Notes on Longevity

Chapter 117 A Snake Demon Stirs in the Town, Zhao Wu Meets Yu Again

"Is the Taoist priest really here to catch that snake demon?" The old woman stood at the entrance of the stone courtyard, looking excitedly at She Li, who was carrying a cloth bag and had a slightly furrowed brow.

"Old lady, don't worry, my friend is much more capable than me. You can be sure he'll subdue that snake demon." She Li was about to reply to the old woman, but Xiao Changgong patted his back, almost making him choke.

"That's good, that's good. Young Master Xiao, please come in, Daoist Master." The old woman stepped aside to let Xiao Changgong and She Li in, then suddenly remembered something and asked the two of them, "Have you two eaten yet?"

She Li was about to say that she had already eaten, but Xiao Changgong spoke first: "Then thank you very much, Auntie."

"It should."

After the two entered the stone courtyard, looking at the simple and plain furnishings, Xiao Changgong said, "This old woman has a son who hasn't come back for some time. The old woman only found out about her son's accident when the county government issued a notice."

"Was it done by that snake demon?" She Li asked.

Xiao Changgong hummed in agreement and continued, "I've been wandering around this area a lot lately, and I happened to pass by that day and saw it. I helped the old man carry his son back here. I checked him over, and it turns out that the snake demon sucks people's life essence. Fortunately, I managed to leave him alive."

"Where is he?" She Li continued to ask.

"Hey! Who am I?" Xiao Changgong nudged She Li with his elbow. "I'm the Great Fox Immortal. Restoring someone's essence and blood is a piece of cake for me. Besides, he should be out busy with something right now."

She Li remained silent, instead looking around the small, quaint stone courtyard as if she were examining something.

"What's wrong?" Xiao Changgong asked upon seeing this.

"There's a demonic aura in this courtyard, didn't you feel it?" In fact, She Li had already sensed it when she followed Xiao Changgong into the stone courtyard, but she didn't say it directly.

"What do you mean?" Xiao Changgong leaned closer to She Li and whispered, "I'm just a demon, isn't it normal for me to have demonic energy?"

“It’s not yours,” She Li replied.

"Not mine? Then why didn't I sense it?" Xiao Changgong walked up to She Li and asked with a frown.

"Her aura is very faint; you really can't tell without some cultivation." After looking around, She Li walked towards a room.

Xiao Changgong followed closely behind, wondering what She Li meant by what she had just said. Was she implying that he was weak?
She Li pushed open the door, and a strong smell of snake wafted out.

The pungent smell made Xiao Changgong cover his mouth and nose and back away. "Why does it smell so strongly of snake?"

"It seems that the snake demon has its eye on this old man's son," She Li said coldly.

"Targeted?" Xiao Changgong looked incredulous. "How is that possible? I've been staying here recently, how could I not know that guy came!"

"You'd let me know when someone comes?" She Li rolled her eyes at Xiao Changgong, then continued, "Don't you ever have a time to leave?"

"Uh, that's true." Xiao Changgong scratched his head and looked at She Li somewhat awkwardly.

"Alright, let's go outside and keep watch until he comes back to see what's going on." She Li closed the door and was about to leave, but Xiao Changgong stopped her.

"The elderly have already prepared the meal; it's not too late to go out after you've eaten."

Xiao Changgong looked at She Li and chuckled.

"Alright then." She Li rubbed his stomach; he was actually hungry too. The main problem was that Xiao Changgong had only offered him tea and hadn't even given him a bite to eat.

-

As the sun set, whether it was because of the snake demon or something else, the people in the town closed their doors early, and even the lights inside the houses were dim.

There were very few pedestrians on the road, only a few drunk men supporting each other, walking in one direction.

Not long after they started walking, the men suddenly stopped. The alcohol in their eyes had cleared up considerably, and a lewd look appeared on their faces.

Just ahead of them, a woman dressed in a black and purple dress walked towards them. She walked with a light step, her demeanor was dignified and elegant, and her appearance was also round and beautiful.

She walked with her head down, as if she had something on her mind, and did not notice the several drunk men walking towards her.

"Young lady, why are you walking alone at night so late?"

The woman was startled by the man's rough, frivolous voice. She looked up at the group with some fear. "Do you want us to take you home?" one of the men said with a lewd grin, his hand reaching out to touch the woman's face.

The woman was startled by the man's actions and retreated repeatedly, waving her hands frantically at the group, saying, "No, no need. I can walk back by myself."

The group was drawn to the woman's refusal and the panicked look on her face. They exchanged glances and approached her step by step, saying some vulgar things: "It's okay, we brothers don't mind walking a little longer. We can chat along the way, don't you think?"

The man spoke deliberately, and the others echoed, "That's right, young lady. It's not safe to walk at night, so let us take you home."

As they were talking and starting to roll up their sleeves, ready to show off their skills, a loud shout rang out behind them: "Stop! What are you doing?"

The group of people were taken aback when they heard the sound, and then turned around to look behind them.

However, just as they turned around, the woman with a flustered expression curled into a smile.

"You little brat, don't meddle in other people's business, or you'll regret it. Get lost!" one of the men threatened a handsome man with slightly purple lips sitting opposite them.

"Let's talk once you're inside the government office." Seeing that the group showed no sign of leaving, the man walked towards them.

Upon seeing this, they suddenly felt a chill, as if something was crawling on their backs—no, it felt like it was wriggling.

But they couldn't care less about that now. Seeing the man walking aggressively towards them, they didn't back down because of their numbers and charged straight at him.

There were many of them, and when the woman saw him, she dodged and called out, "Young master, be careful!"

But he didn't respond to the woman; instead, he swung his fist at the group of people.

Whether it was because they had drunk too much or what, the man knocked one of them down with a single punch. In no time, he had them all on the ground.

"Sir, are you okay?"

The man was taken aback after knocking them down. He had been ill recently, so how could he have knocked them down so easily? He found it strange.

"It's nothing." The man looked at his fist in surprise, then looked up at the approaching woman and replied, "What are you doing here, Miss Yu?"

The man's name was Zhao Wu. More than a month ago, he met Miss Yu on his way home from the escort agency. The situation was similar to what we are seeing now, except that back then it was a woman.

"Young Master Zhao, it's me again." Miss Yu looked at Zhao Wu shyly, a hint of embarrassment in her eyes.

Zhao Wu scratched his head sheepishly, "I'm really sorry. I don't know what happened to me last time, I suddenly fell asleep, but it wasn't a big problem. The doctor at the government office said I was just a little tired. I guess it's because the escort agency has been too busy lately."

"Is the young master a bodyguard?" Miss Yu asked curiously.

"I know a little martial arts," Zhao Wu chuckled. "By the way, Miss Yu, why are you always alone at night? Isn't that dangerous?"

Zhao Wu glanced at the person lying on the ground, suddenly realized what was happening, and asked worriedly.

"I have no family and have always been alone. To survive, I have no choice but to wander between brothels." As she spoke, Miss Yu suddenly realized that she hadn't explained herself clearly, so she quickly added, "I know a little about playing the zither, and that's the only way I can make a living."

"I see." When Zhao Wu heard Miss Yu mention brothels, his heart skipped a beat. He had thought Miss Yu was a prostitute in a brothel.

"Where do you live? How about I take you home?" Zhao Wu had originally planned to leave, but seeing the person who had fainted on the ground, he changed his mind. He felt it would be safer to take her home. If she encountered these people again on the way and he wasn't there, it would be troublesome.

"Then I'll have to trouble you, young master." Miss Yu didn't refuse and curtsied to Zhao Wu.

"Then Miss Yu, please lead the way."

The moonlight shone on an alley in the small town, illuminating Zhao Wu and his companion as they walked in the same direction.

Under the moonlight, on a rooftop opposite the old woman, She Li sat cross-legged. Xiao Changgong lay on the roof ridge, gnawing on a glistening roasted chicken leg.

Time passed slowly, and Xiao Changgong had already gnawed the chicken leg clean, but he didn't throw away the bone. Instead, he held it in his hand and waved it at She Li, who was meditating.

Just then, She Li suddenly opened her eyes.

(End of this chapter)