The pendant was perfect for a snake cub. It wasn't too big, and the energy coming from it was warm and protective.
Xuan Long watched him with a sad, sweet smile. He took a thin, sturdy cord and carefully tied the pendant around the little snake's neck.
Then, he tucked it gently under Xiao San's scales so it wouldn't snag on anything or fall off easily.
He patted his son's head, his touch full of a father's love. "Take care of it, little one. It is very precious. Do not lose it."
For Xuan Long, this jade was probably the only thing he would ever have from his father.
It was a bridge to a past he never knew. But he didn't want to keep it for himself.
He could feel the faint, protective energy of his father still lingering in the jade. He knew that if he gave it to Xiao San, that energy would protect his son in a dire situation.
It belongs to the next generation, Xuan Long thought. My father meant this for his son. Now, I give it to mine.
