At noon on the sixth day of the New Year.

In the courtyard of Stone Bridge Village, a pair of sisters were eating their meal.

Perhaps because Xiao Mo had left and only the two sisters remained, the dining table seemed somewhat deserted.

Moreover, in the past, because she would consider that Xiao Mo was tired from studying, Bai Ruxue often thought of different recipes but after Xiao Mo left, the two sisters ate rather simply, basically just one meat dish and one vegetable dish.

"Sister, let me wash the dishes," Little Green said to her sister after finishing lunch.

"It’s fine, I’ll do it. I don’t have anything else to do anyway," Bai Ruxue smiled and shook her head, picking up the bowls and walking into the kitchen but after a short while, the sound of a bowl breaking came from the kitchen.

Little Green hurriedly went in.

In the kitchen, clay bowl fragments were scattered all over the floor, and her sister was supporting herself against the kitchen counter, looking as if she might collapse at any moment.

"Sister, are you alright?" Little Green supported her sister, her eyes full of worry.

"I’m fine," Bai Ruxue shook her head.

"Sister, you clearly don’t look fine at all," Little Green sighed, "Sister, let me take care of this. You go sit down for a while."

Bai Ruxue still wanted to clean up the broken clay bowl herself, but Little Green pulled her out and had her sit properly in the courtyard.

After Little Green finished cleaning up and came out of the kitchen, she saw her sister sitting in the courtyard, continuously looking at that small path leading to the courtyard.

During this period, whenever her sister had free time, she would sit on the stone bench in the courtyard and gaze into the distance, just like last time but the difference was that last time, Big Brother Xiao had only gone out for two or three days.

And this time, Big Brother Xiao would not return until at least April.

Little Green watched as her sister’s head nodded bit by bit, her eyelids already half-closed, as if she would fall asleep at any moment but every time her sister was about to fall asleep, she would suddenly wake up, shake her head, and continue looking at that small path.

Little Green walked to her sister’s side, crouched down, and held her sister’s small hand, "Sister, go sleep for a while. When Big Brother Xiao returns, it will already be spring, and you’ll be awake by then too."

Bai Ruxue smiled, "Little Green, I want to wait a little longer. Besides, sister feels that this winter hibernation might be different."

"How is it different?" Little Green asked in confusion.

Bai Ruxue shook her head, "Sister isn’t clear either. I just feel that this winter hibernation, sister will sleep for a very, very long time. I don’t know how long it will take to wake up."

"Oh my, sister, you’re overthinking it. How long can we snake folk sleep? At most we’ll wake up by May," Little Green tried to persuade her but Bai Ruxue only wore a gentle smile, "It’s fine, just not sleeping for one winter. Sister can endure it. But Little Green, you should hibernate. You’ve been getting very drowsy lately too."

"But sister hasn’t slept yet."

"I’m waiting for him to return."

"Sister!" Little Green was at a loss for words.

Over the next few days, after Bai Ruxue finished her household chores each day, she would sit in the courtyard.

Little Green also noticed that her sister was getting more and more tired but her sister just wouldn’t hibernate.

By the tenth day, her sister was worried that if she fell asleep, she would hibernate, so she simply stopped sleeping at night altogether.

When Bai Ruxue didn’t sleep, Little Green was worried and forced herself to stay awake as well.

One day, when Bai Ruxue went to wash clothes.

A woman wearing Daoist robes came to the outside of the courtyard.

"May I ask who you’re looking for, Daoist Master?" Little Green looked warily at this female Daoist, worried that her and her sister’s identities had been exposed and that she had come to eliminate demons.

Fuchen smiled, "Miss, you need not be so tense. I know Miss Bai and Young Master Xiao. I have come here on business to find her. May I ask if Miss Bai is in? Also, it’s already deep winter now. Haven’t you hibernated yet, miss?"

"!"

As Fuchen’s words fell, Little Green’s heart jumped in alarm. Her eyes instantly turned into green vertical pupils, and she was about to strike first!

Fuchen’s fingertip merely extended lightly, and a strand of spiritual power shot into Little Green’s forehead.

In just an instant, Little Green felt that she could not move.

"What do you want to do?" Little Green felt fear in her heart but showed no sign of backing down.

"This poor Daoist comes from the Tianxuan Sect, named Fuchen. I come here with no ill intent. Previously, this poor Daoist also came once, wanting to take Miss Bai as a disciple, but Miss Bai refused that time. This poor Daoist knew the fate was not yet ripe and did not force it. If miss does not trust me, when Miss Bai returns, you may ask her personally."

With these words, Fuchen’s slender jade finger flicked again, and another beam of light shot into Little Green’s forehead.

Little Green’s immobilization technique was released.

Looking at this female Daoist before her, although Little Green’s eyes still carried wariness, she felt the other party should have no ill intent. Otherwise, with the other party’s cultivation level, she could do whatever she wanted to her and her sister without needing to waste words.

"What business do you have with my sister?" Little Green asked.

"A few days ago, this poor Daoist had a sudden inspiration and happened to divine. I learned that Miss Bai’s cultivation level has reached the point where she needs to enter seclusion to transform into a python. After emerging from seclusion, Miss Bai can directly enter water and become a flood dragon.

But Miss Bai’s life fire is strange, seemingly unwilling to hibernate for a long time. This time, this poor Daoist wants to come and ask the reason. I wonder if Miss Bai might have some matter?" Fuchen asked.

Little Green glanced at this female Daoist and gently bit her thin lip, "Big Brother Xiao has gone to the capital. He needs to return only after the imperial examinations and palace examinations are finished. My sister is waiting for him, saying that if she hibernates, she fears she won’t wake up again, so she keeps refusing to hibernate."

"So that’s how it is," Fuchen nodded, "This is Miss Bai’s tribulation then."

"What do you mean by tribulation, Daoist Master?" Little Green asked worriedly.

How could her sister have a tribulation?

Fuchen explained, "When the snake clan’s cultivation reaches a certain level, they will transform from python to boa, experiencing a metamorphosis. Their form will become even larger and more resilient. This is preparation for becoming a flood dragon, and the entire process takes several years.

If your sister doesn’t sleep, she cannot shed her skin and transform into a boa. And your sister’s current body cannot withstand the gradually atavistic bloodline within her, much less withstand her current cultivation level.

So if your sister doesn’t hibernate soon, not only will it ruin her fundamental path, but she may even be in mortal danger."

Hearing the other party’s words, Little Green angrily said, "You female Daoist are talking nonsense!"

Fuchen was not angry, "This poor Daoist does not speak nonsense. May I ask, has Miss Bai’s complexion been getting worse and worse lately, like thin paper?"

Recalling her sister’s recent appearance, Little Green’s mouth opened slightly, her eyes trembling, and she lowered her head as if talking to herself, "What, what should be done about this?"

"It is fate, it is destiny." Fuchen sighed and took out a pill.

"If Miss Little Green trusts me, have your sister take this pill, and your sister will fall asleep and transform into a boa constrictor."

"But Miss Little Green, your sister’s obsession, you surely understand it clearly."

"Because this sleep may last a lifetime."

"Your sister perhaps will never wait for him to return."