Chapter 1

Jingle—

A melodious ring of silver bells slithered like a snake through the deep, secluded valley, rippling soundlessly.

Ah Wan carried a small back basket containing a few common herbs and a medicine hoe.

“Hiss~”

A faint sound came from the nearby grass. Ah Wan paused, turned her head, and looked down.

Her beautiful fox-like eyes narrowed slightly. Recognizing what it was, she didn’t linger and lifted her foot to leave.

“Hiss~”

The sound seemed to grow weaker and weaker. Ah Wan took two steps forward, then stopped for no apparent reason.

She sighed, turned around, and parted the grass.

A small snake, pure white all over with only a blood-red mark on its forehead, was coiled on the ground, lying there dying. A few broken leaves lay on its body, as if it had just been in a fierce struggle.

Ah Wan hesitated for a moment, then slowly reached out and picked up the little snake, which was still thinner than her index finger.

Dazed and injured, the little thing coiled around her hand, the tip of its tail resting on her pulse.

A light flicker. Ah Wan’s heart trembled along with it.

A little ticklish.

She frowned, turned her hand over, and looked at the small, limp head drooping in the crook of her thumb and forefinger. Round and glossy, a little cute.

If not for those eyes, it would truly resemble a warm white jade Go piece, smooth to the touch.

A pity snakes can’t be tamed.

Don’t want it.

Just as Ah Wan was about to flick it away, the little snake suddenly extended a long tongue—a faint pink, semi-transparent, somewhat like jelly.

The forked tip touched her arm, and she felt a faint, dazed heat.

Ah Wan’s frown deepened as she quietly gazed at the little thing.

The little snake seemed to like the warmth of Ah Wan’s hand. Tilting its head, it nuzzled against her affectionately, as if clinging to her.

Then, secretly, it rolled one eye to look over.

Human and snake met eyes.

Ah Wan’s lips curved into a malicious smile. She also tilted her head and raised an eyebrow at it.

The little snake was instantly jolted awake. Its transparent eyelid retracted. The soft little head suddenly perked up, glaring at her with beady eyes, looking as fierce as it thought itself to be.

Then, it lowered its body, its tail squeezing Ah Wan’s wrist with all its might, hissing continuously, baring its fangs at her.

Ah Wan looked down. That was all the strength it had?

She then raised her other hand, curled her middle finger and thumb together, and placed them right in front of the little snake’s head—

Pop!

A gentle flick.

“Jee.”

The previously fierce little snake squeaked once, its head drooping limply. It rubbed against the back of Ah Wan’s hand, looking a bit wronged.

Seeing this little display, Ah Wan’s mood lifted, the corner of her lips rising. She threatened, “Show your teeth again, and I’ll catch you to make medicinal wine.”

Wuwu~

The little white snake shrank its head, not daring to hiss anymore. Only its beady eyes still swiveled, trying to spy on the woman.

When Ah Wan looked at it, it immediately tilted its head to the side, flopping onto the back of her hand, tongue sticking out and dangling.

As if playing dead.

“Playing dead?”

Just as Ah Wan’s slightly harsh words fell, she saw the tail tip resting on her wrist give the faintest sweep. She immediately sneered, then grabbed that tail tip and tossed it backwards into her back basket.

The jade-white little snake spiraled down the shaft of the medicine hoe and flopped into the pile of herbs.

Its head tilted to the side. This time, it really fainted.

~

A small thatched hut halfway up the mountain. The yard was fenced with bundled green bamboo, white morning glories twining over them.

Two lily of the valley plants were planted at the gate. When the wind blew, they bowed and swayed.

No sound.

Ah Wan walked in. The silver ornaments on her body clinked together, producing a crisp sound—

The yard came alive.

She tossed the back basket casually on the ground and headed straight inside.

It was a small, simply furnished wooden hut. A wardrobe, a bed, a stool beside the bed with an old-fashioned daily tear-off calendar on it.

June 1st.

It was circled in red pen.

Ah Wan tore off that page and casually dropped it on the floor, then went to close the windows and change her clothes.

The windows were a pair that opened outward.

The back window faced the deep bamboo grove; below the window was an old desk.

She reached out to remove the window prop, and suddenly spotted something. Her eyes narrowed slightly, and she gave a clear, bright whistle.

Outside, the ground covered in dead bamboo leaves began to stir slowly, as if something was breaking through the earth.

“Good children, time to come home.”

As her cool voice rang out, a dense mass of scorpions, tails raised, scrambled madly towards her. They then all crawled into a jar placed in the corner of the wall.

The very last one to enter even used the tip of its tail to hook the wooden lid, dragging it bit by bit until it was covered.

Ah Wan was satisfied. She removed the prop and closed the window, only to turn around and see, on the opposite windowsill, a dirty little white snake perched there.

Hissing, its tongue flickering at her.

“Get out!”

Ah Wan scolded.

The little white snake tilted its head, clearly not understanding.

Frustrated, Ah Wan walked over and flicked it flying with a finger flick.

Disrupted like this, her plan to change clothes was forgotten. She opened the door and went out, then walked into another room.

Inside the dimly lit room, all sorts of toxic creatures were raised—

Just missing one scorpion.

But no matter.

Remembering the jar by the backyard wall, a smile rose on Ah Wan’s face. She would have one soon enough.

Night fell. Ah Wan brought the herbs drying in the yard inside.

She went back to her room to get clothes for a bath. A single incandescent bulb lit a small area in the room.

But over by the window, a faint glow emanated.

Ah Wan walked over and saw a lustrous white little snake coiled around the window prop, trembling.

If she wasn’t mistaken, it was probably trying to disguise itself as the window prop.

Ah Wan took down the prop. Holding the window open with one hand, she expressionlessly shook the snake loose from the other, tossed it out the window, and slammed it shut with a ‘bang’.

Anxious hissing came from outside. Ah Wan ignored it, grabbed her pajamas, and went to bathe.

The main door, long in disrepair, had a tiny hole at the bottom—one not even a mouse could squeeze through. Yet now, a little something slithered in effortlessly.

The sound of water came from inside. She swung her tail and crawled over, pacing back and forth at the door, trying to find a crack to squeeze in, but couldn’t.

Ah Wan came out after her bath, a towel draped over her shoulder, her half-dry hair cascading loosely down.

Just as she lifted her foot, she saw that little white snake circling around her, head tilted up, looking at her curiously.

“Who let you in here?”

Ah Wan asked irritably.

The little snake tilted its head, flicking its pink tongue, not understanding.

Ah Wan looked down at it, sighed, then bent down, picked it up by the tail, and carried it back into the bathroom. With clear disgust, she pinched it with two fingers and dunked it straight into the water.

The little snake curled up reflexively, turning its head as if to bite Ah Wan. But seeing Ah Wan’s other hand making the motion for a finger flick, it immediately stopped.

Then, aggrieved, it curled itself into a tight ball, coiling around her finger and refusing to move anymore.

Ah Wan washed it clean like she was blanching hot pot, then carried it out and placed it on the table. Next, she took the towel off her shoulder, tossed it over the little snake, and turned to go outside to look for something.

The little snake was far too small. The water-soaked towel was too big and too heavy. It struggled mightily, tunnelling for a long time before finally pushing open one edge. Eyes wide and round, it gazed curiously at the wide-open door.

Ah Wan returned shortly after.

“What are you looking at?”

After asking, Ah Wan tossed a small piece of meat over.

The little snake was very cautious. First, it swept its tail tip over it. Then, it carefully leaned its head in, extending its tongue to test. Only when everything seemed okay did it nudge it with its head, then open its big mouth, grab the fresh meat, and gulp it down in one ‘ah-woo’.

Ah Wan held a bottle. After opening it, she scooped out a glob of green ointment with a bamboo sliver and started applying it roughly to the little snake.

The ointment was cool. Applied to the body, it felt a bit icy. The little snake flinched; it didn’t really want it.

Ah Wan, holding the bamboo sliver, glared at it with a displeased look. “Don’t move.”

Having said that, her movements did become somewhat gentler. After applying it, she pinched its head and flipped it over to lie on its back.

Its belly was actually a faint pink. The scales, uniform in size, were neatly arranged, looking very pleasant to the eye.

Ah Wan looked a couple of extra times, then began to scoop out ointment with the bamboo sliver to apply it, only to be refused.

The little snake’s belly was very vulnerable. It wouldn’t allow something as rough as a bamboo sliver to scrape against it. It glared with its two eyes, seemingly huffy.

Seeing its resistance, Ah Wan didn’t force it. She threw the bamboo sliver aside, scooped up a glob of ointment with her own hand, then pinched its head and just smeared it on messily.

“Jee!”

The little snake struggled hard, its tail flicking back and forth.

When Ah Wan reached the tail area, she suddenly noticed one scale was oriented differently from the others.

Curious, she gently lifted it and touched underneath.

The little snake immediately stopped moving.

She touched it again.

The white little snake gradually flushed a hint of red.

The little snake swung its tail forcefully, breaking free from her grasp, and looked at her huffily.

“Not allowed to touch?”

Ah Wan looked at the little thing huffing at her in astonishment. In an instant, her expression returned to its usual coldness. She said nothing, simply tossing the medicine bottle onto the table.

The little snake tilted its head and looked at her. Its otherwise expressionless features somehow managed to form a look of curiosity.

It seemed unable to understand why this human had gotten angry.

But no matter what, this human fed it food, applied medicine for it. Human good.

So the little snake swung its tail and crawled over, gently nuzzling Ah Wan’s finger to show affection. Only to be met with a finger flick from Ah Wan.

“I didn’t save you.”

“Hurry up and heal. Once you’re better, the wine will be more nutritious.”

Ah Wan finished speaking, got up, and lifted the snake. She walked straight to that room, opened the door, and threw it in without hesitation.

A newcomer had arrived.

The roomful of toxic creatures immediately crowded over to gawk at the novelty.

The little snake fell to the floor, thoroughly dazed. By the time it managed to pick itself up and shake its head, it saw many huge, fierce-looking creatures tentatively approaching.

Wuwu~

Scary.

The little snake curled its body, constantly flicking its tongue to intimidate them, its hisses growing increasingly frantic.

Thankfully, those things didn’t do anything to it. They just came over for a look, then dispersed on their own.

But the little snake was still very scared. Its eyes cried into sunny-side up eggs. It curled up in a corner, balling itself up, lowering its head to wipe tears on its scales.

Scared. Find human.

The little snake swung its tail and squeezed through the crack under the door where the woman had disappeared.