Volume 1, Chapter 9: Descending the Mountain

Wang Long descended the mountain, his massive serpentine body writhing as he made his way toward the village. Before long, he reached the narrow path that the villagers frequently used to travel down from the slopes.

He moved through the outskirts of the village with reckless abandon. Soon, he encountered a villager, a man of about fifty with a face etched with the weariness of time and skin as dry as parchment. His name was Wang Fugui, and it was worth noting that he sported a beard so long it could rival that of the legendary General Guan Yu.

Carrying a hoe as if ready for farm work, he hummed a little tune as he walked along: "Today, after plowing and grazing the cattle, next year will bring a bountiful harvest."

"Oh my, I really am handsome. This hairstyle is simply the best in the entire world," Wang Fugui murmured, smoothing his hair with a look of immense pride.

"Hiss—" Wang Long flicked his tongue.

Moments later, the man and the giant python met. Wang Fugui’s singing abruptly ceased. Perhaps because he hadn't seen clearly at first, he froze in place, squinting forward.

Then, as if struck by a sudden realization, he turned and muttered, "Hmm, did I fail to check the almanac before heading out today? No, I must get back at once."

As he spoke, he began to retreat. After taking ten steps, he bolted toward the village, running for his life. He even kicked off his shoes, but he couldn't care less; he didn't even want his hoe anymore. He discarded it on the muddy path, and his frantic sprinting kicked up clouds of dust all around him.

"Snake! A giant python has entered the village! Help!" he bellowed as he ran.

*Is the reaction really that extreme? I’m just a bit sturdier than the average snake, aren't I?* Wang Long coiled his body and waited in place. After all, this was the first hurdle in establishing his reputation. If he just barged into the village, he’d likely scare half the residents to death—how was he supposed to accumulate any merit that way?

As Wang Fugui burst into the village, he was babbling loudly, his face twisted in such terror that he looked like a madman; anyone who didn't know him would have thought he’d escaped from a mental asylum. Even his precious hairstyle was as disheveled as a bird's nest. He rushed frantically to the home of the village’s only snake catcher.

"Bang, bang... bang, bang, bang!"

"Old Dog Wang, hurry to the village entrance! There’s a giant snake—it scared the life out of me!" Wang Fugui pounded on the door, shouting at the top of his lungs.

"What is it? What is it? If you break my door, can you afford to pay for it?" A forty-year-old man cursed as he threw the door open.

He was the village's only snake catcher. Whenever venomous snakes or giant pythons descended from the mountains, people sought him out to handle them. Consequently, he knew everything that went on in Tian Village. Whenever a snake slithered into a house, families would call for him. However, those who walk by the river often get their shoes wet; a closer look at his face revealed a large scar, earned years ago when he was bitten while capturing a giant python. He had only managed to escape by clubbing the snake to death.

Tian Village was over a dozen kilometers away from the nearest town of any civilization. There was only one obvious concrete road connecting the village to the outside world. In this desolate place, the young people had all left, leaving only the elderly, weak, sick, and disabled to toil in the fields.

The moment Old Dog Wang opened the door, he saw Wang Fugui drenched in cold sweat, gasping for air as if he were suffering from a severe deficiency.

"It’s early in the morning, what are you barking about, Wang Fugui? You old ghost, if you broke my door, I’ll make you go up the mountain to chop wood to fix it!"

"Listen, Old Dog, what time do you think it is? There’s a giant python at the village entrance! Go catch it, would you? It’s preventing me from tilling the land!"

"It’s early, and a whole crowd of villagers is about to head out to the fields. If you delay them, the whole morning will be wasted!"

"Get lost! Don't try to use moral blackmail on me; I’m not falling for that," Old Dog Wang snapped.

Seeing that the man was unmoved, Wang Fugui’s brain whirred. "Dog Brother, that python is no small fry. It’s enough to feed the entire village for a feast!"

"I’ve been on the mountain, and I don't know anything about that. You say it’s not small? Then tell me, how big is it?"

"I didn't see it clearly, but I estimate it’s over ten meters long."

"You're pulling my leg so early in the morning. There's no such thing that long; the wild ones are only seven or eight meters at most."

Old Dog Wang didn't believe him. Having spent years on the mountain, he knew the area like the back of his hand; he could track a python even with his eyes closed.

Seeing the man’s disbelief, Wang Fugui grew anxious. He began to swear and guarantee, "Dog Brother, if I’m lying to you, I’ll never take a wife in this life!"

Old Dog Wang found this amusing. He rested his hand on the doorframe and placed his left hand on his hip. "You? You're the oldest bachelor in Tian Village, and you still want to take a wife? The sun would have to rise in the west for that to happen!"

Though they bickered, Old Dog Wang’s expression soon turned serious. He turned back into the house to retrieve his tools. Seeing him turn away, Wang Fugui feared he was being ignored, so he hurriedly chased after him and grabbed the man’s arm.

"Let go, let go! I’m just getting my tools. I’ll assume you wouldn't dare lie to me," Old Dog Wang said, shaking off the man’s hand, and soon emerged with his equipment.

Then, led by Wang Fugui, they arrived at the village entrance. Before long, Old Dog Wang spotted a serpent’s tail curled into a circle on the road.

"Good heavens, that is one massive python," Old Dog Wang said, his tone turning grave. Looking at his two-meter-long snake-catching pole, he felt it wasn't nearly enough.

Sensing the presence of humans, Wang Long turned around and raised his head from his coiled body. In an instant, a snake head the size of a three or four-story building loomed high in the air, staring down at the two men.

The moment he saw the giant creature, Old Dog Wang began to curse. He turned to Wang Fugui and roared, "You bastard! You old bachelor, you didn't tell me it was a monster like this! It’s as tall as a building—what’s the point of fighting it? Get on your knees! This isn't a giant python; it’s clearly a celestial being!"

"A python? When did it become a celestial being? We’ve never heard of such things in our village!" Wang Fugui scratched his head in utter confusion.

"Shut up! It has a crown on its head and wings on its back; its body is thick and long—if it’s not a celestial being, what is it? If you don't want to die, kneel down! You’ve doomed me!"

"Besides, a python with a crown on its head must be the pinnacle of its kind. Perhaps it can understand human speech—maybe it will spare us."

*[Detected human presence. Triggering critical reward: Telepathic Communication. Host, you may now transmit your inner thoughts into the spiritual consciousness of others, forcing them to hear exactly what you wish to say.]*

*The system really knows what I’m thinking!* Wang Long had been wondering how to communicate without being able to speak. Now, this shortcoming had been completely resolved.

Looking down at the two men, Wang Long utilized his telepathic communication and projected his voice toward Old Dog Wang and Wang Fugui: "Do you know who I am? I am the Dragon King."