He and It Chapter 153: The Serpent of Pharisee (19)

Chapter 153: The Serpent of Pharisee (19)

Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Editor: GaeaTiamat

 

Echidna held the small object. He seemed to be appraising it, while Xanthippe bent her eyes joyfully. It was evident that she felt honored by the acceptance of the demon, and felt pleasantly surprised.

Xie Ning stared at Echidna, unable to discern what they were saying from the changing mouth shapes and fragmented words. He could only watch the movements of the master of the palace without blinking.

The snake demon lurked in the darkness, as his golden eyes studied the stone carving. Finally, he flicked out his forked tongue and grasped Xanthippe’s creation in his palm.

Xie Ning straightened his body, and slowly released his grip on the wall. He remained motionless for a long time, damp imprints left by his fingers. When he withdrew his hand, it made a faint, sucking sound.

He watched for a while longer, still silent, then turned and left.

The red glow of the lamps burned in the dimness of the palace. In the flickering shadows, Xie Ning walked quickly and quietly. He was already slender and silent by nature, and on this journey, no one noticed his fleeting figure.

He walked quietly along the wall for a long time before returning to his and Echidna’s chamber. Then, without stopping, he went further to the inner chamber where the snake demon had placed the mirror.

Xie Ning straightened his robe, looked around, sat on the ground and casually tossed a coin on the mirror.

The sound of the coin hitting the mirror was clear and pleasing. It bounced a few times before it rolled away with a clinking sound. Without Echidna’s divine power, the mirror wouldn’t respond to Xie Ning’s payment request, and maintained a pure black silence.

Xie Ning shrugged and scattered the coins in his hand expressionlessly.

He didn’t know what to say.

“…I don’t know what to say.” Xie Ning cleared his throat and muttered to the empty darkness, “My relationship with him…well, me and him, we didn’t really have much of a relationship.”

Yes. This was the main reason he lacked the strength to move forward. Although he and Echidna appeared intimate, in reality, their relationship was exceptionally fragile. Since he feared the inevitable separation, he hadn’t made any promises to Echidna, apart from the title of “priest.” Similarly, Echidna hadn’t defined his identity either.

Perhaps here, being a priest meant focusing on serving the god? Anyway, in terms of emotions, they both harbored unspoken thoughts, and lived each day as if there were no tomorrow.

Echidna had expressed love to him many times, but Xie Ning had never responded. Deep down, he believed in the power of words. Spoken words were like a spell, binding both the speaker and the listener. If he responded to Echidna’s words of love, the entanglement of a lifetime would emerge from fate, firmly tying them together in an endless circle, holding him captive to the fingertip of the demon.

As a result, Xie Ning kept his self-awareness. He didn’t go further or hinder Echidna from accepting the offerings of others.

Perhaps…would it be better this way? He would leave sooner or later. Before hope was completely cut off, he vowed to find a way home by any means necessary. He was not a person who could make commitments. Maybe he could transfer those commitments to Xanthippe…

…No, no! I can’t do that.

Xie Ning closed his eyes tightly, his heart bitter and sour, jealousy flowing in his veins. He didn’t want to admit it, but when Echidna accepted the statue, besides the selfishness born out of love, he also envisioned too many moments of being second best.

Failed exams, eliminations, second place. “You’re good, but not the best, so we can’t choose you.” “You’re not bad, just that someone else is better…”

Was being first really that important? Xie Ning knew for himself that being first wasn’t actually that important. Being second or third was still a remarkable achievement.

However, in reality? Since his sexuality wasn’t known to his family and his profession was one they deemed “unworthy,” he always held a need for obtaining redemption. In his heart, he was constantly striving because he had failed his family’s expectations. If he couldn’t achieve something astonishing to surprise and impress them, then his debts would be all there was.

Echidna was often amazed by his distress, and Xanthippe was puzzled by Xie Ning’s persistence, but Xie Ning couldn’t tell them the true reasons.

His mediocre talent fueled his ambition, his innate sexuality and background drove him to chase fame to repay his family’s honor. Thus, his pain was immovable, driven simultaneously by internal and external forces.

In terms of artistic works alone, Xanthippe would surpass him, and the thought of being replaced by others – whether in the realm of emotions or profession – tortured him and his mouth tasted bitter as bile.

I can’t do it, He thought dully. I like, no, I love Echidna. How could I just hand him over to someone else, considering human love is so shallow and fragile? 

I see his silly expression, watch him carefully peel pomegranates for me with fingers that can crush steel, see him smile as I lightly touch his smooth scales and count the patterns on them. Several times, he thought I was asleep, but he didn’t leave. Instead, he leaned close to my ear and muttered some clumsy words of affection…

Xie Ning sat alone in front of the mirror, tears in his eyes. Echidna’s love caused him heartache, which forced him to cover his face and gasp deeply.

On the other side, the snake demon held the small statue, as he wandered around the maze-like palace in frustration.

He spread his hands and carefully examined the details of the sculpture in his palm. He turned his head back and forth, but couldn’t discern any mysteries.

A statue, the snake demon thought in bewilderment. Daidalos was a master sculptor; it was said that his sculpture of Heraclitus was so lifelike that it was mistaken for a real enemy, leading to it being smashed to pieces. But what was so beautiful about that? ¹

Ah, maybe my talents lie not in the abuse of power or opposing the Gods, nor in the artist’s brush and fingers.

He continued to wander aimlessly, still pondering that question. Echidna was determined to understand Dorus’s troubles, so he didn’t hesitate to gather hated creations of his own, hoping to see how Apollo’s artistic talent surpassed his. However, he couldn’t grasp the beauty of “art” either, which made him even more frustrated.

The demon traversed the palace’s passages, caught the fresh scent of Dorus in the air and saw  three giant figures cowering in fear. He asked, “Have you seen Dorus’s figure? Have you seen his footsteps in the palace?”

Out of panic and fear of death, the giants, as if by agreement, chose to embellish with lies, “We didn’t see anything!” 

“Foolish creatures,” Echidna impatiently flicked his tail. How miserable Dorus had been these days, and then there were those stupid Earth Mother’s offspring. It was best if they hadn’t seen him.

With that in mind, the snake demon hurriedly returned to its lair. Not wanting his human to know about his incompetence in art, Echidna secretly hid the small statue. He also didn’t mention anything about Xanthippe when he saw Xie Ning, and only focused on comforting the red-eyed youth.

A few more days passed, and Xie Ning sat with the demon in the throne room, preparing for a meal. Xie Ning ate little, while Echidna had an appetite capable of devouring two bronze bulls in one meal.

He tore off the roasted meat in his hand, the snake demon’s meal, which the giants were serving in a huge stone dish, lifting it up with both arms.

The four-armed giant stood at the end of the dining table, unable to understand where Xie Ning’s distress was coming from. Even if he knew the reason, he couldn’t comprehend such complex and sensitive emotions. He simply thought the small human was troubled by the prospect of losing favor.

He glanced at the human with malicious delight, recalling Xanthippe’s enchanting beauty and the rumors that circulated in the palace these days – faced with slander and humiliation, the small human walked away pale and silent. Afterwards, surprisingly, the snake demon didn’t punish the giants who spoke those words.

Because of those signs and relying on its seniority, the four-armed giant daringly suggested to its irritable master, “Ah, master, with humble intentions, I propose to you: there’s no one in this kingdom who doesn’t respect you. If it pleases you, why not show your generosity and invite that outsider girl who is also a sacrificial offering to dine at your noble table?”

Xie Ning’s movements paused. He lowered his eyes and stared fixedly at the meat on the plate as if a flower had blossomed on it.

Echidna frowned, and said in a threatening hiss, “Be careful with your words, mind your foolish heads! Last time, when I took on the host’s responsibility voluntarily, what good did it bring me?”

He wanted to scold them loudly again but remembered that it was for Xanthippe’s sake that the suggestion was made. On that matter, the snake demon unusually hesitated and decided to ask Dorus’s opinion again.

He changed his expression so he was suddenly wearing a pleasant face, and asked, “Dorus, you see, that woman is here because of your words, and able to stay in Arima. Normally, you are also friendly to her! Would you like her to join us at our dining table?”

Xie Ning’s eyelashes trembled. He took a breath, widened his eyes, and looked at Echidna.

The dining room was their little world, where their time together was very intimate and private. Echidna’s character was fierce and direct. In line with his hatred for the Olympian Gods, the moment after the giant made the suggestion, he should have smashed the plate in disgust, cursed the giant, and left him speechless.

…But why did he ask for my opinion?

A surge of resentment lingered in his heart. He couldn’t come up with any good reason for Echidna’s actions.

“This is your place,” Xie Ning said softly, as he threw the question back. “You make the decision.”

I make the decision?

The snake demon hesitated, and spit out its tongue in distress. Would Dorus be unhappy if he drove the creation of the Gods away? After all, except for Xanthippe, Dorus hadn’t spoken to anyone else in the palace…

After much deliberation, Echidna suppressed his displeasure and reluctantly said to the four-armed giant, “Then call her here and throw a plate at the end of the table for her!”

After making a difficult decision, he asked Xie Ning, “Is this acceptable?”

The four-armed giant walked away triumphantly. Xie Ning’s lips moved, but he couldn’t speak for a moment. He gathered his strength for a second, then nodded slightly and said softly, “…It’s fine.”

A moment later, Xanthippe entered the throne room. She glanced at Xie Ning in surprise. First, she thanked Echidna, and then sat reservedly at the end of the dining table, silently eating her meal.

The atmosphere of this meal was truly strange. Xanthippe remained silent, and Xie Ning spoke very little. Echidna stared blankly around, choosing food humans liked and placing it on their plates as usual. Xie Ning simply responded with a simple hum and a thank you.

After he emptied his plate, Xie Ning put down his utensils and said blandly, “I’m done eating.”

He turned and left, stepping out of the dining room ahead of everyone, as he retreated to the deeper snake nest.

“Eh? Eh? Eh?!” Echidna was extremely puzzled. He abandoned his half-eaten bronze bull, hurriedly wiped the blood from his hands and mouth, and anxiously followed his human.

Xanthippe lowered her head, remaining silent, not saying anything at all.

.

That night, Xanthippe lay in bed, and gradually, a strange shepherd’s flute sound wafted into her ears. The music was melodious, like an insidious mist, awakening the sleeping creator.

She opened her eyes, suddenly clear-minded. Xanthippe hurriedly got out of bed, dressed herself, put on her cloak, and stealthily snuck out of Arima’s palace.

The music enveloped her, and wherever she went, the giants with their piercing gazes seemed blinded, which allowed her to pass by quickly.

She climbed thousands of steps, and the heavy bronze door seemed to come alive, spontaneously opening a crack for her to enter and exit.

As she stepped on the snow under the long-lost, clear moonlight, she saw a young traveler sitting on a cart, with a wooden staff beside him. A donkey leisurely flicked its ears, listening to the cheerful tune he played.

Xanthippe respectfully said, “Hermes. I heard your shepherd’s flute.”

The god disguised as a traveler jumped off the cart and walked towards Xanthippe. As he walked, his figure grew taller, and when he stood in front of her, his appearance and demeanor were a deity’s majesty.

“Xanthippe!” He greeted her cheerfully. “Because that demon Echidna has cast a fog to blind their eyes, my celestial siblings are very curious about your progress. You are the champion of the Gods, an unbeatable beauty. Tell me, how are you progressing?”

Xanthippe looked at him, and her eyes showed her hesitance, which greatly furrowed Hermes’s brow. “What? Does Echidna neither kill you nor care about you?” he asked sternly.

“…Dorus saved me,” Xanthippe said weakly. “He saw my talent and allowed me to stay, to discuss art lessons with me.”

Hermes was very surprised. He looked at Xanthippe sternly. Even the beauty molded by Hephaestus and the charming demeanor bestowed by Aphrodite did not soften his heart. He issued a harsh command, “This is not something you should be considering, Xanthippe! Your name indicates your fate. This is an order you cannot resist: destroy and dismantle that abnormal union! You must do this, otherwise, even if the Thunderer does not intervene, my sister Athena will make sure you are destroyed!”

Xanthippe was frightened and burst into tears. She asked, “But what should I do? Without the power of the golden arrows, and with the demon’s deep love for his Dorus, how can I tear them apart and not be cruelly killed by the demon? If you have praised my beauty even once, Hermes, the protector of travelers, please have mercy on me!”

Hermes sighed. After some thought, he softened his tone and said, “Then you shall disclose all of Dorus’s origins to Echidna. The demon’s nature is cruel. It will not tolerate deception or betrayal. As long as you can do this, I will intercede for you before Athena.”

Xanthippe watched as the god departed. Hermes resumed playing his shepherd’s flute, jumped onto the cart, and quickly drove away.

The next day, Xie Ning was painting in the quiet room when the door opened and Xanthippe, wearing her cloak, suddenly walked in. She knelt at his feet, held his knee with her left hand and caressed his chin with her right hand.

“I seek your mercy, Dorus!” she said, then relayed Hermes’s threat to Xie Ning. “I’m like a wild grass caught in the middle. I have no way out. I can only beg for your mercy, please understand my actions.”

Xie Ning put down his sketchbook and silently looked at her. His silence lasted so long that Xanthippe thought he had turned into a statue that couldn’t speak or smile.

“Go ahead,” he said softly after a long while. “I allow you to go and tell Echidna my secret.” He gently urged, “Go on, it’s okay. I don’t blame you. Go.”