Mother, help me teach this wretched serpent a lesson.

The giant serpent saw Bai Ling descend to the ground and followed her, flicking its tongue and hissing as it slithered closer. Zhao Liang heard the serpent’s hiss and turned his head, seeing it approach. He scrambled to his feet, spreading his arms wide to shield Bai Ling behind him.

Though his left arm was already drenched in blood, Zhao Liang gritted his teeth and endured the pain as best he could.

The serpent noticed Zhao Liang blocking its path and paused to consider. Then, with a swift movement, it lashed out with its massive tail, sending Zhao Liang flying three feet away. Clearly, the serpent had shown restraint, sparing him from serious injury.

Zhao Liang’s body felt as if it were burning, as though he had been torn apart. Yet he struggled desperately to stand, once more placing himself before the serpent.

The serpent seemed irritated now. With another powerful lash, it sent Zhao Liang flying a full ten feet away.

He was thrown violently, like a kite whose string had snapped, crashing heavily to the ground. He felt as if his internal organs had shifted out of place. All he wanted was to lie down and rest, even if only for a moment.

But his mind held only one thought: to save Ling’er. He had to save her; he could not let the serpent harm her.

Staggering as if drunk, Zhao Liang summoned every ounce of his strength and finally managed to stand, limping and trembling, taking his place before Bai Ling once more.

Blood streamed down from his head, blurring his vision. He rubbed his eyes with his hand, but only smeared more blood across them, making it harder to see.

By now, Bai Ling had slowly regained consciousness. She saw Zhao Liang, battered and bloodied, trembling as he stood before her, resolutely blocking the giant serpent. Tears choked her voice as she said, “Zhao Liang, stop forcing yourself like this. If we must die, let us die together.”

“Ling’er, you’re awake!” Zhao Liang struggled to turn his head, joy lighting his face. “Don’t worry, I won’t let this serpent hurt you.”

The giant serpent seemed almost exasperated, as if it realized that if things continued, Zhao Liang would surely die from its blows. Its eyes rolled, and it suddenly opened its mouth wide, biting down on Zhao Liang.

Bai Ling was struck with terror, thinking the serpent had changed its mind and was about to kill Zhao Liang. She scrambled to her feet, dragging her weakened body after the serpent.

“Let him go, you filthy snake! You wretched beast, you legless pest!” she shouted, hurling stones at the serpent as she ran.

But the stones were useless, barely touching the serpent if at all, and even when they did, it was no more than a feeble scratch.

The serpent carried Zhao Liang to a large tree, placing him in the fork between two branches, trapping him so he could neither climb up nor down. Injured as he was, Zhao Liang could barely move.

Then the serpent turned and lunged at Bai Ling.

From the tree, Zhao Liang shouted, frantic, “You cursed snake! You bastard! Come bite me if you dare! What’s the point of bullying a girl?”

He had no way of knowing that to the serpent, there was no difference between man or woman; to it, they were all just two-legged creatures.

Seeing the serpent pursue her, Bai Ling turned to flee, but her body was too frail. She stumbled and fell after only a few steps.

The serpent saw her collapse and lunged, jaws wide, ready to strike.

Terrified, Bai Ling screamed, scooting backward on the ground, instinctively raising her arms to shield her face.

At that critical moment, an angry voice rang out: “Foul beast, stop!”

A flying sword, flashing like lightning, struck the serpent’s left eye. Caught off guard, the serpent reared up in pain, soaring dozens of feet into the air.

A figure clad in white descended from the sky, scooped Bai Ling up from the ground, and carried her away, landing safely dozens of feet from the scene.

Bai Ling looked back and saw her mother, Bai Xian. She flung herself into Bai Xian’s arms, sobbing, “Mother, why did you come so late? If you’d been any later, that filthy serpent would have eaten me, and you’d never see me again. Help me teach that beast a lesson!”

Bai Xian gently patted Bai Ling’s shoulder, her voice soothing, “There, there, don’t cry. You little troublemaker, how did you manage to provoke such a creature?”

Bai Ling, her eyes swimming with tears, asked, “Mother, what kind of serpent is this? How can it be so huge, and even fly?”

Bai Xian looked at the writhing serpent, still in agony on the ground, and replied, “This is a Teng serpent. Luckily, it’s only a young one; I can handle it. If it were fully grown, not even ten of me could stand against it. If you ever see an adult Teng serpent, run as far and as fast as you can.”

“Is it really that formidable?”

“Teng serpents are ancient divine beasts, incredibly strong, with wings on their backs and adept at flight. We ordinary cultivators cannot hope to contend with them.”

As mother and daughter spoke, a distant voice called out, “Ling’er, Ling’er…”

Bai Xian frowned, “Who’s calling your name?”

Bai Ling exclaimed, “Mother, please hurry and save someone else. He’s trapped in that tree over there.”

“Who is he? How do you know him?”

“Oh, mother, don’t ask now. Hurry and rescue him. I’ll explain later. Please, quickly!”

Without further argument, Bai Xian soared into the air like a white ribbon, and in moments reached the tree where Zhao Liang was trapped. She tucked him under her arm and flew back.

Seeing Zhao Liang, bloodied and battered, fall to the ground, Bai Ling rushed to him, hugging him tightly. “It’s all right now, it’s all right. Neither of us will die. My mother is here to save us.”