Chapter 851: Betrayed?
As Ye Wenxin approached the door, using her spiritual sense, she spotted a small, ornate box on the ground outside. The box itself seemed harmless, without any warmth to suggest it housed poisonous creatures like spiders or centipedes.
This led her to suspect that it might contain the red python's venom or gas. Since she had yet to find a method to counteract this venom, she had to handle the red python with caution and indirect tactics.
Faced with the beast tamer's provocation, Ye Wenxin decided to seal her sense of smell with silver needles to avoid inhaling any dangerous substances. Even with the sword spirit by her side, being poisoned was not something she could risk lightly.
Erring on the side of caution, she continued forward, drawing a dagger from her Qiankun Bag to gingerly pry open the box's lid. The dagger served both as a defense and a potential weapon. As she lifted the lid, she found nothing but a dead mouse.
With her sense of smell blocked, Ye Wenxin couldn't detect any odor. She couldn't fathom why the red python would send her a dead mouse unless it was some bizarre challenge to the golden pig.
Feeling baffled, Ye Wenxin noticed a figure retreating swiftly in the distance. Concerned that the smell might alert Xuan Luofei, she closed the box and left it outside, intending to dispose of it later.
Returning to the dormitory, she recounted the red python's antics to Xuan Luofei.
Xuan Luofei listened, a knowing smile playing on her lips. "Do you know what kind of beasts snakes prefer to eat most?"
Ye Wenxin thought for a moment and replied, "Small animals, I guess. Why?"
"That's the common belief," Xuan Luofei explained. "But according to the Beast Compendium, snakes are particularly fond of rodents. They have an obsession with mouse meat." Hearing this tidbit of beast lore, Ye Wenxin nodded, suddenly realizing.
"Could Luo Hong be offering me a mouse as a gesture of goodwill?" Ye Wenxin asked, and Xuan Luofei shook her head.
"Not goodwill? Then is it a challenge?" Ye Wenxin felt frustrated by Xuan Luofei's continued head-shaking, who then smiled more enigmatically.
When Xuan Luofei had previously asked if Ye Wenxin had eaten the golden pig, she'd worn a similar expression. Now, seeing this subtle change once more, Ye Wenxin set down her cup, bracing for potentially shocking news.
"Snakes often offer their favorite food as a courtship gift. If the recipient eats it, it means they accept the gesture," Xuan Luofei explained. Ye Wenxin was taken aback. The red python, which had once despised the golden pig, had changed its demeanor so quickly.
"Zhu Zhu, are you surprised?" Xuan Luofei teased, her words playful but true.
"No, how could a snake fall for a pig? Even if this pig is impressive, cross-species affection seems a stretch," Ye Wenxin replied, recalling the python's sudden gentleness and now seemingly having an answer. Her expression was complex, fully exposed since Xuan Luofei couldn't see it.
"Perhaps because you transformed into a dragon and saved its life. It's said every snake dreams of becoming a dragon, and seeing a pig achieve that might have sparked admiration and affection," Xuan Luofei said, her tone odd. Despite sensing something off, Ye Wenxin was too preoccupied with the red python's situation to ponder Xuan Luofei's thoughts.
