Fire.
Ever since humans discovered it, fire had become something they could never live without.
A tool — convenient, warm, essential.
But also destructive.
Fire could comfort. Fire could kill.
There were once two small snakes in the woods.
They watched a spark — dropped carelessly by a fleeing human — ignite everything around them.
The one who caused the blaze had escaped.
But what of the creatures who lived there?
With nowhere to run, the elder brother coiled himself tightly around his younger sister, shielding her small trembling body.
Within the inferno, knowing they were powerless,
he could only look toward the heavens and beg.
When the forest finally turned to ash,
"Law" brushed past the dying remnants of their wish.
From beneath the gray remains rose two serpents,
and from them —
a new Archon was born.
The Ash Serpent God.
"Yesss—yes, little darling. Harder… just a little harder~"
Inside a cavern lit by a crimson glow, a woman reclined lazily against a rock.
Her skin was pale. Her hair, long and blazing-red like wildfire.
On her forehead burned a sigil shaped like a flame.
Vertical crimson pupils gleamed with dangerous delight.
She was stunning—
Until she smiled.
That smile split too wide, stretching toward her ears, shredding the word beautiful into something terrifying.
"Aaah~ yes. Yes! Like that—"
CRACK.
With a sickening wet sound, blood spattered.
She licked it off her cheek with a thin, forked tongue.
Stretching, the woman's waist elongated unnaturally — like a serpent uncoiling. She bent forward and pressed a kiss onto the forehead of the hulking bull-headed monster that had done the deed.
"Good job, my sweet little darling~"
The monster released what it had been clutching.
The mangled remains of a human body fell to the floor like a discarded rag.
"Careful!"
She snapped sharply at her servant, then immediately resumed her dreamy adoration of the corpse.
Humans.
Even torn, broken, dripping with pain and fear—
they were… beautiful.
The gods love humans.
Just not all in the same way.
She loved their blood splattering,
their flesh tearing,
their screams,
their terror.
She loved them.
Loved them.
Loved them.
But why—
Why?
Why did some gods insist on protecting them?
They didn't understand.
The world was meant to be painted in human blood.
Only then would it be truly beautiful.
Heat pulsed outward with her emotions, distorting the air.
Even the bull-headed beast flinched and backed away.
Realizing it, she forced her aura down.
"…Where's my brother?"
The monster answered with a grunt.
"Oh? Off playing games with humans again?"
She sighed, rolling her eyes.
Honestly—
slowly cultivating fear and mistrust?
What was the appeal?
Why enjoy the process, when the ending — pain, blood, death — is the best part?
Elsewhere.
"Captain seems awfully happy lately. Did Sister Shuang finally let you drink more?"
"No way. Sister Shuang keeps him on a tight leash! Haven't you seen him begging Snow Kui to sneak wine to him?"
"Wrong! Sister Shuang is pregnant!"
"Oh! Well that explains it. But honestly, who was the one bragging before the wedding that he'd never be 'whipped' like us? Look at him now."
"Quiet! Less gossiping, more working! We finish early and I have to help Snow Kui gather herbs later!"
Hidden in a patch of grass, a massive crimson serpent lay coiled.
Its pupils narrowed as it observed the laughing hunters from afar.
A faint curl — almost like mockery — formed at the edge of its mouth.
What close bonds they have.
It could hardly wait for the moment those bonds shattered.
The blood would be exquisite.
At Stone's house, Snow Kui sat before a simmering pot.
Focused. Steady.
Just as the time felt right, he moved —
swift, precise — and extinguished the flame.
He poured the warm tonic into a bowl, then peeked his head into the doorway.
Shuang was awake, working on embroidery.
Her belly had begun to show.
"Shuang, did you feel anything unusual today?"
"You ask that every single day."
She gave him a helpless smile.
"Stone asked me to watch over you," Snow Kui grinned. "So of course I will."
"How many in this world can say they're being cared for by a yaksha? By the 'Medicine Immortal' himself?"
Snow Kui scratched his cheek shyly.
"It's just a gentle tonic…"
Shuang placed one hand over her stomach.
Even though she couldn't feel movement yet, every touch filled her with quiet emotion.
Stone often pressed his ear to her belly, claiming he could feel the life inside.
Though Shuang doubted his imagination, she loved seeing him that way.
"If the baby comes out even half as cute as you, I'll be satisfied."
Cute?
Was that a word to describe a yaksha?
"Also, Snow Kui—"
"Hm?"
Her tone shifted. Seriously.
"The wine you sneak to Stone? Two cups a day. No more."
"…You knew?"
"Hmph. Who do you take me for?"
Snow Kui wondered:
Had marriage turned her… scarier?
That poor man is doomed.
Before he could speak again, glowing words floated into the air above him.
— Come out. —
Snow Kui waved to Shuang and stepped outside.
"What's wrong? You look terrible."
Guizhong's ever-present gentle smile was gone.
The sudden seriousness felt… wrong.
"There's an anomaly. I sense Law.
Too close."
Snow Kui's expression darkened.
Meaning—
there was an unfamiliar Archon wandering within Guizhong's territory.
"Where?"
"Southwest."
Snow Kui froze.
That was where Stone's hunting party went today.
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