"Long live!" Unknown who shouted first, this cry acted like a signal, instantly igniting the villagers' passion. They shouted and hugged each other, tears involuntarily sliding from the corners of their eyes. Over the years, which family hadn't lost a child to the giant python's mouth?
The source of their fear had now died, and they felt as if the mountain pressing down upon their heads had thunderously collapsed. Some villagers, who incredibly hated the giant python, overcame their fear, rushed to the python's corpse, and fiercely kicked it twice. Yet even in death, the python's sturdy body was not something the common folk could affect; all they got was sore feet.
With a gentle wave of his hand, Lu Yu made the Protector Spirit transform into a streak of golden light that disappeared. Watching the overjoyed villagers in front of him, he couldn't help but smile himself, feeling somewhat like an immortal vanquishing demons and evils.
"Humph, you thought you could escape? I, young master, was watching you."
Turning his head, Lu Yu saw He Yingchao holding the Shaman Woman by one hand, carrying her over as if she were a small chicken.
"Big Brother Lu, this Shaman Woman tried to flee once she saw the giant python dead but I caught her and brought her back."
At that moment, the Shaman Woman, who was a far cry from her previous imposing demeanor, was trembling in fear having seen the invincible River God killed so quickly. When she saw Lu Yu looking at her, she couldn't help but involuntarily urinate.
Lu Yu awkwardly touched his nose; he looked quite refined. Was he that frightening?
It was only then that the excited villagers noticed the situation here, and they all knelt before Lu Yu and his companions to express their gratitude for the assistance.
Lu Yu and his companions quickly helped these people to stand up. Seeing the Shaman Woman trembling on the ground, the villagers were full of righteous indignation and wanted to rush up to punish her severely.
"Don't rush, let me ask her some questions first," Lu Yu extended his hand to stop the impulsive villagers. He was very curious how this Shaman Woman had colluded with the giant python.
The Shaman Woman had already been terrified out of her wits, and didn't dare hide anything, so she recounted the whole story truthfully.
It turned out that the Shaman Woman was once a fisherman's wife. The couple often fished in the river for a living. Then, one day, thunder boomed and lightning struck the river surface. While fishing in the river during this scenario, the couple got terrified and fled in panic, only to encounter the python that swallowed her husband.
Desperate and panicking on the boat, the Shaman Woman made wild promises that she would deliver boys and girls for the beast to eat, as she had heard that demons preferred such meals.
Unexpectedly, the giant python could understand human speech, and spared the Shaman Woman. After returning home, she started to proclaim that she had encountered a River God who commanded that the village must sacrifice boys and girls. Initially, the villagers thought she was mad and ignored her.
Then, the Shaman Woman made the python stir up waves and flood the village's fertile fields, thereby coercing the villagers to periodically sacrifice boys and girls.
After listening to the story, Lu Yu pondered for a moment and said, "Being able to understand human speech, it likely isn't an ordinary demon beast." However, they had no way of tracing the origins of this demon beast at that moment.
Later, Lu Yu had He Yingchao use his Flying Sword to dissect the giant python; after all, every part of a demon beast was valuable. Its fresh blood was an excellent material for talismans, the hard scales could be used to forge Treasure Armor, and its meat could strengthen and invigorate the body. Lu Yu wouldn't let go of these riches.
As Lu Yu was closely contemplating the uses of the demon beast, a commotion attracted his attention.
A butcher holding a blue hairpin approached Lu Yu: "Reporting to the Immortal Chief, while processing the beast's body, I found a hairpin glowing brightly in its stomach." Having said that, he handed the cleaned hairpin to Lu Yu.
Lu Yu examined the blue hairpin carefully and noticed that it resembled a Flying Sword, with a faint Sword Qi surfacing on it. He silently speculated: Could it actually be a Flying Sword?
Thinking this, his heart surged with excitement; this was his first time seeing a fully nurtured Flying Sword. Unfortunately, the spiritual nature of the Flying Sword might choose its own master. When he had tried to communicate with the Flying Sword through his thoughts and received no response, he knew he was not destined to wield it.
"What a beautiful hairpin!" He Chaolian, beside him, couldn't help but exclaim as she looked at the hairpin in Lu Yu's hand.
Suddenly, the previously quiet Flying Sword flashed a gentle green light and instantly flew into He Yinglian's hands.
Lu Yu, speechless, stared at the scene before him, feeling no privilege as a transmigrator. Not only was there no system or golden finger in sight, but now, after finally seeing a treasure, it seemed not meant for him.
However, despite the bitterness in his heart, Lu Yu felt no envy towards the young girl. Smiling with anticipation, he told He Yinglian, "It seems you and this treasure are fated. Why not take it now!"
Overjoyed at hearing this, He Yinglian's face lit up with delight, and she crisply said to Lu Yu, "Thank you, Big Brother Lu!"
After placing the hairpin on her head and with her radiant face blushing, she glanced at Lu Yu and asked, "Big Brother Lu, do I look pretty!"
Caught in the throes of youth, that hint of charm briefly stunned Lu Yu.
He quickly dismissed the thought, considering that, back on Earth, she was still a minor. Lu Yu believed himself not to be so beastly.
"This is no ordinary hairpin; it must be a Flying Sword. Flying Swords have Spiritual Nature, and you must not neglect it," Lu Yu quickly changed the subject.
He Yinglian seemed to notice Lu Yu's embarrassment and burst into a bell-like laughter, "Got it, Big Brother Lu." Her call of 'Big Brother Lu' was so elongated, it left Lu Yu awkwardly touching his nose.
Lu Yu and his companions did not dare to linger, declining the villagers' warm hospitality, and hastily left the small village. They had matters to attend to, not to mention the assassins whose origin they still didn't know if they had completely evaded.
The days that followed fully proved they had indeed escaped from the assassins; perhaps the assassins were too complacent, always assuming that dealing with two newcomers to Jianghu should be an easy task, and thus, they didn't take it seriously.
The group serenely made their way to their destination, the seat of the Yunzhou State Capital — Wan City.
As the center of both economics and politics in Yunzhou, Wan City was also the fief awarded to the fifth son of the Lord of the Great Chen. With its beautiful sceneries and brilliant people, it was a jewel of the region.
The Great Chen had seen two hundred years of peace; by now, Wan City had grown into a large city with a population of several hundred thousand. Its tall, solidly-built walls resembled a giant beast sprawled upon the earth from a distance.
The huge city gates were bustling as Lu Yu and his two companions quietly entered among the crowd.
The liveliness of Wan City was extraordinary. Its strategic location determined its economic level; further, its status as a state capital enhanced its prosperity, turning it into the pearl of Yunzhou.
Lu Yu looked around the city with interest, finding it hard to believe that he could one day cross the vast river of history and witness a slice of it firsthand.
Just then, a carriage whizzed past, startling the nearby commoners who quickly dodged away, displaying angry expressions on their faces!
"Whose carriage is this, being so arrogant? Is there no law anymore?" He Yingchao wondered aloud.
"You must be from out of town, right?" someone warm-hearted inquired.
"Could this carriage have some significant background?" Lu Yu asked.
"You outsiders may not know, but we old residents do; that was a carriage from Prince Huai's Mansion. We always avoid it; who doesn't know that Prince Huai is the fifth son of the current King and is highly favored!"
Even after hearing the name of Prince Huai, He Yinglian still felt indignant. To them, the people of Jianghu, the laws of the Imperial Court were never highly regarded. Her brother quickly pulled her aside and whispered, "Don't stir up trouble, remember our mission!"
He Chaolian could only stamp her foot in frustration and followed her brother to the Taoist Temple.