"The sky is blue, the earth is vast, I'm here herding cows~"
Wang Xiaobao was leading three cows near the riverbank, humming a country tune with evident satisfaction.
His messy hair danced in the wind, his skin possessed a healthy wheatish hue, and he wore yellow country clothes.
"Thud!"
Suddenly, a sound of splashing water echoed in his ears. Wang Xiaobao thought someone had fallen into the water. He hurriedly tied the rope to a tree and ran towards the sound.
However, when Wang Xiaobao reached the scene, what he saw took his breath away. In the clear river, a young woman with only a vest on was splashing around. Her delicate face was filled with joy, and the excitement in her sparkling large eyes couldn't be ignored.
"Today is my lucky day..."
He watched as her hands gently disturbed the water's surface, revealing glimpses of her attractive figure beneath the ripples. Wang Xiaobao marveled inwardly, wondering to which fortunate man this beautiful woman was married.
Suddenly, Wang Xiaobao widened his eyes as the woman swam leisurely to the shore. He couldn't help but gasp.
Swallowing nervously, Wang Xiaobao watched on unblinkingly. He hardly dared to blink, for it was rare to see such a beautiful woman in the village.
"If I could marry such a beautiful woman, my life would be worthwhile..." Wang Xiaobao stared on, fantasizing about the day he might marry someone as beautiful.
The sunlight poured down, making her skin look even more delicate. She appeared slender in the sunlight, her waist accentuated to perfection.
"Ah..."
The woman let out a comfortable moan, relishing the sun's warmth.
Just as Wang Xiaobao was completely absorbed, a two-meter-long water snake suddenly shot out of the water. The vicious creature wrapped itself around the woman's right leg, and the next second, it pulled her straight into the water!
Upon seeing this scene, Wang Xiaobao was entirely bewildered, standing still behind the large tree.
Suddenly, he snapped to his senses. "I remember now," he blurted, "there are water snakes in this river!"
At that moment, a woman burst out from the middle of the river, her face filled with shock and fear. She kicked hard with her right leg, but the water snake coiled tightly around her, pulling her down with force.
"Help! Help me! There's a snake in the water!"
A chill ran down Wang Xiaobao's spine, "It seems she can't escape, should I jump in and save her?"
The river was at least four to five meters in depth. The woman was on the brink of being killed by the water snake. There was no time to lose and the prospect of watching someone helplessly perish was unbearable for Wang Xiaobao.
But if he went out to save her, wouldn't that mean he would be discovered?
"Is there anyone out there? Help me, please!"
Anxiety gripped Wang Xiaobao's heart, and he promptly stripped off his shirt and stepped forward. With resolution, he told himself, "This is a human life at stake, what does it matter if I'm discovered?"
Then, with a "splash!" Wang Xiaobao jumped in. He was the best swimmer in his village and was extremely comfortable in the water. Within a few flutters, he reached the woman.
Seeing that someone came, the woman didn't care about her current predicament and shouted, "Help me, there's a water snake pulling me down!"
"I was just herding cows and passing by," explained Wang Xiaobao, feeling anxious on the inside.
Upon hearing this, she shouted, "Then help me get rid of this snake!"
She was exceedingly desperate. She didn't dare to let go, or she would be pulled down by the snake. Meanwhile, this man was actually explaining himself here.
Hearing her, Wang Xiaobao thought she believed him and chuckled, "Relax. It's just a snake. I'm quite skilled at catching them."
Upon finishing speaking, Wang Xiaobao immediately plunged into the water. The present matter allowed no delay, it had to be resolved quickly.
As he went under water, Wang Xiaobao couldn't help but gulp, narrowly swallowing a mouthful of river water. The reason being, he saw a snake on the woman's leg that was as thick as a man's arm.
Wang Xiaobao calmed his racing heart, knowing now was not the time for fear. With the strength of this water snake, it could surely drag the woman into the depths. Though the snake was long, it wasn't enormously thick, and Wang Xiaobao did have some skill dealing with snakes.
With a few kicks of his legs, Wang Xiaobao charge forward and grabbed the snake, forcefully tearing it off. But the snake slipped out of his hand with a "whoosh" and bit into his right eye!
"Ah!" Wang Xiaobao let out a pained cry underwater, guzzling a mouthful of river water and choking, he hastily surfaced. The snake, however, fled with the flow of the water.
"Cough, cough...."The moment Wang Xiaobao broke the water's surface he let out a few large coughs. Choking on water is indeed an experience that leaves one gasping for air.
When the woman felt the restriction on her leg loosen, she knew the snake had been dealt with. Seeing the wound on Wang Xiaobao's eye, she exclaimed, "You've been bitten by a snake, are you alright? We need to get you treated immediately."
As she spoke, she grabbed Wang Xiaobao, her nearly nude body having a close encounter with his.
But the stabbing pain that continuously throbbed in Wang Xiaobao's eye made it impossible for him to open it. He let out low growls of pain and his body quivered intensely.
Feeling Wang Xiaobao's shivering body and hearing his low groans of pain, the woman quickly dragged him back to shore.
"Hold on a moment. I brought some medicinal herbs with me, let me treat you,” she said.
Moreover, she took out some herbs from the wooden tub by her side where her clothes were kept. After chewing them into a fine powder, she spat it out onto her hand and began applying it to Wang Xiaobao's right eye.
Wang Xiaobao could only feel a faint, pleasant aroma of the young girl entering his nostrils. He wasn't sure if it was the treatment taking effect, but gradually, the piercing pain in his eye faded away.
Wang Xiaobao managed to force his eyes open, intending to thank her. But when his gaze fell on the woman's face, he was met with an utterly horrifying sight.
Through Wang Xiaobao's eyes, he could see every detail of the woman’s facial structure, every bone, every nerve in her brain. Even the flowing of her blood could be clearly seen by him.
Wang Xiaobao's gaze slowly drifted downwards. Her clothing appeared non-existent to him!
Wang Xiaobao widened his eyes in shock, wondering what was happening.
Just a moment ago she was fully clothed, had he seen a ghost?
