Chapter 467: "Mama, Please Keep Me Company~

While in the Imperial City, Yu Meng received a directive from Silan City, one issued by his father. He rushed over without stopping, and by the time he reached Silan City, he was so exhausted he could barely keep his eyes open.

He curled up on a soft blue cushion, with delicate little pastries placed in front of him.

The Little White Snake bared its fangs and bit into a small cookie.

The carriage drove into Silan City. The night seemed exceptionally quiet, and even the lights along the main street looked eerie. ‘The atmosphere of this small coastal city is so strange.’

Yu Meng chewed the cookie to pieces and swallowed it.

He slowly swayed his tail.

The carriage entered the grounds of Silan City’s Holy Tower.

The Snake Clan guards acted with extreme caution in the presence of the little Young Master, the White Snake, afraid they might displease him.

The Duke had six heirs. Young Master Yu Meng was the sixth, but he was the only one the Duke had brought to Silan City to keep by his side.

Yu Meng was staying on the fourth floor of the Holy Tower.

Next to his room were his father’s bedchambers.

The Little White Snake still didn’t understand why his father had suddenly summoned him to Silan City. He had been settled in, but his accompanying servants were never ones to talk out of turn, so all he could do was wait quietly.

「On the coastal warship.」

Yu Zhizhi rested for a night. As usual, she went to check on the Little Octopus. Ever since Noel said he could purify the corruption afflicting it, the Little Octopus had stopped hiding all the time.

It ate the food Yu Zhizhi gave it, its tentacles waving joyfully in the water.

“I’m going to buy some daily necessities in a bit. Is there anything you need me to get for you?” Yu Zhizhi asked softly.

The Little Octopus blew a few bubbles.

“I’d like some rice wine.”

It suddenly found itself craving the taste of rice wine.

After finishing breakfast, Yu Zhizhi decided to take a stroll through the market in Silan City.

Lord Shen He would be staying here for a few more days.

‘I should buy some things I might need.’

Buli followed behind her.

Yu Zhizhi bought a few everyday outfits, some desserts, and then picked out a jar of rice wine at a liquor store.

She vaguely overheard the customers behind her talking about the Duke.

She heard the name “Yu Meng.”

Yu Zhizhi paused. She turned her head to listen more carefully.

A male from the Deer Clan, holding a jar of wine, said, “Are you talking about the Snake Clan’s Young Master Yu Meng? He’s come to Silan City too?”

The First Duke of the Valoran Empire had six heirs.

However, the Snake Clan’s heirs were famously mysterious and almost never appeared in public.

All that was known was that one of them was a Little White Snake.

When he was born, his Beast Bone was incomplete, and he wasn’t expected to live more than a few days.

But his mother, Ms. Zhi Zhi, had apparently cured him.

The Deer Clan male’s companion nodded emphatically. He lowered his voice and said, “I saw a carriage with the Duke Mansion’s crest when I was heading home last night—there’s no mistake, Young Master Yu Meng was inside.”

‘Yu Meng is here?’

Yu Zhizhi’s eyes brightened. She hadn’t expected Little Amon to come to Silan City as well.

“Buli, I want to contact the Snake Clan in Silan City.”

Buli had also overheard their conversation. He nodded. “I’ll get in touch with them.”

‘Miss Rabbit must be very eager to see the young snake.’

Buli contacted the Snake Clan in Silan City.

He received a clear confirmation.

He asked, “Do you want to go to the Holy Tower now, or a little later?”

Yu Zhizhi couldn’t wait to see Little Amon.

Her voice became cheerful. “Now. I want to go right now.”

“Alright.” Buli cradled the jar of rice wine in the crook of one arm. “I’ll escort you.”

Yu Zhizhi walked quickly the entire way there.

Today, the weather was clear and sunny. The air near the Holy Tower was exceptionally fresh, carrying the unique humidity of Sea City. Under the sunlight, the Holy Tower looked incredibly sacred and unassailable.

This was completely different from the scene yesterday.

Only one night had passed, but the stench of blood had long since dissipated.

Silan City had returned to being that remote yet serene coastal town, a pleasant place to live.

Upon seeing Yu Zhizhi, the guards at the Holy Tower saluted her one by one.

Yu Zhizhi’s primary identity was now the Lord of the Sky Star Territory; theoretically, she was no longer part of the Valoran Empire.

However, she was the mother of the Snake Clan’s Young Master.

A young guard said, “Young Master Yu Meng is on the fourth floor of the Holy Tower. Ms. Zhi Zhi may come and go as she pleases, but the guest behind you—”

Buli smiled. “I will wait here.”

Yu Zhizhi nodded. “Okay!”

‘I’m finally going to see Ammon!’

‘Yay!’

She followed the young Snake Clan man, stepping into the Holy Tower for the first time.

She had only ever seen it from the outside, never knowing what the interior held. It felt like an ancient, divine legacy passed down through the ages. The walls were covered in vivid carvings, depicting what seemed to be the great Snake Clan leaders from throughout the Valoran Empire’s history.

「The fourth floor of the Holy Tower.」

It was bright and sacred.

The Little White Snake was “sitting properly” on the desk, lost in a book of talismans.

He heard a knock. Even before turning his head, he caught a familiar scent. His eyes shot wide, and with a SWISH, his body flew through the air—

“Mama~~!! Awwwooo~!”

He cried out in excitement.

The Little White Snake pounced into Yu Zhizhi’s arms.

“Boo hoo, Ammon missed Mama so much!!”

The Little White Snake nuzzled against her again and again.

Yu Zhizhi realized he had grown. He used to be tiny enough to wrap around her wrist like a little white bracelet.

Now, he was big enough to drape over her shoulder. It was the same cool, smooth feeling. She used to be terrified of snakes, but she’d held Little Amon so often that she was now completely used to the sensation.

She gently stroked the Little White Snake’s head.

“So you came to Silan City, too?”

Little Amon’s eyes were wide and round as he nodded. “I just got here last night! I didn’t know Mama was here, nobody told me—sob~ Otherwise, I would have found you last night!”

The Little White Snake had always been very clingy.

Yu Zhizhi’s heart swelled with affection for this young one she had cared for so much. She carried the Little White Snake over to the desk and sat down.

“So can you stay with me today?”

“Is Mama staying in the Holy Tower?” the Little White Snake asked, lifting his head. “Or I could go to where you’re staying? But… if I want to leave the Holy Tower, I need Father’s permission. He’s really busy. I haven’t even seen him since I got to Silan City.”

As he spoke, the Little White Snake nuzzled his head into Yu Zhizhi’s embrace. “Father should be back tonight. Please stay with me, Mama~”

‘He wanted to be inseparable from his mother!’

Yu Zhizhi hesitated. The thought of seeing the Duke still made her heart tremble with fear, especially after witnessing his massacre—

But her desire to stay with Little Amon was stronger.

‘But seeing the Duke is inevitable.’

She replied, “Alright. When the Duke gets back, I’ll ask him.”

‘Since they last parted, the Duke’s attitude had become exceedingly cold. He didn’t seem to want to see her at all.’

‘Besides, with what just happened to Miss Yu Xiang, it isn’t appropriate for me to stay in the Holy Tower.’

‘I should just take Little Amon with me.’

‘Even if we can’t go back to the warship, I can take Little Amon to stay at a guesthouse!’