Chapter 99

“So then there will be a lot of snakes.” Yin Xiaoxiao thought about what the scene on the day of the ceremony would be like, and his face turned a little green. There was his side, Lan Sansan over there, Mo Laoda…

“Heitan, what about your family?” Yin Xiaoxiao asked. Only a day or two ago, Father Mo and Mother Mo had opposed him being together with Heitan. Would they agree to his and Heitan’s ceremony? Would they come?

“They, ah,” Mo Laoda thought for a moment. “I will inform them. As for coming or not, that’s their business.”

Yin Xiaoxiao nodded his head to show that he understood. Yin Xiaoxiao also wasn’t fond of Father Mo and Mother Mo. He and Heitan had been hindered by them, and for what? Mo Laoda informing them was just his duty as their son. As for whether they would come or not, that was their business.

Yin Xiaoxiao suddenly recalled the last time that they’d visited. “Oh, that’s right. Mo Damo and your younger sister. Aren’t they going to become partners? When are they going to hold their ceremony?”

“It’s unclear.” Mo Laoda shook his head. “It might have already happened, or perhaps it hasn’t.”

Yin Xiaoxiao was silent. Wasn’t Mo Laoer your younger sister?! To go so far as to ignore this entirely…!

“Well, let’s go back. Everyone is discussing the specifics of what’s going to happen ¹ ,” said Mo Laoda. Then, once more dragging Yin Xiaoxiao, they made their way back to the cave.

Inside the cave, the snakes waited for Mo Laoda and Yin Xiaoxiao to return.

Although Hua Xiaowu’s partnership ceremony couldn’t be held together with Yin Xiaoxiao’s and the others’, he was still very excited. To think that, originally, he had the best relationship with Xiaoxiao (this was what Hua Xiaowu himself thought), then the days passed by so quickly, and now Xiaoxiao was going to become partners with another snake! Even before he himself did!

Seeing Yin Xiaoxiao return, Hua Xiaowu was the first to rush over to Yin Xiaoxiao. “Xiaoxiao, you can’t endure the sun, right? So everyone decided that the ceremony is going to be held at the riverbank!”

Yin Xiaoxiao was surprised. This matter had only recently been brought up in conversation between himself and Heitan, and they hadn’t yet told anyone. He didn’t expect that they would have already hurried to accommodate for it before he told them! Suddenly, Yin Xiaoxiao felt deeply moved and wanted to cry. This was his family. Even if they left for a long time, they still cared about, loved and protected each other. Even for small matters, they didn’t forget.

The snakes didn’t pay too much attention to Yin Xiaoxiao’s expression. To them it seemed like Xiaoxiao’s inability to endure the sun was something that every snake in the family knew, so it was only quite natural for Xiaoxiao’s ceremony to be held by the river! It was Mo Laoda who noticed Yin Xiaoxiao’s mood, comforting Yin Xiaoxiao by stroking his head.

Like this, Mo Laoda suddenly understood why the Little Idiot yearned for his family. If Father Mo and Mother Mo treated him like this, perhaps he also would have become as easily satisfied as Yin Xiaoxiao and have come to love his family.

“Dabai and I will take charge of notifying our family and friends. You only need to be responsible for notifying your own friends,” Hua Xiaohua said, repeating what Mo Laoda had said earlier.

“Dabai and I will first visit the Hong-Lan family,” Hua Xiaohua added as he continued to speak. “As far as the Clan Head’s family and friends, I’ll have to trouble the Clan Head to notify them.”

Mo Laoda looked at Hua Xiaohua, nodded, then suddenly opened his mouth to say, “Don’t call me Clan Head. Just call me by my name.”

Hua Xiaohua stared, then smiled at Mo Laoda.

“Everyone has about six months to notify their family and friends. Five days before the ceremony, everyone has to return here, is that clear? “ Yin Dabai said, voice serious. “Remember, it’s absolutely imperative not to arrive late.”

“Understood!” The snakes present, especially the three pairs of snakes who were going to become partners, responded to Yin Dabai’s words in a loud and clear voice.

Hua Xiaohua looked at Yin Xiaoxiao, hesitated for a moment, and then said to Mo Laoda, “Mo Laoda, it’d be best for you to remember this specific date. Xiaoxiao, this child is naturally muddle-headed, and I’m afraid that he’ll forget.”

Yin Xiaoxiao: “….”

Mo Laoda earnestly nodded. “Don’t worry. I’ll make sure not to forget!” In any case, after looking forward to this for almost eighteen years, how could Mo Laoda allow things to go wrong in the final stretch?

“Well, now that’s all there was to do.” Yin Dabai said, “If no one has any questions, rest tonight and set off separately early tomorrow morning!”

The snakes agreed. The color of the sky had already darkened a little. The snakes all went to bed early to preserve and nurture their strength for what was to come with the arrival of tomorrow.

Anyway, we have to believe that, based on Yin Xiaoxiao’s disposition, even if there were a fire ten meters ahead, as long as Mo Laoda was at his side, Yin Xiaoxiao wouldn’t feel worry.

When Yin Xiaoxiao awoke with the sun the next day, only Mo Laoda and Yin Xiaoxiao remained in the large cave.

“Huh? Where did everyone go?” Yin Xiaoxiao still wasn’t fully awake.

“Already left,” Mo Laoda idly answered as he placed cooked rabbit meat in front of Yin Xiaoxiao.

“They left really early,” Yin Xiaoxiao muttered. He began to eat the meat in front of him as he continued to speak, “Heitan, ever since you pulled my tooth, I’ve felt that eating has become difficult.”

“That’s quite normal,” said Mo Laoda, still unconcerned. “Don’t talk, pay attention to eating. Eating while talking can cause the food in your mouth to enter your windpipe, which is dangerous.”

Yin Xiaoxiao: ‘%￥#%.’ Yin Xiaoxiao bowed his head to eat, inwardly cursing Mo Laoda.

After Yin Xiaoxiao ate and drank his fill, Mo Laoda, carrying Yin Xiaoxiao on his back, set off on the road once more.

“We’ll first go to the Mo snake lands and tell them what’s happening,” Mo Laoda set out what they would do next. “Also, I want to notify Mo Dayi. The Clan Head’s partnership ceremony….is something that the other Mo snakes will want to know about. If they’re going to come, then we’ll need to receive them.”

Yin Xiaoxiao: “…” He had the feeling that, because this was Mo Laoda’s partnership ceremony, the entire Mo snake clan was going to have to participate! Yin Xiaoxiao suddenly felt so worried about whether or not Mo Laoda would be able to catch enough prey that he could vomit blood and die.

“Next….oh. Little Idiot, do you have any snakes to notify?” Mo Laoda asked.

“Ah!”

Mo Laoda’s question reminded Yin Xiaoxiao that he’d forgotten Hei A’ban’s family. “First let’s go to Xiao Lu’s home. We’ll tell Xiao Lu first so we won’t have to come back.”

Mo Laoda thought for a while then recalled whom Yin Xiaoxiao was talking about. He nodded his head in agreement. Thus, with Yin Xiaoxiao giving directions from Mo Laoda’s back, Mo Laoda slithered towards Hei A’ban’s family’s home.

Hei A’ban and Lu Xiaohuang still hadn’t left. Since the youngest snake in their family was a Hei snake, if Hei A’ban and Lu Xiaohuang left and Hei A’Lu went looking for a partner like the other snakes, he could suffer from the same treatment Hei A’ban had faced in his childhood. This was something that Hei A’Ban and Lu Xiaohuang didn’t want to see – at this time, Hei A’Ban and Lu Xiaohuang absolutely didn’t know what was going on between Yin Xiaoyi and Hei A’Lu. Ever since Lu Xiaohuang and Hei A’Ban became partners, they hadn’t moved from here. They had been here for decades, and this wasn’t something that could be easily changed.

Although Hei A’Ban and Lu Xiaohuang remained here, aside from their youngest, Hei A’Lu, the other four young snakes had all left to go find their destined other halves. Thus, of their family, Hei A’Ban, Lu Xiaohuang and Hei A’Lu were the only ones left.

Hei A’Lu never asked Hei A’Ban and Lu Xiaohuang why they’d remained while his older brothers had left. While Hei A’Ban and Lu Xiaohuang were glad that they didn’t need to deceive Hei A’Lu, they still felt guilty. They didn’t know if what they’d done was right or wrong but, things had already come this far, there was no turning back now.

Hei A’Ban and Lu Xiaohuang believed that Hei A’Lu was unaware why this was the case, but Hei A’Lu actually understood everything. He, however, didn’t care because he had Yin Xiaoyi. Hei A’Lu knew that Yin Xiaoyi would continue to keep him company, and he would be the snake to accompany him.

As Mo Laoda and Yin Xiaoxiao were on their way to Hei A’Ban’s home, Yin Xiaoyi had already arrived at Hei A’Ban’s home.

Yin Xiaoyi had come to confess to Hei A’Ban and Lu Xiaohuang.

“Yes, it’s like that,” Yin Xiaoyi blurted out what was going on between himself and Hei A’Lu, then immediately sighed in relief.

Hei A’Ban and Lu Xiaohuang exchanged glances. They hadn’t thought that their youngest son had already found a future partner! And the future partner was a snake they knew! Yin Xiaoyi’s frequent visits finally had an explanation.

“This time, I came to pick up A’Lu and depart,” Yin Xiaoyi continued. “In six months, my four younger brothers will be holding partner ceremonies. I’m going to go and notify my friends, so I might be away for a very long time and won’t be able to see A’Lu, which is why I want to bring A’Lu with me.”

Without waiting for Hei A’Ban and Lu Xiaohuang to speak, Hei A’Lu immediately shouted, “Let me go with Xiaoyi! Okay, Dad, Pop? I’ll listen to Xiaoyi! I’ll listen, I’ll listen!” Although his voice was just like Hei A’Ban’s, it still sounded like a child’s, which snakes couldn’t help but find adorable.

Hei A’Ban and Lu Xiaohuang only hesitated for a moment before agreeing. Their youngest son was best suited to find his own happiness, and they wouldn’t hinder him. Besides, it had already been so many years; Hei A’Lu couldn’t remain forever at their side.

Receiving Hei A’Ban and Lu Xiaohuang’s agreement, Yin Xiaoyi and Hei A’Lu were very happy. Just as they were about to take their leave, they heard a snake’s voice outside the cave.

“Haha! Xiao Lu, Xiao Lu, I came to see you! Did you miss me?”

Yes, Yin Xiaoxiao and Mo Laoda had arrived. Yin Xiaoxiao, of course, was the one yelling.

Hei A’Lu’s expression suddenly brightened. “It’s godfather!” Then he dropped Yin Xiaoyi who he had recently been snuggled up to, and slithered out of the cave.

Yin Xiaoyi: “….”

Already having climbed down from Mo Laoda’s back, Yin Xiaoxiao saw Hei A’Lu come out from the cave and greeted him with pleasure, “There’s A’Lu. Let godfather see how big you’ve gotten.”

If Hei A’Lu and Yin Xiaoxiao were human, right now Yin Xiaoxiao would have picked up Hei A’Lu and spun him round several times.

After expressing their fondness ² , Yin Xiaoxiao and Hei A’Lu entered the cave. Mo Laoda followed behind Yin Xiaoxiao.

Having entered the cave, Yin Xiaoxiao glanced around and saw Yin Xiaoyi. This was a given. Hei A’Ban was mainly black, Lu Xiaohuang was green. Yin Xiaoyi’s glittering scales naturally immediately caught Yin Xiaoxiao’s gaze. “Huh? Eldest brother? Why are you here?”

Only startled for a moment, Yin Xiaoxiao suddenly remembered something. Comprehension dawning in a flash, he smiled ambiguously at Yin Xiaoyi. “I understand. Eldest brother, you have come….”

“In that case, A’Lu and I will leave first!” Yin Xiaoyi didn’t wait for Yin Xiaoxiao to finish speaking. He hurriedly spoke this sentence, grabbed Hei A’Lu, who didn’t want to leave his godfather, and slithered away.

Yin Xiaoxiao: “…..”

“Xiaoxiao, are you going to become partners with the Clan Head?” Lu Xiaohuang asked. Just a moment ago, Yin Xiaoyi had said that his younger brothers were going to have their partner ceremonies, and now Yin Xiaoxiao had come to his family’s home. Lu Xiaohuang immediately guessed the reason why Yin Xiaoxiao had come.

T/N: Thank you for the well wishes! Feeling almost 100% better! Hope you enjoyed this chapter!

Footnotes

<ol>added for clarity 亲密: intimate or close; can be used in a romantic or sexual sense, but is generally meant platonically, such as between family, friends or to describe allies</ol>