399: Chapter 398 Black Python Saves Si Hongxiao

The movement of the Black Python churning the pool water instantly caught the attention of Qin Yi and the other person, who were sitting in meditation and cultivating in the pool.

The two of them looked at each other, and Qin Yi hurriedly shouted in the direction the Black Python was leaving: "Hey, Mang Ge, where are you going? It's not midnight yet!"

The Black Python did not stop at all, its body passing through the barrier at the cave entrance and heading toward Si Hongxiao.

"What's going on? What happened to Mang Ge?" Si Yao asked in confusion.

Qin Yi shook his head and tried to guess, "Could it be that someone found this place? After all, Bai Ruoxue made such a big scene this time; the military, the Security Bureau, and your grandfather's side will definitely take action!"

"If that's the case, won't they be in danger since the Black Python just went out?" Si Yao said worriedly.

Just as she finished speaking, the sound of splashing water came from the cave entrance. The Black Python returned, dragging a soaking wet body. With a flick of its tail, the body was tossed out—following the same path as when Zhao Lintai had entered.

With just one look, Si Yao recognized the person: "It's Brother Xiao! My dad's personal bodyguard!"

Upon hearing this, Qin Yi immediately leaped out of the water. He instantly performed the 'Divine Movement Hundred Changes' Cultivation Technique, and in the blink of an eye, he had steadily caught Si Hongxiao. Si Yao followed closely behind to check on him.

Si Hongxiao's eyes were tightly closed, his lips were purple, and his chest was heaving slightly. He had clearly lost consciousness from choking on water.

Qin Yi immediately pressed his hands on Si Hongxiao's chest, applying force with a steady rhythm.

In less than three minutes, "Cough, cough, cough..." Si Hongxiao suddenly coughed up a large mouthful of pool water.

"He's awake, he's awake." Si Yao felt slightly relieved and let out a long breath. "Brother Xiao, how do you feel?"

Hearing Si Yao's voice, Si Hongxiao immediately opened his eyes. Once he saw clearly that the person in front of him was indeed Si Yao, he immediately struggled to sit up, his voice hoarse: "Yaoyao! Thank God! I've finally found you!" As he spoke, he looked at Qin Yi, who was supporting his back. "Mr. Qin, you're fine too. That's wonderful!"

"Brother Xiao, how is Brother Bin?" Si Yao asked urgently.

Hearing this, the joy on Si Hongxiao's face vanished instantly, and he said in a heavy voice, "Hongbin... he may have already been killed. And the six people who entered the mountains with you all might have met with misfortune as well!"

"What about my grandfather? Is he okay?" Si Yao continued to press.

"Sigh," Si Hongxiao sighed. "The old master's mood isn't very good. First, he's worried about your and Mr. Qin's safety, and second, he already knows the news of Hongbin's death. Hongbin has been by the old master's side since he was a child; he's no different from a biological son. By the way, where are Zhao Lintai and that woman named Bai Ruoxue? When the old master learned that you and Mr. Qin were attacked by that woman, he was furious! Before I left, he gave a death order: if we encounter that woman, there's no need to ask for instructions—kill her on the spot!"

Si Yao shook her head: "When Qin Yi and I were climbing toward the mountain peak, we were attacked by Bai Ruoxue. Later, we hid in this mountain cave, but then we were knocked into the pool water by Bai Ruoxue. To be able to survive this time, I really have to thank Qin Yi. If it weren't for him, I'm afraid I would have met a grim end."

"Thank you, Mr. Qin, for saving the Young Miss's life. When I see the old master, I will definitely report this truthfully!" Si Hongxiao said as he prepared to stand up and cup his hands in a respectful gesture to Qin Yi.

Qin Yi quickly stopped him and said with a look of shame, "I'm ashamed. If it weren't for me, perhaps so many things wouldn't have happened today!"

"Oh, right. I was just thinking of diving into the pool to find you, but unexpectedly, as soon as I entered the water and before I could dive very deep, I lost consciousness. It seems there's something strange about this water. This place looks like a stalactite cave; how did I end up here?" Si Hongxiao asked, curiously sizing up the cave before him.

"So that's how it is," Qin Yi looked gratefully toward the Black Python. "I thought you had lost consciousness because you were attacked by Mang Ge. It seems I misunderstood him."

"Mang Ge? Who is that? Is there someone else in this cave?" In the cave, the light was insufficient, and Si Hongxiao thought it was only Si Yao and Qin Yi.

Qin Yi raised a finger and pointed toward the Black Python: "Mang Ge is him. He's the one who saved you; otherwise, Yaoyao and I wouldn't have even known you found this place."

Looking in the direction Qin Yi pointed, Si Hongxiao finally noticed such a massive Giant Black Python coiled and resting upon the stalactites.

"Holy crap, such a huge Black Python?! Will it attack us?" Si Hongbin looked at the Giant Black Python with a wary gaze.

"No, Mang Ge is very friendly. Besides, he also has a grudge against that woman Bai Ruoxue." As Qin Yi spoke, he pointed to Zhao Lintai, who was still unconscious. "By the way, Zhao Lintai isn't dead either. However, I knocked him out a while ago, and he hasn't woken up yet."

Si Hongxiao looked over, and when he saw Zhao Lintai slumped on the ground, the fire of anger in his eyes was instantly ignited. He made a move to go up and teach Zhao Lintai a lesson: "Damn it, it's this kid! If it weren't for him, Hongbin wouldn't have been killed. I'll kill him right now!"

Seeing this, Si Yao hurriedly blocked him: "Brother Xiao, don't be impulsive! Now the Southwest military and the Security Bureau are both looking for Zhao Lintai. If you kill him, how will you explain it to the capital?"

"What's there to explain! Just kill him and say he was bitten to death by Mang Ge. Who could verify it?! Besides, his Zhao family isn't far from being finished."

"Uh, why is that?" Si Yao and Qin Yi were both stunned.

"Oh, you don't know yet. Not long after you entered the mountains, the old master of the Zhao family had a sudden heart attack. At this moment, it's still unknown if he's been saved."

Qin Yi suddenly realized, a flash of solemnity appearing in his eyes: "No wonder so many people were mobilized to find Zhao Lintai. At first, I thought the Security Bureau was going to take action against him, but I didn't expect it was because Old Master Zhao was critically ill."

"Speaking of which, Old Master Zhao's heart attack is also related to our Si Family." Si Hongxiao then recounted to the two of them how Zhao Weiguo had a sudden heart attack after a phone call with Si Zhengxiong. Finally, he added, "Also because of this matter, Xu Anguo of the General Security Bureau even called Brother Jun to question what he meant and why he let the Southwest Evening News publish the report about the marriage contract between the Si and Zhao families! He also said that our Si Family must be responsible for finding Zhao Lintai! That's why the old master sent Hongbin to lead people into the mountains to find that kid!"

"So that's how it is!" Si Yao nodded, then said indignantly, "On what grounds does his Security Bureau blame our Si Family?!"

"Sigh," Si Hongxiao sighed and explained, "Xu Anguo naturally wouldn't dare. According to Brother Jun, it seems the one at Donghe Villa lost his temper. He also said that after Zhao Lintai is found, Brother Jun should also arrange the group's work as soon as possible and head to the capital; that person wants to see Brother Jun."

"Then my dad... he won't be in danger, will he?" Si Yao asked nervously.

"According to Brother Jun's guess, there shouldn't be any major issues. By the way, I need to quickly report the situation here to the old master. If he knows you're fine, Yaoyao, he'll definitely be very happy." As he spoke, he fumbled through his pockets and took out a mobile phone tightly wrapped in a waterproof plastic bag.

However, after the screen lit up, there wasn't a single bar of signal.

Qin Yi explained: "Brother Xiao, there's probably no signal in here. When it's midnight, Mang Ge will naturally take us out."

Si Hongxiao glanced at the time on the screen; it was now nearly ten o'clock at night, just an hour away from midnight.

...

As time passed minute by minute, everyone was nervously waiting for the result.

Above Zhuilong Valley, the clouds grew thicker and thicker. Soon, the full moon in the sky was also obscured by the clouds, and the faint sound of muffled thunder rumbled within them.

At the Si Family Old Residence, under the ancient tree in the front yard, Si Zhengxiong sat in his wheelchair, looking toward Zhuilong Valley with a solemn expression.

Si Hongjun came over from the side, holding his mobile phone.

"Is Hongxiao's phone still not getting through?" Si Zhengxiong asked in a heavy voice.

"Yes," Si Hongjun nodded, "I'll try a few more times!"

"Forget it, stop calling! The magnetic field in Zhuilong Valley is chaotic to begin with; it's normal for there to be no signal!" Si Zhengxiong raised his hand, then followed up by asking, "How is it on Hongbin's side? Has any news come back from the Military General Hospital?"

"Not yet. Old Hou is already waiting outside the operating room. As soon as there's news, he'll call me immediately. Since no news has come, he must still be in surgery!"

"Sigh, looking at the sky, it's about to rain. Once it rains, the situation in Zhuilong Valley will become even more complicated, and the difficulty of the search will be even greater!" Si Zhengxiong sighed, looking at the dark clouds over Zhuilong Valley with a face full of worry.

By now, nearly four hours had passed since everyone entered the mountains to search. Counting the time it took for the Southwest Military Region to deploy helicopters, it had been about six or seven hours since Yaoyao was attacked.

Calculating the time, Si Zhengxiong became increasingly worried.

...

The situation in Zhuilong Valley weighed on many people's hearts. Besides the Southwest Si Family, in the Magic City, Ye Qingcheng also called Shen Jianan to ask about Qin Yi's situation.

Upon learning that there was still no news, Ye Qingcheng's heart also became increasingly uneasy.

However, there was nothing that could be done now; the only thing to do was wait!

Perhaps, at this time, no news was the best news!

...