Seeing that Chang Sheng had made up his mind, everyone said no more. After settling their mounts, they found dry firewood nearby, and soon a bonfire was lit.
Our group is currently located due south of Shanhu Mountain, less than three miles away from Shanhu Mountain. Since the resting place for everyone is located at a high place, the snake spirits in Shanhu Mountain can clearly see the light from the bonfire.
Everyone often sleeps in the wilderness and roasts their prey. The pheasants and hares that have been packed up are each put in a stick and roasted close to the fire.
The so-called roasting does not mean stuffing the prey directly into the campfire. Putting the prey in the middle of the flame is burning, and placing the prey above the flame is burning. Both of these methods will cause the prey to be cooked on the outside. The correct way is to try to burn the prey as much as possible. Being close to the flame but not in direct contact with the flame is called roasting. It is not easy to roast prey. Even small prey such as pheasants and hares cannot be roasted in half an hour.
At this time, no one was seriously roasting, but they stuck the wooden sticks with the prey on them around the campfire. In this way, they might not be cooked for an hour. Everyone naturally knew this, and the reason for doing this was It's because everyone knows that this meal will probably not be eaten, so everyone will get up and take action.
Not long after the bonfire was lit, the people started to react. There were figures shaking in the area where the shack was, and there were strange noises everywhere in the mountain.
"A lot." Yu Yi whispered.
Shi Xuanming nodded, "There will be no less than thirty snake spirits living in the village. Those who are relatively shallow and cannot transform into human forms are all in the mountains behind."
"Your Majesty," Datou looked at Changsheng, "Did the book say, how much cultivation level can be improved by eating the inner elixir of a strange snake?"
Changsheng shook his head and said, "No, I just say that the human-faced snake is connected with the breath of human beings, and its inner elixir can be used by humans. It can be swallowed directly to replenish spiritual energy."
Datou nodded and didn't ask any more questions.
After the bonfire was lit, there was a brief commotion among the snakes, but they soon calmed down. The snake spirits living in the village at the foot of the mountain did not run away to escape, but gathered in one of the wooden houses, presumably in Discuss countermeasures.
Da Tou knew why Chang Sheng was reluctant to take action, "My lord, they are not human after all. If you can't bear it, let's kill a few less and leave a seed for them."
"Isn't it bad to rely on the strong to bully the weak and take things by force?" Shi Xuanming frowned.
Yang Kai said, "Aliens who can take the form of humans must have profound Taoism. If we don't have spiritual talismans to protect us, we may not be their opponents."
"Every man is not guilty, but he is guilty of carrying a jade." Yu Yi said.
Seeing the differences in the attitudes of the people on his side, Changsheng said in a deep voice, "There is no way for blessings and misfortunes, only people call it upon themselves. Their fate is not in our hands, but in their own hands."
After Chang Sheng finished speaking, everyone nodded. Chang Sheng also understood what he meant. How to treat them depends on how they treat everyone on their own side. If the snake group takes the initiative to attack everyone on their own side, they are enemies. If the snake group treats each other with courtesy, then they are enemies. friend.
After waiting for a while, the snake spirit at the foot of the mountain finally made a move. A dozen figures appeared in the darkness, moving slowly towards the area where everyone on our side was.
Three miles is not a long distance, and everyone has the ability of night vision. As soon as the other party walked out of the village, everyone on our side discovered that the snake spirits who had transformed into human forms were carrying something. They were not carrying weapons, but bamboo baskets and urns. One of them What was carried on the shoulders was a living thing. Judging from its squealing, it must be a piglet.
Seeing the other party coming with gifts, Shi Xuanming and Yu Yi felt relieved, looked at each other, and took a long breath.
Datou understands Changsheng and knows that he will never repay kindness with evil. These snake spirits treated each other with courtesy and their lives were saved. "I guess they are sensible. Hey, Your Majesty, how far is the next place from here?"
"Less than six hundred miles." Changsheng said casually.
As he spoke, the group of snake spirits that had transformed into human forms were less than a hundred feet away from everyone. At such a distance, everyone on our side could already see each other's figure and appearance clearly. Previously, most of the people who were immortals were elderly people. And old women, that's why they use crutches. At this time, I found that only one or two of those using crutches were older, and the others were young people.
After a brief period of confusion, Changsheng quickly figured out the reason. The other party was a snake spirit transformed into a human being. He was using crutches because his spiritual practice was not deep, and his transformed legs were not strong enough to support him in walking upright.
Upon closer inspection, there were a total of thirteen people who came this time, only three of them were men, the others were all women, most of them were young women, all with melon-shaped faces, delicate features and pretty eyes.
When the opponent was less than a hundred steps away from everyone on his side, Changsheng stood up straight, put down his dragon power, and waited for the opponent to approach.
Da Tou and the others immediately stood up, put down their weapons, and stood behind Chang Sheng.
Just when Changsheng was worried that this group of snake spirits had been isolated from the world all year round and might not understand the language, the old woman walking in front actually spoke in human language, "This place is inaccessible. Why are you heroes here?"
"We are officials of the imperial court, and we have been ordered to go to the frozen land of the far north to find ice black iron," Changsheng said, "Who are you? Why do you live here?"
The leader of the old woman did not answer Chang Sheng's question directly, but said, "When we saw the fire in the village, we thought that the heroes had lost their way here. The mountains and fields were poor and there was nothing to grow. There were only some bird eggs, dried fish, and preserved meat and fruits. Brew, we brought it and gave it to all the heroes."
While the old woman was speaking, she had already brought people closer, and the people accompanying her placed their belongings in front of Changsheng.
"No reward for no merit," Changsheng said harmoniously, "We appreciate your kindness. Please take your things back. We will only stay here for one night and leave tomorrow morning."
"A few things, just a small talk, heroes, don't refuse," the old woman asked with a smile, "I dare to ask heroes, what dynasty is outside, and what year is it today?"
"Sir, this is the Tianyou period of the Tang Dynasty," Changsheng replied casually, then asked, "Who are you, and why do you live in these barren mountains?"
"It's hard to put it into words," the old woman sighed and shook her head, "We are all miserable people."
Although the other party refused to reveal their identity and Chang Sheng did not ask again, the reason why the other party did not say that they were snake spirits was probably because they did not want to scare them, and they also did not want to cause trouble.
When Chang Sheng was talking to the old woman, the young women accompanying him looked at Batur and the others shyly. Most of them looked at Batur, many looked at Shi Xuanming, and some looked at Yang Kai, but no one looked at Yu. One and big head.
Seeing those snake girls making eye-catching glances at Batulu and the others, but no one looked at him affectionately, Da Tou was amused and said, "Hey, old woman, is there something wrong with your legs and feet? Why are you always on crutches?" ?”
"We dare not deceive heroes," the old woman said. "We live in isolation all year round and do not marry outsiders, which makes our blood weak and prone to diseases."
When the old woman said this, she turned to look at Changsheng, "It's getting late, let's go back now. If you heroes don't mind it, you can visit the village as guests tomorrow. We will treat you wholeheartedly and sweep the couch to welcome you."
Chang Sheng did not comment, "We understand your wishes. Please take these wines and food back with you. We are not short of dry food."
The old woman said, "These local products are very unique. You heroes may wish to share them and taste them. Bamboo baskets and earthen pots will be delivered to the entrance of the village tomorrow."
After the old woman finished speaking, she knelt down to salute Changsheng, then returned slowly.
The people accompanying him also followed him back. Although most of the young snake girls were on crutches, it did not affect their graceful movements and swaying in the wind.
After the snake spirits walked away, Datou stepped forward to inspect the contents of the bamboo basket, "It seems that the fairies also have good people."
"They didn't tell the truth." Yang Kai said in a deep voice.
"That's because they don't want to lie to us." Datou was not interested in the food, but the two jars of fruit wine were very tempting to him. He picked up one jar and patted open the mud seal, "It smells so good."
At this time, the snake spirits had gone away, and everyone returned to the campfire, added firewood, and continued to roast pheasants and rabbits.
Feeling that the piglet brought by the snake spirit kept moaning and screaming beside him, Shi Xuanming untied it and let it go.
Datou hugged the wine jar and took a sip, "Not bad, not bad. I didn't expect these snake spirits to be able to make wine."
"Aren't you afraid that the wine is poisonous?" Yang Kai asked in a deep voice.
"What are you afraid of? We have spiritual talismans to protect us. Even poison can't kill us." Datou disagreed.
Shi Xuanming liked the wine, reached out to grab the wine jar, raised his head and drank, "Well, the entrance is gentle, but it's a pity that it lacks the fire."
"Give me a taste." Batulu reached out and asked.
Shi Xuanming was about to pass the wine to Batulu, but he was snatched away by the boss. He frowned at Batulu and shook his head, "Uncle, you can't drink this wine."
"Why?" Batulu was puzzled.
"Let Yang Kai be right, the wine is really poisonous." Datou turned his head and looked north, with murderous intent on his face.
At this time, Shi Xuanming also noticed that the wine was poisonous. "It is a chronic poison. If there is no spiritual talisman to protect the body, the poison will occur after an hour."
"Could it be an unintentional move?" Yu Yi frowned, "Maybe they don't know that we can't drink these wines."
Chang Sheng reached for the wine jar, took a deep sniff, but couldn't tell the difference, and then took a sip, "There are five kinds of highly poisonous poisons, including Black Poison and Datura, which are carefully prepared. The poison will be released after an hour. It attacks the five internal organs directly and there is no cure.”
"Why bother?" Shi Xuanming sighed longly.
Yang Kai took the wine jar and drank a few sips, "They are probably still watching from a distance."
Datou stood up and picked up a piece of dried fish from the basket. After taking a bite, he whispered, "They are poisoned on purpose, and it is also in the food."
Hearing Da Tou's words, Yu Yi frowned and sighed, "Those who are not of my race must have different minds."
"My lord, if this poison occurs, what will be the symptoms?" Yang Kai asked in a low voice.
"It's like being drunk and sleeping soundly. There are no obvious symptoms." Changsheng answered casually.
"It seems to be showing weakness and flattery, but in fact it is secretly poisoning, which is both good and evil." Yang Kai said.
"Go, kill them." Big Head said.
"Don't worry, wait and see," Chang Sheng frowned and waved his hand, "If nothing else happens, they will come again in an hour..."
