Black Snake felt that winter had already arrived, yet the mountains and the land remained an earthy yellow. There was none of the white snow he remembered, not even a snow line in sight.
The village below the mountain was hastening to build its walls, and the road lay empty, without a caravan to be seen.
He had not been able to buy eggs for a long time. Fortunately, Black Snake could stay in his cave and enter a prolonged dormancy. Otherwise, he too would have had to drag his weary body around in search of prey, like the wolves roaming the wilderness.
Almost no one came up the mountain that winter. It was terribly quiet.
He remembered how lively the Azure Cloud Monastery used to be as the New Year approached, filled with laughter and cheerful voices. They would prepare plenty of delicious food. He Ning had said that although those days were tiring, she was very happy.
At long last, the snow he had been waiting for arrived.
Yet it laid down only a thin layer, barely turning the land a dull grayish white.
During the day, Black Snake was in his cave, driving his transformation forward, when he suddenly heard a cry.
It was Xiao Yu's voice.
He slowly opened his eyes and slipped soundlessly out of the cave, then climbed toward a sheltered spot on the mountaintop. There was no need to go looking for her. Xiao Yu had excellent eyesight and could always find him precisely amid the clouds and mountain shadows.
It was cold and dry. He did not want to flick out his tongue.
He had barely coiled up when he heard the familiar sound of wings cutting through the air. Xiao Yu landed on a rock beside him.
"You live here."
"Mm."