The Hui Snake was the only remaining exotic beast species in this world.

Legend had it that its bloodline was ancient, and its lifespan matched the heavens.

Its body was enormous, and it liked to hide in deep caverns within cliffs and rocks. Wherever it made its lair, there would certainly be Twin Serpent Fruit trees.

But now, Hui Snakes had been hunted for years and had become extremely rare.

And the remaining one—its nest lay right before them.

Di Yiqiu and Bao Wu and others had already waited for a long time. Everyone set up formations outside the nest, with all magical instruments drawn. Everyone’s expressions were grave, solely because this snake was incomparably poisonous. And Si Tianjian only had one white fruit that could neutralize snake venom.

This meant that in this capture operation, once poisoned, one could only die miserably.

Eunuch Xi urged, “Jianzheng, begin.”

Di Yiqiu didn’t give the order. He simply took out dozens of strange “skins” from his storage magical treasure. He distributed these “skins,” and when everyone received them in hand, they only felt them extremely flexible, with texture like fish intestines, yet more sturdy.

Di Yiqiu said, “Everyone wear them close to your body.”

Hearing this, everyone couldn’t afford to be bashful and could only turn around and begin putting on these strange skins. The strange skins had excellent elasticity. As soon as they were put on, they immediately adhered tightly to the skin. Even stranger, they wrapped from the entire body to the head and face together, with holes only at the eyes and nostrils.

But Di Yiqiu seemed to feel this still wasn’t enough. He took out peculiar masks and ordered his followers to all wear them.

By this point, everyone began to understand—this must be to defend against the Hui Snake’s poison. But would these things… actually work?

The Hui Snake nested in its lair, and the surrounding air was filled with a fishy stench. If the group claimed they weren’t afraid, that would be impossible. Eunuch Xi had already retreated far away. Even the usually rough-and-tumble Bao Wu walked to Di Yiqiu’s side and said, “This mission is perilous. The Jianzheng should observe the battle with Eunuch Xi. Don’t risk danger.”

His concern wasn’t excessive. After all, Di Yiqiu was still young in years and obsessed with forging instruments—his cultivation was truly not high. But Di Yiqiu didn’t look at him and simply took out ten puppets from his storage magical treasure.

The puppets were pitch black, about half the height of a person. On each puppet’s chest was written a large character, from jia, yi, bing, ding… all the way to gui.

Di Yiqiu used mirage ash to draw ten circles on the ground, each circle similarly marked from jia to gui indicating sequence.

Everyone silently watched him and didn’t dare ask more questions.

After everything was arranged, Di Yiqiu finally said to Bao Wu, “When the puppet advances, you quickly retreat into the circle.”

Bao Wu felt somewhat embarrassed and said, “Jianzheng, your favoritism toward this subordinate is too obvious. If this subordinate alone hides while they watch, won’t their hearts turn cold?”

Di Yiqiu said seriously, “They won’t. Go.”

Bao Wu indeed charged forward taking the lead. But he quickly discovered that the others truly wouldn’t care about Di Yiqiu’s favoritism toward him.

Because the others didn’t make a move at all!

So… just old Bao fighting desperately alone?!

Bao Wu slashed his blade toward the Hui Snake, and sorrow immediately welled up from within.

…Truly heartbreaking.

Eunuch Xi stood beside Di Yiqiu. Watching Bao Wu fight the Hui Snake alone, he couldn’t help but feel very worried. He said, “Jianzheng, we brought so many capable fighters, yet only sent one person forward. This seems improper.”

Di Yiqiu also stared intently at Bao Wu. Hearing this, he said, “His Majesty only bestowed one white fruit.”

Eunuch Xi also understood—one white fruit was naturally only enough for one person to use. He said, “But if we can’t subdue the Hui Snake, I’m afraid it will also be difficult to account for.”

Di Yiqiu at this time, perhaps because of his youth, was more patient. He explained, “Even if imperial orders are difficult to disobey, there’s no principle of using human lives to fill the sea.”

In the cavern, the Hui Snake had a crest on its head and eyes like lanterns, its body like a small mountain. It suddenly sprayed out a stream of venom like a dark cloud. Di Yiqiu and others could only retreat several zhang more. Bao Wu’s cultivation could be called invincible within all of Si Tianjian.

But facing the Hui Snake alone, and moreover a Hui Snake with six snake patterns on its body, he was clearly struggling. Seeing two blade strikes slash down, the snake scales on the Hui Snake’s body showed no damage whatsoever. This couldn’t continue.

Just at this moment, a jia-numbered puppet made clicking sounds. It strode toward the Hui Snake, its movements actually quite fast. Seeing this, Bao Wu was also quick-witted. He immediately turned back and jumped into the circle also marked jia.

And at this moment, the jia-numbered puppet had already approached the Hui Snake. The Hui Snake opened its mouth and bit, holding it in its mouth. The jia-numbered puppet opened both eyes, and with a thunderous sound, exploded.

Countless sharp needles scattered in all directions, yet precisely avoided the jia circle.

The angle was simply perfect.

Bao Wu was dumbfounded—the Jianzheng can do this?!

Like a little heifer wagging her tail!

At this time, in the imperial palace.

Eunuch Lu led people to gather all the imperial princes and princesses together and brought them to the bottom level of Yuanrong Tower.

The assembled princes and princesses didn’t know what had happened and could only obediently come. At the bottom of Yuanrong Tower, many physicians were bustling about. As if testing some new medicine. But when these princes and princesses asked about it, they absolutely refused to speak.

Eunuch Lu, seeing these princes and princesses all gathered, finally said, “His Majesty has recently fallen slightly ill, and the imperial physicians can’t determine the dosage. So we wish to ask all the princes and princesses to test the medicine on behalf of your father.”

Everyone listened in confusion and felt very uneasy.

But Shi Wenyu was the current emperor—who dared say no?

Everyone could only patiently wait at the tower’s bottom.

In the Hui Snake’s nest, the second puppet self-destructed again.

By now, the Hui Snake had realized the function of these small puppets. Its giant tail swept past, and the surrounding vegetation and mountain rocks were all leveled to the ground. Several puppets were also flung away, landing with a splat in the distance, shattering all over the ground.

The Hui Snake’s crest was blood red, its eyes like torches. It spewed out a mouthful of venom, and Bao Wu hastily retreated. Di Yiqiu called out loudly, “Are you poisoned?”

Bao Wu fumbled about frantically before finally saying, “No! Jianzheng, these things of yours really work!”

Only then did Di Yiqiu wave his hand. All of Baihu Si’s capable fighters surged forward together and began capturing the Hui Snake. Eunuch Xi stood in the distance, watching Di Yiqiu provide support from the side.

He stood with hands clasped behind his back. Though young in years, he was calm and composed, with quick reactions. Moreover, over these years, he had created countless ingenious devices. At this moment, to deal with the Hui Snake, he could be said to be showing every trick in the book.

The youth was like this, brilliant as the rising sun.令人惊叹啊.

But even so, Si Tianjian still had quite many severely wounded.

The Hui Snake possessed tremendous strength, and its scales were impervious to blades and spears. The people of Si Tianjian before it were like ants. And this was merely a Hui Snake with six snake patterns. If it had nine patterns, it was simply unimaginable.

Eunuch Xi was already standing very far away, but that snake tail swept over like pushing mountains and leveling seas. He could only keep retreating backward, until finally he couldn’t even see the battle situation.

The sounds of fighting on the mountain still came intermittently. He wanted to get closer but didn’t dare.

By the middle of the night, finally, the commotion on the mountain stopped.

Eunuch Xi waited for a long time. Just when he thought all these people had been eaten by the Hui Snake, a procession dragged a massive iron coffin slowly down the mountain. Walking in front was none other than Bao Wu.

Eunuch Xi hurriedly rushed over, asking repeatedly, “Where is the Jianzheng?”

From the back of the procession, a voice said, “All is well, Eunuch need not be alarmed.”

Eunuch Xi let out a long breath and said, “As long as the Jianzheng is fine.” Though Di Yiqiu had been removed from the imperial registry, he was after all a prince highly valued by Shi Wenyu. If something happened to him, it would be difficult to account for.

He walked over and caught sight at a glance of the bloodstains on Di Yiqiu’s robes. He quickly asked, “Is the Jianzheng injured?”

Di Yiqiu’s body was covered in blood and dust, and his face showed utter exhaustion. Of course, the entire procession—everyone was in no better condition. The group had lost two-thirds of its forces, and the remainder were also wounded soldiers and defeated generals.

Eunuch Xi sighed and said, “The Jianzheng has truly suffered.”

Di Yiqiu shook his head and ordered everyone to drag the heavy iron coffin down the mountain.

Two days later, Si Tianjian’s carriage entered the palace, carrying on it a massive iron coffin forged from black iron and wrapped with iron chains, looking both mysterious and terrifying. Bao Wu followed beside the cart, boasting to the Imperial Guards about the harvest from this mission.

Di Yiqiu walked at the front. Passing by a fork in the road, he paused slightly. Going from here, one would reach the side garden where Huang Rang currently resided.

But at present, he should probably first report back to His Majesty.

Di Yiqiu continued forward, traveling all the way to the base of Yuanrong Tower.

Eunuch Xi ordered people to transport this black iron giant box into the tower, then said, “Jianzheng, His Majesty has words and wishes to speak with you inside.”

Di Yiqiu made a sound of acknowledgment and followed into Yuanrong Tower. But Eunuch Lu led him toward the lower levels at the tower’s bottom. Di Yiqiu knew something was wrong. He looked around and saw guards standing in formation. Eunuch Lu urged, “Jianzheng, please.”

Di Yiqiu followed him down and saw a crowd of brothers and sisters all gathered here.

He turned around, but the door had already closed at this moment.

Eunuch Lu stood to one side and said, “By His Majesty’s secret decree, all princes and princesses are asked to wait here.” How ridiculous—the title of prince and princess had long since stopped being used in the palace. Now it was heard again from his mouth.

In the crowd, the Fifth Prince finally couldn’t help but ask, “Eunuch Lu, we’ve all been waiting here for a long time. What illness has His Majesty contracted, and what medicine needs testing? At least Eunuch Lu can inform us, can’t you?”

This was what everyone wanted to know. However, Eunuch Lu just laughed it off and said, “Fifth Prince, don’t be anxious. His Majesty has his own arrangements.”

Before long, an imperial physician indeed brought over a bowl. Among these people, there were no physicians, so naturally they didn’t know what medicine it was. But Eunuch Lu urged repeatedly, and everyone could only drink it.

Di Yiqiu held this bowl of medicine, and a heavy sense of foreboding filled his heart. But everyone was born noble and had never suffered setbacks in their lives. They were accustomed to following imperial commands. Thus after hesitating repeatedly, he still drank this bowl of medicine.

The medicine was very bitter. As it entered his throat, a thought crossed his mind—wondering if he could make it over to see her today.

The bitter medicine entered his stomach. In just a moment, the assembled princes and princesses all felt their heads spin and lost consciousness.

Eunuch Lu looked at the imperial physicians waiting to the side and said, “Begin.”

Outside Yuanrong Tower, Bao Wu waited for a long time, still not seeing Di Yiqiu emerge.

Seeing the sky gradually darken, he wanted to find someone to ask, but outside the tower were only guards—what could he ask?

He wandered around, and finally having no other option, could only return to Si Tianjian alone.

At Si Tianjian.

Li Lu was also still waiting. Seeing him return, he couldn’t help but ask, “The Jianzheng didn’t return with you?”

He and Bao Wu were both many years Di Yiqiu’s senior. Because Di Yiqiu at such a young age held authority over Si Tianjian, the two inevitably treated him more like elders would, caring for him more.

Bao Wu scratched his head, also puzzled, and said, “Once the Jianzheng entered the tower, he never came out again. Perhaps His Majesty kept him for dinner. After all, in capturing the Hui Snake, he achieved great merit—how could anyone make things difficult for him?”

Li Lu thought about it—that made sense. The two didn’t probe further.

But after Di Yiqiu’s departure, five days passed without any trace of him.

Li Lu grew anxious and sent people to inquire repeatedly. He had excellent connections in the palace and usually found it convenient to inquire about news. Only this time, there wasn’t half a bit of information.

But he also learned that along with Di Yiqiu, there were other princes and princesses equally without news.

What had happened?

No one knew.

When Di Yiqiu awoke, he discovered himself lying on a narrow small bed. He moved his hand and discovered his wrists were actually bound with chains! He was actually imprisoned here?

He wanted to sit up, but even around his neck there was an iron collar firmly confining him to the torture bed.

“Who’s outside?” Di Yiqiu spoke, his voice dry and hoarse. But with this one sentence, someone immediately entered from outside. That person walked to the torture bed and looked down at him. It was none other than Qiu Shengbai, the Medical Director of the Imperial Medical Academy.

He leaned forward and asked, “Does the Jianzheng feel any discomfort?”

Di Yiqiu struggled to move both hands. “Release me!”

Qiu Shengbai extended one hand and waved it before him, asking, “Jianzheng, please look—what is this?”

Di Yiqiu turned his face away. A manic emotion instantly surged up. He said angrily, “Release me!”

Qiu Shengbai could only retreat somewhat and say, “When the Jianzheng has calmed down, this humble subject will come again.”

Having spoken, he turned and left this small prison cell. Outside, Eunuch Lu asked in a low voice, “Imperial Physician Qiu, how is it?”

Qiu Shengbai said, “For now, his mind seems clear, only slightly irritable. How is the Sixteenth Prince?”

Eunuch Lu sighed and said in a low voice, “Just now… he has already expired.”

Qiu Shengbai was silent for a long time before saying, “For the Jianzheng’s medicine, increase the dosage for him.”

Eunuch Lu quickly instructed his subordinate eunuchs to do so.

In the prison cell, Di Yiqiu felt agitated in his heart, but he forcibly restrained himself from shouting and struggling. Since age four, he had been obsessed with forging instruments, and his temperament had long since become as stable as his hands. He endured the irritation in his chest and abdomen and said, “Imperial Physician Qiu.”

Qiu Shengbai was startled and quickly said, “Jianzheng?”

Di Yiqiu took a deep breath and said, “What on earth has happened? Having come to this, I should at least be able to know something, shouldn’t I?”

Qiu Shengbai’s eyes showed pity. After a long while, he entered the prison cell again. He knelt by the torture bed and said, “Jianzheng, don’t ask anymore. How does your body feel now?”

Di Yiqiu carefully sensed and said, “Restless and agitated, pain and itching all over.”

Qiu Shengbai quickly recorded his words in the medical record, then said, “Jianzheng, don’t be anxious. It’s just testing some medicine. You’ll need to stay here for some time.” As if afraid his emotions would collapse, he said, “These days may be somewhat idle. If the Jianzheng likes anything, this subordinate can send someone to fetch it for you. If there are items for diversion, I imagine the days here won’t be too unbearable.”

Di Yiqiu stared at him for a long time before saying, “I see from your eyes that my face is covered with snake scales.”

Qiu Shengbai froze, then fell silent. Di Yiqiu said, “His Majesty is using us to test the Hui Snake’s poison, isn’t he?”

His words were extremely calm. Qiu Shengbai could only say, “The Jianzheng should think less and be more at ease.” He avoided answering, yet it was already an answer.

Di Yiqiu said, “Unlock the chains around my neck. I want to sit up.”

Qiu Shengbai was very conflicted. After a long time, he said, “His Highness’s condition is currently poor. It’s better not to look.”

Di Yiqiu said, “Unlock it.”

Qiu Shengbai had no choice but to instruct Eunuch Lu, “Then unlock the shackles around the Jianzheng’s neck. Just restrain his four limbs.”

Eunuch Lu acknowledged and indeed stepped forward, doing as instructed and unlocking the shackles. Di Yiqiu was able to sit up. He lowered his head and looked toward his own hands. Almost at first glance, he understood why Qiu Shengbai had wanted to keep him firmly locked to the torture bed.

It was solely to prevent him from seeing what he looked like now.

His hands were covered with pale blue fine scales. The scales had just begun growing, so they were chaotic and disordered. They looked densely packed—more than merely frightening?

Simply terrifying to the extreme!

And his entire body was incomparably painful and itchy. Obviously, those snake scales were still growing all over his body. This kind of horror and strangeness made one want to peel off this skin. Seeing his expression, Qiu Shengbai’s eyes showed reluctance to watch—among the assembled princes and princesses, this Eighty-Sixth Prince treated people kindly, and his craftsmanship was even more exquisite and ingenious.

He should have been a master craftsman of a generation—what had he done wrong to suffer such torment?

His cherishing of talent made him willing to spend extra effort here. He comforted, “Jianzheng, don’t panic. Once your body adapts, perhaps the situation will improve greatly.”

“Perhaps?” Di Yiqiu questioned him.

Qiu Shengbai lowered his head. After a long time, he said, “Jianzheng, forgive this subordinate’s incompetence. The medicine’s properties cannot be fully controlled.”

Di Yiqiu understood. He said, “His Majesty captured the Hui Snake to research the art of longevity. So, he’s using us to test the medicine?”

Qiu Shengbai didn’t dare continue speaking and only said, “In any case, the Jianzheng must take care of yourself. This humble subject will guard here every day. If the Jianzheng has needs, you may give orders.” Having spoken, he withdrew from the prison cell and closed the door.

Light from outside the bars filtered in, making it not so dim here.

Di Yiqiu struggled to sit up. His hands and feet were already covered with snake scales. He brought his face closer and felt with his fingertips. Sure enough, he touched cool, disordered fine scales.

What had he become?

He didn’t know. Outside, someone carried a corpse past. The corpse was covered with a white cloth. Only a hand hanging outside had already swollen to a dark purple color. And on the back of the hand, dense snake scales were clearly visible.

Di Yiqiu opened his eyes wide, watching the eunuchs coldly carry the person away.

He didn’t even know which of his brothers or sisters that was.

From some unknown prison cell came a hoarse cry. The voice was very shrill, but the content couldn’t be heard clearly. With this one cry, the entire prison cell seemed to suddenly awaken, responding with countless wails.

Like hell itself.

Di Yiqiu sat silently on the torture bed, his hands gripping the black chains tightly. He suppressed his frantic emotions.

Eunuch Lu couldn’t bear it. Though Di Yiqiu was young, he treated people kindly and had incomparably skillful hands. Many people in the palace had received his favors and naturally remembered his kindness.

In the end, he was still a child.

He stepped forward and asked, “What does the Jianzheng need? This old servant will fetch it for you.”

Di Yiqiu was dazed for a moment before finally saying, “White ice silk, red coral beads.” He lowered his head, looking at his hands covered in scales and trembling incessantly. After a long time, he said, “Silver crochet needles.”

If it were normal times, he probably wouldn’t need such things. But now… not using them probably wouldn’t work.

Eunuch Lu could only say, “Very well. This old servant will immediately send someone to fetch them for the Jianzheng.”

He handled things efficiently, and the items were quickly delivered.

Di Yiqiu sat in the cold and oppressive prison cell, using the crochet needle to weave pearl strings.

His hands were swollen and trembling, unbearably painful and itchy. The snake scales on them were dense and hard, no longer as nimble as before. He could only use the crochet needle to slowly and arduously weave those pearl strings.

Five hundred pearl strings—he had promised, so he didn’t want to break his word.