A new day dawned. It was the third day since Tu Xiao’an had beco a House Snake. His progress over these three days had been imnse; he had transford from a small First Rank snake into a Level 5 silver-white snake, one ter in length.
Today, many venomous snakes of various colors appeared in the backyard. Every single one of them was a well-known species.
Among them were the Seven step Snake, King Cobra, Bamboo Leaf Green Tea, and Black Mamba—all rare venomous species.
The adult Tiger Snake was the most exceptional of all.
Ever since Tu Xiao’an had gained the ability to speak, he had been constantly thinking about how to reveal his identity to his older sister.
He wanted to give the Tiger Snake to his sister so she could take it to the Snake Market in Bai Town and sell it.
At the sa ti, Tu Xiao’an wanted to find a suitable opportunity, one that wouldn’t terrify his sister.
But then he had another thought. ’No matter how I do this, she’s going to be scared. Since that’s the case, I might as well just be direct about it.’
Having made up his mind, Tu Xiao’an quietly slithered into the house. His mother was resting in her room, but his older sister, Tu Xiaoyue, was nowhere to be seen.
’Did my sister go out today?’
With his sister not at ho, Tu Xiao’an’s plan to reveal himself fell through. He couldn’t help but feel a pang of disappointnt; it had taken all the courage he could muster back in the yard.
And so, the small, silver-white snake coiled up in a hidden corner near the front door, preparing to wait for his sister’s return.
Ti passed, and Tu Xiao’an grew terribly bored. Suddenly, the sound of footsteps approached from outside, and he instantly perked up.
But when Tu Xiao’an got a clear look at the visitor, he was taken aback. It wasn’t his sister. The person who had arrived was a stunningly beautiful young woman in her early thirties. Her oval face was adorned with light makeup, from her perfectly applied eyeshadow to her moist, red lips that were both sexy and alluring. Her skin was impeccably maintained, fair with a healthy, rosy undertone.
’Sister ilin?’
Tu Xiao’an recognized her after just one glance.
ilin was the junior disciple of Tu Xiao’an’s father; they had shared the sa master. Despite her delicate beauty, she was also a Snake Catcher and had been utterly obsessed with snakes since childhood.
He should have called her "Auntie," but ilin had always insisted he call her "Sister ilin," complaining that "Auntie" made her sound old. She was, after all, only in her early thirties.
Speaking of Sister ilin, she was a legendary figure in Bai Town, known by the nickna "Lady Bai." She had loved playing with snakes since she was a child, even sleeping with venomous ones. When she grew up, she opened a snake shop. Her initial standard for marriage was simple: she would marry any man who could catch a rare Snake Species for her.
By the ti she turned twenty-eight, no one had managed to catch one for her, so she gave up and casually married a pretty boy. But who could have known the man was so unlucky? On their wedding night, he was bitten and killed by a venomous snake she kept in her bed.
From then on, "Lady Bai" beca the "Poisonous Lady who kills her husbands." Although many n still coveted her stunning beauty, none of them dared to actually get close to her.
After all, the thought of a woman who spent all day with snakes was quite terrifying.
ilin walked over to the kitchen stove, where a Spiritual Stele rested. Engraved upon it were the words: "My Son, Tu Xiao’an."
Every day, Wen Qiu would offer three sticks of incense for her deceased son, and the candle fla beside it was never allowed to go out, burning day and night.
ilin gazed at the na "Tu Xiao’an" carved on the Spiritual Stele, and a stream of silent tears rolled down her lovely face. She reached out to stroke the stone. "Xiao’an," she said, "Sister ilin has co to see you!"
"Xiao’an, it’s my fault. If I hadn’t told you about the legendary Vampire Snake that day, you wouldn’t have gone to catch it. You wouldn’t have died so young. It’s my fault. Please, don’t bla ... don’t bla ."
She murmured softly to herself, tears streaming down her face. Her graceful body swayed as if it might collapse at any mont, like a weeping willow in the wind, utterly heartbroken.
Hiding in the shadows, Tu Xiao’an was moved by the scene. He shook his head and thought, ’Sister ilin, I don’t bla you!’
Back then, despite his young age, Tu Xiao’an was already a renowned snake-catching expert in Bai Town, full of youthful vigor.
A legendary Mutated Bloodsucker Snake had appeared on She Mountain, and a wealthy client was offering a high price for it. How could he have resisted going after it?so
Even if Sister ilin hadn’t told him, he would have found out eventually. He would have gone up the mountain to catch it all the sa.
Co to think of it, Sister ilin was a tragic figure herself. Widowed right after her wedding, she was now left to spend her days only in the company of snakes.
In fact, Sister ilin had always been the woman of Tu Xiao’an’s dreams, but the age gap of more than ten years between them was undeniable.
It was a secret he had always kept locked away in his heart.
He knew that Sister ilin dread of owning a rare Snake Species. The Mutated Bloodsucker Snake was a creature so rare that you might not find one in hundreds of thousands of venomous snakes. How could he not have tried to capture it?
ilin continued to weep, her fair hand gently caressing the Spiritual Stele in a way that would stir pity in any heart.
Just then, footsteps sounded from an inner room. Before the person appeared, a voice called out, "Is that you, Xiaoyue?"
Wen Qiu, having heard the noise, walked out. Seeing a tearful ilin, she exclaid in surprise, "ilin, it’s you! You ca all this way and didn’t make a sound?"
ilin beca flustered at the sight of Wen Qiu, not daring to et her gaze. "Sister-in-law, I’m too ashad to face you. It was ... I’m the one who got Xiao’an killed."
Her tears began to flow even more violently, and overco with emotion, she broke down into sobs.
"Don’t say that. It wasn’t your fault," Wen Qiu said, her own gaze drifting to the Spiritual Stele, her eyes filling with sorrow. "That child of mine... he was just ill-fated."
ilin wiped away her tears. "Sister-in-law, I... I ca by, but I didn’t know what to bring. Here is a little money. Please don’t be offended, just take it."
She took a thick envelope from her bag and held it out.
Startled, Wen Qiu quickly waved her hands in refusal. "ilin, what is this? Take it back, I can’t accept it."
"Sister-in-law, I know things haven’t been easy for you. Senior Brother passed away so young, and now Xiao’an is gone too... I know your health isn’t what it used to be. This is just a little money. Please, use it to buy so nutritional supplents and look after yourself."so
Wen Qiu shook her head. "We’re all family. Just coming to visit is more than enough. There’s no need for money."
"It’s precisely because we’re family that we can be direct with each other. I share so of the bla for what happened to Xiao’an. Sister-in-law, please, I’m begging you. If you don’t take this money, I’ll never have a mont’s peace for the rest of my life."
ilin’s beautiful eyes shimred with unshed tears, her expression growing increasingly desperate.
"I really can’t accept it," Wen Qiu insisted, taking a small step back.
Seeing no other way, ilin set the money down. She turned to leave, calling over her shoulder, "Sister-in-law, I’ll co visit again another day. I have to go for now."
"ilin! ilin..." Wen Qiu called after her, but she had already left the house. Gazing at the thick envelope, Wen Qiu sighed.
From his hiding spot, Tu Xiao’an had seen everything, and he was deeply moved.
Sister ilin knew the Tu Family was struggling, so she had co specifically to give them money. It was partly out of guilt, but also to genuinely help his family.
In this world, aside from his own mother and sister, Tu Xiao’an was closest to Sister ilin. Their bond was like that of true siblings. His Snake Pupils flickered as he made a decision. He quietly slipped out of the house and followed her.
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