Huangfu Yuchen shook his head. “This is only mentioned in miscellaneous books, and there are no records in official history. I don’t know if it’s true or false.”
“Since it feeds on gold, does that mean the people who came in before might still be alive?” Yan Ge said.
Huangfu Yuchen said, “There are no plants inside this cave, not even a mosquito, apart from this strange python. Even if the people who entered a month ago weren’t eaten by the python, they have probably…But Ah Fei and the others might still be alive.”
Minister Luo Wei said, “In that case, it is highly likely that the first group of soldiers was confused by the golden python, and they came in to explore. Your Majesty, what should we do now? It seems that the python’s skin is extremely tough, and it might not be easy to deal with.”
After a brief moment of thought, Huangfu Yuchen glanced at the python and whispered, “Let’s retreat for now, eat something to replenish our energy, and then deal with it.”
“Your Majesty is considerate.” Minister Luo Wei quietly instructed, “Everyone, retreat to the previous cave. Archers, prepare for battle at the entrance.”
“Yes.”
As everyone retreated, they kept a close eye on the python, guarding against any sudden movements. The python, whether it was because it was already full or too lazy to move, did not chase after them.
The group quickly retreated to another cave and took out the dry rations they carried with them, quickly replenishing their energy.
Unexpectedly, at that moment, the ground trembled slightly, and a hissing sound echoed from above them. When they looked up, they were almost scared out of their wits.
The python was incredibly fast, and within in an instant, it had reached the entrance of the cave, arrogantly overlooking them. Suddenly, it opened its mouth, revealing sharp teeth, and its tongue flickered back and forth like lightning.
One soldier immediately fell to the ground, lifeless.
Minister Luo Wei exclaimed, “Protect His Majesty! Archers, shoot!”
These soldiers were all elites, and they quickly regained their composure after the initial shock. They rushed to the front of Huangfu Yuchen and Yan Ge.
“Whoosh, whoosh!” Dozens of arrows were shot, but as everyone expected, they were completely ineffective. The arrowheads bounced off the python’s tough skin and fell to the ground, leaving no marks.
Another soldier said urgently, “Your Majesty, Yan Caiqing, please go ahead. We will deal with it!”
Before the words could fully leave his mouth, the python swung its tail, and the tip of its tail swept towards him like a gust of wind.
“Gao Yun, be careful!” Gao Feng exclaimed in alarm.
Huangfu Yuchen raised his hand and struck out with a palm, directly hitting the snake’s tail. The enormous python’s body shook violently, and then it leaped in anger, swiftly swimming towards the crowd while swaying its huge head and thick tail.
The soldiers quickly dodged and were soon scattered.
“Protect His Majesty!” Minister Luo Wei shouted.
However, the python continued to thrash its body, preventing other soldiers from getting close to Huangfu Yuchen and Yan Ge.
Liao Hui leaped up and landed in front of Huangfu Yuchen, but before he could stabilize himself, the python suddenly twisted its body, pressing him between its hard, iron-like body and the cave wall.
Liao Hui groaned and fainted.
Huangfu Yuchen’s face darkened. He drew his spiritual sword and said without looking back, “Xiao Ge, lead the others to retreat outside the cave immediately!”
Yan Ge also drew his spiritual sword, his expression solemn. He turned to Minister Luo Wei and said, “Minister Luo Wei, lead the others to retreat outside the cave immediately!”
Huangfu Yuchen: “…”
Minister Luo Wei firmly stated, “How can I abandon Your Majesty and Yan Caiqing and leave?”
Huangfu Yuchen said, “You can’t handle it. Retreat outside the cave immediately. This is my order! Will you defy it?”
“This…” Minister Luo Wei was helpless and could only do as he was told. “Everyone, follow me and retreat!”
Gao Feng and Gao Yun didn’t move.
“You two, really…” Yan Ge waved his hand. “Forget it, you two retreat to the side first.”
The python charged towards them once again.
Huangfu Yuchen leaped forward, his spiritual sword swinging and emitting a dazzling silver light that cut across the python’s body, slicing off a piece of flesh the size of a brick.
Gao Feng and Gao Yun exchanged astonished glances. They had also struck the python with their swords earlier, but they couldn’t leave a trace. Huangfu Yuchen’s sword was formidable, and they wondered about its origins.
Before the surprise on their faces could fade, they saw Yan Ge also slashing the python, leaving a diagonal sword mark.
Only then did understand that besides avoiding unnecessary casualties, Huangfu Yuchen wanted them to leave because of these two remarkable swords. The fact that Huangfu Yuchen and Yan Ge didn’t insist on their departure showed that their trust in them had grown. They mustn’t let down this trust.
Perhaps the python didn’t expect that someone could harm it. It suddenly stood upright, and its massive head slammed into the cave ceiling, but it didn’t seem to feel a thing. It then swiftly charged towards Huangfu Yuchen and Yan Ge.
Huangfu Yuchen raised the corner of his mouth disdainfully, lifting and then lowering his spiritual sword.
He aimed at the python’s back, intending to split it open, but Yan Ge stopped him. “Yuchen, is there a way to capture it alive?”
Huangfu Yuchen leaped onto the python’s body, his spiritual sword held horizontally above its head.
The python seemed to understand the power of this spiritual sword and immediately calmed down, not daring to move.
“Baby, don’t tell me you’re planning to keep it to help you find gold mines?” Huangfu Yuchen said helplessly.
“You know me well, Yuchen.” Yan Ge said, “I was thinking that since it feeds on gold and has grown this big, it must have a talent for finding gold mines. If we can tame it, we can take it to other kingdoms and mine their gold.”
Gao Feng and Gao Yun became excited and looked at Huangfu Yuchen with anticipation.
Huangfu Yuchen rubbed his forehead. “Baby, it can’t speak. How can we communicate with it? Besides, it’s so huge. If we bring it with us, won’t the whole world know?”
Yan Ge scratched his head and suddenly remembered the scaling spell they had learned. He quickly transmitted his voice to Huangfu Yuchen. “We can use the spell to shrink it.”
Huangfu Yuchen nodded slightly. “That’s feasible. But how do we communicate with it?”
Yan Ge thought for a moment, took out a gold ingot from his system backpack and walked up to the python. He held the gold ingot in his left hand, and the spiritual sword in his right hand. “You, help us find more of these. Otherwise, I’ll cut off more of these from your body!”
He pointed the spiritual sword at the gold-colored flesh he had cut off from the python.
Huangfu Yuchen, Gao Feng, and Gao Yun were speechless.
Of course, the python couldn’t understand Yan Ge’s words and remained motionless.
Yan Ge looked disappointed. “Are we really going to kill it like this?”
Huangfu Yuchen had Gao Feng pick up the snake meat from the ground. He examined it carefully and was somewhat surprised. “Bany, come and take a look. Its flesh is indeed made of gold.”
Yan Ge hurriedly walked over, took the snake meat, and nodded. “Indeed. The world is full of wonders.”
Huangfu Yuchen chuckled. “Are you happy now? Even if it can’t help us find gold mines, just its flesh alone is quite valuable.”
The python, which had been silent all along, suddenly moved.
Huangfu Yuchen remained highly vigilant, pressing his spiritual sword closer to its head.
The python made a slight movement, turning its head to the left and then back, opening its mouth and emitting two soft hissing sounds.
Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen exchanged puzzled looks. Was it their imagination? It seemed that the golden python wanted them to go to the left.
“Let’s go and take a look.” Huangfu Yuchen mounted the golden python and reached out to pull Yan Ge up as well.
Gao Feng and Gao Yun hurriedly followed.
They returned to the spot where they had seen the golden python before. Yan Ge raised the Night Pearl and noticed a larger pit ahead.
The golden python swam to the edge of the pit and stopped.
At first glance, Huangfu Yuchen saw the exposed gold in the pit, roughly the size of a large table, with traces of snake teeth marks.
“It’s gold, and it seems to be quite pure without many impurities. Quite rare,” Yan Ge said. “It appears that this is indeed a gold mine. The gold has been mostly consumed by the golden python, leaving only this.”
Huangfu Yuchen gestured for Yan Ge to stay on guard against the golden python. He jumped off its back and used the spiritual sword to dig into the ground along the edge of the gold, excavating the soil to a depth of four to five feet. They could confirm that this piece of gold weighed at least two thousand catties.
Yan Ge cast a shrinking spell, reducing the golden python to the size of chopsticks, and placed it in a carved box with a sealed formation. He made a small hole in one corner of the box and threw in a gold ingot.
Gao Feng and Gao Yun were shocked, but as people who had followed Huangfu Yuchen and Yan Ge for a long time, their faces quickly returned to calm, as if they hadn’t seen anything unusual.
Huangfu Yuchen said, “Let’s find the others first before having someone carry the gold.”
Yan Ge released the Zhantian Vine, and they followed it to find Ah Fei and the others.
Ah Fei and the others had been trapped in the cave and starving for nearly a day. They knew the cave was complex, and the chances of being found were slim. They had already lost hope, so when they saw Huangfu Yuchen and Yan Ge personally coming to find them, they thought it was an illusion. They rubbed their eyes before daring to believe and knelt down gratefully.
It took about an incense stick to locate the rest of the soldiers who had come with them but got separated.
“Have you found the previous two groups?” Huangfu Yuchen asked.
Ah Fei’s face showed a painful expression. “Reporting to Your Majesty, we found them, but they are all dead. From my initial judgment, only a few of them were injured by the golden python inside the cave. The others died of starvation. It was too tragic.”
A suffocating silence filled the cave.
After a while, Huangfu Yuchen said, “Where are their remains now? Can they still be found?”
Ah Fei replied, “They can be found. I left markers.”
Huangfu Yuchen instructed Gao Feng and Gao Yun, “Follow the rope ahead and inform the other soldiers to come and carry the fallen soldiers’ remains back.”
“Yes.”
General Wei Chi, who had been anxiously waiting above the ground from the time they descended, breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Huangfu Yuchen and Yan Ge’s figures in his line of sight. He smiled with relief and tears streamed down his face as the bodies were brought up one by one.
“Your Majesty,” General Wei Chi knelt heavily and pleaded, “The soldiers died in such a tragic manner. I request that Your Majesty provide double compensation for them.”
“It’s only right.” Huangfu Yuchen said, “All the fallen soldiers in this battle will receive a compensation of one hundred taels of silver.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty!”
One hundred taels of silver would be enough to provide for the families of the soldiers. The soldiers knelt down with gratitude. “Thank you, Your Majesty. Long live the Emperor!”
“Rise.”
Huangfu Yuchen, Yan Ge, General Wei Chi, and Minister Luo Wei entered the tent.
After sitting down, General Wei Chi spoke with righteous indignation, “Your Majesty, the Youji Kingdom’s army first intruded into our kingdom’s territory, then plundered our people, and later forced one thousand of our soldiers into the Cuncao Valley. They have gone too far! If we don’t teach them a lesson, they will think that our Great Han Kingdom is easy to bully.”
“What do you suggest?” Huangfu Yuchen asked calmly.
General Wei Chi said, “I know that if we really fight them, it may escalate into a larger-scale war between the two kingdoms, causing both loss of life and financial burdens. Your Majesty surely doesn’t want to see such a thing happen, and I also don’t wish for it. So, my idea is to find a way to lure them into our borders again. In that case, we will have an excuse to give them a severe lesson, avenging our fallen soldiers and intimidating them.”
