38: Chapter 38 Mysterious Master

"I'm awake, I'm coming!" Hun Tiandi replied.

He immediately walked out of the tent, looked at Han Tian and the others who were busy packing up, chuckled, and began to help.

Seeing Hun Tiandi helping, and knowing Han Xue's stern personality, he shook his head slightly.

He handed some simple tasks over to him.

After casually loading the tent onto the cart, he turned around and a faint scent of orchids drifted into his nostrils, while a pair of cold, beautiful eyes landed on him.

A cold voice rang out, saying: "Today, just stay in the carriage and don't wander around."

As soon as she finished speaking, not giving Hun Tiandi a chance to reply, she turned and returned to the carriage. Then, a cold voice rang out across the campsite.

"Set off!"

Watching everyone begin to move, the corners of Hun Tiandi's mouth twitched wildly. She was a decent person, but her temperament was just too cold.

If an accident happened, he would just...

On the desolate desert road, sand and dust filled the sky, and the incessant whistling of the wind blew into the distance.

After a while, a black dot appeared in the distance. As it drew closer, it was a caravan loaded with cargo, with nearly a hundred burly guards escorting it.

Their gazes were cold, and they exuded a murderous aura, constantly scanning their surroundings while gripping their weapons tightly.

The group was gradually approaching the Northern Region of Central State, occasionally seeing one or two hurried figures whose forms were like lightning, disappearing in the blink of an eye.

On the official road, there was only the sound of the caravan's horses neighing.

Inside the carriage, Hun Tiandi leaned against the window, watching the guards outside with an indifferent gaze, which was quite different from the relaxed atmosphere of previous days.

At this moment, sweat flowed from the hands gripping their weapons, revealing their inner nervousness.

"Black Snake Commander Xia Qing? It seems his fierce reputation in this area is enough to make these guards, who lick blood from the edge of a blade, so nervous."

Hun Tiandi took in everyone's expressions and muttered to himself.

He shook his head slightly, sat cross-legged in the carriage, and sank his consciousness into his sea of consciousness, slowly polishing the crimson soul sword form. The first stage of weapon condensation had already been completed.

What followed was a slow, grinding process.

Three hours later, the swaying carriage came to an abrupt stop. At this moment, Hun Tiandi in the carriage suddenly opened his eyes.

His gaze passed through the carriage opening; a precipitous mountain stood before them.

The center of the mountain looked as if it had been cleaved by a peerless expert's sword, with a rift over a dozen zhang wide, resembling a gorge.

A narrow strip of sky, Ten Thousand Snake Gorge.

After the carriage stopped, Hun Tiandi's soul power surged out, sensing the tension among the group. This was 'Ten Thousand Snake Gorge'...

"Everyone be careful, ahead is Ten Thousand Snake Gorge. Han Tian, prepare the realgar and snake-repellent powder. These snakes are all Commander Xia Qing's eyes and ears."

"As long as we don't disturb them, we should be able to pass through safely."

"Also, if we are discovered, don't take action lightly. Leave everything to me to handle."

While Hun Tiandi was deep in thought, Han Xue's stern voice came from the carriage.

"Yes!"

Afterward, Han Tian took the lead in responding, and the caravan set off again, slowly entering Ten Thousand Snake Gorge.

"Brother Yun Tian, if something really happens, please take Miss Han Xue away!"

Suddenly, a low voice rang out. Hun Tiandi's expression shifted, and he looked over to see it was Wang Yun.

Wang Yun was the leader of these guards. Because Han Xue treated them well, everyone was willing to repay her.

"Hmm? Isn't it said that if you give some money, Commander Xia Qing will let you pass?"

Hun Tiandi asked, puzzled.

"Sigh, if the young miss weren't here, spending money would likely allow us to pass. However, that lecherous snake is extremely greedy and lustful. Whenever he sees a beautiful woman, he..."

This place is still far from Tianbei City, so even if the Han Family were to send reinforcements, it would be difficult for them to be effective.

Wang Yun glanced at the carriage in front and sighed softly.

Only then did Hun Tiandi understand. So it was this scene they were worried about; no wonder everyone was so on edge.

"Brother Wang, rest assured, nothing should happen!"

Hun Tiandi smiled slightly.

Regarding Hun Tiandi's words, Wang Yun only took them as comfort, knowing full well he was just a youth, yet he still said such inexplicable things.

If something were to really happen, this youth would likely struggle to even save his own life, let alone help the young miss.

The caravan had officially entered Ten Thousand Snake Gorge, with Han Tian riding a horse in front to lead the way.

Along the way, he casually sprinkled some pale yellow snake-repellent powder, and the black oxen pulling the carts had their mouths covered to prevent them from making noise.

The group entered the gorge quietly.

The guards on both sides drew the weapons from their backs and casually sprinkled the medicinal powder.

Half an hour later, they had passed through the middle of the gorge without incident. Vaguely, they could see the exit of Ten Thousand Snake Gorge, and almost everyone breathed a sigh of relief in their hearts.

"Trouble is coming!"

Just as the group was relaxing, Hun Tiandi, who had been sitting in the carriage with his eyes slightly closed, slowly opened them and sighed softly.

Trouble had finally come knocking after all.

As soon as he spoke, the entire gorge began to shake. Not far away, lush trees collapsed as a huge snake was moving through them.

"Damn it, we were discovered after all. Speed up!"

Han Tian, who was leading, had an extremely ugly expression and shouted angrily.

At this moment, without waiting for him to speak, the experienced guards desperately drove the black oxen. The carriage wheels roared, and they sped desperately towards the exit of the gorge.

Hiss...

Even though the caravan was less than a hundred meters from the gorge's exit, snake shadows darted out from both sides of the gorge, blocking the path ahead.

Their ferocious snake mouths hissed, flicking their tongues, and their cold, snake-like eyes stared at everyone in the caravan.

"Damn it, these accursed snakes..."

Watching the snakes blocking the road ahead, Han Tian cursed under his breath, his heart sinking. These black snakes were Third-Order Magical Beasts.

They were massive; with a dozen of them, they perfectly blocked the exit.

Hissing sounds came from both sides, and immediately, countless colorful venomous snakes crawled out and surrounded the caravan.

"Hehehe, a bunch of idiots. Did you think you could slip past under my eyes without paying the toll?"

As the encirclement was completed, a strange laugh rang out.

At this moment, Hun Tiandi in the carriage heard the somewhat familiar laughter, frowned slightly, and looked displeased.

Immediately, a black figure appeared in the sky, hands behind his back, exuding a cold, sinister aura.

The figure above was quite strange. On his pale face were six black snake scales, and he had a pair of ink-green eyes. Most terrifying of all was that his head did not have long hair, but rather tiny, small snakes.

The ferocious little snakes kept slithering about.

A pair of black Dou Qi wings behind him vibrated slightly, stirring up a violent, raging wind.

Looking at that black figure, the faces of Han Tian and the others instantly turned pale as snow, their voices laced with a hint of nervousness.

"Black Snake... Commander Xia Qing?"

Commander Xia Qing looked down and smiled creepily, lazily saying: "Don't you know the rules?"

The corners of Han Tian's eyes twitched wildly. He immediately dismounted, took out a crystal card, and said respectfully: "We naturally know. Commander Xia Qing, we are a caravan from the Tianbei City Han Family. This is a small token of our appreciation, please accept it."

Commander Xia Qing smiled coldly, reached out without any hesitation, and as the crystal card landed in his hand, he grinned.

He spoke: "Not bad, it seems you have a bit of sincerity."

Hearing this, Han Tian breathed a sigh of relief and asked cautiously: "Then, Commander, can you let us pass?"

"That is natural..." Commander Xia Qing smiled coldly, his snake tongue flicking out of his mouth.

Suddenly, he pointed his finger at the carriage where Han Xue was. On his pale and evil-looking face, a lecherous grin appeared as he said: "Before you go, leave her behind."

The expressions of everyone in the caravan turned ugly, and the guards secretly gripped their weapons.

"Commander Xia, what is the meaning of this?" Han Tian asked, restraining his temper.

"Hehehe, come out, little lady. I have long since smelled that scent of a human woman on you. It has been a long time since I've seen such a top-quality beauty."

Ignoring Han Tian, his lecherous gaze landed on the carriage.