Chapter 391: Chapter 387: The Golden Silkworm Gu Snake and the Bai Family

"First, turn back into your original form. How am I supposed to explain things to you like this?"

’Is the fight really ending just like this?’

Tu Xiao’an was a little caught off guard, but looking at Luo Ziyun, he knew the fight couldn’t go on.

He was desperate to know what was going on.

"Hmph..."

The fifty-meter-long Purple Gold Snake gave a haughty snort, then began to shrink in place. It was a bizarre sight.

A moment later, within the dilapidated courtyard, Tu Xiao’an had transformed into a handsome young man, while the Golden Silkworm Gu Snake had taken on the appearance of a beautiful, elegant woman.

Meanwhile, Luo Ziyun stood between them.

"Sister, it’s been so long since you’ve visited me," the beautiful woman said. She usually carried herself as the "Ancestor Grandma," but now her posture was exceedingly humble.

Luo Ziyun smiled. "I’ve just been too busy. Please don’t hold it against me, Sister."

"Oh, Sister, please. You’re embarrassing me with such kindness."

Uh...

Tu Xiao’an was utterly baffled. He opened his mouth to speak several times, then closed it again. ’This whole scene is so weird.’

"Li’Er, today was just a misunderstanding. For my sake, please let it go," Luo Ziyun said, taking the other woman’s hand.

The beautiful woman fell silent. She looked from Tu Xiao’an to Luo Ziyun. "Sister, why are you protecting this mere Little Snake Spirit?"

"He’s no ordinary Snake Spirit," Luo Ziyun said softly, then leaned in to whisper in her ear, "He is my..."

The beautiful woman’s body trembled. Whatever she heard shocked her deeply, and the way she looked at Tu Xiao’an changed in an instant.

After a moment, Luo Ziyun turned to Tu Xiao’an and said in the same gentle voice, "An’Er, today was a misunderstanding. You..."

"Don’t you ’An’Er’ me," Tu Xiao’an snapped, his face darkening. ’What the hell is with this woman? Is she trying to play the loving mother today?’

The way she said "An’Er" made his skin crawl.

In truth, Tu Xiao’an was happy the fight had ended this way. He had accomplished everything he set out to do, even devouring her cherry tree and over a dozen Golden Silkworm Gu Snakes. His Evolutionary Energy had skyrocketed by more than twenty thousand.

He hadn’t lost out in any way. He could spare this Snake Demon for now.

’I’ll deal with her after I start my Rank 3 evolution.’ The only thing that bothered Tu Xiao’an was Luo Ziyun’s relationship with the other snake.

Half an hour later, Tu Xiao’an and Luo Ziyun left the Bai Family’s estate.

"Alright, spit it out. How are you and that Snake Spirit sisters?" Tu Xiao’an asked as they walked down a deserted street. "That woman is a Golden Silkworm Gu Snake. That’s not a natural Snake Species."

’Don’t tell me Luo Ziyun is also a Golden Silkworm Gu Snake?’

Instantly, Tu Xiao’an began to look at her very strangely.

Luo Ziyun, however, seemed unfazed. She was perfectly composed, not reacting to Tu Xiao’an’s strange gaze. As they walked, she said, "Li’Er and I met three hundred years ago."

Tu Xiao’an’s heart jolted. ’So she’s another "Ancestor Grandma" type, maybe even a great-great-great-great... grandma.’

"You’re a Snake Demon too, right?" he asked again.

He’d had his suspicions ever since Luo Ziyun told him that story about the Snake Catcher and the Snake Demon back at the noodle shop.

’Why else would she tell him a story like that for no reason?’

"I am not," Luo Ziyun denied once more. "As for my identity... I’ll tell you once you’ve attained true power, how about that?"

Tu Xiao’an said expressionlessly, "What does that have to do with anything?"

’So because I haven’t reached that point yet, I’m not even qualified to know?’

"Let me tell you Li’Er’s story instead," Luo Ziyun offered.

’Heh... changing the subject.’

But Tu Xiao’an was also intensely curious about the Demon King Level Golden Silkworm Gu Snake, so he nodded.

"Li’Er was a Golden Silkworm Gu Snake created by an evil Wizard. He used her to commit many heinous and immoral acts."

"As Li’Er’s sentience grew, she became unwilling to be controlled."

"One day, she finally mustered the courage to escape from the Wizard and fled into a great mountain."

"But while she did escape, she was gravely injured. Those mountains were home to many venomous snakes, and even more local Snake Catchers. The mountain was called She Mountain," Luo Ziyun said, glancing at Tu Xiao’an.

Tu Xiao’an frowned and listened as she continued.

"News of the Golden Silkworm Gu Snake spread among the locals. Snake Catchers flocked to the mountain in a frenzy to hunt it down, each one hoping to catch this unique venomous snake and make a fortune."

"Unfortunately, an awakened Golden Silkworm Gu Snake was no match for ordinary Snake Catchers. There were heavy casualties, and many of them died. It even drew the attention of the Government."

Luo Ziyun said calmly, "Then one day, the Golden Silkworm Gu Snake vanished from She Mountain. It disappeared without a trace."

"Someone caught it?"

One day, outside a mountain forest, a scholar with the surname Bai was strolling by a lake. As he wandered, he suddenly noticed something curled up inside a rockery at the water’s edge. It was covered in blood, looking weak and pitiful.

He leaned in for a closer look and saw it was a unique kind of snake. It was strikingly beautiful; even covered in blood, its beauty was undiminished.

The scholar was a kind-hearted man. Even knowing it was a venomous snake, he still took it home with him.

This scholar had studied diligently for over a decade without even managing to earn the lowest scholarly degree. The last of his family’s money was spent on paper and ink. To save the snake, his only option was to go into the mountains to gather medicinal herbs.

He treated its wounds and fed it pieces of meat.

A few months later, the scholar suddenly gave up his studies to become a Snake Catcher, eventually becoming a renowned Snake Catching Master of his time.

No one knew the secrets to his methods, only that whenever he went up the mountain, he never returned empty-handed.

"Li’Er was saved by that scholar of the Bai family. To repay his kindness, she has protected the Bai Family for several hundred years," Luo Ziyun concluded.

’Ancestor Grandma Bai?’

’So that’s the reason?’

Luo Ziyun was clearly no great storyteller, but Tu Xiao’an understood the gist of it. In short, the Golden Silkworm Gu Snake had escaped from a Wizard, fled to She Mountain, and was then hunted by the local Snake Catchers.

It was ultimately saved by an ancestor of the Bai Family. To repay this life-saving debt, the Golden Silkworm Gu Snake—which later cultivated its Essence and became a Demon—has protected the Bai Family ever since, allowing them to become a hidden family of ancient martial arts practitioners.

In other words, the Bai Family’s rise to prominence was all thanks to a snake.

This was a well-kept secret, known to very few.

’No wonder Bai Junran and Bai Chuyan held their Ancestor Grandma in such awe. They must have known she was a Snake Demon—and a Demon King Level one at that.’

"So how did you get to know her? And why do you call each other sisters?" Tu Xiao’an was even more interested in this part.

’Luo Ziyun said she wasn’t a snake. Then what is she? She’s definitely not human.’

’Three hundred years ago? What kind of monster is this woman?’

"I saved her once, too," she said simply.

’And then what?’

Tu Xiao’an stopped walking and looked at her.

She flashed a charming smile. "I originally wanted to take her in as a companion, but Li’Er was grateful for the Bai Family’s kindness and promised to protect them for life, so I gave up on the idea."

"Heh... you’re very good at skirting the real issue."

Tu Xiao’an said suddenly, "You intervened this time, but I’ll be coming after the Golden Silkworm Gu Snake again. I need to devour her to increase my power. Will you try to stop me?"

"If you think you can take her on and defeat her, then be my guest. I won’t get involved."

Tu Xiao’an was taken aback by her words. ’So much for being sisters, huh?’

’What side is this woman even on?’

Tu Xiao’an was completely bewildered.