How to Raise a Crazy Beautiful Snake Demon - Chapter 20

Slowly winding around that slender finger…

 

 

Their first… festival together.

 

 

That was indeed the case, but judging by Zhu Jiuyin’s tone, did she intend to celebrate many more festivals together in the future? Ji Qingwu hadn’t considered this before, and for a moment, she was lost in thought, momentarily stunned.

 

 

“Alright, alright, don’t be sad, my good servant. Come help me with this.”

 

 

It was rare for Zhu Jiuyin to use such a coaxing tone, as if speaking to a child. She extended the tip of her tail forward.

 

 

Ji Qingwu had already noticed the large, shimmering object hanging from her tail. Taking it down, she saw it was a wreath woven from vines, embedded with numerous fireflies that flickered softly, casting a beautiful green glow. Up close, there was also a faint floral fragrance.

 

 

So, during all those early mornings and late nights, she had taken the time to make this… Ji Qingwu’s heart softened. She hung the wreath on the door and stood there admiring it for a long time. The entire night seemed illuminated by its radiant beauty.

 

 

Turning back, she saw Zhu Jiuyin had climbed onto the kitchen counter and was inspecting the mooncake Ji Qingwu had just made, tilting her head this way and that before glancing up.

 

 

“So this is what you mortals call a mooncake?”

 

 

Ji Qingwu’s earlier anticipation resurfaced as she asked,

 

 

“Yes, it took me many tries to get it right. What do you think? Does it look good?”

 

 

Zhu Jiuyin:

 

 

“Pretty, yes, but I fear it might not taste as good.”

 

 

Ji Qingwu:

 

 

“How could that be? It’s delicious! Wait until tomorrow—”

 

 

With an “om nom,” Zhu Jiuyin swallowed the entire mooncake whole. Ji Qingwu watched as the round silhouette slid down the snake’s throat and into her belly, leaving her speechless.

 

 

“You just wanted to eat it, didn’t you! Tricking me into talking about it! Now what will you eat tomorrow night?”

 

 

Zhu Jiuyin licked her lips with her forked tongue, her ruby-like eyes gleaming even brighter:

 

 

“Sweet and indeed tasty. You have quite the skill!”

 

 

This was the praise Ji Qingwu had long awaited. Unable to help herself, the corners of her lips curled up slightly.

 

 

Zhu Jiuyin watched her. On that elegant, dignified face, there was an expression of pure, unadulterated joy—her brows and lips lifted, her cheeks tinged a soft pink, all bathed in the gentle green light of the wreath. It was… beautiful.

 

 

A beauty so pure.

 

 

Noticing Zhu Jiuyin’s prolonged gaze, Ji Qingwu asked,

 

 

“What is it?”

 

 

Zhu Jiuyin:

 

 

“Nothing. Just that in this light, you look a bit like a ghost.”

 

 

The sudden mention of ghosts startled Ji Qingwu, but she quickly remembered that in this world, spirits did exist—there were even ghost cultivators. Her racing heart gradually calmed.

 

 

She turned back to look at the wreath:

 

 

“This is really beautiful. Did you design it yourself?”

 

 

Zhu Jiuyin:

 

 

“No. Our demon kin make these wreaths for friends and family during festivals. This is my first time making one.”

 

 

Ji Qingwu realized this meant Zhu Jiuyin had never had friends or family before. How pitiful—to have lived a thousand years before crafting her first wreath.

 

 

Hastily, she tried to steer the conversation to something happier:

 

 

“Well, your craftsmanship is impressive too. Wait a minute—you don’t even have hands!”

 

 

Zhu Jiuyin:

 

 

“…Fool, I used spiritual energy to weave it. Why would I need hands?”

 

 

Ji Qingwu:

 

 

“…You don’t understand my humor.”

 

 

Zhu Jiuyin scoffed:

 

 

“Your humor isn’t even one percent as good as your cooking.”

 

 

Though her humor had been insulted, her cooking had been praised, so Ji Qingwu let it slide.

 

 

That night, the two retired to rest, preparing to properly celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival the following day.

 

 

 

The next morning, the sky was ominously dark, brewing a storm.

 

 

Ji Qingwu grew worried, but Zhu Jiuyin slithered out to survey the heavens and declared disdainfully:

 

 

“Nothing to fear. I’ll just push the rain away.”

 

 

Ji Qingwu was awed—controlling the weather? That must require cultivation beyond the Divine Transformation stage!

 

 

Zhu Jiuyin glanced at her, those serpentine eyes slanting with an indescribable, alluring charm:

 

 

“Silly little servant, with me here, I won’t let our Mid-Autumn Festival be ruined by rain.”

 

 

Ji Qingwu nodded and pointed:

 

 

“Then go move the glutinous rice flour and clean the kitchenware.”

 

 

Zhu Jiuyin:

 

 

“…How can you make your master work!”

 

 

Ji Qingwu:

 

 

“If you don’t want our festival ruined, you should pitch in, shouldn’t you?”

 

 

Fuming, Zhu Jiuyin raised her head indignantly and rolled her plump body to the stove. With a tilt of her head, the bag of rice flour floated onto the counter.

 

 

Ji Qingwu busied herself with the day’s preparations, occasionally stealing glances at the resignedly working Zhu Jiuyin, her lips curling into secret smiles. Since returning last night, Zhu Jiuyin seemed to have come to some realization—her attitude had softened, and now they were preparing for the festival together like true friends.

 

 

Heart full, Ji Qingwu worked through the pre-planned tasks, most of which just required arranging and displaying items.

 

 

She made several flavors of mooncakes, brewed osmanthus wine for the evening, and prepared various savory snacks and pickles. With the food ready, she cleaned the rooms and hung handmade lanterns—rabbit, lotus, and octagonal palace lanterns—at each of the three doorways, to be lit at night.

 

 

Then she produced two headbands made of flexible branches. One had paper rabbit ears attached, enchanted to twitch realistically. The other was tiny, perfectly sized for a snake’s head, with magically crafted dragon horns.

 

 

“Here, put this on!”

 

 

Ji Qingwu donned the rabbit ears and approached Zhu Jiuyin with the other headband.

 

 

Zhu Jiuyin turned and immediately erupted:

 

 

“What is this nonsense! So childish—I refuse! Absolutely not!”

 

 

“Come on, just for tonight! Let me see! Don’t you want to be a little dragon? These adorable horns were specially crafted for you—I spent all afternoon pouring my spiritual energy into carving them!”

 

 

Ji Qingwu chased the white serpent relentlessly, her speed far surpassing a mortal’s, though the snake whirled across the floor like a miniature tornado. At her final plea, Zhu Jiuyin gradually slowed, glanced back, and finally stopped, stiffly extending her head to accept the headband.

 

 

After adjusting it, Ji Qingwu clapped her hands in delight:

 

 

“Wow! I’m truly a genius! Thank you all you amazing artists—it looks perfect on you!”

 

 

Indeed, when crafting these horns, she’d drawn inspiration from various artists’ works she’d admired in her past life, resulting in these exquisite dragon horns—white at the base fading into jade green, as if they’d grown naturally from the little snake’s head.

 

 

 

Ji Qingwu’s eyes curved with laughter as she circled the little snake, admiring it from all angles. Since there were no mirrors at home, she even conjured one with magic to let the snake see itself, eagerly asking:

 

 

“Does it look good? Do you like it?”

 

 

Zhu Jiuyin stared at her reflection with dragon horns atop her head, her emotions a tangled mess. But seeing Ji Qingwu grinning from ear to ear beside her, she suddenly had a mischievous idea. Her forked tongue flicked out as wicked thoughts bubbled up:

 

 

“Do you know what snakes like to eat most?”

 

 

Ji Qingwu blinked blankly:

 

 

“What?”

 

 

Zhu Jiuyin leaned closer, deliberately breathing into her ear:

 

 

“What snakes love most… is eating rabbits!”

 

 

Before Ji Qingwu could react, she opened her mouth wide and took a playful bite at that ear!

 

 

“Ah!”

 

 

Ji Qingwu jumped up, clutching her ear. Her rabbit ears, sensing their owner’s distress, stood straight up in alarm—just like a real, frightened little bunny. The sight delighted Zhu Jiuyin’s serpent heart, and she immediately initiated another chase.

 

 

When both were exhausted from running around, the sky had darkened, and a light drizzle began to fall. They retreated indoors to rest.

 

 

Rubbing her ear, Ji Qingwu complained:

 

 

“You can’t just bite without warning! Don’t do that again.”

 

 

Zhu Jiuyin flicked her tongue dismissively:

 

 

“It’s barely a scratch—no bl00d at all. You should be grateful I didn’t gobble up this whole rabbit, silly servant.”

 

 

Ji Qingwu gazed at the leaden clouds blanketing the sky as the rain’s rhythm gradually soothed her mood. Zhu Jiuyin slithered onto her lap, resting quietly as they watched the rain together in comfortable silence.

 

 

With a quick hand seal, Ji Qingwu lit three lanterns simultaneously. Their warm yellow glow under the eaves illuminated both their faces in the rainy dimness.

 

 

Their eyes met—in each other’s clear, translucent pupils, they could see perfect reflections of themselves.

 

 

The rain pattered softly.

 

 

The room grew still, their breathing blending with the rainfall as the air became increasingly warm and close.

 

 

Compelled by some inexplicable urge, Ji Qingwu reached out to adjust the dragon horn headband. Her fingers lingered near it, then drifted toward… the snake’s crimson eyes.

 

 

The delicate scales around those eyes and the raised ridges of flesh had long intrigued her, though she’d never dared touch them before.

 

 

Her fingertip brushed the eye ridge—surprisingly supple.

 

 

Zhu Jiuyin didn’t retreat. Instead, her slender, forked tongue slowly wound around that probing finger.

 

 

The cool, rough texture of the serpent’s tongue coiled around her fingertip sent an unexpected thrill through Ji Qingwu, making her hand tremble slightly.

 

 

“I have a gift for you,”

 

 

Zhu Jiuyin said very, very slowly.

 

 

“What a coincidence… so do I.”

 

 

Ji Qingwu watched the scarlet tongue twining around her finger, suddenly aware of an inexplicable dryness in her mouth and a growing haze in her thoughts.

 

 

That peculiar fragrance filled her senses again.