Chapter -06
The Serpent Beastman Hates His Female Master
Jiang Xi’s face was covered by a piece of animal hide, her bangs hiding her forehead. When she smiled, her bright, lively eyes shone beautifully, making people subconsciously overlook the terrible skin around the sides of her eyes.
Lu Liufeng looked into her eyes, momentarily dazed, the skin behind his ears growing redder and redder.
Her eyes… were they always this beautiful?
He had faced his female master’s face for half a year now. Without lifting her mask, he knew exactly what sort of ugly face lay beneath it.
But for the first time, he had the illusion that… she was beautiful.
Of course, Jiang Xi wanted to soak in the hot spring, but she hadn’t forgotten their real task for today.
“We should hunt and gather food first. If there’s still time, then we can come back to enjoy the spring.”
“Hot spring?”
Lu Liufeng was puzzled for a moment, but soon accepted the term.
Hot spring—it did sound more fitting than warm spring.
But…
Lu Liufeng glanced at the female’s slender body wrapped in animal hide and couldn’t help but continue to persuade her.
“Why don’t you wait here for me, my lady? Winter prey is cunning. I worry I might not be able to protect you properly.”
Jiang Xi waved her hand dismissively. “It’s fine.”
She thought he was worried she’d get in the way and added,
“You can hunt your prey. I’ll look for edible plants—things that grow underground or on trees.”
“Underground?” Lu Liufeng was even more confused.
At this time of year, everything had withered. What could possibly be growing besides wild beasts?
“Oh, come on, just let me try,” Jiang Xi coaxed, her voice unconsciously softening into a faintly coquettish tone.
“You can hunt nearby. I’ll stay close, I promise. I won’t interfere with your hunt.”
Lu Liufeng had never heard such a soft, teasing voice before. His pale face flushed redder still.
Jiang Xi noticed his sudden blush and grew worried. “Are you okay? Your face is so red. Is it too hot here by the spring?”
She didn’t know much about beastmen, but guessed they might share some habits and traits with animals—warm-blooded, cold-blooded, or tropical creatures.
She assumed that as an eagle beastman with feathers, Lu Liufeng probably disliked heat.
He quickly ducked his head. “N-no.”
“Then… let’s go to the Hot River Valley. It’s safer there.”
Jiang Xi, knowing nothing, naturally agreed.
Hot River Valley wasn’t far from the Spring Mountain—in fact, they were part of the same range, one being a ridge and the other a valley.
The temperature in the valley was much higher than on the ridge. There was no snow—only lush greenery and the sounds of birds and insects, full of life.
Jiang Xi looked around the tropical rainforest–like valley and thought, This is the perfect hunting ground. There must be plenty of animals hiding here from the cold. How could anyone have trouble finding prey?
But soon, she understood why.
Lu Liufeng set her down and called toward a vine-covered area,
“Duansi, your female master is here to look for something in the valley. Keep an eye on her. I’ll go hunt in the snowy mountains and be back soon.”
Jiang Xi’s mind buzzed. Corresponding memories suddenly flooded back.
Duansi—her serpent beastman husband. A massive black python who had once been the strongest gladiator in the Holy City’s underground arena. He had saved enough to buy his freedom, but on the very day before he could, she had taken a liking to him and forcibly married him.
So Duansi hated her deeply.
After their marriage, he had even attacked her—she would have died if not for the magical backlash of their marriage bond.
A rustling sound of scales brushing against leaves came from all around, and Jiang Xi felt countless eyes watching her.
Her scalp prickled, and she froze, not daring to move.
She didn’t see Duansi, but in the trees and foliage around her, she saw many serpents of various colors and sizes.
Huge snake heads poked out, their scarlet tongues flicking.
Not far away, a red python transformed into a young man with a human upper body and serpentine lower half. He had red hair, golden eyes, and leaned lazily against a tree trunk. His thick tail trailed into the forest, disappearing from view.
The golden-eyed youth looked Jiang Xi up and down, then called toward the vine-covered place:
“Duansi, your female master is here.”
Serpent beastmen were cold-blooded and preferred warm environments. In winter, they would otherwise be forced into hibernation.
Unlike ordinary snakes, serpent beastmen’s abilities went berserk during hibernation, often leading to death.
So most serpent beastmen lived in warm regions to avoid it.
But those exiled to the Cursed Lands had no choice. Every winter, serpent beastmen from the Lion Roar, Skywing, and Python Coil clans would gather in the Hot River Valley near the Lion Roar tribe to survive the cold season.
The three tribes had an agreement: no hunting in the valley during winter, to ensure the serpents had enough food.
However, females were allowed to enter the valley—to forage or visit their serpent husbands.
But the valley was remote, and except for the Skywing tribe who could fly there easily, even the closest tribe—the Lion Roar—had to travel a long distance on foot.
Thus, very few females ever came to visit their serpent husbands or offspring.
Among the serpents in the valley, the Python Coil tribe was the largest in number.
Though the Python Coil and Skywing tribes’ beastmen had never met Jiang Xi, they had heard plenty about her from the Lion Roar tribe.
So when they learned this was Duansi’s female master, the unmarried serpent beastmen quickly slithered away.
The married ones, however, couldn’t help but envy Duansi’s luck—his female master had actually come to see him. Yet at the same time, they were curious:
Was this tightly wrapped female really as cruel and ugly as the Lion Roar beastmen had said?
