This chilling scene would unnerve anyone, let alone a child, making them weak-kneed just by standing here.
Zhan Ming had seen such situations countless times.
He was long accustomed to them.
As long as the child before him was frightened enough to scramble into his arms, begging, or even crying out, his objective would be achieved.
The servants beside him were usually unfazed, accustomed to the Regent King bringing people here and scaring them into immobility. But those were adults, and they felt nothing, long since desensitized.
However, the Regent King had brought a four or five-year-old child today!
The child looked incredibly innocent and adorable.
As if utterly unaware of any fearsome things in the world, so pure!
The eerie, terrifying atmosphere surrounding them at this moment formed a stark contrast with the child's smile.
The child had no idea what lay below, no concept of how terrifying it was. If he saw it, wouldn't he be utterly terrified? A child like this, if scared out of his wits, might become a simpleton.
For a moment, it was hard not to worry.
But a perverted gleam of anticipation flashed across Zhan Ming's face, "If you recognize me as your adoptive father and obey me in all things from now on, I will take you away. What do you say?"
These tempting yet threatening words echoed in Yun Xiaojing's ears.
Because Yun Xiaojing had been silent, Zhan Ming assumed he was stunned into silence by fear, his gaze fixed on the snake pit with no other reaction.
Seeing Yun Xiaojing's reaction, Zhan Ming was quite pleased.
Many disobedient individuals, after being brought here and shown around, had become obedient.
Yun Xiaojing hugged his arms, looking at the snakes in the pit, blinking his large eyes.
It was indeed his first time seeing so many snakes…
Those nearby, seeing Yun Xiaojing motionless, felt a pang of pity and helplessness.
Look!
He was truly scared witless!
A poor child, frightened into idiocy.
Those snakes inside, even they got goosebumps seeing them every day and didn't want to look any longer.
Yet, the child had been staring for a long time, unmoving, his large eyes fixed on them.
This was clearly a sign of being scared witless!
Zhan Ming curved his lips in a sinister smile. He wasn't in a hurry. How could he answer if he was scared witless?
However.
He suddenly felt something was amiss.
These snakes were unusually quiet today.
He lowered his head to look into the snake pit.
As he looked, his brows furrowed tightly, and he stared at the snake pit in disbelief.
In the snake pit, a group of snakes that usually bared their fangs and tried to swallow people whole upon seeing them, were lying docilely. Though their eyes were hidden, one could sense they were no longer enraged.
Instead, they were remarkably gentle.
"What's wrong with these snakes? Did you feed them something they shouldn't have eaten?" Zhan Ming angrily questioned the servants beside him.
The servants were the ones who usually cared for these snakes.
Upon hearing Zhan Ming's question, they looked utterly astonished. One of them said, "Your Highness, we fed them what they eat every day. There's absolutely no mistake!"
As he spoke, he also glanced into the snake pit.
Upon seeing it, his eyes nearly bulged out.
Normally, these snakes would bare their fangs and writhe frantically upon seeing a person, appearing ready to swallow one whole. But now, they were incredibly calm.
Moreover, they seemed to possess an aura of peace and contentment in their demeanor.
Such a sight was unprecedented!
"Don't these little snakes look rather cute!" Yun Xiaojing said, hugging his arms. After looking for a long time, he counted that there seemed to be dozens of them?
They were all sorts of strange shapes, completely different from each other.
Then, Yun Xiaojing looked up at Zhan Ming, "Are you trying to scare me with these cute little snakes?"
Zhan Ming felt as if struck by lightning, his ears ringing violently. He looked at Yun Xiaojing in disbelief, "You said they were cute?"
"Mmm, they can be considered cute. They're cute as long as they're well-behaved," Yun Xiaojing nodded.
The snakes in the pit immediately became even more well-behaved.
Each one more obedient than the last.
It was as if they were in an imperial selection, each vying to be the cutest and most well-behaved!
The servants gathered around were stunned.
They had never seen these snakes so… cute?
It seemed they were indeed very well-behaved.
Zhan Ming's face turned ashen. His gaze fell ominously on the snake pit, and he suddenly grabbed a nearby servant, "Go investigate! Someone must have drugged my snakes!"
To have lost face in front of a child like this!
Utterly hateful!
The servant's legs went weak with fear.
Yun Xiaojing, seeing Zhan Ming bully others, pouted and said speechlessly, "I already told you I'm very brave. The things I fear most are scary dinosaurs and monsters in stories. These little cuties are my good friends. I'm not afraid of anyone but them! I'll say it again, if you don't let me go, you'll definitely regret it!"
"Big dinosaurs and monsters? What nonsense is that? It seems I've been too lenient with you! Do you think all snakes in the world are this docile? Truly an unworldly child!" Zhan Ming frowned, then laughed in anger as he spoke.
Yun Xiaojing looked down on Zhan Ming, "You're the one who's unworldly!"
A complete country bumpkin!
Never even seen well-behaved little snakes!
At this moment, several servants rushed in, kneeling before Zhan Ming, all in a panic.
At the same time, they looked utterly bewildered.
One of them respectfully reported, "Your Highness, it has been confirmed that the food thrown into the snake pit today was absolutely fine. These snakes were fine before Your Highness arrived, and we don't know why they suddenly became so… so docile."
"You dare deceive me?" Zhan Ming's eyes flashed with a bloodthirsty glint.
"No, no, your servants wouldn't dare deceive Your Highness! The food is absolutely fine, please believe us!" The servants pleaded, trembling with fear.
Zhan Ming narrowed his eyes and commanded the guards nearby, "Throw these few down!"
Then he looked down at Yun Xiaojing and said, "Didn't you say you weren't afraid of these snakes? Then I'll show you just how terrifying they are."
In the past, these snakes would eagerly scramble for anyone thrown down.
In the blink of an eye, a person would be swallowed whole!
Yun Xiaojing spread his small hands, "If you do this, no one will ever be loyal to you again."
Too wicked!
Wicked people have no good end!
Then he looked down at the snake pit.
The cute little snakes, upon being swept by his gaze, became even more obedient!
The servants trembled with fear, some even wetting themselves.
They kowtowed and begged, "No!"
"Your Highness, spare our lives!"
"In return for our loyalty to Your Highness, spare us!"
Amidst the desperate cries for mercy.
The guards stepped forward and kicked each of the servants down.