PCJ – Chapter 115 Water Python

Zhang Jiaohua glanced down at the Falling Star Pond and felt a bit dizzy, his heart pounding. He didn’t insist on staying there and instead took out two talismans from his pocket. “These are protective talismans. Keep them on you, and they’ll keep you safe,” he said.

Liu Zongtai was about to reach for them when Zhang Jiaohua pulled his hand back. Liu Zongtai looked up at him in confusion, and Zhang Jiaohua spoke.

“Protective talismans, like the house protection talismans, are five yuan each.”

“Pfft!” Liu Guocai and Liu Yunjun burst into laughter simultaneously.

Liu Guocai chuckled, “Little Zhang, are you really Zhang Youcai’s son? Zhang Youcai is very generous.”

“You can choose not to take them,” Zhang Jiaohua said irritably.

“We’ll take them.” Liu Zongtai smiled, pulling out a small plastic bag from a hidden pocket in his trousers. In rural areas, few people had specialized wallets. Many cleaned and repurposed plastic bags used for salt to store money. It was convenient and waterproof, fitting neatly into the hidden pocket at the front of their trousers.

As a barefoot doctor in the village, Liu Zongtai often had cash on hand, so he always carried ten or twenty yuan with him. He opened the plastic bag, counted out two five-yuan notes, and handed them to Zhang Jiaohua.

Zhang Jiaohua took the money and handed the two talismans to Liu Zongtai. “The talismans are already activated. Keep them close to you. They’ll protect your life,” he said solemnly.

“I hope I don’t need to use this talisman. Five yuan each is too expensive,” Liu Zongtai joked with Zhang Jiaohua.

Zhang Jiaohua knew Liu Zongtai was somewhat skeptical about the power of his talismans but didn’t bother to explain further since he already had the money.

Liu Zongtai and Liu Yunjun descended into the pool, while Liu Guocai and Zhang Jiaohua stayed above. “Be careful,” Liu Guocai cautioned them, worried.

“What’s the big deal? These vines are so thick, it’s like climbing down a ladder,” Liu Yunjun said nonchalantly.

Zhang Jiaohua frowned. He couldn’t figure out what had driven Liu Zongtai’s water buffalo to this place. Was this the buffalo’s destination? If not, why did it fall into the pool? If it was, why hadn’t whatever drove it here acted yet? The buffalo was injured and couldn’t move. If something wanted to harm it, now would be the perfect opportunity. Why was it still alive?

While Zhang Jiaohua was lost in thought, Liu Zongtai and Liu Yunjun had climbed down two or three meters. The vines were indeed thick, making it easy to descend like a ladder.

“I should have brought my fishing rod. I could have caught a big water buffalo. Haha,” Liu Guocai joked, looking at the buffalo in the pool.

“Can your fishing rod catch a buffalo? Stop bragging!” Zhang Jiaohua retorted, rolling his eyes. But then his expression changed. The buffalo was bait!

“Quick! Hurry up! Get back up here! It’s dangerous! There’s something in the pool!” Zhang Jiaohua shouted anxiously to the two who were near the bottom.

Liu Yunjun, full of vigor and strength, was the fastest climber and was about to jump down. “This is too easy. Zongtai, I’m going first,” he said, preparing to jump.

At that moment, they heard Zhang Jiaohua’s panicked shout. “No rush!” Liu Zongtai quickly said, but he was a bit late. Liu Yunjun let go and jumped down.

Meanwhile, the Zuan Shanbao standing beside Zhang Jiaohua suddenly had its fur standing on end, adopting a defensive posture towards the Falling Star Pond.

“What’s wrong? What’s going on?” Liu Guocai could tell Zhang Jiaohua wasn’t joking.

“Bait! The buffalo is bait! There’s something in the pool!” Zhang Jiaohua was panicked. He was still a child, and this was the first time he encountered such a life-threatening situation in reality. Two lives were at stake below!

Liu Guocai also shouted loudly, “Junzi! Zongtai! Hurry back up! Forget the buffalo! It’s dangerous! Get back up here!”

Liu Zongtai stopped midway, and Liu Yunjun, who was heading toward the buffalo, quickly halted and prepared to climb back up.

At that moment, there was a sudden splash in the middle of the pool, and a dark shadow shot out from the water like a fountain.

“Ah!” Liu Yunjun’s face turned pale, and he ran back to the edge of the pool, climbing up the vines at lightning speed.

Liu Zongtai also climbed up frantically, much faster than he had descended.

But no matter how fast they were, how could they outrun the shadow in the water?

From above, Zhang Jiaohua and Liu Guocai could see that it wasn’t an ordinary creature but a massive water python. The python’s body was thicker than an adult’s thigh, and its mouth could easily swallow a child like Zhang Jiaohua in one gulp. It couldn’t swallow the buffalo, which might be why it was still alive.

The water python moved like a water dragon, lightning-fast, and in the blink of an eye, it was close to pouncing on Liu Yunjun.

“What do we do? What do we do?” Liu Guocai panicked, picking up a head-sized rock and throwing it at the python.

But the python was agile, easily dodging Liu Guocai’s attack and hissing angrily at him.

“Beast! Come at me if you dare!” Liu Guocai shouted, trying to provoke the python to buy time for the others.

Liu Yunjun and Liu Zongtai climbed as fast as they could. Despite being further behind, Liu Yunjun quickly caught up. Liu Guocai’s actions delayed the python, allowing them to climb together.

Zhang Jiaohua didn’t just stand by. He knew the danger of the python, a creature that had gained intelligence and cooperated with spirits. They had driven the buffalo here to eat its flesh and blood. The python, despite its large appetite, couldn’t swallow the buffalo whole and risk choking to death. It was intelligent, powerful, and difficult to deal with.