The Serpent and the King

One day a soldier spotted a giant serpent traveling toward the border of the Coyan Kingdom. The king was informed of the threat and ordered the serpent killed. "I don't know if this creature can be destroyed," the king's general said. "I have heard of this monster. Offer it a small portion of your treasure and it will go away."

"I'm not giving my riches to a serpent," the king said. "Kill that monster."

So the king's army killed the serpent. But the next morning the serpent came back to life and grew to twice its size. "I warned you of this," the general said to the king.

"Not another word," the king said. "Bury that beast."

The king's army killed and buried the serpent, but the next morning the serpent came back to life, doubled in size, and emerged from the earth. "Give it part of your treasure and it will go away," the general pleaded.

But the king didn't listen. The king's army killed the serpent again, and, on orders from the king, they burned its flesh. The next morning the serpent again came back to life, and this day it grew so large that it conquered the entire kingdom, keeping all of its treasure and land for itself.

 

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