Encounter with a snake"

Gentleman

This year, the rainfall has been abundant, unlike the previous seasons when the mountain rains were not as frequent. This year, however, has been peculiar, with rain almost non-stop except for two sunny days in the last fortnight. Shen Qingxuan had long learned how to pass the time, not fretting while confined indoors, patiently spending day after day by the window, listening to the rain. The sound of raindrops hitting the leaves, the eaves, and plopping into the courtyard's clay jars... he captured each sound with his ears, discerning their subtle differences, finding amusement in this.

Moreover, the vibrant flowers in the courtyard, trembling and soaked in the rain, lost their usual grace but gained a different kind of charm. When the mood struck, Shen Qingxuan would unfold his drawing paper and render the rainy scenery, amusing himself.

In the evening, after dining, he would soak in the warm water infused with a faint scent of herbs until his eyelids became too heavy, then he would ring for the servant to help him to bed.

That night, another torrential rain poured down. Shen Qingxuan thought that Yi Mo would not come and went to bed early. Yet, he didn’t fall asleep but propped himself up in bed, arranging a chessboard on a small square table in front of him, mimicking ancient chess endgames from a book. The black and white chess pieces, initially scattered, soon connected under his manipulation, forming patterns like battling troops or a tiger charging into the enemy's ranks.

While he was absorbed in his game, the canopy of the bed seemed to flutter as if brushed by the wind, lifting a corner slightly. Shen Qingxuan looked up, surprised, and peered through the gauze, finding the room empty. Yet, he knew Yi Mo had arrived and hurriedly waved towards the empty air.

Feeling a chill approaching, Shen Qingxuan quickly tidied up the chess pieces and fetched paper and ink from the bedside cabinet, writing: “The wind is fierce, and the rain is heavy, come sit down.” Soon, the bed shook slightly, and a trace appeared on the thin quilt under the chessboard.

Outside, the sound of rain striking down was loud, and Shen Qingxuan, clad only in a white undergarment with a skewed collar and his hairpin already removed, letting his black hair fall messily around him, looked carelessly disheveled. Only when Yi Mo settled opposite the chessboard did he realize his disarray, hastily writing: “I thought you wouldn’t come.” He looked towards the emptiness across from him, but there was no response.

Shen Qingxuan was quite astonished, as Yi Mo, though always indifferent, had never been rude and always responded to his questions. What was different today?

As he pondered, the paper on the table was picked up, and the brush he held was taken by an unseen force to the other side. Then, writing slowly appeared on the paper - a farewell. Yi Mo was leaving the mountain to go elsewhere. Shen Qingxuan felt a jolt in his heart, his composure lost, and in a flurry, he snatched the floating brush and hastily scribbled questions about where Yi Mo was headed and when he would return, completely abandoning his usual demeanor.

The paper and ink were taken again, and the writing that appeared was calm and precise. It explained that Yi Mo had been searching for two hundred years for a certain item, which he had recently found clues to, and he needed to leave the mountain to retrieve it. Shen Qingxuan felt relieved.

After a moment of silence, driven by curiosity, he inquired about the item that was so precious that even Yi Mo couldn’t wait to retrieve it.

The brush paused before revealing two words: Snake Slough. Shen Qingxuan was dumbfounded.

It turned out that Yi Mo, who had successfully gone through a tribulation over two hundred years ago, had hidden in the mountains to shed his skin, but the slough mysteriously disappeared. Though insignificant to him, that slough from a thousand-year-old demon was no ordinary item, and it could cause trouble if taken by others. Hence, he had been searching for it for many years.

Shen Qingxuan asked for more details, and Yi Mo, without any concealment, answered each question. Their conversation inadvertently included some past events, revealing some secrets. Although Yi Mo was indifferent to others knowing, Shen Qingxuan took note due to his concern. He had always known that Yi Mo was a serpent demon but was unaware of his origins and past, only now learning that Yi Mo had become a demon due to someone’s influence and that his homeland was far away.

Shen Qingxuan then asked why he left his homeland. Yi Mo thought for a while and replied with one word: Noisy.

For humans, the homeland is the root of the soul, but for a snake, it's merely a place of birth. Initially, he was just a naive little snake, sleeping when full, waking in spring, and hibernating in winter, unaware of the world from his cave in the mountains.

At that time, the world was in chaos, with continuous wars and various scholars, saints, heroes, and demons emerging. The mountains were not spared from the turmoil, eventually becoming a breeding ground for demons due to the heavy resentments from unfulfilled heroic ambitions.

Once an ignorant snake, Yi Mo became a target for demons once he inadvertently gained supernatural powers from a Taoist priest who visited the mountain. The priest, finding the snake interesting and perceiving its spiritual nature, offered it wine from his flask, which transformed the snake's perception of the world, showing it the energies and spirits around it. The priest then declared the snake a demon, inadvertently setting it on the path of cultivation.

Overwhelmed by the increasing demonic presence and the transformation of familiar creatures into malevolent beings, Yi Mo felt compelled to act. He eradicated the main demon formed from the soldiers' resentments and, seeking tranquility, left his birthplace.

Realizing the priest had intentionally empowered him to counter the mountain’s demons, Yi Mo accepted his fate as a demon. He continued his cultivation, later finding the priest's reincarnation, resolving their past enmity, and then returned to his solitary cultivation.

As Shen Qingxuan listened to the story, he couldn't help but smile at the thought of the long-standing bond between the priest and the snake. When asked about his return, Yi Mo mentioned it could be as soon as two months or as long as half a year, which made Shen Qingxuan reveal his attachment openly, questioning the need for such a long absence.

Yi Mo suggested inviting other spirits if Shen felt lonely, a statement that, despite its formality, carried a hint of concern but remained characteristically detached. Shen Qingxuan, feeling a mix of reliance and reluctance, dismissed the idea of seeking company from other beings.

As they exchanged final words, Shen Qingxuan implored Yi Mo to let him see his true form, a request that could transform their casual acquaintance into something deeper. The anticipation and fear of rejection were palpable, with Shen Qingxuan hoping to maintain their connection, even if it was as light as water.

Suddenly, Yi Mo revealed himself, causing Shen Qingxuan's heart to race. The serene, indifferent face that appeared before him prompted a mix of awe and

nervousness, leading to a playful exchange of compliments that ended with Yi Mo's subtle jest.

As Yi Mo vanished, Shen Qingxuan was left contemplating the deepening bond between them, their interaction marked by a blend of earnestness and levity, setting the stage for a future filled with possibilities.