Invincible Snake Emperor

Chapter 31: Chapter 31: Feeding a Snake Green Vegetables

”Sis, you finally recognize me?”

These words came from a snake, but they shattered Tu Xiaoyue’s heart when they reached her ears. Gazing at the Silver White Snake not far away, she practically crawled over to it. Tears welled in her eyes as she stared blankly. ”My little brother, how could your sister not recognize you? I’m just heartbroken for you... so, so heartbroken.”

As soon as she finished speaking, she collapsed to the ground, utterly devastated. Xiaoyue believed this was her brother; reality was just too cruel.

The image of the handsome young man in her mind overlapped with the Silver White Snake before her. It was beyond absurd.

”Sis, it’s okay. You should be happy for me. At least I’m still alive in this world.”

Tu Xiao’an opened and closed his snake-like mouth, comforting his sister.

”I’m happy, I’m happy,” Xiaoyue nodded hastily, tears streaming down her face. Then, she glanced angrily at the sky. ”I just hate the heavens! Why did they have to be so heartless? To take your life and then cruelly reincarnate you into the path of an animal, turning you into a venomous snake!”

His sister’s words instantly petrified Tu Xiao’an. His excitement was wiped away by her comment about being ”reincarnated into the path of an animal,” leaving him at a loss for whether to laugh or cry.

’His sister’s imagination really is something else.’

”Sis, I willingly became a House Snake. It was the only way I could watch over our family and protect you and Mom.”

Tu Xiao’an had no regrets. Not a single one. This was already the best possible outcome.

Hearing this, Xiaoyue stared blankly at the snake, whose body gleamed with a faint luster. It was as if the softest part of her heart had been shattered. She pulled the Silver White Snake into her arms, hugging it tightly, and choked out, ”My brother... my little brother...”

”Sis, let’s go home.”

The silver-white snake in her arms spoke these words with sincerity.

At his words, Tu Xiaoyue’s spirits lifted. The shadow weighing on her heart suddenly cleared, and she nodded her head repeatedly. ”Right, let’s go home. We’re going home.”

Home is a sanctuary, a harbor where the heart can anchor. It can give anyone a feeling of warmth.

Even though Tu Xiao’an had become a venomous snake, he was still full of dependence on and longing for his home.

Because only then did he feel like a person, not a venomous snake.

And so, Tu Xiaoyue stood up again. She wiped the tears from her face, glanced at the Silver White Snake in her arms, and broke into a brilliant smile. She walked forward, following the streetlights, the path home already deeply ingrained in her heart.

Along the way, her mouth opened and closed as she spoke, but strangely, there was no one beside her. The one she was talking to was merely the snake in her arms.

Xiaoyue walked for a good half hour with the snake in her arms, arriving home close to nine o’clock.

Before they reached the front door, Xiaoyue suddenly stopped. She saw her mom craning her neck at the doorway, waiting for her.

”Little brother, we’re home.”

”Yeah, Sis. We’re home.”

The conversation between the person and the snake was simple, yet it sent a current of warmth through their hearts.

”Yue’Er, you’re finally back! Look what time it is.”

Wen Qiu saw Tu Xiaoyue and hurried over, her face full of worry.

The girl had run out halfway through dinner without a word. How could she not worry? This family had already lost a son; this daughter was all she had left.

”Mom, I’m sorry. I had to run out for a bit. But we’re back now, aren’t we?” Tu Xiaoyue said with a calm smile.

Wen Qiu nodded at her words, not realizing Xiaoyue had said ”we” instead of ”I.”

Just then, Wen Qiu noticed what was in Xiaoyue’s arms and jumped in fright. Her daughter was actually holding a snake.

Of course, in Bai Town, no one was afraid of snakes. But seeing her daughter suddenly holding one still took her by surprise.

”Mom, don’t be scared. This is our family’s House Snake.”

On the way back, the two siblings had spoken their hearts out. To avoid upsetting their mother, Tu Xiao’an had decided to appear in the family, and in front of his mom, in the guise of a House Snake.

”A House Snake?”

Wen Qiu was stunned again. A House Snake was a big deal. According to legend, they brought fortune and gathered wealth for the household. They were as elusive as a Divine Dragon, and their appearance was a sign of great fortune.

The legendary House Snake was now being held by her own daughter, a fact Wen Qiu found hard to accept for a moment.

She looked at the House Snake in her daughter’s arms. It was truly beautiful, a far cry from an ordinary snake. Wen Qiu was instantly convinced.

’This is the legendary House Snake, different from all the rest.’

If the House Snake leaves, the family falls. If the House Snake stays, the family prospers.

”Good, good, good. Daughter, we must treat this House Snake well. We must cherish it. It will help our family get back on its feet.”

Wen Qiu’s words were superstitious, but that was indeed the case. The people of Bai Town didn’t believe in Buddha or God; they believed in the legend of the Snake King. The House Snake was an incarnation of the Snake King, protecting the thousands upon thousands of households in Bai Town.

At that moment, resting in his sister’s arms, Tu Xiao’an was incredibly nervous. He watched as his mother looked at him and quickly accepted the situation.

This was absolutely fantastic news for him. It meant he could move about freely in the house without having to hide.

”Come on, hurry inside. You ran off halfway through dinner, so you must still be hungry. I just reheated your food; you can eat now.”

Tu Xiaoyue entered the house holding the snake. She noticed her mom seemed a bit reserved, occasionally staring blankly at the Silver White Snake, full of curiosity. She wanted to look but didn’t dare stare too long, afraid she might frighten the House Snake.

Xiaoyue sat at the dining table and simply placed the Silver White Snake on it, letting her mom get a good look.

The Silver White Snake coiled its body, resting quietly without so much as a twitch.

”Yue’Er, this House Snake is truly extraordinary! I’ve never seen a snake grow to be so... so... beautiful.”

Wen Qiu stared for a long time but could only use the word ”beautiful” to describe the House Snake.

”Mom, why don’t you hold it?”

Tu Xiaoyue said with a grin.

”No, no!” Wen Qiu waved her hands repeatedly, her expression fervent.

The House Snake was too significant. Wen Qiu was already content just being able to see her family’s House Snake.

”COUGH, COUGH...”

Wen Qiu suddenly started coughing. She tried to suppress it but couldn’t. Afraid her coughing would scare the House Snake, she said to her daughter, ”Yue’Er, I’m going to bed. You finish your meal, and be careful not to frighten our House Snake. Whatever you do, don’t let it run away from our house.”

A House Snake running away was a sign of a bloody disaster.

”Mom, don’t worry. Even if I tried to chase him away, he wouldn’t leave,” Tu Xiaoyue said playfully to the coiled Silver White Snake.

Wen Qiu immediately gave her a light scolding. ”Don’t talk nonsense, child. You need to be more respectful to the House Snake.”

”Oh.” Tu Xiaoyue stuck out her tongue. ”Mom, you go get some rest. Don’t worry. Good night.”

’Good night, Mom,’ the coiled Silver White Snake repeated silently in its heart.

Wen Qiu nodded and slowly turned to go back to her room to sleep. But as she left, she kept looking back every few steps, terrified the snake might disappear.

After she left, the Silver White Snake let out a heavy breath of Muddy Qi. Tu Xiao’an said, ”Sis, you scared me to death. I was so afraid Mom wouldn’t be able to accept me as a snake.”

Tu Xiaoyue was in high spirits and said with a chuckle, ”Little brother, you’re a House Snake now, a snake with status. How could Mom not accept you? She’s overjoyed. She’ll probably worship you.”

He nodded his Snake Head. This was definitely a good start.

Tu Xiaoyue was now eating with great relish. Even though there were only two simple vegetable dishes, she ate with gusto. The reason was simple: her brother was still alive.

”Little brother, you must be hungry too. Here, have some vegetables.” Xiaoyue blinked playfully, picked up a piece of greens with her chopsticks, and held it in front of the Silver White Snake.

Tu Xiao’an gave a bitter laugh. ”Sis, don’t be like that. I’m a snake, a carnivore. What’s the big idea, giving me a piece of greens?”

”Just make do for now. There’s no meat on the table today. Besides, Mom made this, so it’s delicious,” Xiaoyue said mischievously. ”Come on, be good. Open your mouth.”

When Tu Xiao’an heard it was his mom’s cooking, he obediently opened his snake-like mouth and swallowed the greens in one gulp. Even though it wasn’t meat, his heart was filled with satisfaction.

For someone who had already died, to be able to eat his mother’s cooking again was the greatest happiness imaginable.

”Open up again.” Tu Xiaoyue’s eyes were shining. Forgetting her own meal, she kept feeding the snake, enjoying herself immensely.

A person’s capacity for tolerance and acceptance is incredibly strong. In the past, the idea of an airplane carrying people through the sky was a fantastical tale. But when airplanes truly appeared and made it a reality, people no longer found it strange. It was as if it had become a matter of course.

As for Tu Xiao’an the snake, his sister had now completely accepted him. They got along harmoniously, without a trace of awkwardness.