Farm Girl's Manor
Chapter 618: The Mighty Red Python (3)_1

Chapter 618: Chapter 618: The Mighty Red Python (3)_1

Xiao Ruiyuan came to a halt, his sharp eyes vigilantly scanning ahead as his right hand had already tightly grasped the Sharp Sword at his waist.

The Dark guards had drawn their blades too, ready to plunge them into the necks of their enemies at a moment’s notice, staining them with the most vibrant yet most sinister color in the world.

There was silence all around, not even the sound of the wind could be heard. The pitch-black night was like the gaping maw of a monstrous beast, greedily eager to devour any prey that came knocking at its door.

Unfamiliar dangers were about to approach, and Mo Yan clenched her hands with a trace of nervousness, daring not make a sound. The Golden Beast below detected her unease, turned its massive head and nuzzled her leg as if to comfort her.

The Golden Beast wasn’t like Little Flower who loved to show off, nor like Mao Tuan who was clingy, not as aloof as Dabai, and not shameless like the Red Python. At first, Mo Yan thought its temperament was very much like Xiao Ruiyuan’s—appearing quite cold.

Only later did she realize that it wasn’t that it was cold, but rather, it was simply slow-witted! This kind of slow-wittedness was on par with Tie Tou’s!

Rarely showing such an affectionate side, the tension in Mo Yan’s heart was instantly cast to the winds as she joyously stroked the Golden Beast’s somewhat coarse fur.

The Golden Beast seemed a bit shy, its small ears severely disproportionate to its head twitched unconsciously, but it didn’t turn its head back.

Before long, everyone heard the rumbling sound of horse hooves coming from not too far away. In merely a few breaths’ time, more than a hundred riders came into view.

Seeing the bandits blocking the road ahead, Xiao Ruiyuan was uncertain whether these men were instructed to intercept them here, or if they simply saw his party as ripe for the taking. If it were the latter, it would be easier to handle; if the former, it would, inevitably, lead to some trouble.

Suppressing the irritation bubbling within, Xiao Ruiyuan asked in a cold voice, "Why do you block our way?"

"Why do we block your way? Hahaha——" The leader with the beard, as if hearing a hilarious joke, laughed heartily, looking at Xiao Ruiyuan with a gaze that seemed to regard him as a fool, saying, "We’re bandits, we block you for the loot, naturally. If you know what’s good for you, surrender without a fuss, and once we receive the gold and silver from your family, we’ll naturally let you go. Otherwise, don’t blame us for not being polite!"

Towards the end, his tone carried a hint of menace.

Xiao Ruiyuan’s expression chilled, and he said indifferently, "We must return to the Imperial City tonight. You desire wealth, so why not let us pass? On another day, we shall surely repay you generously!"

If it were any other day and he had come across these robber barons, he would have cut down these scoundrels with his sword for the people’s sake, but tonight, no matter what, he couldn’t afford to get entangled with them and waste precious time.

"Repay generously?" The bearded leader snorted coldly, saying dismissively, "You think I’m a fool? I will count to three, and if you don’t walk over here by yourself, then don’t blame me for being unkind! If you get hurt by accident, it will be your own doing! One—Two—" he began to count for real.

Xiao Ruiyuan, seeing this, a heavy murderous intent flashed in his eyes, was about to command the Dark guards to pounce when suddenly, a terrified voice cut through the night: "Ah—Snake—There are snakes—"

Before the bearded leader could react, several more shrill cries followed. The bandits atop their horses began falling like dumplings into boiling water, thump thump, hitting the ground, each having been bitten by Poisonous Snakes.

Hiss, hiss, hiss—

The snakes, as if they had agreed upon a signal, simultaneously let out piercing hisses and launched their attack on the bandits who had no time to react.

In just a fleeting moment, including the bearded bandit, all of the hundreds of bandits were poisoned by the snakes. They rolled on the ground, emitting heart-wrenching screams that sounded particularly sinister!

Even Xiao Ruiyuan and the Hidden Guards, accustomed to various bloody scenes, couldn’t help but feel their scalps tingle at the sight of the densely packed snakes crawling all over the grey-white ground. They all kept a wary eye on their feet, fearing that a moment of carelessness would result in a bite from these slithering creatures.

Strangely enough, the snakes seemed not to notice them, crawling over the bandits’ bodies instead. They struck at whoever they disliked, and soon, those bandits lay on the ground, barely breathing, their groans barely audible.

Mo Yan had always had a dislike for elongated animals, having only grown accustomed to the Red Python in her past and current lives. At the sight of so many snakes, even though she couldn’t make out their forms clearly, her stomach churned. She slapped away the Red Python trying to claim credit and vomited profusely over the back of the Golden Beast.

Seeing her condition, Xiao Ruiyuan didn’t think twice before scooping her onto the horseback, cradling Mo Yan in his arms. He ordered the Dark Guards, "Avoid the snakes, move quickly!"

Having said that, he spurred the horse fiercely, charging through the nearby underbrush. The Golden Beast hastily followed.

Watching this, the Dark Guards each spurred their mounts, circling around the snakes and quickly following after.

The neglected Red Python looked at its partner Little Flower with grievance, only to receive a gleeful roll of the eyes. Infuriated, it angrily thumped its thick tail onto the ground.

The "little brothers" summoned by the Red Python quickly slid off the bandits’ bodies, trembling on the ground, fearful that the boss would become angry and flatten them all into meat patties!

When Scar face, chasing relentlessly with his subordinates, caught up only to find the bearded bandit and the rest lying on the ground with their fates uncertain, his face turned an ashen blue.

He had hoped to continue the chase, even if it led to the foot of the Imperial City, intent on capturing them, but he despaired to discover that their path was once again blocked by an unexpected horde of snakes...

Nestled in Xiao Ruiyuan’s arms, Mo Yan finally felt relief after emptying her stomach, and only then did she belatedly realize how intimate their pose—no, position—was!

Well, though someone’s embrace was unyielding and not the softest, it felt safe! She was just an ordinary woman, longing for the security that a loved one could provide, but... the timing really could not have been worse!

She couldn’t ignore the fifty Dark Guards around them, nor pretend the hundred eyes were blind, and then there were the five beasts. She could almost imagine having to face Little Flower’s taunting and mocking cries from time to time—who could blame her for once mocking Little Flower’s foolish and low methods of pursuing Dabai?

Indeed, self-inflicted misery could truly be inescapable!

Mo Yan’s eyes earnestly followed the running Golden Beast beside her, feeling that if she could just get to it now, she might yet salvage the situation!