Descendants of the False Gods

Chapter 14 – Escape from Death (7)

The sudden change in direction of the ‘Chicken-footed Serpent’ caught Yan Tie off guard. His strike with the wooden staff missed its target, and although he had held back some strength to handle unforeseen circumstances, it was too late to alter the course of the blow.

Yan Tie quickly adjusted his stance—his left hand forming a loose grip while his right hand pulled back. He shifted from gripping the staff with both hands on one end to holding each end separately, using the centre of the staff to block the serpent’s attacking head.

The ‘Chicken-footed Serpent,’ hindered from its attack, bared its fangs and attempted to bite. Yan Tie’s iron arms stretched out, pressing the thick wooden staff into the serpent’s mouth. The creature’s enormous, razor-sharp fangs loomed dangerously close to Yan Tie’s face, and the overpowering stench from its mouth nearly suffocated him.

Fortunately, serpents lack molars and cannot break the staff lodged in their mouths. The staff wedged firmly in the serpent’s mouth prevented it from closing its jaws.

Frustrated, the serpent pushed forward, ramming Yan Tie against a tree several metres away. The intense impact nearly knocked the wind out of him, but he stubbornly maintained his grip on the staff. If he let go, he would be at the mercy of the ‘Chicken-footed Serpent.’

The tree behind him, about as thick as the staff in his hands, could not withstand the immense pressure and snapped. Losing the support of the tree, Yan Tie fell alongside the broken trunk.

Even after the collision, the ‘Chicken-footed Serpent’ did not relent. It continued to push Yan Tie down the slope. Rocks and branches scraped his back raw, yet his grip on the staff remained unwavering, preserving his position from before the fall.

However, the forested mountains were filled not only with jagged rocks but also countless trees. After being forced back over ten metres, Yan Tie’s right shoulder collided with a tree root. A sharp pain surged through him, and his right hand could no longer hold the staff. Only his left hand clung to it, causing his body to spin in a half-circle with his right shoulder against the trunk.

With the loss of resistance, the serpent’s head scraped past the tree, missing Yan Tie. Its massive jaws snapped shut, but the obstructing staff fell away along with Yan Tie.

The ‘Chicken-footed Serpent’ halted its momentum, coiled around a nearby tree, and twisted its head back. High above, it saw Yan Tie struggling to rise and knew its chance had come.

The serpent’s eyes glimmered with ferocity as it lunged down, its mouth wide open, ready to devour Yan Tie in a single bite.

Exhausted, Yan Tie’s entire body ached. His right shoulder throbbed intensely, and his arm was numb, leaving only his left arm to support him. As he tried to stand, he had completely forgotten the serpent still lurked above, poised to strike.

During the chaotic struggle, Yan Bo had managed to retrieve his quiver. Turning back, he saw the massive serpent driving his brother down the slope. He hurriedly pursued them, loading his crossbow while running.

By the time he caught up, Yan Tie had crashed into a tree, and the serpent had coiled around it, readying a lethal strike from above.

Rushing downhill, Yan Bo could not hesitate. He leapt forward, using his body to knock Yan Tie aside while simultaneously pulling the crossbow trigger.

Two arrows shot into the serpent’s open mouth. With its downward momentum, the first arrow pierced through its skull and emerged from its right eye, while the second arrow, already beneath the serpent’s gaping mouth, penetrated straight into its brain.

Yan Tie, pushed out of the serpent’s strike range, rolled to the side and managed to stand. He watched as the massive serpent’s body loosened from the tree and crashed heavily to the ground. Its head never rose again, and a sigh of relief escaped his lips.

Supporting his injured right shoulder with his left hand, Yan Tie approached Yan Bo slowly. His entire body trembled from exhaustion, and each step sent a fresh wave of pain through his battered muscles.

Looking at his brother leaning weakly against the tree, Yan Tie forced a wry smile. “Finally got rid of that beast, huh?”

Yan Bo chuckled tiredly, bracing himself with both hands. “Yeah, we finally did it.”

However, something felt off. Yan Tie noticed his brother’s posture—his hands pressed against the ground, his body slanted against the tree, speaking slower than usual. The serpent’s enormous head lay just beside him.

Why had Yan Bo not stood up yet? The serpent’s head—beneath it were Yan Bo’s legs!

Panic surged through Yan Tie. He hurried to his brother’s side, his voice trembling. “Your legs—can you pull them out?”

Yan Bo’s bitter smile deepened as he shook his head.

With a strained breath, Yan Tie dug his fingers into the serpent’s eye socket and heaved. The head was heavy, but not enough to trap his brother’s legs completely. Still, Yan Bo’s legs remained pinned.

“It fell just as I landed… I can’t feel my legs now,” Yan Bo admitted, his voice laced with pain.

Realisation dawned on Yan Tie, and a surge of helpless anger filled him. If only he had been more cautious, had avoided that strike, everything could have ended perfectly.

His voice echoed through the forest, urgent and desperate: “Yan Yu! If you’re still nearby, get back up here and help!”

Yan Yu had been guiding the children and the nanny down the mountain. The forest floor was treacherous with fallen branches and leaves, making progress slow.

Hearing Yan Tie’s frantic shout, he quickly set down his burden and called to the nanny, “Wait here!” before rushing back up the slope.

Before long, Yan Yu saw Yan Tie, desperately attempting to lift the massive serpent’s head. Only then did he fully grasp the size of the beast—nearly twenty metres long, thicker than a barrel.

“Stop standing there! Help me!” Yan Tie’s strained voice snapped Yan Yu out of his shock.

Without hesitation, Yan Yu climbed onto the serpent’s body and pulled with all his strength. Together, they managed to move the serpent’s head aside, revealing Yan Bo’s legs pinned beneath.

Yan Tie crouched by his brother, checking his pulse and temperature. He was unconscious, but still alive. Yan Tie knew they had to find medical help quickly.

Looking at their options, Yan Tie decided: they would head south towards Zheng County. Though the path was long and their condition dire, it was their best chance of finding aid.

Their struggle against the serpent had ended, but the fight for survival was far from over.