Chapter 70 charming but deadly

You enter hidden corners to the sound of the flute, and the hypnotic melody beckons you to come closer. Two women were sitting on the floor in an alcove, leaning on striped silk pillows.One of them plays the flute you hear.There is a disc for incense and a large black-covered basket between the two of them. A small crowd of spectators gradually gathers around.Another woman carefully removed the basket lid, took out her flute, and played a counterpoint to the first melody. Two white cobras coil around each other as they rise from the woven basket, perfectly matching the music.For a moment they look like one indistinguishable snake, and then they part again, slithering down the side of the basket and sliding to the ground, within touching distance of your feet.

The two snakes moved back and forth together, their movements were like a surprisingly formal dance, graceful and elegant. The music picked up speed, and the movements of the two snakes now exuded a certain cruel quality.The original waltz turned into a battle.They circle each other and you wait to see which snake will strike first. One snake hissed softly, and the other responded equally.They continued to coil as music and incense curled into the starry sky. You can't tell which snake strikes first, they're identical after all.They reared back, hissed, and flung themselves at each other; the fact that they were no longer white, but perfect ebony black, distracted you.