latelenovela Chapter 412
Chapter 412
Chapter 412
Along the winding mountain path, Ye Jiuchen and Su Jinran walked side by side. The path, like a slender ribbon, meandered casually through the forest, the surrounding trees casting dappled shadows. Their steps were steady and firm; the only sounds were their footsteps and occasional conversations. After several days of trekking, a majestic mountain rose before them, and at its foot lay a village.
But as they approached the village, they sensed an unusual atmosphere. The village was shrouded in deathly silence; the usual sounds of roosters crowing and dogs barking had vanished without a trace, and every house was tightly shut, exuding an inexplicable eeriness. Ye Jiuchen and Su Jinran exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with doubt, and decided to investigate.
Ye Jiuchen stepped forward and knocked on a door. The sound echoed loudly in the quiet village, as if striking the hearts of everyone present. After a long while, slow, dragging footsteps were heard, and the door creaked open, revealing a narrow crack. A frail old woman appeared behind the door. Her eyes were filled with terror, her body trembled slightly, and her voice trembled as well: "Quick, run! There's a monster here!" Her tone suggested that if they lingered any longer, they would be devoured by the monster.
However, Ye Jiuchen and Su Jinran were not deterred by the old woman's words. Ignoring her attempts to stop them, they strode into the village. The village was silent, with only their footsteps echoing in the empty streets. The two cautiously explored every nook and cranny.
Just then, a deep, terrifying roar shattered the silence. A gigantic monster burst forth from a corner of the village. This creature resembled a wolf but was not quite; it was several times larger than an ordinary wolf, its fur disheveled and emitting a foul odor. Its teeth were sharp as knives, gleaming coldly in the sunlight, and its claws carved deep lines into the ground.
Seeing this, Ye Jiuchen drew his sword without hesitation and charged forward. His movements were swift and agile, the sword gleaming coldly in the sunlight as he engaged the monster in a fierce battle. The monster lunged at Ye Jiuchen time and again, but Ye Jiuchen skillfully dodged its attacks while searching for an opportunity to counterattack.
Su Jinran kept a close eye on the monster, his sharp gaze capturing every movement. He noticed an unnatural red glow in the monster's eyes and secretly deduced that it might be poisoned. Thinking this, he hurriedly searched the surrounding area for an antidote. He meticulously searched every corner of the village and the undergrowth, leaving no potentially useful herb unchecked. Fortunately, he found several herbs, and using his extensive knowledge of pharmacology, he quickly mixed them and made them into a powder.
Seizing the opportunity, Su Jinran sprinkled the powder onto the monster. The monster, startled by the powder, paused for a moment. Ye Jiuchen seized the opportunity to attack, his sword flashing like lightning as he pierced the monster's vitals. The monster let out a painful howl, then collapsed to the ground, motionless.
Only then did the villagers dare to cautiously emerge from their houses. Looking at the scene before them, their faces showed surprise and gratitude. After some questioning, they learned that the monster was originally a wolfhound kept by a hunter in the village. A few days ago, it had suddenly mutated and gone mad for unknown reasons, becoming extremely ferocious and biting anyone it saw, terrifying the villagers so much that they dared not leave their homes.
Ye Jiuchen and Su Jinran cured the wolfhound's poison, and the villagers were extremely grateful. They offered the two their best food to express their heartfelt thanks. But Ye Jiuchen and Su Jinran dared not linger, knowing that many more people were waiting for their help. After a short rest, they shouldered their packs again and set off into the distance to find the next place in need of medical assistance. Their figures gradually disappeared in the afterglow of the setting sun, but their story spread throughout the village.
In late autumn, a cool breeze swept through the mountains as Ye Jiuchen and Su Jinran walked side by side along the winding path. Their figures appeared and disappeared among the dappled shadows of the trees, their steps hurried yet steady and powerful. After several days of trekking, their food bags were nearly empty, and their water bottles were almost empty. Their clothes were covered in the dust of the journey, but their eyes remained resolute.
As the outline of the town came into view in the distance, both of them breathed a slight sigh of relief. Entering the town, they found the entrance crowded with people, sighs and murmurs emanating from the crowd. Ye Jiuchen and Su Jinran exchanged a glance, quickly making their way through the crowd. In the center of the crowd, a young man lay quietly on the ground, his face ashen and lifeless.
Ye Jiuchen's heart tightened. He quickly stepped forward, knelt on one knee, and reached out to feel the boy's pulse. His fingertips touched the boy's slender wrist; the pulse was as weak as a withered leaf about to fall on an autumn branch, as if it might dissipate at any moment. Su Jinran also quickly knelt down, gently prying open the boy's eyelids to examine him carefully. Then she leaned close to the boy's neck and gently inhaled the scent emanating from him.
Su Jinran's brows furrowed instantly, and he said in a deep voice, "This is a rare poison from a Gu worm." Upon hearing this, the surrounding people immediately erupted in panic, their faces showing fear as they whispered among themselves, and fear quickly spread through the crowd.
Su Jinran gestured for silence, gently comforting the panicked crowd. He then swiftly turned and retrieved a simple cloth bag from his satchel. His fingers deftly untied the bag, revealing a row of gleaming silver needles of varying lengths. His gaze was focused and resolute as he rapidly inserted the needles into the boy's acupoints, his technique skillful and precise. Each needle seemed to carry a glimmer of hope; as the needles pierced the boy's body, his rapid breathing gradually calmed, and his condition was temporarily brought under control.
Seeing this, Ye Jiuchen got up and inquired around the town. He went into a tavern on the street and asked the bartender; he stopped hurried passersby and patiently asked about the boy's situation. Finally, he learned that the boy had entered an abandoned old house before he fell ill.
Upon receiving the news, the two immediately headed to the old house. The dilapidated house stood on the edge of town, its gate half-closed and creaking. The interior was dark and damp, permeated with a putrid stench, as if the decay of time itself had settled there. Su Jinran, holding homemade insect repellent, carefully searched every corner.
Suddenly, in a dusty corner, a brightly colored Gu worm slowly wriggled. The patterns on its body shimmered with an eerie light, as if warning of its danger. Su Jinran immediately lit insect-repelling incense; wisps of smoke rose, and the Gu worm seemed to be stimulated, beginning to writhe restlessly. Seeing this, Ye Jiuchen immediately channeled his inner strength, gathering a gentle yet powerful stream of energy in his palm, and slammed it down on the Gu worm. With a muffled thud, the Gu worm was killed, turning into a puddle of flesh.