Chapter 427

He didn't know how else Qilin could erupt, nor did he dare make big movements that would tug the wound; the major artery was right beside the wound, and one slip could be fatal.

But Andelo was an old hand, one who licked blood from blade tips, having seen all kinds of storms; soon he realized something was wrong.

Based on Qilin's breathing frequency and amplitude, he could already tell that Qilin was spent.

Andelo curled his lips and smiled: "You're out of options, young valley master."

"You can try." Even though Qilin could barely move, it stayed composed in danger, doing its best not to reveal any opening.

Andelo wasn't fooled by Qilin; he swung his sword and leapt up, thrusting at Qilin.

It's over!

Qilin closed its eyes.

The expected pain didn't come; Qilin uncertainly opened its eyes to see not Andelo's ferocious sword but a black monk's robe!

"Yuan Yan!"

The monk's tall frame completely blocked his view; he didn't see how the monk struck, only hearing Andelo's anguished cry.

Finally, he's here!

Relaxed, Qilin promptly fainted.

"Senior sister..."

Qilin didn't know where it was; it wanted to find Mu Yuanzhi.

"Where is senior sister?"

"Senior sister!"

Qilin wanted to shout but couldn't; its whole body felt like stuck in a mire, unable to move or make a sound.

He didn't know how Mu Yuanzhi was doing; his subconscious just urged him to find someone.

"Senior sister..."

"Qilin!"

"Who is calling him?"

"Is it senior sister?"

"Qilin!"

"It sounds like a man's voice?"

"Master?"

"Is it master?"

"Master, sorry, I messed up again..."

"I also lost senior sister."

Qilin began struggling again; he wanted to find senior sister.

"Senior sister was captured by Xiao Yichen; it's very dangerous!"

"But why can't he move at all?"

Qilin felt like it was falling, dropping into an abyss.

At the same time, in the Back Mountain cave, Mu Yuanzhi heard non-human footsteps fading away; she was nearly exhausted.

That day her nerves were taut, like a stretched string ready to snap.

Hungry, exhausted, and sleepy yet unable to sleep, constantly on edge, she felt miserable.

But she had to keep pushing; otherwise, if she slept she might never wake again.

Dying in her own sect's Back Mountain would be utterly ridiculous.

Having endured so many trials and been reborn, she now has everything; she won't die so easily.

Thinking thus, Mu Yuanzhi summoned strength again to prop up her exhausted body, awaiting rescue.

However, the Back Mountain is perilous, with tigers ahead and wolves behind.

Just as a lion seemed to have passed, a huge snake appeared!

Mu Yuanzhi couldn't tell what kind of snake this was, or whether it was venomous.

The creatures in the Back Mountain are strange, looking like something she's never seen.

This snake can't compare to the giant python of the Black Sea; moreover, her current state is no match for when she was in the Black Sea—she can't escape, let alone fight.

All she can do is passively get bitten.

Mu Yuanzhi watched the large snake slowly wriggling toward her; the snake flicked its tongue, its pupils locking onto the prey with ease, not rushing forward, appearing confident, certain the prey couldn't escape its grasp.

"Hiss——"

The large snake emitted a faint sound.

Mu Yuanzhi had a flash of inspiration, felt around her clothes, and finally found the bone whistle she had hidden earlier.

This specially made whistle can imitate snake sounds; she developed it after returning from the Black Sea, made of snake bone, and when blown it can confuse ordinary snakes.

"Hope it can be blown!"

Hungry and thirsty, Mu Yuanzhi tightened her abdomen and blew hard; the whistle's sound, though faint, was enough for the snake to hear.

The large snake's vertical pupils shifted, as if seeking the sound's source, or as if listening to what the sound was saying.

Mu Yuanzhi blew while standing, walking within the reach of the iron chain; the large snake moved with her whistling, its attention fully on the sound for a moment, seemingly forgetting to capture its prey.

However, this method only buys time; it doesn't solve the problem, and Mu Yuanzhi doesn't know when someone will come.

If she even pauses slightly, the snake immediately shows a readiness to attack; she can only keep blowing.

"No good, she can barely blow anymore!"

All her hidden defensive weapons were searched away by Xiao Yichen; fortunately this bone flute wasn't taken, probably because Xiao Yichen thought it had no offensive use and left it for her.

"Continuing like this isn't a solution..."

What should I do?

The big snake seemed to be growing tired of the sound, and even when Mu Yuanzhi played, it wasn't very focused on seeking the source.

She knew the bone flute's effect would soon wear off, so she could only give it a try.

But she wasn't sure she could defeat a snake in a struggle; imagination often differs greatly from reality.

She's not a martial arts master; what are her odds of defeating a big snake in combat, fifty percent?

But no matter what, she had to give it a try!

Mu Yuanzhi stopped playing, and the big snake lunged at her in that instant.

She timed it right, reaching with both hands to clutch the snake's seven-inch point, but imagination is always beautiful—she couldn't grasp the slippery snake god, and the enraged snake lunged, opening its jaws to flash its sharp, cold teeth.

At the critical moment, a flying dart whistled by, piercing the snake's head precisely and pinning it to the ground.

Mu Yuanzhi's heart nearly leapt out of her throat; it took her a while to come to, and after staring blankly at the lifeless big snake on the ground, she looked up to see two figures approaching from a distance, one behind the other.

"Are you alright, Princess?"

"Third Prince?" Mu Yuanzhi finally could truly relax.

"Great!"

"Hey, I saved the wife, can you not speak up before me!"

Gu Rongjin shoved Pei Si and Cao Cixiu aside in annoyance and sprinted over.

"Rongjin!"

Mu Yuanzhi hadn't even realized that the person she longed for was behind those two figures!

She also wanted to sprint over, but the iron chains restrained her movements, so she could only reach out her hand to Gu Rongjin.

Upon seeing Mu Yuanzhi's miserable state, Gu Rongjin's heart ached; he swiftly drew his sword, cut the obstructive iron chains, and pulled her into his embrace, moving gently for fear of hurting her.

"Are you okay, Little Yuanzhi? Anywhere hurt?" After saying that, he gently pushed her away, grasped her wrist to examine it, and felt even more distressed: "How did you end up like this? Xiao Yichen, that beast! Has he not hit you yet?"

Mu Yuanzhi shook her head, then flung herself into Gu Rongjin's arms, greedily drinking in his scent: "Hold me, Rongjin."

"Okay, okay, hug, don't be scared, Elder Brother Rongjin is here." Gu Rongjin patted his wife consolingly, full of pity.