Chapter Twenty-Four: The Sorcery of the Witch Tribe

Under the starlight, the mirror seemed to exude a mysterious aura.

“What is this? A magical treasure? Why didn't you keep it for yourself?” Nan Luo asked.

“I stole this mirror from the Blackwater Lord. I don't know what it's used for, but I saw him face this mirror every day, absorbing and exhaling spiritual energy. I figured it must be something good, so I stole it as an offering for you, Master,” the little green snake replied, swaying its head, which was barely the size of a mother’s thumb, looking rather pleased with itself.

Nan Luo hadn’t expected the mirror to be stolen by the little green snake. The snake spoke as if it were a simple matter, but Nan Luo could easily imagine that, given how much the Blackwater Lord valued this mirror, its protection must have been extremely tight. For the snake to steal it must have involved tremendous risk...

Suddenly, Nan Luo sensed a wave of danger, followed by a foul stench. Accompanied by strange, hissing sounds, Nan Luo recognized the noise—he had heard something similar from the Azure Flood Dragon King on Cangmang Cliff.

“It’s the Blackwater Lord,” the little green snake whispered quickly, darting behind Nan Luo.

Nan Luo didn’t need to be told; he had already guessed that the Blackwater Lord must have discovered the theft and tracked them here...

The dense forest parted as if waves were rolling through it, clearing a path. A massive, jet-black serpent with glowing red eyes halted beneath a cliff barely a few meters high. The foul stench accompanying the Blackwater Lord’s arrival quickly suffused the space.

“It’s you. So it was you who sent this little green snake to steal my treasured mirror,” the Blackwater Lord croaked, his voice hoarse as toxic mist poured from his mouth. Nan Luo wrinkled his brow at the stench, though he felt no sign of poisoning.

Nan Luo realized there was no denying it—he held the mirror in his hand, after all, and the little green snake had brought it as a gift. Yet it wasn’t quite true either, since he hadn’t told the snake to steal it.

“So you know who I am?” Nan Luo asked.

The Blackwater Lord’s raspy voice buzzed. “The one who chants sutras before the Taiji Palace—your reputation is well-known. But who would have thought that someone revered as sacred by all would stoop to such theft?”

Over the past year, Nan Luo had earned the title “Sutra-Chanter before the Taiji Palace” through his recitation of the ‘Huang Ting’ scripture. This name had spread through the surrounding mountains, though Nan Luo himself was unaware of it...

“My master didn’t send me to steal your mirror—it was my own doing,” the little green snake suddenly declared from behind Nan Luo.

Upon hearing this, the Blackwater Lord’s eyes burned bright red, a flash of murderous intent in their depths, but it quickly faded—clearly, he was deeply wary of Nan Luo.

Hiss... hiss... The Blackwater Lord’s forked tongue flickered as he spoke. “You already call him ‘Master’—why bother denying it? Since you, the sutra-chanter, desire the mirror, I’ll give it to you. Another day, I shall come listen to your chanting.” With that, the Blackwater Lord actually turned as if to leave, making no further demand for his mirror.

Nan Luo had considered returning the mirror, but now, with the Blackwater Lord departing, he feared a deeper enmity had formed. In a few days, the Lord might return—not to listen to sutras, but with friends seeking revenge.

Suddenly, a murderous impulse arose in Nan Luo’s heart, startling even himself. Had he been away from his tribe so long that he’d grown indifferent to life and death? He turned and began walking slowly toward the Taiji Palace, his steps light and distracted, as if lost in thought.

The starlight was hazy, the toxic mist thick.

Just then, a sinister wind swept forth—a gaping, blood-red maw lunged at Nan Luo with the speed of lightning. It was the departing Blackwater Lord, who, seeing Nan Luo’s distracted state, seized the chance to launch a sneak attack.

The monstrous fangs, as sharp as inverted barbs, gleamed coldly in the starlight, about to clamp down on Nan Luo.

A look of madness flickered in the Blackwater Lord’s eyes. So what if he’s from the Taiji Palace? Once I kill him, I’ll flee far away—who could ever find me?

Crack!

The sound was the Blackwater Lord’s jaws slamming together with immense force. He was shocked—Nan Luo had been there a moment before, so how had he vanished at the instant of the attack?

At that moment, the Blackwater Lord’s mind exploded with ringing pain, a wave of dizziness envelo