Go, Erhuo, Go! . . .
Xiao Mufei found himself ensnared in a perilous predicament, unable to proceed with his intended mission of defeating the snake king. While he remained unscathed for the time being, the fear of exhaustion loomed as time passed. He understood the danger that encircled him, but he couldn't see a way out.
The other men observed Xiao Mufei's dire situation, acutely aware that there was little they could do to extricate him. He was undoubtedly the strongest among their group, capable of surmounting the sea of snakes, a feat beyond the reach of the others. All they could do was sigh in frustration and powerlessness.
Amid this crisis, Cha Eun Xiao tapped Erhuo's head and issued a command. "Erhuo, it's your time to shine. Go!"
Erhuo, in response to the summons, cast a self-assured gaze and confidently stretched before stepping forward with elegance. The disciples of Cold Moon Palace, embroiled in a fierce battle against the encroaching snakes, were oblivious to Cha Eun Xiao's interaction with his feline companion. His actions could have been perceived as frivolous given the perilous situation, but they did not catch his discreet command to Erhuo.
With poise and grace, Erhuo advanced a dozen steps and then, with a sudden arch of its back, disappeared in a swirl of white smoke. A lengthy trail of white vapor propelled it towards the mass of snakes, specifically the area teeming with the most perilous serpents.
Within a second, Erhuo was within a meter of the hostile snakes. Dozens of them wasted no time in launching attacks, their venomous fangs poised to strike. A single snake could readily engulf Erhuo, let alone the combined threat of dozens.
Erhuo, however, remained unfazed, standing immobile and unfaltering. It gazed at the snakes with an air of indifference and, with a disdainful snort from its wet nose, asserted itself. The creature's right paw collided with the ground, generating a resounding impact. Abruptly, Erhuo unleashed a massive surge of qi, surging towards the encroaching snakes.
The response was instantaneous. The snakes that had surrounded Erhuo recoiled as if struck by lightning. While snakes from afar continued to advance, those in close proximity were compelled to retreat.
The snakes were pushed aside like a mountain shifting, the reptiles encircling Erhuo making valiant efforts to ward off their compatriots. The tremendous pressure culminated in some of the serpents' bones cracking, yet they valiantly held their ground, forming a protective barrier around Erhuo.
In the eyes of these snakes, there was no sign of aggression or hunger. Instead, a profound fear was etched within, a dread reserved for a superior being, one even more dreadful than death itself.
Erhuo elegantly departed, and wherever it walked, the snakes dutifully made way, bowing to the higher power. The snakes spontaneously cleared a path for Erhuo, a mesmerizing spectacle amidst the chaos of the serpent onslaught.
Erhuo, a petite feline with the dimensions of a man's hand, strode along a path with casual and elegant grace, exuding an air of unapologetic arrogance.
Events unfolded with such rapidity that not a single soul among the men present managed to catch even a fleeting glimpse of the unfolding spectacle. Were they privy to Erhuo's actions, their astonishment would have been palpable, their jaws plummeting in sheer disbelief. A pet cat should not exhibit such astonishing qualities!
The snakes that respectfully parted ways for Erhuo maintained their poised and unchanging forms, not daring to even draw breath within the feline's presence. Each one stood frozen in time, as though sculpted from ice. The snakes seemed to hold Erhuo in even higher regard than they would for their very own king, bowing before the superior power the cat embodied.
Erhuo's departure was a sight to behold, marked by an aura of aristocratic elegance and self-assuredness. The cat was the epitome of regal grace, leaving observers astounded by its captivating demeanor.
As Erhuo retreated, the previously formidable snakes relinquished their upright positions and gracefully withdrew. The onslaught against the human defenders ceased, and the serpents slinked away to find refuge amidst the underbrush. Their single-minded objective was self-preservation in the face of the formidable feline adversary, for nothing held a higher priority than securing their own lives.
While the snakes surged forth like a relentless tide, the warriors of Cold Moon Palace remained preoccupied with the desperate battle, affording them no opportunity to witness the extraordinary spectacle surrounding Erhuo's encounter with the snakes.
Only Cha Eun Xiao had maintained a vigilant watch over Erhuo, and while obstructed from witnessing the entirety of the encounter, he had observed enough to leave him deeply impressed by the little cat's magnificence.
Unbeknownst to all, Erhuo's momentous feat had passed unnoticed and uncelebrated. It remained one of those concealed treasures, lost to the eyes of the world.
With mind communication, Cha Eun Xiao relayed a message to Erhuo. "Secure the inner core of the snake king. Keep it for me."
Erhuo voiced its discontent with an irate "Mia!"—displeased by the ceaseless demands from its owner.
However, its protests fell on deaf ears. Cha Eun Xiao was adamant in upholding their agreement. "Don't forget our deal. I get the first pick of the spoils. And, oh, there's a change: I want a larger share of the inner cores from the larger snakes. Remember, a larger share!"
Erhuo seethed with frustration, and with an agitated flurry of movement, it darted away.
[This is nothing less than blatant bullying!]
[But… what can I do? He is my owner. That can't be altered. Ugh. It's so vexing!]