Morning mist rose as the Sea of Mist churned.
A huge, ferocious white snake swam through the white fog, sometimes lifting her head, sometimes diving beneath it. Her tail swished as she moved like a fish through water. Today, Bai Yujun planned to visit Cloud Remote Ancient Village. As their sacred beast totem, she had not seen them for several months; surely they had emerged from the shadow by now.
Things in Snake Valley were more or less settled, so she had come out for a stroll. Cloud Remote Ancient Village was in such dire straits now that it would be inappropriate to demand a free meal. She would probably go hungry.
Terraced fields, where mountain folk labored.
It was the season for transplanting rice seedlings. Barefoot people bent over in the flooded paddies, planting seedlings, and there were more women in the fields.
The mountain folk had always been hardworking. Women dressed in blue or colorful woven garments skillfully pressed each seedling into the mud and water. Farm work required technique; without it, not only would one tire oneself out, but the work would not be done properly either. The village women cared for children and elders while also tending the fields, without a word of complaint.
A young White Tribe girl swiftly planted seedlings. Feeling an ache in her waist, she straightened up.
Then the girl stared in astonishment at the enormous white snake leisurely moving through the mist-filled valley beside the terraces. That huge body was so close to the terraced field beneath her feet that, if she jumped, she could touch those jade-white Snake Scales...
One by one, the mountain folk planting rice straightened up, some quiet, some overjoyed.
To them, seeing the sacred beast during the busy farming season was an auspicious sign. It foretold