Gu Yuan's expression remained utterly calm. His icy eyes resembled the frigid water of a deep pool, completely ignoring her.
The snake's head swooped down on him with a fierce gust of wind, yet he stood as immovable as a mountain.
Suddenly, the Cold Moon Blade he had used before swept through the air. Streaks of white light flitted about inside the dilapidated temple.
The blade whirled in mid - air and sliced right through the snake's vital spot.
The giant snake let out a mournful wail and reverted to its human form. Jin Yue spat out a mouthful of blood and was about to kneel down to plead for mercy. Confronted with death, she finally cowered.
But it was already too late. The blade glistened with a bloody aura and sliced cleanly through Jin Yue's neck. Blood spurted out in an instant, splashing everywhere on the spot.
It was the first time I had witnessed such a scene. My eyes bulged wide, and I covered my mouth and nose with both hands, hardly able to believe what I was seeing.
Although the creature on the opposite side was a demon, wasn't this scene just like killing a human?
It was the first time I had seen so much blood gushing out. I couldn't quite handle it, and my legs went weak. If Gu Yuan hadn't stepped forward to support me, I would have almost fallen.
"Thanks! I'm okay."
I quickly wriggled out of his embrace. They say snakes are cold - blooded, but I never thought they could be this heartless.
Killing his own benefactor was as easy as squashing an ant, not even batting an eyelid.
"If you're okay, summon back the old beggar's soul. His soul has been imprisoned by Jin Yue for too long and can't return with us."
I turned to look at the old beggar. Sure enough, his face was deathly pale, and white mist surrounded his body. He was swaying unsteadily in mid - air, as if a gentle breeze could blow him away.
"Ah?" I thought I had misheard. Summon a soul? I had never learned such things.
"Do you want me to repeat myself?" Gu Yuan's patience had already been worn thin by Jin Yue.
If I said I still didn't understand, I was afraid my neck would end up like Jin Yue's.
"Understood, but what if I don't know how to summon a soul?" I looked at Gu Yuan with a plaintive expression, my voice getting softer and softer. I was really scared he would fly into a rage.
"I'll tell you what to do, and you do it."
Gu Yuan stood behind me and directed me step by step to make a soul - summoning banner.
I went outside to find a willow branch, then hung the soul - summoning talisman on it and inserted it into a rice jar. Was this simple soul - summoning banner really done? It seemed rather shabby.
I looked back at Gu Yuan. His face was filled with helplessness.
Just as I was chanting the incantation, a loud shout came from outside the dilapidated temple: "Who is summoning a soul?"
As soon as the voice faded, an old man in black appeared in the temple. He looked to be around sixty years old, about 1.9 meters tall, with a fierce look on his face. He was clearly not someone to be trifled with.
It was definitely a lie to say I wasn't scared when such a tall man suddenly appeared in the middle of the night.
I turned to look at Gu Yuan, but he showed no reaction at all. I had no choice but to brace myself.
"U - uncle... sorry, it's... it's me." I raised a hand, just like a student admitting a mistake.
The old man in black was clearly astonished to see a young girl summoning a soul here.
When he saw the snake demon's corpse on the ground, he was even more incredulous.
"Did you kill this?" I turned to look at Gu Yuan again, and Gu Yuan nodded. Should I admit it?
"Yes... yes..." Gu Yuan frowned tightly, and I immediately panicked. Obviously, I had misunderstood his intention.
"Yes... sorry, it wasn't me. Hehe, it was the celestial being in my sect. He has boundless magical powers. How could I have such an ability?" I wasn't sure if my excuse was good enough, but at least I managed to explain it away.
I stole a sideways glance at Gu Yuan. He showed no expression, so it should be okay.
"Are you a spirit - medium disciple?"
The old man in black still didn't believe me and thought I was lying.
"Ah, the thing is, I haven't officially established my sect yet. My guide was captured by this snake demon, and I came here to rescue him."
The old man in black squinted his eyes, as if looking at a swindler.
"Nonsense. Do you know that this cunning snake demon is extremely powerful? I can't even defeat her. Every time I end up fleeing in disgrace. How could a young girl like you handle her?"
Seeing that he looked down on me, I retorted angrily, "Just because you're incompetent doesn't mean my celestial being is."
Although it was Gu Yuan who killed the demon, I was the one who lured it out. I should at least get some credit. He made me sound like I was good for nothing.
"You little girl, I'll tear your mouth apart."
As soon as he finished speaking, he was about to strike. I let out a scream and quickly backed away.
Suddenly, the voice coming out of my mouth changed from a high - pitched female voice to a deep, magnetic male voice.
"Such a lowly gray fairy, how dare you be so disrespectful to my disciple."
As soon as this voice sounded, the old man in black on the opposite side immediately changed his expression. Just a moment ago, he was in a superior stance, but now he cowered like a big bear.
After a while, another figure emerged from the old man in black's body. He was short and stocky, with a sharp - featured face and long front teeth. He really did look like a rat.
When he saw Gu Yuan, he immediately bowed and saluted, "Greetings, Third Master. If there's anything I can do for you, just give the order."
I had heard from the old people before that the status of a spirit - medium disciple followed that of their celestial being. If the celestial being had a high status, the disciple's status would also be high.
Needless to say, Gu Yuan had a high status and great magical powers. Naturally, these little fairies couldn't compare to him.
"This girl is my spirit - medium disciple. She just hasn't officially established her sect yet, and she doesn't know many things. Now I need you to help her make a soul - summoning banner and help me summon back the old beggar's soul."
Upon receiving the order, Ji Xiang immediately got to work. Watching his skillful movements, I couldn't help but feel a bit ashamed. In no time, the soul - summoning banner was completed.
Ji Xiang stood outside the temple, waving the soul - summoning banner and singing. After he finished singing, he told Gu Yuan it was done.
I happily took the soul - summoning banner from Ji Xiang's hand. He giggled twice and said, "Little sister, you're quite something. After you establish your sect, you can come to me anytime. I'll come at your call."
"Aren't you in his sect?" I pointed at the old man in black.
"His lifespan is almost up. He'll soon pass away, so I definitely have to leave in advance." He said it so casually, but I thought it was a bit too heartless.
"After all, he has worked for you his whole life to help you become a fairy, but you're leaving when he needs you the most. Isn't that too cruel?"
"There's no way around it. This is the fate of spirit - medium disciples. You're the same. When you pass away in a hundred years, Third Master will do the same."
Holding the soul - summoning banner in my hand, I thought that the old beggar might have ended up the same way. If the celestial being in his sect had still been there, the snake demon wouldn't have succeeded so easily.
I turned to look at Gu Yuan inside the dilapidated temple. At this moment, he had his back to me, looking at the fallen statue on the ground.
If that day really came, would I end up the same way as the old beggar, being abandoned without a second thought?
Suddenly, I felt a bit sad.
What was I thinking? After all, humans and snakes were from different worlds. It would be better if he left earlier. I even wished he would stay far away from me right now.
In the dead of night, I inserted the soul - summoning banner behind my electric bike and rode back to the old beggar's house alone.
At this moment, He Bi was still kneeling in the mourning hall, burning paper. When he saw me coming back, he immediately stood up and greeted me.
"Sister, did you find it?"
"I found it. His body is a bit weak. Today is the seventh day after his death. It's about time to send his soul to be buried."
A smile finally appeared on He Bi's face, a smile that a seventeen - or eighteen - year - old boy should have, looking full of vigor.
I was really exhausted. After talking to him, I went back to the bedroom, planning to take a good bath and rest. To be honest, I had experienced more twists and turns last night than in my entire life before.
I turned on the shower. The warm water pouring on my body felt so comfortable. It was much warmer than being in Gu Yuan's arms.
Just as I was enjoying myself and in a good mood, I suddenly noticed that a large amount of blood was flowing out of my body, swirling down the drain.
"Blood! Why is there blood?"