Snake Bond - Chapter 1

Chapter 1

I was startled by my husband Chu Ran’s sudden movement.

One arm locked around my waist.

His other hand was clamped tightly around the mad old woman’s throat.

He squeezed until her face turned scarlet and her eyes looked ready to bulge from their sockets.

And Chu Ran seemed not to notice at all. He even turned back and smiled at me.

Only the smile never reached his eyes.

I felt frightened, anxious, and for some reason, guilty.

So I quickly gave his sleeve a gentle tug.

“It is… Of course the child I’m carrying is my husband’s…”

“Let’s… let’s not pay attention to this madwoman. Husband, let her go, quickly.”

“She’s going to die!”

Chu Ran stared into my eyes for a long while.

Only when the madwoman in his grip began to convulse and foam at the mouth did he finally let go.

Then Chu Ran’s gaze fell to my lower belly. He brushed his fingers lightly over it.

After the madwoman was released, she collapsed limply onto the ground.

She was muttering something under her breath.

I found it strange. It felt as if some unseen force in the dark was pulling me closer to her.

Yes. I desperately wanted to hear what she was saying.

But Chu Ran held me by the waist, keeping me trapped in his arms as he guided me back step by step.

“Madam, we should go home. You’re with child. You’ll tire yourself out if you walk too much…”

“But…”

“Let’s go.” Chu Ran’s unquestionable tone only made me more suspicious.

It was too strange. He was never like this.

Just as doubt filled my mind, the madwoman behind us suddenly stood up.

She burst into wild laughter at our backs, flinging both arms about like claws and fangs.

“It’s no use! I saw it!”

“That night, I saw it… a snake’s tail! A giant black python!”

“Yes! Its tail was the same as yours… You are the same!”

As the madwoman spoke, she pointed at Chu Ran’s feet.

A chill shot through my heart.

But when I lowered my head, I saw nothing at all.

After we returned home, the madwoman’s words kept circling in my mind.

Like a thorn lodged in my heart.

“Madam? Zhao Zhao…”

Chu Ran called me several times before I finally came back to myself and took the bowl of milk from his hands.

“What’s wrong? You’ve been distracted this whole time. Are you feeling unwell?”

“Should I call the physician?”

I shook my head, running my fingers along the side of the bowl as I looked down at my belly.

Although the physician said I was only one month pregnant, because I was carrying twins, my belly was larger than an ordinary pregnant woman’s. I looked as if I were three months along.

I treasured this pregnancy more than anything.

Because this child had not come easily.

Chu Ran and I had known each other since childhood. We were childhood sweethearts, and when I came of age, we married. We even opened a silk shop together, and our days were rich and happy.

Everyone envied us, a young husband and wife so deeply in love.

But when the sixth year of our marriage came and there was still not the slightest movement in my belly,

all sorts of gossip began reaching my ears.

Even though Chu Ran and his family did not mind it in the slightest,

I grew terribly anxious.

We shared a bed day and night. We had even broken who knew how many bedframes…

Chu Ran was clearly so good to me…

So why had I still not become pregnant?

Why could I still not carry his child?

I sank into endless doubt.

I was afraid I could not bear children.

Then, by chance, I heard someone say there was a temple in the city that was especially effective for praying for a child.

As long as one spent a night inside, one would be granted offspring.

So while Chu Ran was away purchasing silk in another region and not at home,

I begged my mother-in-law to send me to the temple to pray for a child.

I never imagined that would be the beginning of all the darkness.