There had always been legends of spirit beasts protecting the Way.
Some cultivators who lived in seclusion deep in the mountains had certain beasts whose spiritual intelligence had awakened protect their Way. Great recluses often had giant snakes or other beasts lurking near their dwellings, coiling around the grounds to protect them and, through that protection, sharing a little of their fortune to improve their own destinies.
Of course, true reclusive cultivators would not tell you much. Ask them, and they would merely smile it away. As for those who fled to the mountains to loaf around under the pretense of seclusion, there was no need to say more about them.
Bai Yujun suspected that the enormous cobra stubbornly refusing to leave Bamboo Spring Temple was Old Monk Huixian's Guardian Spirit Beast, driving away fierce beasts and venomous snakes to protect Huixian.
Having a spirit beast protect one's Way was itself proof of achievement in cultivation.
Perhaps Heaven thought that such an extraordinary General Star needed protection as well.
Ordinary wild beasts could not take on such a major task. It just so happened that a giant snake with over three hundred years of lifespan was passing through, so bringing her in to protect the General Star could not have been more fitting. Besides, that demon snake had dealt extensively with the human race and knew where to draw the line.
Capricious Heaven had assigned a certain snake a task.
Perhaps Heaven itself was tucked away in some corner, laughing in its sleep. Just when one was drowsy, someone brought a pillow; the General Star lacked a protector of the Way, and a demon snake happened to pass by. What was delivered to the doorstep would be a waste not to use.
An old man, a child, and a demon—three