"What... what is that?" Yun Erman rubbed his eyes.
"Huh?" Prefect Qin looked bewildered and asked blankly, "Erman, what's wrong with you?"
"Prefect Qin, don't move, there's something at your feet!" Yun Erman said, walking over quickly.
If it were a toad or a hedgehog, he could just kick it away...
But that dark, ugly thing was large, long, and thick, looking quite frightening.
Prefect Qin's heart skipped a beat. He looked down and gasped, "Ahhh! A snake, a big snake!"
Yun Erman: "..."
Why are you shouting? I'm here to save you.
"Er, Er, Erman, hurry up and drive this thing away, quickly, quickly! I've been afraid of snakes since I was little!" Prefect Qin was sweating profusely, his legs trembling violently.
Some people are naturally afraid of snakes; just a glance makes them uncomfortable all over...
What's more, the fat python that crawled to Prefect Qin's feet was a behemoth.
Yun Erman looked around, searching for a stick or a fork to drive the python away...
Seeing a shoulder pole standing by the rockery near the pond, Yun Erman hurried over. "Don't be afraid, Prefect Qin, pythons are not venomous. A bite won't kill you!"
Prefect Qin: "..."
Is that even human speech?
If you're so capable, try getting bitten.
If his legs weren't too scared to move, he would have bolted long ago. Why endure this suffering...
"Er, Er, Erman, you, hurry up! The snake has wrapped around my ankle!" Prefect Qin roared.
If he were swallowed by the python, what would happen to his wife and children?
His request for a promotion and raise had just been granted by the Crown Prince, and now this happened.
Yun Erman rushed to the rockery, grabbed the shoulder pole, "Prefect Qin, I'm coming... Ahhh!"
Before he could finish, Yun Erman stepped on the slippery moss. With a *swoosh*, he tumbled headfirst into the pond.
"Splash..."
"Whoosh!"
Water splashed out, drenching Prefect Qin's face.
"Oh, you useless thing, you, you, climb out quickly!" Prefect Qin frowned, furious.
Why was this Yun Lao Er so useless at critical moments...
He even fell into the water while holding a shoulder pole.
The python crawled up Prefect Qin's trouser leg, its tongue flickering ominously. The cool, slick body pressed against Prefect Qin's calf and thigh. The terror was indescribable...
"Prefect, Prefect Qin, *glug glug*..." Yun Erman thrashed desperately in the pond, swallowing a mouthful of murky water and nearly choking.
Prefect Qin: "..."
If I rely on you, I'll be a python's meal long before that.
Helpless, Prefect Qin shouted for help, "Help! Someone, save me! Sweet Baby, Brother Yun, come out quickly..."
It was strange. Usually, such a commotion would have the dogs from the Yun family running over, but today there wasn't even a bark from the front yard.
Little did they know, Xue Ling had taken the cubs into the mountains today.
Every year at this time, the large-eyed field mice in the mountains grew big and plump, and their meat was delicious. Xue Ling thought of improving their diet.
"I, I, I can't die like this! Someone save me, woo woo woo..." Prefect Qin cried out in despair.
Meanwhile, in the main hall of the front courtyard.
Xiao Xi Tian was playing Go with her eldest nephew, while Yao Jin Sheng and Sun Tian Xiu watched from the side.
"It sounds like someone is shouting for help from the back garden!" Murong Qing glanced towards the door.
In the dead of night, any cries for help were heard exceptionally clearly by those indoors...
Xiao Xi Tian's hand paused as she was about to place a stone. She stood up abruptly, "Oh no, could something have happened?"
The Yun family had too many guests. Since they were staying in their home, they were responsible for their safety.
If anything were to happen, they would face legal trouble...
With that thought, Xiao Xi Tian ran out with a *pitter-patter*.
Jin Shan, Jin He, and the others also hurried to follow.
As they reached the guest room door, Xiao Xi Tian suddenly saw Jin Xiu Han rush out. He was shirtless, not even wearing shoes, and ran straight towards the back garden...
The other men, hearing the cries for help, also came to assist.
Upon arriving at the back garden, they saw Prefect Qin lying on the ground, completely entangled by the python. The snake was now opening its cavernous mouth, preparing to swallow Prefect Qin...
The python's muscles were incredibly strong. If Prefect Qin wasn't rescued soon, even if he wasn't swallowed, he would be squeezed to death.
Yun Erman swung the shoulder pole, desperately hitting the python.
However, the fiercer he hit, the more the python seemed determined to swallow Prefect Qin...
Currently, there was no one skilled in martial arts in the household. Kong Xing Zhuo was away on business in the capital, and Er Long Zi was visiting the Imperial Concubine in the palace. Dealing with this python was proving difficult.
Xiao Xi Tian narrowed her eyes, about to retrieve a tranquilizer dart from her space, when she suddenly felt a gust of wind beside her...
Then she saw Jin Xiu Han charge forward at lightning speed. Before the python could turn to bite him, Jin Xiu Han grabbed its neck and shouted, "Bring a knife!"
The python hissed, struggling violently against Jin Xiu Han's restraint...
"Save, save me!" The nearly lifeless Prefect Qin could no longer speak.
As the saying goes, misfortune strikes the unlucky; Prefect Qin hadn't offended anyone, yet he was targeted by the python...
"Protector Jin, catch!"
A man found a saber and threw it towards Jin Xiu Han.
As if sensing its doom, the python used all its strength, threw Jin Xiu Han aside, and lunged to bite Prefect Qin's head...
At the critical moment, Jin Xiu Han caught the saber and drew it with a *swish*.
Instantly, cold light flashed, and with a clang of steel, Jin Xiu Han severed the snake's head with one strike.
A stream of blood spurted out, staining Jin Xiu Han's clothes...
The snake's head fell to the ground, rolling to Yun Erman's feet. Its blood-red eyes were still wide open.
"Is it, is it dead?" Yun Erman poked the snake's head with the shoulder pole.
Yun Jin Shan said helplessly, "Dad, the snake's head is off. Of course, it's dead..."
With everyone's help, Prefect Qin was safely rescued and carried to the guest room to rest.
Since Guan Zhong Bo had gone to the county town to play cards during the day and hadn't returned to Dashui Village at night, Xiao Xi Tian personally brewed a calming soup for Prefect Qin.
"I, I, I'm not dead? Thank heavens, thank God for protection!" Prefect Qin's lips trembled. He was so frightened that his mind was not functioning properly.
Xiao Xi Tian: "..."