Upon opening my eyes, the room was shrouded in darkness.
The curtains fluttered with the cold breeze blowing through the window gap.
The hissing of a snake seemed to come from outside the window.
I instantly felt my spine stiffen, and my forehead was drenched in cold sweat.
Under the covers, I didn't even dare to move, fearing any movement might result in touching something slimy and ice-cold.
I lay there for a very long time, the hissing of the snake never ceased.
I got up, drew the curtains, and took a look outside.
Instantly, chills ran down my spine.
Many snakes indeed coiled at the front door of my uncle's house, their eerie green eyes shimmering in the night.
I was terrified and quickly let the curtain drop.
With so many snakes suddenly surrounding the doorstep, my uncle's family must have been scared too...
And my mother, who was ill, must not be startled again.
I looked over to the bed where my mother was sleeping.
She was sleeping soundly, undisturbed.
I tiptoed out of bed and headed to find the bathroom.
My uncle's house was a self-constructed rural building with three stories.
There were many rooms here.
It was my first visit, and I was completely unfamiliar with the layout.
I could only rely on the dim light of the hallway to search around until I finally found the bathroom.
After using the bathroom, I stepped out.
I sensed something was amiss.
There was a trail of small blood footprints along the lengthy corridor, resembling the ancient three-inch Golden Lotuses.
My breath caught as I followed the footprints with my eyes.
The light at the end of the corridor seemed to be broken.
However, it flickered with a cold bluish light.
In that cold light stood an old woman with white hair and a stooped figure.
The old woman walked slowly, her silhouette desolate.
In the silent night, her presence seemed extremely eerie.
The old woman sharply sensed something, suddenly turned her head, and said, "The presence of a living person? Who is sneaking around behind me?"
I hurriedly withdrew back into the bathroom.
I held my breath, not daring to breathe loudly.
Who exactly was that old woman?
What was she doing in my uncle's house?
Did she notice me just now?
"It's me," my uncle's voice rang out.
The old woman laughed with a strange, eerie chuckle.
My uncle said, "Granny Hu, what are we going to do if that ghost python makes a move? My house is surrounded by its snakes."
"Is Su Wan really your niece? Today she was nearly killed by that Old Taoist Nun you hired, and you didn't even frown," said Granny Hu, her laughter unsettling as she responded with a non-answer, "You people, each of you so heartless and ruthless."
The ominous Granny Hu, who seemed like a ghost, appeared to know my uncle.
They continued talking, plotting against the ghost python.
I mustered my courage and stole a peek.
My uncle was smoking a cigarette.
In the swirling bluish-white smoke,
The stooped old lady had an extremely pale face covered in white hair.
Her features resembled those of a fox, which was disconcertingly spine-chilling.
To my shock, my uncle was actually conversing with a half-human, half-fox creature!
In my surprise, I covered my lips.
My uncle's face darkened as he asked Granny Hu, "What do you mean by that?"
"Just a passing remark, hehehe," Granny Hu's laugh was chilling, "With me here, are you still afraid of Yu Longting?"
"He is the Snake Lord, you might not be a match for him," my uncle said sternly.
Granny Hu held a candle emitting a greenish flame in her hands, the phosphoric light making her face seem even paler, "Who said I would confront him personally?"
She extended a hand that looked like a chicken claw, with very long nails.
In her palm was a black pill.
My uncle asked, "What is this?"
Granny Hu smiled mysteriously, "Abortion pill. Once Su Wan takes it, she will miscarry and bleed to death. If you wear the same cheongsam made out of that dead fetus like your brother did, are you still scared of Yu Longting?"