People in the Qin Dynasty sought good fortune and avoided misfortune.

Chapter 272, Crimson King Serpent

As a sentient beast, the Crimson King Serpent could clearly sense the extremely special power emanating from Xu Qing.

Although it didn't understand what that power was, its instincts made it feel close to it and want to get closer.

Hearing the noise behind him, Xu Qing suddenly stopped, holding the silver needle in her hand, and looked in the direction of the sound.

Just as Xu Qing was about to throw out the silver needles, he saw the Crimson King Serpent crawling towards him. After maintaining a safe distance, it stopped and stood upright to look at it.

Xu Qing and the Crimson King Serpent stared at each other, looking into each other's incredibly human eyes, and suddenly sensed a strange signal in their hearts.

"You want to come with me!?" Xu Qing asked, puzzled.

The red-banded king cobra nodded slightly, its forked tongue flicking out gently, as if answering Xu Qing's question.

“That’s interesting,” Xu Qing said.

In the original story, this Crimson King Serpent had cultivated an inner core, and it was after consuming the inner core that Honglian gained the ability to control hundreds of serpents. Being able to cultivate an inner core and possessing such human-like intelligence, this Crimson King Serpent was undoubtedly a spirit beast born from a cataclysmic event in the world.

The "third-grade opportunity" mentioned in the fortune-telling should refer to this red-banded king serpent.

Compared to killing the snake for its inner core, Xu Qing felt it was more appropriate to raise it as a pet. After all, a Red-banded King Serpent that had gained sentience could potentially become something extraordinary if nurtured with rare and precious materials.

Moreover, he has recently been learning various poison techniques, and the venom of the red-banded king cobra is the most potent of all poisons, making it extremely valuable to him.

"Princess, my friends are outside. Please go and wait for me with them," Xu Qing said, releasing Honglian.

Honglian glanced at Xu Qing, nodded slightly, and then walked out on her own.

Xu Qing crouched down and beckoned to the Crimson King Serpent, signaling it to come over.

The red-banded king snake quickly swam towards Xu Qing. After arriving at Xu Qing's side, it placed its head in Xu Qing's palm, as if acknowledging Xu Qing as its master.

"You should be able to understand me. You can stay by my side if you want, but we have to make an agreement."

"First, you can't bite me. Second, you can't bite anyone without my permission. Third, when I need your venom, you have to give me a little bit, just a tiny bit."

"Of course, I won't mistreat you; I'll find all sorts of spiritual herbs to nourish you."

Xu Qing patiently explained the conditions to the Red-banded King Serpent, but the Red-banded King Serpent didn't care about these things at all. Although it had gained intelligence, it still relied on instinct to survive.

As long as it can stay by Xu Qing's side, it doesn't care about these conditions.

So he nodded slightly, licked Xu Qing's palm with his forked tongue, and thus officially signed the contract with Xu Qing.

Xu Qing stretched out his finger and gently stroked the forehead of the Crimson King Serpent. He looked at the other venomous snakes in the Nine Nether Gu Pool, his eyes gleaming. He remembered that there were two special king serpents among them.

"Haha~"

Xu Qing looked at the group of snakes with a malicious smile on his face.

The two king cobras and the rest of the snakes sensed the immense malice and curled up, afraid to move.

The Crimson King Serpent seemed to understand Xu Qing's meaning, its scarlet eyes fixed on the two king serpents on the tree, and it adopted an attack posture.

Outside the Nine Nether Gu Pool, Honglian placed her hands on her lower abdomen, gazing expectantly into the pool, waiting for Xu Qing to emerge.

"Your Highness, what is Brother Xu doing inside? Why hasn't he come out yet?" Situ Wanli bowed to Honglian and asked.

Qianlongtang exists because of its convenient geographical location in South Korea. Although the farmers are not afraid of South Korea, they still need to show the respect and courtesy due to South Korea when doing business on their territory.

"I don't know either. He seems to have taken a fancy to a little red snake." Honglian shook her head slightly, also unsure of what Xu Qing was up to.

However, when she thought of that little red snake, Honglian always felt as if something was missing in her heart, as if she had lost something important.

"I see." Situ Wanli and Han Laoda and the others suddenly realized, and did not feel that there was anything wrong with Xu Qing having a relationship with a snake.

After all, isn't it normal for doctors to deal with all sorts of medicinal herbs and poisons? Venomous snakes can be deadly, but sometimes they can also save lives.

"I've kept you waiting for a long time."

Xu Qing's voice rang out, and under everyone's gaze, Xu Qing walked out of the Nine Nether Gu Pool.

Honglian, Situ Wanli, and Boss Han looked at Xu Qing, and when they saw the head of the Crimson King Serpent that had sprung out from under his collar, a look of surprise flashed in their eyes.

"Imperial Physician, are you really going to keep this little snake?" Honglian glanced at the Crimson King Serpent with fear, sticking out her tongue in lingering apprehension.

In her eyes, the red-banded king cobra, though it looked beautiful, was still a venomous snake, just like the other snakes that frightened her—equally hateful and terrifying.

“That’s right, I have a connection with it, from now on it will be called Red Serpent.” Xu Qing reached out and touched the head of Red Serpent.

The red snake flicked its tongue and swayed its body gently, displaying remarkable intelligence and obedience.

"Then congratulations, Brother Xu." "Congratulations, Imperial Physician."

Situ Wanli and Boss Han said to Xu Qing, they could naturally see that this Crimson King Serpent was extraordinary, and they sincerely congratulated Xu Qing.

"Haha, the job's done, let's go back. I'll trouble you brothers to clean up the mess, lest the venomous snakes escape and bite someone if left unattended," Xu Qing said, cupping his hands in greeting.

The disciples of Qianlong Hall nodded slightly, agreeing to the cleanup work. They were not afraid of snake venom, making them the most suitable people to clean up the Nine Nether Gu Pool.

"The carriage is parked at the foot of the mountain," said Boss Han.

"it is good."

Xu Qing led Honglian down the mountain, with Han Laoda and the Mo family following closely behind. Situ Wanli instructed a few disciples to stay behind and clean up the mess before leaving with the others.

After descending the mountain, Xu Qing abandoned his horse and took Honglian into the carriage.

Under the escort of Han Laoda and Situ Wanli, the carriage smoothly headed towards Xinzheng.

Half an hour later, the carriage entered Xinzheng and arrived at the gate of the Han King's Palace.

"Imperial Physician, Princess Honglian, we have arrived at the Han King's Palace."

Inside the carriage, Xu Qing looked at the obedient and adorable Honglian and slowly spoke.

"Did you remember everything I just said?"

"Yes, I will keep your martial arts skills a secret. I will tell everyone that you led the people from the Hidden Dragon Hall and the Mo family to rescue me, and then they drove away Tianze, and then you took me back to the palace."

"Is that so?"

Honglian looked at Xu Qing and said, her bright eyes reflecting Xu Qing's figure, a hint of a smile flashing in them.

Xu Qing was forbidden from learning martial arts by the Imperial Physician, but he revealed his martial arts skills to save her, which warmed Honglian's heart for no reason.

At the same time, she will also help Xu Qing protect this secret, after all, it is a secret shared by her and Xu Qing, a secret unknown to outsiders.

"Then thank you very much, Princess."

"Why are you being so polite with me? I've already told you that I'll protect you in the palace from now on."

Xu Qing smiled helplessly, then lifted the carriage curtain and helped Honglian down from the carriage.

When the palace guards saw Xu Qing return with Hong Lian, they immediately opened the palace gates to let the two in, and at the same time hurried off to report the situation to King Han An.

(End of this chapter)