Chapter 15: Entangled by the Serpent

Li Wei stretched his arms lazily as the early morning sunlight warmed his skin. The sanctuary was peaceful, almost too quiet for his liking. He missed the bustling attention he received back at the village, but he had to admit that the serenity here had its perks.

With a yawn, he decided to take a stroll to the nearby river. "A refreshing bath will do me good," he muttered, grabbing a towel and heading out.

The river sparkled under the sun, its waters clear and inviting. Li Wei undressed casually, utterly unaware of the danger that lurked beneath the tranquil surface. As he stepped into the cool water, he let out a sigh of relief, relishing the sensation.

"Ah, finally, some alone time," he said, splashing water onto his face.

But the stillness of the moment was shattered by an eerie hiss.

Li Wei froze, his eyes darting around. The sound came again, louder this time, and the water rippled unnaturally. Before he could react, the surface of the river exploded, and a massive, gleaming snake emerged. Its scales shimmered like jewels, and its golden eyes fixed on Li Wei with a predatory intensity.

This was no ordinary snake, it was Serathis, the legendary serpent feared by all beasts in the beast world. Her size was colossal, her power unmatched, and her reputation struck terror into even the bravest of creatures.

Li Wei's jaw dropped. "You've got to be kidding me."

The snake hissed, its voice low and resonant. "A rare male, wandering alone in my domain. How fortunate for me."

"Look, I'm flattered, really," Li Wei stammered, backing away. "But I'm not interested in being anyone's snack or…whatever you have in mind."

Serathis didn't reply. With lightning speed, her tail lashed out, wrapping around Li Wei before he could escape.

"Hey! Let me go!" he shouted, struggling against her iron grip.

Serathis chuckled, a sound that sent chills down his spine. "Oh, little one, you're far too precious to let go. You will be my mate, and together, we shall rule this realm."

"Mate?! No way!" Li Wei yelled, squirming as she began to drag him deeper into the river.

Back at the sanctuary, the beasts sensed the disturbance. Rina was the first to notice Li Wei's absence. "Where's that idiot?" she asked, her voice laced with annoyance.

Freya, who had been keeping a watchful eye on him, pointed toward the river. "He went there earlier. Why?"

Rina's stomach churned. Something felt off. "We need to check on him. Now."

A group of beasts followed her lead, racing toward the river. But when they arrived, the sight that greeted them froze them in their tracks.

Li Wei was nowhere to be seen, but the massive serpent coiled menacingly in the water, its golden eyes daring anyone to come closer. Around her lay several injured beasts, wolves, panthers, and even a massive bear, each writhing in pain from their failed attempts to save Li Wei.

Rina's heart dropped. "Serathis…"

Freya gasped, covering her mouth. "No…not her. She's a monster!"

The snake hissed, her voice carrying a sinister tone. "Leave now, or suffer the same fate as the others. The male is mine."

Rina clenched her fists. "Over my dead body!"

The beasts hesitated. They had all heard the stories of Serathis, how her venom could paralyze entire armies and her strength could crush boulders. Facing her was a death sentence.

But Rina refused to back down. "He's one of us. We can't just leave him!"

Freya grabbed her arm. "Rina, think this through! If we rush in, we'll only get hurt—or worse."

Rina's mind raced. She knew Freya was right, but the thought of abandoning Li Wei to that creature was unbearable. "Then we'll come back with reinforcements. We'll find a way to defeat her."

Reluctantly, the group retreated, their morale low. As they made their way back to the sanctuary, Rina's determination hardened.

"We'll save him," she vowed, her voice firm. "No matter what it takes."

Meanwhile, deep within her lair, Serathis coiled around Li Wei, who hung suspended in her grip.

"Comfortable?" she teased, her golden eyes gleaming.

Li Wei glared at her. "Do I look comfortable? You're insane!"

Serathis laughed, a low, menacing sound. "You'll come to see things my way soon enough. After all, you have no choice."

Li Wei swallowed hard, his mind racing for a way out. He was charming, sure, but he wasn't sure even his silver tongue could talk him out of this one.

Still, if anyone could charm a deadly serpent, it was him.