Chapter 24: Journey to Serpent City

After dinner, Shen Xin accompanied Tang Ziran for a walk.

Even in the evenings, July’s heat was relentless, but at least their house at the foot of the mountain was cooler than the city. At this time every day, Tang Ziran would take her five exotic beasts out for some fresh air.

The five beasts were a White Tiger, an Explosive Bear, an Armored Beast, a Lightning Leopard, and a Sky-Piercing Bird.

Watching Tang Ziran interact so closely with the beasts, Shen Xin couldn’t help but feel envious. If all five of them attacked together, there probably weren’t many people in Niu City who could withstand them.

The most aggressive was the White Tiger, which was no ordinary tiger—it had its own arsenal. Its roar alone could leave people dizzy and unsteady, and it could summon wind blades to attack.

The Explosive Bear had the greatest strength, the Armored Beast the strongest defense, while the Lightning Leopard was the fastest, its attacks crackling with electricity.

The Sky-Piercing Bird was a massive golden-winged eagle, large enough to carry a person through the air, and it was incredibly fast as well.

Shen Xin wasn’t so interested in the other beasts, but he was utterly captivated by the Sky-Piercing Bird. Whenever he had the chance, he would try to feed it beef.

Unfortunately, the bird always ignored him.

Still, Shen Xin was thick-skinned and undeterred by repeated failures. He even dreamed that one day he’d soar across the sky on the bird’s back.

Like Elder Sister Dan, who sometimes rode the Sky-Piercing Bird back to Sacred City.

Around seven o’clock, the two of them returned to the compound. As bounty hunters, they could move about at night, but it was still troublesome.

The drones overhead were not easy to deal with.

Normally, there was little to fear, but if a drone malfunctioned and attacked, things could get complicated.

Shen Xin wasn’t confident he could withstand a barrage of hot weapons.

His ocular technique allowed him to move objects, but only ones he could see clearly. Bullets moved so fast, he couldn’t possibly shift them.

Of course, Shen Xin had figured out an alternative: moving himself.

Once, he stared at his own hand and activated his technique; in an instant, he teleported himself elsewhere.

This counted as teleportation.

Currently, he could teleport fifty meters at a time, and use his ocular technique up to fifty times a day.

Theoretically, he could get himself two kilometers away in a very short time.

But that was only in theory. In reality, his body couldn’t handle it.

He once experimented with a stone, teleporting it more than twenty times; the stone cracked apart.

This experiment gave Shen Xin some insight—it could be a very effective attack. If he couldn’t defeat a beast, he could just keep teleporting it; most likely, the beast would be worn down and destroyed.

Still, Shen Xin didn’t plan to use that method. He preferred controlling flying daggers—light, elusive, and impossible for opponents to guard against.

But there was a flaw: against heavily defended enemies, like the Armored Beast, daggers were useless.

After letting his mind wander, Shen Xin shook his head to clear his thoughts, then sat cross-legged on the bed to cultivate the visualization technique Elder Sister Dan had given him.

The night passed peacefully. The next morning, as they ate breakfast, Elder Sister Dan, uncharacteristically, spoke during the meal.

“I have a task to recommend. It was introduced by a friend—five million bounty, with thirty percent paid up front.”

Chen Jiawang’s eyes lit up at once. He quickly asked, “What’s the mission? Are you coming with us, Sister Dan?”

She shook her head. “I’m not going. It’s an expedition, the destination is Snake City.”

“Snake City?”

Shen Xin quickly recalled its geography. In Yuanchen Province, Snake City was a relatively remote city, located at the southernmost tip, bordering the endless Star Sea.

Niu City was in the north-central part of Yuanchen, seven or eight hundred kilometers away from Snake City.

But it wasn’t impossibly far.

Old Mo, concerned, asked, “How many days will this mission take?”

Sister Dan smiled. “No more than five days if all goes well. It takes two days just to go there and back. Don’t worry, Old Mo, I’ll take care of Mo Ying’s transport.”

Old Mo nodded, relieved. In these troubled times, he didn’t like being far from his daughter, but with Sister Dan’s guarantee, he could relax. She was one of the top figures among Niu City’s espers, and her skills went far beyond mere combat prowess.

Shen Xin asked, “When do we leave?”

“Up to you, but the sooner the better.”

Since it was a task recommended by Sister Dan, no one had any reason to refuse. After a few questions, everyone agreed. They discussed and decided to leave the next day, spending today to prepare.

Shen Xin didn’t have much to prepare. He’d already given Yu Yanan a blood pack, so she wouldn’t have any food issues for half a month.

Besides, Yu Yanan didn’t have to feed on his blood; she could buy blood packs if necessary.

Though that was risky, there was always a way.

Since they were heading out on an expedition, after receiving the deposit, Old Mo and Chen Jiawang went shopping.

They bought each person a hiking pack, ropes, searchlights, flashlights, compressed biscuits, dried beef, oxygen tanks, thermal blankets—everything needed for the outdoors, spending tens of thousands in one go.

They didn’t buy tents, since they were all in excellent physical shape, and with July’s weather, sleeping outdoors was no problem.

Besides, they were only bodyguards for a survey team that should be providing some supplies.

Once everything was ready, at five the next morning, the four of them set out in an off-road vehicle for Snake City.

Old Mo and Chen Jiawang took turns driving on the highway, and by two in the afternoon, they arrived.

It was Shen Xin’s first time in Snake City, and he looked around curiously. Compared to Niu City, there weren’t many differences—both had towering buildings, but Snake City had more trees and was cooler.

And there were quite a few snake sculptures.

On the way, Shen Xin studied Snake City’s background. The city was famous for its snakes, and the locals had a peculiar attitude: they loved eating snakes, but also held them in awe.

After arriving, Chen Jiawang immediately found a restaurant, parked, and ordered food—including a special dish of snake meat.

Shen Xin stared at the snake meat, unable to bring himself to try it. When he was a child, he’d been bitten by a snake while gathering pigweed on the mountain.

As the saying goes, once bitten by a snake, you’ll fear even a well rope for ten years.

Just looking at the dish made him uneasy, let alone eating it.

The others had no such qualms and tasted a few pieces out of curiosity. Chen Jiawang even exclaimed how delicious it was.

Tang Ziran calmly ate a small piece and commented, “It’s more fragrant stewed. Still not as good as my snake soup.”

Shen Xin glanced at her silently, thinking, This girl must have had it tough growing up.

The four of them quickly finished their meal. Afterward, Old Mo called the employer.

They drove to their rendezvous point, arriving soon at a luxury hotel, where they met a well-dressed, energetic, and portly middle-aged man—their employer, Chen Chunsheng.

Chen Chunsheng greeted them courteously and briefly outlined the plan.

They were to explore an underground karst cave in search of a rare mineral.

After a short conversation, they learned the expedition would set out the next day. Each then returned to their rooms to rest.