Xu Xian and Bai Suzhen walked into the village. To Xu Xian's surprise, the people in the village were not as cruel and unreasonable as they were rumored to be. Instead, they were very hospitable. After figuring out who they were, they held a grand welcoming ceremony. People sang and danced around the bonfire. Fine wine and delicious food were served, giving Xu Xian the feeling that he was on an ethnic tour.
Although most of the people here did not understand Han, they gave off a feeling of simplicity and sincerity.
There was a dead wood next to the bonfire. It was Xu Xian's seat of honor. On his left sat Bai Suzhen. Under the light of the fire, she smiled faintly, dazzling the eyes of many men.
On the right sat the leader of the village. He said to Xu Xian in his unpracticed Han, "Sir, there are very few Han people like you."
"Just call me Xu Xian. There are good people among the Han people."
Xu Xian knew that they had suffered a lot at the hands of the Han people. Especially after Feng Zhihong took over Anlong County. They wanted to go down the mountain to trade goods but were stopped.
The leader said, "Yes, there are bad people among us.
But the Snake Mother must not be offended. The elders have left a message that if the Snake Deity is angered, the whole of Anlong will not be peaceful. "
Xu Xian supported his face with his hand. "Is there really a Snake Deity?
I wonder if it is a male or female? "
Before he finished speaking, he felt a pain in his waist. He turned around and saw Bai Suzhen looking at him with a smile. She spread out her hands and said, "I am just asking."
A half-drunk, red-faced young man walked up to them, pointed at Xu Xian, and said something. Then, he was scolded by the leader, but he still refused to give up. His eyes glanced at Bai Suzhen, and the other young men behind him were eager to try.
Bai Suzhen whispered, "Sir, what is he saying?"
Xu Xian laughed and said, "He asked what our relationship is, and he wants to have a head-on duel with me." While speaking, he stood up, took off his robe and threw it to Bai Suzhen, and beckoned the young man with his finger.
The young man was overjoyed and showed off his physique to everyone. However, there was still a huge gap between his physique and Xu Xian's. Moreover, as soon as he touched Xu Xian's hand, he was pressed to the ground by Xu Xian. Everyone around him roared with laughter. The leader also smiled and stopped trying to stop him.
The girls in the stronghold looked at Xu Xian with sparkling eyes. Seeing that he had won, one of the girls brought a bowl of wine over. Xu Xian drank it in one gulp.
After that, Xu Xian knocked out all the unmarried boys in the stockade village and drank dozens of bowls of wine. Amidst the cheers of the girls, he was dragged back to the bamboo building by Bai Suzhen.
The next day, at the hour of the Yin, the rooster crowed once, but the sky was still dark.
The two of them opened the door and saw that there were embroidered balls hanging outside. Bai Suzhen said, "What is this?"
Although Xu Xian didn't know the customs of this place, he could guess a thing or two based on his knowledge of the future. He laughed and said, "Of course it's to confess my love. My wife's charm isn't small, but your husband isn't bad either.
Let's see if we can pick a few good ones to bring home. "
Bai Suzhen glared at him, "You dare?"
"How would I dare to offend the snake deity?"
The two of them bade farewell to the leader. The people in the stockade village presented beautiful brocades, exquisite silver ornaments, and many other special local products.
The leader said, "This is for a friend."
Xu Xian didn't refuse and accepted everything, which made them very happy.
The two of them left the stockade village and wanted to continue their sightseeing. Suddenly, Xu Xian had an idea and took out a paper talisman from his pocket. It was slowly burning.
"Something happened in the county."
…
Chen Lun walked to the prison absent-mindedly. The prison guards were already familiar with him, so they let him in.
The head of the prison said, "Warden Chen, that Zhang De 'an will be sent to the prefectural city in a few days. You won't be able to come here much longer." Chen Lun nodded and thanked him. He took out some silver from his sleeve and offered it.
The head of the prison tried to reject it, but he still took it and handed the key to Chen Lun. "Please go in. We won't keep you company."
These days, Chen Lun came here every day and they were already used to it. Unless it was absolutely necessary, no one was willing to smell the stench in this prison.
Chen Lun came to the door of Zhang De 'an's cell and looked inside. Zhang De' an was lying there, on the verge of death. He didn't even look human.
These days, Chen Lun made him try out all the torture tools in the prison. Torturing Zhang De 'an had become his greatest entertainment.
It was as if compared to his clean and comfortable home, this filthy and filthy prison made him feel more happy.
Compared to his family, his enemies made him feel more satisfied.
However, he didn't know that as he vented his anger day after day, the devil had burrowed deeper into his heart, making him more irritable and easily angered. He was resentful and biased.
If it weren't for his years of self-restraint as an official, his temperament would have changed a long time ago.
Chen Lun had something on his mind today, so he didn't open Zhang De 'an's cell. Instead, he walked deeper into the prison.
Finally, he saw the female prisoner. Her entire body was shackled with iron chains. No matter how much strength she exerted, she couldn't move.
When the Snake Mother saw Chen Lun, she used her charm technique again. However, when she saw that Chen Lun wasn't moved, she laughed and said, "So you're useless."
However, she heard a "pa" sound. Chen Lun threw the key in his hand to her. "Someone told me to save you."
When the Snake Mother saw this, she was overjoyed. She made a hissing sound, and a small snake crawled out of the straw. It coiled around the copper key and came to her. It helped her open the shackles one by one, but it wasn't in a hurry to leave. Instead, it sat where it was and made a hissing sound, as if it was summoning something.
Chen Lun took back the key and went to Zhang De 'an's cell. He quietly took out a horned machete from his bosom and made a deep cut on Zhang De' an's neck. Zhang De 'an's moaning immediately stopped.
Chen Lun arranged the corpse properly and then left the prison as usual. When he came to the alley, the person asked, "Is it done?"
"Yes, but the prison is heavily guarded …"
"You don't have to worry about this. She has her own way.
Now, the most important thing is to go back and pack up your belongings. When you're ready, come to the inn to find me. I'll take you to the capital to file a complaint against the Emperor. He must be sentenced to death. Even if he can escape with his evil magic, there will be no place for him in the world.
No matter what happens, the Prince guarantees that you'll be cleared of your crime and restored to your position. "
When Chen Lun returned home, he saw that the dishes were already on the table. Madam Chen was coaxing the child to sleep. It was a scene that he would normally find comforting, but at this moment, he frowned.
They hadn't been here for long, and there wasn't much to pack up. Chen Lun said, "Take the child. Let's go!"
Madam Chen was shocked. "Go?
Where to? "
Chen Lun said, "To the capital!"
Madam Chen sensed his strange expression. "Master, what's wrong? Can we leave?"
Chen Lun said, "Just now, King Liang sent someone to see me. He can rescue us from this place."
"King Liang?
Wasn't it King Liang who put us in this predicament?
Why would he suddenly be so kind as to help us? "Madam Chen's mind raced." Could it be to deal with Prince Xu? "
Seeing that Chen Lun didn't deny it, she said angrily, "Master, don't be so foolish. Prince Xu is our family's savior. Are you going to be instigated by King Liang and repay kindness with enmity?
I will never agree to that! "
Chen Lun roared, "Prince Xu!
Prince Xu!
Can he clear my name?
Can he restore me to my post?
If it weren't for Xu Xian's sorcery, he would still be a lowly physician under my command. I wouldn't even have the chance to kneel before him. "
The two babies were so frightened that they began to wail loudly. Madam Chen hurried over to comfort them. Two streams of tears rolled down her cheeks. "Master, how did you become like this?
What's wrong with living peacefully like this? "
Chen Lun stormed off.
In the dead of night, he lay on his bed, tossing and turning restlessly.
He knew his wife's temperament well. She would definitely inform Xu Xian of this matter the next day. Now that he had released the criminal, there was no turning back.
He took out a scimitar from under his pillow and walked towards Madam Chen's bedroom.
…
In the dead of night, the prison guard on duty was dozing off.
The Snake Mother removed the shackles on her body and walked to the door of the prison. She twisted her body and passed through the narrow gap, walking out of the prison. A few small dark green snakes came out of nowhere and slithered onto her body.
The prison guard suddenly felt someone patting his shoulder. He woke up with a start. It was another prison guard who said to him, "It's time to patrol!"
As usual, the guards on duty had to patrol the cells a few times.
"What can happen in the dead of night?"
The prison guard muttered in dissatisfaction. He picked up his scimitar and looked up to see a figure walking out of the darkness. He asked in surprise, "Who is it?"
The Snake Mother raised her hand, and two small snakes shot out like arrows. They bit the jailer's neck, causing him to fall to the ground. Just like that, she killed quite a few jailers and arrived at the entrance of the prison.
The iron gate was usually tightly shut. No one was allowed to enter or leave. It would never be opened at night.
The divine beast Suanni was engraved on the gate. It looked down majestically. Legend had it that this beast was not only righteous, but it could also distinguish between right and wrong. It was fair and just, so it was engraved on the prison gate.
The Snake Mother smiled coldly. Just as she was about to open the prison gate, the statue of Suanni above her head suddenly roared.
The Snake Mother was shocked. The small snakes on her body fell to the ground. When she looked up, she saw Suanni materializing and pouncing towards her. She raised her arm in panic to block it. She felt a sharp pain. When she looked back, she saw Suanni holding her arm in its mouth. It landed steadily on the ground. Its body looked like a tiger, but it was much bigger.
As soon as Suanni landed, it did not stop. It twisted its body and pounced on her again.
The Snake Mother said, "My life is over!"
The snake tattoo on her body suddenly came alive. It turned into a long snake and tangled with Suanni.
The Snake Mother did not care about the pain and quickly opened the prison gate.
Although the prison was located in a remote area, there were a few houses nearby. They were alarmed by Suanni's roar and lit up their lights.
The Snake Mother escaped death. She did not dare to stay. She covered her wound and ran in the direction of the Poison Dragon Cave.
The long snake wrapped around Suanni tightly. Suanni bit the snake's weak point. After a while, it gradually turned from solid to ethereal and returned to the prison gate. The long snake also disappeared.
The constables heard the noise and rushed over. They saw a severed arm on the ground.
The Snake Mother came to the mountain and looked back at An Longcheng. She gritted her teeth and said, "Xu Xian, if I don't take revenge, I am not a human!"