They could already see a snake flickering in and out of view at the mouth of the bamboo basket. Luckily, he reacted quickly and pulled the basket back.
He patted his chest and let out a breath, then glanced through the hole. It was pitch-black inside, and snores rose and fell as though the sleepers were about to breathe their last. Listening to them made him want to send them on their way...
Ye Yaodong carefully lifted another two roof tiles and measured the opening with his hands. Once he felt it was big enough, he confidently aimed the mouth of the bamboo basket at the hole in the roof again.
The snakes inside finally found a way out and tumbled down in a flurry of thuds.
He could even hear them land...
Fortunately, the people inside were sleeping soundly. Their snores never stopped, each louder than the last.
Just to be safe, he shook the bamboo basket again and patted its bottom. Only when he felt it was completely empty did he put it away and quickly replace the tiles.
Then he hurried back on tiptoe, his ears pricked, though he still heard no other sounds.
Perhaps the people inside were sleeping too deeply, or perhaps the snakes were still slithering across the floor and had yet to climb onto the beds.
When he reached the highest point of the triangular roof, he glanced back to see whether A-Guang had finished, but saw nothing.
He did, however, hear a faint, brief whistle. Turning toward it, he discovered that A-Guang was already lying at the edge of the eaves, ready to climb down.
Huh? That quick?
Looks like he has a talent for this line of work!
He had no time to dwell on it. While there was still no