The night was deep, but in the dense, dark forest, Lu Wanqing felt incredibly happy.
It seemed that no matter what environment she was in, it didn't matter. As long as she was with her third brother, it was good.
That night, neither of them slept, and they stayed up until dawn.
It wasn't until daybreak that Lu Wanqing felt a sense of reality. Her third brother had truly returned; her third brother was safe.
Clear tears streamed from the corners of her eyes, but Lu Wanqing suddenly smiled, so happy.
However, after the joy came Lu Wanqing's transformation. Lu Wanqing told Lu Yang everything that had happened to her in the past few days. She always had a sense of unease.
Lu Yang held her hand, countless words in his mouth, yet unable to speak.
"It's okay, you'll be alright," Lu Yang comforted her.
"I will protect you," Lu Yang promised.
Lu Wanqing looked into Lu Yang's eyes, her heart pounding. After a long while, she finally nodded, "Mm."
She believed in her third brother. With her third brother there, she would surely be alright.
But their happiness didn't last long. A week later, Lu Wanqing suddenly understood why she was so favored by so many insectoids. The parasitic egg laid by the Insect Queen in her body had hatched. She was affected by the egg, and her entire body began to mutate.
At first, her legs developed snake scales. Later, her legs became unable to separate like a normal human's. Fear and anxiety consumed her nerves. She wanted to cry, and she did cry because she was too scared.
Only Lu Yang held her close, comforting her not to be afraid.
A month later, Lu Wanqing's legs had completely transformed into a snake's tail.
Lu Wanqing found it hard to accept this fact. She hid in fear. The insectoids in the forest liked her even more than before. They all flocked to her, wanting her to pet them. They liked to circle around her, and some animals even brought her prey and fruits, sending her whatever she wanted to eat.
From initial fear, Lu Wanqing gradually adapted. She finally dared to come out and face her third brother.
Lu Yang had been waiting for her. He hadn't left, and he wouldn't leave.
Lu Yang walked over, gently embraced her, and lowered his head to kiss her lips.
With her heart entirely set on the girl, Lu Yang didn't notice that in the forest not far away, a small, seven-colored sky-swallowing python, as thick as a chopstick, was secretly watching the scene.
It turned out Lu Yang's love transcended species. He didn't dislike her because she was an insectoid, but because she wasn't Lu Wanqing.
Lu Yang loved only Lu Wanqing. No matter what Lu Wanqing looked like, even if she turned into an insectoid, he would still protect her and love her forever.
The last shred of obsession in her heart seemed to vanish. The snake, Wanwan, suddenly felt empty, as if she had loved the wrong person, or perhaps, had not loved the wrong person.
Lu Yang was a very, very good person, worthy of love. It was a pity that she appeared too late, or rather, Lu Wanqing had appeared too early in his life. There was no room for her to intrude into his world.
The small seven-colored sky-swallowing python remained still, quietly watching the embracing lovers not far away.
Days passed, and the little sky-swallowing python witnessed Lu Wanqing gradually transforming from human to half-snake, and from half-snake to a full snake. But no matter what Lu Wanqing became, Lu Yang never left. The look in Lu Yang's eyes towards Lu Wanqing never changed. His love for her remained as deep as ever.
On the day Lu Wanqing completely transformed into a giant python, Lu Yang actually slept beside the python, their bodies intertwined. This was a scene she had once fantasized about, but it wasn't her and Lu Yang; it was Lu Wanqing and Lu Yang.
After Lu Wanqing completely transformed into a seven-colored sky-swallowing python, she couldn't even speak human language. She didn't know how to hunt, and even movement was difficult.
Lu Yang began to teach Lu Wanqing how to hunt bit by bit. Lu Wanqing also learned earnestly. The sight of the human and the snake together, which she had once thought was incongruous, now seemed exceptionally beautiful.
Especially later, when Lu Wanqing had mastered her serpentine form, she would even let Lu Yang ride on her back, and she would fly him directly into the sky, like dragons of ancient Earth, soaring through the clouds and mist, showing him the scenery.
Even though Lu Wanqing was no longer human, they were still very happy.
Half a year later, Snake Wanwan finally revealed herself. Under the cover of night, she quietly withdrew the insect egg that had been parasitic on Lu Wanqing.
The snake scales on Lu Wanqing's body instantly faded, and she returned to human form.
The chopstick-sized little seven-colored sky-swallowing python, having reclaimed its own energy, also began to grow larger. It became enormous, but then slowly shrank back to its original size. She was again the size of a chopstick.
Lu Yang woke up at some point, watching her warily.
The little seven-colored sky-swallowing python spoke human words, saying, "I lied to you before. The genes parasitic in Lu Wanqing can be removed, and Lu Wanqing will be fine. Also... I'm not dead."
The little seven-colored sky-swallowing python finally lowered its gaze to look at the motionless Lu Wanqing lying in the cave. It then turned and left, leaving only one sentence: "Within three days, leave the insectoid territory and never return."
The little seven-colored sky-swallowing python slowly swam away, disappearing.
Lu Yang also slowly came back to his senses. He lowered his gaze to look at Qingqing.
The next day, Lu Wanqing discovered she had become human again. She was surprised and delighted. She excitedly told Lu Yang, "Third brother, I've turned back!"
After half a year, Lu Yang heard her voice and saw her smile again. He smiled too and nodded, "Mm."
After that, Lu Yang opened a wormhole. This was the last artificial wormhole he could open with the energy he carried. He linked the other end of the wormhole to the Empire, thus returning home.
In the Imperial Palace, Lu Wanqing and Lu Yang reappeared, startling little Weiwei, who had been hiding there like a mushroom.
After a year apart, Weiwei had grown taller, but even though she had grown considerably, she was still a little radish, as she was less than five years old.
Separated for so long, seeing her father and mother again, little Weiwei was stunned. She couldn't help but raise her hand and rub her eyes hard. Her father and mother hadn't disappeared?
However, little Weiwei still couldn't quite believe it, as she had dreamed of this scene too many times before, but each time she opened her eyes, it had been fake.
Sister Cui Cui said she was dreaming because she missed her father and mother so much that she dreamed they had returned!
Weiwei suddenly felt that this was also a dream, so she dared not pounce. She had run towards them many times in her dreams before, but every time she reached out her small hands to hug her father and mother, they would disappear, and then her dream would end.
Weiwei didn't want to wake up like this. She wanted to dream of her father and mother for a little longer. She wanted to spend more time with them.