Chapter Text
It had started off the same as any other day for Cheong Myeong.
The disciples were currently focused on training, while the five swords; minus Cheong Myeong, were watching over their regimen. They berated and cursed at them for slacking off excessively as the latter felt drained from the additional taxing pressure of the training.
Internally, tears were shed.
Yet, nobody dared to complain, as the four had been growing far worse compared to Cheong Myeong as of late; any complaints would only worsen the treatment they received.
Cheong Myeong watched them from the branches of a plum blossom tree above the training grounds while sitting back comfortably.
A soft contented sigh left his lips as he closed his eyelids. While resting, the tension within his muscles and body melts away while his mind begins to wander and he dozes off.
It had been a while since he’d managed to get some shut eye.
How long exactly?
He really wasn’t sure…
It didn’t matter in the end, there wasn’t much time to rest.
There were more important things to focus on, he simply chose to spend his time on more pressing matters instead of such miscellaneous tasks. After all, time is money and lazing around takes up time.
The thought causes his eyes to blink open and he sighed, exhaustion seeped into his muscles and bones as they ached.
Yet, he knew he couldn’t laze around.
He shouldn’t…
Just as he was about to sit up from his lax position, a green viper had fallen from above. The snake landed directly on top of Cheong Myeong, catching him completely off guard.
The reptile immediately wrapped itself around both Cheong Myeong, restricting his movements.
..Cheong Myeong was one of the most perceptive and alert martial artists in the realm.
It was reportedly impossible to sneak up on the man; Aside from the exception of Yu Iseol, but that was beside the point.
He’d gone through hell and back, just to be bested by a snake of all things?
..This really wasn’t sitting well with him…
Like hell he’d allow such a situation go so easily!
Most knew he was the type that would rather go down fighting than to simply give up, and true to that statement he proved it time and time again as he began to thrash around atop the branch.
“You- What the hell do you think you’re doing?! You cold blooded bastard?!”
Cheong Myeong shouted at the viper as if it could understand human speech, but contrary to all logic, the snake seemed to respond in kind.
The words only motivated the snake to nuzzle its head against him further, ignoring his shouts and grumbles of complaint.
‘Where’d this snake even come from anyways!?’
With furrowed brows, he stopped struggling, staring down at the odd and clingy creature.
It constricted his movements, but made no move to attack him.
Even with all his struggling, it didn’t so much as hiss at him.
Somehow, the mannerisms painfully reminded him of a certain leech-like bastard from a century long past…
‘Why am I thinking of such ridiculous things at a time like this…?’
From beneath his robes, a particular white furball struggled against the tight coils.
Eventually a small head popped out from his neckline, and she gave a small huff. Soon, a human-like pout was shown on the martens face while she glared at the snake.
Surprisingly, the reptile showed no signs of fear or concern in regards to Baek-Ah and her threats, which was quite-
…Odd..
After all, from what Cheong Myeong had noticed while hanging around the marten, most animals were quick to be submissive towards her.
Well whatever, it didn’t concern him.
What did, was the fact he was still being constricted by the damned snake.
“Get off, you stupid bastard-! Argh, I'm talking to a snake now!”
Baek-Ah turned her head to stare at Cheong Myeong with an incredulous expression, as if critiquing his words internally. It was almost as if she were chastising the way his words painted the act of talking to animals in a bad light.
Moving on from the offense, she turned her attention once more unto the snake that was still coiled around the disciple’s body.
Cheong Myeong didn’t let up in his struggle, he had only momentarily stopped previously. If this was some sort of murder attempt, he refused to go down so pathetically.
His Sahyung and Tang Bo would never let him hear the end of it!
So with a swift yet steady punch, he socked the snake in its face. The force threw the reptile's head back a bit..
But it quickly went back to snuggling against him, as if it were just an everyday thing for the strange reptile.
“Dammit all- Get the hell off of me you leech?!”
Attempting to shove the snake off of himself once more, Cheong Myeong finds himself…
Falling?!?!
A yelp of surprise escapes his mouth as he tumbles and crashes down, the branches having shaken from the sudden motion as he roughly crashes to the ground with a low groan. Baek-Ah clung to his robe during the fall, still holding on as she glares over at the reptile, a low growl leaving her maw.
Yet-
The reptile suddenly appeared panicked as it looked Cheong Myeong over in worry, appearing to be fretting over him like a mother over its child, while still entangled around his body.
The noise seemed to have caught the attention of those training nearby as they rushed over in the confusion, staring at the sight in bewilderment as Cheong Myeong continued to grumble beneath his breath while struggling and tussling with the thing in a fight to free himself.
Noticing how they just stood and stared, he paused in his struggles as he sharply turned his head to yell at them.
“DON’T JUST STAND THERE LIKE IDIOTS, GET THIS DAMNED THING OFF OF ME!!!”
The disciples around him continued to stand and stare in disbelief, his screaming doing nothing to snap them out of their shock.
They looked as if they were watching some type of once in a lifetime phenomenon.
After a few threats from Cheong Myeong that would make even the most renowned criminals in Jianghu go pale in the face, a few disciples, namely Yoon Jong and Baek Cheon, came to their senses as they rushed to Cheong Myeongs’ side.
Soon after they began wrangling with the snake, Jo Geol, Yu Iseol, Hye Yeon, and Soso also snapped out of it and ran over to help.
And to say that the damn snake put up a fight would be an understatement.
It was already surprising enough that it was winning in a fight with Cheong Myeong of all people, but for it to be fighting with, and winning against, all seven of Mount Hua’s most promising disciples…
The snake finally took notice of the other disciples as it threw them a nasty hiss before it jerked its head out in an attempt to bite Baek Cheon.
Luckily he was quick enough to react and had pulled his hand away.
“You little!”
It seemed that Cheong Myeong truly did have an influence over his brats as Baek Cheon reeled his fist back and threw a punch at the snake in a very similar fashion to how the other had done earlier.
However, unlike Cheong Myeong, it didn’t connect with the intended target..
The snake dodged the punch, which was quite surprising in the disciples’ eyes as they witnessed their oldest Sasuk get bested by a single snake.
Instead of its anticipated target, Baek Cheons fist flew past the snake, connecting with the face of a certain third grade disciple.
For some odd reason, that only seemed to anger the snake further, as it hissed harshly at him once more while glaring.
However, Baek Cheon had no time to think about it because his Sajil was quick to throw a punch in return. Thankfully, being constricted by the snake threw off his aim, lessening the blow.
“WATCH WHERE YOU’RE PUNCHING, DAMNIT!”
“ Uh- Sorry.”
He couldn’t help but think about how the glares of both the snake and the madman looked vaguely alike…
Cheong Myeong continued in his struggle to free himself, with no help from the other disciples that continued to stand by and watch.
Some were even laughing a little.
By god Cheong Myeong swore he’d make them pay for it.
As the six tried their hardest to get the snake off of him, he continued to catch stray punches and hits from his damn brats.
“Maybe grab from there?”
“What if we attack from here?”
While verbally debating and taking such actions, his patience was beginning to run thin.
Cheong Myeong couldn’t tell if the ones that were supposed to be helping were hurting him more or less than the snake.
At least the damned reptile actually seemed quite defensive over him while he received the oncoming blows.
His arms were mostly restrained to his body as the snake suddenly opened its maw to latch onto Jo Geol.
The snake was fast, but Cheong Myeong’s hand was quick to move as he took the bite to his wrist.
Yet, he receives an odd reaction from the snake as it instantly retracts, seemingly drooping slightly as if it had just committed a major sin.
Which was definitely an understatement.
He swiftly retaliates while harshly whacking the snake in the head with what freedom he had.
As soon as Cheong Myeong was free, he’d teach both the reptile and his brats a thorough lesson.
That is if he could get free.
Although- For some odd reason, his hand where the bite mark still remained tingled slightly and uncomfortably.
It was as if that damned thing had poisoned him with its venom.
He quickly brushed the thought away.
Cheong Myeong had no need to concern himself with such a thing as it was only a minor issue. Nothing to be worried over as it was only just a snake bite, he was immune to most poisons after all.
Maybe ‘immune’ was pushing it, but still, he was incredible at detoxing his body.
And yet-
…His sense of hearing was suddenly becoming.. muffled?
As if he were underwater..?
He felt the temptation to pick at his ears to try and unclog them, but due to his current position it was impossible, and strangely, his arms were beginning to feel heavy.
As his senses slowed and his thoughts slurred, he could still hear his brats beside him.
“Why won’t this snake let g…”
“-aybe the damned thing has attachment issue..”
He felt a headache flooding in as a spell of lightheadedness washed over him.
Unlike his usual training, it felt as if he had bricks inside his own head, causing it to fall back against the ground.
“…heong Myeo-!”
“-jil?!”
While staring up at the sky he could already imagine his Sahyung and Tang Bo laughing their asses off at the idea of him falling so pathetically to a snake of all things.
Vision slowly fading out, Cheong Myeong berated himself for allowing something as simple as a snake bite to get the best of him.
As the world around him swirled and blurred, the snake and Baek-Ah worriedly staring down at him, darkness quickly took over.
He couldn’t help but question what exactly had just happened.
What kind of snake tries to squeeze full grown people to death?
And why was it so hell bent on staying attached to him??
And how the hell did its venom have such an affect on him?!
It wasn’t poison, as poison didn’t work on him that well.
Was it some form of anesthesia..?
He could’ve sworn he saw his Sahyung smiling at him from above.
But surprisingly, it wasn’t the cheeky, humored face he had imagined.
The man looked almost… Relieved?
…Glad?
He tried to think further into what he was seeing, but soon his mind was unable to wander any longer as he had lost his grip on reality, no longer conscious of his surroundings or his own thoughts.
.
.
“Bo-ya..”
.
.
.
“War is imminent, now more than eve…”
.
.
.
“…on the front lines with the Plum Blossom Swo..”
.
.
.
“Hyung-nim, if I don’t make it…”
.
.
.
“Tang Bo!”
.
.
.
“I’m sorry.”
.
.
.
“So rest comfortably, my one and only friend…”
.
.
.
Fleeting thoughts, voices that made him feel a sense of longing, the feeling that he had left something behind.
That was all he could register.
…He died on the battlefield..
The war wasn’t over yet, but he had died . They still needed him out there, Cheong Myeong still needed him out there.
But he lost his life...
He wasn’t necessarily afraid of death.
He was even less afraid that they’d lose the war in his absence. Cheong Myeong was still alive and kicking after all, if anyone could claim the head of such a foe it would be him.
Tang Bo was not afraid of death.
…But he was afraid of never seeing those he held dear again.
So when he could breathe again, he wasn’t sure how to feel.
The world around him flooded his senses in a rush of colors, lights, scents, and sounds.
The wound that had once left a gaping hole on his body was no more and he could almost immediately tell that his body had been rid of poison.
He was completely and utterly unharmed, but he felt…
Strange.
Before he could think to give himself a once over, the thought of the one he left behind hit him like a stack of bricks.
..Where was he?
How much time had passed?
..Was he even still alive?!
His heart ached and throbbed, feeling as if it was being painfully twisted causing him to grimace
The sinking realization of how much pain he’d most likely brought to his one and only friend cut him deeply. Even if he was strong, even if he had seen many others die, even if the latter never cared to admit it, even disregarding their final conversation of death..
How it must have wounded him so.
‘Cheong Myeong!-’
“Hiss hiss!-”
…
A moment of silence passed by as Tang Bo blinked in befuddlement, feeling bewildered by the serpent-like sounds that had escaped his lips.
‘What?’
“Hiss?”
…
Tang Bo paused.
Eyes drifting downwards, he took a moment to inspect himself.
His gaze began to waver the more he took in his appearance…
A long, deep green body, with patterned scales that reached across his skin from head to toe.
No-
Not toes.
At the end of his body, there wasn't the sight of feet or toes, but instead a single rattling tail.
Like a… Snake.
He was coiled up under a tree in the shade.
Like a… A snake.
..No.
Not like a snake.
He was a snake.
An esteemed Elder of the Tang Family.
The Dark Saint himself.
Reincarnated as a snake.
His entire basis of strength, deriving from his incomparable ability to throw daggers and wield poison with a deadly hand .
Now…
He can’t even hold a dagger now?!
At least he kept his poison, what a relief right? No, because it's all in his fangs!
Fangs that he had because of...
Of all things- To be reincarnated as..
He came back as a snake!
From his spot on the ground, he quickly turned up to face the sky as imaginary tears pricked the corners of his eyes, internally cursing the gods for throwing him into such a situation.
In his mind, he was shaking his fist and shouting profanities, but to the average onlooker it would look like a snake was hissing at the sky while its tail violently flicked from left to right, acting as if it had lost its mind…
The sounds of his own hissing only served to further enrage the martial artist turned snake.
To call the situation dehumanizing would be a stark understatement.
‘Damn it all! I couldn’t have reincarnated as a human?! I demand a refund, damnit!’
“Hiss hiss hiss!”
“Hey, what’s up with that snake?”
As he was wallowing in his misery, Tang Bo didn’t notice the group of children that had gathered around him.
One boy, the one who had just spoken, pointed at him with a stick while peering down at him with a quizzical look.
‘Ah yes, child-like curiosity. I guess I’m still quite the marvel to look at even as a sna-’
His inner monologue was interrupted as a rock was thrown his way, it hit him square in the face.
Before he could even think to curse out the child who had thrown the rock to the best of his limited ability, he noticed the way the look on the children’s faces changed from that of curiosity, to sadism.
“Who cares, I bet you I can catch it first.”
Children truly were little shits.
Not his dear grandchild of course, but that could be said at a different time.
Tang Bo had just reincarnated, as a snake no less.
And within the first few minutes of his new life, he found himself swiftly slithering away from certain death.
He was quick to bolt. He didn’t see the children as a threat on the surface, but subconsciously he knew his life was in danger; especially with this pathetic excuse of a body...
For all he knew, they planned on using him as their shiney new jump rope. They were already using him as some kind of target practice after all.
“Hey?! Don't let it get away!!”
One of the brats reacted quicker than he would have liked as they all lunged for him.
Surprisingly, and pleasantly so, he was a very agile snake. Not once did any of the brats lay even a finger on him.
That was until they started throwing things once more.
As he made a mad dash to escape the forest he found himself in, and consequently the children that were chasing him, he had nearly lost his head to a flying rock three times too many.
Agility was easy, but it was not as easy to switch the direction he slithered in.
As far as he knew he was stuck with this body for a lifetime, so he’d need to practice his navigational skills in the future.
Eventually, Tang Bo slithered through a crack in a nearby boulder.
The children didn’t notice his crafty escape as they continued running past him.
Relief flooded his body for a few silent moments as the sounds of their footfalls faded into the distance.
He stayed hidden within the crevice of the large rock for a few moments, before heaving a sigh.
Even as a snake, it took him a while to catch his breath.
‘Some… Some children need to be kept on leashes. I need a drink.’
Just then, at the thought of a drink, he had an idea.
Huayin.
In the air, he could distinctly register the scent of plum blossoms. At first he couldn’t tell if it were because he just reincarnated and was feeling melancholy and nostalgic, but after having run for his life he was sure of it.
He was definitely somewhere near Mount Hua.
Now are there other places in the world that are a home to plum blossoms?
Yes.
But a snake can dream.
In reality, he still did feel melancholy, yet joy filled his mind and soul at the thought of seeing his best friend once more.
Actually-
Wouldn’t that heartless bastard threaten to use him as some form of snake leather..?
Most of the past threats Cheong Myeong had given him.. Sure, they were all administered very violently, as the man never held back. But that was before when he knew he was Tang Bo, they had been friends. Had good laughs, drinks, and spent many years together.
But as a snake..?
‘ ..Would Taoist-Hyung even recognize me…?’
Thoughts of what could possibly happen to him in his current form ran through his mind at the thought of seeing his Hyung-nim again, yet he quickly pushed them aside.
He wasn’t even sure if the bastard would be on Mount Hua as he may be out drinking somewhere.
Actually-
Peeking his head out from the crevice a bit, he glances left and right for any sight of the brats before tentatively slithering out once making sure it was safe.
Taking in his surroundings, he makes an estimate of his location.
Now that he took a moment to actually look around himself, he was sure of it. He was definitely near Mount Hua.
Going back the way he’d come from, as it had been closer to the trail, more of the familiar terrain filled his vision.
After some struggling, he made his way up a tree to get a better vantage point. From where he was he could peek out over the forest slightly, and sure enough Huayin was just over the horizon.
With newly found motivation, a fire lit his eyes as he swiftly made his way down the tree and up the trail.
Even as a snake, he was still incredibly fast.
Energized at the thought of his best friend being so close, he ran, well- slithered.. At an uncanny speed. Sure, the town seemed to be a while away, but with his determination he’d make it down there no problem in a matter of minutes!
..Or so he had thought…
Unfortunately for Tang Bo, the forest terrain that he’d been so familiar with, had slightly changed with the passage of time.
Now this usually wouldn’t be a problem, but the change in terrain paired with his new vantage point of the world.. He’d managed to get lost pretty quickly.
Not only was he disoriented, but he had spent the large majority of his energy on that first burst of speed after fleeing.
Maybe he wasn’t as fast as he was before…
No.
That was quite the understatement, as he’d been quite athletic and strong in the past. Although he never was able to compare to his Taoist-Hyung, he was still by his side when it came to strength.
..Yet now?
Lying on the ground, he struggled to simply catch his breath. If he weren’t a snake he’d definitely be lying in a pool of his own sweat.
He resembled a sadly deflated spaghetti noodle.
In his exhaustion, he failed to notice the men walking in his direction.
There were two boys who seemed to be in their teens. Based on the way they were dressed, they were most likely the sons of noble families.
They carried with them finely crafted bows and arrows, more than likely out on a hunt.
“Hey, look over there, is that not a viper? A nicely sized one too!”
“And what a vibrant shade of green… Approach quietly!”
Tang Bo paused as he processed the words that were just spoken, feeling his previously deflated and pathetic body going rigid instantly.
‘I… I’m a viper. A green one.’
The realization that they were in fact addressing his new form, set him on high alert as his slitted eyes glanced over towards them subtly, narrowing slightly.
‘I really can’t catch a break..’
Just then, one of the noblemen drew his arrow back and shot, narrowly missing the snake as the arrowhead wedged itself within the soil.
Before he could even properly catch his breath, he was back to slithering for his life.
At this rate he’d work his lungs to the point of collapse.
‘Did I use all my good karma in my last life?! What the hell, can I really not catch a fucking break??!’
Last he checked, in the game of cat and mouse, snakes were supposed to be the ones chasing, not the ones being chased!
Another arrow was shot his way and again, it just barely missed his head as he narrowly managed to weave to the side.
As he turned back to look at the two boys he couldn’t tell if it was the god’s way of showing him mercy, or if the two nobles just really sucked that badly at aiming.
Just as he was starting to think that fate was on his side, he had turned his attention back around only to be faced with a tree a few inches in front of him, blocking his path.
He tried to make a quick turn to the right, but his reaction was too late.
He really needed to practice his navigational skills.
Unfortunately, fate was not on his side.
His pursuers were quick to catch up to him as he faltered, probably having contracted a mild concussion.
The older looking one was quick to grab him, the bastard raising him in the air and laughing, proud of his catch.
‘Damn it all… What did I do to deserve such a terrible fate??’
Despite his best efforts, in his exhaustion, he failed to squirm out of the hunter’s grasp as they held him like he were some new toy.
‘Brats…’
Tang Bo held a deep burning hatred for the two nobles, and wouldn’t rest until the day he paid them back for such disrespect.
“Hah! I caught the viper, looks like your shot threw it off. Kekek~”
The teen cackled in glee, shaking him around in the air.
To say he was agitated was an understatement.
Though he’d really rather not put his mouth on the bastard, having no idea where his hands have been, Tang Bo opened his jaw as he attempted to bite at the brat’s hand in a last ditch effort.
Apparently he was allergic to luck, as he missed completely. In response to the attempt the teen cursed as he shoved the snake into a burlap bag, quickly closing it afterwards.
After gaining his barings Tang Bo was quick to start cursing the bastards, though all that came out of his mouth was a string of hisses as his tail rattled excessively.
‘Tch... How the hell am I supposed to get out of this damned sack..?’
He…
Tang Bo..
The Dark Lord..
Someone who people rarely messed around with or even attempted to touch….
Was now in a sack, being treated as nothing more than an object by some petty noble bastards…
How… How far he has fallen.
Was there even a measure capable of describing the depths by which he has plummeted?
After all, he’d already been buried six feet under..
There was no way any normal individual would be able to say the same for themselves.
Wait- Did they even bury his body?
He’d be damned if they didn’t.
Perhaps that was where all his bad luck was coming from.
On top of being killed off, he had to suffer such a miserable fate, reincarnated as a snake of all things…
Why?
Why couldn’t he have just been reborn human once more?
He couldn’t help but silently lament within his new enclosure as the bag swayed back and forth half-hazardously due to the little care the bastards held for his life.
‘Dammit all… I was brought back to life just to suffer at the hands of some lowlifes?! I’d rather Hyung-nim just strangle me to death!...’
Sulking within the uncomfortable material he was held in, tears would have already formed if only he wasn’t a snake.
It felt as if he’d disappointed his own ancestors and descendants for becoming such a pathetic individual…
If Taoist-Hyung saw him now he’d be laughing his ass off, he just knew it, and he could already imagine it…
‘It hurts.. It really hurts my pride as a Tang..’
As he was sulking, his ears began to pick up on the lively bustle of.. of a town?
Did those brats take him to Huayin??
He didn’t know if he should be grateful or not.
Immediately, he began to contemplate ways on how to escape his burlap prison, this was an opportunity that couldn’t be passed up after all.
Maybe if they were planning to sell him, he could escape the moment they opened the bag to show him off?
Or maybe he could attempt to gnaw through the bag, he did have fangs after all…
Or-
“What the hell?!”
Interrupting his plotting, the bag he resided in was thrashed around violently.
Next thing he knew, the bag was discarded and thrown on the ground as sounds of a struggle emerged.
Did the nobles carrying him get robbed?
Was fate finally on his side for once??
... He really didn’t want to bring up his hopes just to have them crushed again…
Rolling across the ground, his head spins as everything is suddenly disoriented.
When things finally settled down, the ends of the bag that had previously been closed off were now left open as there was nothing keeping it tied anymore.
Before he knew it, he was already out of the bag and slithering away with adrenaline that still remained even through the exhaustion.
If the noble bastards noticed, he didn’t care, he was solely focused on making his escape.
He was finally in Huayin, if he couldn’t find his Hyung-nim, he could at the very least gather important information.
He has no clue how much time has passed, what the political state of things were, what even happened after the war.
And maybe.. Maybe he could also learn of the state of his own family.
He had told Cheong Myeong to ensure their safety and wellbeing, but he still couldn’t help but worry..
His family, even with their mindset, still meant everything to him. He had always felt that he neglected tending to them as he should have, so he should at least try his best to take care of them to the best of his ability now.
After slithering for a good while longer, just to be sure, he slowed down before coming to a full stop in the shade under a tree.
Heavy breaths escaped his maw as he felt the adrenaline he held before dissipate into nothingness, causing him to deflate against the hard ground below.
Everything was just so exhausting, he wished he could catch a break, but he doubted that he’d be able to without another interruption to his peace…
Taking a momentary pause, he begins to glance around himself. There were many small shops dotted around the area.
The people of Huayin were pouring through the streets, some were haggling their prices, some were going about business as usual.
He took shelter under a tree near a tea shop, the fragrance of herbs and plum blossoms mixing in the air.
Tables were lined in front of the shop as people sat around peacefully, having normal everyday conversations.
It was peaceful.
It was familiar.
The faces of the vendors that he used to be familiar with have changed, not a single person from his past life was still present.
Yet when his eyes caught sight of a familiar building, a certain tea shop he’d pass by every once in a while when visiting his Hyung-nim, he had quickly sat up as the realization of exactly where he was hit him.
The trees, the tables, he could even see the face of a familiar vendor in the face of the current vendor.
He would frequent the tea shop with his Hyung regularly, it was quite popular.
A sigh escapes his maw while he reminisced shortly, he was glad to see that it was just as popular as it was, however many years ago.
‘Right… This is the perfect place to gain intel on what’s taken place in Mount Hua over the years. I just need to get closer and listen in on these brats’ discussions without getting caught.. That’ll be easy enough, after all they didn’t call me the Dark Lord of the Tang Family for nothing!’
He slithered out of the shade as he made his way over to a customer's table, laying out of sight behind the table’s legs.
At the table sat four men, seemingly in their late forties to fifties, he hoped that they held some knowledge on what was happening.
“Do you recall the shop owner of that one restaurant in Shaanxi?”
The youngest brat at the table spoke up with a dazed expression on his face, appearing lovestruck.. Two of the older men spoke up soon after, while the third simply drank from his cup.
“Ah. The daughter of that one old geezer?”
“Didn’t he threaten to get you arrested if you touched his daughter?”
“Bah! But she’s around our age, why should that matter? She should be able to make her own decisions, right?”
“That’s not the point.”
“Whatever.. You three are still single aren’t you? Shouldn’t you also be trying to find a wife?”
The youngest attempts to get them to share a similar view as him, yet the oldest only seems annoyed.
“What nonsense. And waste our money on jewels for them?? They’ll just leave you in the end anyhow.”
“The thought doesn’t actually sound half bad to me, at least if they don’t use me for just my wealth.”
Another spoke up, as the useless conversation continued.
Gaze narrowed, Tang Bo focused all of his attention onto their words, waiting for anything of use as he felt quite lost in this new body; knowing nothing of the current matters taking place within the world.
Yet- The topic they were going on about was already giving him a headache.
‘Who cares about women?? You four brat bastards wouldn’t be able to get a single one with the way you’re all acting. Tsk, tsk. Kids these days have no brains.’
Resting his head against the leg of the table, a soft exhale escapes him as drowsiness runs its course through his body, but he remains awake and aware of their discussion.
…
Nothing.
Absolutely nothing.
His hopes had been held way too high, as their discussions held nothing of value or interest.
They just drawled on and on over nonsensical topics that were of no use to anyone!
‘They’ve got to at least know something of use. What are these brats being paid for if they’re just going to sit on their asses and talk about women and drinks!!’
…
He really wished time would pass by quicker..
‘Please… For the sake of my sanity, change the topic to something useful…’
Tang Bo held back the urge to bang his head against the table's leg in exasperated annoyance.
…
After about thirty minutes, their topic of conversation had yet to change.
..He was beginning to think he was wasting his time.
‘I don’t need to know about your personal lives, damnit! Mount Hua! Say something about Mount Hua! What kind of citizens of Huayin are you?!’
Despite the way Tang Bo glared up at the men from underneath the table, they continued to speak on absolutely nothing of note.
Apparently the snake couldn’t manifest the information he wanted into existence by just glaring, so he decided to put the wasted time behind him and try eavesdropping on another table.
Just as he was leaving, one man finally spoke some words that caught his ear.
The man sighed contentedly, a look of nostalgia on his face as he spoke, his tone holding fondness.
“How things have truly improved over the recent years, a true blessing indeed. All thanks to the Mount Hua sect.”
Tang Bo stopped dead in his tracks, after what felt like days of useless yapping they finally started to talk of Mount Hua.
The man sitting across from the other nodded his head with a proud look on his face. Well, it was good to see the citizens of Huayin were as prideful as ever.
“I get what you mean, not too long ago Huayin was really nothing special to look at, but when that sect started gaining back its former glory, business exploded down here! I now have more money in my pockets than I would a few years ago after saving for months.”
‘Wait- Nothing special to look at? Former glory?? What!?’
Tang Bo couldn’t help the way dread pulled into the chambers of his heart.
‘..What happened while I was gone..?’
“I hear you, after being destroyed in that war against the demon cult a century ago there was hardly anything left of them. I’m glad that the period of struggle can be written off as a distant past in the history books now.”
Tang Bo couldn’t help the way his jaw went slack.
‘A century has passed?? And Mount Hua fell?!!’
“It’s all thanks to that third grade disciple, the Divine Dragon they call him. Without him I’m not even sure if they’d still be there! Truly a man to look up to indeed, and so very young too. He has great things ahead of him, that young one.”
“Ah yes, I know exactly who you're talking about! What was his name again..?”
‘What?! What was his name?!’
If Tang Bo was seated at the table alongside the men he’d be on the edge of his seat.
“Hmm.. it’s just on the tip of my tongue..”
‘Hurry up and figure it out before I rip that tongue of yours out!’
“Hrm. Uhm- Mmm…”
‘Goddamnit, just spit it out!!! How difficult is it to say a single name?!!’
Deciding enough was enough, Tang Bo huffed before slithering off grumpily.
‘Fine, don’t say it. I’ll find out myself anyways once I get up Mount Hua, just wait for me, Hyung-nim… I’ll go and see just how good this brat is. I doubt he’s as good as you though.’
With that firm declaration he quickly slithered off, heading through the shadows and alleyways of Huayin in a hurry to get to his Taoist-Hyung.
It was then that one of the men had a eureka moment.
Yet Tang Bo had long disappeared back into the forest, not having the patience to wait for the men to struggle through trying to recall the name.
“Ah- That’s right, his name is Cheong Myeong!”
The forest is quiet, tranquil.
The leaves of the trees rustled in the breeze, the cool air carrying the scent of plum blossoms.
Not even the predators of the forest disturbed the peace.
All matters of life were at ease, well, almost all.
Among the wildlife one snake in particular rapidly slithered down the forest trail in a frenzy.
If one didn’t know any better, they’d assume that the snake was…
..Lost.
…
Or maybe it was lost.
Tang Bo had been roaming the forest for the better part of an hour, yet the more he tried to navigate through the area, the more lost he became.
‘This.. This can’t be happening. Back in my day I used to traverse the forests and mountains of Huayin in my sleep, in my sleep dammit!’
He sighed heavily before deflating and laying back down on the floor, a sad reflection of himself not so long ago.
‘I wonder how hard you’d laugh if you could see me now, Hyung-nim..’
At first, he had the brilliant idea of following the scent of plum blossoms to find his way up the mountain.
It worked for a short while, until everything started smelling like plum blossoms
Before he even realized the fault in his strategy, he walked himself in circles three times over, wasting an egregious amount of time.
Then he thought that he ought to just let muscle memory lead the way, so he wandered.
And wandered.
..And wandered some more.
Until he became impatient and picked up his pace, thinking that he simply hadn’t reached the mountain because he was traveling far too slowly.
Long story short, he was wrong.
After that failed attempt he tried to follow the people he saw in hopes of coming across a merchant making their way to the sect for business.
Surprisingly, he did come across quite a few people.
Unfortunately , the only merchants he came across were traveling down the mountain in the direction of Huayin.
He had followed a good five people back to the town by accident.
The other people he came across that were not trying to descend the mountain were-
…Hunters.
And those interactions didn’t go too well for him.
Now he was on the forest floor, having collapsed in fatigue.
‘If I had a gold coin for every time I had to run for my life… Ok, I’d still be pretty poor, but still!’
He couldn’t even close his eyes, as no eyelids currently resided on his face.
If only he could have rested them for once since his arrival.
It all felt so useless at that point.
…
He really wished he could cry or call for his Hyung-nim.
Although the latter would call him pathetic, he didn’t care at this point. He missed the other quite dearly and wished he could see his face once more…
Pathetic…
That’s what he currently is.
Nothing could be more pitiful than him in his current moment of shame.
At the very least, he hasn’t run into a single predator; aside from humans. Not that he knew of any other animals that preyed on snakes anyways.
It seemed that god was willing to at least do him that one favo-
“Hiss..”
…
He took it back.
God damnit, he took it back.
The world and the gods hated his guts..
There were not many animals that preyed on snakes, with the exception of some birds and felines.
Unless god really hated him and a bird of prey swooped down and ended his pathetic little reptilian life, in the forests of Huayin there was little to worry about.
Not many animals would prey on a snake.
So of course, the heavens saw it fit to just throw a bigger, stronger snake at him.
…
Damn the gods.
Damn them all to hell.
The snake was a large, beige-brown cobra. If Tang Bo had to guess, it stood at around four times his size.
He was able to survive stupidly sadistic children.
Horrific physical exhaustion.
Hunters that could shove a handful of arrows up their asses and die for all he cared.
But this was just too much.
The cobra stalked slowly towards him, the asshole tried to make himself look bigger as if he weren’t big enough already.
When Tang Bo tried to back away, knowing he couldn’t win the fight, the cobra only hissed louder as it continued its advance.
Maybe.. Maybe he just wasn’t cut out for living after all.
The gods probably reincarnated him as a snake by mistake, and have consequently been trying to take him out at every turn because of it.
That had to be the case.
If he were to just lay down his life now, maybe he’d come back as a human.
That would be the easiest way, right…?
‘Like…’
“Hiss..”
…
‘LIKE HELL I WILL DAMNIT, DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHO I AM?! YOU FUCKING LOWLIFE!!’
“KHAAAAAA!!!”
At the smaller snake's sudden violent display of hissing, the cobra was startled and it actually faltered, intimidated.
‘MISTAKE?? REINCARNATED AS A SNAKE BY MISTAKE??? TO HANDLE THE LIFE OF THE GREAT DARK SAINT WITH SUCH FRIVOLOUS CARELESSNESS.’
As the viper hissed and snarled, the cobra shook.
However in order to preserve its pride it brandished its hood and puffed its chest out as it hissed back in retaliation.
Or, at least- It tried to.
“H-His-“
“HISSSS!”
‘AND YOU. SHUT YOUR MAW YOU DIRTY MONGREL. YOU ARE IN THE PRESENCE OF THE MIGHTY DARK SAINT HIMSELF. I HAVE SLAIN HORDES OF MAGYO WITH THE FLICK OF MY WRIST. I HAVE LED BATTLE AFTER BATTLE IN A WAR THAT DROVES HAVE DIED IN. I AM AN ELDER OF THE ESTEEMED TANG FAMILY. HAVE YOU NO CONCEPT OF MY STRENGTH???? I COULD AND I WOULD CRUSH YOUR PUNY LIFE UNDER MY LITTLE FINGER. STAND DOWN, BRAT!!!’
Surprisingly, the cobra seemed to understand him as it shrunk back.
The words he spat held more venom than anything that could be delivered by his fangs.
‘BY THE HEAVENS AND THE UNDERWORLD I WILL BRING CALAMITY TO THE ALMIGHTY FOR THIS. CALAMITY I SAY.’
Tang Bo took his attention off of the cobra and turned to face the sky.
His pupils were constricted into sharp thin lines and his tail shook violently. As he hissed to the sky, he brandished his fangs fully in a way that could only be described as aggressive and borderline predatory .
Anger was more than evident on his face, even as a snake.
‘MARK MY WORDS, THOSE WHO CROSS MY PATH STARTING NOW WILL PAY HELL. IF THEY ARE SHORT ON FUNDS, THEY SHALL PAY WITH THEIR VERY LIF- ’
“Kaw!!”
A crested serpent eagle swooped down, grasping Tang Bo within its talons, cutting off his internal rant.
..Perhaps he jinxed it.
Or perhaps the gods really, truly had it out for him.