Three-Corpse Snake Gu

Three-Corpse Snake Gu

"Kunlun, Master won't let you die!" Master first treated my wounds. Fortunately, the steel pellets hadn't remained inside my body.

Master took my pulse again. After a while, confusion filled his eyes as he asked, "Kunlun, do you know where the Gu insect inside your body came from?"

I weakly shook my head. If not for Tian Xiaoyuan, I never would have known there was a Gu insect inside me.

Master pondered for a moment before saying, "I didn't notice it these past years either. Today, your emotions fluctuated violently, and you suffered severe injuries and lost quite a bit of blood. The mysterious Gu insect acted up for the first time, which is why the pain was unbearable. Gu insects are creatures filled with extreme venom and resentment. If you cannot control it, it will take your life."

I paused and asked, "Are Gu insects really real?"

My heart jumped. It seemed Tian Xiaoyuan had not lied to me. There really was a Gu insect inside my body.

I had previously overheard Master talking with visitors who came late at night, and I occasionally heard the word "Gu." But I had never seen a Gu insect, nor did I understand what exactly Gu was. Why did people always say that Gu could kill without leaving a trace?

I grew even more confused. Gu insects could kill invisibly, so if a mysterious Gu insect had always been inside my body, why was I still alive and well?

Just where had the Gu insect inside me come from?

Master said, "Of course Gu exists in this world. It's just that very few people know how to use it well. The Gu insect in your body is extremely mysterious and hidden very deeply. If it had not acted up today, even I would have found it difficult to detect. In your current state, I fear you cannot withstand it... If it continues to develop, you probably won't make it through tonight."

A twisting pain continuously tore through my abdomen. The awakened mysterious Gu insect instantly drained away my life force. My screams kept ringing out, while it felt as though countless needles were stabbing into my back and head.

Master paced back and forth before finally dropping to his knees before the Gu God statue. He knocked his head against the floor three times and said, "This disciple, Black Demon Star, wishes to pass Gu arts on to the young Xiao Kunlun today. I beg Lord Gu God to protect him."

Master strode out, then quickly returned with a bamboo basket. Inside were Three-Colored Snakes. He also prepared a yellow jar and placed it on the table.

He lit seven oil lamps on the shrine. Their flames swayed unsteadily, as though they might go out at any moment.

Master said, "The Three-Colored Snakes were born from the same litter, and they come in blue, red, and white. Their venom is extraordinarily potent, rare in all the world. They are perfect materials for raising a Three-Corpse Snake Gu! Years ago, they failed to bite you to death, so they were destined to serve you. This time, I went to great lengths to capture them. Perhaps fate itself intends for them to save your life..."

My heart jolted. Some strength returned to me, and I suddenly cried, "Those are the three Three-Colored Snakes that bit me!"

Master nodded and tossed a sharp Xiaodao in front of me. "Cut open your left palm and let your blood drip inside. Master cannot do this step for you."

I took the dagger and used the last of my strength to cut open my palm. Blood slowly dripped from it into the jar.

Master placed the blue, red, and white venomous snakes inside one after another, then added a highly venomous Golden-Tailed Scorpion and a highly venomous black centipede.

Finally, he sealed the yellow jar with three thick sheets of oiled paper and tightly bound its mouth with iron wire.

Throughout the entire process, Master's expression was solemn. He continuously muttered a mysterious incantation, which sounded like an ancient language.

After finishing everything, Master's face had become much paler. He had expended tremendous strength.

Master explained, "The three venomous snakes have only two prey animals, so they will inevitably fight and kill one another. After the prey is eaten, they will attack each other. The final survivor will become the Three-Corpse Snake Gu. Kunlun, remember this. This is Gu: many venomous insects placed inside a container, with the one that survives becoming the Gu."

So this was Gu. I was utterly shocked. Multiple deadly venomous creatures fought inside a sealed container, leaving behind one survivor. It was impossible to imagine just how potent its venom would be.

No wonder everyone turned pale at the mention of Gu.

Master continued, "We Dong People use yellow jars to raise Gu. Miao People use black jars. If you ever encounter a Miao person carrying a black jar, remember to be careful. The Three-Corpse Snake Gu is the strongest Gu of the Dong People, while the Golden Silkworm Gu is the strongest among the Miao People. You must remember that!"

Dong People used yellow jars, while Miao People used black jars.

The strongest Gu of the Dong People was the Three-Corpse Snake Gu, while the strongest Gu of the Miao People was the Golden Silkworm Gu.

I nodded. "I'll remember."

Master smiled in relief. "This Three-Corpse Snake Gu has drunk your blood, so it will be connected to you by blood. During the first seven days, the battle inside the jar will be fierce, and some venomous vapor and resentment will leak out. It will be fine after those seven days. Starting tonight, carry it with you and sleep in the Gu God Temple for seven consecutive nights. With our Dong People's Divine Gu Insect, the Three-Corpse Snake Gu, keeping you company, the mysterious Gu inside you will surely settle down considerably."

It really was true. With the yellow jar nearby, the gnawing sensation inside my body weakened significantly.

I said, "I already feel much better."

The seven oil lamps on the shrine grew brighter and brighter. Master finally let out a complete sigh of relief. "The seven Life Lamps are all intact. You'll be fine tonight."

I slept in the Gu God Temple. Before long, I heard intense commotion coming from the jar. It did not stop until very late at night.

I could not sleep all night. I felt a strange aura spreading from the jar and shrouding my surroundings. Faint sounds also reached my ears, as though someone were calling my name.

It was nearly dawn before I finally fell asleep. In a haze, I sensed some movement inside the Gu God Temple. It seemed that a pair of cool hands had been placed on my forehead.

Early the next morning, Master brewed a bowl of black medicinal soup. Its pungent smell could be detected from far away.

Master said, "You slept in the same room as the Three-Corpse Snake Gu last night. Although the old Gu God watched over you, the snakes fought each other, and resentment and poisonous vapor spilled out. Your vitality has surely been depleted. This bowl of medicine is to nourish your body."

Pinching my nose, I gulped it down in one swallow. My spirits improved somewhat, and my wounds did not hurt as much. It seemed the Three-Corpse Snake Gu had served some purpose. The mysterious Gu insect that acted up last night had not taken my life.

Some of my strength returned after I ate porridge. Remembering that a hand seemed to have rested on my forehead the previous night, I asked Master, "Master, did you enter the Gu God Temple later last night?"

Master froze for a moment, then shook his head. "No."

My heart lurched. If it had not been Master, then whose icy hand had rested on my forehead? Could it really have been the old Gu God?

Master coughed several times then. There was little color in his face. It seemed that raising the Gu insect and chanting the incantation last night had consumed much of his strength.

Master said, "Kunlun, I thought about it last night. The mysterious Gu insect inside your body may be related to your birth. Whether this Gu outbreak is a blessing or a disaster, even Master cannot say. You must not give up on yourself. You must live well."

I lowered my head, tears streaming down my face. I placed my hand over my abdomen. The sensation of the Gu insect had vanished. After a long while, I said, "I understand. I won't let anyone look down on me."

For several days in a row, I spent every night in the Gu God Temple and drank the black medicinal soup Master brewed each morning.

At noon on the third day, Luo Benjie appeared at the Gu God Temple with many offerings. He repeatedly slapped his own face and cried, "Master Black, I was blind and offended you, sir. Please be magnanimous and spare my two sons!"

Master ignored Luo Benjie.

Luo Benjie hurried over to me instead, his eyes red as he looked at me. "Kunlun, you and Luo Chui are classmates. Please show mercy. He's still just a child! I'll kneel before you!"

My heart softened. "You don't need to kneel to me. If you have a problem, ask my Master to resolve it."

Master finally raised his eyes and glanced at Luo Benjie. "It was the old Gu God who punished them. I'll prescribe a few doses of medicine. They should be fine after seven days."

All the arrogance had vanished from Luo Benjie. "Then I'll trouble you, Master Black."

Before long, Luo Benjie left dejectedly with several packets of herbal medicine.

I asked curiously, "Master, why has Luo Benjie become so obedient?"

Master said mysteriously, "You are the successor chosen by the Gu God. Naturally, he will punish them on your behalf."

Although I had lived at the Gu God Temple for so long, I only knew that it contained that statue. I had never seen the old Gu God's true form.

Master often said it was the most powerful deity within a hundred miles, but I did not know whether that was true.

Less than two days later, I heard that after Luo Chui returned home that night, festering sores had appeared on his tongue. Countless tiny insects seemed to gnaw at his entire body, causing unbearable itching and agonizing pain that would not stop no matter what he did.

As for Luo Dayuan, his right foot had developed toad-like skin that constantly oozed pus. His right hand rotted away, and maggots continuously crawled out of it...

Master prescribed herbs to remove the Gu, but they had to take them for a full seven days before recovering. It was considered their punishment.

On the morning of the seventh day, I woke up early. After drinking the medicinal soup, I thought everything was finally safe and sound.

After taking a deep breath, a terrible twisting pain suddenly seized my abdomen, followed by violent coughing.

With a retch, I spat out a mouthful of black blood!