Chapter 108: Dragon Gate Followers

Whoosh—

The enormous python, incredibly thick, coiled around the multistory boat, crushing several of its floors until they groaned and creaked. Throughout the boat, scholars were stunned, and the boatmen were paralyzed with fear.

“Brother Wei Yong, can you fly?” Qin Mu suddenly asked.

Wei Yong hadn’t yet recovered his wits. “Huh?”

Qin Mu raised his hand and tossed the hefty man off the boat. Wei Yong’s terrified shriek echoed from below: “I can’t fly! Ahh—”

Qin Mu leaped from the multistory boat. Fox Spirit, who had been completely drunk, was now as clear-headed as a night owl. The instant Qin Mu jumped, the little fox activated her magic, and a gust of wind lifted Qin Mu up.

Qin Mu rode the wind, whistling downwards. He reached out and grabbed Wei Yong, who, still reeling from shock, looked down and screamed again.

“Stop screaming!”

Qin Mu exerted himself, running frantically. Above them, the massive multistory boat groaned and creaked as shattered sections of the structure plummeted downwards. Qin Mu continuously dodged in mid-air, evading the whistling timbers, and rushed into the distance.

Wei Yong looked back, his gaze blank. The boat’s structure had been completely shredded. The great snake coiled tightly around the multistory boat, relentlessly constricting it. The boat was about to be squeezed into two pieces!

The scholars on board leaped off the boat. Some cultivators who had learned flight techniques manipulated their spiritual weapons to fly, while others, who hadn't learned, flailed their limbs in the air as they plummeted downwards.

“Long Jiaonan! Are you trying to rebel?!”

The boat master of the multistory boat erupted in fury, transforming into a flaming giant and charging at the alluring man. His divine power was incredibly domineering, but the multistory boat could no longer withstand the battle between two masters. The boat's core alchemical chamber was crushed and ruptured by the giant snake, and the alchemists and apprentices inside scrambled out, leaping off the boat.

At the same time, the giant snake spewed a cloud of poisonous mist onto the boat master’s face. The flaming giant immediately extinguished, collapsing backwards stiffly.

“We’re doomed…”

Wei Yong’s face was pale. “The Dragon Control Gate has betrayed us! That person, who raises huge serpents, is Long Jiaonan, the young master of the Dragon Control Gate—a notorious scoundrel…”

Qin Mu strained to support him, rushing towards the ground. Below them was a mountain slope where they could hide their tracks and avoid detection by the powerful cultivators of the Dragon Control Gate.

Moments later, they finally landed. Fox Spirit dispelled her magic and was about to speak when suddenly, a scream echoed from above. A scholar fell through the dense tree canopy, landing in front of them, torn to pieces, his brains and organs splattered everywhere.

Thump!

Another dull thud came from not far away.

Thump, thump, thump…

The mountain slope became like a rain shower, with scholars plummeting from the sky, shattering upon impact!

Wei Yong’s face was ashen, and his body trembled uncontrollably. Qin Mu’s ears twitched. He suddenly grabbed Wei Yong and sprinted forward. Behind them, a colossal crash erupted as half of the boat plummeted down, obliterating a section of the forest. The impact sent knocked-over trees hurtling outwards in every direction, a truly terrifying sight.

The massive hull of the multistory boat slid for over a hundred yards, nearly crushing Qin Mu as he ran, before finally coming to a halt.

Qin Mu continued to exert himself, sprinting forward. From within the boat, an earth-shattering roar erupted—the alchemical furnace had exploded, and a surging blast of air sent the two men and one fox flying!

Qin Mu landed, released Wei Yong, and whispered, “Let’s go quickly! Masters from the Dragon Control Gate will soon arrive here to check for any survivors!”

Wei Yong, barely recovered from his fright, immediately ran forward and asked, “What will they do if they find survivors?”

Fox Spirit gave him a sidelong glance, still a bit tipsy, clearly having secretly imbibed some alcohol. “Fat Wei, what do you think?”

Wei Yong shivered. “The Dragon Control Gate is incredibly brazen this time, daring to attack a scholar’s boat near the capital, a boat carrying scholars on their way to the imperial examination! Once the Imperial Preceptor recovers from his injuries, he certainly won’t let the Dragon Control Gate off the hook!”

“Do you really think the Imperial Preceptor is injured?”

Qin Mu shook his head. “In my opinion, the Imperial Preceptor isn't injured at all. He deliberately wanted to lure the snakes out of their holes, drawing out all the forces opposing him within Yankang Kingdom to catch them all in one net. Wasn’t the Dragon Control Gate drawn out by him?”

Wei Yong stared blankly, then blurted out, “You mean… Impossible! I’ve heard there are over twenty rebellions ongoing, seizing cities and lands, causing countless civilian casualties, and many bandits are running rampant. How could the Imperial Preceptor condone such things?”

Qin Mu said, “This is naturally political maneuvering. If he weren’t injured, how could he lure out these rebellious officials and traitors? So, he got ‘injured.’ He suffered a defeat in the Great Ruins, was assassinated on his way back, and was severely wounded, significantly damaging both his reputation and strength. Who would pass up such a golden opportunity?”

He stated emphatically, “In my opinion, the Imperial Preceptor must have planned this long ago. He won't make a move to quell the rebellion until all the treacherous officials and traitors have revealed their true colors.”

Wei Yong still found it hard to accept, mumbling, “But so many people will die…”

“But then Yankang’s Imperial Preceptor will have completely eliminated future troubles, won’t he?”

Qin Mu glanced at Wei Yong. The fat man was surprisingly agile, able to keep pace with him, though he clearly had little understanding of wind, unable to ‘step on wind tips’ to fly. He continued, “Once he completely eradicates these future troubles, who would dare plot against him when he next deploys his army? Furthermore, if the Imperial Preceptor catches all his enemies in one net this time, and he desires to ascend to the throne, who would dare object?”

Wei Yong shivered several times, looking at Qin Mu as if he were a monster. “Brother Qin, you’re about my age, aren’t you? How can you come up with so many schemes and plots? Little Fox, he must be an old fox spirit who has cultivated into human form, right?”

Fox Spirit chirped excitedly, “Fat Wei, you noticed too? I’ve long suspected Young Master is a male fox spirit!”

Wei Yong said, “Don’t call me Fat Wei. My Wei family from Jiangling is a prominent clan with a name. It would be quite shameful if that got out.”

The little fox replied, “Then I’ll call you Tubby.”

Wei Yong fell silent for a moment, then said hoarsely, “Just call me Fat Wei. At least that suggests I’m only slightly chubby.”

Suddenly, Qin Mu asked, “Brother Wei Yong, what’s your cultivation level?”

“I’ve broken through the Five Elements Wall and opened the Five Elements Divine Treasure, but my cultivation level doesn't seem much higher than yours.”

Wei Yong asked, puzzled, “What’s your cultivation level?”

“Spirit Embryo Realm.”

Qin Mu channeled his vital qi, pulled out his Pig-Slaughtering Knife, and said, “Brother Wei Yong, you handle two, I’ll handle two!”

Wei Yong didn't understand what he meant. Suddenly, four large snakes slithered out from the forest ahead, accompanied by a melodic flute tune. The flute music was winding and pleasant, very sprightly, like a mischievous village girl teasing a green snake in the grass, the notes surprisingly erratic, rising and falling.

The flutist must have been a disciple of the Dragon Control Gate. Qin Mu looked in the direction of the sound but couldn't see any masters from the Dragon Control Gate; they must have been hidden.

The Dragon Control Gate was originally a sect from Daxing Prefecture near the capital. They made their living by raising snakes, and because they were so adept at raising large serpents, they called themselves 'Dragon Controllers.'

This sect had been subdued by the Imperial Preceptor and had remained well-behaved. Even the exotic beasts kept by the army included giant snakes raised by members of the Dragon Control Gate.

The flute music was clear and resonant, and the large snakes moved in rhythm with it.

“Brother Qin, the Dragon Control Gate’s weapon appears to be the large snakes, but it’s actually their flute music. Their flute music controls the snakes’ attacks…”

Just as Wei Yong was about to explain the Dragon Control Gate’s attack methods to Qin Mu, Qin Mu had already charged out. Wei Yong, left with no choice, also stepped forward and charged.

Suddenly, the flute music became dense and short, and the red-crested snakes' speed abruptly increased as they lunged at the two men.

The instant Qin Mu encountered the first large snake, a sudden flash of knife light erupted, like a bursting silver sphere!

Night Battle, Continuous City Wind and Rain!

In an instant, flesh and blood splattered. Before the red-crested snake could even strike, the silver light had passed through its body, from head to tail. When the silver light vanished, only a gigantic snake skeleton remained, utterly devoid of flesh.

Meanwhile, Fox Spirit controlled a wind-blade scimitar to slash at another large snake. The flute-controlled snake opened its mouth and inhaled, drawing the wind-blade scimitar into its mouth, then prepared to spray poisonous mist.

Qin Mu pointed his fingers forward and thrust. His Protector Sword pierced the snake’s eye. With an upward flick of his wrist, the Protector Sword immediately burst through the snake’s skull and out of its head!

On the other side, Wei Yong lunged forward. His cultivation was profound, and he carried a sword box on his back, from which he controlled flying swords to stab the large snakes. The sword box was also a spiritual weapon, though its sharpness was inferior to Qin Mu’s Protector Sword and Pig-Slaughtering Knife.

Wei Yong moved deftly under the attacks of the two large snakes, inflicting more sword wounds on them, but he couldn't find an opportunity to kill either of them.

Although his cultivation was profound, his combat skills were far inferior to Qin Mu’s, and his techniques were academic, lacking the power to deliver a killing blow.

Suddenly, Fox Spirit bounced and scurried into the forest, while Qin Mu also rushed into the forest from another direction. Wei Yong cried out in alarm, wanting to charge over too, but was entangled by the two large snakes, unable to break free.

Just then, the flute music abruptly ceased. Without the flute’s command, the two large snakes became somewhat sluggish. Wei Yong immediately seized the opportunity, slaying both snakes, and then rushed into the forest. He heard the little fox’s voice call out: “Fat Wei, over here!”

Wei Yong quickly ran over. He saw Qin Mu and the little fox there, beside a towering tree that appeared to be bleeding. Wei Yong didn’t see any person at first. Looking closely, he realized it wasn’t the tree that was bleeding, but a man whose attire was identical to tree bark, even his face was covered in bark-like patterns!

The man had hollowed out a hole in the tree just big enough to hide himself. Without careful observation, he would have been completely invisible.

“It’s a disciple of the Dragon Control Gate!”

Wei Yong’s heart skipped a beat. “Brother Qin, the disciples of the Dragon Control Gate always move in groups!”

“You mean…”

Qin Mu’s expression also changed. He looked towards the depths of the dense forest, where lush trees stood. Then, from within the tree trunks, emerged over a hundred figures, all covered in bark-like patterns.

The flute music resumed. From behind the trees, countless large snakes slithered forth, filling the mountain wild. Their red crests swayed like flowers in the wind.