Chapter 209

He hadn't given the pet python a second thought, but as he turned his head he suddenly locked eyes with a pair of cruel vertical pupils; the man's pupils instantly shrank to pinpoints, and though he opened his mouth he couldn't make a sound.

He was terrified.

He screamed inwardly, feeling like he'd vomit his heart.

The golden python hissed, flicking its tongue, and raised its high head to measure against him: 'Still a bit tall.'

'Can it get fatter if we leave it a few more days?'

'The fatter, the more fragrant~'

Ling Yue: '......'

Just as she had guessed, snakes only stop eating and drinking to empty their stomachs before preparing to feed.

Some viewers in the livestream were still confused, and when they suddenly saw the python move, they broke out in a cold sweat.

【Holy crap, what the heck is going on?】

【Just a moment ago everything was fine, how could it suddenly want to eat people?! I'm scared to death!】

【What do you mean 'just a moment ago everything was fine'? There were clear signs—several days without eating or drinking. How could this pet-snake uncle still claim to be a snake expert? Doesn't he know snakes usually stop eating and drinking to empty their bodies before feeding?】

【!!!】

【No doubt, the python had already set its sights on the uncle, preparing to swallow him whole in one big gulp.】

At that moment, the man beside her had frozen stiff like a wooden post, not daring to move under the cold snake's gaze.

Not only him, but even the viewers watching through the screen were badly frightened; at that moment, the livestream screen went blank for a few seconds.

At the same time, in the villa where the livestream was being watched,

The sweet-looking long-haired girl parted her lips slightly, her trembling body feeling as if another current ran through her skin, nervous excitement sending her adrenaline soaring.

This person was Xiang Xi.

She was very curious about Ling Yue, mainly because such an obedient and agreeable snake was extremely rare; after paying a seven-figure sum, she brought the python to the detached villa where she lived.

She started watching the livestream link that her best friend had sent, featuring Ling Yue.

Suddenly seeing the moment the snake would eat a person, she felt both shocked and excited; she then turned to the little snake and, half-joking, half-serious, said: 'Will you eat me?'

Sweetie instantly perked up: 'What to eat? Eat what? Time to eat!'

Its body involuntarily swayed, wriggling in the damp grass and soil, while its head stayed fixed in mid‑air, motionless, eyes constantly scanning; this greedy yet comical look made Xiang Xi burst out laughing.

'Silly snake, greedy snake!' she concluded, believing Ling Yue's words even more and growing even fonder of this greedy little snake.

Later, Sweetie even became like family to her.

But the livestream—

If they had initially performed a snake‑eating‑person act, such a horrifying incident would surely have gotten the livestream banned!

Xiang Xi pressed her palms together and began to pray.

Before the screen, as she saw a tragedy about to unfold, Ling Yue knew she couldn't panic; she used the camera to look around, noting that the man's house wasn't sturdy—it was a deluxe Thai‑style courtyard—and she also saw that the python seemed still undecided about whether to keep it a while longer.

In other words, the situation with the pet python was still okay.

Ling Yue immediately spoke up; a small, delicate sound‑making thing made the snake pause, then it turned and slithered away, its muscles and body shaking, after which the man no longer dared to call it cute.

He was like a poor bug frozen in place—I wanted to escape but couldn't, QAQ.

Ling Yue: 'Yuanbao.'

She only uttered two simple words, yet the huge snake instantly went on alert, its large head snapping upright, its pale yellow vertical pupils narrowing.

'Who's calling me?'

At the same time, the pet python's tense, numb muscles relaxed, and he looked miserable, inwardly wailing that he was surely going to die.

He couldn't help regretting it, wondering why he had tried to ride on Ling Yue's popularity—if he hadn't, maybe none of this would have happened.

After seeing Ling Yue's single sentence draw the python's attention, he instantly turned his thoughts to escape! He had to get out!

After observing, Ling Yue's vague, hard‑to‑read gaze fell on the python, which became even more alert; Ling Yue remained calm and composed, locking eyes with the snake through the screen.

Her eyes blazed with strong confidence and brilliance; she gave it no time to hesitate, directly releasing her possession skill, and the huge python felt a powerful pressure instantly crush its body, collapsing helplessly to the floor.

It stared wide‑eyed in shock: 'What, what is this?!'

Feeling as if something were taking over its body, it immediately struggled, its massive form thrashing on the ground and smashing deep holes into the floorboards.

If it had been before, Ling Yue would naturally not have done this, but now her cultivation is exhausted; this python is no match for her, and she needs only to apply a slight pressure for a moment to shut down its consciousness.

Now she controls this body.

Countless eyes watched as Ling Yue secretly manipulated the body; after a moment, she had already become quite adept at it.

Thus, to everyone's eyes, the python seemed to have come back to life!

【Help! Help! Help!】

Ling Yue: 'Don't worry, I've already subdued it.'

Under the gaze of countless eyes, the terrifying python nodded at the camera, flicked its tail in an unusually spiritual way, and slipped into the banana grove beside the courtyard, disappearing from sight.

'Bang!'

The pet python went completely limp, dropping to its knees; when it looked at Ling Yue again, its gaze was utterly different: 'Thank you! Thank you, streamer, for saving my life!'

He actually burst into tears, sounding wretched yet a bit comically silly.

Believing this experience, the man would never keep a snake again, and it seemed he'd also been left with plenty of emotional scars.

Ling Yue multitasked, driving the snake away from the crowd before releasing her hold; meanwhile, seeing the viewers' relief and prayers pouring in like water, she couldn't help but laugh, thinking, 'Are they treating the livestream like a wishing well?'

【What luck for the pet python—that the snake didn't eat it!】

【Wuwuwu the streamer is even more amazing! Just one sentence from the streamer, and relying on her own aura, she actually scared the python away!】

【Could this be the legendary kingly aura?!】

【...】

Seeing the viewers' strange guesses, Xiang Xi couldn't hold back and burst out laughing.

Ling Yue's mood right now was like that of the upstairs landlord, speechless for a moment.

She gave a light cough: "It's not just because of me; there's also the consultant's own reasons."

"Most people know that when snakes are about to eat, they usually empty their bodies, so if a pet snake suddenly stops eating, besides illness, it might be preparing to bite its owner. Moreover, the python didn't launch an attack at first; otherwise, the consultant would be dead or disabled by now."

Seeing the shocked inquiries on the screen, Ling Yue recalled the python's earlier behavior; before she could say anything, a viewer already explained——

【I once read a story about measuring-person snakes; the《Collected Tales of the Wild》records: In Guangdong Qiongzhou there are measuring-person snakes, six or seven chi tall; upon meeting a person they instantly raise up, measure the person's height, then devour them. Locals say that when the snake measures a person, it lets out a long cry; the person responds, 'I am tall,' and the snake immediately falls dead. Is it because that snake-raising uncle is taller than the python?】

Ah this……

Ling Yue couldn't help shaking her head; the first part was fine, but the latter was pure nonsense—what 'measuring-person taller'? Scientists have long shown that snakes raising their heads is a threat and warning, not a height comparison.

As for the truth, it's even more chilling than the viewers' guesses; Ling Yue slightly pursed her lips and said, "I heard it say, wait a bit, fatten it up then eat."

After a long while, the pet giant snake finally reacted, its whole body feeling as if it had fallen into an ice cave, its teeth chattering.

Thinking back to his earlier clueless attempt to ride someone else's popularity to their face, he thanked Ling Yue and sheepishly closed the screen.

As for the live stream's viewers, they had long been thrown into confusion and panic by her single remark.

Ling Yue changed the subject: "Did anyone see the message I posted on Weibo earlier?"

That remark stirred up a thousand waves; of course everyone who saw it has seen it!

The yearly update athlete suddenly brought up her own 'gugu' history, making people suspect she was brewing some big move; viewers probed tentatively.

Ling Yue: "……Hasn't anyone noticed that I'm going to draw the New Year reward?"

Upon hearing that, the viewers' minds went blank instantly.

Ling Yue had already leisurely announced her plan: "I've been stringing everyone along for days, and I didn't expect you all to still support me this much, so I've decided not to draw the second consultant first, but to draw the New Year reward!"

"I've prepared a lot of things: pet insect-repellent sachets, pet food, sun fruit, peace talismans, and a batch of already brewed but not yet sold winter wine—ten thousand of each……"

The live stream viewers were all stunned by her grand gesture, though Ling Yue herself felt little; she chatted with the viewers like everyday friends.

Relaxed, at ease.

Ling Yue clapped her hands: "……I won't say more; let's start the draw."

She generously released fifty thousand slots; seeing so many openings, the viewers drooled, tears streaming from the corners of their eyes.

In the blink of an eye, the results came out; Ling Yue captured the rolling list: "After the stream ends, I'll sort it alphabetically and post it on Weibo dynamics; then you can look for yourselves—there are too many people, so we won't delay."

【Ahhh she really…… I'm going to cry moved!】

【Host host, I'm born non‑lucky—I've done a hundred draws and still haven't gotten an SR; can you let me buy it?】

Ling Yue: "Sorry, no, but you can check my store to see if there's anything else."

She then looked at the screen: "The year‑end feedback is over; now we begin drawing the second consultant!"

The result came out quickly; it was a pleasant‑sounding icy‑cool name. Ling Yue read it aloud: "Congratulations, Lu Dou Sha—what would you like to consult about?"

As she spoke, the shared link had already been sent over, but moments later only a pitch‑black screen appeared before everyone.

The live stream viewers couldn't help but start to suspect.

【Could it be that it hasn't even started yet? The screen is so dark!】

The next instant, a sharp shout suddenly burst out.

"You're gonna die, you're gonna die! What right do you, a dead girl, have to butt in?!"

"Why don't I get a share, Dad? Why didn't you tell me about such a big family split? If I don't come today, will you be bullied by them for life?"

"My dad is ill; I am the head of this household. You want to split the family, I agree, but how to split it is not up to you to decide!"

"You! You! You ——"

In an instant, the scene before the screen finally appeared before everyone—verdant green waters and mountains, boundless scenery—but unfortunately, most of the people shown on camera were hideous, ruining the beautiful view.

"Hello, host, I'm Lu Dou Sha.' The young lady in a beige wool coat gave a slight smile; her somewhat stern visage softened a bit as her eye sockets grew moist.

Her poised, generous demeanor instantly won countless likes.