Chapter 33: Bai Suzhen?

Mid-air, Zhu Ganglie steeled himself, drew his nine-toothed rake, and began to chant:

"Marshal Tianpeng above, protect your servant Zhu and grant me a swift victory! I shall offer you two extra sticks of incense when I return!"

The rake whistled through the air, crashing down toward the giant ape’s head.

"Clang!"

A thunderous boom rang out, followed by a shower of sparks. Zhu Ganglie felt his hands go numb; the rake almost flew from his grip. As for the giant ape, aside from a faint white mark on its head, it was completely unharmed. Instead, it was enraged. Its crimson eyes locked onto Zhu Ganglie as if he were a delicious plate of braised pork.

"Oh, my goodness..."

Terrified out of his wits, Zhu Ganglie summoned every ounce of his strength, swinging the rake in a flurry of Tianpeng Rake techniques. It was like a fierce gale, yet to the giant ape, it felt like nothing more than a light scratch.

The giant ape grew impatient. It swiped its fan-sized paw, swatting the rake away, and followed up with a punch that slammed into Zhu Ganglie’s rotund belly.

"Pfft!"

Zhu Ganglie was sent flying like a cannonball, crashing heavily to the ground. He spat blood, stars dancing before his eyes, and mumbled, "Mother, my trotters..."

Watching this scene, Han Yang shook his head helplessly. "This pig needs more training."

The flood dragon nearby let out a heaven-shaking roar, transformed into a massive azure dragon, and lunged at the ape. It opened its cavernous maw, spewing a column of water in an attempt to restrain the beast. The water jet coiled around the giant ape like a gargantuan python. However, the ape’s hide was tough and thick; the water-based spell caused it minimal damage. With a roar, the ape broke free from the restraints and sent the dragon flying with a single blow. The dragon crashed to the earth, letting out a pained cry, its scales shattered and bloodied.

With his two companions defeated, Han Yang could no longer sit idle.

"A bunch of useless trash! I’ll have to handle this myself!"

Han Yang sneered, flapped his wings, and transformed into a golden streak of light, appearing instantly before the ape. Utilizing his Golden Peng divine ability, he moved with lightning speed, his form shifting unpredictably. The giant ape’s attacks couldn't even touch him; instead, he toyed with the beast, leading it in circles.

"Little monkey, have you had enough?"

Han Yang’s mocking voice rang in the ape’s ears. The giant ape roared in fury, but could only watch helplessly as Han Yang’s figure flickered before its eyes, impossible to track. Seizing the opportunity, Han Yang delivered a fierce punch to the ape’s head.

"Boom!"

With a dull thud, the giant ape let out a final, tragic scream before its massive body collapsed to the ground, its life force extinguished. Han Yang withdrew his divine ability and walked over to the dying Zhu Ganglie and the dragon, feeding each of them a healing pill.

"Big Brother, this pill... it’s delicious..." Zhu Ganglie mumbled incoherently as he spat out blood foam.

"Shut up! Focus on healing!" Han Yang glared at him before turning his gaze toward the depths of the Mist Marsh. "This place is truly strange. Even a common beast can undergo a secondary mutation. It seems there is some hidden secret inside..."

Just then, a peculiar fragrance drifted from the deep mist. The scent was intoxicating and refreshing, leaving one feeling invigorated.

"What is that smell?" Zhu Ganglie sniffed the air, his eyes lighting up. "So fragrant! It makes my appetite soar! Big Brother, shall we go take a look?"

Han Yang was also curious. The scent seemed to possess a certain magic that compelled one to investigate. He nodded and said, "Let's go, take a look!"

The trio moved cautiously toward the source of the fragrance. The fog grew denser, and everything around them became blurred. Suddenly, a graceful silhouette appeared before them. It was a woman clad in thin veils, her skin as white as snow, her curves exquisite. Her long, black hair cascaded like a waterfall, and her beautiful eyes danced with light, making her look like a fairy descending from the heavens.

"Three gentlemen, are you lost?" The woman smiled sweetly, her voice like a celestial melody, soothing the soul.

Zhu Ganglie stared, his eyes fixed and drool leaking from the corner of his mouth. He stammered, "Fa... fairy sister... I... I, old Zhu..."

Han Yang watched the alluring woman, his internal alarm bells ringing. Her appearance was too sudden, and the scent... it was truly suspicious. He decided to play the fool to probe her background. He mimicked Zhu Ganglie’s piggish expression and stuttered, "I... I am a bird demon... I got separated from my brothers, a pig demon... and a snake demon..." As he spoke, he gestured toward Zhu Ganglie and the dragon as if it were the truth.

Zhu Ganglie was about to protest—"You’re the pig demon! Your whole family is pig demons!"—but Han Yang slapped him on the head and hissed, "Call me Big Brother!"

Zhu Ganglie rubbed his head and muttered "Big Brother" with a grievance. The dragon wisely lowered its head, remaining silent while secretly chuckling to itself: *If the boss wasn't an actor, it would be a real waste of talent.*

The woman covered her mouth and giggled, her eyes swirling with charm, causing Zhu Ganglie to nearly lose his soul. "So you three are honored guests of the demon race. I greet you," she said softly. "May I ask what brings you three gentlemen to be lost here?"

Han Yang scratched his head and gave a simple, honest smile. "We... we came looking for treasure! We heard there are good things in this Mist Marsh..."

A flicker of cunning passed through the woman’s eyes as she whispered, "What you say is true; this marsh does indeed hide rare treasures. However, it is fraught with danger, so you three must be cautious." She paused, then continued, "I am not talented, but I know a thing or two about this marsh. If you don't mind, I would be honored to guide you, but..."

She trailed off, her gaze sweeping over the three of them, as if evaluating their worth. Han Yang understood immediately. He pulled a handful of high-grade spirit stones from his storage bag and pressed them into her hand. "Fairy sister, this is a small token of our appreciation. Please, accept it."

The woman’s eyes lit up at the sight of the stones, and her smile grew even more enchanting. She tucked the stones away and said daintily, "You three are so generous. I am deeply grateful and will certainly do my utmost to help you find the treasures."

She curtsied gracefully and introduced herself, "I am Bai Suzhen, a white snake who has cultivated for a thousand years. It is a pleasure to meet you."

*A snake demon, as expected!* Han Yang thought to himself. He feigned being flattered and returned the bow. "Miss Bai is too kind. My name is Han Dapeng, and these are my brothers, Zhu the Second and Dragon the Third."

Bai Suzhen covered her mouth and laughed. "You three are truly interesting. These names suit your true forms quite well." She cast a seductive glance at Han Yang and continued, "In that case, let us be off. The treasure lies deep within the marsh, and we still have quite a distance to travel."

Wiggling her slender waist, Bai Suzhen took the lead.