In Dongjun lived a man whose trade was the charming of snakes. He kept two green serpents; the larger he named Daqing, and the smaller Erqing. Erqing bore a small red spot upon its brow, was remarkably docile, and possessed an uncanny intelligence. In every performance, its coiling and twisting met with universal approval, winning the deep affection of the snake charmer.

A year later, Daqing perished. The charmer intended to find a replacement to fill the void, but he was perpetually occupied with earning his keep, finding no respite.

One night, the charmer lodged in a mountain temple. At dawn, upon opening the bamboo cage, Erqing was nowhere to be seen. The charmer was consumed by despair and searched everywhere, finding nothing. He reflected, "Whenever I took the green snakes to dense woods in the past, I would let them roam freely, and before long, they would always return on their own accord. Perhaps Erqing has simply wandered off for sport and will soon be back." With this thought, he sat waiting before the temple gate until noon, yet there was no sign. The charmer slowly succumbed to hopelessness, sullenly packing his belongings to descend the mountain.

Just then, a rustling sound drifted from the undergrowth. He peered intently and saw Erqing slowly gliding forth, winding its way out, followed closely by a smaller snake.

The charmer was overjoyed beyond measure. He hastily set down his burden and gathered Erqing into his arms, producing bait to feed it. Stroking the snake's head, he asked, "Erqing, I truly thought you wouldn't return. Is this little creature behind you a companion you’ve brought back?" As he spoke, he tossed a piece of bait to the smaller snake.

The small snake recoiled, its body trembling, refusing the offering. Seeing this, Erqing took the food in its own mouth and fed the little one until it finally opened its jaws and swallowed. The charmer watched with amusement and offered more food; this time the little snake did not refuse.

The charmer laughed heartily, reaching in to place both snakes into the bamboo cage, taking them back to instruct them carefully. The new snake proved exceptionally clever, learning tricks with incredible speed. In the bustling marketplace, its contortions and turns were every bit as masterful as Erqing's. The charmer traveled far and wide with the pair, reaping countless rewards, and his joy was boundless. He bestowed a name upon the small snake: Xiaoqing.

Ordinarily, the charmer limited his performance snakes to a length of two feet; anything larger became too heavy, hindering the act, necessitating a replacement. But Erqing was uniquely intelligent and spirited; the charmer could not bear to part with it, so it remained by his side, performing, for years. In the blink of an eye, two or three years passed. Erqing grew to over three feet long, and when coiled, it occupied the entire bamboo cage, making travel exceedingly inconvenient. The charmer finally had to release it, much against his will.

One day, the charmer was traveling near the forests of Zichuan County. Seeing the dense trees and lush undergrowth, he deemed it a prime location, favorable for the dwelling of reptiles and insects. Thus, he opened the bamboo cage, let Erqing out to gorge itself, and then released it back into the wild.

Erqing departed reluctantly, turning back three times in the short distance it traveled. The charmer waved his hand: "Go now. There is no feast that lasts a hundred days in this world. In the future, dwell in the mountain valleys, focus on your cultivation, and you shall surely achieve the transformation into a dragon. That small bamboo cage was never a place for you to reside permanently."

Erqing departed upon hearing this, and the charmer watched it go. In a short while, Erqing returned again, gliding around the exterior of the bamboo cage, lingering and unwilling to leave. The charmer suddenly understood, "You have come to bid farewell to Xiaoqing?" Erqing immediately nodded in affirmation.

The charmer opened the cage and allowed Xiaoqing to crawl out. The two snakes met, their necks entwined, exchanging long flicks of their tongues as if whispering confidences and sharing final advice.

After a long, long time, Erqing slowly departed. Xiaoqing followed, escorting it a considerable distance. The charmer worried that Xiaoqing might not return, and just as he began to fret, Xiaoqing wagged its tail and head, voluntarily wriggling back into the bamboo cage, coiling up with closed eyes, just as it always did.

After Erqing’s departure, the charmer constantly sought a replacement, but never found a suitable one. Gradually, Xiaoqing grew longer and longer, reaching three feet in length, its girth as thick as a child's arm.

Later, the charmer chanced upon a new snake. Seeing Xiaoqing's continuous growth, he resolved to release it back into nature.

Meanwhile, Erqing lived in the mountains. Woodcutters often encountered it when felling timber. Several years passed, and Erqing grew several meters long, as thick as a bowl. It reveled among the thickets and gradually began to pursue and devour people. The villagers were terrified, spreading warnings everywhere, and no one dared enter the mountains again.

One day, the charmer was passing through the mountains when a sudden, violent gust of wind whipped up, and a colossal serpent materialized as if from thin air, pursuing him relentlessly. The charmer was terrified and fled for his life. The giant serpent chased close behind, almost upon him. The charmer glanced back and saw a red spot on the serpent's forehead. As if waking from a dream, he stopped and called out, "Erqing, Erqing."

The giant serpent halted upon hearing the name, raising its head to examine the man before it. It faintly recognized its former master and immediately rushed forward to acknowledge him, coiling around him with great familiarity and affection.

As Erqing constricted around the charmer, its strength was immense. Though the man understood Erqing meant no harm, the coils tightened, making it hard to breathe, and he rolled on the ground, pleading for mercy. Erqing was remarkably perceptive; it immediately released its master and slithered to the bamboo cage, lightly tapping it with its head.

The charmer understood. He opened the cage and let Xiaoqing out. The two snakes met and intertwined tightly, clinging to each other like hardening sugar syrup before finally separating after a long while.

The charmer said to Xiaoqing, "I have long intended to release you to the mountains. Seeing Erqing again today, you may leave together." Then he addressed Erqing, "You brought Xiaoqing here, and now you shall take it away. I have one thing to say: In the deep mountains, there is no lack of food or drink. From now on, you must not disturb travelers, lest you incur celestial wrath."

The two serpents lowered their heads in assent, bade farewell together, the larger serpent leading, the smaller following. Wherever they passed, the forest parted before them.

The charmer watched them go, standing still for a long time until the shadows of the snakes vanished from sight. Only then did he reluctantly depart. From that day on, peace reigned in the mountains, and the phenomenon of the giant serpent troubling the populace never reappeared.