NOVEL WEB Ch. 10
Chapter 10: Encountering the Snake Catcher Again
Hearing his uncle’s angry roar, Hong Wen felt as if he had been struck on the head with a heavy club, instantly waking up:
“Uncle Yun, it was because my father didn’t allow me to catch snakes anymore, and he wanted to send both me and my younger brother, Hong Sheng, to study.”
“But if the two of us both go to study, the tuition fees are too expensive.
The snakes my father and I caught weren’t enough, so Father thought of entering the mountains once more before winter.”
When Hong Tianyun heard Hong Wen’s words, cold sweat immediately broke out on his forehead:
“Absurd, absurd! Just to scrape together tuition for two children, he risked his life by entering the mountains alone? Why didn’t your father call me along?”
Perhaps because he was overcome by anger, Hong Tianyun, for a moment, forgot that one of the very children in need of tuition was standing right in front of him.
But since this was his father’s younger brother, and he was speaking out of concern for his father, Hong Wen did not take offense at Hong Tianyun’s blunt words:
“I also asked Father whether he wanted to call Uncle Yun along, but my father said your family had already paid enough tax and he didn’t want to bother you.”
Hong Tianyun could hardly believe it:
“Just because of such a reason, your father didn’t call me? And you wanted to hide this from me?”
“Do you really think I’m the kind of person who, after paying my own taxes, would just ignore whether my elder brother’s family lives or dies?”
Hong Wen was clearly ashamed after being scolded by Hong Tianyun:
“My father said this was a family matter.
To trouble you into entering the mountains as well, just for my and my younger brother’s tuition, didn’t seem right.”
Perhaps wanting to defend himself, or perhaps because he truly believed in his father’s firm assurances, Hong Wen said:
“Uncle Yun, don’t be angry. My father said that at this time of year, the snakes are already preparing for hibernation.”
“Although it’s harder to find them now, the danger has lessened. As long as he’s careful, it’s fine for one person alone.”
Hong Tianyun was trembling all over with rage.
Looking at Hong Wen, who had only entered the mountains once, still a tender novice, ignorant of the dangers of the deep mountains, he no longer wanted to say another word:
“You go home right now, tell your mother, younger brother, and sister, then pack your things and come with me.”
Hong Wen subconsciously asked:
“Uncle Yun, what are we going with you for?”
Finally unable to hold back, Hong Tianyun flicked his nephew hard on the head:
“To the mountains!”
......
After devouring the honey badger and the mongoose, Mo Lin’s body expanded again, while the color of his scales deepened further.
Mo Lin cast his gaze at the spring where he had been born.
As his body grew larger and larger, he no longer resembled the grass snake he had once been.
The spring, which had once been just big enough to house a single grass snake, was now far too small to serve as his lair.
Simply curling within the spring, half his body already rested above the water’s surface.
And as winter drew near and the air grew colder, staying by the damp, moisture-heavy spring was no longer a good idea.
“It seems that not only for Shedding, but also for hibernation, I’ll need to find a new place to dwell.”
With this thought, Mo Lin left the spring where he had lingered for several months, without a trace of sentiment.
After leaving the spring, Mo Lin prepared to check out the territory that had once belonged to the King Rat Snake.
A place that could make the so-called “within a mile, no snake dares to provoke the King Rat Snake” obediently settle down must surely have plenty of food and a fine habitat.
As the saying went, think of something, and it arrives.
While migrating, Mo Lin felt faint tremors through the ground.
Looking closely, he saw a squirrel digging a hole.
Although a squirrel couldn’t make him stronger, it would at least fill his belly, so Mo Lin coiled into an ambush posture, preparing for a snack.
“Hiss\~”
Just then, another tremor came from the ground.
By now, Mo Lin could already judge, just from the vibrations in the earth, what prey or predator was nearby, and decide whether to hunt or avoid them.
This vibration was dull and slow, from something not only heavier than the honey badger, but also very cautious in its movements.
Each step fell with only two feet.
Two feet?
Mo Lin narrowed his snake eyes.
This vibration felt all too familiar.
It was the same as that time he had encountered, up close, a presence that nearly brought him death.
It was the footsteps of a Human!
With a sudden motion, Mo Lin raised his head, startling the nearby squirrel, which instantly leapt into the trees.
But Mo Lin no longer had any interest in this appetizer.
In the swaying leaves of the forest, a breeze drifted past, carrying with it many fresh scents—squirrel, water, dry grass, and one he would never forget:
The scent of Human.
The vibrations and smells together confirmed it without question—he had once again encountered a Human.
Instinctively, Mo Lin prepared to flee.
But then he suddenly stopped his body.
“No… something’s not right.”
Mo Lin shook his head.
“Unlike the last time with that snake-catching father and son, or the other Humans I once saw from afar, this time there’s only one set of footsteps!”
This difference stirred new thoughts within him.
“From the Humans I’ve encountered, it’s obvious they know these mountains are full of danger, so they always move in pairs.”
“If someone is wandering alone in the mountains, then either he is incredibly skilled and confident, or he’s been separated from his companions.”
“Judging from his cautious steps, he’s most likely the latter.”
“I just don’t know whether he’s a snake catcher or not.”
With that thought, Mo Lin’s mind began to turn.
The last time he encountered snake catchers, he had paid the most painful price since crossing into this world.
He was no saint.
He was just a cold-blooded creature who struggled with all his might to survive.
If the chance for revenge presented itself, he would not be merciful.
The law of the jungle—survival of the fittest—was the eternal truth of the world.
The only pity was, from the conversation between that father and son snake-catching pair, it seemed they had already caught enough to live on, and likely wouldn’t return to the mountains this year.
But his strength had already undergone transformation.
Facing a single Human, even if he could not seize a victory, he could at least retreat unharmed.
So, after a brief calculation, Mo Lin slithered in the direction of the Human, deciding to first see what the situation was.
......
Hong Tianfeng had already been in the mountains for nearly a day.
Ever since the last time he entered the mountains with his eldest son, Hong Wen, when they caught several venomous snakes including a Banded Krait, his family had already paid off this year’s taxes.
But perhaps because of the Taoist’s words etched deep in his heart many years ago, or perhaps because last time he saw a venomous snake fall upon his son’s neck,
Hong Tianfeng only wished to raise his children well, and ideally, help them escape the ten-thousand mountains of Yongzhou.
So even though he no longer needed to worry about harsh taxes, Hong Tianfeng still chose to risk his life once more by entering the mountains.
This was a father’s hope for his children.
Perhaps Heaven aided him, for in the mountains he hadn’t encountered any bears or other beasts he couldn’t hope to escape.
Instead, he had captured several venomous snakes that were on the verge of hibernation.
“It seems the hour has come. I should head down the mountain now, otherwise Hong Wen and the others will be worried sick.”
Hong Tianfeng patted his snake basket, felt the heavy weight inside, and grinned:
“With these fellows, at least the two children can go study.”
Just as Hong Tianfeng prepared to descend the mountain, behind him, a venomous snake slowly raised its head.
It was Mo Lin, who had been quietly drawn by the noise.
Mo Lin’s pupils shrank.
“It’s that snake catcher from last time!”