Chapter 61: Escape? Escape Still Counts as Time!

Only half of a Jiangshi Snake’s body, under Mo Lin’s command, pierced through a strong man’s throat like lightning.

“Hoho……”

The man dropped the hatchet in his hand, desperately covering his throat to try and stop the gushing blood, but it was all in vain.

“San’er!”

The man’s brother cried as he chopped that half of the Jiangshi Snake into mincemeat.

Supporting the strong man, he could only helplessly watch as his body gradually turned cold.

Hong Tianyun stood guard beside a man and a corpse, wary of the other Jiangshi Snakes.

His eyes revealed dread as he glanced at the one that had been minced into pieces and could no longer move.

“Be careful of all the snakes, even if they’re cut in two they won’t stop moving! Don’t let them ambush you!”

Hong Tianyun smashed a pouncing Jiangshi Snake away with his staff, then others pinned it down and chopped it into another heap of mincemeat.

Mo Lin looked at Hong Tianyun, utterly unconcerned about the loss of a single Jiangshi Snake.

After all, they were already doused in kerosene and not far from total destruction.

But if the people of Hongjia Village truly thought that chopping Jiangshi Snakes into mincemeat was enough, then they were gravely mistaken.

Mo Lin took out the Soul-Respecting Banner.

This thing had not been used to kill enemies since it slew Gong Yang, but that did not mean it was useless.

One must know, its powers included controlling ghosts, capturing souls, separating spirits, gathering qi, refining souls, and summoning demons.

Mo Lin wrapped the banner with its tail and gave it a swing.

At once, from the two Jiangshi Snake corpses that had been hacked into mincemeat, two faint phantoms slowly rose.

As the two snake spirits emerged, they lunged at the villagers of Hongjia Village.

Two of them, struck, immediately felt stabbing pain in their brains, as if pierced by needles.

Another two Fire Snakes lunged at the afflicted villagers.

Flames spread over their bodies, and soon after violent spasms, they ceased all movement.

Amidst the still-burning flames, two hazy snake spirits appeared once more, joining the battle.

Trembling at the back of the adult men, Hong Xiu froze stiff when he saw this:

“Do ghosts still give rise to ghosts after they die?”

Hong Wen shouted sternly:

“Idiot, haven’t you noticed yet? These snakes aren’t ghosts at all! Third Uncle’s blade has already chopped their bodies apart. They can be physically touched! They’re just Jiangshi!”

However, Hong Wen’s words did nothing to calm Hong Xiu.

Instead, Hong Xiu immediately shouted:

“We can’t possibly win against them! They’re Jiangshi to begin with. Even if chopped to death, they’ll turn into real ghosts to attack us!”

“This battle is completely meaningless, everyone should run for their lives now! I can’t die here, my mother still needs my care!”

Having said that, Hong Xiu turned and ran without a trace of hesitation—his mother was still at home, and it made no difference whether she was escorted to the clearing by others.

They were destined to lose against these Jiangshi Snakes and ghostly snakes.

Hongjia Village was already finished.

If he fought to the death like the other men of Hongjia Village, what would happen to his mother after he died?

For the sake of his mother, even if he bore the shame of being branded a coward and deserter, he must survive!

“Hong Xiu!”

Hong Wen reached to grab him, but Hong Tianyun pulled him back:

“Let him go.”

Hong Tianyun looked around at the others:

“Everyone, this battle may be extremely difficult, and perhaps none of us will survive.

If anyone wishes to run, do so now.”

“But behind us are the elderly, the sick, the women, and children. If we retreat, their fate can only be one thing!”

“For Hongjia Village, even if Tianyun must die, I will never flee!”

Hearing Hong Tianyun’s impassioned declaration, all the men remained silent.

Instead, they tightened their grips on their hatchets and hacked fiercely at every Jiangshi Snake that lunged toward them!

Hong Tianyun let out a slight breath of relief, knowing he had steadied the hearts of those present.

But his face did not improve.

He glanced at Hong Wen and found his nephew was also looking at him.

Their eyes met, worry flashing between them, both knowing exactly what the other was thinking—

Until now, neither of them had told the other villagers that within the snake horde, they had clearly seen the Snake Demon slain two years ago by a wandering Taoist!

Yet it had been burned before the eyes of all the villagers, and even the Snake Demon’s scales had been kept in every household as protective talismans!

Why then had it appeared again now?

If the villagers were told that the Snake Demon was hiding among the snakes, their hard-won morale would surely collapse completely.

Seeing this, uncle and nephew tacitly chose not to reveal it.

They had to think of a way that preserved fighting strength while giving as many people as possible a chance to live!

If… if it truly proved impossible, perhaps they would have no choice but to let the villagers flee.

Behind the Jiangshi Snakes, Mo Lin cast a glance at the fleeing Hong Xiu, sneering coldly:

“I said it before, tonight I’ll erase Hongjia Village from existence. Since that is the case, not a single survivor shall remain.”

“Escape? Escape still counts as time!”

Mo Lin no longer paid attention to Hong Xiu fleeing.

Someone else would naturally deal with him.

For now, it only needed to herd the people before it, along with the old, weak, sick, and women, into one place.

The final act was about to begin.

……

At a clearing in Hongjia Village, an old woman was trembling as she shuffled toward the village altar.

In front of her were other panicked villagers.

They said that the snake horde from the mountain had gone mad and was attacking the village.

The men were all fighting the snakes, including her son, so no one could attend to her.

“Mother, Mother!”

At that moment, the old woman’s dim eyes saw her son, who should have been fighting the snakes, appear before her.

“Xiu’er? Why are you here? Shouldn’t you be battling the snakes?”

Hong Xiu crouched before his mother:

“Mother, your son has come to take you to safety.”

The old woman asked doubtfully:

“Since you’re here, Xiu’er, what about the snake horde?”

Hong Xiu pressed his lips together, then smiled reassuringly:

“Mother, don’t worry. Uncle Tianyun is commanding over there. I saw them fighting quite well. Thinking no one was helping you, I came first to take you to safety.”

Seeing her about to speak further, Hong Xiu crouched down:

“Mother, don’t waste time. Quickly climb onto my back, I’ll carry you to safety.”

With that, Hong Xiu carried the old woman on his back and headed away from the other villagers.

The old woman pointed at the others:

“Son, aren’t you going the wrong way? I see them all going that way.”

Hong Xiu’s face darkened, but he kept his tone calm:

“Mother, trust your son, would I ever harm you? There are too many people that way, I fear you might fall. I’ll take you somewhere safer.”