- 10 hours ago
Reborn_I Chose the Snake- Full Episode
Category
🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:00Selina, Jacob and I truly love each other. Can't you just let us be together? We've already shared a bed.
00:05If I don't marry him, how could I ever marry anyone else?
00:09In a daze, I heard my younger sister Bella crying out. Father stood nearby, speaking up in her defense.
00:15Selina, maybe you could choose another fiancé instead. Bella just made a mistake in a moment of poor judgment.
00:21He had always been biased toward Bella. After all, she was the legitimate daughter of his official wife,
00:26while I was merely the illegitimate child from one of his affairs.
00:30I looked at Bella, who was kneeling on the ground. Though her face was streaked with tears and full
00:34of pitiful sorrow, the ambition and excitement in her eyes were unmistakable. I knew then,
00:40she had been reborn too. And this time, she had made it to Jacob's bed before I did.
00:45In my past life, I had chosen Jacob, the eldest son of the wolf clan, as my fiancée.
00:50I saw the serpent clan as cold-blooded and unfeeling, the fox clan as frivolous and unfaithful,
00:55and the dragon clan as proud and arrogant. Only the wolf clan, known for their loyalty and
01:00devotion, seemed worthy of trust. Six months after marrying Jacob, I got pregnant with our child.
01:06And then I gave birth to a half-beast white wolf, our son Tristan. As the first half-beast child
01:11born
01:12from the human-beast union, Tristan naturally became the next leader of the human-beast alliance.
01:17Bella, enamored by the fox clan's beauty, had chosen their heir, Lucian. But she didn't expect him to be a
01:22shameless womanizer, constantly entangled with other lovers. Eventually, she contracted a disease
01:28because of him one that left her infertile and scorned by the fox clan. She blamed me for her
01:32misfortune, jealous that I had lived a better life than she did. One night, she drugged me in secret
01:38and set a fire that burned both me and Tristan alive. In memory, hatred surged in my chest.
01:43I wanted nothing more than to kill Bella right then and there and avenge Tristan.
01:47I clenched my fists inside my sleeves. The pain in my palms sobered me slightly. Then I slowly nodded,
01:54masking my fury with a look of understanding. If Bella and Jacob truly love each other,
01:58I'd never stand in the way of their happiness. Bella hadn't expected me to agree so easily.
02:03The tear she had squeezed out now hung awkwardly at the corners of her eyes.
02:07Bella, get up now. Hurry and thank your sister for stepping aside.
02:11Father urged, really relieved. Thank you, Selina.
02:16Bella beamed as she rushed out, eager to bring the good news to Jacob and the wolf clan.
02:21Girls really do grow up and slip away too quickly.
02:24Father joked, but when he turned and saw the cold indifference on my face, his voice faltered.
02:29Selina, among the eligible Beast Clan heirs, only two remain, Elias of the Serpent Clan and Lucien of
02:35the Fox Clan. I still think the Fox Clan would be a better match better looks. Higher status,
02:39clearly superior to the Serpent Clan. Besides, Bella once said dash.
02:44I cut him off. Father, I choose to marry Elias of the Serpent Clan.
02:48To most humans, snakes were cold-blooded and heartless, and that prejudice extended to the
02:53Serpent Clan Beast Clan. Four thousands of years, no human had ever chosen to marry into the Serpent Clan.
02:59As a result, they had never produced a single ruler for the Human-Beast Alliance. Eventually,
03:04they were cast out from the ranks of the five great beast families and reduced to the lowest tier of
03:08the Beast Clans. Denied even the smallest share of resources. But in my past life, as the fire
03:14consumed me, I saw a pair of emerald green eyes Eliases. He tried to save me, but the flames were
03:20too fierce, and he, could do nothing. Although Father disapproved of my decision, when he saw the
03:25resolve on my face, he didn't press further. He simply sighed and tried to console me.
03:30If your life in the Serpent Clan becomes too difficult, perhaps Bella can help you out.
03:34But when Bella found out I had chosen to marry into the Serpent Clan, she couldn't resist mocking me
03:39to my face.
03:40Selina, even if you couldn't marry Jacob, surely you didn't have to stoop to the declining Serpent
03:45Clan? Don't end up starving to death before you even manage to bear a child. I heard they're
03:49struggling just to stay fed these days. The wolf clan is wealthy beyond measure. Even their
03:54bathwater is infused with precious divine herbs. If your life gets too miserable, I can pack up some
04:00leftovers and send them your way. She covered her mouth and burst out laughing, ignoring the awkward
04:05glances from the servants around us. In Bella's eyes, the wolf clan had vast resources, and Jacob's
04:11devotion would guarantee a swift pregnancy. She was certain I'd miss my chance at bearing the first
04:16half-beast child. But she had no idea how difficult it was for humans and beast folk to conceive. Nor
04:22did
04:22she know how obsessed Jacob was with having an heir. When I didn't show signs of pregnancy after six
04:27months, he began taking out his frustration on me, tormenting me day and night. Only after I used a
04:32secret technique to conceive and gave birth to Tristan, securing the wolf clan's claim to power,
04:37did Jacob finally relent. I offered Bella a calm smile. You needn't worry about me, dear sister.
04:43Since I've chosen my husband, I'll live with my decision without regret. What's there to be proud
04:48of? You're marrying a penniless nobody. Infuriated by my composure, Bella slammed the table, scattering the
04:55pastries across the floor. I'll be the first one to get pregnant. My child will definitely be the
05:00next ruler of the alliance. I ignored her tantrum and went off to prepare for my wedding in three
05:05days. For one thing, she wasn't wrong. The serpent clan was indeed very poor. I worried they might not
05:11even have the money for a proper gown, so I planned to prepare one myself. To my surprise, that very
05:16evening, Elias came in person to deliver my wedding dress. It was the first time I truly saw his face.
05:22His skin was pale, almost bloodless. His long, narrow eyes carried a quiet authority, and the
05:28emerald green of his irises held a mysterious depth. Yet the teardrop mole at the corner of
05:33his eye lent a subtle grace to his otherwise austere expression. Inside the box lay a floor-length
05:38gown of deep green tulle. The bodice shimmered faintly with scale snake scales stitched into the
05:42fabric. I had never seen such a beautiful dress. For a moment, I was completely captivated.
05:48Selina, Elias said calmly. This gown was hand-stitched by our serpent clan's finest seamstresses.
05:54Each scale was a blessing offered by our people. His gaze carried a deliberate detachment,
05:59as if the person marrying me wasn't him at all. This is the first time our serpent clan has ever
06:04wed a human. If anything has been done poorly, you're welcome to tell me. Thank you, I replied.
06:09I truly love it. Just as I was about to put the dress away, Bella strolled in,
06:14arm-in-arm with Jacob, smug and beaming. Selina, don't tell me this is the only gown you got.
06:19Jacob had ten dresses made for me. Ten.
06:22Jacob looked down at Bella with affection in his eyes. Bella only knew of the wolf clan's famous
06:27loyalty, but she didn't understand it was rooted in their biological instincts and their intense
06:32obsession with offspring. If she failed to conceive, would Jacob still treat her with such tenderness?
06:37Elias's grip on his serpent staff tightened slightly before he raised his eyes to meet mine.
06:41If the serpent clan has caused you any grievance, Selina, I can promise you this. Elias will never
06:48betray you in this lifetime. Bella snorted. Anyone can talk sweet. Let's see if you can
06:53actually produce a child. Now, all she ever talked about was children. Her infertility in her past
06:59life had become a thorn in her heart, and now she was fixated on getting pregnant. Even before
07:03marrying Jacob, she had already moved into his home. In that sense, she and Jacob were a perfect match
07:09both obsessively fixated on airs. Bella, perhaps you should focus on your own wedding. People might
07:15start to think you've set your sights on my fiancé instead. I smiled faintly, and under the sour
07:20expressions of Bella and Jacob, I took Elias's hand and walked away. Behind me, I could still hear
07:25Bella's shrill voice clinging to Jacob, her words faint but unmistakable, pregnancy, child, next ruler.
07:31Oh, my foolish sister. Even after a second chance at life, she still believed that a child was her
07:37only path to power. Elias's cool voice sounded beside my ear. Selina, I know you chose me because
07:43you had no other option, but I promise, within my power, I will never let you suffer. I turned
07:48instinctively at the sound of his voice and accidentally stumbled into his chest. A strange
07:53yet pleasant scent drifted into my nose. I looked up at him and said slowly, with deliberate clarity,
07:58Elias, I chose you willingly. A flicker of something unreadable passed through Elias's eyes.
08:04All right, Selina. Three days later, the wedding arrived as scheduled. Both ceremonies were held in
08:10the same grand restaurant. The Wolf Clan's wedding was even more extravagant than in my previous life.
08:15They had gone so far as to invite the reclusive Phoenix Clan to perform, and all the major noble
08:20houses attended in full force. Meanwhile, the Serpent Clan celebration was quieter, with no
08:25distinguished guests. Yet the clan members beamed with genuine joy. After all, this was their first
08:30marriage to a human A sign, they might finally have a chance at producing the next ruler of the
08:34alliance. After the ceremony, I ran into Bella face to face. She deliberately tilted her chin,
08:40making sure I noticed the marks on her neck. Selina, I didn't know Wolfman had such stamina. At this rate,
08:46I'll be giving them an air in no time. I smiled politely. Then I sincerely wish you the best of
08:52luck.
08:52Bella was grossly underestimating the difficulty of pregnancy between humans and beast kin.
08:57Our species was fundamentally different. Even in the best conditions, natural conception took at
09:03least a year. She assumed I got pregnant easily in our past life, and so she believed the same
09:08would come just as easily to her. She even boasted to the Wolf Clan that she'd be pregnant within six
09:13months. Word had spread quickly. Seeing how confident she was, Jacob hadn't even questioned it.
09:19But to Bella, my composure looked like a personal challenge. Forget it. It's not like you'd
09:24understand anyway. You've married into a beggar's den. She shot a disdainful glance at the Serpent
09:29Clan members nearby, lifted her skirt, and walked past me. I grabbed her arm, stopping her.
09:34Bella, apologize. Apologize to the Serpent Clan. Her expression darkened. She yanked her arm free and
09:40yelled, Selina, have you lost your mind? The remaining guests in the hall stopped to watch as we argued,
09:45eager for the drama. In the end, our father had to step in. Once he understood what had happened,
09:50he forced Bella to apologize to the Serpent Clan. Though the Serpent Clan ranked lowest among the
09:55beast kin, they would still unite against human humiliation. Before leaving, Bella shot me a
09:59vicious glare and muttered under her breath, Selina, I'm going to win this life. Just you wait.
10:04On our wedding night, I stared at Elias's bare body, frozen in place. No one had ever told me snakes
10:10had
10:10two. Seeing me motionless on the bed, Elias misunderstood. With a pale expression,
10:14he bent down to gather his clothes and began dressing. What do you think you're doing?
10:18I snatched the fabric from his hands, my displeasure written all over my face.
10:23I, I thought you didn't want to. He stammered, standing awkwardly by the bed,
10:27the emerald in his eyes dimming. If he hadn't made the first move, then I would.
10:31I stepped forward and wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him down onto the bed as our bodies
10:35touched, that subtle familiar scent surrounded me again. Elias, you smell really nice. I murmured
10:40without thinking. He froze for a moment, then the tips of his ears turned faintly pink. The next
10:45moment, his kiss deepened, trailing from my forehead all the way down. Fingers interlaced,
10:50we shared a night of wild pleasure. I had once believed the wolf clan's strength made them the
10:54best choice in bed. But the serpent clan had their own, unique qualities. Elias didn't stop until dawn
11:00lit the sky, and I practically begged for rest. Three months later, news broke, Bella was pregnant.
11:05I was stunned. In thousands of years, no human had ever conceived of a beast kin in just three months.
11:10Had I not seen her swollen belly with my own eyes, I wouldn't have believed it. The wolf clan threw
11:15a
11:15grand celebration for the unborn child, inviting all the noble families to share their joy.
11:19Our ancestors must be watching over us. A child in just three months what a miracle.
11:24Jacob raised his cup high, pride written all over his face. Many guests approached to flatter him,
11:29eager to earn the wolf clan's favor. Everyone agreed, the next ruler of the alliance would undoubtedly
11:33come from the wolf clan. Now was the perfect time to curry favor. By status, I should have been seated
11:38with Elias at the end of the banquet hall. But Bella had insisted to Jacob that I be placed beside
11:43her. She couldn't pass up a chance to show off. As she stroked her belly, she cast me a smug
11:48look.
11:49Selina, three months and still no news from your belly? Seems like you're really lacking.
11:53Your womb doesn't even try. Half beasts matured rapidly. Two months was enough for them to be born.
11:58Based on her size, her child would arrive next month. But she had no idea how large half-beast
12:04infants were. Without managing her diet, she'd suffer greatly during labor. I had carefully
12:08controlled my weight in my past life, yet childbirth still took a full day and night,
12:12and the pain nearly made me wish for death. But the moment I saw my child safely born,
12:17sleeping peacefully in my arms, I knew I had no regrets. I took a sip of wine and said flatly,
12:22Historically, the quickest conception between human and beast kin took a full year,
12:26but you took only three months. Whatever methods you used, only you know.
12:30Bella whipped her head toward me, her eyes darting in guilty panic.
12:33Selina, what are you implying?
12:35She couldn't even withstand the slightest probing. Bella still couldn't keep her composure.
12:39May you have a safe delivery, Bella.
12:41I raised my glass to toast her, then left the banquet with Elias by my side.
12:45One month later, Bella endured three full days and nights of labor before finally giving birth.
12:50But seven days passed, and the wolf clan still hadn't announced the child's arrival.
12:54Even when father tried to visit, they refused him entry. There was no doubt something was wrong
12:59with the child. Half a month later, father summoned me home. Seeing the worry in Elias's eyes before I
13:05left, I finally relented and asked him to come with me. In the living room, Bella sat on the floor
13:09sobbing, clutching a half-beast red wolf pup in her arms. This is Jacob's child. Isn't a color
13:14mutation in wolf fur completely normal? Bella clung stubbornly to the claim that the red-furred pup
13:19was Jacob's. But what she didn't know was that Jacob was a purebred white wolf. His bloodline had
13:24never carried the gene for red wolves. Jacob's expression was stormy, his entire body radiating
13:29fury.
13:30Bella, whose bastard is this? Who did you sleep with behind my back? If you don't tell me the truth
13:34right now, I'll kill this mongrel myself.
13:36Our father, pale with fear, rushed to intervene.
13:39Jacob, calm down. This must be some kind of misunderstanding. Bella loves you so much.
13:43How could she possibly betray you?
13:45Encouraged by father's support, Bella quickly brought the child to Jacob, her voice soft and
13:49coaxing.
13:50Look, he looks just like you. His eyes are identical.
13:53Jacob coldly took the red pup from her arms. The small wolf pup, who had been sleeping soundly,
13:57burst into loud, terrified wails the moment it saw Jacob's face. That heart-wrenching cry
14:01stabbed through me like a knife, evoking the memory of Tristan screaming in the fire in my past life.
14:06Pain seized my chest. I could barely breathe. My brows furrowed tightly. Elias noticed my discomfort
14:11and gently covered my ears, mistaking my distress for a dislike of a child's crying.
14:16Jacob cursed, raising the red pup high above his head, then suddenly hurled it toward
14:20the ground with all his strength. Elias and I lunged at the same time. In the end,
14:24the little red pup landed safely in Elias's arms. No matter how much I wanted to destroy
14:28Bella and Jacob, the pup was innocent. Everyone in the hall was stunned, especially Bella.
14:33Her face went ghostly pale, and she trembled uncontrollably.
14:36Jacob, how could you be so cruel?
14:39Jacob looked at her with none of the affection he once had.
14:41Bella, the wolf clan values loyalty and devotion to our mates. You betrayed me clearly.
14:46What right do you have to accuse me of cruelty?
14:48If there was one redeeming quality about Jacob, it was his unwavering loyalty.
14:52In our past life, even after I failed to conceive for six months, he never considered taking another
14:57mate. He just tortured me to vent his frustration. I wondered now if Bella would be able to endure
15:02that same devotion. The argument between them exploded in the hall. Bella insisted she had
15:07never cheated, while Jacob refused to acknowledge the red pup as his own. Our father, completely at a
15:12loss, turned to me.
15:14Selina, what do you think?
15:15This pup wasn't even mine. I only came here for the show. I had no intention of getting involved.
15:22Elias stepped in calmly.
15:24I've heard that the Phoenix clan possesses a bloodline recognition technique. Since the wolves
15:29and phoenixes have always been close, why not invite them to verify the child's parentage?
15:34Bella immediately rejected the idea.
15:36No. This is my and Jacob's child. We don't need the phoenix clan to confirm anything.
15:42But Jacob nodded coldly.
15:44We'll do as he says.
15:45News of the phoenix clan's involvement spread like wildfire. People were already curious about
15:50the wolf clan's newborn half-beast, and three days later, crowds flocked to the wolf clan's
15:55domain to watch the ritual. Under the phoenix's spell, five crimson marks flew from the red pup's
16:00forehead. One mark landed on Jacob's hand, and the other four shot off toward various residences
16:05within the wolf clan territory.
16:06You are one of the child's fathers.
16:08The phoenix priest declared solemnly. A ripple of gasps swept through the hall.
16:13What do you mean, one of the fathers? You mean this pup has multiple dads?
16:17But the pup clearly carries red wolf blood. Jacob is a purebred white wolf.
16:23Bella really knows how to have fun. With a personality like that, she should have married
16:28into the fox clan instead.
16:29I stood in the crowd with Elias, protected within his arms. Hearing the murmurs around us,
16:34I nearly laughed out loud. I had always wondered how Bella managed to get pregnant.
16:39Now that the truth was out about the pup having multiple fathers, it all made sense.
16:43Bella had likely sought out several lovers within the wolf clan to increase her chances of conceiving.
16:48A shotgun fertility gamble. But she hadn't accounted for one red wolf with particularly dominant genes
16:54unintentionally exposing her plan. Was she clever or just reckless? If she wanted to take that kind of
16:59risk, why not stick to white wolves? Why go and add a red wolf to the mix?
17:04Jacob's expression was black as thunder. His fists clenched tightly, and he shouted at the servants,
17:10Bring me every wolf in the clan who bears that same crimson mark.
17:13Soon four wolf beast men were brought in. Three of them were white wolves. One was a red wolf.
17:18When I saw the red wolf's face, I couldn't help but let out a sigh.
17:22That seductive beauty could rival anyone from the fox clan. Bella had always been obsessed with
17:27appearances. No wonder she risked everything for a night with him. Jacob stared at the four
17:32beast men none of whom denied their involvement and completely lost his temper.
17:36You stood before me and swore you'd bear me a child, and this is how you repaid me?
17:40Bella rose to her feet, still clutching the baby. She wiped her eyes and sniffled dramatically.
17:45If you hadn't been whispering in my ear every day about how badly you wanted a child,
17:50I wouldn't have had to take such desperate measures. If you weren't so useless,
17:54would this child look like a red wolf? Her voice grew increasingly self-righteous.
17:59And didn't the phoenix just say the child is yours? Isn't that enough? The next ruler of the
18:04alliance will still come from the wolf clan. Why are you blaming me? You should be grateful.
18:09At her words, the leaders of the fox and dragon clan stepped forward from the crowd.
18:13The fox and dragon clan leaders immediately stepped in to challenge Bella's claim.
18:17We do not recognize this half-beast. The original agreement clearly stated the child must be born
18:22of a union between human and the firstborn son of a beast clan household. If the wolves start
18:28bending the rules like this, what happens to bloodline purity? Who knows what kind of monsters
18:32we'd end up with? This matter requires the unanimous consent of the remaining four clans.
18:37As far as the fox and dragon clans are concerned, we firmly disagree.
18:41The phoenix clan, standing quietly to the side, also voiced their stance.
18:46Our clan has long withdrawn from worldly affairs. We will not participate in these political decisions.
18:53Four clans. One abstained. Two objected. As for the lowly snake clan, no one even bothered to ask
19:00their opinion. Whatever sliver of hope Jacob had felt after hearing Bella's words instantly vanished.
19:05Rage consumed him once more.
19:11On our way home after the spectacle, Elias remained unusually quiet. Only after my persistent prodding
19:17did he finally speak his mind.
19:18You were staring at that red wolf just now. Were you thinking I'm not good looking enough?
19:23His jealous tone made me grin, and just like that, I decided to tease him.
19:27To me, no one's more handsome than you, Elias. Especially at night in bed.
19:32I didn't get out of bed for an entire day after that. A month later, Bella showed up at the
19:37snake
19:37clan, battered and bruised, begging for my help. Her eyes were red with tears.
19:42Selena, please, help me. Jacob's gone mad. He says if I can't give him a child that's truly his,
19:49he'll torture me every single day. I can't take it anymore. If I don't get pregnant soon, I'll die.
19:55Do you know any secret techniques that can help?
19:57Her words didn't shock me in the slightest. After all, I had lived through this nightmare in my past
20:03life. Bruises covered her exposed skin, fresh wounds layered over old scars. But she had brought
20:09all of this upon herself. In my previous life, she tricked me into coming home, pretending she
20:14missed me. Then she drugged the water my son and I drank. When we were too weak to resist,
20:19she set the house ablaze and trapped us inside. I still remember the way she looked at me before
20:23leaving eyes mad with hatred as she screamed. Selena, your life was supposed to be mine. I should
20:29have married into the wolf clan. I should have born their heir. Now that she had stolen my life for
20:34herself, what was there to regret? I gently pulled my hand free from hers and calmly
20:38replied. Bella, it's not that I don't want to help you. Simply that pregnancy between humans and
20:44beast kin is incredibly rare. After giving birth, your body was damaged. It'll take at least three
20:50to five years before you can even try again. Bella shot to her feet, her eyes flashing with fury.
20:56You're lying. You just don't want to help me. You can't stand to see me happy. I don't need your
21:01help.
21:02I'll find another way. You think you can beat me to it? You'll never give birth before I do.
21:07She flung open the door and stormed out. I could only shake my head. Everything I said was true.
21:13Pregnancy between species simply couldn't be forced. In my past life, the only reason I
21:18succeeded was because of the mermaid blood that flowed through my veins. Back when war broke out,
21:22the mere folk refused to ally with humans and retreated into the ocean depths,
21:26cutting ties with the outside world. My mother, still young and reckless at the time,
21:30had shapeshifted into human form and ventured onto land, where she fell in love with my father at
21:34first sight. To stay with him, she severed her tail and transformed permanently into a human.
21:39It cost her dearly. She only had five years left to live. Before she died, she gave birth to me
21:44and
21:44sealed away my beastly nature. Mare folk are naturally fertile. In my past life, I broke the
21:50seal on my beast blood to bear Jacob a child. It was a slow form of suicide. Though I eventually
21:55succeeded in conceiving, my mermaid essence drained day by day, until my life ran out. This time,
22:00I would never sacrifice myself so foolishly again. I thought I'd made peace with the idea
22:05of never becoming pregnant in this life, until something unexpected happened. Two months later,
22:10one night, Elias placed a hand on my belly, and suddenly froze.
22:14Selina, he asked. When was the last time you had your period?
22:17I stopped and thought carefully. It had indeed been almost two months. My belly had only slightly
22:22rounded, so I just assumed I'd gained a little weight. I stared at him, stunned.
22:27That can't be, can it?
22:28Before I could even finish speaking, Elias leapt out of bed, dressed, and bolted out
22:33the door to fetch the physician. Less than 15 minutes later, the doctor arrived in our
22:38room. He placed his fingers on my wrist and began to examine my pulse, his brow furrowing
22:42deeply as he alternated between shaking and nodding his head. The room was oppressively
22:46quiet. Elias sat beside me, his face etched with concern. Finally, the physician stood and
22:53offered us a congratulatory bow. Congratulations, Elias. Selina is two months pregnant. Judging by
22:59the signs, she should be ready to lay her egg in just a few days. I had remained calm until
23:05that last
23:05part. Wait, what? Lay an egg? I blinked. Aren't we talking about having a baby? Elias chuckled and gently
23:13stroked my head, explaining, The snake clan is a bit different from the others. We lay eggs,
23:18then hatch our young. From the moment we confirmed the pregnancy, Elias wouldn't let me lift a finger.
23:23He followed me around all day, trying to feed me tonics and supplements. He even bought three
23:28immortal honey fruits legendary, priceless treasures said to be the most coveted nourishment
23:32for expectant mothers. In my past life, Jacob had only ever let me have half a fruit. How could the
23:38impoverished snake clan afford three whole ones? How did you afford this? I thought the snake clan
23:43was supposed to be. Before I could finish, Elias sat beside me and held a freshly washed fruit up to
23:49my lips. Selina, who told you the snake clan is poor? Look around our home. From the flooring to the
23:55vases, everything here is expensive. I glanced around properly for the first time. The decor, though
24:00simple and clean, was unmistakably high-end. But isn't the snake clan ranked last among the great
24:06families? Don't they say you barely get a share of resources?
24:09Elias gave a soft laugh. We snakes have always kept a low profile. We earn our wealth through
24:14business, unlike the other clans who rely on power and politics. If we rank the clans by wealth,
24:20we'd confidently claim first. Our people pursue immortality. Most of our wealth goes toward
24:25cultivating and refining spiritual medicine. This world's resources are limited. We have no interest
24:30in squabbling with other clans for scraps. Our ambition lies beyond all that. His explanation
24:36made everything click. No wonder every snake clansman I'd met had carried an ethereal aura.
24:41They were secretly training to ascend. Now that I knew we weren't short on money,
24:44I immediately dragged Elias out for a shopping spree. Halfway down the street, we ran into Bella.
24:50Her belly was noticeably swollen as she clung sweetly to Jacob's arm, picking out accessories.
24:55Since her second pregnancy, Jacob had apparently forgiven her for her past betrayal. The two were back
25:00to playing the doting couple. Now that Jacob was watching her like a hawk, there was no question this
25:05child truly belonged to him. Selina, what a surprise to see you out and about. Bella cooed,
25:10deliberately resting both hands on her belly to flaunt her pregnancy. I smiled politely.
25:14I'm picking out a gift for father's upcoming birthday celebration. Her gaze drifted down to
25:19our empty hands, and she scoffed. Well, make sure it's something decent. Even if you don't have much
25:24money, you shouldn't embarrass father. The snake clan hadn't yet made my pregnancy public,
25:28and Elias worried her words might upset me. He immediately stepped forward, shielding me behind him.
25:33Bella, our family matters are none of your concern. As for father's gift,
25:38we will prepare it with due care and respect. Bella gave a cold snort, flicked her sleeves,
25:43and walked off. Seven days later, at the birthday banquet, Bella and I sat on either side of father.
25:48Her belly was enormous, clearly carrying more than one child. Mine, by contrast,
25:53was still only faintly rounded. You knew how to get pregnant all along and still hid it from me,
25:58she sneered. But it doesn't matter, I beat you to it, you'll never catch up now.
26:02I opened my mouth to ask what she meant, but a sudden sharp pain twisted in my abdomen.
26:06It was the onset of labor. Elias noticed right away. He sprang to his feet, scooped me into his
26:11arms, and rushed for the door. Just as we were leaving, Bella suddenly began clutching her belly
26:16and moaning in pain. Someone in the crowd cried out,
26:19Bella is going into labor too, get her to the birthing hall.
26:22At that moment, the sky lit up with a burst of violet light. Multicolored rays spread across the
26:27heavens, and birdsong filled the air a divine omen. Before I lost consciousness, I heard the sound of
26:32joyous cries echo through the hall. It's a heavenly sign, this child is destined to lead us into a new
26:37golden age. When I woke, three eggs lay nestled in the incubator beside me. Elias sat at my side,
26:43gently wiping the sweat from my brow with a soft towel. I was just about to speak when a scream
26:48pierced the air it was Bella. Pre-Reese Concer. I can't do this, I don't want to give birth anymore.
26:54Just kill me, please, kill me now. Bella, hold on, you're almost there. Her sobbing and the midwife's
27:01encouragement overlapped in a chaotic chorus. Our birthing rooms were separated by only a single
27:06wall. She was still in the middle of labor. Selina, you've been through so much. Elias murmured,
27:11pressing a kiss to my forehead. His gaze held concern, guilt, and overwhelming tenderness. Is it too noisy
27:17here? Should I take you and the little ones home so you can rest properly? In my past life, after
27:22I
27:22gave birth, Jacob had eyes only for the child. He didn't care that I'd labored for an entire day and
27:27night. He shoved the baby into my arms and demanded I start nursing immediately. To him, I was nothing
27:32more than a means to produce a half-beast heir, someone to help him secure power. He didn't care
27:37about my body or my pain, but Elias was different. From beginning to end, his eyes never left me. He
27:43hadn't even asked me to hatch the eggs myself. Instead, he'd placed them gently in the incubator
27:48and watched over them himself. It's all right, I said softly. I want to see how Bella's labor is
27:53going. This time, I hadn't felt the agony of childbirth. Delivering three tiny snake eggs had
27:58been unusually easy it was over before I even realized, like waking from a short nap. I got up
28:03and went next door, leaving Elias behind to watch over the eggs. Inside, Bella was writhing on the bed,
28:09sobbing like her heart was being torn apart. Every time she nearly lost consciousness from the pain,
28:14the midwife pried her eyes open and screamed at her to stay awake. Half an hour later, the child was
28:19finally born. The moment the midwife caught sight of it, she shrieked in horror. A monster. Bella has
28:24given birth to a monster. I stepped closer to see and recoiled in shock. The child had three legs and
28:30four eyes. Hearing the commotion, Jacob burst into the room. He froze at the sight before him. Bella,
28:37however, smiled with motherly affection. The three-legged, four-eyed creature clung to her
28:41chest, nursing loudly as if nothing were amiss. Jacob gagged, turned green, and ran out the door,
28:47clutching his mouth. Bella let out a cold, mocking laugh. He's the father, so why is he so disgusted?
28:54News of the wolf clan's monstrous birth spread quickly and even reached the ears of the phoenix
28:59clan's high priest. The priest examined the drooling child carefully and then turned to Bella.
29:04Bella, did you consume anything unusual during your pregnancy? By all accounts,
29:09this child should have been normal. Bella paled. Her right hand trembled as she retrieved a small
29:14bottle from her sleeve and handed it over. I took this. You can save my baby, can't you?
29:19The priest didn't respond right away. He uncorked the bottle and upon smelling the contents,
29:24gave a knowing sigh. This is a rat clan fertility aid, rat eggs. There's a folk remedy that claims taking
29:31one a day for 30 days will guarantee conception. But even so, the child shouldn't have turned out
29:36this. Malformed. The rat clan was immediately summoned and dragged before the wolf clan.
29:40The moment Bella saw the man responsible, she stormed over and grabbed him by the throat,
29:45screaming. Why isn't my baby normal? What did you do to me? Rat clansman, trembling under the weight
29:51of the moment and visibly shaken by the sight of the creature, shoved Bella away and dropped to his
29:55knees before Jacob. This, this must be because Bella didn't follow instructions. She must have
30:01overdosed on the rat eggs. Otherwise, this wouldn't have happened. Bella stared him down, eyes blazing.
30:06You said 30 days would guarantee one child. So I figured, if I took them for 60 days, wouldn't I
30:13get
30:13two? As soon as Bella spoke, everyone present finally understood the truth. Had she followed
30:18the instructions properly, she might have had a healthy child. But her greed had doomed her. The
30:23scandal made the wolf clan a laughingstock yet again. Rumors spread that Jacob was impotent,
30:28and that his wife had not only cheated on him but even resorted to using a crude fertility folk
30:32remedy from the lowly rat clan. Jacob, already in a foul mood, would only grow more cruel to Bella
30:37after this humiliation. A month later, just as I was shopping for cloth to make clothes for my babies
30:42and preparing to head home, I saw Bella cradling a basket to her chest and sneaking into a secluded
30:47alley. Word on the street was that Bella had lost her mind. She was said to be snatching children
30:52from around the wolf clan. I didn't give it much thought. With a cheerful heart, I returned home,
30:57eager to welcome my soon-to-hatch little ones. But the door to my room stood wide open,
31:02and the incubator was empty. All three snake eggs were gone. Panic surged through me. I suddenly
31:08remembered the green cloth covering Bella's basket. It looked exactly like the handkerchief I'd left on
31:12my writing desk. I grabbed the dagger Elias had given me for self-defense and sprinted toward the
31:17alley where Bella had disappeared. Deep inside, I found a dilapidated courtyard, where her eerie voice
31:23echoed. Babies, don't be afraid. Mommy's right here with you. I caught her off guard and pressed
31:28the blade to her neck, cold fury in my voice. Bella, give me back my children. But when I looked
31:34down into the basket, my heart dropped. The eggs had already hatched, and the baby snakes were gone.
31:39Dead? Escaped? As I stood frozen, Bella shoved me back and let out a crazed maniacal laugh.
31:45They're dead. My babies are dead. And now, so are yours. Isn't it wonderful? Truly wonderful.
31:52My eyes burned with rage. I lunged forward, ready to drive the blade into her and avenge my children.
31:58Suddenly, Elias burst in. A flash of silver streaked from him a tiny snake, mouth wide,
32:03sank its fangs deep into Bella's neck. In an instant, she collapsed, coughing up blood,
32:08dead with her eyes still wide open. The little silver snake slithered up my arm and coiled itself there.
32:13Mom! It said. I avenged you. It was Tristan's voice. He had become my child once more.
32:20I cupped him gently in my palms and kissed his forehead. Bella's death didn't stir any waves.
32:25My father, already disgraced by her actions, had long stopped acknowledging her as his daughter.
32:30As for Jacob, he couldn't have been more eager for her to disappear.
32:34Seven days later, all three of my baby snakes took human form. The sky once again erupted in violet
32:40light and dazzling rainbow clouds. Birds filled the heavens with song. It was another divine omen.
32:45Then, my entire body began to glow with golden light. In the blink of an eye, a shimmering
32:50emerald serpent's tail extended from me, and my eyes turned a brilliant green. A voice echoed from
32:55the heavens. It was the Celestial Emperor. Snake immortal Selina, for your mischief a thousand
33:00years ago shattering the Celestial Furnace and plunging the three realms into chaos you have now
33:05completed your ten lives of tribulation. You may return to heaven and resume your post.
33:10Memories flooded my mind. I had once been a flower, a stone, a phoenix, a mermaid. In every life,
33:16Elias had been there, guarding me faithfully. He could have ascended long ago, but in our final life,
33:22he gave up a thousand years of cultivation to save me. Before I left, Elias held my hand and whispered,
33:27Wait for me, Selina. I'll be with you in heaven soon.
33:30The blessing of ascension rained down upon the earth. All the serpent beastkin knelt to receive
33:35the divine light. We respectfully be a farewell to the snake immortal. May she protect us for
33:41generations to come. In a flash of white light, I returned to heaven and resumed my role as the
33:46snake immortal, guardian of the Celestial Garden. Five hundred years later, I was curled up under the
33:51covers, enjoying a lazy nap, when a familiar fragrance drifted into my nose. A warm embrace
33:56wrapped around me. Then came a voice, deep and beloved. Selina, I'm back. Everyone who ever hurt
34:02you is gone.
Comments