Snowy Mountain City.
In Lan Shi'er's courtyard, fine snow drifted down soundlessly.
Jade-shard snowflakes whirled through the air, quietly blanketing the bluestone steps and the barren branches once more.
A thin layer of snow had gathered on the old plum tree in the courtyard, while the scent of meat drifted faintly through the air.
At the center of the courtyard, a bronze pot bubbled away, steam billowing upward.
A pale yellow little snake and a Stone Lion sat around the pot.
Chunks of Thunder Eel Demon meat were boiling inside. The meat bobbed in the rolling broth, fine arcs of lightning occasionally bursting across its surface with crackling flashes that made the surrounding snow flicker between light and shadow.
Little Lion clumsily gripped his chopsticks and, after great effort, picked up a sizzling piece of meat before impatiently stuffing it into his mouth.
Lightning exploded between his teeth, followed by a burst of spice racing across his tongue. The numbing heat made him squint his eyes in satisfaction.
He ate in desperate haste, his cheeks stuffed round and bulging. Grease soaked into his body, but he paid it no mind, as though he wished he could bury his whole face in the pot.
Only after wolfing down food for quite some time did he belatedly notice that Tuanzi across from him had not touched her chopsticks.
Little Lion struggled to swallow the meat filling his mouth and muttered indistinctly, "Boss Tuanzi, why aren't you eating? Don't tell me you secretly ate something good behind my back and are already full?"
Tuanzi lay listlessly atop the stone bench, her tail sweeping weakly through the snow.
She stared blankly at the boiling hot pot. Her throat bobbed slightly, yet she could not muster the slightest appetite.
"It's almost been a hundred years..."