Rumble!
One peal of thunder after another rolled across the sky, as if it would shatter the heavens.
Dark clouds gathered over Ganyue Lake, thick and heavy, seeming ready to press down from above at any moment.
The daylight had already been swallowed by the clouds.
Each bolt of lightning slashed across the sky like a dagger tearing through the curtain of night.
Rumble!
Another peal of thunder rang across the heavens.
In Huai Tree Village, the closest village to Ganyue Lake, the women hurried to take in their laundry while the men drove the chickens and ducks back into their pens.
"Waaah! Waaah!"
Startled by the thunder, an infant hid in his mother's arms and cried.
"Don't be scared, don't be scared. It's all right, it's all right."
The young mother soothed the child in her arms, holding him close as she raised her head and peered out the window in the direction of Ganyue Lake.
The sky had been clear just moments ago. How had thunder suddenly started rolling?
Before long, a light drizzle began to fall from the sky.
"Village Chief, the weather was fine just now. How come it's suddenly raining?"
In the village, a burly man asked his Village Chief what was going on.
He had planned to go catch a couple of fish in the river, but it seemed he would have to put that off.
The Village Chief stroked his whitening beard and gazed at Ganyue Lake, shrouded in dark clouds. He said gravely, "By the look of it, a snake is about to make its way down the river."
"Make its way down the river?" The burly man jumped in fright. "When they do, there's heavy rain; heavy rain brings floods. Should we tell everyone in the village to get to safety?"