Irina was speechless. After Cortis left, she soaked her feet in the lake water, wanting to wash away the snake’s scent.

She had feared snakes from a young age and dared not even step on somewhere a snake had slithered past. She wouldn’t even touch the soup of a snake steamboat. Yet now, she was being trapped by a giant snake. This to her was the most terrifying nightmare possible.

Very soon Cortis returned. Seeing Irina obediently sitting in his abode, an inexplicable satisfaction welled up in his heart.

“I’m back.”

Irina ignored him.

Cortis brought back two white rocks and very quickly started a fire. He then skinned the...