"Damn, that beast is too strong. Changhe, retreat quickly!" Seeing the water monkey tear the golden silk net apart, Zhang Chongchen's face changed dramatically. He urgently shouted, throwing the talisman in his left hand.

At the same time, his figure transformed into a streak of light, as if he became one with the peach wood sword in his hand, stabbing straight at the water monkey.

Zhang Changhe had originally been emboldened when he saw the water monkey trapped by the golden silk net. After a sword thrust, he had struck the water monkey's shoulder.

But who would have expected the water monkey to tear the golden silk net apart?

The wooden sword had just touched the water monkey when it let out a shriek and lunged at Zhang Changhe.

Everything happened too fast; Zhang Changhe still thought he had hit the target. Before he had time to rejoice, he heard a tearing sound and his outstretched right arm was slashed by the water monkey.

The wooden sword fell, only scraping a bit of the water monkey's fur, without causing any damage.

The next second, Zhang Changhe felt dizzy and his entire body felt like it had plunged into an icy pit; he could barely stand.

In a moment of crisis, the water monkey, though momentarily hindered by the golden silk net around it, with its fierce black eyes, was ready to attack Zhang Changhe again.

Zhang Chongchen's talisman paper arrived just in time.

Pa!

The talisman paper exploded like a thunderclap in front of the water monkey.

"Squeak, squeak, squeak!"

The water monkey shrieked, its attacking motion stalled, growing even more agitated as it turned to look at Zhang Chongchen.

This time, Ye Guichen could also see the water monkey's eyes clearly.

There were no eyeballs, and though the eyes were not large, they were entirely white.

The water monkey bared its fangs and seemed to sense that Zhang Chongchen was stronger than the others. After a glance at Zhang Chongchen, it grabbed Zhang Changhe again and sped towards the lake, as if dragging a toy.

Hit once by the water monkey, Zhang Changhe had lost his strength and was dragged along helplessly, terror filling his heart.

Zhang Chongchen, having just used a thunder talisman to momentarily stop the water monkey, hadn't expected the water monkey to try to drag Zhang Changhe into the water.

Zhang Chongchen knew deeply that once in the water, Zhang Changhe would be as good as dead.

"Changhe, Changhe!" Zhang Chongchen cried out in shock, his figure constantly moving. He loudly called out, hoping Zhang Changhe would resist, at least delay entering the water.

But how could Zhang Changhe move?

As for Zhong Qing, though also from the Heavenly Master Tao and having practiced some Taoist techniques, real actual battle experiences were exceedingly rare nowadays with few evil spirits around.

Now, Zhong Qing was paralyzed with fear, standing not far away, legs trembling, unable to move.

Though Zhang Chongchen moved quickly, the water monkey was faster. After using a thunder talisman, he found that he couldn't catch up with the water monkey at all.

Xie Fang, having also seen the water monkey for the first time, was stunned in place.

Originally planning that if Zhang Chongchen could lure whatever was in the lake out, he'd push Ye Guichen towards the water monkey to let it kill Ye Guichen, Xie Fang now found himself as scared as Zhong Qing, cell phone dropped, legs feeling as heavy as lead, unable to escape.

"Not good!" Just at that moment, Xie Fang heard Ye Guichen beside him utter a low cry and rush towards the lake.

"Is he courting death?" Xie Fang thought.

His eyes involuntarily followed Ye Guichen.

Ye Guichen was only thinking of saving people, not considering much else. Despite being somewhat inexperienced, he had produced talisman papers the moment the water monkey tore the golden silk net.

"Heaven and Earth boundless, borrow the power of the universe, break!"

With a flick of his wrist, two Evil-Expelling Talismans flew out.

Ye Guichen didn't know if they would work, but the only method now was to slow down the water monkey's movement into the water and rescue Zhang Changhe from its grip.

Though talented, Ye Guichen was using talismans for the first time.

Throwing out two talismans, one drifted like a leaf and fell to the ground instead of flying, while the other transformed into a gust of wind, striking the water monkey's back.

Poof!

The talisman paper emitted a muffled sound upon contact with the water monkey's back, exploding and seeming to momentarily restrict the water monkey's movements for about a tenth of a second.

Though it was just the blink of an eye, Ye Guichen had already gotten close.

Without thinking, Ye Guichen, though further from the water monkey than Zhang Chongchen, was quicker due to his higher cultivation, especially after practicing the Xuanming Prison Suppressing Technique.

Reacting late, Ye Guichen, a step ahead, reached the water monkey and produced the Golden Snake Dagger.

He swung the dagger down.

The Golden Snake Dagger cut towards the water monkey's arm.

The water monkey, extremely alert, seemed to sense the dagger's sharpness, releasing Zhang Changhe quickly. However, its reaction was a bit slow, and while drawing back its arm, the dagger cut its fingers.

"Squeak, squeak, squeak!"

With a shriek of pain, the water monkey, ignoring the injury to its fingers, dived into the water, disappearing into the lake bottom.

Nearby, only a finger, slightly smaller than a human's, remained.

The finger was covered in black fur, skeletal and thin.

Ye Guichen grabbed Zhang Changhe and rapidly retreated, pulling him further from the lake before breathing a sigh of relief.

"Changhe." Zhang Chongchen's eyes glistened.

He gave Ye Guichen a deep look, said nothing, and quickly looked at Zhang Changhe's arm.

In that brief time, the arm had swelled and the wound was turning black.

Moreover, Zhang Changhe's consciousness was fading, lips turning pale, and his body shivering.

Zhang Chongchen swiftly took a pill from his bag and placed it in Zhang Changhe's mouth.

"Brother, thank you for saving Changhe's life. Once Changhe is out of danger, we will repay your kindness." Zhang Chongchen said to Ye Guichen, lifting Zhang Changhe to leave.

Ye Guichen stopped him: "Daoist, where are you going?"

"Changhe is poisoned by the water monkey. I gave him a pill that temporarily suppresses the poison, but we lack the means to fully remove it. If it resurfaces, he will surely die. We must return and have our master personally intervene for a slim chance of survival."

Zhang Chongchen gave Ye Guichen a deep look, then noticed the still-dazed Zhong Qing: "Zhong Qing, why are you standing there? Let's go!"

"I can remove the poison." Ye Guichen spoke.

Zhang Chongchen was stunned, clearly doubtful: "You?"

"Yes, I may not have seen water monkeys before, but I understood their nature after some contact. If I am right, the poison is similar to corpse poison. Even if you return to the Heavenly Master Tao, it will take four to five hours, and not even Zhang Chonglou might save him by then. You have no choice but to trust me." Ye Guichen's tone was calm, but his words were filled with conviction.

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