https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-121-Encounter-on-the-Narrow-Road/13026116/
Chapter 120: Demon Snake
Chapter 120: Demon Snake
Wilderness Mountain.
Although referred to as a mountain, its massive size made it more akin to an expansive mountain range.
From a distance, the entire Wilderness Mountain range appeared in deep brown hues, with sparse vegetation mainly concentrated at its base and within the valleys. The plants that grew here were typically drought-resistant.
"Wilderness Mountain..."
Chen Mu stood atop a hill, gazing towards the distant Wilderness Mountain with his hands behind his back.
The reason for the desolation of this mountain range was the extremely arid soil throughout the region, both above and below ground. Even during the rainy season, this area received little rain and water, hence the absence of nearby villages.
"Line up in groups and patrol along the way."
Chen Mu instructed the two Demon Slayer Bureau Black Robe Guards behind him, as well as several Yu Family Bodyguard Swordsmen and Anyu County Sheriffs.
Since there were no nearby villages around Wilderness Mountain, patrols didn't need to get too close. It was sufficient to station fixed personnel in areas with open views and conduct mobile patrols in more complex locations.
Chen Mu's current position was already about ten li away from the nearest village. This distance ensured that if any demons emerged from Wilderness Mountain, there would be enough time to relay the information and respond promptly.
"Yes, sir."
The two Black Robe Guards respectfully acknowledged, leading a group of Yu Family Swordsmen and Sheriffs to split into two directions, heading left and right.
Only Chen Mu, a Yu Family Swordsman, and a County Sheriff remained on the hill.
Due to the sparse vegetation, standing on this hill offered a panoramic view of the surrounding area, making it easy to spot any approaching demons.
The County Sheriff stood attentively by Chen Mu's side.
"There's no need to be too tense. Keep your eyes open for any possible demons."
Chen Mu spoke calmly, noticing the Sheriff's nervous demeanor.
"Yes..."
The Sheriff quickly responded.
It was understandable for the Sheriff to be nervous, given the vast difference in status between him and Chen Mu. However, he couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement, knowing that following Chen Mu could lead to a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity if he managed to impress Chen Mu.
Thus, he remained vigilant, scanning the area with his eyes, not daring to slack off even for a moment.
In contrast, the Yu Family Swordsman seemed much more relaxed.
Chen Mu stood on the hill for a while, watching until the two Black Robe Guards he had sent out disappeared from sight. Then, he turned his gaze back towards Wilderness Mountain.
Suddenly, the Yu Family Swordsman beside him spoke in a low voice, "Sir, it seems like a demon."
"Yes, I see it."
Chen Mu's expression remained calm as he focused his gaze on a distant direction. At the edge of his vision, a blurry shadow could be seen leaping back and forth in a deep ravine.
Although it was hard to make out clearly, the movements were beyond the capabilities of ordinary beasts, likely indicating a demon. However, it was still quite far away, so Chen Mu only glanced at it a few times before withdrawing his gaze.
During times of demon disturbances, it was often unnecessary to be overly proactive. Demons would naturally charge forward due to their frenzied state.
Chen Mu continued to scan the surroundings while the Yu Family Swordsman occasionally glanced at the distant demon. After about an hour, the figure leaping in the ravine suddenly disappeared.
When the Swordsman's gaze found it again, the demon had left the ravine and was heading towards the hill.
The Yu Family Swordsman's eyes narrowed.
Soon, they saw the demon approaching—a leopard demon with an orange-red body and small dark spots. Its form blended well with the surrounding Wilderness terrain, and it moved at an incredible speed, making it easy to lose sight of if not carefully observed.
"Sir, it seems to be a Flame Rock Leopard. Should I handle it?"
The Yu Family Swordsman couldn't take his eyes off the approaching leopard demon and spoke softly to Chen Mu.
Flame Rock Leopard.
It was a second-tier demon, well within his capabilities.
However, his words went unanswered, and as he hesitated, he noticed out of the corner of his eye that Chen Mu's figure had somehow vanished from the rocky hill.
When the Swordsman's gaze turned back to the charging Flame Rock Leopard, he saw Chen Mu in his green robe, standing in the leopard's path, seemingly appearing out of nowhere.
The Flame Rock Leopard's demon eyes glowed with madness as it let out a fierce roar, followed by a high leap. With a gust of wind, it pounced towards Chen Mu, claws raised to tear him apart.
Crack!
A barely audible sound.
Chen Mu's right hand formed a blade as he lightly slashed towards the leopard's neck, and with just one strike, the charging leopard's body stiffened, falling to the ground and beginning to twitch, its life force fading.
Chen Mu lifted the still-twitching body of the Flame Rock Leopard as if it were a small cat, carrying it back to the hill and dropping it to the side.
"Prepare it for roasting. We'll save it for dinner."
Chen Mu spoke in a casual tone.
The Yu Family Swordsman quickly acknowledged and went to handle the Flame Rock Leopard's body.
After the Swordsman finished preparing the leopard's body, Chen Mu picked up a piece of roasted meat and took a bite. The taste was slightly mediocre, causing him to furrow his brows slightly, but he still ate the entire piece.
As the sun set in the west, night gradually fell.
The Yu Family Swordsman's tension eased a little.
During times of drought, demons stimulated into frenzy would often calm down at night, making patrols less concerning. Nonetheless, he and the Sheriff took turns keeping watch on the hill.
Chen Mu's figure would occasionally disappear into the darkness, only to reappear the next morning as the sun rose again. The Yu Family Swordsman looked out from the hill but couldn't spot Chen Mu anywhere.
"The official has left," the County Sheriff said softly.
A sense of relief filled his heart, and the tension dissipated, replaced by a hint of regret. He hadn't accomplished any notable deeds, but Chen Mu was likely patrolling the area and would probably return after some time.
...
Between the Wilderness Hills.
Chen Mu strolled, occasionally encountering demons that approached from a distance and launched surprise attacks from behind. However, with a casual wave of his hand, he effortlessly killed these low-tier demons.
He only collected the most valuable items, leaving the rest behind as he didn't have the time to carry everything back.
(End)
"High-level demons are even scarcer than I imagined." After obtaining a piece of deer antler from a demon deer, Chen Mu shook his head slightly at the demon deer's corpse.
He had been patrolling for a day and night, primarily dealing with first and second-rank demons. So far, he hadn't encountered a single third-rank demon, which was quite different from his expectations. However, it might be because they were still in the early stages of the demon disturbance.
Just as he was thinking about this—
A sharp signal horn pierced the sky, its sound reverberating through the clouds.
"A signal horn?"
Chen Mu glanced in the direction of the sound, then quickly changed his course and headed towards the source of the horn.
Signal horns were typically used for situations that were beyond their control, often indicating the presence of high-rank demons. These horns would only be heard in one area, and the Qingyi Guards would lead a team to handle the situation.
Two consecutive horn blasts signified a large number of demons, overwhelming the patrol line. This would trigger a series of response horns, with two blasts echoing all the way to the township, prompting the commander to dispatch troops to suppress the threat.
Finally, three horn blasts represented the most severe situation, requiring the mobilization of all available personnel in the township, and possibly requesting reinforcements from the County Governor's Office if the situation warranted it.
Chen Mu moved swiftly, leaping a great distance with a single step, his shadow fleeting across the wasteland. He quickly approached the direction from which the signal horn had come.
At that moment, on a rocky hilltop, a Hei Yi Wei from the Demon Slayer Corps was crouching tensely behind a boulder, his eyes fixed on the distant hills. A yellowish-brown snake was slithering towards them, its scales resembling the hardness of the rocks. Even weaker attacks would struggle to leave a mark on its surface, making it a demon beyond the Hei Yi Wei's capabilities.
Even the Qingyi Guards might struggle to capture this demon snake. Their strategy would be to wear it down and force it to retreat.
The Hei Yi Wei had used Concealment Incense, hiding silently, but his luck had been terrible. He had encountered a Rockscale Demon Snake, a particularly troublesome type of demon.
Among all demons, aside from flying ones, snakes were notoriously tricky. Their senses varied greatly; some had acute hearing, while others relied on scent or even body heat detection.
Hiss!
The Rockscale Demon Snake had reached the Hei Yi Wei's vicinity, its tongue flicking out hesitantly.
The Hei Yi Wei's body tensed, afraid to make a sound.
But just then, a rock behind him, where another Hei Yi Wei was hiding, crumbled under the tension, causing a sharp 'crack' to echo.
Damn!
The Hei Yi Wei's face paled.
The hesitant Rockscale Demon Snake suddenly reared up and charged towards their hiding spot. With incredible speed, it shot forward, hugging the rocky terrain.
As the Hei Yi Wei's face turned grim and the other Hei Yi Wei behind him went pale with fear, a piercing wind sound tore through the air from behind them. A blade of light shot towards the charging Rockscale Demon Snake, slicing through the air and striking it with incredible speed!
Whoosh!
The Rockscale Demon Snake's movements were incredibly agile. One moment it was moving in a straight line, and the next, it abruptly changed course, its entire body, including its head, arching upwards.
With a clatter, the blade of light descended, landing just inches in front of the demon snake. It was a Fine Iron Sword, thrown with precision, now embedded in the rock.
Hiss!!!
The Rockscale Demon Snake reared up, its tongue flailing wildly, its eyes filled with rage.
Ignoring the Hei Yi Wei, it turned its head towards the figures below and lunged.
"Hmph!"
Chen Mu coldly humphed, his empty hands showing no fear. He extended his right hand, fingers forming a sword, and struck the attacking snake's head, forcing it to retreat momentarily.
"Its hardness is decent."
Chen Mu observed the Rockscale Demon Snake, which had only paused slightly after his strike, showing no apparent injuries. He commented indifferently, then turned and headed towards the rock, grasping the hilt of the Fine Iron Sword protruding from it.
With a clang, he drew out the sword and swung it forcefully, colliding with the charging Rockscale Demon Snake. The blade slashed down on its head, sparks flying, accompanied by the clear clanging of metal.
To the shocked gaze of the Hei Yi Wei, Chen Mu's Fine Iron Sword blade sliced through the air and into the demon snake's body!"
Hiss!!!
The Rockscale Demon Snake let out a pained hiss, its body recoiling backwards. Blood gushed from its head, and the madness in its demon eyes subsided. It turned and tried to escape.
But Chen Mu didn't stop; he stepped forward with a detached gaze, stomping on its tail. With his Fine Iron Sword held horizontally, he snapped the demon snake's body in two with a 'crack'!
The lower half of the snake twisted and coiled around Chen Mu's leg, while the upper half lunged at him again, its ferocity undiminished. However, it had no effect, and Chen Mu chopped it into several segments with a few swift strikes.
Impressive!
The Hei Yi Wei from the Demon Slayer Corps, witnessing this display, couldn't help but gasp. He had encountered a Rockscale Demon Snake before and knew that their tough scales often made them impervious to even the most skilled White Guards with inferior weapons. At best, they could wear them down and force a retreat.
But Chen Mu, with the standard Fine Iron Sword of the Demon Slayer Corps, had chopped the demon snake into pieces in just a few strikes. This strength and sword technique explained why Xu Hongyu valued him so highly, even consulting him in the council chamber for strategic decisions.
"Thank you, Sir, for your rescue!"
The Hei Yi Wei climbed up from behind the rock, bowing respectfully to Chen Mu, his eyes filled with awe.
Chen Mu was processing the demon snake's corpse, extracting its gallbladder, heart, and blood, leaving behind the least valuable snake meat. He glanced at the Hei Yi Wei and said indifferently, "Continue your patrol."
Chapter end
Report
