"Please, in nature, big snakes eat smaller snakes, and small snakes eat even smaller snakes. Our Xintang is at the top of the food chain. Eating a little snake is no big deal," Lin Hang, possessed by the spirit of a foodie, had eyes that gleamed like Ultraman's.
When they reached the spot for capturing snakes, there were quite a few people from the Lin family watching the excitement.
Everyone wanted to see what the snake that had the audacity to intrude on the Lin Family Sect looked like, the one with a bump on its head.
Luckily, I have a certain reputation in the Lin family, and the crowd made way for me as they saw me approaching.
In the midst of the people, on the green stone ground surrounded by the crowd, there was a green net, inside of which a medium-sized green python was coiled.
The python had several bright yellow Spirit Talismans stuck on it, sealing off its Spiritual Power and ability to move.
It hung its head listlessly, motionless.
"Uh, Yu Longting... why do I feel like this Green Snake looks somewhat familiar, as if I've seen it somewhere before?" I asked Yu Longting in a hushed voice from a distance.
Yu Longting's thin lips parted slightly and he said just three words, "Yu Rongling."
"Uh, it's a good thing we came over to take a look."
I wore an embarrassed expression on my face.
Yu Rongling must be having bad luck with Mercury in retrograde this year, why does he keep getting caught?
Lin Hang was a smooth talker, and he told the people of the Lin family that he would personally cook a full snake feast for everyone to enjoy a meal together.
So, Lin Hang easily tricked the snake into his hands.
Humming a tune and carrying the net, he walked with us toward the Waterside Pavilion, proudly saying, "Cousin, Cousin-in-Law!! The two of you are in for a treat today. The snake's skin can be served cold, its bones can be fried until crispy, part of the meat can be used to make soup, and the rest of the meat can be candied, steamed, stir-fried, sweet and sour..."
"Didn't you just promise everyone a share, and that's how you tricked them into giving you the snake?" I couldn't help but ask, curious.
By the looks of it, he was treating the whole snake as his personal meal.
Lin Hang waved his hand,
"Cousin, one must not be too honest. Those who were watching the excitement just now are actually pretty easy to fool. We can just eat our fill and give the leftovers to them for sharing."
I was speechless and looked to the sky.
To not be honest, did that mean I should become like him, a crafty and cunning swindler?
"But that 'Snake Brother' looks so pitiful, Brother Hang, couldn't you spare it?"
Lin Xintang reached out with her delicate little hand and tugged gently on Lin Hang's sleeve.
Lin Hang, unfazed, covered Xintang's eyes with his palm and imparted his skewed philosophies to Tangtang, "If you don't look at it, you won't feel pity. When it's cooked and fragrant, you'll just be drooling with 'heartache' from the corner of your mouth."
Lin Xintang nodded as though she understood, but really she might not have.
Lin Hang moved his hand away from her eyes, but she obediently kept them shut.
Inside the net, Yu Rongling looked at me and Yu Longting with tear-filled eyes, flicking his snake tongue out pitifully, "Hiss, hiss, hiss~"
Even though I couldn't understand snake language, I could still feel...
This kid really...
...is so pitiful, so aggrieved!
"Lin Hang, let me tell you the truth, this snake... he is Yu Longting's brother, Yu Rongling," I cautiously opened up to Lin Hang.
Lin Hang paused for a moment, looking into the net.
The scales flared up, and the fierce green python he was eyeing had an expression of disbelief, "This dull and dopey thing is... the Snake Lord's brother...??? The Snake Lord is white... why is he so green, so slick and green..."
"He mutated," Yu Longting said indifferently.