Black Snake found the wine unpleasant and stopped after a small taste.
Wine dulled keen awareness of the outside world, pooling in the belly into a stubborn heaviness that left the organs faintly uncomfortable.
Drinking as much as Xu Jin did might rob someone of the ability to judge and analyze their surroundings.
Black Snake listened to Xu Jin's tuneless singing until noon, when he finally returned to his room and fell fast asleep. Xiao Yu flew to Lone Crag to sleep.
Bird instincts were bird instincts, after all. She had to sleep somewhere high.
Black Snake glimpsed half a dog's head poking out at the base of the wall behind the house, ignored it, and slithered out of the valley.
With nothing to do anyway, Black Snake might as well catch more fish and add a little richness to this life of quiet cultivation. Absorbing rain, mist, and medicinal essence could supply everything needed for growth, but an empty belly was decidedly unpleasant.
Winding around the green stone and through the narrow valley mouth, Black Snake met the scent of the River head-on.
There were several sources of heat in the River.
A brief examination confirmed that they were wild boars swimming across.
Excellent. Such substantial prey, encountered right outside the valley-and in the water, no less. This was the perfect chance to hunt a large wild boar.
Since there were wild boars to eat, Black Snake might as well name the valley Wild Boar Gully.
Black Snake immediately accelerated into the River and swam toward the crossing boars. With a sweep of the tail and a deep breath, Black Snake's entire body sank into the dark depths, leaving only faint ripples trailing far behind on the surface...
Several wild boars held their heads up and paddled furiously with