Chapter 67

Before Yin Xiaoxiao and Mo Laoda left, they made another trip to the bottom of the cliff to bring treasure to Mingshe. Afterall Yin Xiaoxiao and Mo Laoda might be on this trip for more than half a year, and Mingshe would have finished digesting the others ¹ before Yin Xiaoxiao and Mo Laoda returned to the mountain.

When they returned from the bottom of the cliff and before leaving, they also went to speak with Ji Kang, who was somewhat reluctant to see them leave, before Yin Xiaoxiao and Mo Laoda left home.

“Heitan, you said that I have recently become fat and unhealthy?” Depressed, Yin Xiaoxiao looked down at his own body. Overall, he felt that recently he had become somewhat…plump?

Mo Laoda woodenly looked over Yin Xiaoxiao once. Yes, while being idle these last few months, Yin Xiaoxiao, who had been lying on him, wasn’t just a little bit fat. But as a future prospective partner, Mo Laoda expressionlessly told a giant lie, “No, it’s your misperception.”

“…Really?’

Mo Laoda resolutely nodded his head. “Of course really! Why would I possibly lie to you?”

“Then it’s very good that it turned out to be my misperception! It’s as I said, how could I possibly be fat?!” After hearing Mo Laoda’s reassurance, Yin Xiaoxiao was relieved. It seemed that the idea that he was fat really was a misconception.

Mo Laoda silently turned his head, uh, but only to go and look for food.

When Yin Xiaoxiao had returned to his senses, Mo Laoda had already left without a trace. Yin Xiaoxiao didn’t panic; Yin Xiaoxiao was unswervingly convinced that Mo Laoda must have gone to look for food.

“You’re actually still together with that Mo snake?” came a voice from the underbrush next to Yin Xiaoxiao.

“Aiya, you scared me to death!” Yin Xiaoxiao jumped with fright at the sudden appearance of Yin Xiaosi. “Si-ge, why have you suddenly popped up?!”

Yin Xiaosi in no way cared that Yin Xiaoxiao was looking at him like he’d seen a ghost. “I’d been under the impression that you and that Mo snake were unlikely to last.”

“Please, Si-ge!” Yin Xiaoxiao said, “Stop with all that ‘Mo snake’! That Mo snake has a name, you know! He has a name, you know! He’s called Mo Laoda!”

Yin Xiaosi was silent for a moment before aceeding, “Then you and Mo Laoda are still together?”

“Si-ge, didn’t you see everything just now?” Yin Xiaoxiao was a little impatient. “You saw everything and you still have to ask me this?”

Yin Xiaosi’s expression was rather complex. He suddenly opened his mouth and asked, “Did you know Mo Laoda ten years ago?”

“Ten years ago?” Yin Xiaoxiao was obviously stunned. Suddenly, he recalled that time ten years ago.When he and Mo Laoda met, on his way back to the cave he had run into Yin Xiaosi at the cave’s entrance. “Then, you followed me that time?”

“If I knew that you were going to meet a Mo snake, I certainly would have stopped you at the cave mouth,” Yin Xiaosi said seriously, avoiding answering Yin Xiaoxiao’s question.

Yin Xiaoxiao waved his tail. “Mo Laoda and I are already together. Si-ge, I hope for your blessing.” After a pause, Yin Xiaoxiao’s tone became disappointed. “I know I’ve hurt you and caused you distress, for which I am very apologetic. At the start, I hadn’t wanted to be together with Heitan but, after a while, I found that I liked Heitan. I want to be together with him. I’m sorry that I’ve disappointed all of you.”

Motionless, Yin Xiaosi looked at Yin Xiaoxiao for a while. Silently, Yin Xiaoxiao also only stood. After a while, Yin Xiaosi turned around and left. Just as Yin Xiaosi was going to leave Yin Xiaoxiao’s line of sight, Yin Xiaosi suddenly turned back around. “Xiaoxiao, you’ve become fat.”

Yin Xiaoxiao: “…”

While Yin Xiaosi slithered back to Lan Sansan, he heaved a series of sighs. His family’s Xiaoxiao could really cause a snake to worry! The one he chose wasn’t good, against all reason he’s chosen a Mo snake. However, Yin Xiaosi recalled Mo Laoda and Yin Xiaoxiao’s interactions which he’d recently seen hiding in the underbrush. The two snakes really seemed to genuinely like and love each other. Whatever, Yin Xiaosi again sighed, if the two sincerely loved each other, even if they were together, with Dad and Pop’s dispositions they would ultimately consent. That was because Pop loved Xiaoxiao the most, and Dad loved Pop the most.

Actually, Mo Laoda had already seen Yin Xiaosi hiding in the underbrush and had deliberately left to go find food. When he returned he saw that Yin Xiaosi was still there, so Mo Laoda stayed for a while in the distant underbrush and only now returned to Yin Xiaoxiao dragging prey.

Yin Xiaoxiao: “Heitan! Didn’t you say that I wasn’t fat? You’re a big liar! A huge liar!”

Mo Laoda: “…” Was now really the time to be caught up in the question of fat or not fat?!

“It’s time for us to leave for the Mo snake area.” Mo Laoda tossed the food onto the ground, not replying to Yin Xiaoxiao’s declaration of “You’re a big liar”, and instead indifferently stated this fact.

“I know!” Yin Xiaoxiao’s lips curled. Right now what was important wasn’t going to the Mo snake area! But instead it was to lose weight, lose weight and lose weight!

“Like this is still good.” Mo Laoda looked at Yin Xiaoxiao who was sinking into grief and indignation and suddenly said this.

“Good?” Yin Xiaoxiao’s voice was brimming with incredulity. “Is being fat like this something to applaud? I’ve got it, you’re deliberately making it so that I become fat, aren’t you?! Just a moment ago you lied to me and said that I wasn’t fat! You’re a big liar!”

Mo Laoda: “…”

‘Little Idiot, can’t you grasp this “big liar’s” point of view?! Also, what deliberately making you fat? Everyday you eat, drink and sleep on my body, but I’m forcing you?! Let’s see whether or not I’ll drag you around in the future!’

Mo Laoda’s face was blue ² . But, unfortunately, his black scales hid Mo Laoda’s real circumstances.

“I’ve decided! From now on, until reaching the Mo snake area, I must slither on my own! I won’t lay on you! Heitan, you absolutely can’t force me anymore!”

Mo Laoda snorted lightly. ‘Force you? This is what exactly what I’ve sought!

From that day on, Yin Xiaoxiao’s days were full of pain. Everyday, he slithered and slithered, slithered and slithered. It could be said that, since returning from the bottom of the cliff, Yin Xiaoxiao hadn’t slithered so much on his own!

Even though it was very hard, by the time they weren’t far from the Mo snake’s area, Yin Xiaoxiao had succeeded in losing weight. What made Mo Laoda happy was that he had also become a lot more robust. And what made Mo Laoda even happier – Yin Xiaoxiao’s meals again increased in size. Yes, Mo Laoda’s actual aim was to make Yin Xiaoxiao eat more so that he grew stronger and not to sleep more so that he grew fatter.

“Heitan, Heitan! Aren’t you feeling very nervous and anxious?!” Yin Xiaoxiao stared at the Mo snake’s gathering area for a while then turned his head to abruptly ask this with ill-concealed desire for gossip.

“….No.” Mo Laoda shot Yin Xiaoxiao a baffled glance. Nervous and anxious? Why would he be nervous and anxious? But after saying this, didn’t the Little Idiot actually seem more excited and…anxious than Mo Laoda ³ himself?

Yin Xiaoxiao scoffed. Really, at this time shouldn’t Heitan be so excited and nervous to death?

“Laoda! You’ve finally returned!” This shout ruined the beautiful moment. Although Yin Xiaoxiao knew that the shouted “Laoda” was Laoda’s name, Yin Xiaoxiao couldn’t help but laugh because of the other associations of Laoda ⁴ .

Naturally, this was Mo Dayi.

“Did you wait here every day for Heitan?” Yin Xiaoxiao asked.

“It wasn’t everyday,” Mo Dayi, seeing that Mo Laoda wasn’t paying attention to him, answered Yin Xiaoxiao’s question. “The Selection for Clan Head will begin soon. I know that Laoda is sure to return in a few days, so just wait here.”

Yin Xiaoxiao first looked Mo Dayi up and down. Did it look like this Mo Dayi was interested in his Heitan or was he just so excited to see who would be selected that he went so far as to wait here? At this thought, Yin Xiaoxiao groaned heavily. ‘Going to snatch my Heitan? No chance!’

Completely confused, Mo Dayi looked at Yin Xiaoxiao, but he also wasn’t going to ask Yin Xiaoxiao what was happening, and he only said to Mo Laoda, “Laoda, last time you were right. My parents really did come to an agreement with your parents to have you and Mo Daer become partners. Even more, they’re going to wait until the Selection for Clan Head and then announce to all the Mo snakes that you and Mo Daer are going to become partners.” Mo Dayi looked at Yin Xiaoxiao who was listening beside him. “Apparently your parents absolutely do not approve of you becoming partners with a Yin snake, so this time they’re striking first.”

Mo Laoda listened to these words and his expression suddenly grew cold. The smile on his face was a mockery of one. “Dayi, could it be that you haven’t noticed my change?” Mo Laoda only tossed out this brief statement and didn’t say anything else.

Mo Dayi suspiciously looked at Mo Laoda. At this look, he immediately discovered what was different. Mo Dayi’s eyes suddenly widened and his voice rose an octave. “Laoda, how has your body become so much darker?”

Mo Laoda still didn’t utter a word.

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As soon as Mo Dayi finished asking, he suddenly thought of a possibility and his voice rose another octave. “Don’t tell me you ate….”

Mo Laoda’s tail rose, stopping Mo Dayi from continuing to speak.

Mo Dayi immediately closed his mouth and looked towards Yin Xiaoxiao, finally seeing that there was complete bewilderment on Yin Xiaoxiao’s face. “Ate? Ate what?”

Mo Dayi smiled insipidly. “No-Nothing eaten, I misspoke.” Then he immediately turned his body to shoot Mo Laoda an expression which asked “He doesn’t know?”

Mo Laoda nodded.

Mo Dayi continued to communicate with his eyes, asking, “You ate how many plants?”

Mo Laoda returned his look with one that said, “Seven.”

Yin Xiaoxiao was angry. “You two are using looks to say what? Huh? Even if I can’t understand, I’m not blind!”

Mo Laoda, Mo Dayi: “…”

“Cough, cough.” Mo Dayi coughed twice and changed the subject. “Since it’s like this, the position of Clan Head will surely be yours. As for my parents and your parents…”

To Mo Dayi’s words, Mo Laoda indifferently responded, “The strongest are respected.”

Mo Dayi was taken aback but then smiled. “That’s right, that’s right. Laoda you speak true.”

Yin Xiaoxiao looked disdainfully at Mo Dayi. “A truly wretched smile!”

Mo Dayi: “…”

T/N: Edited so that proper nouns are capitalized.

Footnotes

<ol>added for clarity 脸色铁青: a figure of speech saying that someone is angry, unhappy, ill, fearful. Can also be used to describe the medical condition of someone being cyanotic as in not getting enough oxygen and literally turning blue added for clarity 老大: can also mean gang boss</ol>