The Willow's Lament: The White Snake's Betrayal

In the heart of a lush, ancient forest, there stood a willow tree that had witnessed centuries of love and heartache. Its branches, long and supple, swayed gently with the wind, whispering tales of old to any who would listen. One such tale was that of the White Snake, a celestial spirit who had descended to the mortal realm in the form of a beautiful woman.

The White Snake, known as Bai Suzhen, was renowned for her beauty, grace, and compassion. She had been cursed by a celestial judge to live out her days as a snake, her only hope for release being to find a mortal to love her and, in turn, to love her as deeply as she loved him. The White Snake had taken on human form, seeking a human mate, when she encountered a young scholar named Xu Xian.

Xu Xian was smitten by Bai Suzhen's beauty and kindness. They fell deeply in love, and their union was as pure as the spring water that flowed from the mountainside. However, as the story unfolded, the White Snake's curse began to take its toll. Her true nature as a snake was revealed, and Xu Xian, despite his love, was terrified by the thought of sharing his life with a creature that could harm him.

The curse was not just a physical one; it was a spiritual one that would bind the two souls together for eternity. As the love between the White Snake and Xu Xian grew, the curse seemed to recede, but the willow tree, which had witnessed the White Snake's descent and her plight, knew the truth.

One day, as Xu Xian was returning from his studies, he stumbled upon a group of villagers who were being attacked by bandits. He fought valiantly to protect them, but the bandits were many, and Xu Xian was overpowered. As he lay injured on the ground, the White Snake, unable to bear the thought of her beloved in such peril, revealed her true form and vanquished the bandits with a single glance.

The villagers were saved, but the news of the White Snake's true nature reached the ears of the celestial judge who had cursed her. The judge was filled with rage and sorrow, for he had seen the love between the two and knew that it was pure and genuine. But the curse was binding, and the judge could do nothing to lift it.

The judge, in a fit of anger and despair, cursed the White Snake once more, binding her spirit to the willow tree and sealing her fate to an eternal cycle of punishment. The willow tree, in its sorrow, wept tears of jade, and the White Snake's lament resonated through the forest, a haunting melody that echoed the pain of unrequited love.

Xu Xian, who had been saved by the White Snake, realized the true extent of her sacrifice. He tried to free her, but the curse was too strong. In his despair, he took his own life, and his spirit joined the White Snake's, bound to the willow tree forever.

The White Snake's lament became a part of the forest, a reminder of the power of love and the price of betrayal. The willow tree, now an ancient and wise guardian of the forest, whispered the tale to any who would listen, ensuring that the story of the White Snake and Xu Xian would never be forgotten.

Centuries passed, and the tale of the White Snake and Xu Xian spread far and wide. It became a cautionary tale, a warning against the dangers of forbidden love and the consequences of breaking the natural order. The willow tree continued to weep its jade tears, and the White Snake's lament could be heard on still nights, a sorrowful melody that seemed to come from the very soul of the forest.

And so, the tale of the Willow's Lament: The White Snake's Betrayal lived on, a timeless story of love, loss, and the eternal consequences of betrayal.