Just as Jinlin said, once Adai recognized her as its master, it could no longer harm her, so the wound naturally ceased to exist.
What a magical world, Yun Qingxue couldn’t help but marvel once again.
With the threat gone, she took her first proper look at Adai.
Perhaps embarrassed by Yun Qingxue’s unabashed gaze, Adai’s tiny black bean-like eyes lost all the fierce intensity it had when confronting Jinlin earlier, becoming shy and evasive.
To be honest, setting aside most girls’ instinctive aversion to snakes and caterpillars, Adai was actually a very beautiful little venomous snake.
Unlike the triangular-headed venomous snakes Yun Qingxue knew, Adai had a round head. Its scales were transparent, and beneath them, a faint, glowing purple emanated from within its body—an elegant and mysterious hue. Its small black eyes sparkled brightly.
“Hiss~ hiss~” Feeling thoroughly embarrassed by Yun Qingxue’s direct stare, Adai flicked its tongue, trying to ease its shyness.
Yun Qingxue smiled.
A beauty’s smile could topple cities. Adai’s little snake eyes locked onto Yun Qingxue’s face, staring dumbfounded, utterly enchanted.
“Muah!” Without hesitation, Yun Qingxue planted a kiss on Adai’s head.
At first, she had feared and disliked it, but now that Adai had formed a contract with her, Yun Qingxue’s feelings had quietly shifted.
No longer a threat and now her ally, Adai seemed utterly adorable and endearing in her eyes—every glance only made it more lovable!
“Hiss~ hiss~” Adai flicked its tongue again, its translucent lavender body even turning a faint pink.
A wave of intense resentment suddenly radiated from the side. “Qingxue, how can a girl like you just kiss someone so casually?”
“Adai is a snake, not a person,” Yun Qingxue retorted, shaking the little snake in her hand at Jinlin.
“It’s male!” Jinlin glared coldly at Adai, who now looked dazed and foolish. Stupid snake, wretched snake, little venomous snake!
“So what?” Yun Qingxue didn’t care. Adai might be male, but it was just a little snake—kissing it was no big deal.
“So what?” Jinlin fumed, then suddenly had an idea.
A dazzling golden light flashed, and Yun Qingxue took a step back as a massive, golden dragon head appeared before her.
“Now I’m not in human form either, so you can kiss me too,” the dragon head said with a cheeky grin.
Yun Qingxue reached out toward the dragon head.
“Ow!” Jinlin, now in his true form, yelped in pain. His large dragon eyes welled up as he whined, “Why did you pull my whiskers?”
Realizing she had hurt him, Yun Qingxue quickly let go, apologizing, “I’m sorry!”
“It’s fine,” Jinlin’s pout instantly turned into a smile, his big eyes fixed on her. “Now can you kiss me?”
“Thud!”
“Ah!”
A dull thud and a cry of pain sounded simultaneously. Jinlin instantly reverted to human form, clutching his nose and looking at Yun Qingxue like a wronged puppy. “You hit me again!”
“Hmph! Perverted dragon!” Yun Qingxue turned her head haughtily. “Adai, let’s go!”
“Hiss~ hiss~” As Yun Qingxue descended the stairs with Adai coiled around her wrist, the little snake’s tiny eyes locked onto Jinlin, who was still holding his nose. If its eyes weren’t so small, Jinlin would have clearly seen the gloating in its gaze.
But even small eyes didn’t stop Adai from making its smugness known. The little venomous snake flicked its tongue tauntingly at Jinlin while wagging its tiny tail.
“Hiss~ hiss~”
“Hiss~ hiss~”
Adai’s provocation left Jinlin fuming, one hand clutching his nose and the other shaking as he pointed at it.
What ingratitude! What betrayal! What heartlessness! After all these years of raising it, this wretched little snake had turned on him! π_π
As Yun Qingxue reached the bottom of the stairs, the maid waiting by the entrance respectfully opened the door for her. Shiyu stood quietly nearby, waiting.
Seeing Yun Qingxue emerge, she asked politely, “Would the young lady like to take a stroll or return to her quarters?”
After a brief thought, Yun Qingxue replied, “Take me around to see the sights.”
In her past life, strolling through the Dragon King’s crystal palace would have been nothing short of a fantasy. Now that she had the chance, it would be a shame not to explore.
Shiyu smiled. “Then this servant will take the young lady to the Coral Garden. Its scenery is the most beautiful in the entire Dragon Palace.”
“Wonderful.”
The most beautiful in the entire Dragon Palace—Shiyu’s words piqued Yun Qingxue’s curiosity.
“Please follow me, young lady.”
Shiyu led the way, and Yun Qingxue followed closely. After a while, she glanced back and saw a labyrinth of winding paths behind her.
Yun Qingxue realized that if she had to find her way back to the white pavilion where she had dined with Jinlin, she would never manage it. The twisting paths truly resembled a maze.
*”Through endless ages, no beauty surpasses,
A sight to delight, a maiden so fair.
A face to topple kingdoms,
A wonder to the world.”*
Just as Yun Qingxue turned her head, a clear, melodious male voice rang out.
In the next instant, like a fleeting shadow, a silver flash crossed her vision, and a young man of seventeen or eighteen appeared in her line of sight.
The youth wore a long silver robe adorned with water patterns, standing tall and elegant. His upturned eyes sparkled with intelligence and mischief.
He stood there, exuding three parts charm and seven parts wildness, his lively eyes boldly appraising Yun Qingxue.
“This servant greets Young Master Shui Liu,” Shiyu curtsied respectfully.
“No need for such formalities! No need! I’m not one for rules,” Shui Liu waved dismissively, his gleaming eyes fixed on Yun Qingxue as he grinned. “Didn’t expect Jinlin—dull as he is—to have such good taste!”
While Shui Liu studied Yun Qingxue, she was also sizing him up.
“Hello.”
Uncertain of his identity but aware that someone who could move freely in the Dragon Palace and command respect from the maidservants must be of high status, Yun Qingxue quickly analyzed the situation and greeted him politely yet distantly.
“Hello, beauty,” Shui Liu replied, his eyes never leaving her. His gaze wasn’t lecherous, merely one of pure admiration.
“Where are you two headed?” he asked Yun Qingxue and Shiyu.
“Young Master Shui, this servant is taking Miss Yun to the Coral Garden,” Shiyu answered with a smile.
“Perfect! I’m heading there too. Miss Yun, would you mind if I joined you?”
“Of course not. A guest follows the host’s lead,” Yun Qingxue replied with a radiant smile.
“Then, Miss Yun, after you,” Shui Liu said courteously.
PS: Seeking recommendations, collections, and comments! It’s too quiet—Shaohua is losing motivation to write! Dear readers, give me some encouragement! Give me some encouragement! Give me some encouragement! (Important things must be said three times (>^w^<))
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage