Chapter 106 Dawn
Chapter 106 Dawn
"That's where the snakes roam, the furthest place we've ever explored, but we've never been there before."
The restraints on Gu Lianyong's hands had been removed. Now, the old man, Gu Lianyong, and Old Master Weng were all driving the carriage together in front.
Wang Sumo and Jiang Yutang stayed in the carriage.
The two old men wouldn't let them go in front.
But everyone knows that the place ahead is the most dangerous.
At this moment, everyone felt an indescribable tension...
"Do you know how many?" the old man asked.
Gu Lianyong shook his head: "I haven't seen the whole picture, but there's a lot."
Gu Lianyong took a deep breath: "To quote someone who's been here before, 'There's just too much to see...'"
Everyone in the carriage held their breath, as if they were rehearsing what they were about to experience.
Weng He looked at Old Master Qu: "Old Master Qu, will you be able to get through this?"
If they can't get through, these people and these horses will be doomed if they charge into the snake pit. And they'll die a gruesome death...
The old man gripped the reins tightly and said in a deep voice, "I don't know, we can only rush over there as fast as we can!"
Gu Lianyong also noticed that the old man's expression wasn't very good.
Weng He also took a deep breath: "Girl, it's not too late to stop now."
Stopping the carriage now is tantamount to pulling back from the brink.
There's a cliff right ahead...
Jiang Yutang looked up and saw Wang Sumo at such close range for the first time.
Wang Sumo also frowned.
She knew, of course, that there was a cliff ahead, but she didn't want to pull back from the brink.
Zhao Tong and Bai Cen are still in the Bewitching Town. Whether it's Zhao Tong who fell into the secret passage or Bai Cen who snatched the torch from the old man and lured away the strange man, they are the ones who are truly on the cliff.
To save them, we must cross the cliff in front of us!
We crossed over this cliff.
There was no other way.
"There's no turning back now. Gentlemen, Brother Gu, Yu Tang, hold on tight to the carriage." Wang Sumo's tone was unwavering.
Gu Lianyong originally thought that Old Master Weng asked this question because he was hesitant, but he didn't expect that Old Master Weng would be the one laughing the loudest in the carriage, and he also said in a carefree manner: "Interesting! This is much more interesting than in Zhenhu Division!"
"Old Qu! Decades ago, I didn't stay to be with you, but this time I have no regrets," said Grandpa Weng frankly.
The old man gave a light sneer.
However, both of them simultaneously thought of something from earlier...
"Just don't wet your pants in fear," Lao Qu teased deliberately.
Grandpa Weng gripped the side of the carriage tightly: "Then take it easy. We still need to eat hairy crabs after we leave Bewitching Town!"
Old Qu chuckled lightly!
"Yutang..." Old Master Weng had just begun to speak when Jiang Yutang calmly said, "I'm not afraid..."
Jiang Yutang looked at the backs of Old Master Weng and Old Master Qu; they were probably the most composed people in the carriage.
He was a man of many knowledge in the martial arts world, and he knew best the unpredictable nature of life and death in this world.
She came to see her maternal grandfather.
Although her maternal grandfather and grandmother's descriptions differed in many ways, she seemed to understand why her maternal grandfather was the way her grandmother saw him...
Everyone has their own shining moments, and in my grandmother's eyes, my grandfather was shining in every way.
She was an orphan from a young age and was raised by her grandfather.
Having found her only remaining relative in the world and spent these few days with him, she had no regrets...
Why is she afraid?
Jiang Yutang's gaze was calm and firm.
Gu Lianyong looked at the people in the carriage, and suddenly felt a surge of indescribable emotions.
The passion that had been devoured in the darkness seemed to gradually resurface and fill my heart.
That's something that, no matter how long it's imprisoned in a dark room, can still be ignited in an instant.
Gu Lianyong clenched his fists, and his deathly pale face slowly regained its pale color, no longer ashen and gloomy.
"Grandpa," Wang Sumo reminded him.
"I understand!" Old Master Qu knew what she was going to say.
"Old man!" the old man reminded him.
Jiang Yutang had always thought that Old Master Weng didn't carry weapons, only folding fans.
But suddenly at this moment, when he saw Old Master Weng reach out and press his hand on the jade buckle of his belt, he thought it was just a belt, but suddenly he pulled out a soft sword as soft as silk from the jade buckle!
A soft sword at the waist?
Jiang Yutang was stunned.
— Your maternal grandfather used a soft sword!
— A jade belt hung at his waist; from which he drew was a soft sword. Very few people in this world wield soft swords; your maternal grandfather was one of them.
Soft sword?
Jiang Yutang was still in a daze.
"Grandpa, that's enough." Wang Sumo had already pulled down the curtain at the back of the carriage. It was made of a very thick material and covered the back of the carriage completely.
They took out some thick clothes from the carriage. They weren't made of pure cotton; they were more like curtains that weren't easily torn. Everyone simply covered themselves up.
The old man pulled the switch on the reins, and the fabric on the reins around the horse's neck drooped slightly. The material was the same as what they were wearing, and it could cover part of the horse's exposed body.
All that's left is to charge forward!
“It’s right ahead.” Gu Lianyong pointed ahead, where there was a clear boundary. It was believed that plants that naturally repel snakes, including vines, were planted and covered there, so snakes would not live in such a place.
Gu Lianyong threw his boomerang, which cleanly severed a patch of vines in front of him, allowing the carriage to pass through.
Once the boomerang was back in his hand, Gu Lianyong gripped it tightly and raised his hand to his chest.
Grandpa Weng also gripped the soft sword in his hand tightly.
Wang Sumo unscrewed the realgar wine, sprinkled it on himself, and then passed it on to everyone in turn, sprinkling quite a bit on each person's clothes.
Realgar wine is only used as a backup.
The only thing that can actually penetrate the barrier in this area is snake repellent powder!
Just as the horse's hooves were about to cross that large patch of vines, the old man reached out and pulled the handle above the carriage.
The moment the ring was pulled, powder began to seep down and fall from the gaps around the carriage, and even from the fabric attached to the horse's body.
The powder adhered to the carriage, the horses' legs, and the surrounding air.
When Bazhenlou was about to venture into the martial world, Yu Daozi considered the possibility of encountering ferocious beasts, and naturally, he also considered the possibility of encountering venomous snakes.
However, Yu Daozi's design did not take into account the extreme situation of passing through a large number of snakes.
Therefore, the Eight Treasures Pavilion has both barriers and elements of high-stakes gambling!
Moreover, snake repellent powder has a limited duration of use and a limited tolerance, which is why it's not advisable to use it too far in advance.
And after using it, you must rush through it in one go, without lingering.
Once the snakes realize what's happening, or gradually adapt to the snake repellent powder, the area will become dangerous again.
But the snakes can't adapt so quickly.
Snake repellent powder works by using specific scents and ingredients to make snakes feel uncomfortable or alert, thus causing them to actively avoid the area (see Baidu).
However, not all snakes are sensitive to snake repellent powder.
Even within the same type of snake, different body types and sizes, and even aggressive snakes, can exhibit varying degrees of heightened sensitivity. Therefore, neither Grandpa Weng nor Gu Lianyong dared to be careless.
For Bazhenlou, the most dangerous thing was actually the horses that drove the carriage.
The carriages would be in danger if they were attacked by a swarm of snakes.
Jiang Yutang stood in front of Wang Sumo with her sword, also acting as a shield behind Old Master Weng and Gu Lianyong, in case a snake fell from above...
Jiang Yutang was actually terrified.
The old man controlled the horses and drove the carriage, even though the horses were restless.
However, this premonition of unease is different from actual harm such as fire, and a well-trained horse will still overcome its fear as required by its owner.
— This is on the premise that no snakes attack the horses.
Perhaps it was because of the commotion at Bazhenlou Restaurant, coupled with the effect of the snake repellent powder, that no snakes approached in such a short time.
The people on the carriage initially had no idea whether the snake repellent powder would work, but now they know it has. However, they don't know how long the effect will last, or whether there will be snakes ahead that are unaffected by the powder.
The biggest weight in my heart has been lifted, but more stones are beginning to hang in my heart.
"It's been about fifteen minutes." Wang Sumo kept the time in his mind.
The longer the time, the shorter the remaining distance, meaning the hope of breaking through is getting closer.
However, this also indicates that the efficacy of snake repellent powder is becoming increasingly weak.
Especially towards the end.
Wang Sumo looked up and saw that the sky was already beginning to lighten, indicating that dawn was approaching and the sun was rising in the east.
But the last moments of darkness before dawn are the hardest to endure.
Wang Sumo clenched her fists.
As we entered the area teeming with snakes, the mist gradually dissipated, and the surroundings became clearer.
The distant green mountains that form a natural barrier are actually right in front of us.
"Yu Tang!" Wang Su Mo suddenly called out.
At that very moment, a small snake that had been coiled on a tree branch fell down as the carriage passed.
Jiang Yutang stood up and used her sword to stab the small snake away.
That little snake probably didn't attack intentionally; it just failed to get caught on the branch. But it also shows that there are more and more snakes here, and we've truly entered the core area!
Although Jiang Yutang reacted quickly, after some thought, she did not cut the small snake in half directly, causing the smell of blood to attract other snakes. Instead, she used the tip of her sword to pry the snake apart and throw it away.
Wang Sumo was still shaken.
However, it must be said that Jiang Yutang is extremely calm and not the type to panic when faced with problems.
Everyone on the carriage had their own role.
The old man focused on driving and looking ahead, while Old Master Weng looked to the left, Gu Lianyong looked to the right, and Jiang Yutang paid attention to the area above the carriage, which was the area protecting the two old men and Gu Lianyong's heads.
What Wang Sumo needs to pay attention to are the easily overlooked details in each direction and all other situations, such as what just happened...
The moment the small snake fell, everyone breathed a sigh of relief, but it also indicated that the snake swarm ahead would likely become even denser.
Wang Sumo could already see the beads of sweat on the old man's forehead, and as the smell of snake repellent powder in the carriage grew fainter, the swords in the hands of the old man, Gu Lianyong, and Jiang Yutang began to draw blood.
Fortunately, the snake repellent powder on the cloth of the horses in front should have been adhered to for a long time and had a strong effect. If the snake had attacked the horses from the front, the whole carriage could have been in danger!
"Senior!" Gu Lianyong warned the old man while fending off a snake that was flicking its tongue at him from the right. Snakes were already darting about on the road ahead, clearly looking for an opportunity.
But Old Master Weng had no time to deal with that; the snakes on the left were incredibly ferocious, and there were more of them than on the right. Jiang Yutang not only had to deal with the snakes falling from the roof of the carriage, but also had to help Old Master Weng deal with the snakes on the left.
Even Wang Sumo managed to cut a small snake that lunged at the old man with a dagger when he was in danger; however, his palms were completely soft.
But she had no time to be lenient.
At the crucial moment, a snake bit the leftmost horse.
Suddenly, the horse kicked violently in pain, shaking violently, and the entire carriage suddenly lost power, spinning around instead of moving forward.
In a close call, the car almost overturned, but luckily the old man was experienced enough to keep it steady!
But there are more and more snakes around!
The snake that had bitten the horse earlier had been trampled to death by the horse, but that bite was like the beginning of a disaster.
This caused all the surrounding snakes to flick their tongues towards the horse on the left!
The horse on the left was moving around erratically, and part of the reins fell down, getting stuck in the horse's belly and the stable. No matter how the old man tried to adjust it, the horse couldn't move!
Because it could not walk and was surrounded by danger, the horse was injured and became increasingly confused and frightened, and began to lose control!
If one horse goes out of control, it will soon cause another horse to go out of control as well.
The old man's face grew increasingly grim!
Just as a large snake lunged at the leftmost horse, the old man stood up and used a Cloud Piercing Mountain Breaking Hand to blast the snake in two, sending it flying!
At the most dangerous moment, everyone was terrified!
But the old man was originally in control of the carriage. Because he withdrew and used the Cloud Piercing Mountain Breaking Hand, the carriage spun around more than half a circle without anyone controlling it.
The horses were gradually startled and lost control.
The large wooden chest at Bazhenlou was too heavy, making it difficult for the old man to drive the horses around and leave.
If any one of the horses moves in unison, the carriage cannot start!
The longer they stay in one place, the more snakes gather around them, the deeper they get trapped, and the less they can extricate themselves!
As dawn approached and the sun was about to rise in the east, it felt as if the last chance was slowly slipping away before our eyes, leaving only this last ray of light.
The problem lies in the reins stuck under the belly of the leftmost horse; it's what's preventing all the horses and carriages from moving!
It's impossible to make a precise cut on a carriage. If the horse's belly is cut, Bazhenlou will have no chance of escaping the snake swarm!
But if you want to cut the reins without hurting the horse, the only option is to get off the carriage!
But getting off the carriage at this point means becoming food for the snakes!
Everyone knew this, but no one had time to think about it because swarms of snakes kept surging up, trapping them even though they were so close to the exit.
Gu Lianyong gritted his teeth, recalling the time he was trapped in the dark room, the deaths of those who had escaped with him as they searched for a way out, and his companions still hiding in the secret hideout…
He's been trapped in the Enchanted Town for far too long!
He wants to get out!
But he knew that without the people from the Eight Treasures Pavilion, the others trapped in the Bewitching Town would have no way to get out!
Gu Lianyong gripped the boomerang in his hand and glanced back at Old Master Qu!
Back then, it was the senior colleague who enlightened him!
A thief who steals property is not a gentleman!
Even if he steals from all over the world, he will only be remembered for his infamy for eternity!
But fate was unfair to him. He was also misled by the rapid advancement in cultivation, thinking he was taking a shortcut, but instead he embarked on a dark path.
A person may not have many opportunities to choose in their lifetime, but in the end, it seems that they are given a chance to choose again.
And this might be the last chance!
Gu Lianyong gritted his teeth. He was on the far right, and his horse was on the far left.
“Miss Jiang!” he suddenly said.
Jiang Yutang turned around, and Gu Lianyong grabbed her sleeve and pulled her to his position, saying, "Keep an eye on this place!"
"Brother Gu?" As clever as Jiang Yutang was, she suddenly realized something!
The old man's eyes also reddened: "Lian Yong!"
Gu Lianyong jumped straight off the carriage. Amidst the splattering blood and shadows, Wang Sumo covered her mouth and saw the veins bulging on the old man's forehead.
The reins, stuck in the horse's belly, were finally severed by a sharp boomerang, accompanied by Gu Lianyong's final cry: "Senior, go! Rescue me from this predicament..."
The last sentence was never finished!
Everyone in the carriage had tears in their eyes.
Old Master Weng was just a little short of grabbing the robe, but the other party was determined to die and cut the robe off from his hand.
Old Master Weng's eyes were bloodshot, and he looked at Old Master Qu with anger in his eyes: "Unfollow! Let's go!!"
The horse's hooves rose high, neighing loudly, and the old man lashed out with his whip!
The carriage turned around and rushed towards the green hills ahead.
On the eve of dawn, the red sun breaks through the darkness; but some figures remain forever in the night...
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