Releasing a snake worth tens of thousands just like that might be incomprehensible to an outsider.
They might even think it's stupid—a case of having more money than sense.
But the people of Bai Town have unwavering faith in the Snake King. To them, all the snakes on She Mountain belong to the Lord Snake King.
At around ten in the morning, the new Snake King statue, draped in a large red cloth, was carried out by four men. The Lord Snake King's customary parade began with three cannon blasts and the resounding clash of gongs and drums.
As the Snake King's procession began, a sea of people poured out, the parade route cleared by a large gong at its head.
A palpable excitement ran through the crowd. Everyone wondered if, on such a momentous day, the Lord Snake King would manifest himself again.
The image of the giant, shimmering golden snake shadow coiling in the sky above Bai Town was a sight one would never forget.
