Chapter 1 — The Crown Prince's Xa Te

I am the fattest snake in the herd. That makes me very miserable. Other snakes have slim bodies, hunt silently, and hit immediately with one shot. As for me, every time I crawl, the movement is so loud that before I can get close to my prey, I run away. My stomach is always hungry. The layer of fat under the scales helps us cool down on cold nights, but it also makes us almost starve to death. I no longer remember the last time I had a full meal. My vision began to darken, my body became weak, I couldn't even lift my head. I know, if I can't eat anything anymore, I will probably really turn into a dead snake. The survival instinct drives us. I mustered the last bit of strength and slowly crawled out of the crevice in the rock where I was hiding. The sun outside is beautiful, spreading warmth on my already cold body. I smelled the lingering scent of birds in the air, but they had long since flown away. I'm too slow. Despair is like cold water pouring straight into my heart. At that time, I smelled a very special smell. Powerful, noble, carrying an elegant scent that we have never smelled. I saw a snake not far away. No, he looks more than a snake... more advanced. His entire body was covered with smooth silver scales, sparkling with light. On the head there is a small transparent jade-white horn. He closed his eyes, seemingly resting, radiating a calm and strong aura. He doesn't look like the type to go hungry. I don't pay much attention anymore. There was only one thought in my mind: grab him, force him to find food for me. The desire to survive defeats the instinctive fear of the strong. I writhed my body heavily, using all my strength to pounce. I felt him wake up immediately, his body stiffening. Then an extremely intense anger flared up. I wrapped myself tightly around him, cold and slippery scales pressed together. I opened my mouth, making a weak clicking sound: "Feed me... or else... or I'll strangle you to death..." I didn't even have confidence in those words. He was so angry that he was shaking. Really shaking. We clearly feel the vibrations of the muscles under those scales. An anger like being insulted to the extreme. He opened his eyes, his pupils were bright yellow, burning with anger. "Vile snake," his voice was cold as ice, carrying unbelievable humiliation, "and you dare to touch me?" I was scared by the murderous intent in his eyes, but hunger made me cling even tighter. "I... I'm about to starve... you have to save me..." He was silent for a moment, his golden eyes locked tightly on me. He must have never seen anyone as reckless as me. Or perhaps my stupidity moved him? He suddenly sneered slightly, a laugh full of contempt and a bit of... resignation? "Let go." He ordered. I hesitated, slightly loosening my grip. He easily escaped my entanglement — so he hadn't used any force all along. He stood high up and looked down at me lying exhausted on the ground. "Do you want to live?" He asked coldly. I nodded vigorously, but my stomach growled shamelessly. An extremely complex emotion flashed in his eyes: disgust? begrudge? or something else? Finally, he threw me a large fairy spirit fruit, filled with spiritual energy. "Eat it." I almost swallowed it whole, and in a moment I gnawed it all away. Having lived all these years, I have never eaten something so delicious. A warm current spread throughout my limbs, I immediately regained my strength. It also feels like my scales are shinier. I licked my lips, raised my eyes to look at him: "Is there... more?" The anger in his golden eyes flared up again, but in the end he didn't say anything. He threw me some other spirit fruits. I sweep away everything like a storm. After eating, sleepiness came. I yawned, curled up, intending to sleep next to him for a while. Apparently he was surprised by my rudeness again. “Go away.” He gritted his teeth and spit out a word. I was shaking in fear, my survival instinct finally returned. Ta

awkwardly let go of the tail that was unconsciously wrapped around him. "Thank... thank you... your fruit..."