Fighting the Serpent

The azure serpent's emerald eyes glimmered as it scanned its surroundings meticulously, searching for the source of disturbance. But even a creature as perceptive as this could not anticipate the shadow creeping silently behind it. Wen Ran moved with precision, his light steps barely disturbing the forest floor. Infusing his arms with the strength of his cultivation base, he swung the iron sword at the serpent's thick tail.

The blade connected with a metallic ring, leaving only a shallow cut—not nearly enough to sever it.

A guttural hiss erupted from the serpent's jaws, a sound that seemed to reverberate through the air. Its tail glowed faintly with a dim golden light as it lashed out at Wen Ran, the sheer force behind the strike aiming to crush its attacker.

Despite its terrifying speed, Wen Ran reacted just in time. The weak body of a slave has its advantages after all. He thought bitterly, his movements fluid as he slid beneath the swipe, the tail narrowly missing his head. I'm faster, lighter, and more agile now. I may not pack a punch, but I can dodge.

Rising quickly to his feet, Wen Ran gritted his teeth and pushed more power into his legs. With a sudden burst of speed, he closed the distance between him and the serpent's vulnerable underbelly. His sword flashed once more, slicing into the softer scales beneath. The wound was small but visible—enough to draw blood, though far from fatal.

The serpent hissed louder, its tail whipping around wildly as it coiled defensively. Wen Ran smirked, his confidence unshaken by the limited damage. Little by little, I'll cut you to pieces. He readied himself for another attack, his stance low and prepared, watching every twitch of the beast for his next opening. 

"You look quite scary, don't you? But tell me, how should I cook you?" Wen Ran taunted the serpent, a sly grin tugging at his lips. Beneath his bravado, though, was a lingering truth—he was starving, the kind of hunger that gnawed at his core. His stomach churned, and his body felt on the verge of collapse, weakened from days of poor sleep and no food.

The serpent suddenly coiled its body like a spring and launched itself at Wen Ran with incredible speed. His body jerked to the side, narrowly dodging the massive jaws. The move wasn't just luck—Wen Ran's agility stemmed from the core strength the previous body had developed during years of hard labor in the fields. At least this useless body gave me something decent, he thought, a hint of bitter amusement flickering through his mind.

Wen Ran danced around the serpent gracefully, evading its attacks like a seasoned warrior. Each strike of its jaws came closer and closer, but his sharp eyes caught a peculiar detail. Every time the beast's fangs hit the ground, the earth turned black, corroding as if drenched in a deadly poison. The stronger the beast, the stronger the poison. A sly grin crossed his lips as an idea struck him. This might be exactly what I need to kill that old bastard. Even if it doesn't finish him off, it'll weaken him enough for me to do the job.

The "old bastard" was none other than Fang Jinyao's father, his assigned target. Four days remained before his deadline.

"You're truly my lucky beast," Wen Ran roared, a glint of madness in his eyes. "Let me give you a good ending!"

Moving with precision, he dodged another lunge and struck at the serpent's vulnerable underbelly. This time, his blade carved a deep wound, and blood splattered onto the forest floor. The serpent hissed in pain, thrashing violently. It didn't retreat—instead, it lunged forward with renewed fury. Wen Ran raised his sword to block, but the serpent's powerful jaw clamped down on the blade, sending a shockwave up his arms. The sword cracked under the pressure, and a wave of noxious poison filled the air, making Wen Ran's head spin.

The poison felt like it was attacking his spiritual energy, restricting his flow. Panic gripped him. Despite all his experience, the suffocating sensation of losing his strength unsettled him. I've been careless. Have I truly lost my edge after so long without a proper fight?

The serpent's tail whipped around with lightning speed, striking Wen Ran squarely in the chest and sending him flying. His back slammed into the vine tree, the impact rattling his body as he heard the sickening crack of his ribs. Pain shot through him like fire, and his breath came in ragged gasps. His side felt as if it might collapse entirely, and blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.

This is bad… really bad…

He struggled to his feet, clutching the cracked sword with trembling hands. He refused to let it go. The serpent reared back, hissing with fury, and rushed toward him, its jaws wide open for the killing blow. Wen Ran clenched his teeth, his body screaming in agony. He knew he wouldn't be able to dodge this time. If I die… I'll take you with me.

"AAARRRGHHH!"

A blood-curdling roar tore from his throat as the serpent's fangs pierced his shoulder and ribs. The pain was indescribable, white-hot and consuming. But in the same instant, his blade drove deep into the beast's skull, piercing its brain with surgical precision. The serpent's thrashing ceased, and its massive body collapsed to the ground, lifeless.

Wen Ran staggered, his vision blurring as blood poured from his wounds. He shoved the beast's corpse away with the last of his strength, his breaths shallow and uneven. Is this it? Am I going to die here, after everything?

His gaze shifted to the vine tree, the golden ginseng glowing faintly at its core. A desperate resolve ignited within him. He dragged his broken body forward, step by agonizing step, each movement leaving a crimson trail in the dirt. Gripping the cracked sword tightly, he hacked at the protective vines surrounding the ginseng. The blade was weak, but so was the tree—it gave way little by little.

I won't die here. I can't die here.

Using the last reserves of his spiritual energy, Wen Ran clenched his fist and punched a hole through the weakened barrier. His fingers wrapped around the golden ginseng, its warmth pulsing faintly in his hand.

"I hope you can save me," he whispered hoarsely, a bitter laugh escaping his bloodied lips. "Or else, I'll be heading back to hell… haha..."

His body slumped against the altar, the ginseng glowing faintly in his hand as darkness consumed his vision.