Within the clear pond, a small azure snake was coiled up at the bottom of the pond. The water surface bubbled with the snake"s breathing.

It was shrouded in the morning sunlight.

At the bottom of the water, the little azure snake moved gently as it slowly opened its virid eyes.

What a… wonderful sleep.

As the snake floated up to the surface, its virid eyes shrank in excitement. Before it was about to yawn, it saw a figure standing below the sun. 

On that morning, the man was dressed in a snowy white cloth. He was cool like a fairy.

He stood with his back facing the snake from the start. The figure was light in shape as it looked like a celestial being from the painting, a celestial being which had amazed all the living creatures. 

"Master!!!"

Was Master back?

Finally, the snake did not have to live in fear all the time anymore? 

The azure snake jumped out from the pond excitedly and rushed toward the man…

Suddenly…

The man in front turned around slowly, raised his hand and grabbed it. Before the snake could land in his arms, he had already caught it in his hand.

"Master, the princess was abducted by a brat. His name was Qin Chen or something. Feng Ruqing brought him to the palace to see me once!"

As soon as Nan Xian returned, the azure snake could not wait to complain. Its eyes were filled with grief… how pitiful it was. 

Nan Xian lowered his eyes.

Qin Chen?

Inside his mind, he could not help but see the young man who was standing next to Feng Ruqing yesterday. His cold eyes were colder than before.

"Oh yes, Master, when did you come back?" The snake sounded mortified, "If you come back a few days later, I might… have turned into a snake soup and become the dinner of the princess and that adulterer. 

Nan Xian gave the snake a confused look. "I was back yesterday."

But the azure snake had already slept for one day and one night…

"…"

Qing Zhu was shocked. Master had returned yesterday… and it didn"t even notice? 

The snake was afraid that Nan Xian would think that it was useless as it could not even notice that he was back. It quickly changed the subject by showing excitement.

"Master, why don"t we drive the adulterer away? I knew he"s into something bad when I first saw him!"

Nan Xian became very thoughtful.

"You did not stay by her side?"

"Uhm…"

If it had stayed by the princess"s side, how could it be still alive when Master returned?

Qing Zhu"s voice was weak. "Master, the princess… wanted to cook me and serve me to the emperor as snake soup. I"m scared…"

"Oh."

Oh?

Qing Zhu"s eyes popped widely.

What did Master mean by "oh"? Did it imply that he could understand why the snake was reluctant to stay by the princess, or… he had agreed that the princess could cook and eat the snake?

Nan Xian lowered his eyes and looked at the little snake that he was holding carefully. His lips were lifted into a vague smile, and his eyes were still as cold as the moonlight.

"Snake soup… that"s a nutritious thing. Besides, it"s made from you. She… has good taste."

Ahhhh!

Qing Zhu was shocked and almost fell from Nan Xian"s hand. Its body was trembling, its voice was shaking, and tears were rolling in its eyes.

"Master, you did not act like that before. You have changed, you"re not the master whom I know anymore!"

Apparently, the snake was not its master"s flesh nor blood. That was why the master had never loved the snake. To be with that human girl, he was even willing to make it into snake soup…

Sob sob! The snake wanted to run away from home and never come back again!