u might b right cs mc looks like the man in the tale..
the mc accepted the old mans request to go to the mountain after seeing the old jade ball or sth, and that the man in the tale was convinced to kill the snake after being bribed w money. the cover art also tells us sth, the ml holds mc w his hand, signifying that he had captured him. ml might be the snake in the tale (i.e the snake turning human in the tale, who is very similar to ml)
hope u get me
Oh yeah, don't worry I get you. MC is definitely something akin to the reincarnation of the man in tale (or something like that) and ML is definitely the snake. He's surely one of those obsessed type who want to posses the one who betrayed them (●'◡'●)
This one already looks scrumptious ლ(´ڡ`ლ) both characters are screen-licking worthy damn.
I can't help but suspect that old man being coerced by the ml to actually send mc to him. He's the one being trapped all along.