Although Qingyao feigned composure, seeing such limp creatures still sent shivers of fear through her. However, with grenades in hand, she was not afraid of them for the moment.
She yanked the ring pull with force, hurled another, and a large batch of snakes was once again blown to smithereens.
This time, the Black and White Fiends could not bear it any longer. They let out long, piercing cries, their voices in the night as ferocious as wolves, their boundless fury surging upwards.
The flute's notes became sharper and more piercing. The remaining snakes grew even more audacious, each rearing up to half its height, swaying their heads left and right. In the darkness, their eyes glowed green, flickering, and utterly terrifying.
Seeing she had nothing left in her hands, Qingyao turned and reached out, "Where are the grenades? Get more!"
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yu'er’s face immediately fell. She mumbled softly, "They're gone. I only made three. One was used earlier, only two are left."
"What?" Qingyao and Mo Chou turned around simultaneously, glaring at her. Why hadn't she said so earlier? At least they could have used them sparingly.
The Black and White Fiends on the opposite side heard every word they said, and suddenly burst into laughter, their voices dripping with bloodlust. "Good, you killed my snakes. Now I'll let you die in my snake venom and avenge those fallen serpents."
With that, the flute music became even more sonorous. Seeing the snake swarm charging forward again, though much smaller now, Wuqing turned his head towards Qingyao, "Don't worry, I'm here?"
Then, with a sudden cold laugh, he raised the Phoenix Tail Zither, and its clear, icy voice rang out.
"Qingyao, bring forth the zither! Combine the two zithers and play a 'Snake-Slaying Melody'."
As soon as his voice fell, Qingyao immediately raised her zither. She gathered her vital energy in her dantian, controlling the Phoenix Tail Zither. When Wuqing’s zither music began, she merged into the melody. This zither was not like any other. From the outset, it carried a powerful killing intent, repelling waves of energy outwards. The snakes that were attacking dared not move any further, for the zither's melody was like a barrier, automatically blocking them.
As the zither music deepened, the snakes seemed to grow excited, all writhing.
Seeing this situation, the Black and White Fiends were greatly alarmed. Their remaining snakes had been bewitched. If they did not regain control, their entire snake force would likely be destroyed. Without hesitation, they immediately adjusted their flute playing, powerful internal energy leaking from their bamboo flutes.
Wuqing and Qingyao cooperated flawlessly, their zither music becoming increasingly fierce.
The snakes became the fulcrum of their struggle. With each push and strike, they would duck down and then soar into the air.
Two, three, four, they intertwined, as if dancing joyfully.
Everyone peered closely. In the moonlight, beneath the covered walkway, the snakes danced wildly. The scene was as horrifying as it could be, causing one's hair to stand on end, a chill emanating from the very bones.
Meanwhile, Wen Yu looked thoughtful, gazing deeply at Xiao Yu'er off to the side. He had clearly heard everything they had said.
This grenade was created by this tiny child beside him. It was truly shocking. His eyes were dark and unfathomable, utterly bizarre.
The night breeze blew, and the snake dance continued. However, after the impact of two streams of internal energy, the snakes seemed exhausted, no longer possessing their previous strength. Many lay limply on the ground, motionless, seemingly dead.
The remaining ones, however, were still restlessly agitated. The Black and White Fiends, seeing the scene before them, could finally no longer bear it. They threw away their bamboo flutes, let out long cries to the sky, which continued for a long time.
The snakes they had painstakingly trained for half their lives were so easily defeated and destroyed in Wúqíng Valley.
If not for the powerful explosive weapon that appeared earlier, these snakes would not have been so easily destroyed. Before they could even form their snake array, they were all killed. The Black and White Fiends' murderous intent ignited, and they transformed into two gusts of fierce wind, rapidly approaching.
Mo Chou and Mo You flashed forward, leaping up.
Qing Feng and Ming Yue, unwilling to be outdone, met them simultaneously, and the few of them began to fight.
Wuqing and Qingyao's zither music abruptly stopped. Looking at the snake swarm again, they were all dead. The entire valley was covered with dead snakes, some still showing signs of life, writhing slightly.
Even in death, they were still hair-raising.
Under the long corridors, eaves, stone steps, and in the peach grove, dead snakes were everywhere.
Wuqing sat motionlessly in his wheelchair. These Black and White Fiends had always kept to their own territories, never interfering with Wúqíng Valley. Why had they trespassed into Wúqíng Valley tonight? First, for wealth. Second, perhaps they were obeying someone. However, the most likely reason was the first: for money.
Birds die for food, men die for wealth. They must have received a substantial sum of money to lead the snake swarm to attack Wúqíng Valley.
Who exactly had harbored murderous intent towards Wúqíng Valley? Wuqing raised an eyebrow, his thoughtful gaze sweeping towards the Third Prince Wen Yu, who had remained silent from beginning to end. This man's schemes ran too deep. He truly didn't know what his intentions were.
He thought that his entering the valley was for Yao'er. Now it seemed he would do anything for Yao'er.
Wuqing remained silent. In the open space, four people were encircling and attacking the Black and White Fiends, and it was clear the two were at a disadvantage.
The martial arts of the Black and White Fiends were not top-tier. It was merely their skill in controlling snakes and the fact that the snakes in their swarm were all highly venomous that made people fear them. However, their intrusion into Wúqíng Valley was a miscalculation. Wuqing's gaze turned sharp, killing intent enveloping him.
Seeing themselves at a disadvantage, the Black and White Fiends knew that if they continued fighting, they would only end up like their snake swarm, dying in this valley. Thus, they feigned an attack, aiming for Qing Feng's vital points. As Qing Feng dodged, the fiends suddenly flung a packet of poisonous smoke.
Mo Chou and the other three recoiled in shock. Seizing the opportunity, the two immediately leaped towards the large kite flying in the sky above the peach grove.
However, Wuqing had anticipated this move by the Black and White Fiends. The Heavenly Silkworm Silk in his hand shot out like a dragon emerging from water, entangling the Black Fiend in an instant, preventing him from escaping. The White Fiend's face turned ashen. The Black Fiend forcefully pushed her and roared,
"What the hell are you dawdling for? Get out of here quickly, and remember to avenge me!"
As the White Fiend moved, she swiftly drifted away with the wind. At the same time, Wuqing's Heavenly Silkworm Silk abruptly retracted. With a surge of powerful internal force, it condensed, carrying a sharp killing intent, and was hurled into the air. The Black Fiend, headfirst, plummeted from the sky and crashed directly onto the snake swarm.
Wuqing's body abruptly leaped into the air, and he struck towards the Black Fiend’s chest with a palm strike.
He opened his eyes in fury, as if unwilling, and then closed them.
Wuqing turned and landed back in his wheelchair. He looked up at the night sky. Just now, he had shown mercy. Otherwise, the White Fiend would not have escaped.
He never expected the notorious pair of fiends to share such deep marital affection. This was the kind of love he envied the most. That was why he had spared the White Fiend's life at the last moment. He hoped she would take care of herself, for otherwise, she would not be so fortunate next time.
The entire Wúqíng Valley was filled with the smell of burnt and blood.