AZI Volume 6 Chapter 10.5 Intermission – Black Serpent

The Hóng Xiǎo Star Realm, legend has it that this star region had been born from the death of an Imprisoning Heaven, and it is for this reason that the natural energies of Heaven and Earth is in high abundance here.

The great ruler of this star region is the emperor of the Hong Xiao Empire, and on this day—

"Henceforth you are the 46th prince of the Hong Xiao Empire."

"…"

Having declared this, the palace official—who had been selected randomly to bring this news to the 46th prince, Bùjiàn Yuè, rolls up the decree, and sets it onto the ground in front of the latter. 

"It's within arm's reach."

With the task completed, the palace official steps back, and exits the room. 

"…"

Messy black hair and dressed in a set of torn robes, Bujian Yue's appearance is more akin to a streetside beggar than a prince. 

At the same time, cobwebs overran his personal room, reinforcing the impression of him being similar to a beggar than a prince. 

Having been born blind, Bujian Yue's eyes are a dull shade of grey. 

The day Bujian Yue was born, a bright moon decorated the night skies. And glancing between his newborn son and the bright moon at the time, the emperor of the Hong Xiao Empire humorously named his son Bujian Yue—for the infant was incapable of seeing the lunar body.

Disabilities aside, being born between the current emperor and a palace maid, no one expects Bujian Yue to be capable of accomplishing anything in life. 

Age wise, Bujian Yue is currently only seven. 

A child of his age should be beside his mother; however, on the day she was crowned as the 114th concubine of the reigning emperor, the woman abandoned her son to drown herself in luxury. 

In place of his biological mother, a wet nurse was the one to raise him to the age of five, but even that wet nurse had quit her job the moment Bujian Yue had been able to consume solid food.

The day after that, Bujian Yue's three meals were delivered to him by the palace maids—a matter that his biological mother had made sure of, as it was only by keeping the former alive that she would be able to enjoy her current status as the 114th concubine. 

"…"

With a dull expression on his face, Bujian Yue presses his hand onto the ground in front of him, and eventually, he picks up the rolled-up decree. 

Groping the decree a few times, he tosses it aside, and just as Bujian Yue was about to shut his blind eyes—

*Shaaa…* slithering out of the corners, a black serpent with azure-colored eyes approaches Bujian Yue. 

As Bujian Yue flips his hand over, the black serpent rests its head onto the former's palm. 

Momentarily, the black serpent's body collapses into particles of energy that are absorbed by Bujian Yue. 

"…"

Processing the black serpent's memories, Bujian Yue blinks his blind eyes. 

Within these memories, he sees the layouts of the imperial library, where numerous cultivation methods and divine arts are stored. 

Among the cultivation methods that were located in the most guarded areas of the library, Bujian Yue narrows his eyes, and mutters—

"Sacrificial Blood Refines Myriad Souls?"

Seeing the description of this cultivation method within his mind, Bujian Yue adjusts his breathing, while rotating his cultivation base in accordance to the method. 

"…"

Finding it suitable, Bujian Yue is just about to continue rotating this cultivation method, but— 

"46th prince, your dinner is here."

Opening the door of the room, a palace maid places a tray of food down in front of Bujian Yue. 

"…Thank you."

"…Un."

Try as the palace maid might to conceal the sound of her chewing, Bujian Yue is well-aware of it. 

Following the palace maid's departure, Bujian Yue summons out the black serpent, a product of a divine art called the Soul Splitting Technique. 

"…"

Seeing the world through the eyes of the black serpent, a layer of frost seems to form over Bujian Yue's face.

A single steamed bun with a portion of it pinched away, a steak that's missing a large portion of its original size, and a half-filled glass of water.

"Go."

Sending the black serpent out of the room, Bujian Yue can't help but laugh, and remarks—

"Because I'm blind, everyone seems to think that I can be bullied?"

Despite the dishes appearing rather simplistic, the meals that were served to Bujian Yue were made from ingredients that held the natural energies of Heaven and Earth in them. 

In other words, they are akin to consumable spirit stones, and since they are akin to cultivation resources, the palace maids charged with delivering his meals have started to help themselves to a large portion of them. 

Tapping his index finger against his knee, Bujian Yue mutters—

"Since I'm unable to have a fulfilling meal… I suppose someone will have to go missing." 

...…

Rubbing her filled belly, and raising a subtle burp, the palace maid—who had delivered Bujian Yue's dinner, smiles with satisfaction. 

"Ai, as expected of a prince's meal. I should be able to make a breakthrough soon if I continue to sneak a few bites here and there."

Turning a corner, the palace maid continues to remark—

"The face of the 46th prince—if he removes the dirt on his face, he might not look too bad. It's a shame that he's blind. Hmm, I guess he would be a good flower vase husband when he grows older?"

"Is that so?"

Hearing a voice beside her ear, the palace maid abruptly halts her footsteps, and turning her face to the left, she sees—

"…"

"…?!"

*Shaaaa!* even before the palace maid could utter a scream, the black serpent lashes its body forth, and wraps itself around the former's neck—sealing the former's throat tightly. 

"Ugh…?!"

Staring into the black serpent's azure-colored eyes with terror, the palace maid's complexion turns pale, to which, the serpent asks—

"Was my dinner tasty?"

"…? …!"

Realizing the black serpent's identity, the palace maid widens her eyes with astonishment. 

Maintaining pressure on the palace maid's neck, the black serpent remarks—

"I'm rather hungry right now. What should I do? This large piece of meat that I'm currently wrapping myself around… Seems rather tempting."

"…!"

As her heart skips a beat, the palace maid immediately makes an attempt at grabbing the serpent's body to pry it off herself; however—

"Kneel." 

*Thud!* following the black serpent's command, the palace maid falls onto her knees. 

"Stay quiet."

Loosening the pressure on the palace maid's neck, the black serpent slithers off the former's body, and positions itself in front of her. 

"Haaaaah… Haaaaah…"

Despite wanting to scream, no sound could be uttered from her mouth, as the palace maid gasps desperately for air, while beads of cold sweat form on her forehead. 

Enjoying the palace maid's reaction, the black serpent asks—

"What? Do you feel regret? Are you in fear? Do you wish to apologize?"

"…Un."

As the palace maid nods her head rapidly, a chuckle comes from the black serpent, as it says—

"This isn't the first time that you've committed this offense. Let me think… When did it start? Counting the days when I first noticed a reduction in my meals, it's been… Around 89 days, a total of 267 meals added together? Do you know what punishment would befall a rat like you?"

"…"

Unable to speak, tears leak from the palace maid's eyes, to which, the black serpent heaves a sigh, and lunging its head forward, keeping an inch of distance between the former and itself, it continues to say—

"I know you're not the only one to commit this offense against me, and you definitely won't be the last."

"…"

Reading the lips of the palace maid that is opening and closing in a panic, the black serpent asks—

"You wish to name those who had committed the offenses so far?"

"…Un."

"Hmm."

As the palace maid nods, the black serpent seems to be contemplating the matter, and eventually, it leans its head back, while asking—

"Did you know—that the more fearful a prey is, the tastier it is? At least to me, since I enjoy chewing on my food to savor the flavor."

"…?"

Enlarging its stature, the black serpent abruptly snaps its head forward, and swallows the palace maid whole. 

Leaving a bite mark on the ground, the black serpent begins to chew, as the sound of meat and bones being pulverized comes from its maw. 

And eventually, the black serpent swallows. 

...…

"…"

Reabsorbing the black serpent, a sense of fulfillment fills Bujian Yue's stomach, as he subtly sticks his crimson tongue out to wet his lips.

(Hmm. I suppose I could treat the palace maids who had the courage to steal my food as livestock. Ultimately, the cultivation base that they reach will end up benefitting me once they enter my stomach.)

Thinking of this, a venomous but also bewitching smile appears on Bujian Yue's face. 

(…1,024, I'm tired spiritually.)