Chapter 50: The Risky Quest for the Gallbladder (Part One)

Ying and her three companions stood atop the stone table, watching the panicked green snakes scatter. The sight made their skin crawl, but none of them spoke. Liehuo let out a quiet breath of relief—at least the snake horde had dispersed. Even these grown men felt their scalps tingle at the scene. He glanced furtively at Anran; her expression remained cold and unreadable, as if she hadn’t been affected at all.

Jun Moli pressed his lips together, silently studying Anran. A knowing smile touched his face—she had foreseen everything.

“Your two most trusted aides are truly extraordinary,” Anran said, the corners of her lips curving upward as she addressed Liehuo and Xiaoyang with a veiled sarcasm. Liehuo and Xiaoyang ducked their heads in silence; they had certainly experienced the terror of the snake horde just now.

“I apologize on their behalf,” Jun Moli replied with a gentle smile. His deep eyes shot the two men a warning glance, his voice as clear and pleasant as a mountain spring.

“Haven’t they all scattered?” Liehuo muttered under his breath, his words muffled. Yet with her martial artist’s hearing, Anran caught every syllable.

“Scattered?” Anran sneered, glancing indifferently at Jun Moli. “Stay here and refrain from using your inner strength. Otherwise, not a soul in this world will be able to save you.”

Sweat beaded on Jun Moli’s pallid cheeks as he forced himself to remain calm. His gaze lingered on Anran, silent and unmoving. This was the second time she had shown concern for his condition, and once again, she proved her unparalleled medical skill: without even taking his pulse, she had already diagnosed his ailment with uncanny accuracy.

Five years ago, after inexplicably being poisoned on the battlefield, he could no longer use his strength at will—especially his inner energy. Each time he did, the poison within him would lash at his organs with unbearable pain. Just now, even a slight use of inner strength had nearly overwhelmed his body. Was this broken vessel truly nearing its end?

Before Jun Moli could collect his thoughts, a pill had already been placed in his mouth. It dissolved instantly, releasing a bittersweet, cooling sensation that soothed his body and mind. He felt as if every cell in his body was suddenly able to breathe freely again.

“Witch, what did you just give the master?” Liehuo’s eyes widened in outrage as he demanded an answer. Anran had moved so quickly that he hadn’t even had time to react—the medicine was already in Jun Moli’s mouth.

“Witch?” Anran merely smiled at the new title, but her face suddenly hardened. “Don’t come begging this witch for help when the time comes.”

“If you’re not a witch, what are you?” Liehuo bellowed, pressing further, “Master, do you feel any discomfort?”

“I’m fine.” Jun Moli shook his head, a hint of wonder in his eyes as he looked at Anran. What a miraculous medicine!

Anran allowed herself the faintest of smiles. Until she had repaid her debt for the ginseng flower, he could not be allowed to die.

No sooner had her words fallen than a sinister hissing rose to their ears—the sound of snakes flicking their tongues. Liehuo and Xiaoyang turned pale instantly. Judging by the noise, there were several times more snakes than before.

How could there be so many snakes?

In the span of a single cup of tea, hundreds—perhaps thousands—of green snakes poured from the entrance of the tomb passage, all of them the same dusky blue-black, their red tongues flickering in the dim light as they writhed and vied to enter the burial chamber.

The mass of snakes squirmed below, some starting to climb upward. The stone table on which they stood was no longer quite so safe. In truth, in this tomb, the word “safe” had lost all meaning.