C17 The Change in Gold's Body!

Could this Golden Fur Mongoose be some kind of demon?

If Gold hadn't still appeared to be in a drunken stupor, and if Ma Tianming hadn't felt a sort of psychic connection with Gold, he might have tossed the creature to the ground by now.

In the midst of Ma Tianming's hesitation, the front paws of the cat-sized Golden Fur Mongoose began to morph into human hands, and its hind paws into human legs.

Only its tail remained unchanged!

The mongoose was transforming into a human form... albeit one that would be the size of a newborn baby.

But this was a demon!

Ma Tianming, merely a martial artist, was ill-equipped to handle a demon. Perhaps he should kill it before it sobered up from its drunkenness.

Yet, could a demon really get drunk?

And to be so easily captured by him... Ma Tianming found it hard to part with the fluffy, kitten-like Golden Fur Mongoose that seemed so endearing.

Indeed! A demon that could get so easily intoxicated and captured by Ma Tianming surely contradicted the legends of demons as ruthless killers. These stories were just that—stories.

Ma Tianming rationalized internally for Gold, though he found his own reasoning somewhat feeble.

He knew well that anyone who encountered something resembling a demon would err on the side of caution and kill it outright.

What about Snake King Mah?

What would he do if he saw Gold transforming?

"Brother Snake King!" Ma Tianming ventured, "Do you think there could be demons here in Top Touching Mountain?"

"Demons?" Snake King Mah halted in his tracks, scanning the surroundings with heightened alertness.

"This is a wild and desolate place; ordinary people wouldn't venture here. But it's possible for demons to seek refuge in such areas."

Snake King Mah's countenance had shifted at the mere mention of demons.

This was a man who had grappled with deadly snakes year-round!

Convinced by the presence of a snake-cat that there were no snakes nearby, Snake King Mah had boldly proceeded further in. But now, startled by Ma Tianming, he promptly suggested, "We need to head back."

While speaking, Snake King Mah turned to leave.

Ma Tianming quickly hid Gold behind his back, relieved that Snake King Mah wasn't suspicious of him and hadn't noticed his actions.

"Go ahead, Big Brother Snake King! Since there are no snakes around, there's nothing for me to fear. I might as well stay a bit longer and take a good look around for when I return."

"Even though there are no venomous snakes, there could still be wolves, tigers, or leopards around—predators that could attack humans!"

Ma Tianming paused, considering. It was possible that there were no such beasts here, but if they were, they'd surely be spotted.

"Well, if that's the case, let's get going!"

"No, you go on ahead. I'll watch our backs."

Does Snake King have to be so darn noble?

"Does it really matter who goes first?" Ma Tianming wasn't one for formalities. He shielded Gold with his body, turned, and started walking.

At that moment, Gold, with a face, hands, and feet resembling those of a human, was still snoring deeply, fast asleep in peaceful slumber.

Even if it were truly a demon, it would surely be a benevolent one.

Lost in thought, Ma Tianming pressed on. Suddenly, a loud "hiss hiss hiss" echoed from ahead, reminiscent of a snake's hiss.

But this hissing was much louder than that of the Flat-head Wind snake Ma Tianming had encountered before.

"We've got trouble," Snake King Mah exclaimed. "The snake is here, and it's likely a Snake Demon!"

"A Snake Demon? That can't be possible!"

Snake King Mah had made it clear before their arrival: the Snake King was an exceptionally large and fierce snake, the very reason for their venture.

Facing a Snake King was risky, but they were prepared to confront it if necessary.

The Snake Demon, on the other hand, was a different story. As Snake King Mah explained, a Snake Demon was a Snake King that had become sentient, capable of thought like a human.

"If it's making such a loud hissing noise, it has to be a Snake King. But no matter how formidable a Snake King might be, as long as we don't provoke them or get too close, they won't attack us.

A Snake Demon, however, will actively seek us out."

Ma Tianming realized that after they had captured the Golden Fur Mongoose, their presence was exposed... Yet, it was precisely as they turned that they made such a loud hissing noise.

It was clear that the enemy had anticipated Ma Tianming and Snake King Mah's attempt to flee and was signaling an attack.

"Quick, let's get out of here. Leave Top Touching Mountain!"

They hadn't ventured too deep into Top Touching Mountain yet. If they could just leave, there was still a chance to escape.

Ma Tianming and Snake King Mah took off running... Snake King Mah wasn't even concerned about the changes in the Golden Fur Mongoose that Ma Tianming was holding.

With a whoosh, a long black shadow was suddenly hurtling toward Ma Tianming like an apparition.

Ma Tianming could only hear the intense friction from the ground behind him, a sound he had become familiar with after taming the Flat-head Wind these past few days.

But the noise now was much louder than that of the Flat-head Wind.

Was a massive Flat-head Wind in pursuit of Ma Tianming?

A specter was on his tail!

Without thinking, Ma Tianming glanced back, but his eyes couldn't keep up with the unseen snake's swift movements.

In a flash, something tightly coiled around his feet, yanking him down. He lost his balance and was dragged forcefully deeper into Top Touching Mountain.

"Young Master Ma!?"

Hearing Ma Tianming's cry, Snake King Mah instinctively turned back, spotting something moving rapidly through the thorny underbrush. He could barely make out Ma Tianming's form and his agonized screams.

"Young Master Ma!" Snake King Mah started to dash into the mountain, but ultimately, he halted. It wasn't that he didn't want to rescue Ma Tianming; he was painfully aware that in these mountains, once someone is dragged off, there's no hope of survival.

If he gave chase, he would only be offering the beasts another meal. After all, he was the Snake King only beyond the bounds of Top Touching Mountain.

Snake King Mah burst out of Top Touching Mountain and knelt on the ground, facing it. "Young Master Ma, I'm sorry. I, Mah, have failed you. I should have convinced you not to enter."

Despite Snake King Mah's repeated warnings to Ma Tianming against venturing into Top Touching Mountain, Ma Tianming ultimately decided to go. His main motivation, truth be told, was a desire to see it for himself.

Snake King Mah had considered the possibility of encountering the Snake King within the mountain and felt confident in his ability to handle such a confrontation. However, the existence of a Snake Demon had never crossed his mind!

It was clear to him that an ordinary snake lacked the strength to drag a person; therefore, it had to be the work of a Snake Demon.