Encounter with a snake"

Promise

The young master of the Shen family has recovered from the snake venom and regained consciousness; he can now feed himself and has taken to reading in bed;

The young master of the Shen family is basking in the sun in the courtyard again...

Good news followed one after another. Although for Shen Qingxuan, it merely meant he could linger on in his frail state for a few more years, it didn't stop the old butler from burning the funeral supplies to ashes with great joy, nor did it hinder Elder Shen from joyfully sending a merchant team to the far southern wildlands, offering high rewards to the merchant who had brought the two "detoxifying holy medicines" years ago.

The feast was spread out, friends and family filled the seats.

The scent of wine wafted through the mountains and forests, and the servants, who had been on tenterhooks for days, now dared to speak out loud.

Shen Qingxuan sat in his wooden wheelchair, wrapped in a fox fur cloak, his legs snugly covered with a soft silk quilt, holding a thin booklet in one hand, tilting his head, and reading quietly. The noise from the outer hall seeped through the half-open window – the chatter and laughter, the music and drums, and the clear clinking of cups and utensils.

Yet, all these seemed barely related to him.

After a while, Shen Qingxuan felt a bit thirsty, but the tea had already gone cold. Holding the chilled porcelain, he was reminded of the palm that had covered his forehead that day. Although the touch was entirely different, that hand and this porcelain cup shared the exact same temperature. Ice-cold, utterly lifeless.

His thoughts returned to his immediate surroundings, and Shen Qingxuan shook the brass bell, then held the object that had accompanied him for years, fiddling with it out of habit.

The maid, hearing the bell, quickly entered, and without waiting for his instructions, deftly poured out the cold tea, brewed fresh hot water, and stirred the charcoal in the hand warmer, placing it back on Shen Qingxuan’s lap.

After ensuring everything was in order, the maid stood by and softly suggested, "Young Master, you shouldn’t drink alcohol tonight and should rest early. Your body has just started to recover, and reading too much might strain you."

Shen Qingxuan nodded slightly, drank a cup of tea, and then picked up the booklet to continue reading.

Seeing this, the maid lit a few more oil lamps in the room to brighten it up before quietly leaving.

Shortly after, the wooden door of the side room was pushed open again. Shen Qingxuan looked up to see a young, dignified woman hesitantly peering in.

Their eyes met, and Shen Qingxuan paused briefly before smiling faintly. Though he made no sound, his lips clearly formed the word: Second Mother.

"Xiaoxuan," the young yet stately woman relaxed her expression and stepped inside, "Are you feeling better?"

Shen Qingxuan nodded.

"Ever since you were bitten by the poisonous snake, the family has been worried sick," the woman sat down on a chair nearby, her demeanor gentle, touching his face with a tender look, "Your sister has been praying for you in the temple, and upon hearing of your recovery, she went to fulfill a vow. She couldn’t make it today, so I brought your younger brother along."

Shen Qingxuan just smiled, took the pen and ink by his side, and wrote on a piece of paper: Thank you for your concern, Second Mother. Since my brother has come with you, let him come and talk with me. How is Mother?The woman read his words and responded attentively, "It's getting late, and your brother is quite restless, so I've decided he should come to accompany you tomorrow instead. Your sister is in good health; she even went out of her way to cook bamboo shoots for everyone at home recently. Unfortunately, someone indiscreet must have informed her about your snakebite, and she cried for days. Fortunately, you are blessed with good fortune, and knowing that you are safe, she went to the temple to fulfill her vow."

Shen Qingxuan felt uneasy upon hearing this, lost in thought for a while before he picked up his brush to write some more words, engaging in a gentle conversation with her.

The woman said, “The mountains are full of fierce beasts and poisonous creatures; it’s really hard to guard against them all. Why don’t you come back home with me? It would also ease the family’s worries. Your sister and I find it difficult to visit you often because it’s not proper for women to travel frequently.”

Shen Qingxuan wrote: Although there are many beasts, they rarely harm people. The servants take good care, and this time was just an accident. The climate here is suitable, and the doctor also said that my condition requires peaceful recuperation. While going home is appealing, it’s not as tranquil as the mountains.

Seeing his response, the woman sighed softly, then remembered something else and quickly said, “Before coming here, your sister instructed me to ask you if there’s a lady you fancy?”

Shen Qingxuan was startled for a moment, then hastily wrote: I understand mother’s intentions, but given my condition, even if a good woman were willing to marry me, I fear I could not bear it and would let her down. The responsibility of carrying on the family line should be taken up by my brother instead.

The woman looked at the fresh ink and sighed again, “You don’t need to say it; everyone in the family understands. But for a fine young man like you to go through life enduring such hardship, without even leaving descendants… Even though I’m not your birth mother, I feel…”

She couldn’t finish her sentence, her eyes welling up with tears, and she bowed her head, her voice choked with emotion.

Shen Qingxuan remained silent, his gaze fixed on the woman’s trembling head. Seemingly lost in profound thoughts, his eyes were deep and inscrutable, reflecting myriad emotions.

In a moment, however, he resumed his usual demeanor and wrote again: Second Mother, there’s no need for sorrow. My fate is such, perhaps due to misdeeds in a past life, which I am repaying in this one. My greatest regret is that, as the eldest son, I am unable to contribute to my country or family, which is truly shameful.

Then, changing the subject, he continued: My younger brother has just come of age. Although he is intelligent, he lacks experience. I heard recently that he wishes to pursue a career in civil service. The complexities of political life are profound and unpredictable; he will need your guidance and advice.The woman, upon hearing the topic of children, indeed reined in her tears and said softly, "What do I know, a woman confined to domestic life? But you, well-versed in literature and classics, if you could assist your brother, that would be most ideal."

"Second Mother need not be modest. My brother is exceptionally intelligent; he only lacks a bit of smoothness in handling affairs. With your guidance on the side, and father managing affairs, climbing the ranks should not be difficult for him."

"You always put my mind at ease," the woman said, setting aside the paper with a slight smile.

Shen Qingxuan smiled back and wrote again, "It's just that my brother is young and has to take on the responsibilities of an elder brother, to be filial to our parents, and to serve his country. It's a lot to ask of him."

The woman shook her head and replied, "You are brothers; it is your duty to each other, don't speak as if it's something out of the ordinary."

After chatting for a while, Shen Qingxuan showed signs of fatigue, and the woman quickly advised him to take care of his health before leaving.

After she left, Shen Qingxuan sat alone for a long time, his gaze lingering on the papers filled with his writing on the table, revealing a wry, ironic smile as if pondering over something. After a moment, he tidied up the papers, rang for his maid, and burned the ink-filled pages in a brazier.

The night deepened, and the noise from the outer hall quieted down. Shen Qingxuan asked for the windows to be opened, wrapped himself tightly in his fox fur cloak, and leaned back in his chair, gazing out at the night sky. The stars and moon were faint, and occasional mountain breezes lifted strands of his hair repeatedly.

After a long while, Shen Qingxuan suddenly moved, pulled his hands from the warmer, wheeled his chair to the desk, spread out fresh paper and ink, and wrote: You have come.

He pushed the paper to the center of the table for someone to see, the surroundings silent.

Shen Qingxuan merely smiled, waiting quietly.

In the solitary room, after a moment of silence, an extraordinary scene unfolded.

The paper on the table moved without any breeze, and the pen on the inkstone stood up, dipped itself in ink, paused over the paper, and then, as the dense ink flowed, characters formed in neat script as if replying to Shen Qingxuan's words, writing: How did you know I was here?

Shen Qingxuan still smiled, blinking playfully as if teasing someone invisible.

The air filled with a sudden scent of fresh vegetation, reminiscent of a forest after the rain, a crisp, refreshing coldness.

This scent, which had surrounded him on the day he vomited the tainted blood and was engulfed by decay, appeared beside him like an abrupt beam of light in the darkness, deeply etched in Shen Qingxuan’s memory.

Never forgotten for a lifetime.

Shen Qingxuan suddenly inhaled deeply, then, somewhat surprised, wrote: Have you been to the hot springs on the mountain peak?

The unseen person picked up the pen again and replied next to his question: Yes.

The initial confusion was resolved by Shen Qingxuan’s question, as the unique sulfur smell of the hot springs was where he pinpointed the other’s presence, and he knew how Shen Qingxuan easily sensed his arrival.

Senses sharp as a wild animal.

But the conversation didn’t dwell on this, shifting to other topics instead.

Although Shen Qingxuan owed his life to him and remembered he was a snake demon, not of his kind, and remained wary, it was unexpected that this demon, like a person, had a name and indulged in hot springs, and now, was here, engaging him in conversation with pen and paper for an hour.

Though the words were brief and indifferent, they carried a patience not common in humans.

For this powerful demon, there were undoubtedly more concise ways to communicate, as Shen Qingxuan had experienced before. Yet, the serpent chose not to use them.

Since losing his ability to speak, Shen Qingxuan often communicated with others, but never had anyone patiently write out their words to him. An hour might not be long compared to a lifetime, merely a grain of sand, but it dissolved his wariness, evoking a subtle sense of closeness.

Collecting the papers filled with writing, Shen Qingxuan, smiling, dipped his brush in ink and continued the conversation on a new sheet: If I help you successfully transcend your tribulation, what will you offer in return?

Next to his clear script, a line of neat writing appeared promptly: I grant you recovery, to be as ordinary people once again.

Shen Qingxuan’s wrist trembled, the ink-laden brush heavily marking the pristine paper.