Whenever Zheng Qing thought of the green snake drilling into his ear, then crawling back out of it, he could not help recalling the cartoons and movies he had watched as a child. He thought of that fur-faced, thunder-god-mouthed monk, shouting as he pulled an embroidery needle from his ear:
"Take this, old Sun!"
He could not help narrowing his eyes with a grin. Baring his teeth, he formed the third hand seal.
The green snake raised its head and flicked its tongue, opened its jaws, and drew in a deep breath. Its narrow neck visibly swelled by a full circle. A thought flashed through Zheng Qing's mind, and a sense of foreboding immediately rose within him.
Before that thought could settle, a streak of vivid scarlet surged from the green snake's mouth. It was no larger than a grain of rice at first, but in an instant it had grown as large as an egg, destruction and deathly stillness churning within its blood-red glow.
It was exactly like the aura surging from the Slender Red Heavenly Pillar on the Black Prison Battlefield.
The boy gaped at that scarlet streak. Everything he had experienced in Black Prison flashed through his mind again, and he froze where he stood, unable to move.
Yet the green snake paid no attention to his terror. Opening its mouth, it spat out a breath like a fire dragon's. The scarlet streak shot forth like an arrow, hurtling straight toward the tea table on the other side of the sickbed.
"Stop!!"
Zheng Qing finally regained control of his body and roared himself hoarse.
The green snake immediately shut its mouth, cutting off its remaining breath. Then it tilted its head, looking in confusion at the pale-faced boy. Its red and blue eyes were crystal-clear, making it