to scan dozens of li and see every last detail.

After thinking it over, she set down her book box and two weapons.

Glancing down at the work-style Daoist robe she wore, she found herself helpless. The clothes issued by Chunyang Palace could not be freely stored away and released like Snake Scales. With no other choice, she untied her sash and removed her clothes...

The moment her clothing loosened, she leaped forward and transformed into a White Snake, sliding down the branches to the ground and slithering away. Only the book box, weapons, and a set of clothes hanging from the tree remained on the trunk.

From the sky, looking down at the ground.

A huge white snake wound swiftly across the land, every scale on its body shedding water without a drop clinging to it. Its head stayed low as it parted the grass and burrowed deeper into the swamp.

It could not be helped. In human form, she would sink after taking only a few steps in the swamp. Snakes were different. As the finest of crawling creatures, they could move freely through a swamp without obstruction.

As she slithered along, she continuously flicked her tongue, sensing the scent particles in the air.

Suddenly, Bai Yujun stopped her crawling advance and raised her snake head high, staring toward the center of the swamp.

The miasma obscured everything, but there was a small island ahead.

There really was a crocodile here. She could never mistake that scent. Long-aged bones lay scattered around the island, and what made Bai Yujun regretful was the faint sight of torn children's clothing in the mud. She held no hope at all that any children remained alive. Even if they had not been eaten, they could not survive in an environment full of miasma.

She waited for a long time, but there was no movement around her.

Could it be that the Crocodile Demon was not home?

What if... she went in and stole something? The thought instantly took root in Bai Yujun's heart, sprouted, flourished, and rapidly branched out. She could not hold herself back.

She circled the only patch of high ground in the rotten mud swamp, confirming that the crocodile was not home, then carefully slithered onto the island.

When she saw clearly that the empty island contained nothing but a pile of unfinished meat from some unknown beast, she realized it was merely a resting place for the crocodile—stinking and messy.

Judging from the crocodile's traces, it was roughly seven meters long. Very large.

Before leaving, inspiration struck Bai Yujun. She turned around, opened her snake jaws, shot out her fangs, bit into the half-eaten beast meat, and injected venom into it...

Then she turned and left, returning to a safe place to wait for the hare by the tree stump.

Crocodiles had a sense of smell. Bai Yujun guessed that its nose was not as developed as hers. The swamp's miasma filled the air, and its foul odor concealed other scents. There was a good chance that when the crocodile returned, it would eat that half-eaten meat. Then they would see how resistant it was to poison.

She had taken a stroll through someone else's lair, hiding her achievements and fame deep within.

Returning to the Big Tree, she gave herself a shake and transformed back into human form. This time, however, she wore clothing transformed from her own Snake Scales. She folded the Daoist robe and put it in the book box, saving herself the trouble of having to undress again the next time she transformed.

The Big Tree was enormous, its mottled trunk covered in Green Moss. The place where Bai Yujun stayed was a broad, thick horizontal branch, wide enough to lay out a bed.

She pulled out a blanket from the book box and spread it out, then took out a blue-and-white porcelain plate and set it down. Carefully, she removed fine pastries wrapped in straw paper and placed them on the plate.

She drew out an oiled-paper umbrella and opened it above her head to block the sun.

After thinking for a moment, she took out an embroidered pillow and arranged it as well. Only then did she lie down at ease.

"Hiss, I love the world of immortals and martial heroes."

The oiled-paper umbrella was beautiful, its lovely patterns dazzling beneath the sunlight. Squinting as she lay there with one leg crossed over the other, she reached out, grabbed a pastry, and popped it into her mouth, utterly carefree.

As a snake, one had to treat oneself a little better.

Many thanks to everyone for your recommendation votes. I have only just begun writing, so there is much I do not understand, and I do not know how to repay you. All I can do is update every day and never leave this story unfinished. Thank you all once again.