The scene before them looked rather comical, somewhat akin to an ant trying to stop a chariot.
Yet, the black snake was incredibly imposing, though it was only about a foot long, it appeared extraordinary, with faint sinister energy and true qi surrounding it.
The snake certainly wouldn't cultivate on its own.
It looked as if someone had infused it with true qi, forcibly awakening some spiritual intelligence and refining it into its current form.
"Little Black, come back quickly."
A whip crack sounded, and several figures emerged from the woods, using long whips to swing through the branches with peculiar grace, quickly landing on the ground. The leading young woman extended her hands, her sleeves fluttered, and the black snake shot out and flew directly into her sleeve, disappearing in an instant.
Several people followed her, both men and women, dressed in Miao ethnic attire, some wearing snake-shaped earrings, others with snake embellishments on their chests. The young woman examined the person before her with a surprised look, thinking involuntarily to herself, what a handsome youth.
Such a pity I left in such a hurry today that I even forgot to bring the charm worm.
Otherwise, I might have taken him back to the village.
A middle-aged woman watching from the side glanced at Duncan, took out a portrait from her sleeve, and asked, "Young man, have you ever seen this person?"
Fu Jianhan's portrait was among them, quite accurately drawn.
"I have seen him."
Duncan glanced at it and nodded, saying, "Does this person like to drink?"
"Carrying a crimson gourd on his back?"
Upon hearing this, the young woman's eyes brightened, and she quickly nodded, "Right! This person reeks of alcohol, just like a drunkard."
"Little brother!"
"If you know where he is, please let us know, the Five Immortals Sect will definitely reward you generously in the future."
Duncan's expression carried a hint of amusement as he eyed the group and said, "I don't know where he has gone."
"But he likes joining in the fun, so most likely he would go to Meichuan Du."
"If you're looking for him."
"Just wait there!"
He decided to send some experts to stir things up at Meichuan Du. The young woman was marked as the 'Five Immortals Sect Saintess', while the others were marked with four-star whiteboard marks as 'Five Immortals Sect Gu Masters', obviously true disciples from Miao Territories.
Fu Jianhan loved to join in the fun, even rushing over a thousand miles overnight to Join events at Dangshan Dragon Pool.
He would definitely go to Meichuan Du.
Regardless of whether it was him, Lu Shanjun, or Duncan, they all liked watching the excitement.
Giddy up!
Duncan whipped his horse, motioning to the others with clasped fists, then gallantly rode away.
"Saintess."
"This person seems suspicious, his words might not be trustworthy!" An elder Miao man reminded in a low voice.
But the young woman was gazing in the direction Duncan was leaving, responding with a question unrelated to the warning, "Clan leader Mo, if I use the charm worm to coax this young man back to the village."
"Would the celestial lady get angry and punish me?"
The celestial lady referred to the Saint Lady of the Five Immortals Sect, who inherited witchcraft, serving Gu Zhongxian, akin to the High Priestess of Witchcraft.
There wasn't just one Saintess, but considered as reserve officiants for the High Priestess. Their lineage traced back to ancient witches, some places also worshipped the 'Pan King'.
Descendants of Jiu Li.
There is a saying, "Common folk", meaning those defeated in war and enslaved, whereas the nobility referred to the elite, and because surnames were privileges for nobles, it wasn't until later they blended into referring generally to common people.
So, there's no inherent bloodline for nobility, who doesn't have noble ancestors?
Those who didn't merge into the Han people, fled afar defeated, evolving into the various southern tribes.
The black snake was quite extraordinary.
The essence of all things, the spirit of heaven and earth, is the Gu.
The Five Immortals Sect's cultivation system is rooted in the theory of all things having spirits, refining true qi through venomous beings and Gu insects, though vicious creatures are easily found, Gu insects are rare.
The black snake should be a Gu, called a snake-hui.
Duncan spent seven years in Yunnan, Guizhou, and Sichuan, even modern times saw women playing with centipedes and scorpions, though rare, they could be found online.
"Saintess, don't speak nonsense!"
The middle-aged woman beside her kept a stern face, saying, "If the celestial lady finds out, she will surely punish you by sending you to the cave of ten thousand snakes for reflection."
Southern tribal women are very bold, some places still retain matriarchal society customs.
The young woman shuddered slightly at the words, the cave of ten thousand snakes is not fun; she chuckled awkwardly, "I was just speaking casually."
"Auntie, don't take it seriously!"
The handsome youth merely intrigued her momentarily, no need to provoke the celestial lady's wrath for this.
Oh, the celestial lady indeed!
During her youth, she used a charm worm to fetch a Han man with the surname Xu into the village, yet when it came for them to roam the Jianghu, she was particularly strict.