The Dragon-Driving Sect had originally been a sect of Daxing Commandery near the capital, living by snake-rearing. They raised great serpents well, and so called themselves Dragon-Drivers. The sect had been subdued by the Imperial Preceptor of Jingping and had kept quiet and obedient ever since; even the strange beasts kept in the army included giant serpents raised by Dragon-Driving Sect members.

The flute rang clear and bright, and the great serpents swam along with the melody.

"Brother Shen, the Dragon-Driving Sect's weapon looks like great serpents, but in truth it is the flute. Their flute controls the serpents' attacks..."

Wei Yong was about to explain the Dragon-Driving Sect's methods of attack when Shen Mu had already charged out. Helpless, Wei Yong strode forward after him.

Suddenly the flute grew dense and urgent, and the red-crested serpents abruptly sped up, lunging at the two men.

In the instant Shen Mu met the first serpent, blade-light flared—bursting like a great silver sphere!

Night Slays a Thousand Cities, Wind and Rain!

In an instant flesh and blood flew. Before the red-crested serpent could strike, the silver light swept around its body, rushing from head to tail; when the light vanished, only a huge serpent skeleton remained, without a shred of flesh.

Meanwhile Snow Fox drove its wind-blade scimitar at another serpent. The flute-controlled serpent opened its mouth and inhaled, sucking the wind-blade scimitar in, and at once made to spew poison.

Shen Mu thrust two fingers forward; the Chubao Sword stabbed into the serpent's eye, and with an upward flick of his fingers it burst out through the top of the serpent's skull!

On the other side Wei Yong rushed in. His cultivation was deep and powerful; a sword case was slung on his back, and he directed flying sword after flying sword at the serpents. The case too was a primal weapon, though in keenness it fell short of Shen Mu's Chubao Sword and Butcher's Knife.

Wei Yong wove nimbly under the assault of the two serpents, inflicting more and more sword wounds on them, but he could find no chance to kill them. Though his cultivation was deep, his fighting skill was far below Shen Mu's, and his moves were academy moves besides, lacking the power to kill in a single strike.

Suddenly Snow Fox went bounding off into the mountain forest in a flash, and on the other side Shen Mu charged into the woods from another direction. Wei Yong cried out in alarm and wanted to follow, but the two serpents entangled him and he had no chance.

Just then the flute stopped dead. Without the flute to command them, the two serpents grew dull and wooden; Wei Yong seized the moment, cut both serpents down, and hurried into the forest. The little fox's voice came to him: "Fat Wei, over here!"

Wei Yong ran over in haste and saw Shen Mu and the little fox both there, with a towering tree beside them bleeding. He saw no one else; looking closely, he realized it was not the tree that bled but a man. The man's clothing was exactly like tree bark, and even his face was painted all over with bark-like patterns! The man had hollowed out a niche in the great tree just large enough to hide himself in; without careful looking, one could not see him at all.

"A Dragon-Driving Sect disciple!"

Wei Yong's heart skipped: "Brother Shen, Dragon-Driving Sect disciples always move in groups!"

"You mean..."

Shen Mu's expression changed as well. He looked deep into the dense forest, where tree after tree stood lush and green—and then from the trunks stepped a hundred-odd figures, all bearing bark-like patterns on their bodies.

The flute sounded. From behind the forest came gliding countless great serpents, the swarm covering the hills and fields, their red crests like blossoms swaying in the wind.