Chapter 299 The Man-Eating Snake
If someone disappeared on the mountain, it would indeed be more difficult to search for them.
Isabella only asked casually and didn't really take it to heart. But after lunch, when she was strolling through the garden, she accidentally overheard several guards chatting.
"Do you think there might be ghosts on this mountain?"
"How is that possible? Don't talk nonsense! I still have to patrol the mountain tonight, and you're scaring me with this talk."
"If there are no ghosts, then how could a perfectly fine living person just disappear?"
"They must have been eaten by ghosts!"
"..."
Just then, one of the chubby guards said mysteriously, "Let me tell you, there really are ghosts on this mountain. Do you remember that tomb halfway up the mountain?"
"You mean the one in the cave?"
"Yes, that tomb."
"Actually, the guards who disappeared before used to slack off during patrols. Sometimes they would go rest in that cave. If you ask me, they must have been caught by the ghosts in the tomb, so they never came out..."
Hearing this, Isabella thoughtfully touched her chin.
She walked over to Knox's place. "Is there a tomb on this mountain?"
Knox nodded and asked her, "How did you know?"
Isabella didn't answer his question, only asking, "That tomb, have you been inside?"
Knox shook his head. "Of course not. Who would go to such an unlucky place for no reason?"
"Guards resting during patrol would go there." Isabella thought for a moment and said, "Maybe the guards' disappearance is related to that tomb. I suggest you send someone to check inside the tomb - you might find the missing people."
Knox suddenly understood. "I'll take people to check it out right now!"
He quickly called a few people and hurried toward the tomb.
Isabella returned to the hall, where Gwyneth was discussing with Wilmer about leaving for Regal City tomorrow.
Regarding this matter, Isabella could only wish her good luck.
After listening to Gwyneth and Wilmer finish their conversation, Isabella told her about what she'd heard regarding the tomb.
Hearing this, Gwyneth narrowed her eyes. "So you're saying there's a high probability that the missing guards disappeared in the tomb."
"Why would there be a tomb on the Powell family's mountain?"
"That tomb has been there for a very long time, probably thousands of years of history. It's an ancient tomb. It's purely coincidental that this ancient tomb appeared on this mountain."
The Powell family had lived by this mountain for generations. The Powell family ancestors believed this mountain had good feng shui, beneficial for ancient martial arts professional training. Living here could make the family more prosperous.
"However, if the guards all disappeared in the tomb, then this tomb really needs to be thoroughly searched to see what's actually inside."
Just as Gwyneth finished speaking, Knox suddenly came stumbling in.
He looked very panicked, as if he had just experienced something terrifying, and his face was deathly pale.
"Ms. Powell, there are snakes! Inside that tomb, there are man-eating snakes!"
Hearing this, Gwyneth's expression didn't change much. She only said calmly, "Speak clearly. What happened?"
Knox said tremblingly, "I heard that the missing guards might have been to the tomb, so I took two people to investigate. As soon as we entered, we saw a giant python as thick as a person, about ten meters, no, it should be twenty meters, or maybe fifty meters long! It was devouring skeletal remains on the ground!"
Hearing this, Gwyneth raised her eyebrows. "And then?"
"Then I ran out!"
Gwyneth rubbed her temples. "Just one snake scared you like this?"
Knox: "..."
Just one snake?
This wasn't an ordinary snake! This was a man-eating snake, and such a thick and long snake at that!
"When you went in, did you see clearly? That snake was really eating human bones?"
"That's right, I saw it crystal clear! I also saw..." Knox recalled that scene, feeling nauseous, "I also saw a face - the person who disappeared last night!"
Isabella touched her chin. "So does this mean the missing guards probably all died from this giant python?"
If Knox's description was true, this python was way too big.
Could it be an exotic beast?
"Since we've figured it out, take people to deal with that snake so it doesn't hurt anyone else." Gwyneth said to Knox.
Knox: "?"
Seeing Knox standing there dazed, Gwyneth frowned with some displeasure. "What are you standing there for? Go quickly!"
Knox wiped his sweat. "Ms. Powell, I don't dare."
That snake was thicker than he was. One swipe of its tail could probably kill him directly. How could he be a match for that snake?
Just then, Wilmer spoke up. "Ms. Powell, that snake probably isn't an ordinary snake. Knox might not be able to handle it. Should we go with Knox to take a look?"
Gwyneth thought about it and agreed.
Seeing them about to go kill the snake, Isabella felt a bit eager. She asked tentatively, "Can I come along?"
Gwyneth didn't refuse, only saying calmly, "As you wish."
Isabella followed along.
First, she wanted to see if there really was such a big snake. Second, she wanted to see how Gwyneth and Wilmer would deal with that snake - the scene would definitely be exciting.
The tomb was in a very hidden location, with weeds growing wild at the entrance.
Looking in from outside, it was gloomy inside. Coming to the tomb entrance, you could feel the cold wind coming from within.
Knox held up a high-powered flashlight, illuminating the entrance. The entrance had stone steps, with a downward passage following the stairs.
The four of them deliberately lightened their footsteps, slowly walking down.
Isabella indeed smelled a bloody odor, mixed with the stench of rotting flesh, making people nauseous.
Finally reaching the bottom, their view opened up.
Isabella shone her flashlight toward a corner, the direction where the stench came from, and indeed saw a pile of white bones stacked there, with dried bloodstains on the ground.
The entire floor was covered with bloodstains of varying depths - some dragged, some splattered - a horrifying sight.
"When you saw that snake, was it here?" Gwyneth asked.
"That's right! I saw it as soon as I came in!" Knox pointed to a pool of blood on the ground that hadn't dried yet and said, "Right at this spot!"
However, now the snake was gone.
"It should be deeper inside." Knox said, pointing ahead to the deeper part of the tomb.
The group exchanged glances and walked toward the depths.
Along the way, moss grew in the corners of the walls. The entire tomb was especially damp, mixed with a cold, gloomy atmosphere.
The further they went, the narrower the passage became, and the air grew increasingly humid.
Suddenly, Knox shouted, "Watch out!"
A group of bats flew out from inside.