Ancient Temple Black Python

As soon as Kong Wu left, Liu Jinghe said to the middle-aged man who had been there before, "Uncle Gu, you've been traveling all day. You should rest for a while too."

Liu Gu shook his head and said, "It's fine. This is a dilapidated temple in the deep mountains, so we need to be extra vigilant. Miss, please rest first. We will take turns resting later."

Upon hearing this, Liu Jinghe sighed and whispered, "It's all my fault for this body. I could have come alone, but I had to trouble Uncle Gu to travel with me."

"You are too kind, Miss. My life was saved by the old master. If I can cure your strange illness this time, I wouldn't mind losing my life."

Hearing this, Liu Jinghe said with some melancholy, "Uncle Gu, you've traveled north and south for so many years and seen a lot. Can this strange illness of mine truly be cured this time?"

"It definitely can!" Liu Gu nodded seriously. "The master before was a genuine cultivator. Someone so high and mighty wouldn't deceive us common folk."

"A Fox Immortal?"

Liu Jinghe murmured softly, her thoughts returning to a month ago.

That day, a person dressed as a wandering Taoist knocked on the Liu family's door.

With just one sentence, "Your daughter's fate is in danger!", he was granted an audience with the head of the Liu family.

The head of the Liu family, who was also Liu Jinghe's father, started as a small vendor. In twenty years, he had accumulated considerable wealth and finally settled in Zhushui County.

He had a daughter at the age of forty and doted on Liu Jinghe immensely.

However, for some unknown reason, Liu Jinghe's health began to decline sharply starting a year ago. Numerous doctors were consulted, but none could find the cause.

Seeing their daughter grow weaker, the Liu family was helpless.

Now, when a wandering Taoist uttered those words, they met him with the mindset of trying anything, even a long shot.

As a result, the Taoist's expression changed drastically upon seeing Liu Jinghe. With a wave of his hand, a talisman flew out.

The golden, radiant talisman stuck to Liu Jinghe, and her complexion instantly improved significantly.

Witnessing this, the old master, who had traveled extensively for business, immediately understood that the Taoist was a cultivator.

He quickly bowed respectfully, begging him to save Liu Jinghe.

However, the Taoist's expression was grim. After a moment of contemplation, he revealed the truth.

According to him, Liu Jinghe had caught the eye of a Fox Immortal. His talisman would only be effective for three days. After that, there were only two ways to completely resolve the problem.

One was to kill the Fox Immortal.

But according to the Taoist, the Fox Immortal's cultivation was profound, and even he could not deal with it.

The second was to prepare numerous offerings, find the Fox Immortal, and offer them, begging it to spare Liu Jinghe.

After speaking, the old Taoist left.

Over the next month, the old master pondered for a long time and finally decided to try as the Taoist had suggested.

Thus, he ordered people to purchase many precious medicinal ingredients and had his adopted son take Liu Jinghe on the road.

Liu Gu looked at Liu Jinghe, who had a worried expression, and touched his chest.

There was a talisman there, which the Liu family had bought at great expense.

If negotiations failed, he would have to resort to drastic measures.

However, such monstrous beings were not something ordinary people like them could handle.

But no matter what, his life was given by the master, and he would risk it all to cure the young lady's strange illness.

Thinking this, Liu Gu turned around, about to say something to the guards below.

But as soon as he turned, his brow furrowed, and his pupils contracted.

"Where is Fifth?"

After he spoke, the others realized that one of the three guards who had been stationed in various corners had disappeared at some point.

A guard looked around and instinctively said, "He was just here. Maybe he went to relieve himself?"

This was one explanation.

But for some reason, Liu Gu felt a growing sense of dread.

"You all stay here and guard. I'll go out and take a look."

With that, Liu Gu walked out.

He circled the dilapidated temple, his expression gradually turning grim.

There was no trace of the missing guard.

He returned to the dilapidated temple and said in a deep voice, "Everyone, stay alert. Something is wrong with this place."

In the desolate ancient temple, a companion had suddenly disappeared.

Liu Jinghe recalled the strange rumors she had heard and instinctively moved closer to Xiao Tao, only to find Xiao Tao's hands ice-cold and her body trembling.

The guards, led by Liu Gu, had accompanied the Liu family's caravan to many places. Even in the face of such a terrifying scene, they remained calm, guarded their positions, and scanned their surroundings vigilantly.

Drip!

The sound of dripping water caught Liu Jinghe's attention.

Outside, the rain was pouring down, and it looked like the dilapidated temple, which had been unrepaired for years, had started to leak.

Thinking this, she subconsciously raised her head, her gaze shifting upward.

The next moment, her already pale face became even paler, her pupils trembling violently. She subconsciously stretched out a finger, pointing shakily at the roof.

She wanted to say something, but boundless fear made her breath catch, and she couldn't speak even if she tried.

Not far away, Kong Wu keenly observed this scene.

Clang!

Almost instantly, he drew the long saber at his waist and quickly stood in front of Liu Jinghe before looking up at the roof.

This sight stunned even this seasoned expert, who had traveled far and wide for many years.

On the roof beam, a giant black python was coiled.

It opened its cavernous mouth, a pair of human legs dangling within.

As its body writhed, the person was swallowed bit by bit, soon leaving only the soles of their shoes exposed.

"Flying Locust Stone!"

Kong Wu shouted, taking out an object from his waist and hurling it fiercely.

The remaining two guards reacted with lightning speed, performing the exact same action the moment Kong Wu shouted.

Three Flying Locust Stones struck the giant python's head, shattering upon impact.

But the python didn't react at all. Its dark eyes calmly observed the people below.

Seeing that the Flying Locust Stones were useless, Kong Wu's heart sank.

A python as thick as a water bucket was definitely not an ordinary wild beast.

This python could already be considered a spirit monster.

"Go!"

Pulling Liu Jinghe along, Kong Wu shielded her behind him and slowly moved towards the doorway.

However, before he could reach the door, a dark shadow attacked from above.

Kong Wu instinctively raised his saber to protect his chest, but he was still sent flying by a powerful force.

Hiss hiss!

Not far in front of Liu Jinghe, the dark python flicked its tongue, and a bulging sac on its neck slowly moved towards its midsection.

In such a short time, it had completely swallowed the missing guard.

It was clear that, like Kong Wu, this creature hadn't eaten its fill.

"Hah!"

The two guards raised their long sabers and fiercely slashed at the python's body.

But their blades clanged against the python's body, sending sparks flying and only leaving a white mark on its dark scales.

With a flick of its thick body, the python sent the two guards flying.

Then, the giant snake's head slowly extended towards Liu Jinghe.

Terrified by this sight, Liu Jinghe and her maid, Xiao Tao, now had weak knees and collapsed to the ground.

Just as the giant snake opened its cavernous mouth, intending to swallow Liu Jinghe, a golden light flew from behind, striking the snake's head directly.