9 A Disabled Fool

The male snake god cautiously took steps back towards the door, his eyes never leaving the uninvited guest in his room. XueYa was studying his new prey with curiosity. He had heard of the snakes and their lewd ways of drawing in the patrons and depleting them of their life-forces.

He had never seen and certainly never expected a prostitute this devoted to sleeping instead of taking the bait of a promise of some life force. Somehow he felt a little disappointed.

It would have been an added bonus if he got to have some fun, not to mention with a pretty one too. But he wasn't the type to force others, so XueYa let it slide - although he did enjoy teasing the creature.

His smile grew more mischievous as he noticed the dragon god bracelet peaking from beneath the man's lifted sleeve. So the snake zodiac was contained already. This snake god must have been a rather clueless one to fall for the bracelet so quickly. These creatures had grown too careless. The dragon gods might be dead, but their artefacts certainly weren't!

The snake god fidgeted towards the door once more and XueYa decided to sit up properly. His sudden movement seemed to alert the snake as his eyes widened momentarily, his stance tensing as if expecting for XueYa to jump him.

Xueya wasn't going to do anything, but seeing the rather cute reaction he thought why not test the waters and see how the creature would act if he advanced. XueYa leisurely stood up, stretching his arms. The snake was studying XueYa's every movement, barely blinking as his hand brushed against the door, searching for the latch.

"I thought you wanted to sleep?" XueYa said with a low voice as he took a leisure step forward, reducing the gap between the two. He could hear the snake god take in a sharp breath.

"I decided on some fresh air before it." The snake announced.

XueYa took another step, closing their distance for good. They stood now face to face, nose tips almost brushing against each other. A sweet scent of faint roses and liquor mixed and twirled as XueYa took a deep breath in.

He could get used to this scent. Casting his eyes downwards, XueYa could see liquor stains spilt across the man's robes, trailing along the front of his clothes. They had long dried and hardened the fabric.

"You are a slobby drinker," XueYa said as he turned his eyes back up to the snake.

Something wicked slithered in the depths of the snake god's eyes, and XueYa found himself getting a little excited. He was always intrigued by how these creatures worked with mortals. He gladly learned new information about their behaviour – for future research purposes.

The dark brown irises had a crimson hue to them, as they slowly blinked. Long black eyelashes brushed against the high cheekbones before they fluttered open again, the blood-red tinge now clear and vivid in the snake's eyes.

XueYa watched in awe as the snake god lowered his chin ever so slightly, so instead of looking at each other eye to eye, XueYa was now slightly higher as the snake looked at him from beneath the curtain of lashes.

"Would you like a drink?" The snake god had removed his hand from the door and instead now placed it over XueYa's chest, resting it against his heart. The voice was tranquil, with a notion of obedience and all the eagerness to please.

From snappy to clingy, thought XueYa, maybe it was a male prostitute thing. He offered the prostitute a pretentious grin as he said, "you have wine here?"

XueYa had gone through the entire room beforehand. The congee had been delicious but he was certain there was no liquor within the room. XueYa would have helped himself to it already if there was.

The snake god broke into a chuckle. Two barely noticeable fangs revealed themselves to XueYa from between the perfectly aligned teeth. XueYa had never thought in his lifetime, that there would come a day when he would think fangs were cute – but they were at this instant. "I have a bottle hidden. I can get it out for you if you wish."

XueYa nodded and watched as the snake god glided away from his reach and took a kneel before the bed. Bowing down the creature was knocking at the floorboards until a hollow part revealed itself. The floorboard was effortlessly lifted off its place and a small hiding place came to view. A dark bottle of wine sat gingerly in its cold and cool nest.

Well, look at that, XueYa thought. Both wine and a beautiful bed partner. He was starting to enjoy Hei'ang! Then a swift and almost undetectable motion caught his eye and XueYa's mood brightened even further. The snake god had lifted his finger towards his lips as he raised the floorboard to snap it back in its rightful place. The creature must have thought he hadn't noticed it since he had his back to XueYa.

Besides liquor and mindless fun between the sheets, what XueYa enjoyed even more than any of the two mentioned, was the people's assumption that he was a disabled fool. XueYa walked over to the bed and sat down with a relaxed grin over his face. The snake god was still kneeling on the floor, patting his eyes shyly at XueYa.

Very good, controlled facial expressions, XueYa marvelled. Any unsuspecting mortal would certainly fall on his knees before this creature, throwing their life force at them out of their own free will. But XueYa wasn't just any mortal, he was a mortal with a clear goal. He invitingly raised his hand and the snake rose from his knees in a fluid, easy motion.

Must be used to kneeling, thought XueYa. The snake god had gone towards the table. He poured the liquor into the black cup and handed it to XueYa with a seductive smile. The liquor had a sickening scent of flora, like a freshly bloomed field of – roses. XueYa's smile quivered at the snake's eager stare. The snake was waiting for him to down the cup without hesitation. Being a gentleman to the very core, XueYa drank the liquor with one swallow and hissed at the pleasant sting and the burning sensation as the liquid made its way down his throat. The taste was addicting, sweet, with a tinge of coppery after taste.

"I wonder if you taste as sweet." XueYa teased as he handed the cup back. A red tint spread over the serpent's face. The snake had now sat down next to him, his hand was tenderly placed over XueYa's abdomen. The gestures were sweet, yet the crimson hue of the eyes had now grown devilish, as they studied XueYan's every twitch of an eyebrow. The little devil had pricked his own finger and added his poisonous blood in the liquor. The snake actually thought he was fast and subtle enough that he, XueYa, the soon to be the greatest sorcerer known to men couldn't catch it.

XueYa blinked slowly, yawning and fanning himself with his hands.

"Are you feeling hot? Should I take your robes off to cool you down?"

Sweet, caring words before the victim would succumb to the poison and drift off to eternal sleep. XueYa merely nodded as he slumped his shoulders and let his head nod against his chest. He was rather enjoying his little act, he thought he was doing pretty well. The snake seemed pleased, but again, this particular snake got entangled with the dragon bracelet in less than 24 hours.

XueYa let his entire body slump back on the bed and over the pillows as he dramatically rolled his eye upwards and closed it. Long fingers brushed over his face and gave his cheek a gentle tap then a sharp squeeze, leaving the area of his cheek flaming red and throbbing. XueYa stayed motionless, keeping his breathing steady. Soon, the bed lifted as the snake got off. He could hear the snake running across the room, flinging the doors wide open and hurrying out. XueYa laid still and listened as soon after, a multitude of footsteps carried over and one by one, the people stepped inside the little room.

"Who is he?" Asked a female voice.

"Wow, so pretty!" said another female voice.

"What happened to him? Is he still alive?"

"I just made him drink a droplet of my blood. He is merely unconscious, 30th sister."

"What should we do with him, ma?"

"Who is he, how did he get in?" A voice of an older woman snapped.

"He was already in my room as I came in, ma."

"Is he the sorcerer?" One of the girls whispered.

"We should tie him up."

"No, kill him!"

"I say first tie him up, then interrogate him. If he doesn't comply then force nails through his toes and fingertips. Then we can kill him!"

"25th sister, don't you think that's a bit much?" Another female voice asked drily.

"What? Isn't that how they interrogate prisoners?"

"I heard they use whips and saltwater for the wounds."

XueYa was growing irritated as he listened to these snakes rambling on. Then the talking abruptly stopped to XueYa's relief. A soft tune of a flute being played echoed through the brothel. A sly smile crept over XueYa's lips as he cracked his eye open. Uncle WeiJie always had the best timing for everything.