Xiao Qing, standing behind the counter, was carefully measuring herbs for a customer.
She wore a simple green dress, but on her it carried a serene and graceful temperament, making her appear elegant beyond words.
Xiao Hai was momentarily stunned. It wasn't his first time coming to the shop, but every time before, it had been together with his mother—the same woman who always played the role of a warm, doting parent. She would tease him, laugh with him, and fuss over him like any ordinary mother.
But now, watching her quietly at work, he saw another side of her. This calm, dignified, almost untouchable grace—that was her true self. Perhaps all that playfulness at home was never really for her, but for him.
He couldn't help but remember the past. When he was only four, the news of his father's death had struck like a bolt from the heavens. He had nearly gone mad from grief, burying himself in endless cultivation as though the pain could be burned away. But perhaps she had feared losing him too—to despair, to obsession. That was why she had acted so differently, pulling him back to life with laughter, warmth, and love.
A soft, teasing voice broke his train of thought.
"Hehe, do I look good, Hai'er?"
The words startled him, and before he could stop himself, he answered honestly, "Very beautiful."
Only then did he realize his mother had already noticed him.
"Oh, so my Hai'er thinks his mother is beautiful. I'm so happy!" Xiao Qing said, her lips curling into a teasing smile.
"Mom! Please stop, people are staring," Xiao Hai nearly cried out, his ears burning red. He hadn't lied, but now a few customers were indeed casting curious, even amused glances at the pair.
Xiao Qing only leaned into the act, covering her face with exaggerated drama. "Ah, so Hai'er doesn't want his mother to be happy? Woo woo…" she sniffled loudly, as though heartbroken.
The playful scene drew more eyes—some amused, some strange. Most were harmless, but a few gazes lingered far too long on Xiao Qing, filled with undisguised desire. That was when Xiao Hai's blood boiled.
His expression darkened, and his voice cracked like a whip through the shop.
"What are you staring at?!" he roared, his aura flaring as he released a wave of oppressive Dou Qi. "If you're here to buy medicine, do it quickly. If not—then get out!"
The sudden pressure made several people pale, their smiles stiffening. The lustful ones instantly averted their eyes, their legs trembling as though they might buckle any moment.
Xiao Qing, who had been playfully teasing him just moments ago, froze in surprise. In all the years she had spent with her son, this was the first time she had seen him erupt with such raw anger.
But when she thought about it, it wasn't unreasonable.
From a very young age, Xiao Hai had always been different from other children. He never threw tantrums, never disobeyed, and always pushed himself harder than she wished he would. He didn't speak much with outsiders, yet when it came to her, his care was immeasurable.
After his father's death, that care had only deepened. Even as a child, he had tried to shoulder responsibilities far too heavy for his age. She knew that burden weighed on him, but seeing him stand before her now—furious not for himself, but for her dignity—it tugged at her heart.
For the first time in years, she truly saw the man her little boy was becoming.
After those people scattered, the once lively shop suddenly felt deserted. The silence weighed heavily, broken only by the faint rustle of herbs on the shelves.
Xiao Hai could only shake his head. Whether in this life or the last, it seemed beauty was always a double-edged sword—attracting attention, but not always the right kind. Business thrived on appearances, and though he wanted to change such a system, he knew he lacked the power for it now.
"Okay, Hai'er. Come here," Xiao Qing's soft voice pulled him from his thoughts. "You must be hungry. It's already afternoon, and evening isn't far."
This time, there was no teasing in her tone—only gentle concern.
Xiao Hai turned to her, the heaviness in his heart easing slightly. With a faint smile, he walked toward her. Since the counter wasn't a place for conversation, she led him into a small resting room at the back of the shop.
After settling on the resting bench, Xiao Qing looked at her son with gentle eyes.
"So, Hai'er, why did you come to the shop today? Did something trouble you?"
"I was just bored, Mom," Xiao Hai admitted honestly. "After the Dou Qi assessment, I planned to relax, but…"
He then recounted everything that had happened earlier that day—the test, his decision to skip cultivation, and finally how he had stumbled upon the little snake.
As she listened, Xiao Qing's expression softened further. When she heard how he had gone out of his way to save the snake, her chest swelled with pride. Still, her motherly concern quickly surfaced.
"And you? You didn't get hurt anywhere, did you?" she asked, her voice tinged with worry.
Xiao Hai smiled faintly. "No, Mom. I'm fine. But…" He gently lifted the small snake from his sleeve. "When I was thinking of how to spend the rest of the day, it suddenly struck me—why not visit you and give you a surprise? And also, could you please take a look at this little fellow? It was badly injured. I applied the herbal paste you taught me to make, but I think it'll be better if you checked the wound once more."
He held out the tiny creature carefully, his tone almost pleading, as if asking her to treat it was just as important as asking her to take care of him.
Seeing the pleading look in her son's eyes, Xiao Qing's heart softened, and a faint smile curved her lips. She lowered her gaze to the small snake. The little creature had coiled tightly, hiding its head beneath its tail, looking pitiful yet strangely endearing.
"Little fellow, come here. I won't harm you," Xiao Qing coaxed gently, her voice carrying a soothing warmth.
The snake trembled slightly at the unfamiliar sound, then raised its tiny head to glance toward Xiao Hai. Receiving his reassuring nod, it hesitated no longer and slithered into Xiao Qing's waiting hand, curling shyly against her arm.
"Mm, so well-behaved," she murmured, her smile deepening.
Then, slowly, Xiao Qing's palm began to glow with a soft emerald light—the gentle radiance of Wood Attribute Dou Qi. Unlike the sharp brilliance of fire or the heavy dominance of earth, her Dou Qi carried a life-giving warmth, like spring sunlight after winter snow. Though she was only a peak Dou Zhe, her cultivation leaned toward healing rather than combat, her strength lying in preservation and nurture.
As the glow spread, the little snake relaxed, its trembling body easing as if comforted by her very presence.
After carefully examining and channeling her Wood Dou Qi into the wound, the emerald glow gradually faded. The little snake wriggled lightly, its eyes brighter, its body visibly more energetic than before.
"Alright, this little fellow's injuries are healed. It no longer needs these cloth strips," Xiao Qing said softly. With practiced hands, she gently untied the wrappings around its body.
The moment the strips fell away, Xiao Hai's eyes widened. Where there had once been torn, bloody flesh, there was now smooth, unblemished skin. The little snake's body gleamed as though newly reborn.
Its entire body was covered in lustrous green-blue scales, each one reflecting a faint brilliance under the light. But what truly caught the eye was the single golden scale gleaming proudly at the center of its forehead, making the small creature appear anything but ordinary.
"Mom," Xiao Hai frowned slightly, leaning closer, "doesn't this snake look a little… unusual? I've never read about a beast like this before."
"You're right," Xiao Qing replied thoughtfully, her gaze lingering on the creature. "It should be a mutated species. From its scales, I'd say it carries the bloodline of both the Green Scaled Snake and the Poisonous Blue Snake. But…" She paused, eyes narrowing slightly at the golden mark. "That golden scale on its forehead— I've never seen anything like it."
"Anyway, it's fully healed now. After we return home, I'll release it on the back mountain," Xiao Hai said casually.
But as though it understood his words, the little snake suddenly tightened itself around his arm, refusing to let go. Its slender body coiled firmly, and its small head pressed against him with clear reluctance.
Xiao Hai blinked in surprise. This… wasn't normal. Magical Beasts of Tier-2 could vaguely sense a person's intentions, but true comprehension of human speech? That was far beyond what should be possible. Yet the little snake's reaction left no doubt—it had understood him perfectly.
"This little fellow," Xiao Qing said with a soft laugh, "it seems it doesn't want to part with you."
Xiao Hai sighed helplessly, though his eyes still lingered on the golden scale shining faintly in the light. "Fine. If it doesn't want to leave, then so be it. I'll raise it for now." A trace of curiosity stirred in his heart—this little snake was anything but ordinary.
Before he could dwell further, Xiao Qing suddenly suggested, "There's still some time before the shop closes. Why don't we take a walk around the market together?"
Xiao Hai hesitated. He had little interest in wandering the noisy market. But when he saw the expectant look in his mother's eyes, the refusal caught in his throat. In the end, he simply nodded. "Alright."