Invincible Snake Emperor-Chapter 81 - 80: Wen Qiu and the House Snake Lock Eyes

Fortunately, Tu Xiao'an's efforts finally paid off. The medicinal power of the Snake Gallbladder had fully kicked in, bit by bit clearing out the cancerous cells and repairing Wen Qiu's lung function.

Human will can triumph over fate. Waiting for Heaven to grant a miracle is the way of the weak.

「One hour later.」

Tu Xiao'an withdrew his Consciousness Power, let out a heavy breath of Muddy Qi, and his Snake Pupils glittered.

"Xiao'an, is Mom… is she going to be okay?"

The waiting was agony. Tu Xiaoyue was so nervous she could barely breathe.

"Sis, Sister Meilin, you don't have to worry anymore. The Snake Gallbladder is working. Just let Mom get some good rest."

Tu Xiao'an believed that when his mother woke up tomorrow morning, she would be a completely healthy person, no longer tormented by her illness.

"That's wonderful! That's just wonderful!"

At his words, the two women fell into each other's arms, weeping with relief. There was no greater happiness than knowing their loved one would remain by their side.

If Wen Qiu had died, the two siblings would have truly been left as orphans.

Afterward, the two women and the snake quietly exited Wen Qiu's room, leaving her to rest peacefully. Due to the recent events, the relationship between Tu Xiaoyue and Meilin had also been mended. They were close again, like sisters, holding hands and sharing heartfelt words.

Meanwhile, Tu Xiao'an slithered into the backyard and looked up at the sky. A moon as bright as a mirror hung in the night sky, scattering its silver radiance over the Divine Land.

A gentle evening breeze rustled the trees and grass. The moon was a dazzling beacon in the starry sky, flanked by seemingly tiny, embedded stars. The beauty of the night was breathtaking, and as Tu Xiao'an watched, he grew mesmerized.

'I don't have to worry about Mom's health anymore. Tomorrow will be a new chapter for the Tu Family.'

Sometime after eleven that night, Meilin slowly walked out of the Tu Family's gate. The moment she stepped outside, a great weight was finally lifted from her heart.

'Sister-in-law, you're going to live a long and healthy life,' she thought, a faint smile gracing her beautiful face. 'You have an amazing son.'

Walking toward her red car in the moonlight, Meilin froze for a moment. She saw a tall, imposing middle-aged man leaning against it.

She didn't even need to see his face; she recognized his silhouette at a glance.

Meilin quickly walked over, her long eyelashes trembling slightly. "Senior Brother, since you're here, why didn't you go inside?"

This man was none other than the Snake Catching Master who had processed the Supreme Profound Snake's Gallbladder, He Zhennan.

In truth, He Zhennan had arrived right after Meilin had delivered the Snake Gallbladder.

The difference was, he didn't have the face to enter the Tu Family's home, much less face the gravely ill woman in her bed.

"How is our sister-in-law?" He Zhennan's intense eyes were wide, his brows furrowed with what seemed to be an inconsolable sorrow.

Meilin said softly, "Don't worry, Senior Brother. The Supreme Profound Snake's Gallbladder is working wonders. Sister-in-law is sleeping soundly now. I'm sure that with some time to recuperate, she'll make a full recovery."

"That's good. That's good."

He Zhennan seemed to be muttering to himself, and then he let out a long sigh of relief. His intense eyes were even glistening with a trace of tears.

Ever since he learned that Wen Qiu had terminal lung cancer, He Zhennan had lost all appetite for food and drink, consumed by a state of terror.

He felt he had failed the Tu Family. He had failed that woman.

Ten years ago, her husband had died saving his life, and He Zhennan had been filled with guilt ever since. He tried desperately to make amends, so he took Tu Xiao'an on as his disciple. But he was a disciple in name only; in truth, He Zhennan treated him like his own son.

Unfortunately, a few months ago, Tu Xiao'an had also passed away. This plunged the renowned Snake Catching Master of Bai Town into despair and unbearable agony. The pain was like alcohol poured on an open wound—a heart-wrenching pain that seemed to age him by more than a decade.

When a stray cat is injured, it neither seeks a doctor nor asks for help. It can only lick its own wounds. There are two outcomes: either it heals, or the injury worsens.

Ten years ago, He Zhennan had wished he was the one who had died, instead of being saved only to live forever in guilt.

"Senior Brother, how about I go inside with you for a quick look? It might give you some peace of mind." Meilin understood He Zhennan's bitterness and added, "Sister-in-law is sleeping very soundly right now. Even if you went to see her, she wouldn't know."

He Zhennan stared blankly at the Tu Family's gate, but in the end, he still shook his head. That threshold was like an impassable chasm; he could not cross it.

He took one last look at the Tu Family's house, then turned and slowly walked away. Knowing she was all right was enough. Nothing else mattered.

"Senior Brother, where are you going? Let me give you a ride."

"No, it's fine. I'd like to walk for a bit."

Meilin watched his tall figure retreat, but she could see the sorrow that made him seem hunched over. Abandoning her red car, she hurried after him with small steps. In a coquettish manner, she took his arm and chided, "Senior Brother, now you're just being difficult. It's been so long since we've gotten together, you and I. Why don't we go for a drink tonight?"

He Zhennan didn't shake her hand off, nor did he reply. He just kept walking forward on his own, looking very cold and aloof.

"Senior Brother, don't worry. Sister-in-law took the Supreme Profound Snake's Gallbladder; it's a surefire cure. This is good news! You shouldn't be so gloomy. You should be happy."

"Come on, let's go have a proper drink, just the two of us. We're not going home until we're drunk!"

He Zhennan seemed to be getting a headache from his junior sister's pestering. He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye and said flatly, "You dare to drink with me now? Getting bold, are we?"

"Hehe, do your worst."

The night sky was dotted with stars, the city lights a hazy blur. Silver stars and beads of light seemed to connect. The senior and junior brother, separated in age by a dozen or so years, walked away, their figures receding further and further from the Tu Family home, but the imprints on their souls had long since been left behind.

「Early the next morning.」

Wen Qiu slowly opened her eyes. The first thing she saw was her daughter, her face clear and beautiful, blinking as she gazed down at her.

Then, at the side of her bed, she saw a solid silver-white snake coiled up, also watching her with a pair of unblinking Snake Pupils.

Wen Qiu ignored her daughter, her attention unexpectedly captivated by the gaze of this House Snake.

Venomous snakes are cold, emotionless creatures. They only use their crystalline eyes to cast a cold light, making people fear them.

But right now, in this House Snake's Snake Pupils, she saw an emotion unique to humans.

For a fleeting moment, she even suspected she was seeing things.

A strange feeling toward this House Snake rose from the bottom of her heart—a sense of familiarity, as if it were a family member.

She even felt as if this snake had been with her for more than a decade.

Ever since this House Snake had appeared in their home, Wen Qiu had been utterly respectful toward it. She normally didn't dare to have much contact with the snake, afraid of scaring the little one away.

If a House Snake runs away, it brings misfortune to the family.

This was the first time she had been so close to the House Snake, face to face. It looked at her, and she looked back at it.

Its silver-white stripes shimmered with a faint luster. It was strikingly beautiful—not cold, not frightening at all.

For some reason, she felt an impulse to take this snake into her arms, to cherish and dote on it.