Demi-Gods & Semi-Devils Chapter 1 – Part 8

Sikong Xuan’s underlings hurriedly took the snake antidote and applied it all over their bodies before consuming it. They then tended to their Guild Chief, taking out a wild ginseng and stuffed it into his mouth. Sikong Xuan channelled his neili to resist the two sources of venom. After a while, he could no longer tolerate it. Gritting his teeth, he whipped out a dao and chopped off his injured hand. As the saying goes, when a poisonous snake stings the wrist, the hero cuts off his arm. However, he could not behead himself to deal with the bite on the back of his head. The guild members shivered at the sight and rushed to apply medicine to stop the bleeding. However, the blood flowed heavily from the dismembered limb and washed away the medicine. Someone tore off his shirt and bound it tightly to the arm to stop the bleeding. Seeing such a horrifying sight, Zhong Ling’s face was pale and she did not dare to make a sound. Sikong Xuan asked deeply, “How many days can I live after being bitten by the marten?”

“Father said seven days. But… but Guild Chief Sikong Xuan has immense neili and your skills are respectable. I’m afraid… you’ll definitely live a few more days.” Zhong Ling’s voice quivered.

Sikong Xuan snorted. “Drag that brat out.”

The guild members acknowledged and pulled Duan Yu out from the pile of earth. Zhong Ling cried out in panic. “Hey, it’s none of his business. Don’t hurt him.”

She struggled with her hands and feet in an attempt to use the opportunity to crawl out. The guild members quickly filled the hole created where Duan Yu was lying in. Zhong Ling was unable to move again and she started crying loudly. Duan Yu was afraid but forced himself to be calm. He smiled. “Lady Zhong, a man faces death unflinchingly. Do not appear weak before this evil person.”

“I’m not a man! I don’t want to face death unflinchingly! I want to be weak instead!” she cried.

Sikong Xuan said, “Feed him the Gut Severing Powder. Give seven days’ dosage.”

A guild member poured half a bottle of red powder from a bottle and forced Duan Yu to swallow it. Zhong Ling shouted, “That’s a poison. Don’t eat it.”

Duan Yu had already guessed from its name that the poison was a potent one. However, he had been captured by them and there was no way of refusing the poison. He swallowed it and licked his lips. “It tastes sweet. Are you having half a bottle as well, Guild Chief Sikong?”

Sikong Xuan snorted angrily. Zhong Ling laughed through her tears and then continued crying again. “This Gut Severing Powder will come into effect after seven days. Your intestines will break into inch-long parts and then you’ll die. You shall fetch the antidote for the marten poison. If you rush back within seven days, I will give you the antidote and release this girl.”

Zhong Ling said, “The antidote alone is not enough. You need Father to use his unique neili technique to cure the Lightning Marten’s poison.”

“Then ask him to bring your father here to save you.”

“You make it sound so easy. Father wouldn’t leave the valley.”

Sikong Xuan remained silent as he pondered. Duan Yu said, “Tell you what, all of us go to Lady Zhong’s residence and request for her father to cure the poison. Wouldn’t it be faster?”

“No, no! Father made it clear that, anyone who steps into our family’s valley will have to die.”

Sikong Xuan thought, The matter with Wuliang Sword School had not been resolved, so we can’t leave. If I were to fail, the Tianshan Child Granny would not let me off. I would only die a more horrible death.

The wound on the back of his head became increasingly painful and he could not resist but groan.

“I’m sorry, Guild Chief Sikong!” Zhong Ling said. Sikong Xuan bellowed, “Sorry my ass!”

“Guild Chief Sikong, it’s ungentlemanly to be so vulgar before Young Maiden Zhong, “ Duan Yu chided.

Sikong Xuan raged, “Gentleman, your granny!”

He thought, When the Mark of Life and Death on me is activated, I would be subjected to hellish torment. I might as well die a clean death here.

He turned to Zhong Ling, “I don’t care about all these. It’s fine by me if you don’t want to bring your father. Let us perish together.”

His tone was full of sorrow and resignation. Zhong Ling thought about it and said, “You let me out and I’ll write a letter to Father to beg him to come and save you. Send someone who’s not afraid of dying.”

“I’m asking this Duan boy to go. Why should I send another person?”

Zhong Ling asked, “How did you know his surname is Duan?”

“He said it just now.”She said anxiously, “But no matter who it is, once they step into my family’s valley, they would be killed. I said that earlier. I don’t want Big Brother Duan to die, understand?”

“He doesn’t have to die, so that means my subordinate has to die? Then don’t go, let everyone die. Let’s see if you’ll die first or if I’ll perish earlier.”

Zhong Ling started crying again. “You’re a shameless old man. You only care about bullying a girl like me! Now everyone in the jianghu will know! Everyone’s saying that the reputation of Guild Chief Sikong of the Shennong Guild is tarnished and that he doesn’t behave like a hero.”

Sikong Xuan concentrated on resisting the venom and ignored her.

“I’ll go. Young Maiden Zhong, when your father sees that I’m there to send a message to request for him to save you, I doubt he would harm me,” Duan Yu said .Zhong Ling suddenly had a joyous look on her face. “I know! I have an idea. Don’t tell Father that I’m here so if he were to kill you, he wouldn’t be able to know where I am. But once you bring him here, you must flee immediately or you’ll be in trouble.”

“This idea sounds workable.” Duan Yu nodded.”

“Guild Chief Sikong, Big Brother Duan has to flee once he returns. How would you be able to give him the antidote for the Gut Severing Powder?” Zhong Ling asked Sikong Xuan.

Sikong Xuan pointed at a huge rock in the north-western corner. “I’ll dispatch someone to bring the antidote and wait there. When Mister Duan escapes to that spot, he’ll be able to get the antidote.”

Since he was getting Duan Yu to bring someone to save him, Sikong Xuan became very polite when addressing Duan Yu. He commanded his guild members to dig Zhong Ling out of the pile of earth, cuffed her hands with iron cuffs, and then buried her back in the soil. “If you don’t release my hands, how could I write?”

“You are full of tricks. If you were to write a letter, you probably have something up your sleeves. Give Duan Yu a keepsake to show your father.”

Zhong Ling laughed. “I hate writing the most. It’s wonderful that you don’t want me to write a letter. What keepsake do I have? Yeah, Big Brother Duan, remove my shoes. Father and Mother would recognise it once they see it.”

Duan Yu nodded and bended down to take off her shoes. Her bare foot was slender, making his heart skip a beat as he held it in his hand. He looked up and met her gaze, and the both of them smiled at each other. Under the flickering light from the torches, he saw tear drops glistening on her cheeks. Yet her eyes were filled with joy and he was mesmerized. Sikong Xuan yelled impatiently, “Go, go. Why are you children looking at each other for? Brother Duan, please make haste and return with her father. I’ll release this young lady to be your wife. If you want to touch her leg, you’ll have plenty of time to in the future.”

Duan Yu and Zhong Ling flushed red. Duan Yu hurriedly removed Zhong Ling’s shoes and placed them in the front compartment of his shirt. He looked at her unconsciously and she giggled. “Brother Duan, leave early and return early! Everyone’s life is in danger. If there were any delays on your travels, all of us will perish. Young Maiden Zhong, how many days will it take for him to return if he were to set off immediately?”

“The fastest would be two days. At the most it would take four days,” Zhong Ling replied. Sikong Xuan was slightly relieved and he urged, “Go quickly!”

“I’ll give Big Brother Duan the directions to my home. You people move away a little and don’t eavesdrop,” Zhong Ling said. Sikong Xuan waved his hand and the guild members walked far away from them. Zhong Ling stated, “You as well.”

Sikong Xuan gritted his teeth and silently swore to ruthlessly deal with her once he recovered from his injuries. He stood up and left them alone. Zhong Ling sighed. “Big Brother Duan, we only met today and now we have to part.”

“I’ll be back in four days. It’s pretty quick, though I can’t bear parting with you,” Duan Yu smiled.

She gazed at her with her big, round eyes for a few moments, then sighed before saying, “You meet Mother first and explain the situation to her. Then let her tell my father. That’ll make things easier.”

She reached out with the tip of the foot and drew the directions on the ground. Her home was in a valley on the western banks of Lanchang River. It was not very far away but it was very well hidden. There were many traps at the entrance. An unguided outsider would have a tough time finding their way into the valley. Duan Yu had an excellent memory and he remembered the directions after listening to her descriptions of the twists and turns. Once she finished, he said, “Ok, I’m off now.”

Then he turned to leave. After he walked about ten paces, Zhong Ling suddenly remembered something. “Hey, come back!”

“What?” Duan Yu turned back. Zhong Ling instructed, “Don’t say that your surname is Duan. And you must not mention that your father knows the Yiyang Finger. Because… because Father might get ideas.”

Duan Yu smiled. “Got it!”

Thinking that the young lady was just being overcautious, he started humming a tune and left.