Chapter 39 Part 1

After going out, Bai Ying realized that he was no longer near Wenxiang Mountain. Instead, he had arrived in a city not far from it. The small city did not have a large population, but it boasted beautiful scenery, pleasant weather year-round, and drew many people for travel or recuperation. Its medical resources were exceptionally abundant, which was why Liu Qingzhang had brought him here nearby.

The private hospital was in a quiet suburb. Liu Qingzhang had the Zhong Family members drive him to the city center before telling them not to follow. He stepped onto a street with a strong sense of history. The road was narrow, and the shops on both sides retained a style from the late last century. The little white snake perched on his shoulder, curiously looking around.

Bai Ying had originally wanted to hide in Liu Qingzhang’s pocket to avoid scaring passersby, but Liu Qingzhang had cast an invisibility spell on him. Now the little white snake could crawl freely on his shoulder without worry, staying on the left one moment and darting to the right the next.

Moreover, Bai Ying could talk to Liu Qingzhang now!

A snake could only produce limited sounds by flicking its tongue, which conveyed little information. Bai Ying had no idea when he would be able to speak human words in snake form. After their communication issues that day, Liu Qingzhang had gone back to pore over ancient texts and devised a spell for mental communication.

As long as he focused his mind, he could transmit his thoughts directly to the other. Since the little white snake could not use spells, it was entirely powered by Liu Qingzhang’s strength. This was a private channel just between the two of them.

The little white snake happily rubbed its cheek against Liu Qingzhang, filling his mind with cries of “Mr. Liu, Mr. Liu.”

At a street-side information stand, Liu Qingzhang picked up a thin travel guide. Bai Ying, no longer afraid of being seen, openly leaned in close to look. His head dipped down, and his tail, tied with a bow, softly draped across Liu Qingzhang’s chest.

Where does the little snake want to go? Liu Qingzhang asked him.

Anywhere! Bai Ying replied instantly.

Liu Qingzhang knew Bai Ying was not obsessed with fun and games. He just wanted to feel the outdoor breeze and bask in the sunlight in his true form. Ever since transforming into human shape and leaving the wild, Bai Ying had spent far more time in human form than as a snake. The rare occasions he shifted back were confined to rooms of steel and concrete.

Bai Ying did not want to scare others or put himself in danger.

Those feelings of dejection and gloom had been buried deep inside for so long that they seemed nonexistent, but they had never truly vanished. They had nearly fused with him, so those around him could not tell that he was not truly happy most days.

But now, he could finally go out in his true form!

The little white snake became unusually lively. If not for his injured tail, he would surely have been a hyperactive little snake. The little white snake was happy to go anywhere, as long as it was under warm sunlight and gentle spring breezes, not in a cold, hard room.

Liu Qingzhang leisurely walked half a street based on the travel guide. His style of dress was a bit “old-fashioned,” but with his handsome features and extraordinary bearing, he drew frequent glances from passersby. Liu Qingzhang paid no mind to their stares, but at that moment, he suddenly felt an urge to dispel the invisibility spell—to show everyone. Why look at him when they could admire how adorable his little snake was!

Unfortunately, the little white snake would never willingly startle an innocent pedestrian.

Liu Qingzhang could only regret it inwardly. There would be other opportunities. A busy street was not ideal, so another venue would do.

The walls of the old street’s buildings were mottled, with crisscrossing power lines overhead—not tucked away in modern utility corridors like in big cities. This was no artificially aged retro street; they had truly entered a slow-paced city, as if time had left this old district behind. As the thought crossed Bai Ying’s mind, he suddenly realized that Mr. Liu seemed like someone left behind by time too.

No—a demon.

A great demon probably had not strolled the streets like an ordinary person in ages. But compared to the little white snake bursting with curiosity, Liu Qingzhang appeared far more composed. A great demon who had witnessed countless changes in the world remained unruffled by anything.

Unless a lively little snake suddenly burst into his life.

The little white snake bit his collar and directed his gaze in one direction. It was an ordinary general store with a short freezer out front. A small blackboard hung on the outer side, with chalk scrawls in big letters: Orange soda, 5 yuan per bottle, return glass bottle for 2 yuan refund.

Liu Qingzhang asked: Want some?

The little white snake rubbed his head against him, acting spoiled: I want some!

Liu Qingzhang walked up to the store, pulled out his phone, and scanned the code to buy a bottle of soda. The little white snake stared in shock, eyes wide. He dipped his head close to the phone screen. He had thought the great demon only used cash, but Mr. Liu could do QR payments too!

Actually, I’m not that old… Liu Qingzhang said.

His rebuttal rang hollow.

He thought somewhat ruefully that, fine, his age was advanced—for humans. To a little white snake, as a powerful demon, he was still in his prime.

Why did the little snake treat him like an old man?

The old-man snake unhappily flicked the tip of the little snake’s tail.

The orange soda came in a glass bottle. The shopkeeper fetched a bottle opener and twisted off the cap with a click. Taking advantage of humans not seeing him, the little white snake leaned in close to the bottle, watching as colorful bubbles surged out upon opening, forming a thin foam at the mouth.

The shopkeeper stuck a straw into the glass bottle and handed the soda to Liu Qingzhang.

Liu Qingzhang walked away with the soda. After just a few steps, the little snake darted toward the straw. Liu Qingzhang pulled the bottle away: It’s too cold. Wait a bit before drinking.

The little snake chased after the orange soda: I’m a demon! It doesn’t matter!

It seemed logical—demons’ bodies were not frail. But for a little white snake, it was hard to say…

Liu Qingzhang was like a worried old father, half-convinced yet still fretting.

While he was momentarily distracted, Bai Ying lunged and clamped onto the straw. Liu Qingzhang helplessly steadied his head, watching the little snake’s cheeks puff in and out. In an instant, the soda level dropped by an almost imperceptible amount.

After all, such a tiny little white snake could sip from a small dish of water for half a day.

Delicious! Bai Ying said contentedly.

His belly felt fine, but even that tiny bit filled the little snake up.

Liu Qingzhang naturally finished the rest of the soda for Bai Ying. The little snake shyly looped around Liu Qingzhang’s neck. He should have asked the shopkeeper for an extra straw.

The bottle soon emptied. The little snake poked his head out: Should we return it to the boss?

Keep it, Liu Qingzhang said.

The glass bottle still held the fragrance of oranges, refracting brilliant colors in the sunlight. Liu Qingzhang thought he could perhaps raise aquatic flowers in it, placed on a sunny windowsill.

The bottle vanished from Liu Qingzhang’s hand into thin air. The little white snake stared in astonishment, climbing onto Liu Qingzhang’s now-empty hand and coiling a few times. Question marks practically popped above his little head as he wondered where the bottle had gone.

Liu Qingzhang smiled: A small spell.

The little white snake praised: So cool!

Such a simple spell was commonplace for other demons. But no matter what Liu Qingzhang did, he always earned the little white snake’s sincerest admiration.

This really was a little snake full of emotional value. Anyone would be enchanted, even a great demon could not resist.

Liu Qingzhang looked down at the travel guide again. The little snake stuck affectionately by his side, peering together. When they turned to a certain page, the little white snake started acting spoiled again: I want to see flowers, eat tasty things, and soak in hot springs!

Liu Qingzhang nodded with a smile: Alright, we’ll go to those places today.

He stopped at a bus stop. Liu Qingzhang knew Zhong Family people were surely tailing them in taxis, but he figured the little white snake would prefer spots that made him feel part of this world.

Liu Qingzhang searched for a local e-bus card on his phone. Bai Ying helped look too. His tail still hurt a little, but simple movements were manageable. The little white snake’s dangling tail tip tapped at the screen bit by bit.

The pressure was light, but Liu Qingzhang’s finger would immediately press down, sometimes gently pinching the tip.