The Villain Saves The Male Lead

Ren went to see Fang off on the day he was supposed to camp out in the desert with his schoolmates. Fang was happy as well as embarrassed, because he knew that his friends would be teasing him afterwards.

Still, Fang was looking forward to it. He'd never imagined he could hang out with his schoolmates like this!

The school children had a lot of fun. They lit big campfires and played games, sang and danced. The food they roasted themselves in the fire was fun, too. It was quite late when the teachers finally sent off the children to their tents to sleep.

Fang had taken a lot of pictures this evening. He sent a few to Ren before he went to sleep.

Ren scrolled through the pictures from Fang and smiled fondly. He was pleased that Fang could enjoy this experience. If Fang really developed a taste for camping, perhaps they could get their own equipment and go out to camp themselves occasionally. Ren wasn't too big a fan - he preferred the comfort of resorts and hotels...but if Fang liked it, he was quite willing to indulge him.

Thinking so, Ren, too, fell asleep, the three furballs cuddling up with him.

In the middle of the night, Ren was awakened by a sharp pain on his ankle. Looking at the two puncture marks on his ankle and the skin rapidly turning green and blue - he realised immediately that it was the reflection magic. Fang must have been bitten by a poisonous snake.

Daddy? What's wrong? Snow asked sleepily.

"Nothing, my dear, Daddy's got it under control," he murmured, patting her soft, white head. "Go to sleep, Daddy will be back soon."

By now, Smoke and Shadow were also up.

Daddy! Poison! Smoke cried out in alarm.

Another sharp pain shot through Ren's foot. It must be a really vicious snake, he thought.

Worried, Ren quickly used healing magic to pull out the poison and fortify himself in case the snake struck again. He dressed in a hurry, preparing to drive out to the camping site. The site was supposed to be a safe zone - how could a poisonous snake simply wander in and bite his Fang?!

Snow, Smoke and Shadow were on full alert by now and insisted on accompanying Ren.

Fang, meanwhile, had been startled awake by a scream from one of his roommates, who had woken up to drink water and had spotted the snake biting at Fang's ankle viciously.

Fang knew right away that Ren's reflection magic had kicked in when he saw his unmarked foot despite the snake's fangs striking down on him again and again.

All three of his roomates were awake by now, and batting away at the snake with whatever they could lay their hands on.

"Be careful! It's a poisonous snake!" a boy said. He was very interested in reptiles and could identify most snakes at a glance.

Fang's heart sunk. The poison should have gotten to Ren by now! He reached out to the fur babies with his mind.

Papa! Shadow's voice was relieved. We're coming, Daddy says to be careful!

So Ren was all right and on his way here. Fang was quite relieved.

The snake, which had been hit a few times by Fang's roommates, glared at Fang with hatred gleaming in his eyes.

Filthy human! You dare steal my master's magic?! I'll bite you to death today even if I die! The snake hissed angrily.

Fang was struck speechless. His first thought was: When on earth had he stolen anyone's magic?! His second thought was: This wasn't an ordinary snake!

"Don't kill it!" Fang shouted, stopping one of the boys from smashing the snake's head with a lamp.

"It's poisonous!" the boy yelled back.

"I'll capture it," Fang said. "You guys inform the teachers and check if there are any more. We are supposed to be in a safe zone."

"We can't leave you alone with a venomous snake!" another boy yelled.

"I'll stay with Fang," the boy who was an amateur snake expert, said. "You two go. I'll help Fang capture it."

The other two boys ran out quickly.

"Any ideas?" Fang asked. "Should I throw my bedsheet at it?"

The boy frowned. "This snake isn't supposed to be in a desert area like this, let alone a safe zone. This species is native to the mountains near Oyster Nation! How on earth did it get here?"

"Could it be someone's pet?" Fang murmured.

"Impossible!" the boy said. "This species is highly intelligent and completely wild. They'd never be domesticated. In fact, in Oyster Nation, they even worship these as the divine mount of their local deity."

"Good thing we didn't kill a divine creature, then," Fang muttered.

Stop jabbering, you filthy human! Stay still and let me kill you! You harmed my master!

The snake kept cursing at Fang.

Fang wondered if he could communicate with the snake the same way he spoke to his babies. "Who are you?" he spoke in his mind. "Who is your master? I haven't stolen anyone's magic; it was taught to me by my partner."

Lies! You clearly have master's trace on you! The snake hissed angrily.

"Where is your master, then?" Fang challenged, glad that his attempt to speak with the snake actually worked.

My master...I've lost my master...you, you filthy human, you must have done something to my master after stealing his magic! Why else would there be a trace of my master's magic on you?! I'll kill you and avenge my master!

"The only magic trace on me comes from Ren, my partner," Fang said in his head.

Before the snake could hiss again, there was the sound of a car stopping nearby and almost immediately, Ren appeared in front of Fang, holding the three furballs.

"Are you all right?" Ren asked Fang worriedly.

"I'm all right, how are you?" Fang asked, equally anxious.

Ren nodded absently and looked around.. His eyes found the snake and he froze in shock. "Sylvia?!"