Though he was glad he kept his life, readjusting wasn't easy for him, and the writing didn't make things any easier.
He had steeled himself to beg Yang Qing to remove it, but all that changed a few weeks ago when he got kidnapped by some humans who wore the same look he used to have whenever he saw delectable prey. Kind of like how the vicious kite eyed Haishi.
Seeing that look on those humans dug up long-repressed memories from when he was a nameless tadpole just trying to survive, where every day was a vicious struggle.
The one saving grace he had was that, even as a tadpole, his poison still worked, even against spirit beasts stronger than him, which kept him safe, despite his small frame and lack of strength.
Given how small and poisonous he was, that combination made him less of a target for other spirit beasts. He simply wasn't worth the trouble, which emboldened him to act a little recklessly as he roamed the forest with his guard slightly lowered.
