Volume 1, Chapter 10: A New Mission—Faith

"Dragon King? Old Dog, isn't he just a snake?" Wang Fugui nudged Wang Laogou with his elbow.

Wang Laogou cursed him as an idiot under his breath, then whispered, "Big snakes like to call themselves Dragon Kings. Just go along with it."

"I see," Wang Fugui realized. Even as dim-witted as he was, he knew what to do next. He dropped to his knees with a thud and called out to Wang Long, "Lord Dragon King, this humble Wang Fugui pays his respects to you once again."

Wang Laogou also knelt. He felt a moment of awkwardness as he looked at the snake-catching pole in his right hand, then quickly tossed it aside.

As the two knelt, more villagers began to gather. They had been heading out to hoe the fields in the morning and, seeing the two men kneeling, grouped together. Most were elderly, their hair a sea of gray. Seeing their neighbors kneeling before a snake, they were initially confused, but then recognized Wang Laogou.

Wang Long looked at the dozens of villagers in the distance and projected his voice directly into their minds: "Do not be afraid... I have come to bless your village with favorable weather and bountiful harvests. You need only offer your devotion."

The crowd hesitated, but upon seeing Wang Long’s massive, twenty-meter-long python body, they couldn't help but consider a possibility: an Immortal. The older generation was superstitious; snakes were often considered among the Immortals, and a twenty-meter giant that could speak human language was surely nothing less.

Hearing these words, some of the villagers began to kneel. After all, the village had been impoverished for too long. Wang Long was pleased; he had finally developed his first group of followers.

After glancing at them, Wang Long turned and left the village entrance. He knew that if he continued to block the path, they wouldn't be able to work that morning. Maintaining a bit of mystery would only strengthen their faith in him.

Returning to the Shiwanda Mountains, Wang Long began to roam the forest, searching for a den. Since he was destined to become a dragon, he couldn't very well go without a proper dragon pool.

Following Wang Long's departure, the news spread through Tian Village like wildfire. The village had over a hundred residents, mostly elderly men and aging bachelors; the younger generation only returned once a year. By midday, everyone had returned from the fields and gathered at the ancestral hall.

The eighty-year-old village chief stood before them. Despite his age, he was still spry from years of labor, possessing a physique that put modern seniors to shame. With his shock of white hair, he looked out at the hundred or so villagers. Usually, meetings were only held for major events, but Wang Long’s appearance had deepened the convictions of the superstitious elders.

"I believe the giant python blocking our path intends to achieve immortality," the old chief said slowly. "Perhaps we should build a shrine to worship it. If it becomes a true immortal, our village might be blessed with good weather. I’ve heard that where dragons reside, all things flourish. We might even live to a hundred, free of all illness."

"Plus, our harvests have been poor these past few years," he continued. "The dry season is coming, and aside from the supplies the government sends occasionally, it will be hard to survive."

"I agree," Wang Laogou spoke up first. "We can't rely on state aid forever."

"I think so too."

"Yes, yes! With the Dragon King’s protection, the village will surely be prosperous."

More and more people agreed. Since they were mostly elderly, frail, or infirm, they couldn't build a grand temple, so they simply carved the image of a giant python into a new piece of wood and placed it in the ancestral hall.

Several days passed until the sound of an engine echoed on the road outside Tian Village. A pickup truck drove for dozens of kilometers before reaching the dilapidated village at the foot of the mountains. A young woman in her early twenties stepped out. She looked at the village, then held up a long pole with a smartphone mounted on the end.

"Hello everyone, I’m Kiki. I’ve arrived at my hometown, Tian Village. It’s quite isolated and far from town, but it’s beautiful—lush mountains, clear waters, and singing birds. A perfect place to rest and relax before heading back to the city."

The live stream chat exploded: "Is this really your hometown, Kiki? Looks like the air is great!" "Forget that, look at the forest behind her—that’s a natural oxygen factory!" "Wait, is this deep forest safe? Are there bears?"

Kiki read the comments and replied, "Although Tian Village is at the foot of the mountains, we don't really have bears here. Just some ordinary wildlife, wild boars, snakes, and rare birds. Tomorrow, I’ll take you all on a live-streamed expedition into the Shiwanda Mountains above the village, and you'll see for yourselves!"

After answering more questions, she turned off the broadcast, got back into her truck, and drove toward the village entrance.

The road ended there, so she parked and proceeded on foot with her luggage, following her childhood memories toward her family home. She had once been a resident of Tian Village, but thanks to government support, she had attended school, university, and eventually moved out of the mountains.

Seeing the familiar village, she smiled. She remembered how the government had once tried to relocate the hundred-plus residents to a better area, but the elders had refused. They were nostalgic and stubborn, wishing to guard the heritage left by their ancestors.

Soon, Kiki reached a run-down courtyard. The wooden fence had rotted away, and small animals had made homes in the gaps, causing the wood to creak whenever things were quiet. She pushed the gate open; it was her grandfather’s house. She stepped into the courtyard, set her bags down in front of the small wooden cabin, and lowered the wooden bar blocking the door.