17: Patrol the Mountain (Seeking votes and reading)

“Bang!”

A white figure flew backward.

It crashed heavily to the ground, kicking up dust and stones.

The white fox struggled to its feet from the dirt pit, its snowy fur stained crimson with blood.

Yet, it still propped up its injured body, emitting a low growl from its throat, crouching low, its fur bristling.

It stared intently at the monster before it.

A humanoid head covered in snake scales, yet possessing spider-like compound legs.

They were dark black, glinting with a metallic chill, especially their tips, which were blade-like claw-knives that, with every twitch, shredded the surrounding bushes and rocks.

At this moment, this monster was in a frenzy, its hideous sharp claws flailing in the air.

Because at this time, in the sky, a Little Squirrel with golden fur was puffing out its belly, floating in the air, spitting out pine cones the size of fists at the spider monster like a machine gun!

“Bang, bang, bang!”

Pine cones, like bullets, shot out and struck the monster’s body.

The damage was minimal, but the insult was profound.

And this spider monster seemed to be in a state of confusion, its mind not clear, having fallen into a violent rage.

Suddenly, the monster’s sharp leg cut through a bush and swept towards the somewhat complacent Squirrel.

“Whack!”

The Squirrel was mercilessly swept to the ground, even bouncing a few times before rolling to the cave entrance and stopping.

“Chirp, chirp!”

The little fellow tried to get up but rolled on the ground, emitting weak chirping sounds.

And behind it were a mother and daughter with terrified expressions.

The woman held her daughter, watching as the white fox and the Squirrel, two little demons, were injured by the monster while trying to save her and her daughter.

Her heart was greatly shaken!

Seeing that one of the spider monster’s sharp legs was about to viciously stab the leading white fox,

The woman, suppressing her fear, picked up a stone and threw it at the spider monster, screaming in despair,

“If you want to kill, come at me!”

But this was undoubtedly like throwing an egg at a rock.

However, it successfully enraged the clearly unintelligent spider monster.

The sharp claws, piercing the air, suddenly changed direction and shot towards the woman.

“Mother!”

The daughter cried and shrieked.

And the woman closed her eyes.

But time passed, one second, two seconds...

Time seemed to freeze.

The woman’s originally sorrowful and despairing mood gradually turned to surprise.

The imagined intense pain and death had not arrived.

She opened her eyes.

But she saw a scene she would never forget!

The spider monster, as large as a house, seemed to have been cut in half by a single strike; its massive body had split open down the middle.

And as this crack gradually widened, a figure in green robes, wearing a straw hat, appeared from below the hillside.

“Bang!”

The monster’s body, cut by a single sword, crashed to the ground, its greenish-red blood hissing and splattering, giving off a foul stench.

Chen Yuan finally arrived.

His Sword Qi streaked across the sky, slicing the monster in two.

He walked to the white fox, looked down at it, and slowly crouched down.

He reached out and stroked the white fox’s wound, a stream of white Qi emanating from his hand.

Then he patted its head.

His expression softened.

“Well done!”

The white fox let out a soft whine, its body trembling slightly at first, then slowly accepting Chen Yuan’s touch, its eyes narrowing slightly.

At this moment, a “chirp, chirp” sound rang out.

Chen Yuan looked at the Little Squirrel wobbling to its feet not far away.

With a single gesture, he summoned it into his hand, blew a puff of white Qi on it, helping to heal its wound.

Then, he placed the little fellow on his shoulder.

Next, he stood up and walked to the mother and daughter who were looking at him with some apprehension.

The woman, pulling her daughter, quickly knelt down.

“Your great kindness, benefactor, saved my daughter and me. Thank you.”

The woman kowtowed, her voice choked with sobs, repeatedly expressing her gratitude.

At this moment, a gentle breeze lifted her and her daughter up.

“Don’t thank me; if you must thank anyone, thank these two!”

“If it weren’t for these two little fellows, I wouldn’t have made it in time to save you two!”

Chen Yuan pointed to the white fox following beside him and the Little Squirrel perched on his shoulder.

The mother and daughter looked at these two little demons, their hearts also greatly moved.

“Thank you!”

The white fox showed no particular reaction, merely following silently beside Chen Yuan, seemingly cherishing the adult’s closeness to it.

As for the Little Squirrel on Chen Yuan’s shoulder, it stood up, its two front paws on its hips, its belly puffed out, chirping.

It seemed to be showing off its earlier might.

This amusing sight made the atmosphere a bit more cheerful.

Chen Yuan smiled, then looked at the mother and daughter.

“Are you from Yunlu County?”

The woman nodded, then couldn't help but show a look of sorrow:

“Demons are rampant in the city; many people have died. The county magistrate ordered a lockdown, so we secretly escaped outside the city. But in these desolate mountains and treacherous waters, demons are rampant, and many travelers have been eaten.”

“Fortunately, benefactor, you saved us; otherwise, my daughter and I would not have been able to get out of these mountains!”

Saying this, she was about to kowtow and give thanks again!

Chen Yuan waved his hand, realizing that the situation in Yunlu County this time was different from before.

The common people were fleeing en masse, entering Langdang Mountain.

This caused the demons in the mountains to stir and move about during the day.

This was something he absolutely would not allow!

A sharp glint flashed in his eyes, then subsided. He looked at the mother and daughter.

“It’s not far from Qingshan County here; I have a favor to ask.”

The woman shook her head repeatedly.

“No, benefactor, please just say it!”

Chen Yuan spoke directly, looking at the two little demons.

“These two little fellows are injured. You two, mother and daughter, can go to Qingshan County for refuge, and at the same time, send these two little fellows to my home.”

“He will take you there!”

Saying this, he gestured to the white fox.

At this moment,

“Chirp, chirp!”

The Little Squirrel on his shoulder chirped loudly, then pointed its paw at itself.

It seemed to be expressing something.

And the originally well-behaved white fox, upon hearing this, nearly stumbled, whimpering urgently.

Chen Yuan was accustomed to these two little things talking at cross-purposes.

He didn’t pay too much attention.

And the woman quickly agreed.

Chen Yuan then entrusted this matter to them, and with a leap, he disappeared from the spot.

He had more things to do.

With Yunlu County in chaos, the fellows in Langdang Mountain were starting to get restless!

He mobilized the tiger talisman within his Mud Pill Palace, activating several animal-shaped imprints within it.

“Listen to my command!”

Then, with a thought, he ordered them to patrol the mountains.

And in many places in Langdang Mountain, towards the Yunlu County border,

There were mountain cats, wild boars, birds, and various other small animals emerging from their respective lairs.

Then they darted into the dense mountains and forests in the direction of Yunlu County.

On a mountain path, a large green-striped python was speeding along.

Ahead of it, a group of terrified refugees were screaming and scattering.

And the large snake opened its bloody maw, its head suddenly dipping, and swallowed a person whole.

Then, its three to four zhang long body rolled over, and its tail lashed out.

A person was severely struck, slammed against the mountain wall, and turned into a pulp.

Just as this demon snake was causing havoc and wantonly slaughtering refugees,

A flash of Sword Qi broke through the air.

It directly severed the hideous snake’s head.

Then, a figure in green robes flashed past on the mountain path and disappeared again!

(P.S.: To the handsome guys who voted, are you still watching? I’m talking about you!)