Chapter 5 — Little Fish and the White Serpent

A sudden wave of sorrow and profound emotion surged within my chest. I opened my lips, intending to utter something in response, when the bedroom door was violently thrust open. A cold, sardonic voice sliced through the heavy air.

How utterly touching. He leaned his back lazily against the wooden doorframe, folding his arms tightly across his chest. A pitch-black serpent of unknown origin, and with merely a couple of sweet words, he has you spinning in the palm of his hand. Jiang Du, are you truly this naive, or are you simply pretending to be a fool?

Night Brightness’s gaze instantly turned glacial. He straightened his tall frame immediately, his thick serpent tail slowly slithering upward from behind to form an impenetrable barrier shielding me safely at his back.

What is it that you just spewed from your mouth?

Faning let out a harsh, mocking chuckle. Do not for a second assume I am unaware of what schemes you are plotting in the dark. He stepped forward aggressively, puffing out his chest with arrogant defiance right before Night Brightness.

The black serpent clan was completely exterminated thirty years ago on charges of high treason. Faning shifted his cold gaze back to me. They desired nothing less than to overthrow the stellar government and replace the noble white serpent lineage, and the ultimate consequence of their ambitions was total annihilation. Do you honestly believe this surviving serpent is a gentle, harmless creature?

Night Brightness remained entirely silent, offering no counter-argument. Instead, he unconsciously pressed his body even closer to mine. This reaction only fueled Faning’s arrogant triumph.

Look at him, Jiang Du. Do you have any inkling of how many innocent lives stain those hands of his? Do you even know the real reason why he has been hunted down relentlessly across the stars?

Enough. I finally spoke, cutting through his cruel narrative.

Faning froze in place, utterly stunned. I sidestepped past Night Brightness, stepping directly into Faning’s personal space.

Faning, have you completely finished running your mouth?

I...

If you are quite done, then pack your things and return to your own room immediately.

His expression twisted in disbelief and anger. I only did this because I have your best interests at heart... I cut him off sharply. Your idea of having my best interests at heart is calling me an eyesore and an ugly creature every single day? Is it shoving me off the bed and onto the cold floor? Is it repeatedly rubbing it in my face that I am utterly unworthy of bearing your children? A sharp, stabbing pain constricted my heart. Though I had always claimed outwardly that I cared not for his words, the sting remained deep within my soul. Yet, it mattered no longer. Some truths had to be voiced aloud, some realities faced head-on, before one could finally let go and find peace.

Faning, I am painfully aware of what I look like, and I know full well that I am not worthy of your precious affection. That is why I never once tried to force you into anything. Whatever foolish delusions I harbored in the past died here today. It shall never happen again.

The color drained entirely from Faning’s face. He parted his lips, desperately wanting to say something, but Night Brightness had already stepped forward to block my body completely from his line of sight. I could hear Faning’s desperate plea behind that broad shoulder: Jiang Du, I am giving you one final chance. Come back to me. Yet at that moment, my eyes were filled only with the wide, sturdy back of Night Brightness—a back broad enough to withstand any storm and shield me from every single blade aimed at my heart. I reached out and gently grasped Night Brightness’s hand in mine. That simple touch was my final, irrevocable answer.

Faning packed his things in a rage and stormed out of the house. Ever since the day he had first arrived at my doorstep, he had never once stepped foot outside, but this time, it appeared my words had driven him entirely out of his mind. It was well past midnight by the time he finally returned. Hearing the heavy front door click open, I slowly sat up from the narrow folding cot, watching as Faning stumbled heavily into the room, reeking overwhelmingly of cheap alcohol. Catching sight of me in the dim light, he paused for a fraction of a second before lurching forward. It was only then that I noticed he had discarded his snake tail entirely, shifting his lower body into a pair of human legs.

Jiang Du.

He squatted down directly in front of me, planting his hands on either side of the folding cot to trap me in place. His deep blue eyes, swallowed by the surrounding shadows, suppressed a strange, indescribable flicker of light.

Jiang Du, all those times you treated me with such foolish kindness in the past... was it simply because you harbored feelings for me?

I remained mute, offering no reply. A stray lock of his dark hair fell messily across his forehead, and without thinking, I raised a hand to brush it aside.

In the past, I found your presence utterly irritating, his voice dropped to a low, gravelly murmur. An unsightly creature like you, by what right did you treat me so well? And by what twisted logic should I have ever returned your affection?

I responded with an utter calmness that surprised even myself. It does not matter anymore. From now on, things will be different. Whatever actions of mine you found displeasing, I shall cease entirely.

Now... He choked on his words, freezing momentarily. No, you cannot simply...

He raised a trembling hand, intending to cup my cheek. But his fingers suddenly locked in mid-air. A long, powerful black serpent tail had tightly coiled itself around his wrist. Night Brightness had awakened at some point, his emerald-green eyes staring down at Faning with a chilling, predatory intensity.

Do not dare lay a finger on her.

Faning’s suppressed fury erupted instantly in a torrent of red-hot rage. What in the world do you think you are?

I am nothing at all, Night Brightness replied, his tone chillingly level and serene. But you, you lost the qualification to ever touch her long ago.

The two men glared at each other like cornered beasts, the invisible tension between them thickening into something explosive. Suddenly, a bitter, vicious laugh escaped Faning’s lips. Just how much longer did you think you could keep up this pathetic act? What on earth did those cryptic words mean? Before I could properly process his warning, the front door was battered by a series of violent, thunderous knocks. A harsh voice bellowed from the hallway outside.

Miss Jiang Du, we are officers from the Ecological City Public Security Administration. A formal report has been filed accusing you of the illegal harboring of a high-risk serpent-clan demi-human. Open the door immediately and cooperate with our investigation.

My heart plummeted straight down into an abyss. A high-risk serpent clan member? My instinctive reaction was to turn my head toward Night Brightness. He stood unmoving in his exact spot, his expression remaining completely undisturbed. The dark tail still firmly wrapped around Faning’s wrist did not loosen by even a fraction of an inch. He remained stubbornly resolute in his protection, ensuring Faning could no longer harass me. Faning slowly rose to his feet, the corners of his mouth curling upward into an ugly sneer of absolute disdain.

Well now? He shot a sidelong glance at Night Brightness. Are you finally done putting on this pathetic little performance?

Night Brightness completely ignored him, turning his upper body entirely toward me instead.

Jiang Du, do not be afraid.

It was only at this very moment that he finally stripped away the naive, harmless facade he had carefully maintained in front of me day after day. The banging on the heavy wooden door resumed, growing exponentially more violent than before.

Miss Jiang Du, we demand that you unlock this door this instant to assist with our official inquiry!

I drew in a deep, trembling breath, squared my shoulders, and walked over to turn the handle. Standing outside in the sterile hallway was a group of stern-looking men in enforcement uniforms, led by a middle-aged officer with sharp, unforgiving eyes.

Miss Jiang Du, apologies for disturbing your rest at such a late hour, the man stated coldly, flashing his identification badge briefly. We received a credible tip-off regarding your harboring of a high-risk serpent-class demi-human. We are legally required to enter your premises and conduct a thorough search.

What high-risk serpent are you babbling about? I planted myself squarely in the doorway to block their path. I am hiding no one inside my home.

Whether someone is hidden here or not is something we can only determine after a complete search of the premises.

He tilted his chin arrogantly, gesturing sharply to the three burly guards standing behind him, who instantly surged forward to push past me.

Wait just a moment! I threw my arms out to bar their entry. Do you even possess a legal search warrant?

A condescending smile touched the corners of the middle-aged officer's lips. Miss Jiang Du, when dealing with classified high-risk subjects, our department is fully authorized to execute emergency protocols on the spot. If you persist in obstructing justice, we will be forced to charge you with impeding law enforcement officers in the line of duty. My heart sank into the freezing depths of despair. But right at that critical juncture, the calm, steady voice of Night Brightness echoed softly from behind my shoulder.

There is no need for them to search any further.