The inside of the cave is slimy and wet with sticky liquid dripping from the top of the walls. Landing onto her skin, the strange warmth felt from the sliding juice gives Xin Yue an uneasy shudder of disgust.
Burrowing deeper into the depths of this dark cavern, the scent of rotting grew stronger following each step she took. This cave does not have a complicated path of multiple ways nor is it hard to walk. Except for pieces of decaying leftover meat swarming with flies as well as squirming maggots, no hidden surprises seem to be waiting.
Following the straight path through the area in which only the sound of her tapping footsteps echo. The young woman eventually arrived at the very end of the road.
What appears in front of her is an indented area in the ground with dry grass spread over as a makeshift bed.
As the only place in the cavern that is completely dry, six grey spotted eggs rest within, lacking any current signs of wanting to hatch. Comparable to the diameter of six frisbees, the young lady was about to take a closer look when a slimy sensation of something warm slid against her cheek. Different from the dripping water coming from above it feels as if a tongue just ran against her skin.
Xin Yue: "... …"
It was at that same moment the young woman recalled, 'if this is a nest of eggs then where are the parents?' From the first step she took all the way along the path did nary a single shadow show up in her sights!
"... …"
Teeth clenched with a tight squeeze of almond eyes before they open up again in instant determination. Hands quickly raised in the direction of that strange feeling, shining the light to a perfect face to face with the scrutinizing stare of a snake!
Yellow slitted pupils glare without blinking as the squirming body with the width as thick as her body but length as long as an electric pole hover above.
Only by biting on the bottom of her lips did the scream emerging from her throat manage to swallow back down. Frozen from fear the young woman allowed the forked tongue to run across her body from top to bottom before it turned away.
The swishing of solid scales scraping the surface of the ground let out a chilling drag across the cavern. Curling its enormous body around those six eggs the large snake began to rest. Ignoring the bewildered gape of this unwelcome guest.
"This…" Xin Yue still hesitates to move due to the presence of this gigantic creature, 'could this be the so-called guardian of the forest?'
That is a possibility.
However, it seems to be protecting those eggs lying inside the nest?
At this moment, Xin Yue realized that those round embryos must belong to this snake.
Perhaps sensing her powerlessness to cause harm, the large snake chose to close its bell-like eyes and proceed to sleep without caution.
"... …" Although it's true that she's weak to the point of being close to a blade of grass. Wait, maybe a blade of grass is more resilient in comparison. However! Being ignored so blatantly hurts her pride…
Though, observing more closely from the way this creature acts, it seems to depict a certain level of intelligence. Could this reptile be like those creatures in cultivation novels? After decades of absorbing the essence of Heaven and Earth, was able to open their consciousness and understand human speech?
Squinting her eyes with a pout, Xin Yue decided to test out her hypothesis. Dashing out of the cave without looking back, the eyes of the lazy reptile only open a small slit before continuing to sleep.
Assuming that the human has left, the sound of returning footsteps an hour later surprised the creature into lifting its huge head. Locked onto the only path of the cave, a slender body clothed in a brown cape approached with short breaths. Stopping a few meters away with a pause an object hanging loosely within her hands could be seen flailing in desperation.
Bending her knees to catch her breath, Xin Yue took large breaths of air in order to calm the pounding of her beating heart. It took her almost an hour in order to catch those fishes swimming in the lake. If it weren't for her quick bear-like instincts, wading in the water up to morning and not even a blade of grass would she get.
It must be the bear DNA hiding somewhere in her genes.
"Okay, here goes…" Lifting up the still flapping fish the young lady was about to throw when her actions stopped with a sudden halt. Hesitating for a moment, she instead rolled the fish across the floor like a bowling ball aiming to reach the area where the serpent lies.
Not kidding, if the snake thought she was going to attack by throwing a fish...
The poor thing rolls across the ground like a piece of discarded rag before settling in front of the huge snake. Thinking that one is not enough, the young woman threw another the same way. Tumbling over with more proficiency, suspicious welling liquid on the corner of the two fish's eyes caused the snake to blink its beady pupils.
Snake: "... …"
Fish: "... That person over there! I might not be human but you're definitely a demon!"
Shaking its triangular head, the creature lowered its body to curl around the nest again.
"A herbivore?" Turning away instantly, Xin Yue once again exited the cave. This time, it took her almost two hours before she came back again with a package wrapped in leaves. Sliding the whole thing over, the packet opened on the side to reveal a variety of fruits and nuts. Free from the binding, those small food items rolled till it hit the scales of the resting animal.
Capturing its attention, the snake blinked its slitted eyes and raised half of its body. Sending out a forked tongue, it licked at the particles in the air a few times before pausing without movement. Two pairs of eyes collide in the midst of stale air and dripping pattering of liquid falling from the roof of the cave.
Finally, as if giving up on struggling, the giant snake wrapped its long tongue over a huge red berry and swallowed it whole. Then as if thanking her for the offering, it bowed its head in her direction before pushing the rest back towards her. As if indicating for her to enjoy the rest, the huge snake used its tail to point at the package then point at her. This action happened a few more times before Xin Yue realized the creature's good gesture.
Giving a small laugh of embarrassment, the young woman took the closest fruit to her and took a bite, "ahaha… thanks." It took her a long time to find edible fruits and nuts in the darkness of the woods.
The forest is always a place for poisonous plants to grow and in order to find out which could and could not be eaten. She had to search place by place at areas of vegetation with signs of animal activity, it's only right that she can at least eat one or two to pacify her exhausted body.
But…. peeking at the silent creature watching her eat, she couldn't help but feel that everything was worth it. At least it shows that the serpent is mild enough not to attack her right away.
"I'm just… going to borrow your place to sleep for the night." Xin Yue said while giving the serpent the best smile she could muster, "don't mind me..." Saying so, under the inspecting gaze of the snake Xin Yue went to the far corner of the cave and plopped down in fatigue. Pulling the cloak closer around her shoulder, not even a few minutes have passed before the young lady submerged into a deep sleep.
"... …" The steady breathing of the young lady floated into the quietness of the cavern. Yellow beady pupils the size of two large apples blinked in silent contemplation before lowering its body to move. Slithering on the ground, glittering scales of viridian maneuver like the flowing of curtain beads as it approaches the area of the sleeping figure. Its immense shadow hovers over her lithe body many times smaller than its size.
One minute.
Two minutes.
Five, even twenty minutes have gone by without further movement.
Other than gazing wordlessly at her sleeping expression the serpent made no other moves.
Another half an hour has gone by.
Until a light sound resonated from the fragile figure below.
"Sob."
The sound was light. So light that the owner of the cave thought it was only a fragment of imagination.
"Sob. Sniff…. sniff.."
But it was real. The supposedly brave human who smiled at it so foolishly was now crying in almost inaudible whimperings.
"Sniff.. Mom.. ngh…"
"... …"
"I'm cold…"
The serpent looked down at the girl from above with its cold-blooded eyes. Its tail tapped on the surface of the ground in a rhythmic beat for a few passing moments. Until at last, the end of its body slithered forward.
Wrapping loosely over the trembling figure, Xin Yue shivered from the unfamiliar sensation before submerging back to sleep. Perhaps the fatigue collected from days of unrest have finally induced her into a deep slumber.
"... …"
A brief period later, seeing that the human shows no signs of awakening, the large creature decided to retreat. Its forked tongue glided over the skin of Xin Yue's cheeks as soft as the falling of a leaf before turning away to curl around its children once again.
Its long tail still securely encases the sleeping figure of that strange human.
_____
In an area of the woods lit up bright with the support of numerous flaming torches. The sound of raucous laughter along the cries of struggling captives rang out in the air. The camp of bandits proceeds with another night of unrestrained savagery.
This time with even more barbarism.
Within the ruins of broken wood and dilapidated tents as well as puddles of undried blood. Around twenty men of different structure but all equally bare without a single piece of clothing surround themselves in the depravity of animalism. Forcing themselves into the warm flesh of young women and men The audible sloshing of liquid and flesh slapping into flesh rang out every ticking second of time. Some enjoy the act of two while a few relish in groups of three or more. Muffled cries and whimpering sobs of begging for mercy only serves as a spark for them to plunge even faster, penetrate more deeper. Like as though the bodies under them are not humans but a toy that deserves to be treated with fervent cruelty.
Grunting in tune of each powerful thrust, the man lunges in action as though he wants to pierce through the body under his hands. Feeling the build up of uncontrollable passion, he moves a few more times before slipping out of the dripping gap. Taking a few deep breaths to steady himself, the large man positioned his callus hands to grip at the figure's waist before plunging instantly in one hard motion.
Ignoring the sound of painful screams, he drove in with a maddening excitement accompanied by his grunts of laughter. "Haha! What do you think? Huh? Tell me! Was it fun terrorizing and killing my men? How dare you bomb my settlement while I'm away!" The force of each assault pushed the body under a few centimeters forward each time. Droplets of blood together with strands of murky liquid stains the ground akin to the withering of lovely flower petals.
"Hng! Haaa….." The collection of intensity spilled out and filled the twitching cavern with its viscous markings. Pulling out his still shuddering rod, the man brushes aside the strands of hair covering his face to reveal a pair of malevolent eyes. A two inch diagonal scar across the bridge of his nose gives this man an aura of devilry paired with those malicious filled pupils.
Slanting a cold glance at the still body of the young man on the ground, the ball of flame swirling in the pits of his stomach urges for another round. "Hey." The man commanded with an icy tone, "get up."
The young man remained motionless, black and purple bruises painted the oat color of his skin a shocking hue. Laying with his stomach on the floor, the murky fluids of releasement along with blood flows out gradually from his bottom.
"Tch. These players are fucking weak as hell." Clicking his tongue in annoyance, the man kicked the body away before turning to sit at a chair prepared for him from a distance away. Leaning comfortably to the back of the chair with his two legs apart, his stiff shaft rises solidly with no ways of appeasement. Resting his cheek against the palm of his hand, the man watches the scenery ahead with dispassion. To him, the spectacle of lust and carnage are just ways of passing time.
"Leader." A rough voice next to the man referred to as the leader of the bandits rang out with a calmness distinct to the fervent howls of madness. Appearing behind the chair, an unknown figure hidden in the folds of a large cloak stretches out a parchment written with a red "X."
"It's you." The Leader slanted the cloaked person a look of scorn, "what do you want?" This person who appears occasionally without signs always requires him to do troublesome things. If it wasn't for the points earned each time, he would have killed this bastard years ago, "you better make this quick."
The mysterious person gave no indication of extraneous feelings regarding the rudeness directed at him. Instead, the map in his hand stretched even closer to the bandit, "tomorrow. Go to the place indicated in the map and either steal or take away all the eggs from within that cave."
"Hm?" Snatching the parchment away, the Leader scrutinizes the drawing of the marked location on the map. Realizing the destination, the man's face instantly turns green from anger and unease, "I'm not going there." The last time he went with his group, only five out of the fifteen he took came back alive including himself.
This time he might not be so lucky to return alive, no points are enough to move him for this mission.
"Two hundred for destroying, six hundred each for capturing." The figure replied in a curt voice.
Immediately the Leader's eyes widened with a flash of greed. However, logic restored just as quick as he leaned back in his seat, "no."
"Five hundred for destroying, one thousand two hundred for capturing alive," the mysterious stranger offered.
"... …"
"Each."
Instantaneously greed took over reasoning as the bandit leader stood up from his chair in excitement.
Crinkling the parchment under the pressure of his fingers, the bandit laughed in a low tone at first before gradually howling in a fit of excitement! "HAHAHA!!! A minimum of five hundred just to break one stupid egg!" With this much points per egg found, they wouldn't have to worry about surviving for the next few years.
"Heh, I got it. You can scram now." Without giving the figure so much as another glance, the man took off with uncontained joy and leapt into the fray of gyrating bodies. Hauling up a randomly chosen person, he rammed into their bodies without an ounce of preparation earning another scream of terror along fits of laughter.
This show enters into the view of the figure still standing at the same spot behind the chair. A light smile tugged at its lips in a meaningful curve, "you haven't asked me for the details." That person muttered before disappearing into the depths of darkness.