Chapter 39:
A Strange Case of Male Pregnancy (Part 4):
The Snake’s Head Continued to Flick Its Tongue…
Were there truly people in this world who didn’t covet a Tai Yin body?
Perhaps. Zuo He seemed righteous, his cultivation of yang energy possibly making him indifferent to Chen Henian’s yin essence. But pretty words were easy to speak; he hadn’t laid bare his true intentions.
“Words aren’t enough,” Chen Henian said. “I want an oath.”
“Alright.” Zuo He didn’t hesitate, raising two fingers and swearing to the heavens, “I, Zuo He, disciple of Mount Jielü, descendant of the Southern Daoist sect, swear that I harbor no ill intentions towards the Tai Yin body and seek no personal gain from it. If I break this oath, may I be struck by lightning and suffer a terrible death.”
He looked at Chen Henian. “Are you satisfied now?”
Chen Henian smiled faintly. “You’re a straightforward person. Good.”
A Daoist oath was binding, the consequences of breaking it severe. Zuo He’s focus was on eliminating the snake spirit. The snake’s body, delivered to his sect elders, would be a significant accomplishment.
The three stood on the mountaintop, overlooking the village below, the concrete houses like scattered stones. The Black Wraith’s shadowy form flitted through the houses, its presence like a cold wind, the temperature dropping noticeably.
Dark clouds gathered overhead, threatening rain.
“It’s going to rain,” Jiang Wan said. “Let’s go down.” She rubbed her ears. “Elder Sister has almost finished. Only the Yang family has a pregnant man.”
“There must be a reason for their misfortune. The answer lies with them.”
She paused, pointing at Chen Henian. “You should really pretend to be pregnant.”
Chen Henian frowned, a flicker of annoyance in his eyes.
Zuo He was confused. “What do you mean?”
Jiang Wan chuckled. “The Yang family said they were waiting for him to become desperate, so he would have to ask for their help.”
Why had Yang Dali removed the stone from the window? Snakes wouldn’t cross the quicklime barrier. They wanted the snake to enter Chen Henian’s room.
They wanted him to be impregnated.
They descended the mountain, the rain starting to fall, the sky darkening, the grass and leaves turning a murky black. Chen Henian, his head lowered, leaned on Jiang Wan and Zuo He for support.
The villagers had gathered under the eaves of their houses, their eyes following the three as they walked through the village, their gazes unwavering, but no one moved.
The path was long, the only way out the bus stop at the village entrance. Every move they made was observed by the villagers, their shared surname creating a bond of secrecy, a silent agreement.
“My brother is sick!” Jiang Wan called out. “He’s been vomiting! He’s about to collapse! Can anyone help us? Is there a way to save him?”
The villagers emerged from under the eaves, their hands still covered in bloodstained gloves, approaching them.
“Take him to Yang Juan’s house!” a woman said in the local dialect, waving her hand, and the villagers surrounded them, forming a wall of bodies, blocking their path. Chen Henian closed his eyes, the smell of blood, the scent of slaughtered snakes clinging to their clothes, filling his nostrils, making him nauseous. He frowned, his pretense of unconsciousness convincing.
The villagers pushed and shoved them towards Yang Dali’s house.
The gate was open. They rushed inside, their voices summoning Yang Juan.
“What’s wrong?” she asked, glancing at the villagers, then at Chen Henian. “Has it happened?”
“Yes!” Jiang Wan replied. “My brother, he—”
Her voice was a mix of panic and urgency, her words cut short as she saw the barely concealed smile on Yang Juan’s face.
“He’s really pregnant,” she said. “You said you had a way to help.”
Chen Henian lowered his head, pretending to gag, his throat convulsing, his hand clutching his stomach, rain dripping from his hair, his eyes closed, his lips pressed together.
The rain was soaking them, Jiang Wan’s face streaked with tears. They looked like two helpless siblings.
“Thank you for looking after them,” Yang Juan said to the villagers. “Go back and rest now. If anything happens, I’ll have Dali call you.”
The man leading the group replied, “Keep a close eye on them. These kids are quite reckless.”
Yang Juan nodded, ushering the villagers away, then turning to Chen Henian and Jiang Wan. “Come inside.”
“And who are you?” she asked Zuo He, his righteous aura making her slightly uncomfortable.
“He’s my older brother,” Jiang Wan said. “He was worried about us, so he came looking for us. We met him on the mountain.”
Yang Juan didn’t ask any more questions, watching as they helped Chen Henian back to their room. She didn’t follow, returning a few minutes later with a bowl of steaming soup.
“I got this from an old woman in the village. It cures this ailment,” she said.
“Really?” Jiang Wan asked.
“Yes, have him drink it while it’s hot.”
Jiang Wan took the bowl, her face brightening. “Thank goodness.”
Yang Juan, seeing Chen Henian still leaning on Zuo He, asked, “Why isn’t he lying down?”
“He woke up earlier, complaining of stomach pains. He wants to stand,” Jiang Wan replied.
“He’ll be more comfortable lying down,” Yang Juan said.
“I know,” Jiang Wan’s voice was anxious, as if she hadn’t heard. She held the bowl to Chen Henian’s lips. “Brother, wake up, drink this medicine.”
Chen Henian opened his eyes slightly. He wouldn’t drink the soup, but with Yang Juan watching, he turned away, pretending to gag.
He coughed, covering his mouth with his hand, his hair obscuring his face.
“He’s going to be sick again? What should we do?” Jiang Wan patted his back solicitously.
“Brother… are you alright?” Zuo He, his back to Yang Juan, wasn’t sure what to do. He couldn’t just stand there, so he fussed over Chen Henian, his movements awkward.
“Brother, take off your outer robe,” Jiang Wan said.
Zuo He didn’t react, and she nudged him. “The bedsheet is wet, use your robe as a padding.”
He understood, taking off his robe and placing it on the bed.
“Is this alright?” He had never taken care of a sick person before.
Jiang Wan helped Chen Henian onto the bed, and he finally lay down.
“Do you have any water?” she asked Yang Juan.
“Yes, I’ll get some. You look after him,” Yang Juan said, leaving the room.
“Thank you,” Jiang Wan said.
“It’s nothing.”
Yang Juan left.
Jiang Wan quickly closed the door, leaving it slightly ajar.
Chen Henian sat up abruptly. All three stood there, their eyes fixed on the bowl of soup.
“Let me see.” Zuo He dipped his finger into the soup, tasting a drop. “It tastes like burnt talismans. Don’t drink it.”
“Of course not,” Jiang Wan poured half the soup out the window.
“Keep an eye on that pregnant man,” Chen Henian said. “I think they’re planning a fetus transfer.”
“A fetus transfer?”
“Transferring the snake fetus to another man, to save their son.”
They understood.
“What should we do?”
“Don’t worry about it,” Chen Henian said calmly.
Before they could discuss it further, they heard Yang Juan’s approaching footsteps. Chen Henian quickly lay back down, closing his eyes.
The door creaked open, and Yang Juan entered, carrying a kettle and a bowl. “Hot water.”
Jiang Wan placed the soup on the nightstand, her voice mournful. “My brother didn’t finish it, he fell asleep. I don’t know if he’s really asleep or just passed out from the pain.”
Yang Juan glanced at Chen Henian, then said softly, “Come outside, let’s talk.”
Jiang Wan and Zuo He followed her out of the room, closing the door behind them.
“Let him sleep, it’s a good thing. Pregnant people need their rest. I’ll give him more medicine when he wakes up.”
“There are chairs in the main room, you can rest there if you’re tired.”
Jiang Wan nodded. “Have you eaten?” Yang Juan asked.
“No, we’re still a bit hungry,” Jiang Wan replied.
Yang Juan smiled, her expression much more relaxed. “I’ll cook something for you.”
“We’ll pay you,” Jiang Wan said quickly.
“No need, it’s just a small matter,” Yang Juan waved her hand dismissively, leaving the room.
As she left, Jiang Wan’s smile vanished. “A small matter, it seems the fetus transfer is the important matter.”
She chuckled, turning to Zuo He. “Stay here and make sure no one enters the room. Don’t do anything else, no matter what happens inside, don’t go in. I’ll go watch that pregnant man.”
“Why can’t I go in? What’s he doing in there?”
“He needs to be alone to lure the snake out. You’ll ruin everything if you interfere.”
“I understand.” Zuo He nodded, and Jiang Wan left. He stood guard, peering through the crack in the door. Chen Henian lay motionless on the bed. He could hear voices from the other room, a chaotic mix of sounds, but he couldn’t make out the words.
He listened, only hearing Chen Henian’s even breathing. Was he asleep?
He was actually sleeping peacefully?
The silence deepened, until there was no sound at all.
A dream.
He felt a cold, wet sensation on his feet and opened his eyes. He wasn’t in the Yang family’s spare room anymore, but in a dark, desolate landscape, submerged in cold, still water, his clothes soaked.
He reached out, his hand finding a stone. He pulled himself up, his wet hair clinging to his chest, water dripping from his clothes. The water flowed from a small spring, surrounded by black rocks, their surfaces shimmering with a faint, white light. He took a few steps closer, realizing it was the reflection of white scales. He was in a vast valley.
A dream.
Who had created this dream? The snake, of course. It had found him.
He stood on the rocks, waiting calmly, hearing the snake’s hissing, then turned to see a giant snake head emerging from the water, its scales shimmering like porcelain, its four legs visible beneath its massive body, its size rivaling a python.
Its head rose above him, its eyes as large as his ears, its vertical pupils like black knives. It moved, its tail wrapping around him, its scales cold against his skin, coiling around his shoulders, pinning his arms to his sides, lifting him off the ground.
The snake’s head continued to flick its tongue, its eyes fixed on him, like a predator eyeing its prey.
This was the snake that had caused his nausea, that wanted his body. How audacious. He saw his reflection in its eyes, a faint smile playing on his lips. Facing the giant snake, he spoke, his voice calm and unwavering. “Are you… tired of living?”
