Green Ox Temple

Huang Xiao could no longer move at all. His consciousness was hazy, and he could not make out his surroundings, much less see the giant python. The fleshy crest atop its head was now gone-or rather, all that remained was a thin layer of shriveled flesh and skin.

Just as Huang Xiao was about to perish in the giant python's jaws, the Golden-Winged Roc suddenly broke free of its coils, then drove both talons down viciously onto the vulnerable spot seven inches below its head.

This time, the giant python failed to dodge. The Golden-Winged Roc pinned it firmly to the ground with both talons, then struck its head with its enormous golden beak.

At that blow, the giant python let out a mournful cry. A great hole opened in its head, and pale brain matter streaked with blood burst out.

Though its head had been split open, the giant python still thrashed its body desperately against the ground and cliff face. But as time slowly passed, with the Golden-Winged Roc pecking relentlessly and tearing at it with its huge talons, the giant python finally breathed its last half an hour later.

The Golden-Winged Roc could finally breathe a sigh of relief. It, too, was in an extremely sorry state, its feathers in disarray, with bloody flesh exposed in many places. Its wounds were quite frightening as well, of course, but all in all, it was fortunate compared with the dead giant python. It extended a talon and slit open the snake's body, scooped out an inky-green gallbladder the size of an egg, and swallowed it in one gulp.

Then it went over to Huang Xiao, whose body was now convulsing incessantly. He could no longer cry out; he no longer had the strength, and could only make faint whimpering sounds.

The skin all over Huang Xiao's body began to split. Blood flowed from the cracks, instantly staining all his clothes crimson.

The Golden-Winged Roc crooned softly to Huang Xiao, gently brushing its enormous wing over his body, as though trying to ease his pain. Seeing his condition, the Golden-Winged Roc was somewhat at a loss. It circled him several times, its expression extremely anxious.

After all, the Golden-Winged Roc already understood human ways. It owed its survival this time to Huang Xiao, and over this period, the two had become friends of a sort. Naturally, it was anxious now that his life hung by a thread.

Suddenly, the Golden-Winged Roc turned its gaze toward the two strange red fruits on the cliff, then beat its wings, flew up, and picked one.

After returning to Huang Xiao's side, the Golden-Winged Roc held the grape-sized strange fruit carefully in its enormous talon. It had no choice but to be careful: its talon was so large that the slightest pressure would crush the fruit.

The strange red fruit was pushed into Huang Xiao's mouth. Its fragrance immediately cleared his hazy consciousness considerably. He saw the Golden-Winged Roc put the fruit into his mouth, and naturally bit into it without the slightest hesitation.

Huang Xiao knew he did not have long to live. Since this was a strange fruit, perhaps it possessed miraculous effects. He could only take the gamble.

With one bite, the strange fruit dissolved into fragrant juice. At the same time, Huang Xiao could not help shivering.

At that moment, Huang Xiao's entire body was scorching hot. The snake's blood made him feel as though he were immersed in molten rock, the agony unbearable. But after the fruit's juice entered his stomach, he discovered that a current of extraordinary cold had formed there, and it instantly began spreading throughout his body.

Assailed by heat and cold together, Huang Xiao found strength from somewhere, let out a wretched scream, and passed out.

The Golden-Winged Roc was startled. Seeing Huang Xiao fall still, it hurriedly checked for breath at his nostrils. He was still breathing, but his breath was exceptionally weak.

After standing beside Huang Xiao for quite a while, the Golden-Winged Roc flew back up to the cliff and swallowed the remaining strange fruit. The instant it swallowed, its body trembled as well. Then its beak parted slightly, releasing stale breath. Yet when that breath met the mist outside, the mist immediately began to condense, and snowflakes actually drifted down over an area several hundred zhang across.

A few breaths later, the Golden-Winged Roc landed beside Huang Xiao and picked him up in one talon. Then it flew over to the giant python's corpse and pulled out the dagger embedded seven inches below its head. Finally, it spread its wings and shot into the sky.

"Good luck this time. I actually managed to gather a five-hundred-year-old lingzhi." An old Taoist with half-gray hair, dressed in blue-green Taoist robes and carrying a herb basket on his back, walked along a mountain path.

I've been away for more than half a month. At last, I'm back, the old Taoist sighed inwardly, raising his head to look up the mountain.

Suddenly, surprise stirred within him. A strange sound came from overhead, and just as he was about to look up, an enormous figure was already standing before him.

The old Taoist cried out in alarm and swiftly retreated five paces. Then he stared wide-eyed and dumbfounded at the enormous Golden-Winged Roc that had suddenly appeared before him.

Anyone would have been astonished to see such a huge Golden-Winged Roc. But after his initial surprise, the old Taoist calmed down. He could see that the Golden-Winged Roc seemed injured: its feathers were disheveled, and its body bore numerous wounds and bloodstains.

Before the old Taoist could say anything, the Golden-Winged Roc crooned to him several times, then pointed a wing toward its feet.

The old Taoist looked down and only then discovered someone lying beside the Golden-Winged Roc's enormous talons. There were numerous gashes on his body, and he had lost so much blood that his entire body was stained red, making for a rather frightening sight.

I didn't expect there to be someone here as well, the old Taoist thought. His attention had been entirely drawn to the Golden-Winged Roc just now, and for a moment he had failed to notice Huang Xiao lying on the ground.

"Do you want me to save him?" the old Taoist asked tentatively.

The Golden-Winged Roc hurriedly nodded, then brought its wings together before its chest and bowed to the old Taoist.

The old Taoist found the sight somewhat amusing, thinking that this Golden-Winged Roc certainly understood human ways. Though its bow with folded wings looked rather comical, it was imitating the way people cupped their fists in greeting.

"Rest assured. I am a follower of the Tao. When someone is in peril, I will naturally offer help. But this young fellow appears gravely injured, and I cannot guarantee that I can save his life. Everything rests with Heaven's will," the old Taoist said.

The Golden-Winged Roc gave a loud cry, then beat its wings and flew away.

The old Taoist hurried forward and carefully examined Huang Xiao's injuries. How strange. Though he's covered in blood, his external injuries aren't serious. There seem to be two currents of energy clashing inside him, but they don't appear to be internal energy. Strange, truly strange!

With that, he picked Huang Xiao up without hesitation and quickened his pace, rushing up the mountain. Each stride carried him more than a zhang, and within a few dozen steps, he had vanished along the mountain path.

"Master, you're back?"

At the mountain's summit stood a Taoist temple called Green Ox Temple. It was rather dilapidated, however, and appeared not to have been repaired for some years.

The person who now came out was also a Taoist, but he was around thirty years old.