CHAPTER 226: CHAPTER 226 EFFORTLESSLY 1(2)_1

"That’s right, the two of you should continue to protect Miss Yu. We’ll take good care of Youyou," Gui Mo said, standing to Shangguan You’s left. Although the fog was dense, he was resolved that no one would take advantage of the young lady under his watch.

"Youyou, hide behind us. We will definitely protect you," Gui Jun also spoke up in a timely manner, as the three men tightly surrounded Shangguan You at the center, positioning themselves as her guardians.

"Yes, thank you all. We will all be fine," Shangguan You nodded, giving the men beside her a faint smile.

"Brother, Yuchen, I’m afraid of snakes!" Yu Zijin exclaimed with a start, moving closer to the two men. At this moment, she could clearly hear the slithering sounds drawing nearer.

"They’re coming, right beside us. Don’t move, don’t talk. Just wait for the snakes to pass by, and we’ll be safe," Shangguan You whispered. She could see the leading snake two meters away, followed by countless others slithering towards them. The spot where the seven of them stood was just a few centimeters from the passing snake throng.

"Okay," everyone nodded. They could see nothing but dense fog, yet Shangguan You saw everything clearly. This only meant her eyesight was better than theirs. Plus, given her identity as a doctor, they naturally heeded her instructions, all of them breathing lightly and remaining perfectly still.

"Here they come," Shangguan You murmured softly. The seven of them then watched as a three-headed snake led the swarm, slithering past them. An eerie feeling washed over them. Shangguan You’s skin crawled. For the others, not seeing as clearly as she did might have been a blessing, but for Shangguan You, it was a torment she felt keenly at this moment.

Yu Zijin trembled slightly. If Yu Zifeng and Zhang Yuchen hadn’t been supporting her on either side, she likely would have collapsed.

She had actually seen a three-headed snake, and various other kinds of serpents too. These snakes were terrifying!

The complexions of the seven people turned somewhat unsightly. Each struggled to suppress the nausea within, striving not to vomit. Shangguan Qing and the others hadn’t eaten anything all day. Now, with countless revolting snakes slithering past, they couldn’t help but feel queasy.

All seven of them stayed silent and immobile, knowing that any movement could reveal them to the snake horde. Yu Zijin, in particular, clamped her mouth shut to stifle her screams, her body quivering relentlessly.

Shangguan You, despite her revulsion, silently stepped back and swallowed a few Jade Dew Pills and Spirit Gathering Pills to feel somewhat better. Her deep eyes glanced at Shangguan Qing, and she once again discarded the thought of hiding in her spatial realm.

She couldn’t abandon Shangguan Qing and the others. They had stood in front when danger arose; she couldn’t be so selfish.

Suddenly, warmth enveloped her hand as Shangguan Qing gently held it. In the thick fog, Shangguan You could clearly see the worry and encouragement in Shangguan Qing’s eyes. He was silently telling her, encouraging her without words, that he was there for her.

Shangguan You nodded slightly, a light smile touching her lips. Her other hand was also gently grasped. To Shangguan You’s surprise, it was Yu Zijin. Yu Zijin’s pale face, the tremors she desperately tried to suppress—everything indicates she’s even more frightened than I am, Shangguan You thought. So why is she still trying to comfort me?

The group stood in a line, just centimeters away from the snakes, the continuous RUSTLE RUSTLE of their movement echoing in their ears. Shangguan You calmed down, her penetrating gaze surveying the varying sizes of the snake throng, her heart filling with suspicion and deepening doubt. Why would a swarm of snakes migrate in the dead of winter? And in such dense fog, no less?

Besides, this area belongs to the military; dangerous creatures like a swarm of snakes should have been cleared out long ago. It’s impossible for them to appear here. All of this seems incredibly bizarre.

At first, she had been too frightened by the snakes to notice details, but now that she had a moment to process, she could clearly see the snakes’ destination. About ten meters away from them, the three-headed snakes began to hover around a spot, seemingly queuing in an orderly fashion. From this distance, Shangguan You couldn’t clearly see what was in that place.

However, a brownish glow in the mist made Shangguan You’s heart stir. Could this be what I’ve been searching for all along? If so, then perhaps everything has come to me effortlessly.

"Brother Qing, you all wait here for me," Shangguan You whispered to Shangguan Qing, then released her hold on both Shangguan Qing and Yu Zijin. She had barely moved a step when Yu Zifeng grasped her tightly.

"It’s dangerous! Where are you going?"

"I’ve spotted some medicinal herbs just ahead; I’ll be right back," Shangguan You responded softly, noticing the clear concern in Yu Zifeng’s phoenix eyes. Yu Zifeng is actually worried about me? That’s rare, she thought.

"No! Even if you have to get them, we should wait for the snakes to leave before we go with you to look," Yu Zifeng said, his voice filled with objection. They were not at ease letting Shangguan You go off alone in such a hazardous place.

"Youyou," Shangguan Qing also shook his head. He, too, disagreed with her going to gather herbs now. No matter how precious the herbs, nothing is more important than Youyou’s life, he thought.

"I will be back shortly." Shangguan You waved her hands gently, releasing a faint Enchanting Fragrance from her space. In the moment the others were slightly dazed by it, she vanished. By the time they came to their senses, her figure was gone. Shangguan You soared into the air and quickly concealed herself within her spatial realm. Purple Spiritual Energy flowed continuously into her body, making her feel remarkably better.

She slowly approached the place where the snakes were congregating. It seems they’re worshipping something? In the middle of the horde was a large, deep, and seemingly bottomless hole, pitch-dark inside. The snakes merely circled the mouth of the hole without advancing, all worshipping at its entrance.

Shangguan You involuntarily drew a sharp breath. The last time I obtained the Water Spirit Bead, it was surrounded by a pale blue mist. But this hole now is dark and foreboding, and the entire horde of snakes is bowing down to it. What on earth could be inside? To jump down there all by myself... I’m actually a little scared.