Chapter 185: Fierce Battle with the Python!
The thief’s tunnel was not large; one had to stoop to barely make it through. Inside was pitch-black, and a faint, putrid stench was discernible in the air. Lin Mu, with his excellent vision, was hardly affected. However, he could hear intermittent roars and growls coming from deep within the tunnel.
Worried about Miss Huang’s safety, the two bodyguards quickened their pace and rushed into the tomb. Lin Mu followed suit.
"ROAR!"
A furious roar, accompanied by screams and angry shouts, echoed from inside the tomb, signaling a fight.
"Miss Huang, you must hurry and leave!" It was Master Feng’s voice, laced with urgency and pain.
"Beast! I’ll fight you to the death!"
A few minutes later, following a final, piercing scream, the sounds of battle ceased. The thick scent of blood drifted out into the air. Realizing something was wrong, Lin Mu sped up once more. In the next moment, he appeared inside a tomb chamber.
The spacious chamber was lined with numerous burial artifacts, including stone oxen and horses, as well as many terracotta warriors holding bows and shields, all in a state of decay. None of this caught Lin Mu’s attention. His gaze was fixed on a tightly shut Stone Gate at one end of the chamber, from which the roars were emanating.
Huang Ning was slumped on the ground, disheveled and covered in blood and dirt, looking utterly wretched. She shivered uncontrollably, clearly still in a state of shock. Beside her lay half of a mangled body, as if it had been gnawed on by some creature. The scene was gruesome and terrifying.
"Miss!"
Seeing her in this state, the two bodyguards rushed forward, which only startled Huang Ning further. She brandished a dagger, waving it wildly.
"Ah, don’t come any closer!"
For a moment, the two bodyguards dared not approach. At that moment, Lin Mu stepped forward, grabbed Huang Ning’s wrist, and gently tapped her on the head with his other hand.
"What are you doing!" the two bodyguards roared, ready to attack.
Lin Mu spoke nonchalantly, "She’s been terrified and invaded by Yin Qi. If you don’t disperse the Yin Qi in her body, it won’t be long before you’re collecting her corpse."
Immediately, the two bodyguards witnessed a shocking sight. As Lin Mu’s palm descended, a golden radiance bloomed, and a black mist billowed from the top of Huang Ning’s head.
"This is..."
The two bodyguards exchanged a look, seeing the utter shock in each other’s eyes. The mist bizarrely took the shape of a serpent and a tiger tangled together, creating a terrifying image. However, as soon as this mist was expelled from Huang Ning’s body, it met the golden light and slowly dissipated like snow in the spring sun.
"Ugh..."
With a soft groan, Huang Ning’s body went limp and she collapsed to the ground. She opened her eyes, saw Lin Mu standing before her, and said weakly, "Thank... thank you."
Lin Mu withdrew his hand and stated flatly, "It seems this tomb belongs to your ancestor. Its feng shui was destroyed, and the spirit within intends to use your bloodline to be reborn."
Although Huang Ning couldn’t understand what Lin Mu was saying, her recent ordeal had clearly traumatized her, and she began to tremble. "Save me, please save me! I’ll pay you any amount of money," she pleaded, clinging to Lin Mu’s hand as if it were a lifeline.
Lin Mu gently shook his hand free. Gazing at the Stone Gate, he asked, "Is that thing behind that door?"
Huang Ning scrambled to her feet and explained hurriedly, "As soon as we entered, a giant serpent attacked. It killed two of my bodyguards. Master Feng held it off and pushed me out." Then she asked frantically, "Mr. Lin, I know you’re an expert. Could you please save Master Feng?"
Master Feng held a high status back on Harbor Island, and she didn’t want anything to happen to him.
"Miss, this Stone Gate is too solid. It won’t open." One of the bodyguards approached with a grave expression. He had just inspected the gate and found its mechanism destroyed. Conventional methods would be useless.
"Then what do we do?" Huang Ning grew extremely anxious. If she couldn’t open the Stone Gate, she couldn’t enter the main tomb chamber. If she couldn’t find her ancestor’s coffin, the sand spots on her body would never be cured.
"Let me try."
Lin Mu slowly stepped forward and stood before the Stone Gate. The two bodyguards, startled, took a few steps back to shield Huang Ning. This man’s identity was mysterious and his power was unfathomable. He was definitely no ordinary person, and coupled with his unclear motives, they had to remain vigilant.
Lin Mu ignored them, placing his palm on the Stone Gate. A frigid chill traveled up his arm. His brow twitched as he unleashed a burst of spiritual power.
BOOM!
With a deafening roar, the heavy, sturdy Stone Gate exploded into pieces.
WHOOSH!
A foul gust of wind, thick with the smell of blood and Yin Qi, rushed toward them. Lin Mu waved a hand, and the wind was forced back.
"ROAR!"
At that moment, a pair of crimson eyes, as large as lanterns, locked onto Lin Mu. It was a python as thick as a man’s thigh, its body pitch-black and covered in a layer of hard, faintly glimmering scales.
Hm, has it already started transforming into a Jiao? Lin Mu raised an eyebrow in surprise.
"Young man, be careful!" Master Feng’s anxious and worried voice echoed from the darkness of the inner chamber. "This python has begun its transformation into a Jiao! Its strength is on par with a pinnacle Martial Arts Grandmaster!" His voice was strained with pain, a clear sign of severe injury.
Lin Mu simply smiled. Showing no fear, he raised his arm and threw a punch.
BANG!
Golden light exploded from his fist. The punch, brimming with power and weight, landed squarely on the python’s head.
"ROAR!"
The python’s massive body slammed against the chamber wall. Shaking its head, it coiled up, its cold eyes fixed intently on Lin Mu.
A mere beast, daring to usurp the rightful owner’s nest. With his hands clasped behind his back, Lin Mu stepped into the tomb chamber.
Huang Ning and the two bodyguards exchanged a look, their eyes wide with disbelief and awe.
This guy is that strong? He knocked back that python with a single punch?
Beyond her shock, Huang Ning’s eyes filled with delight. With Lin Mu here, the purpose of her trip was as good as accomplished.
In a corner of the tomb chamber, an old man sat cross-legged on the ground. He held a Compass that emitted a faint light, which formed a protective barrier around him. It was this barrier that had allowed him to hold on until Lin Mu’s arrival. Even so, Master Feng was gravely injured. His face was pale, and a large patch of blood stained his chest.
"Young man, this python is no simple creature. You must be careful," Master Feng warned, looking at Lin Mu with no small amount of shock. He had assumed Lin Mu was just an ordinary person, never imagining his strength would be so immense. Having lived for so long, Master Feng had to admit he had completely misjudged the young man.
"A mere reptile, unworthy of mention!" Lin Mu’s lips curved into a slight smirk as he looked at the python. "You stole my Beauty Flower," he muttered, "you’re not getting away!"
As his words fell, Lin Mu took a sudden step forward, and the entire tomb chamber trembled violently.