The python seemed to have seen enough of their laughable speech. Its eyes flashed with a jade light and its huge tail rose once more, quickly striking in Qin Mo and Lin Zizheng's direction.

Qin Mo's hold on Biyoujian suddenly tightened. Seeing the oncoming snake tail, he quickly directed spirit power into the sword and sent it flying at the serpent's tail.

The sword, glowing with a cyan light, slashed the black surface of the snake's skin, producing a loud "ripping" sound. The place of the collision broke into a dazzling spark, illuminating the somewhat dark cave.

The immense serpent's eyes flashed with a trace of scorn. Lifting its head up high, it shook it slightly, seemingly sneering at the foolish, arrogant mortal before it.

Yet the snake tail didn't alter its trajectory towards them in the slightest. In a flash, the two were sent flying and struck the wall behind them.

Although it's force was strong, it hadn't fatally injured them. Seeing the tail's uninterrupted swaying, Qin Mo completely felt that the giant snake was toying with them for its own amus.e.m.e.nt, just like a cat playing with a mouse.

Thinking of this, Qin Mo suddenly felt a faint ache in all the bones in his body.

“s.h.i.+xiong!” On the side, Lin Zizheng's anxious voice rang. As he'd been protected by Qin Mo from the start, he hadn't actually suffered any injuries. Now, seeing Qin Mo's weakened state, he couldn't help but come forward to help hold him up.

Qin Mo supported himself against the wall with one hand, with the other hand he braced against Lin Zizheng and slowly stood up. He waved his hand to indicate it was nothing, but inside his mind was racing. When all was said and done how would they leave here?

Suddenly, he recalled a forbidden incantation1 from s.h.i.+xiong's memories. Since it was a forbidden incantation, naturally the previous s.h.i.+xiong remembered it quite distinctly. Of course, the price he'd pay for casting it was extremely heavy.

Gritting his teeth, Qin Mo bit his own index finger and squeezed out a drop of blood from his core. Immediately, his hands quickly produced a seal, the blood floated strangely in the air and unceasingly spread out.

Lin Zizheng could only see the afterimage of Qin Mo's hands, without being able to distinguish the movements at all.

After only a moment, a blood red giant net appeared in front of Qin Mo. Seeing it, Qin Mo took a deep breath and reached out. The giant net moved forward over the python trapping it.

Having completed this single action, Qin Mo at once looked as if he'd exhausted all the strength in his body. He turned to face the wall behind him and staggered forward, his body quickly collapsing against it.

“s.h.i.+xiong!” Lin Zizheng's eyes were bloodshot. He had never before hated his own powerlessness so much. At this moment, he could only blankly reach out to catch Qin Mo's falling body.

As the giant net came into contact with the python's body, he heard it burst into a fit of miserable cries. Simultaneously, he smelled the stench of burning flesh.

From afar, he saw that the python was already trapped in a corner by the giant net.

Qin Mo's gaze lightly drifted away. Looking at the now exposed cave mouth, he weakly gripped Lin Zizheng's hand and said, "Quick, get out of here!"

Lin Zizheng nodded forcefully. Supporting Qin Mo, he immediately sought to escape towards the cave entrance.

The enormous serpent seemed to see through their thoughts. At once, it opened its bell-like eyes wider and from its mouth came a loud “hiss”. The large mouth then stretched open, revealing a set of long sharp venomous fangs. Appearing truly terrifying, it immediately spit a mouthful of flames right in their direction.

Qin Mo was alarmed, but there was nothing he could do about it in the slightest. Already, he could no longer move and the spirit power in his body couldn't be used at all.

Lin Zizheng helped Qin Mo quickly retreat back, yet he lost his footing unexpectedly and fell. In the process, Qin Mo's head just happened to accidentally knock against a b.u.mp in the wall.

Darkness fell before his eyes and his mind went blank. The last thing he remembered was the paled face of Lin Zizheng.

As Qin Mo lost consciousness, he failed to notice the strange appearance of a dark hidden pa.s.sage behind him.

Lin Zizheng anxiously propped Qin Mo up. Sensing a feeble breath at the tip of his nose, his heart calmed. He'd feared that the person before him had met the same fate as his parents, after he'd fallen to the ground, no longer able to stand.

Glancing at the pitch-black pa.s.sage in front of him, he turned to look at the python that appeared to have nearly freed itself from the giant net behind him. Lin Zizheng grit his teeth. His gaze severe, he lifted Qin Mo and walked into the hidden pathway.

After they entered, the entrance to the pa.s.sage once more closed. Lin Zizheng stood listening to the loud bangs coming from outside. It seemed that the large snake had already broken out of its binding and was currently frantically charging at the wall of the secret pa.s.sage.

The corners of his mouth rose slightly, exposing a bloodthirsty smile that contradicted his age. His eyes briefly flashed with a shrouded ruthlessness. Given the opportunity, he was determined to skin it and rip the flesh from its bones2.

Within the quiet of the pa.s.sage, it was completely dark. Lin Zizheng tightly held Qin Mo up. Only the sound of Qin Mo's nearly inaudible breathing could be heard. His eyes blood red, his hands couldn't help but also tighten their grasp on Qin Mo.

Why was he so powerless. At this point, he could only be a burden to him and this was not something he could reconcile.

Just then, inside the hidden chamber, many small specks of light suddenly appeared and gradually a line of words emerged.

One ponders to become a Buddha. One ponders to become a Demon.

From the word “Buddha” emanated a golden radiance. Seeming just as equally unparalleled, the word “Demon” seemed to have been written using blood. Even merely looking at it would make a person feel an abnormal cold.

Lin Zizheng slowly extended his hand, his delicate fingers gently brushed over the word “Buddha”, ultimately, pressing firmly on the word “Demon”.

In an instant, all the golden specks completely faded away, whilst the bloodied specks of light flew towards his mind. At that moment, his head ached as though it was on the verge of bursting.

Faintly within the pa.s.sage, he seemed to hear a soft sigh echo around him. It appeared to be regretful of something.

Despite the extreme pain, the corners of Lin Zizheng's mouth raised slightly, revealing a distinctly hollow smile. So what if he became a Demon, as long as he could get what he wanted.

The comatose Qin Mo had no clue the protagonist's life had once more embarked on a fork in the road. Originally, the protagonist only accidentally entered the secret pa.s.sage and naturally chose to study the “Buddha” method of cultivation. However, this time, due to all kinds of provocations he actually unflinchingly chose the “Demonic” path.

Qin Mo slowly opened his eyes and ma.s.saged his rather painful forehead. Looking around, he saw that he was laying on a lush green patch of gra.s.s. He could even smell the fresh gra.s.sy scent at the tip of his nose.

Immediately, he clenched his fists. He couldn't remember whether they'd escaped the cave, but now it seemed that they must have. Then what was this place and where was Lin Zizheng?

With that thought, Qin Mo couldn't help but become anxious and hastily rose to his feet. Before he could stand up completely, he stumbled and fell down once again.

Behind him, a pair of hands extended to gently help support him. Qin Mo turned his head slightly only to see Lin Zizheng standing by his side.

Feeling Qin Mo's attentive gaze, Lin Zizheng's face exposed the traces of a delighted smile and he said: "s.h.i.+xiong, you finally woke up!"

Qin Mo's brows wrinkled slightly. He didn't know why but he felt as though Lin Zizheng seemed to have changed somehow. However, looking at his same old frail body, he thought perhaps he was mistaken.

Qin Mo pursed his thin lips and broke away from Lin Zizheng's hold. Slowly stabilising himself, he asked: “Where are we?”

Seeing Qin Mo wave off his hands, Lin Zizheng's eyes couldn't help but faintly flash, nevertheless his mouth replied: “s.h.i.+xiong, incidentally there was pa.s.sage behind the cave wall. At that time, you accidentally opened it and I helped s.h.i.+xiong go through. When we came out, we'd ended up here. But s.h.i.+xiong, you've already been unconscious for the last ten days!” As he spoke, he lowered his head slightly and his tone contained a bit of a sob.

Qin Mo's heart softened. Even though the person before him was this world's protagonist, regardless of how powerful he would become in the future, right now he was merely a child. When faced with these situations he'd still be scared.

Thinking of this, Qin Mo couldn't help but gently pet Lin Zizheng's head. His face was still ice-cold and his tone remained flat as he spoke: “It's nothing.” However, the tips of his ears blushed somewhat. He never knew how to comfort others, especially when the other party was still a child.

Sensing Qin Mo's action, Lin Zizheng raised his head and looked at Qin Mo dumbfound his eyes still seemed to be teary. Seeing him like this, the corners of Qin Mo's mouth slightly rose to form a comforting smile.

At first, Lin Zizheng stared blankly, but in an instant, he turned his head in embarra.s.sment and quietly stated: “s.h.i.+xiong, your smile is really good-looking.”

The tips of Qin Mo's ears became even redder and he somewhat hastily turned away going over to a tree on the side. He gracefully moved into a meditating position and said, "First, I'll restore my spirit power."

“Wait, s.h.i.+xiong, eat something first!” Seeing that Qin Mo was about to close his eyes, Lin Zizheng immediately called out.

Qin Mo only then noticed that Lin Zizheng had come over to him. He wasn't sure when but a piece of barbecued meat had appeared in Lin Zizheng's hand. The meat gave a golden glow under the sunlight. It seemed extremely tempting and as Qin Mo had yet to abstain from eating3, the moment he saw the piece of meat, he at once felt he was a little hungry.

He reached out to take the roasted meat. Even though he was already extremely hungry, Qin Mo still ate in a notably elegant manner. It was delicious. Qin Mo couldn't help but ask: “What kind of meat is this?”

Lin Zizheng smiled slightly. His eyes lowered hiding the emotions within them. He whispered: “It's just ordinary snake meat.”

h.e.l.l yes! Our protag has chosen the dark side and the MC's too-dazzling-to-look-at smile is back. I love how the MC doesn't even realise how badly he's messed up the story.

Alright, I'll be going dark next week as I'll be in Gren.o.ble for the French figure skating Grand Prix Event. Then I'll be back on the usual schedule. Enjoy and see you guys soon.

-Bean

On another note, I  just finished all my retakes! Woohoo! (^O^)/

Also, I'm really digging the new progression, let's see how this develops shall we? Hu hu hu

-Cherry

1I mean it can be either incantation or curse. Take it as you will.

2The literal translation was pull away its muscle but I felt this worked better.

3At some point in cultivation a cultivator just stops eating as they can live without food. (Think Breatharianism)