Chapter 58: Xiao Qing

  Shen Du kept his eyes tightly closed, but didn't notice that the snake suddenly transformed into a beautiful young woman with a slender figure and elegant appearance, wearing a cyan dress that set off her pale and delicate face, with brown eyes that were as gentle as water, so beautiful that it took one's breath away.

  She stepped on the water surface like a weak willow in the wind, moving lightly with lotus steps, and walked straight towards Shendu.

  At that moment, the wind rolled up the remaining clouds, and the new moon hung high in the sky as the late sun set.

  He let out a long breath and circulated the sword energy through his body's major meridians dozens of times, feeling unimpeded and extremely relaxed throughout his entire body.

  Slowly opening his eyes, he saw that the beautiful young woman transformed from the cursed snake was curiously sizing him up. His heart suddenly skipped a beat - what had she come for? He hadn't even noticed her arrival. But he forced himself to remain calm, standing up slowly and politely bowing to her with a fist in hand.

  "It's getting late, why are you still here, miss?"

  The snake heard the words, her willow eyebrows slightly raised, and her eyes like water gazed deeply at Shen Dou's puzzled eyes, as if to win his favor, or to see through the secrets in Shen Dou's heart. She stood there for a while before smiling and answering in a soft voice:

  "My name is Xiao Qing, I was separated from my husband recently and got lost in this deep mountain, do you know the way to Jiǔ Qū Diàn?"

  Jiǔ Qū Diàn, nà shì shén me dì fāng.

  Translation:

  "Nine-turns Hall, what place is that?"

  Shen Dou was also a newcomer to this place and naturally didn't know any better; how could he when this was just an illusory realm within the Ice Prison? Instantly on high alert, he used his internal energy to control his sword as he drew in the longsword that had been placed on the ground earlier, grasping it tightly.

  "Haha." Looking at Shen Dou's appearance, Xiao Qing's smile on her face grew thicker, and she took a step forward: "Young master doesn't have to be nervous, I don't have any malicious intentions, nor do I have martial arts skills, and I absolutely won't harm you in the slightest. I just want to go to the Jiǔ Qū Diàn to find my husband."

  "You really are humble for not knowing martial arts."

  Shen muttered to himself in his heart, but on the surface, he smiled and introduced himself: "I am Shen Dou. You mentioned the Nine Bends Palace, I truly don't know about it. If you want to find the Nine Bends Palace, then please go ahead."

  Seeing Shen Du's indifferent face, Xiao Qing also put away her smile and said with a lost expression: "Well, since the young master is unwilling to help, I'll go find it myself. It's just that this road is fraught with danger, I don't know if I have good enough luck to avoid those ferocious beasts." After finishing speaking, she turned around and left.

  As he watched Xiao Qing walk away with her elegant and refined figure, as if a gentle breeze could easily knock her down, her charming appearance made Shen Dou feel pity for her, and he involuntarily called out: "Xiao Qing, please wait a moment."

  Xiao Qing stopped in her tracks and slowly turned around, her elegant face showing no surprise or disappointment, only a expressionless inquiry: "Young Master, is there anything else?"

  As soon as she turned around, Shen Du immediately started to regret it again. He had just begun to practice the Shenmen Fifteen Swords, and if he took on more things, he really didn't know when his swordsmanship would be able to break through.

  But Shen Du was not a heartless person after all, so he said lightly: "I wanted to ask, it's so late, where are you planning to go? Do you want to sleep outdoors in this desolate mountain wilderness?"

  "What can be done about it?" Xia Qing's face suddenly showed a hint of loss.

  "Otherwise, you come to our place and stay for a night, and set off again at dawn tomorrow."

  Shen Dou really didn't dare promise to escort Xiao Qing to the Jiǔ Qū Diàn anymore, even if he had such an idea.

  But Xiao Qing suddenly turned sorrow into joy, took a big step forward with a slightly excited expression, and gave Shen Dou a big hug. Her bright red lips were close to Shen Dou's ear, and she whispered: "Thank you, Shen Dou, I will definitely repay you." As she spoke, a long snake letter unexpectedly came out of her mouth.

  Shen Dou had no eyes in the back of his head, so he couldn't see, but Bi Luo, who came out to look for Shen Dou, saw it clearly.

  "What a snake spirit, why are you appearing here?" Bi Luo walked to Xiao Qing's front without any politeness and coldly asked.

  When he saw Bi Luo, Shen Du asked with a surprised face: "What snake spirit, are you saying Xiao Qing is a snake spirit?"

  "It wasn't her who was there, I saw it with my own eyes just now, she was spitting snake letters on your shoulder, can this be fake?"

  Xiao Qing still tightly hugged Shen Dou's body, her elegant face looked extremely wronged, almost choking with sobs: "I'm just a weak woman who got lost here, seeing that the sky is already late, I only wanted to get your hospitality and help, without any ill intentions. Listening to your tone, it seems like you're not welcoming me at all, so maybe I should leave." Although she said this, her arms around Shen Dou's waist tightened with a few more ounces of strength.

  Shen Dou didn't intend to let Xiao Qing leave either, so he coldly glanced at Bi Lao and said: "How can you be so heartless? She's a weak woman who came here alone, just wanting to stay for one night. Let her stay for the night, it won't cost you much."

  Since Shen Du also said so, Bi Luo stopped arguing and coldly snorted: "Fine, don't blame me for not warning you with good intentions. A snake's beauty is a poisonous heart; the softer a woman appears on the outside, the more venomous her inner heart is."

  It was at this moment that the blind Tuo Mu also fumbled his way here, feeling the warm and gentle atmosphere of the place with a calm expression.

  Although she couldn't see, her intuition was the most accurate. She felt the chill released from Biro's body, gradually approaching herself, and softly said: "Biro, don't worry, she won't do anything to us."

  Biluo stopped beside Yanmo and said coldly: "You can't see anything, how do you know she won't do anything to us?"

  "Haha, although the cursed snake is the most venomous species in this world, it's also the wisest spirit snake, their intelligence far surpasses that of humans. After experiencing tens of thousands of years of trials and tribulations, they've learned how to keep a low profile. She chose to get close to Shen Du, probably because there's something on him that she can take advantage of. So, she won't do anything to us." Yan Mu said with an air of erudition.

  But Bi Luo didn't believe it at all, her tone still cold as she said: "You really are self-righteous, I just saw with my own eyes that she was spitting snake venom on Shen Dou's shoulder, if I hadn't arrived, Shen Dou would have already died from its poisonous fangs."

  "Haha, you really underestimate the ability of the snake demon. If she wanted to kill Shen Du, why would she need to go to such great lengths? With just a thought, "

  "Mind control Shendu's mind, Shendu can die by herself, and even do anything for her."

  Since she's so capable, why did she have to beg Shen Du for a place to stay?

  "This is exactly where the cleverness of the cursed snake lies, she wants to use her own ability to conquer anyone, making them willingly serve her, rather than forcibly controlling a person's mind."

  "Never mind, I won't listen to your nonsense, I must have a good rest tonight."

  Although Qian Mo spoke convincingly, Bi Xi still didn't want to believe it and thought that what Qian Mo said was just nonsense, so she walked away with a disappointed face.