I have a birthmark on my left cheek. It's hideous. I was greedy for a bargain and listened to my cousin, but my evil cousin tattooed an invisible snake on my face and forced me to become an offering at the Snake Temple.
The Snake Temple in Long Village was torn down during the campaign to eliminate the Four Pests. My grandfather led the demolition. Beneath the old temple was a snake's nest. He killed the great female snake while she was giving birth, then made Dragon-Phoenix Soup for my grandmother, who was still recovering from childbirth. But after drinking it, she died of poisoning that very night. They say her death was horrifying: her whole body turned purple, and blood poured from her eyes, ears, nose, and mouth.
Later, my grandfather sought out an expert to destroy the nest. He even used explosives to blow a white snake, which was nearly becoming a dragon, into several pieces.
After that, a curse fell upon Long Village. None of the men could survive. The curse could only be lifted by rebuilding the Snake Temple and offering a chaste woman in sacrifice.
On the day they sent me to the altar, a sudden storm broke out and swept away all the villagers. Afterward, a white snake suddenly slithered over and asked me to grant him a title.
After I helped him enter the river and become a jiao, then enter the sea and become a dragon, he turned around and asked me to make love to him...
