Chapter 337: Tiny Hands

Chapter 337: Tiny Hands

Hisss.

Hui looked up. Zhubi loomed over him, a concerned expression on his face. Hui lit up. Zhubi, the thorns, pull them out!

Zhubi tilted his head. He dipped his head and tapped his upturned nose against Huis skin, but without his fangs, he couldnt break through.

Zhubis fangs! Hui nodded. Zhubi, bite me! Use your normal venom. Then, at least, I might survive a little longer

Obediently, Zhubi reared back and bit. Huis rioting qi slowed, but didnt stop rioting. With his qi calming, he could focus more on the pain of the Vampiric Thorns as they bit into his innermost body and qi organs. Hui chuckled, in so much pain that he couldnt think straight.

Maybe Bao Huli will come back with Ying Lin and Ji Taiyu! Maybe

Yeah, no chance. Im well and truly fucked.

Hui heaved a breath and shuddered, curling up as his body rioted. His hair came undone from its ponytail and splayed over him, turning him into a total mess. Fuck. Fuck. A thousand flying fucks.

At at least I died saving Zhubi? This chapter is updated by nov(e)(l)biin.com

Dying sucks! I dont want to die, I dont!

If only

Zhubi slithered around behind Hui. Hui limply reached after him. Dont go. Zhubi, dont abandon me. Im dying for you. Cant someone stay to comfort me as I die?

Strange qi fluctuations emanated from behind him. A moment later, small, cool hands patted at his body. They found a thorn, then dug into his flesh, grabbed, and pulled. Hui screamed as the thorn pulled at his insides, and the hands stopped.

No, no, keep going, keep going! Ignore me! Benefactor, please, he panted desperately.

The hands hesitated another moment, then started moving again. One by one, they plucked the thorns out of Huis body. Each one tore its way out of his flesh, taking chunks of his green innards with them. Hui bit his lip until he bit through, but refused to scream, afraid his benefactor might stop again.

In the end, the pain proved too much. His vision blackened at the edges, and he began to pass out. A flying form atop a sword rushed at him, but he couldnt muster the strength to climb back to his feet.

Dammit. Ah, well. Zhubi is safe, and Jin Xian is in the area. If they dont kill her, she should fight until she has her fill until her second death, that is. Ill be fine. Even if they kill me, my core should survive, now that there arent any thorns attacking it.

Black.

--

Master! Master, wake up!

Hui startled awake. Ying Lin knelt beside him, patting his face gently with one hand. He shoved himself upright. I didnt get captured? Wait, Ying Lin! Ying Lin, its dangerous, theres

Song Weilai and her underlings? Bao Huli and Zhubi cleaned up the scraps while you were out. She turned, then held out a bag of holding and Song Weilais hammer to Hui. Here. Song Weilais belongings.

Ah, thank you, Hui said, accepting them. He paused, then looked over Ying Lin again. Ying Lin, did you

I broke through! Im third realm now, Ying Lin replied, proud of herself. And Ji Taiyu and I were practicing, until Bao Huli came to get us. I learned the first forms of Ji Taiyus sword art!

Congratulations! Hui said, earnestly proud of her. Wow! An honest-to-goodness sword cultivator, right in front of me. Swords are far too dangerous for me, but what a wonderful disciple! Once she grows a bit stronger, she can fight on the frontlines, while I support from the backlines!

Eh, wait. Third stage already? How long ago was she second stage? Wait, how long ago did I introduce her to cultivation? Could it be, is Ying Lin a talent to surpass even Master?

Bao Huli came to get you? he asked, choosing to focus on the present rather than drown himself in speculative sorrows.

Ying Lin paused awkwardly. Er she came running in to check on Ji Taiyu, then settled in when she saw he was well. I had to question her to learn that you were in danger

Hui glanced over at Bao Huli. She stood in the distance, her back to Hui. Thinking no one was watching her, she licked at her hand, as if she was a beast cleaning her paw.

Eh Hui said, shrugging. Whats the point in refusing the truth? I need to have a realistic view of where I stand in order to know how to act in this world!

Zhubi wound over his leg and looked up at him, beady dark eyes asking a silent question.

Hui lifted a hand to stroke the snake and smiled gently. Youre the one who saved me, arent you? Thank you, Zhubi. Even though you didnt want to manifest.

Zhubi turned away, slightly embarrassed. He shook his head.

Ying Lin gasped. Zhubi manifested? Wait what does that mean?

It means he assumed human form, at last, Hui said, still petting the snake.

Zhubi wiggled, hiding his face with his tail.

Are you embarrassed? Theres no need. Ill like you, no matter what you look like, Hui promised again.

Zhubi hesitated. He flicked his tongue at Hui, uncertain.

Whys he so hesitant? Is his form embarrassing or something? Ha, maybe hes ancient in appearance, like a sect elder? Or huge and beefy, a super masculine man? Hui smiled at the thought. A tiny snake becoming a huge, beefy guy But no, I remember small hands pulling out the thorns. Then could it be? Has Zhubi been a girl snake this whole time? Is that why hes so shy about it?

Hui smiled again. No matter what gender, or how old you are, youre still Zhubi to me.

Zhubi hesitated one last moment, then shook himself all over. His scales fell away, and his body changed, growing limbs and long, long white hair. He barely reached waist height before stopping, his head about even to Huis as he sat to recover, and his long white hair draped over the floor. A soft, chubby face with pudgy cheeks stared at Hui with big, round, gemlike eyes, the faintest hints of eyebrows visible in white on his pale skin. Short limbs and small hands and feet finished out the look. A glistening white robe in a scale pattern wrapped Zhubis small body.

The transformation ended, and a small boy of about seven blinked, looking at Hui. He reached out and patted Huis hands with his pudgy little hands, tipping his round face.

Ying Lins eyes got huge, and she bit back a squeal. Hui smiled, softening at the sight. How cute. My tiny snake has become a tiny boy!

Zhubi tipped his head again, still blinking at Hui.

Good boy, good boy. Youve manifested so well, Hui said, patting Zhubis head. Zhubis silky hair felt almost as soft as his scales under his hand.

Zhubi looked at him, then smiled and sat down beside Hui, leaning against him like he would in snake form. Despite his human body, his skin remained cool to the touch, and he huddled up for warmth. Seems like he still retains some of his snake attributes, even in human form, Hui thought to himself.

Can he talk? Ying Lin asked.

Zhubi looked at her, then opened his mouth to reveal an array of sharp snakes fangs and a forked tongue.

I guess not, she said, frowning.

Hui furrowed his brows. Eh? Zhubi should be able to completely manifest, mouth and all, and speak at will. This clumsy manifestation did something go wrong?

Besides, wasnt he already several hundred years old when I met him? Even if I accelerated his cultivation some, it wasnt by so much that he should still be a child. Its true that spirit beasts can manifest into any form they like, but

Unless Zhubi is a spirit beast that develops extremely slowly, and even a few hundred years isnt enough for him to reach adulthood.

A moment later, Hui ridiculed himself. Zhubi is a spirit snake! What develops extremely slowly? Spirit snakes should grow like any other spirit beast. And isnt he capable of transforming into a snake hundreds of meters long?

But at the same time, hes embarrassed of this form. This isnt his taste. Its truly as if he isnt ready to transform yet.

Then could it truly be? And if thats the case, when one thinks of snakes, then

Sensing Huis concern, Zhubi gazed up at him, his little brow furrowed.

Hui sighed and smiled, stroking Zhubis hair instead. Zhubi closed his eyes and leaned into it, the same way he would as a snake. Theres no point worrying about it. Zhubi seems healthy. When I resurrect the sect, though, Ill take him to see Xixing! Better safe than sorry, and she seems the most knowledgeable about spirit beasts.

Ah, she really should just give in and become a veterinarian already