’If she’s the vice dean’s granddaughter, doesn’t that mean I’m on the White Demon King’s territory right now?’

Tu Xiao’an gasped. ’Heaven wouldn’t mess with me like this, would it?’

’In my current physical state, if the White Demon King discovered me, he wouldn’t even have to do anything. A single puff of his breath and I’d be gone.’

Originally, Tu Xiao’an had wanted to find a safe place to hide and wait for his body to recover a little. Now, it seemed he had been completely courting death.

’I hope things don’t take a turn for the worst.’

Tu Xiao’an wanted to turn around and flee, but his body was completely limp. Soon, the girl carried him through a sea of bamboo, and his eyes lit up.

A huge pavilion appeared in his line of sight. Its exterior was not only exquisite but absolutely beautiful. Looking around, he saw bamboo railings, bamboo windows, and floorboards paved with green sandalwood, all giving it a quaint, antique charm. Beside a bamboo window sat a pot of gorgeous pearl-plums. As a gentle breeze swept past, the flowers seemed to smile shyly.

Tu Xiao’an was a little stunned. ’This pavilion looks just like an ancient building. I never expected to find a house like this in the Yaoling Mountain Range.’

’This is so much more pleasing to the eye than any villa in the big cities. It feels like I’ve been instantly transported to ancient times.’

"Hee hee, we’re home," the girl said, pausing her steps and smiling cheerfully.

Tu Xiao’an looked up. The pavilion had a plaque with two words written on it: "Rushi Pavilion."

"This is my home. I forgot to introduce myself—my name is Su Rushi. The house is named after me," Su Rushi said with a sweet smile, as if she weren’t talking to a snake, but to a dear friend.

’Sigh, no doubt about it now. This girl is that old man’s granddaughter.’

Tu Xiao’an stared intently at the two large, flamboyant words, "Rushi Pavilion." ’These were definitely written by the White Demon King himself. The very strokes exude a powerful Demon Qi.’

’An ordinary person probably couldn’t even touch the edge of this plaque. A light touch would cause serious injury, while a heavy one would send them straight to their next life.’

Tu Xiao’an took a good look at his surroundings. The place was a true paradise. In front, the bamboo sea was picturesque; behind, the pavilion was elegant and refined. Living here would be like living the blissful life of an Immortal.

’Looks like the White Demon King really treats this girl well. An environment like this is countless times better than any of the big cities outside.’

’Most importantly, the Spiritual Qi in the Yaoling Mountain Range is incredibly dense. An ordinary person living here would be free of illness and disaster. Living to a hundred would be easy.’

’No wonder the old man entrusted his own granddaughter to the White Demon King. He wouldn’t trade an environment like this for a mountain of gold. If the White Demon King hadn’t developed lecherous designs on the girl, the old man probably wouldn’t be trying to rescue her now.’

Hmph...

’Looks like I’ve really locked horns with this White Demon King,’ Tu Xiao’an thought.

’As long as I’m here, he can forget about marrying this girl, who’s as beautiful as a Celestial Immortal. He can dream on!’

’Just wait until this Snake King’s body has recovered and my shedding is complete. I’ll beat you to a pulp, you damned hedgehog!’

"Little snake, let’s go inside."

Su Rushi was in a very good mood, a constant smile on her beautiful face. She had always lived here alone, but now, things were different. She had this intelligent little snake to keep her company.

She wouldn’t be lonely anymore. But...!

At that thought, her good mood instantly vanished.

’Forget it. I won’t think about such troublesome things.’

Su Rushi walked into the pavilion, cradling the docile little snake. Tu Xiao’an noticed the pavilion was filled with a delicate fragrance that made him want to take a few more deep breaths. It was the girl’s scent.

’It seems she’s really been living here for a long time.’

According to what the old vice dean had told Tu Xiao’an, Su Rushi had been living here for at least two years.

However, it seemed she was living a comfortable life, like a Princess.

The girl and the snake arrived in an inner chamber on the second floor of the pavilion. Su Rushi placed Tu Xiao’an on an exquisite dressing table, upon which sat an ornate bronze mirror and a jewelry box with a pink floral pattern.

’They all look like antiques.’

Seeing the bronze mirror, Tu Xiao’an immediately slithered closer. The mirror reflected a miniature, exquisite little snake. Its body was patterned with sections of silver-white, gold, and violet-gold. Only a few patches of old skin on its tail had yet to be shed, which slightly marred its overall beauty.

Soon, Tu Xiao’an discovered a mark on his forehead shaped like the character for "King." At once, his serpentine eyes lit up.

’I don’t even know when this ’King’ character appeared.’

He instantly recalled the legend of the Snake King that circulated in Bai Town. As the story went, a true Snake King would have a mark shaped like the character for "King" on its forehead. In the entire world, only a Snake King was granted such a distinction.

It was like an Emperor’s crown—a symbol of status.

But then again, it made sense. Tu Xiao’an’s ascension was meant to make him a true Rank 3 Snake King. If it hadn’t been for two shameless Demon Kings interfering, he wouldn’t have ended up in such an embarrassing predicament.

As he stared at the snake in the mirror, Tu Xiao’an found himself in a bit of a daze. ’For a snake to look this good... it’s almost dangerously beautiful.’

’So damn good-looking.’

’My snake body is this good-looking; I can’t wait to see what I’ll look like when I finally achieve my Transformation.’

’I wonder if I’ll change back to my original human form.’

He would only know for sure once the old skin on his tail had completely shed.

Su Rushi glanced over and saw the little snake staring dazedly at its own reflection in the bronze mirror. She couldn’t help but let out a little laugh. ’Could snakes be narcissistic, too?’ she wondered.

In that way, it was a bit like her. She also often found herself staring into the mirror, captivated by her own beauty and unable to look away.

"I should probably give you a name. I can’t keep calling you ’little snake,’ can I?"

Su Rushi propped her chin on her hand, falling into deep thought.

Tu Xiao’an paid her no mind. He was still staring at the "King" mark on his forehead. ’The more I look at it, the more imposing it seems. To put it simply, it’s just ridiculously cool.’

’It’s so cool I almost don’t want to transform into a human anymore.’

"You’re so icy and cold to the touch... How about I call you Xiaoleng?"

Su Rushi’s smile was utterly enchanting as she made her decision. "Xiaoleng. From now on, don’t leave. Stay and keep me company, okay?"

Tu Xiao’an froze, completely exasperated. ’My name is Xiao’an, and this girl just had to name me Xiaoleng?’

’Xiaoleng... as in, "little cold one"?’

’What the hell...’

"Here, Xiaoleng, eat a grape."

It was unclear where Su Rushi had gotten the grape, but it was enormous—even bigger than Tu Xiao’an’s current head.

Su Rushi herself paused as she offered it, realizing it was a bit too large.

Tu Xiao’an stared at the grape, which was larger than his head, and his breath caught. ’Holy crap! This isn’t a grape, it’s a first rank Spirit Fruit! It’s packed with dense Energy!’

’What do I need most right now? Heavenly and Earthly Treasures to heal my injuries and restore my power!’

This was a godsend. Tu Xiao’an suddenly missed his Tree Spirit Charlie terribly. If Charlie were here, he wouldn’t have to worry at all about healing his injuries and restoring his power.

Unfortunately, the system was dormant, and he couldn’t summon his Battle Companion. It seemed everything would only return to normal after he truly completed his ascension.

Su Rushi noticed the grape was bigger than Xiaoleng’s head and was about to pull it back. But in the next second, Xiaoleng’s mouth suddenly gaped open, stretching impossibly wide as he swallowed the grape—which was bigger than his head—in one gulp.

"Wow... Xiaoleng, you’re amazing!"

Tu Xiao’an was speechless. ’I’m the great Snake King. Is swallowing a Spirit Fruit bigger than my own head really something to be so surprised about?’

’This sheltered girl... her naivety is actually kind of cute.’