Chapter 31 - The Eye and The Snake (2)

"That is true....but that doesn't mean you weren't once an existence above all others," Guo Feng, his father, said.

"Let me ask you this: am I human?" Yang asked.

"Yes," Ji Ting, his mother, answered. "You were born from my womb. You are my son."

"Good answer. Tell me, do I look like a snake, much less one that is the size of one able to call itself a World Serpent?" Yang asked.

"That's... right," Guo Jing amended. "Then what is the World Snake?"

"Hell if I know," Yang answered. "A thousand years did pass. Lots of things can happen in a thousand years."

"You're not telling them the truth?" Red Shadow asked with a hiss, silenced by a glare from Yang.

"Even Red Shadow does not know and asked me. It and other magical beasts sensed the presence of a powerful magical being, but I can't possibly be it. Look at my cultivation. Do I have the power to make my voice thunder across the continent, much less the world? I don't think so. I am pissed, though. My belongings in the dorm were turned to ash," Yang said.

"Guo Mei then. What happened? In your case, there is no dispute that it was you who caused the secondary round of chaos that night," Guo Jing said.

"I don't know what happened in the beginning, but I was preparing the ritual Grandma told me," Mei said, with Guo Li nodding in support of the fact. "Tribulation lightning struck me and forced the Eye of Darkness to drain it, injuring itself in the process. I only remember sealing it and destroying its consciousness. I gained the light element and fainted after my success and changes in my Spirit Realm."

"You do have a strange ability to have both light and darkness now. I don't know how you are without pain, but your story must be true," Guo Li said.

"People have been arriving in the Pangu Continent since that night. What will happen to the kids?" Ji Ting asked.

"People are calling it the Day of the Eye and the Snake. News has spread of the Eye of Darkness being subdued. No doubt, it is the work of one who wishes to use others to find the other Fragments of Darkness," Guo Feng continued.

"Yang'er is unrelated to this, and Mei'er has sealed the Eye of Darkness. No one will be able to detect the Eye within her anymore. That ritual should make it so," Guo Li said.

"We can only hope no trouble comes to Gold Lotus City. Well, the prince and niece of the emperor are here, as well as a retired imperial guard captain at the Earth Mortal Stage. We can only worry about Lin'er now. He will soon unlock the secrets of his Yin Yang Divine Tattoo before reaching the Earth Mortal Stage. His value will absolutely skyrocket. We must increase security in our clan's city district," Guo Jing answered. "Feng'er, go and release my orders to the clan about security. Also, give today's quota of herbs to the Alchemist Association early and tell them that we can still provide poisonous herbs."

"We can?" Guo Feng asked.

"Of course. Yang'er invented a poison detoxification device that absorbs the poison in the air around you," Guo Jing said as he held up a strange black stone with poisonous gases seen inside the permeable stone. "It is a curious thing. No idea how it is made, but the poison destroys the toxins in the air around the herbs. Of course, stronger poisons cannot be neutralized.

"How did you make it?" he asked.

"I dunno. After I awoke, knowledge just appeared in my head. Maybe it came from the tribulation lightning?" Yang shrugged, which was mostly true. He was able to survive because of the neidan refining it as it drained the lightning to protect him.

"In any event, the good news is that Mei'er does not need to kill anymore," Ji Ting sighed with relief, glancing at Mei, who smiled.

"You two return home and get some rest. My phoenix told me of your rigorous training, and Yang'er is behaving himself," Guo Li said.

"Yes, the threat of more avian magical beasts watching over me is utterly terrifying. I am very amused by this," Yang said sarcastically. "You do realize I don't give a shit and can kill them as I wish?"

"My phoenix is at the Meteor Vessel Stage. You cannot possibly kill it, and it can forcibly expel your poison from its body, as its cultivation is higher than yours. It is also smart enough to avoid the vials containing your many external poisons," Guo Li said.

"Oh, grandmother. You truly underestimate my power. Not all poisons need to be in the body to kill you," Yang smiled malevolently.

"Yang'er, you must listen to her and behave. You might anger a supreme expert when one visits the city," Ji Ting warned.

"I know when to display my strength and whom I shouldn't anger. I was a snake magical beast once. Our true danger is our cunning," Yang replied and left with Mei behind him, pausing when they arrived in front of Yang's parents' house, as Yang no longer lived there but escorted Mei. Clearly, he knew he would have to address her concerns and already knew the right words to say to lead her toward his goal.

"You are going to kill people now," Mei said. It wasn't a question she asked; she knew the answer.

"You get me. Yes, I will kill people now. My strength is weak. Things are coming into motion, and we will need to be prepared," Yang said.

"We?" Mei frowned.

"We are siblings, and you hold a Fragment of Darkness. If anyone can detect a Fragment of Lightning by means of its Elemental Sovereign energy, then it is you. Your life will be filled with danger. I relish it, the feeling of a part of me from my centuries of running from stronger enemies and predators. I am also above such trivial creatures, their potential dwarfed by my own. By being with you, I can drain the spirit energy and life force of the many powerful humans and magical beasts that seek to kill you for the Eye," Yang answered. "I am all powerful."

"Are you a narcissist?" she asked.

"Me? Hahahaha! No. It is because I am the World Serpent. I am the first serpent dragon," Yang said, staring into her eyes. "We need each other to survive. You need my knowledge and power, and I need that Eye inside you and the greed that comes with it. People will eventually discover who you are or that you have a Yin Yang Divine Tattoo. Mine is undetectable, but yours must surely be noticed by the imperial guard by now. They are plotting something. That Sima Qing should also be one of the emperor's many daughters. I feel it is a good decision to stay in the Mortal Realm now. I am the strongest snake in existence, and I can still appear human. Ah, how fun."

"Sima Qing is the princess?....Well, she must be. If you say so, it must be true. I already knew you were the dragon. Who else could have been? Still, are you suggesting we delve into imperial politics?" Mei asked.

"How? So you have gotten smarter as well. That's a good sister," Yang mocked as he patted her head.

"Stop it," she snapped and looked at him.

"Okay, fine. Yes, I want to delve into human politics. From all the rumors and intrigues, it resembles a den of snakes. So many lies and deceptions, all for the ultimate prey: the throne. It makes me feel... nostalgia. I think that's the general human term," Yang admitted. "So, will you cause havoc in the world with me?"

"Is that a proposal?" she asked.

"No idea what that is, but it is an accord," Yang grinned. "This world has become too tame. The dragons slumber, and the avian magical beasts multiply in numbers ten times the amount I slaughtered. Immortality calls for me, beckoning my very soul. Soon, the demons will make their move. They have to. You subduing the Eye has accelerated their plans. Whether you admit it or not, you just might have caused the beginning of the end of human dominance and become the hallmark for the rise of the demons. They will seek you out. They will turn you, and you will be their Demon Empress. I was never a demonic magical beast, just an ordinary snake that became extraordinary against my own will. Life does that to you."

"Is that truly the price of my freedom?" she asked silently.

"The whole world is changing with news of what you and I did, you in particular. You and I are involved. You can't run from it either. That is one destiny you cannot change," Yang answered.

"....Fine. Let's do this after we graduate. We'll go to the Royal Academy and learn in the palace alongside Lin," Mei said.

"He is not involved with us. He was born talented and with an innocent life. There is no reason to have his childhood ruined as ours was. Let him enjoy the comfort and support of his family. I am truly envious of him, you know. I don't feel a particular connection to humans. I've lived too long and already died once. There is an emptiness that can never be filled, an injury that can never heal. Rest now. We'll meet with the prince and hear them out. Let me do the talking then," Yang said and left her to go back to his private house in the poisonous garden.

"What sad words," Mei said, realizing he had truly suffered more than she ever did. "I guess Lin is the lucky triplet after all. I guess that was the real reason I was jealous of him."