Encountering a Snake - Chapter 28

After setting off the fireworks and having a late-night snack, Shen Qingxuan returned to his courtyard. Yi Mo was inside the room, standing by the window, watching the fireworks rise and fall against the night sky. Shen Qingxuan joined him, both silently watching until the fireworks faded away in the distance, leaving only the faint scent of gunpowder lingering in the air.

The New Year’s Eve night had finally quieted down.

Rubbing his temples, Shen Qingxuan said, “I’ve had too much to drink tonight. How about we go to the hot spring?”

Yi Mo turned to him. “The effects of the alcohol haven’t worn off. Soaking in the hot spring will only make you more drunk.”

“Let me get drunk then,” Shen Qingxuan replied. “I just want to indulge.”

Yi Mo said no more. He scooped Shen Qingxuan up in his arms and carried him towards the hot spring. As they traveled, Shen Qingxuan only heard the wind whistling in his ears. Since it was nighttime and nothing was visible, he thought to himself that flying through the air like this wasn’t particularly enjoyable; walking leisurely would have at least allowed him to take in the scenery.

They arrived at the hot spring in the blink of an eye. Once submerged in the warm water, Shen Qingxuan began to feel dizzy, his face flushed, his heart raced, and his breath became irregular. His vision blurred as if a layer of white gauze covered his eyes. The heat from the water, combined with the alcohol, had indeed made him thoroughly drunk.

Leaning against the warm rock, Shen Qingxuan struggled to stay awake and whispered, “Yi Mo, hold me. I’m finding it hard to breathe.”

Yi Mo reached out and pulled him into his arms. Their skin pressed against each other, cool against warm, and they both let out an involuntary sigh. The comfort they felt was beyond words.

Shen Qingxuan’s overheated body finally felt at ease, and the burning sensation inside him dissipated as their skin touched. He couldn’t help but rest his head on Yi Mo’s shoulder, murmuring, “When summer comes, I’ll cling to you like this every day. It would feel so comfortable. In winter, you can cling to me, and I’ll hold you. How does that sound?”

Yi Mo responded, “It’s not a bad idea, but would you dare do this in front of others?”

Shen Qingxuan was probably too drunk to think clearly and immediately replied, “It doesn’t matter. If someone comes, you can transform into a snake and hide in my clothes.”

Yi Mo didn’t think much of it either and said, “Why don’t I transform into a snake now?”

Shen Qingxuan chuckled and said, “Sure.”

Perhaps it was the alcohol. Yi Mo, receiving Shen Qingxuan’s consent, actually transformed into a snake. In an instant, he became a cold-blooded creature covered in fine scales. Under the moonlight, his long, thick snake body wrapped around Shen Qingxuan, the triangular head hovering in the air, flicking its red tongue.

Shen Qingxuan, eyes bleary from the drink, stared at him blankly. The snake’s head moved closer and closer, but he made no move to avoid it, just continued to stare. Then, tilting his head slightly, he commented, “It’s not that ugly.”

After speaking, he hugged the snake body tighter, his head resting on it, almost drifting off to sleep.

Seeing this, Yi Mo reverted to his human form. He cradled Shen Qingxuan in his arms and pinched his waist, warning, “Don’t fall asleep!”

Shen Qingxuan, eyes still closed, hummed in protest, “I’m not sleeping, just too comfortable.”

Yi Mo replied, “There are things even more comfortable.”

Shen Qingxuan slowly lifted his head, squinting at him for a long while before breaking into a smile. “I remember.” He then tightened his embrace, moved closer, and bit down on Yi Mo’s lips. After nibbling, his alcohol-laden tongue slipped inside, entwining with Yi Mo’s.

Yi Mo’s hand roamed down Shen Qingxuan’s back, stroking his waist and gradually sliding lower, his fingers teasing the sensitive area. Shen Qingxuan moaned softly and kissed him more passionately. With the buoyancy of the water, his hips began to move, gripping Yi Mo’s fingers tightly. Soon, Shen Qingxuan couldn’t hold on anymore and, pulling away from the kiss, leaned on Yi Mo’s shoulder, panting, “Come inside… come inside, I want you.”

Yi Mo spread Shen Qingxuan’s legs and, in one swift motion, pushed himself into the soft, heat-soaked opening.

Leaning against the rock, Shen Qingxuan felt the rough surface dig into his back, and the sensation of being stretched below caused a stinging pain. But the mix of pain and pleasure oddly satisfied him. It was as if the pain was deserved—the more it hurt, the more it soothed the torment in his heart. He thought, *It should hurt. I deserve it because of my greed, because I am bad. I deserve this pain.*

Grabbing Yi Mo’s loose hair, Shen Qingxuan rasped, “Deeper… go deeper… mm…” As if understanding his unspoken thoughts, Yi Mo thrust harder and harder, pulling out completely before plunging in again as if to pin him in place. Without any lubricant, the entrance wasn’t slick but rather felt rough from the hot water. The more Shen Qingxuan hurt, the tighter he gripped, his body contracting harshly whether Yi Mo was entering or withdrawing. The obvious discomfort was not from the physical act but from something Yi Mo couldn’t quite name. He knew this unease came from the man in his arms, so he continued with even more force. Each thrust brought Shen Qingxuan to moan, the sound circling around Yi Mo’s ears—more pain than pleasure—yet still begging him to go deeper and faster.

They unknowingly pushed each other to the limit, forcing the other to feel more discomfort.

When they finally stopped, Shen Qingxuan had sobered up quite a bit. He opened his eyes and looked at Yi Mo, and the two were silent.

It felt as though they had a thousand things to say, but each thought turned and twisted, only to hit a dead end—an inevitable conclusion of no happy ending.

It was that kind of hopelessness, knowing there was no future yet unable to stop hoping. Shen Qingxuan could only taste bitterness at the back of his tongue.

Finally, burying himself in Yi Mo’s familiar embrace, Shen Qingxuan mumbled once more, “If there’s a next life, don’t look for me. I won’t recognize you, never!” The last two words were clearly a vow, spoken through clenched teeth.

Yi Mo held him, thinking to himself, *Of course, I won’t search for you.* Yet, he couldn’t help but let out a soft sigh from somewhere deep inside.

Back in the room, Shen Qingxuan lay on the bed. The candle on the bedside table flickered, casting a warm glow over the bed. He reached for some ointment from a hidden compartment and, with Yi Mo watching, carefully applied it to himself. The area was already red and swollen, but the ointment gave it a glossy sheen, the vivid color even more enticing. He purposely clenched and relaxed, letting the freshly lubricated area tighten and then slowly open under Yi Mo’s gaze.

Though he had been drinking, this act was undeniably lewd. The last time, Yi Mo had forced him, but this time, he willingly went along, and it was even more debauched. Shen Qingxuan tried to play drunk but couldn’t conceal his flushed face. His wet hair spread out on the bed, giving him an enticingly seductive air under the soft, orange candlelight.

Yi Mo watched, but didn’t move for a long time.

Feeling the weight of his gaze, Shen Qingxuan started to blush all over, unable to bear the heat. He propped himself up on his elbows, tugging at Yi Mo’s sleeve, and asked in a soft voice, “Don’t you want me?”

The one who had ignited the fire was immediately pinned beneath Yi Mo. Without another word, Yi Mo entered him swiftly. Having already prepared himself well, and with the added lubrication from the ointment, Shen Qingxuan felt no pain, only the sensation of being filled completely. He couldn’t help but wrap his arms around Yi Mo, moaning indulgently.

Yi Mo, usually silent during their time together, couldn’t suppress the feeling of being tightly squeezed by Shen Qingxuan’s body and let out a low groan. His thrusts became more intense, to the point that Shen Qingxuan’s mind was spinning, and he clung to Yi Mo, unable to decide whether to beg for mercy or urge him to go even harder.

“Does it feel good?” Yi Mo whispered, his voice low as he lowered his head to bite and suck on Shen Qingxuan’s pale neck, leaving behind vivid marks that gleamed under the water’s reflection.

“Mm… it feels good… I want more, deeper…” Shen Qingxuan answered truthfully.

Yi Mo lifted his legs and placed them on his own shoulders, then leaned down. Shen Qingxuan’s knees were pressed against his chest, his back bent nearly in half. This position made his hips tilt high, and Yi Mo thrust down violently, going extremely deep. Shen Qingxuan screamed, “Ah!” as tears instantly slid from his flushed eyes. Yi Mo lifted his waist and sank down again, asking, “Is it deep enough?”

“Enough… enough…” Shen Qingxuan cried, shaking his head as he clutched Yi Mo’s shoulders. It was too deep, so deep that it almost gave him the illusion of being pierced through. Yet, his intestinal walls gripped the massive intruder tightly, as if insatiable, or as if trying to bind it firmly in place, leaving no room for escape.

Yi Mo only felt waves of sweet pleasure coming from where he was bound, reverberating through his body, spreading to his limbs and even dulling his mind, leaving him with nothing but the urge to bury himself deeper and deeper. Amidst the overwhelming bliss, there was a hidden tranquility. With every inch he pushed deeper, that tranquility grew stronger. He repeatedly buried himself all the way in, sometimes even pausing motionless within the warm, pliable wetness, as if he could see his own form in that hidden, dark place. The darkness was warm and tightly enveloped his base, like the roots of a tree buried deep in fertile soil, like a wanderer returning home.

The pleasure was as overwhelming as a disaster, nearly consuming him entirely.

The fire Shen Qingxuan ignited eventually burned both of them, leaving nothing behind.

It wasn’t until daylight broke that the two fell asleep in each other’s sticky embrace.

While they experienced the height of ecstasy, no one knew that Lord Shen didn’t sleep at all that night.

Lord Shen was a man of the world. Though he had never indulged in relations with other men, he had heard rumors of such things. He had always found them absurd and never paid them much attention. But now his own son was involved with a man—who wasn’t even human. His mind was in turmoil throughout the night, unsure how to resolve the matter.

When dawn broke and the sound of servants cleaning the courtyard reached his ears, Lord Shen turned in bed and lay there for a moment longer before rising. He called for the old steward to come.

The old steward arrived hurriedly, his mind racing with guesses about what might be happening, but to his surprise, his master said nothing of significance. He merely asked about the people and events surrounding his eldest son recently and inquired about the details of Yi Mo’s arrival at the estate. Though surprised, the steward found it within reason, as he was the one who managed the servants and was always the first to notice anything strange.

Before his master, whom he had served for decades, the old steward withheld nothing, recounting everything in detail—from the fight between Xu Mingshi and Yi Mo that night, Xu Mingshi’s repeated mention of an “old demon,” to the eldest son’s sudden return to the mountain after taking a concubine, Yi Mo’s second appearance, the strange sleepiness of the maids in the eldest son’s courtyard, and the sudden appearance of an infant. He told everything clearly, without embellishment or distortion.

Lord Shen listened in silence, staring blankly at the teapot on the table.

The old steward cleared his throat and said softly, “Master, that Xu Mingshi is said to be a Taoist. Perhaps when he returns, you could ask him for more details.”

Lord Shen came back to his senses and thought for a while before nodding.

The old steward continued, “Then…”

“You may go back to your duties. When Xu Mingshi returns, bring him to see me.”

“Yes, sir,” the old steward replied respectfully and withdrew.

Lord Shen thought of Shen Qingxuan’s voice. They had sought out so many doctors, including some renowned for their skill, but all had said his voice could not be restored. The reason was simple—it had been screamed hoarse. When he was rescued from the frozen lake at the age of eight, his mouth was full of blood. It wasn’t due to any spleen injury; the source of sound in his throat had been damaged. Every time Lord Shen thought of it, his heart ached unbearably. How terrified must he have been to scream continuously, until his voice gave out entirely?

Pressing a hand to his eyes, Lord Shen steadied his emotions and finally sighed. Since Yi Mo could heal his voice, it stood to reason that he could heal his legs as well. For this alone, even if he wanted to take action against Yi Mo, he couldn’t. The Shen family had always repaid kindness a hundredfold, and they were one of the most respected families in the city, trusted by the common people. Even their tenant farmers were never treated harshly. How could they repay kindness with ingratitude? But how best to repay this kindness, Lord Shen couldn’t decide at the moment.

He could only wait—for Xu Mingshi to return and for everything to be sorted out before making a decision.

Xu Mingshi returned to the Shen estate on the fifth day. As soon as he stepped over the threshold, the steward called for him and led him to Lord Shen’s study. These two men, who had barely exchanged a few words before, talked behind closed doors for the entire afternoon. No one knew what they discussed, not even the steward waiting outside. It wasn’t until dinner that Xu Mingshi emerged, his expression gloomy but otherwise revealing nothing. Meanwhile, Lord Shen sat alone in his room for a long time, allowing no one to disturb him, deep in thought.

Shen Qingxuan was unaware of this. He was busy with various affairs. After the Lantern Festival on the fifteenth of the first month, he threw himself back into work, officially taking over the family’s business. He had to deal with finances, land, shops, and goods—reconciling accounts, calculating monthly profits and losses, collecting rent from tenant farmers, and even keeping track of the weather in distant regions. He was so busy that he barely had time for a cup of tea.

Fortunately, the busyness only lasted a few months. After three months, Shen Qingxuan finally got everything in order and had some leisure time.

Though he had more free time, Shen Qingxuan knew he was no longer the man who waited for the sunrise and watched the sunset in the mountains. Now, he had to rise early every morning, regardless of the weather, to pay his respects to his parents. If there were matters to attend to, he would leave. If not, they would have breakfast together. Afterward, he would stroll around the courtyard with the baby when he had free time. After lunch, he would usually visit the shops, or the steward would bring people to discuss matters with him, usually over trivial business disputes or renewing or terminating shop leases. If he returned early, he could still play with the increasingly lively little one. But if he returned late, the little wolf cub would already be asleep, completely ignoring him, blissfully asleep.

Yi Mo sometimes came, sometimes didn’t. When he came, they would cuddle affectionately as if they had never been apart.

When Yi Mo didn’t come, it didn’t matter either. Shen Qingxuan continued living his life as usual, as if Yi Mo had never left, as if he were always by his side.

Before long, summer arrived. Shen Qingxuan switched to light clothing and wore a gauzy blue robe. When Yi Mo visited one day, the heat made Shen Qingxuan cling to him, refusing to let go.

The air was hot and humid, even the baby was tossing and turning in his sleep from the heat. It was only when Shen Qingxuan embraced Yi Mo that he finally felt relief. A body like this was perfect for staying cool in the summer. And when winter came, he would cling to Yi Mo for warmth, even if letting go would make him cold again. But after holding each other for a while, the body would gradually warm up.

All he wanted was to be able to hold him, no matter how hot or cold it got, to feel him there, solid and real, in his arms. Whether it was for the cool comfort of summer or the biting cold of winter, he never wanted to let go.

This desire, to hold on no matter the cost.

He didn’t wish for the next life; this life was enough.