The Fake Bride Offered to the Snake God - Chapter 9

Chapter 9

In the Serpent Lair, the Black Lotuses withered simultaneously.

All the petals turned into black mist, coiling around the Temple Knights’ ankles.

Malo’s face went pale.

“Are you insane? The Black Lotus is your blood! If you burn it, you’ll suffer the backlash yourself!”

Semyre took my hand and helped me stand.

“Didn’t you call me a monster?”

He lifted his gaze, his pupils narrowing into slits.

“It’s only reasonable for a monster to be a little mad.”

For the first time, I thought his cold face was somewhat handsome.

Or maybe I was scared out of my wits.

The knights were dragged into the water by the black mist.

The pool had no waves.

Only clusters of Silver Bells sank down, never to ring again.

Malo turned to flee.

I blocked his path.

In truth, I couldn’t stop him.

All I had was a broken bell in my hand, and I was wearing an ill-fitting old dress.

But when Malo saw my face, he actually paused for a moment.

He said bitterly, “You are not her.”

“Right.”

I said.

“So don’t take her debts out on me.”

I hurled the Silver Bell at him.

Malo raised a hand to block it.

The moment the bell shattered, the last fragment of sound hidden inside burst out.

It wasn’t Livia’s voice.

It was Malo’s own.

“Take the child from the Holy Maiden’s womb.”

“The Divine Bone Fragment will grow into a new Lock Core within the child. As long as we replace the Vessel every twelve years, the Snake God will never be able to leave Yuehuai Village.”

Chills ran through me.

Norn was the Vessel for the twelfth year.

And me.

I might be one too.

Malo stared at the red mole behind my ear and suddenly smiled.

“Why do you think you look like her?”

Semyre’s serpent tail coiled around his neck from behind.

Malo kept smiling.

“You’re all shells chosen from her bloodline.”

“Ailia, you certainly have parents, a younger brother.”

“But your entire line has been recorded in the Temple’s registries since birth. Whoever’s blood resembles hers the most becomes the next body of the Holy Maiden.”

I stood rooted to the spot, my hands and feet cold.

Semyre looked at me.

In that instant, the killing intent in his eyes receded rapidly.

He didn’t say “Don’t listen” or “That’s not true.”

He simply asked, “Do you want me to kill him?”

My throat tightened.

Malo laughed even louder.

“See? She doesn’t dare.”

“Just like Livia, she’s soft-hearted and foolish. Sooner or later, she’ll be the death of you.”

I walked over and picked up a shortsword dropped by a knight.

The sword was heavy.

I had to grip it with both hands to steady it.

Malo’s laughter stopped.

“Ailia.”

He was finally alarmed.

“Your brother still needs the Temple’s medicine.”

“Not anymore.”

I said.

“He’s no longer your Vessel.”

The shortsword pierced Malo’s shoulder.

Not fatal.

But enough to make him kneel in pain.

Semyre watched me.

I gasped for breath, my hands trembling uncontrollably.

“I won’t kill him.”

I said.

“I want him to return to the Temple alive and tell them: the Vessel in Yuehuai Village is gone, and the Snake God has awakened.”

Malo’s face was ashen.

I crouched down and looked him in the eye.

“And one more thing.”

“From now on, don’t try to deceive a snake.”

Semyre let out a soft laugh behind me.

Very short.

Like a crack in ice revealing a hint of spring water.