Chapter 1 The Snake Lord

"Pa~"

A cup of steaming jasmine tea was placed on the table, the tea clear, revealing white jasmine flowers slowly unfurling, floating up and down.

Hu San pinched his burning ear, flattering obsequiously, "Lord Snake, please have some tea!"

This was a makeshift shack, with members of the Heavenly Snake Gang standing guard at the door.

Zhang Ji sat on a huge chair, the back shaped like a ferocious snake head, fangs bared, extremely domineering. This was his exclusive Snake King Throne, a gift from Liu Youshan.

"The Recruitment Notice has been issued. How many people have been recruited so far?" Zhang Ji asked, reaching out to scratch the left side of his neck, where a third head was gestating, causing his skin to itch frequently.

Hu San hurried over to scratch Zhang Ji's itch, respectfully saying, "We've recruited 13 people born in the Year of the Ox, 8 in the Year of the Goat, and 20 in the Year of the Rooster."

"So many?" Zhang Ji raised an eyebrow, glancing at Hu San. "Did you capture them?"

Hu San felt wronged. Why did Lord Snake have such an impression of him?

He quickly clarified, "Your subordinate is wronged! This time, I really didn't capture anyone. They all came willingly... and some were sent by their husbands or family members."

Recalling the faces of those people, he said with some contempt, "I remember what my grandmother used to say when I was little: 'Those wearing clothes aren't necessarily human, and those burning incense and kowtowing aren't necessarily good people.' Tear off the human skin and masks, and you'll find bloodthirsty beasts!"

"I didn't understand it then, but I understand it now, because I've become a beast too."

He looked somewhat emotional.

Zhang Ji glanced at him and smiled. "You're self-aware, at least!"

Hu San smiled and bowed, "Thank you for the praise, Lord Snake!" He presented the teacup from the table to Zhang Ji's hand. "Lord Snake, the tea is getting cold."

Zhang Ji took the teacup, took a sip, and slowly spat the tea leaves he had taken into his mouth back into the cup, his movements elegant and magnanimous. Hu San watched intently, his eyes full of admiration and awe.

As expected of Lord Snake, his domineering aura permeated his very bones. Even the act of spitting out tea leaves was so graceful, unlike him, who spat out foam all over the cup when he spat out tea leaves. People who didn't know better would think he was drinking pesticide instead of tea.

"Where's Liu Youshan?" Zhang Ji asked.

"I heard he went to find his sister, wanting his sister, who was born in the Year of the Rooster, to lay eggs at the chicken farm," Hu San replied, a smile in his eyes.

According to the scouts from the Dog Hall, Liu Youshan's sister didn't seem willing to come. Her awareness was clearly not as high as his own younger sister, Hu Xiao Si.

The clock on the wall ticked away.

This was a working clock the Heavenly Snake Gang members had found in the ruins, but it was covered in cracks, and a piece of glass was broken.

He glanced at the time. It was about ten minutes before today's bestial transformation.

Zhang Ji stood up and said, "Let's go take a look at the people recruited today."

He was very concerned about this, because it was related to the evolution points needed for his ninth-level evolution.

He picked up a box of White Rabbit Creamy Candy from the table and headed to the Heavenly Snake Gang's farm with Hu San.

The so-called farm was actually an abandoned manor in the West District, with many stone and wood houses built by Hu San's Dog Hall, resembling cowsheds and sheepfolds, but mostly oval-shaped with roofs to shield from wind and rain, like yurts.

Adhering to Zhang Ji's will, Hu San gave the manor a very humanistic name: Happy Home.

On the left side of the gate was written: "To have friends come from afar to produce milk and lay eggs, is not this delightful?"

On the right side of the gate was written: "To have immortals transformed by Lord Snake summoning wind and rain, how magnificent!"

Zhang Ji glanced at it and smiled, pointing at Hu San's head. "You, you little San, what am I going to do with you..."

He seemed to be blaming him, but his eyes were full of satisfied smiles.

Hu San was overjoyed. He seemed to be getting better and better at understanding Lord Snake's pulse. This time, his flattery had hit Lord Snake's sweet spot.

"Lord Snake, please!" He gestured with his hand.

A lackey in the distance saw Hu San and Zhang Ji and hurriedly shouted, "Lord Snake is here to inspect the sheepfold, cowshed, and chicken coop! Everyone, be alert!"

Zhang Ji raised an eyebrow, his expression displeased.

Seeing this, Hu San's expression changed. He gave a wink to Huang An, a nearby patrol leader. Huang An understood and quickly ran over, grabbed the lackey by the neck, lifted him up like a chick, and slapped him a few times, scolding,

"You dog thing! How many times have Lord Snake and the hall master emphasized that we need humanized management?"

"This is not a cowshed, sheepfold, or chicken coop! This is Happy Home!"

"Get lost!"

He kicked him out, and the lackey clutched his stomach and retreated to the side, wincing in pain.

Hu San bowed to Zhang Ji to apologize, and Huang An hurriedly followed, saying that it was his mismanagement and that he was responsible.

He took the blame for Hu San.

Zhang Ji glanced at the two of them and said coldly, "Don't let it happen again!"

As he spoke, he walked towards a house in front called "Phoenix House."

Inside Phoenix House.

A group of women born in the Year of the Rooster gathered in small groups, some crying, some cursing in low voices, and some staring blankly at the roof.

Xu Xiaoqian hugged her knees and sat in the corner, chin resting on her knees, staring at the place in a daze with a complicated expression.

The newly built house was very simple and smelled of mud and pine wood, but the environment was much better than the ruins where she and her best friend Li Siqi had hidden.

The floor was solid wood, covered with a carpet, and very clean. There was a tea room next door, and the surroundings were high bunk beds with bedding. There were apples, bananas, and other things on the table.

These were all very scarce delicacies after the earthquake. She hadn't eaten them for days, but after coming to the Heavenly Snake Gang, they were served to her plate after plate. She ate three apples and two bananas in one go.

The gang members who brought the fruit drooled, and Xu Xiaoqian offered them apples, but they were disciplined and no one dared to eat them, saying that they were supplements for them.

Xu Xiaoqian was surprised and had a different understanding of the Heavenly Snake Gang for the first time.

"Maybe the Heavenly Snake Gang isn't as chaotic as the rumors say. They have their own rules here!" she thought. "To be able to become the largest gang force in Xichuan Town, it's indeed extraordinary."

She suddenly became curious about the leader of the Heavenly Snake Gang, Lord Snake, Zhang Ji.

"I wonder what kind of person he is. Is he as fierce and terrifying as the outside world says?"

At this moment, a woman next to her suddenly started crying, biting an apple, but crying with tears streaming down her face, her body twitching.

"Little Han, what's wrong?" Xu Xiaoqian asked with concern, gently patting her back.

The other party had entered the Heavenly Snake Gang with her. Her name was Mo Xiaohan, and she was a woman with a hard life. She had come to the Heavenly Snake Gang voluntarily, but the other party had been sold to the Heavenly Snake Gang by her mother-in-law in exchange for a box of pickled cabbage instant noodles.

Hearing Xu Xiaoqian's voice, Mo Xiaohan sobbed, "How could I have such a mother-in-law? If my husband was here, would she dare to sell me?"

"What happened to your husband?"

"He was born in the Year of the Tiger. On the day the Tiger Aspect Heavenly Tablet appeared, he was swept into the tablet. He was a very good person and always loved me. Now that he's gone, there's no food or drink after the earthquake in Xichuan Town. My mother-in-law actually sold me here for a bite to eat. How could she be so cruel? I'm her daughter-in-law..."

Mo Xiaohan cried, her eyes red.

Xu Xiaoqian sighed, her heart numb. She had seen too many human tragedies along the way. She stroked Mo Xiaohan's hair and comforted her, "No one can protect you but yourself!"

"We should be glad that we were born in the Year of the Rooster and that we can lay eggs. Those women who can't lay eggs are the ones who are miserable. At least we have a place to stay and a hope of survival now..."

As she was speaking, a burst of applause suddenly came from the door.

"Clap clap clap"

Xu Xiaoqian looked up and saw a tall, burly man over two meters tall walking in, smiling and looking at her while clapping his hands.

Although the other party was smiling and grinning, revealing a mouthful of white teeth, seeming to try to appear gentle, Xu Xiaoqian couldn't help but shudder at the sight of this person, her hair standing on end, feeling like she was being targeted by a beast.

And she seemed to have become a white rabbit.

"You... who are you?" Xu Xiaoqian asked in horror, her face pale.

Zhang Ji clapped his hands and praised, "You speak very well. I couldn't help but clap for you... Well, you asked who I am. I am Zhang Ji, a descendant of Zhang Wuji, a very good person!"

Xu Xiaoqian's eyes widened, a look of fear appearing in her eyes.

"You are even scarier than the rumors say."

Zhang Ji grinned and said, "Nonsense, do I look like a bad person! You little girl are pretty, but you don't tell the truth."

Xu Xiaoqian was stunned and boldly stared at Zhang Ji's face, seriously saying, "I may not have seen too much blood, but I recognize the look of those who are addicted to killing. You are obviously that kind of person!"

Zhang Ji was surprised and squinted his eyes, smiling. "To correct you, it's not obvious, it's natural!"

After saying that, he licked his lips, scaring Xu Xiaoqian into shrinking back and squeezing together with Mo Xiaohan beside her, only to find that the other party was trembling violently, more afraid than she was.

Around them, the other women were already huddled together, trembling, not daring to make any sound.

Zhang Ji smiled and looked around at everyone, "Don't be afraid, everyone. Now that you've come here, you are my family, Zhang Ji. I will treat you as my sisters and relatives."

"I may not be a saint or a bodhisattva, and I can't save all the people or change Xichuan Town, but I can do my best to protect you and let you live!"

"If one day you can walk out of Xichuan Town, you will definitely be grateful to me and rejoice in your choice today."

He took out a White Rabbit candy, peeled it open himself, looked at the dazed and frightened Xu Xiaoqian, reached out and pried open her somewhat dry little lips, her teeth still stained with apple peel.

Zhang Ji smiled slightly. What a cute little girl. Then he stuffed the White Rabbit candy into her mouth.

"Sweet, right?"

"Sweet!"

"Then lay eggs well. Your future life and every day will be sweeter than candy!"

Zhang Ji said loudly, exuding the kingly aura and majesty of a King Cobra.

Xu Xiaoqian's whole body shook, her emotions were infected, and looking at Zhang Ji's tall and burly figure, she suddenly felt less afraid. Instead, she felt that this man was quite dignified and seemed to be able to stand tall.

He was not to be compared to those men outside who abandoned their wives in order to survive.

This was a real man, a true hero!

"Yes, I believe you, Zhang Ji... oh no, Lord Snake!"

She showed a sweet smile, her dimples very charming, her eyes glowing with anticipation and longing. She sucked hard on the White Rabbit candy and murmured to herself:

"The disaster is not terrible, what's terrible is the human heart. I had been desperate, but now I see hope..."