Edited by Squid
The morning mist gradually thinned and the air seemed to become lighter. The dew on the ground had also disappeared, and the forest returned to its clean and refreshing appearance.
Shu Hanyu pulled Shu Jintian along by the hand and strolled into the forest.
During the journey, Shu Hanyu would occasionally spit out his forked tongue to taste the air, leading Shu Jintian into a place with dense bushes. The snakelets’ scent was getting heavier, and Shu Hanyu could already detect three of the snakelets’ odour.
They unexpectedly returned together. They really were spoiled too much by Tiantian. Being so dependent on their father, even the spiritual snakes’ solitary habit was lost. Shu Hanyu held Shu Jintian’s hand and proceeded with twists and turns. His body habitually blocked in front of Shu Jintian and helped shelter him from random branches.
“Are we almost there?” The bouts of pain between his legs caused Shu Jintian’s steps to be slightly uneven. Shu Jintian didn’t not frown and only endured the discomfort, following closely behind Shu Hanyu like he was fine.
“Mn, they should be right up ahead.” Shu Hanyu turned his head back to look at Shu Jintian. Seeing his rather bad complexion and overly fatigued appearance, he was a little remorseful.
“You must be tired ba. I already said we should come tomorrow. Want me to carry you?” As Shu Hanyu spoke, he was about to carry Shu Jintian.
Shu Jintian moved sideways to avoid it. “We’re almost there; we can rest after finding them ba.”
“Then fine ba. I’ll carry you when we return.” Shu Hanyu estimated that it was nearby and no longer insisted on carrying him, pulling Shu Jintian along and continuing ahead.
The ground had repeated signs of snakes crawling over them, and it was clearly a path crawled daily. Even Shu Jintian noticed some of these tracks and his heartbeat abruptly quickened. He wanted to see his children sooner, but was also a little afraid of seeing a pile of green and white snakes. It seriously was incredibly contradictory.
Their surroundings suddenly turned quiet, but it was only for an instant. The next second, bursts of hissing sounds rang out; listening to it made one’s blood run cold.
The little snakes’ sounds! Shu Jintian’s eyes brightened and he looked around everywhere.
At this time, Shu Jintian was conversely not that scared, as he was already accustomed to these sounds. Back then, their cave was resounding with these sounds all the time ne!
Shu Hanyu also spat out his forked tongue. The sound he emitted suppressed the chaotic hisses and those sounds instantly ceased.
Shu Jintian’s heart rose as he looked everywhere in the shadows of the various bushes.
“Little snakes? Is that you?”
Silence, dead silence. The next second, under a certain bush, a dark green, fist-sized snake head popped out with a pair of round emerald-green eyes that were staring limpidly and wide-eyed, looking at the two large figures before it in disbelief. After that, two similarly dark green snakeheads also poked out, looking at Shu Jintian in a wronged manner, then looked at Shu Hanyu in fear. They wanted to come out but didn’t dare move either, afraid of being tossed into the river by male father and flushed away again.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
Fathers! You found us so quickly, are you here to toss us away again?
Ever since male father discarded the snakelets, they awakened some hereditary memories related to Spiritual Snakes being foreordained to be abandoned. Without male father’s feeding, their food all needed to be hunted by them, provoking them to awaken to even more hereditary memories that were useful to hunting food and surviving, causing their life in the forest to not be so hard. But they really weren’t willing to part with female father ah. Female father’s body is so warm, so comfortable.
Vte Alcaljc’r ygfjatlcu raeaafgfv, ecjyif ab tfiq tlwrfio ogbw ajxlcu j rafq obgkjgv.
“Little snakes, I’m dad ah. Don’t you recognise us? Hurry up and come out!”
Vte Alcaljc yjgfis olclrtfv rqfjxlcu ktfc atf ifjv ilaaif rcjxf jygeqais rtba bea. Lf bcis rjk atja lar rcjxf ybvs kjr jybea bnfg atgff wfafgr ibcu jcv jr atlmx jr jc jveia wjif’r jgw. Qlat j mjreji kjnf bo lar qbkfgoei rcjxf ajli, la rmeaaifv ab Vte Alcaljc jcv alutais kgjqqfv jgbecv tlr ifur, iloalcu tlr tfjv tlut ab ibbx ja Vte Alcaljc. Cuuglfnfv, la xfqa geyylcu lar rwbbat jcv mbbi tfjv jujlcra Vte Alcaljc’r mjio.
The remaining two little snakes were looking at Shu Hanyu in fear. After obtaining his permission, they then rushed towards Shu Jintian, the pair twining around Shu Jintian’s other leg.
As such, both of Shu Jintian’s legs had a wad of green snakes hanging off of them. They were as heavy as a thousand pounds and it was hard to even take a step.
Seeing such an aggrieved manner from the not-too-little little snakes , Shu Jintian completely forgot his fear of snakes and bent down to gently stroke a little snake’s head, saying in distress, “I’m sorry, dad was late.”
The little snake acted coquettish as it exerted all effort to rub against, its mouth faintly emitting sounds akin to sobs.
Shu Hanyu, who was forgotten by the father and sons snorted in dissatisfaction, tugging on Shu Jintian’s hand.
Shu Jintian finally noticed Shu Hanyu’s face filled with jealousy, and happily said, “This is too great, you finally found them! Hanyu, what about the other snakes? Are they nearby too?”
“Hmph! Don’t know!” Shu Hanyu was a little envious. Did he say he was scared of snakes? Yet he was so intimate with the little snakes; he even forgot of his existence. Shu Hanyu gloomily felt as if he was cheated.
Eh? Was Hanyu feeling jealous? Pft! He’s acting jealous over the little snakes again; big snake really is becoming more and more childish.
“Hanyu~” Shu Jintian gently swung Shu Hanyu’s hand and fawningly said, “You’re so amazing, finding the little snakes so soon. 【You found them so easily yet you dragged this one so long, see how I’ll deal with you when we go back!】, then you must be able to find the rest of the little snakes very quickly too ba!”
Shu Jintian said, then took the initiative to kiss Shu Hanyu’s face. Shu Hanyu finally eased somewhat, spitting out his tongue and emitting some noises.
The little snakes immediately froze, looking at Shu Hanyu in fear as their body coiled around Shu Jintian’s legs even tighter, responding with their own hisses.
“They said that they were all lost in the water. Only the three of them found their way back. They never saw their other brothers again.” Shu Hanyu said and even put on a ‘I’d love to help but I can’t’ face, rather happy about this turn of events.
Shu Jintian was startled, not expecting it would be like this.
“In the water? They fell in the water?”
“I was the one who threw them in the river. Sure enough, they were all carried away.” Shu Hanyu felt very satisfied with his method. They were all scattered, so they wouldn’t have a chance to eat their siblings even if they were hungry, and could only hunt for other food.
“You! So cold-blooded!” Shu Jintian trembled in fear, but maybe because he was used to Shu Hanyu’s behaviour, he wasn’t as angry, but only felt pained in his heart. Did all Spiritual Snakes grow up like this? Then was Hanyu also the same?
When Shu Jintian thought of this, his gaze towards Shu Hanyu couldn’t help containing some pity.
Shu Hanyu felt rather strange in his heart from Shu Jintian’s gaze and uneasily avoided Shu Jintian’s eyes, looking at the little snakes coiled around Shu Jintian’s legs. The little snakes were cowering, tightly wound around Shu Jintian’s calves and wishing that they could turn invisible.
“Alright, be good~~ That dad of yours won’t throw you away anymore, don’t be scared.” Shu Jintian had never coaxed children before, yet he had naturally spoken such words. After speaking, Shu Jintian felt a little strange. Fuck, weren’t these the words Shu Hanyu once used to terrify him?! It feels like Shu Hanyu had coaxed him like he was a child!
But Shu Hanyu’s words clearly were very effective to children. The little snakes’ eyes brightened and they tilted their heads up to look at Shu Jintian. After obtaining Shu Jintian’s reaffirming nod, they looked at Shu Hanyu reverently, lovably hissing a couple times.
They had hid in this place for several days, and they just wanted to secretly take a look and leave whenever they really missed their father, yet unexpectedly, their fathers came to find them. At that time, they thought that male father definitely came to throw them away, yet to their surprise, female father said that papa wouldn’t throw them away. It must be that female father had pleaded for leniency for them; female father was so good! The little snakes thought, and stickily rubbed against Shu Jintian’s leg.
Shu Jintian was rubbed by the few still young but no longer small green snakes until he couldn’t stand steadily, but he was also reluctant to push them away. His legs that were coiled by the little snakes didn’t have blood circulation which made Shu Jintian suddenly realise that he had forgotten his fear of snakes and had also taken the initiative to rub them.
Seeing that Shu Jintian’s legs seemed uncomfortable, Shu Hanyu very happily waved off the little snakes, kneeling down to help massage Shu Jintian’s legs. Shu Jintian felt a little embarrassed and his face couldn’t help heating up. He sat on the ground uneasily, watching as the little snakes played around, but also did not stop Shu Hanyu’s moves.
The little snakes were incredibly excited and did not feel dejected even after being chased off. They were either running circles around their two dads or were excitedly twisting their bodies on the spot. One of the leader snakes, seeing that its fathers were here, had the mind to display the skills it had recently learnt, and wanted to catch a large prey and return to show its fathers. As such, it unwillingly looked at female father and then turned and left.
Shu Jintian noticed with sharp eyes, and shouted anxiously.
“Hey! Little snake, where are you going ah?”
Hearing this, the little snake turned its head and spat out its tongue, then turned and left, instantly disappearing from Shu Jintian’s line of sight.
“Don’t worry, he just went to find food. Does your leg feel better?” Shu Hanyu only shot a nonchalant glance at the departed snake and then withdrew his gaze, looking at Shu Jintian warmly.
“Eh? That’s right, you guys can converse ah!” Only then did Shu Jintian come to a sudden realisation. Just now he had been too happy and didn’t notice, but it turned out that snakes also had a language. Then didn’t he become their family’s only other species ah?!
Hearing their father’s words the remaining two snakes suddenly understood, straightening its body and flipping over before nimbly gliding off. They could now catch a lot of food. Once father saw, he would definitely like them a lot.
Shu Jintian watched the green snakes slithering off one after another in amusement, feeling that they were childish yet also a little gratified. The kids have grown up and already knew how to show filial piety.
Shu Hanyu was still massaging Shu Jintian’s legs. Seeing that the little snakes had all left, he disregarded his image and squeezed into Shu Hanyu’s embrace and sat down.
“Now do you feel at ease?” Shu Hanyu’s words were brimming with strong jealousy.
“Mn. This place isn’t far from our home, so we can come visit when we want to. I just don’t know where the other little snakes are. Can you find the rest?” Shu Jintian looked at Shu Hanyu ingratiatingly, twisting his ankles that were being grasped by Shu Hanyu, but was also unwilling to remove them from Shu Hanyu’s palms.
Shu Hanyu frowned slightly, a little unhappy as he firmly said, “No can do! If there are too many Spiritual Snakes, more food will be needed and a lot of food will be eaten, and there will be less of the food you like. Moreover, they may be young now, but after growing up they still need to leave this place to find a mate. I can only bring them back for you to see when I spot them, but we can’t affect their lives any more.”
Shu Jintian was taken aback, not expecting that just the few snakes would affect the ecosystem of this entire place. But with Shu Hanyu’s food intake, multiplied by twelve, staying here long term would certainly have a possibility of affecting the ecology balance.
But…
Shu Jintian’s brows furrowed ”angrily” and he eerily said, “What do you mean find a mate? Like how you found me?”
Shu Hanyu intuitively sensed something wrong, but didn’t know which part was questionable so he earnestly replied, “Yes ah, how good is it to be like us!”
But that needed them to be successful in turning into human forms, only then would females like him like how Tiantian does. Shu Hanyu thought, immensely pleased with himself.
“Then did your dad also do it like this?” Shu Jintian’s voice grew gloomier, which was complemented by this gloomy and unventilated shrubbery, creating a strange atmosphere.
“Yes ah!” Shu Hanyu couldn’t restrain a chill going down his spine. Strange, it wasn’t cold ah.
Creaking sounds of teeth grinding came from within the woods. Shu Hanyu said, baffled, “Tiantian, are you eating? Are you hungry?”
Shu Jintian: …
Laozi is grinding his teeth, thank you!
A certain little snake’s eyes lit up and it darted towards Shu Jintian. Female father is hungry! Food is here!
The little snake that had just returned while holding food in its mouth heard its male father’s words and rushed towards Shu Jintian excitedly, flatteringly offering its food.
Shu Jintian watched in surprise as the little snake bit a prey that was much larger than it. The large prey blocked the little snakes’ eyes, yet it unexpectedly didn’t bump into trees and accurately found his location.
“Thank you!” Shu Jintian was incredibly touched, happily accepting the food in the little snake’s mouth. Only then did he see the little snake’s round, gleaming eyes that were looking at him fawningly.
The other two snakes returned one after another. Seeing that female father already had food in his hands, their eyes evidently appeared disappointed. Shu Jintian hastily went to take the food in their mouth and saw their eyes light up again.
Shu Jintian’s breakfast time had unknowingly passed, and Shu Jintian’s stomach correspondingly growled. Finally, under Shu Hanyu’s forceful pressure, Shu Jintian kissed the little snakes’ heads and reluctantly parted with the little snakes. He left behind a groundful of watery-eyed little snakes who watched their fathers leave.
But, when their father had gotten far enough away, the little snakes withdrew the reluctance in their eyes and secretly crawled along the path their fathers had departed to, up until they reached the vicinity of the cave they had lived in for many days, before they turned around and returned.
Ahhhhh the little snakes are getting witty witty with their Father!~
Thanks for the chapter<3
Thanks for the chapter! -^^)❤
Thank you for the chapter!💕
Thanks for the chapter! I love this story so much!
I love the little snakes QAQ
Thanks for the chapter! 😘
Three snakelets found their way home! What about the rest? QAQ
Their interaction this chapter was so sweet ( ꈍᴗꈍ)
the little snakes are too cute, ah! Where are the other ones :(( how will we know which take on human forms?
I think it is about time Tiantian thinks about farming and raising cattle… that way he can keep all the babies and Hanyu fed!
thanks for the chapter! <3
Guess we’ll only have the top three snakelets? ༼;´༎ຶ ༎ຶ༽
My image of the snakes is the measuring snake from Mo Dao Zu Shi Q
Thanks for the chapter! 💕
🕯🕯🕯
Ahhhh!!! Little snakes, three of them but finally~~~ TuT
Thanks for the great translation ♥️♥️♥️♥️
hope the other snakelets would be found fast and be reunited with tian tian too. ❤️
Thank you for this chapter editor and TL nim. ❤️