Crowned Consort in Golden Age-Chapter 78. First Entry into the Southern Border

78. First Entry into the Southern Border

Having packed her things in the morning and descended the stairs, Ye Li saw Han Mingxi, grinning roguishly, sitting in the most conspicuous place in the hall and looking at her with a smirk. Ye Li’s forehead began to throb. Han Mingxi, seemingly oblivious to the fury in Ye Li’s eyes, cheerfully waved at her. "Junwei, come and join me for breakfast!" Ye Li walked over, glanced at the lavish spread, and said archly, "Brother Han, your breakfast is indeed exceptionally sumptuous." Han Mingxi waved his hand nonchalantly, apparently unconcerned by all the eyes in the hall fixed on them. He chuckled, "Junwei, you should eat more. Once we’re in the Southern Border, it won’t be so easy to find such a sumptuous breakfast."

Without any hesitation, Ye Li invited Darky Three, who had been following her, to join them for the meal.

Looking at the silent Darky Three, Han Mingxi raised an eyebrow and asked, "I haven’t yet had the honor of knowing this brother’s name. Junwei, the guard by your side has truly remarkable skills, doesn’t he?" Generally, Han Mingxi was quite self-aware; as the younger brother of the Lord of Tianyi Pavilion, his standards were naturally high. Although his lightness skill could be considered top-tier, his martial arts prowess was somewhat lacking. At the very least, the martial skills of this new friend’s bodyguard should be considerably better than his own.

Giving Darky Three a brief glance, Ye Li responded casually, "Zhuo Jing."

Darky Three looked up at Ye Li in surprise. Zhuo Jing is my real name. After becoming one of the Princess Consort’s shadow guards, I generally don’t use it anymore. I didn’t expect Her Highness to even know it.

Laughing, Han Mingxi said, "So it’s Brother Zhuo. In that case, I’ll have to trouble Brother Zhuo more in the future."

Darky Three replied coldly, "You’re too kind, Young Master Han."

Just as the three of them finished their meal and Darky Three went to settle the bill, the man who had approached them yesterday came over again, this time with a middle-aged, steward-like man. "Young Master Chu, are you also preparing to set off? Is this... young master the guide you hired?" Ye Li nodded slightly without speaking. Neither she nor Han Mingxi showed any intention of engaging in conversation, yet the man seemed completely unfazed, smiling as he continued, "Since your party is all here, are you perhaps setting off today? If so, why don’t we travel together as companions?" Han Mingxi, lazily toying with the leftover breakfast on the table, said, "Why should we travel with you? Isn’t it perfectly fine for us to go our separate ways?"

The man chuckled. "We are all heading to the Southern Border. Wouldn’t it be safer to have company on the road to look out for each other? As far as I know... once we pass Broken Snow Pass, we’ll enter the territory of the Luoyi Tribe. And yesterday, you two..."

Ye Li raised an eyebrow, looking at the man in confusion. "Since you know we’ve offended the Young Master of the Luoyi Tribe, why do you insist on traveling with us?"

The man said dismissively, "The Luoyi Tribe? So what? While the Nanzhao people are skilled with poisons, we aren’t necessarily afraid of them."

Ye Li silently nodded. With the infamous Sickly Scholar, renowned for his use of poisons, among their group, they naturally wouldn’t fear the poisons of the Southern Border. After some thought, she nodded. "In that case, we’ll trouble you then. May I ask your name, sir?"

The man laughed heartily. "I am Zheng Kui. I used to be a Head of Escort Agency, but now I’m just a household guard trying to make a living. This is my steward, and over there is our Old Master. As for that one..." Zheng Kui, as he called himself, glanced at the frail-looking scholar leaning against the wall, eyes closed in rest. "I hear he’s a master our Old Master hired at great expense. But... hehe, I can’t see what’s so masterful about him; he seems quite frail instead."

Ye Li nodded. "I see. Guard Zheng, it’s a pleasure. In that case, shall we set off now?"

Seeing Ye Li agree, Zheng Kui was clearly delighted and laughed heartily. "I’ll go inform my Old Master right away." Ye Li watched as Zheng Kui and the steward returned to the wealthy Old Master. They conferred for a moment; the Old Master seemed somewhat displeased but eventually nodded in agreement. Then, their group of four went back to their rooms to pack. As their figures disappeared up the stairs, Ye Li shot Han Mingxi a cool glance. Han Mingxi immediately slumped onto the table, looking pitifully at her, and whined, "Junwei, what did I do wrong this time?"

Ye Li snorted softly and glanced at him sideways. "Young Master Han, could you possibly be a little more low-key?"

"Low-key?" Han Mingxi asked, puzzled. "I’m not famous, so why do I need to be low-key?" Only a handful of people knew he was Young Master Mingyue; otherwise, they would have long been hunted down by those self-proclaimed champions of justice. Ye Li looked at him with a smile that wasn’t quite a smile. "You are indeed very low-key, but you have an incredibly high-profile face. Do you think the Sickly Scholar has seen Young Master Mingyue before? And do you think he knows that Young Master Mingyue *is* the Lord of Tianyi Pavilion?" Han Mingxi blinked, a guilty expression crossing his face. He whispered, "Well... my elder brother and the Pavilion Master of the King of Hell Pavilion are friends. So... the Sickly Scholar has probably seen me. It seems he knows we’ve recognized him."

"That’s pretty obvious," Ye Li said flatly.

"Why would they invite us to travel with them?" Han Mingxi asked in a low voice. "If it’s because of my identity, he should have greeted me directly. After all, my elder brother and the Pavilion Master of the King of Hell Pavilion are on very good terms."

Ye Li shook her head, "It’s unlikely. He invited me before you arrived too, and I refused."

Stroking his chin, Han Mingxi mused, "The Sickly Scholar’s journey to the Southern Border definitely isn’t for a simple reason. But why is he accompanying that so-called wealthy merchant? Ordinary wealthy merchants couldn’t possibly afford to hire him. As for the medicinal herb business... people in that trade wouldn’t personally travel to the Southern Border in March or April, would they?" The most common trade between Great Chu and the Southern Border involved rare medicinal herbs from the latter. However, one look at the current desolate state of Yonglin City made it clear that this wasn’t the season for such business. Ye Li propped her head on her hand. "Do you think someone who can travel in the company of a figure like the Sickly Scholar would be an ordinary wealthy merchant?"

Han Mingxi raised his eyebrows, "Is there a problem?"

Ye Li was silent for a moment. "I haven’t seen any problems yet." But since they’ve latched onto us, I must find out if this is a coincidence or deliberate.

The group quickly reassembled at the inn’s entrance, then rode out of the city towards Broken Snow Pass. To Ye Li’s surprise, the wealthy Old Master, despite his portly, well-fed appearance, was actually a decent rider. Still, his build made one worry for the horse beneath him. The Sickly Scholar began coughing as soon as he mounted his horse, looking as if he might cough up his lungs at any moment. As they passed through Broken Snow Pass, Ye Li glanced back and saw a radiant Murong Ting on the city wall, happily chatting with a middle-aged man. It seems Murong Ting is living quite joyfully after leaving the constraints of the Capital City. Ye Li felt genuinely happy for her friend. With a faint smile, she turned back and urged her horse onward to catch up with the others.

After exiting Broken Snow Pass, they rode hard, not stopping until dusk. It was clear they had missed any chance of finding lodging for the night. Moreover, while the wilderness of the Southern Border was perilous, the homes of its residents or local inns weren’t necessarily much safer for people from the Central Plains.

Darky Three skillfully entered the woods and soon returned with a bundle of firewood and a wild pheasant. He then started a fire and began preparing the game. Zheng Kui also came back from a nearby stream, having caught several fish. Ye Li glanced at the Sickly Scholar, who was coughing wretchedly under a tree, his body wracked by spasms. Her brow furrowed slightly as she offered him some water. The Sickly Scholar seemed taken aback for a moment, then reached out his right hand, took the waterskin, nodded at Ye Li, and said in a low voice, "Thank you." Ye Li nodded in return and went back to her spot. Although the Sickly Scholar looked like he was at death’s door, Ye Li wouldn’t underestimate him in the slightest. It was best to keep as much distance as possible from such a person, especially given his enmity with Mo Xiuyao.

Leaning against a tree out of boredom, watching Darky Three expertly prepare the game for roasting, Han Mingxi smiled at Ye Li. "Junwei, Brother Zhuo is truly remarkable. I’ve never seen anyone handle these tasks so swiftly. Even those in the worldly society who often camp in the wild probably can’t compare."

Darky Three, sitting by the fire, merely raised an eyebrow without speaking. He certainly wouldn’t tell Han Mingxi that for six months last year, he and his three brothers had endured hellish training at the foot of Black Cloud Peak. To this day, none of the brothers understood how their master came up with so many peculiar ideas and training methods. Especially that so-called ’wilderness survival training,’ where each of them was thrown into a vast, seemingly endless forest teeming with poisonous insects and vermin for an entire month. Their only weapons were a dagger and a crossbow with just five arrows. Initially, they couldn’t comprehend what use such training would be for them, who already possessed martial arts, lightness skills, and internal energy. But a month later, Darky Two, the first to emerge from the forest in tattered clothes, defeated Darky One, then me (Darky Three), and finally fought Darky Four to a standstill where both were incapacitated. Previously, the four of them were more or less evenly matched; even if one won, the victor would be utterly spent. But that time, Darky Two displayed incredible prowess. His transformation, without having learned any new martial arts or even increasing his internal energy, left them shocked and ecstatic.

Only when I entered the forest myself did I truly understand what Darky Two had experienced. Poisonous snakes, venomous insects, toxic plants, treacherous swamps, wild beasts... in the beginning, I barely dared to close my eyes at night, fearing I’d wake up surrounded by a pack of wolves or find a deadly viper poised to strike. Every day, I had to find my own food and gather the items the Princess Consort had instructed. The worst time was when I was trapped in a swamp for six hours; I nearly thought I was going to die. But towards the end of the month, I found myself gradually adapting to the harsh environment. Even without relying on martial arts, I could survive comfortably in the forest. I could even go a whole day and night without food or sleep and not find it too unbearable—achievements that mere martial arts training could never provide. Only on the day I emerged alive from the forest did I learn that the Princess Consort had been secretly watching over us after we entered. From that moment, I, Darky Three, pledged my true and wholehearted allegiance to this young Princess Consort. We all knew in our hearts that our mistress was undoubtedly the most formidable Princess Consort in the history of the Ding Kingdom. My only regret was that due to the Prince’s illness, the Princess Consort had to suspend the many other things she had planned to teach us.

"Young Master Han is right. Brother Zhuo’s skillfulness can’t be matched even by a veteran escort who’s been in the business for decades." Zheng Kui glanced at the half-raw fish in his own hands, then at the fragrant, perfectly roasted game in Darky Three’s, which looked as good as any restaurant’s roast chicken. He couldn’t help feeling envious. He had only just returned from catching a few fish by the stream, but this quiet brother had already built a fire, caught and prepared a pheasant, and set it to roast. He had even found time to gather some mushrooms from the woods to make soup. Meanwhile, his Old Master was glaring at the fish Zheng Kui held, his greasy face openly displaying his disdain.

Ye Li looked at Han Mingxi with a charming smile. "Zhuo Jing has been taking care of me throughout our journey. He’s intelligent, so naturally, he learns quickly."

Han Mingxi looked unconvinced. He also frequently camped in the wild, yet the food he cooked usually ended up as a charred mess he himself wouldn’t dare to eat.

Darky Three calmly divided the roasted game into three portions, handing one each to Ye Li and Han Mingxi, seemingly unfazed by his mistress’s praise. He would certainly not tell this debonair young master that his own mistress could cook even better than him. Watching Han Mingxi savoring the wild game with such an enthralled expression, a peculiar sense of superiority welled up inside Darky Three.

"Young Master Zhuo, are you versed in the art of poisons?" the Sickly Scholar, who was sitting to one side, asked after taking a few sips of water, which seemed to momentarily suppress his cough. He looked towards Darky Three.

Darky Three glanced back at him and replied indifferently, "I am not."

The Sickly Scholar raised an eyebrow, his expression clearly skeptical. "The Southern Border is home to many poisonous things; even most of the mushrooms in these forests are highly toxic. Yet, I see that all the ones you’ve gathered are non-toxic."

Darky Three curled his lip slightly and said flatly, "Even a child knows that the more vividly colored a forest mushroom, the more poisonous it is."

The Sickly Scholar smiled faintly. "Is that so? In that case, Young Master Zhuo should still be cautious about picking things to eat at random. Not all poisonous mushrooms in this world are brightly colored."

"Thank you for the warning."

The wealthy Old Master was clearly dissatisfied with the fish his guard had grilled. After a few bites, he tossed it aside, pointed at Zheng Kui, and ordered, "You! Go hunt some game!"

Zheng Kui glanced at the already darkening sky and hesitated. They had chosen to camp at the edge of the forest precisely because venturing into it at night was unsafe. The Sickly Scholar sat up and said calmly to the wealthy Old Master, "If you want him dead, then by all means, send him in." The wealthy Old Master seemed quite wary of the Sickly Scholar, and upon hearing his words, reluctantly fell silent, looking dejected.

After dinner, Han Mingxi seemed to have lost his daytime exuberance. He sat closest to the bonfire, eyes closed as if meditating on a stone to recover his energy. Darky Three, after packing up their belongings, leaped onto a large nearby tree, settling silently on a branch to listen to the desultory conversation below. Ye Li, on the other hand, seemed a little bored. As Young Master Chu, he sat by the fire, chatting idly with Zheng Kui and occasionally tossing a piece of firewood into the flames. During their casual talk, Zheng Kui mentioned that the wealthy Old Master’s surname was Liang; he was a major medicine merchant from the Northwest of Great Chu. He had come to the Southern Border upon hearing that an exceptionally precious and rare medicinal herb had appeared and would be publicly auctioned in the Nanzhao Capital in June. Of course, Zheng Kui added, this information included a fair bit of Old Master Liang’s own boasting, as he couldn’t stand being out of the limelight. Ye Li, in turn, told Zheng Kui that "Young Master Chu" hailed from a scholarly family in Yunzhou and was currently traveling with his guard for experience. As for Han Mingxi, Ye Li explained he was a friend met in Guangling who had impulsively decided to accompany "Young Master Chu" to the Southern Border for fun. Since the others already seemed aware of Han Mingxi’s identity, Ye Li saw no need to hide it further, simply stating they had met at the Clear Wind and Bright Moon Tower in Guangling City. Upon hearing the name "Clear Wind and Bright Moon Tower," Old Master Liang’s fleshy face immediately lit up, and he eagerly began regaling Ye Li with tales of his own experiences at the famed establishment.

"Young Master Chu is from Yunzhou?" the Sickly Scholar, who had been quiet, suddenly asked. "Does Young Master Chu know of the Xu family of Yunzhou?"

Ye Li raised an eyebrow and chuckled. "Surely, you jest, sir? Who in all of Great Chu doesn’t know of the Xu family of Yunzhou? Although I, unfortunately, did not have the opportunity to study at Lishan Academy, I have long admired the esteemed scholars of the Xu family."

"Is that so? *Cough, cough*... Speaking of which, since Young Master Chu so admires the Xu family of Yunzhou, you must surely have heard of Young Master Qingchen?"

Ye Li turned her head to look at the Sickly Scholar, her voice tinged with clear admiration. "Young Master Qingchen... Eldest Young Master Xu achieved fame in his youth, a fact known throughout the land. It is truly shameful that, though I am half a year older than Young Master Xu was when he gained renown, I have yet to accomplish anything of note."

The Sickly Scholar looked up at him, a probing look in his eyes, and smiled faintly. "Is that so? Perhaps Young Master Chu will have the chance to meet him during this trip to the Southern Border."

Ye Li’s heart skipped a beat, but her expression remained composed, showing only a flicker of pleasant surprise. "Truly? Is Young Master Qingchen currently in the Southern Border?"

The Sickly Scholar sat up straighter. "Indeed. Young Master Qingchen is currently in the Southern Border."

"That would be wonderful. I hope I might have the chance to meet Young Master Qingchen in the Nanzhao Capital and perhaps ask for his guidance on a few matters," Ye Li murmured, seemingly lost in thought, her head slightly bowed. Ignoring the Sickly Scholar’s scrutinizing gaze, Ye Li’s mind raced. Xu Qingchen had roamed the world since he was young, his whereabouts always elusive. She refused to believe he couldn’t conceal his own movements. Yet, this Sickly Scholar, who was based in Xiling, somehow had information about Xu Qingchen’s presence in the Southern Border—and seemed to know his location quite precisely. This gave Ye Li a growing sense of unease. What was the Sickly Scholar’s true purpose in coming to the Southern Border? Could it be related to Xu Qingchen?

「Deep in the night」

The campfire gradually died down. The forest under the night sky was quiet, save for the occasional calls of insects and night birds. Darky Three, who had been dozing on a tree branch, stirred and coughed softly. Ye Li, who had appeared to be asleep by the fire, slowly opened her eyes; they were clear and alert, showing no sign of drowsiness. She casually turned and glanced up at the tree. Darky Three gave a slight nod. Ye Li then closed her eyes again, seemingly resuming her sleep.

Suddenly, a faint, rank odor filled the air, accompanied by a strange rustling sound and an almost inaudible, rhythmic melody. It sounded as if a multitude of creatures were slithering through the grass. Darky Three frowned, the sound reminding him of something he particularly detested. He sat up and gracefully floated down from the tree. The instant Darky Three landed, the Sickly Scholar, who had appeared to be sound asleep, opened his eyes. He frowned questioningly at Darky Three, but Darky Three ignored him, walking directly to Ye Li’s side and whispering, "Young Master, there’s movement."

As Ye Li opened her eyes, Han Mingxi and Zheng Kui also sat up. Han Mingxi yawned lazily. "What’s wrong?"

Darky Three stated simply, "Something is coming."

"Something? What kind of something?"

Darky Three said in a low, grave voice, "I suspect... snakes."

"Snakes."

"Snakes," Ye Li and the Sickly Scholar said almost in unison. The Sickly Scholar glanced at Ye Li. Ye Li stood up. "I can smell the rank odor of snakes. Many snakes."

Han Mingxi nodded in understanding. "Ah, I forgot. Junwei is skilled in blending incense, so naturally, your sense of smell is sharper."

Zheng Kui said anxiously, "Never mind that now! What should we do?"

Han Mingxi replied nonchalantly, "What’s there to do? Just leave." Young Master Fengyue’s lightness skill was unparalleled; he never worried about being unable to escape from anywhere.

Darky Three frowned. "I’m afraid we can’t just leave. Listen... there are sounds coming from all directions."

Apart from Old Master Liang and his steward, everyone present possessed martial skills, so they could naturally tell if Darky Three was speaking the truth. Han Mingxi snorted lightly, swiftly flitted up to a high branch, and returned to the ground moments later, cursing under his breath, "This godforsaken Southern Border! It’s a nuisance every time I come. Where in the world did so many snakes come from?"

No one paid his grumbling any mind. Darky Three quickly took out various snake and insect repellent powders he had prepared. The Sickly Scholar shook his head. "There are too many. I’m afraid these won’t be effective."

One who has never witnessed it could never imagine how terrifying such a spectacle was. In the darkness, a black, writhing mass of snakes surged towards them from all directions. "What’s happening?!" Old Master Liang shrieked, his voice cracking. His steward, face ashen, had already gone limp and collapsed to the ground.

"Quiet!" the Sickly Scholar snapped. He frowned at Darky Three. "There are too many snakes. Using repellent powder now will only enrage them further."

Han Mingxi, his face etched with disgust, said, "Junwei, I should be able to break through with you. Brother Zhuo, you should be able to get out on your own, right?"

Darky Three nodded silently.

The Sickly Scholar said indifferently, "In that case, Young Master Han can take Young Master Chu and leave first."

Han Mingxi didn’t actually move to leave. He clearly detected the underlying threat in the Sickly Scholar’s words. If they truly left first, the Sickly Scholar would undoubtedly attack them from behind. No matter how superb Han Mingxi’s lightness skill was, while carrying someone and airborne, he might not be able to evade the poisons of the third-ranked master of the King of Hell Pavilion. As for the Sickly Scholar’s companions, escape was even less likely; apart from the Sickly Scholar himself, none of the other three seemed capable of getting out on their own.

Seeing the swarm of snakes encircling them, Ye Li frowned and said, "Is it really the time to argue? Or do you plan on staying here to feed the snakes?"

The swarm of snakes, having encircled them, did not immediately attack. Soon, the group spotted several men in black emerging from different directions. They stood at a distance behind the snakes, playing short flutes. Clearly, the snakes hadn’t gathered by chance; they were being controlled. Zheng Kui cursed under his breath, "Those are snake charmers from the Southern Border!"

Ye Li and Darky Three exchanged a glance. If the snakes truly attacked, the two of them could probably escape immediately, but that extremely portly wealthy Old Master would surely be unable to flee.

A contingent of snake charmers parted to form a path, and a somewhat familiar figure swaggered forward, laughing maliciously at Ye Li’s group. "Hehe... I told you, didn’t I? One day you’d fall into my hands. It’s only been a day. How about it?"

Han Mingxi raised an eyebrow and chuckled. "Well, if it isn’t the idiot who calls himself the Junior Clan Leader of the Luoyi Tribe?"

The despicable-looking youth who had stormed out of the inn the previous day was now clad in magnificent attire, heavily adorned with silver ornaments that gleamed under the moonlight. His eyes landed on Han Mingxi, whose silk clothes fluttered gracefully, his appearance captivating even in the dim light. The youth paused, then said, "Beauty, come over to my side, and this young master will spare you. There’s no need for you to die alongside these ugly freaks."

Han Mingxi’s expression froze, a muscle twitching at the corner of his eye. "You have the nerve to call others ugly?" Indeed, everyone present, including the distant snake charmers, was far more pleasant to look at than this youth. Even the bloated Old Master Liang appeared less repulsive.

At those words, the young man flew into a rage, his eyes, full of twisted malice, fixed on Han Mingxi. Ye Li coughed lightly and chuckled. "Brother Han, even if that young master over there is... hardly a picture of grace, you might show a little mercy with your words. With such cutting remarks, how is his devoted heart, so full of admiration for you, supposed to bear it?"

Han Mingxi pouted. "Admirable? That’s jealousy, isn’t it? He clearly wishes he could slash my face. Hmph! How dare a vulgar lout like him even dream of coveting my peerless beauty?" Does he think I, Young Master Fengyue, have idled away my time among the beauties for nothing? As if I can’t distinguish between admiration, jealousy, and hateful resentment?

"Precisely," the youth opposite sneered. "Once I capture you, I’ll peel your face off while you’re still alive! Hehe... your face is mine now. So, you’d better come over obediently and don’t let my precious darlings damage it."

A stunned silence fell over the group. After a moment, Han Mingxi protectively touched his own cheek and asked, "You’re not thinking of... sticking my face onto yours, are you?"

The youth cackled triumphantly. "That’s right! It took me a long time to devise such a brilliant plan. Unfortunately, I hadn’t found a suitable face until now. At first, that other pretty boy caught my eye, but now, I think your face is even better!"

Under the moonlight, Han Mingxi’s handsome features twisted into a grimace. To covet the face of him, Young Master Fengyue—this is unforgivable!

"But... the dimensions don’t quite match, do they?" Ye Li frowned, glancing from the youth’s small, gaunt face to Han Mingxi’s perfectly proportioned one. Han Mingxi’s face is at least a third larger than that youth’s.

"Junwei!" Han Mingxi’s brow twitched violently as he glared resentfully at Ye Li.

The youth, clearly incensed by Ye Li’s remark, roared in fury, "This young master doesn’t need your opinion! I’ll turn every one of you into human-skin masks! Seize them! I want them all alive! No... wait. As for that fatso, if he dies, it doesn’t matter!" The snake charmers exchanged worried glances. Killing this group would be easy—they just had to let the hundreds, even thousands, of snakes attack. Surely some bites would land. But capturing them alive was another matter entirely; these individuals were clearly not defenseless. Though hesitant, the snake charmers couldn’t ignore their master’s command. They raised their short flutes once more, urging the snakes forward.

FWOOSH! FWOOSH!

Several jets of flame suddenly shot up. Amidst the urgent piping of the flutes, the advancing snakes didn’t surge forward but halted, hesitating about fifteen yards away. While Ye Li and Han Mingxi had been conversing with the Young Master of the Luoyi Tribe, Darky Three had discreetly sprinkled all the snake-repellent powder they carried around their perimeter. Seeing the snakes falter, the snake charmers’ flute music grew even more shrill and insistent. The snake swarm, in turn, became visibly more agitated. Ye Li raised an eyebrow at Han Mingxi. "Brother Han, can you play a tune?"

Han Mingxi gave a helpless, wry smile. "I don’t know any snake-charming melodies."

Ye Li said, "That’s not necessary. Just being able to play music is enough. Preferably, infuse it with your internal energy. Go over there and play." She pointed to the woods behind them. "It would be best if you could move around while playing."

Though puzzled by Ye Li’s request, Han Mingxi shrugged. "Alright, I’ll do as Junwei says." He drew the xiao flute he always carried, leaped into the branches of a nearby tree, and began to play. The melody, infused with his internal energy, wasn’t particularly pleasant to the ear, at least not for Ye Li, whose own internal energy was not as profound. Han Mingxi moved through the treetops as he played, navigating the branches as if on solid ground. Watching him, Ye Li couldn’t help but feel a pang of envy.

Gradually, the snake charmers realized with dawning horror that the snakes seemed to be ignoring their commands. Some of those at the very front had even begun to crawl backward. They frantically played their flutes with greater urgency, but these snake charmers were not skilled in martial arts, and their internal energy was mediocre. In terms of sheer volume and resonance, their piping was no match for Han Mingxi’s xiao. The sound of Han Mingxi’s flute steadily overwhelmed the shrill, piercing notes of the charmers’ flutes. The Sickly Scholar, who was nearby, seemed to grasp something. He too leaped into the branches, casually plucked a leaf, and, holding it to his lips, began to play. The snake swarms, apparently unable to bear the cacophony any longer, began to retreat from Ye Li’s group. Some scattered in different directions, but none approached them.

"What’s happening?!" the Luoyi youth cried out in disbelief. The faces of several snake charmers had turned pale; they began to back away, though their flute playing didn’t dare cease. Nevertheless, more and more snakes were slowly dispersing in all directions. Ye Li stood by the fire, a cold smile playing on her lips. It is a snake’s instinct to fear realgar, to detest snake repellents and other irritants, and to be afraid of fire. As for so-called ’snake charming,’ snakes have virtually no sense of hearing. They rely entirely on sensing vibrations in the air to perceive their surroundings. The ’snake-charming flute music’ is merely a way to train snakes to become accustomed to a particular pattern of vibrations. Once that pattern is disrupted and the snakes are no longer under control, they will naturally choose to flee towards other areas rather than remain near things they detest, like repellents and fire.

"AHH! NO!" Some of the retreating snakes quickly slithered towards the Luoyi youth’s feet. Apparently, he too was carrying a good amount of snake repellent, so the snakes didn’t bite him, but he was thoroughly terrified nonetheless.

Darky Three asked, puzzled, "Are people from the Southern Border afraid of snakes?"

Ye Li shrugged and chuckled. "There are always one or two exceptions, aren’t there?"

Old Master Liang, wiping sweat from his brow, laughed. "It’s truly thanks to Young Master Chu’s ingenious idea that these snake swarms retreated!"

Ye Li frowned slightly, a flicker of anxiety in her heart. While the snakes retreating solved their immediate crisis, if so many venomous snakes were to truly scatter into the surroundings, it would pose a grave danger to any passing travelers. Her gaze fell on the panicked Luoyi youth opposite them, and her eyes hardened. She said to Darky Three, "Kill him!"

Darky Three never questioned an order genuinely given by Ye Li. The moment her words fell, the longsword in Darky Three’s hand flashed. His figure shot forward like an arrow, hurtling through the air towards the Luoyi youth. The youth, already in a state of panic, was utterly petrified when he saw Darky Three’s sword speeding towards him. He forgot to even try to dodge, able only to stare blankly as the deadly point rushed to meet him—

"Hold your hand!" A loud voice abruptly rang out from the side of the woods.