Chapter 23: The Giant Python’s Comeback

Chapter 23: Chapter 23: The Giant Python’s Comeback

Jiang Yuxing pulled back Wang Peng, who had been on the verge of being swallowed, and Chuyi yanked them both to his side.

As soon as they got close to Shi Zhile, the snakes on their bodies fled in all directions.

The four of them formed a circle around Shi Zhile, their faces filled with lingering fear as they stared at the dense mass of snakes on the ground.

’So close... We were so close to being swallowed by the snakes, just like that man.’

The snakes didn’t retreat, but they didn’t continue their attack either.

Shi Zhile put away her torch and wrapped the Green Snake around her wrist again.

"This is a snake nest. Should we get off this mountain?"

Chuyi nodded frantically. "Yes! Brother Nan, this is even more terrifying than the giant python. Let’s fall back!"

’There’s nothing here but rocks and trees. No rare materials. It’s really not worth the risk.’

"We’re heading down. Back to the shipping containers."

The shipping containers were well-sealed. If the snakes followed them, they would at least have a defensible position.

He held up a torch and tentatively took two steps forward. When the swarm of snakes started to advance, Shi Zhile also took two steps forward.

And so, with Jiang Yuxing leading the way and Wang Peng bringing up the rear, the five of them formed a cross formation and slowly moved out of the snake nest.

Back at their "ocean-view house," the four of them immediately tended to their wounds.

Shi Zhile stood at the window looking out and noticed that the fog in the depths of the forest was thinning.

She checked the time on her panel: 3:40 PM.

’Losing five points of Life Value per hour... If they can’t neutralize the Snake Poison, the four of them have a dozen or so hours to live at most.’

’Once they’re kicked out of the instance, I’ll be all alone and other players will target me quickly.’

"The fog is about to clear. I wonder what’s in the town in the forest?"

Jiang Yuxing had walked up beside her at some point. "Want to go check it out?"

Shi Zhile nodded. "We’ll go after nightfall."

’There are too many uncertainties right after the fog clears. Besides, I didn’t get any rest last night, and I’m exhausted right now.’

She yawned and pattered upstairs to catch up on sleep.

At 9:00 PM, Shi Zhile woke up, yawning.

Downstairs, Jiang Yuxing was also geared up and ready to go.

"You’re going too?"

Jiang Yuxing nodded. "The snakes that bit me and Chuyi were non-venomous. The others aren’t in any condition to keep exploring right now, so I’ll go with you."

"Alright!"

The two of them, torches in hand, headed toward the town, following the direction on the map.

They fumbled through the darkness, occasionally hearing the hoot of an owl. Jiang Yuxing took the lead, with Shi Zhile covering the rear.

After walking for some time, a rustling sound began to mix with the sound of their footsteps.

It was a sound they were all too familiar with—the slithering of snakes.

The sound grew closer, and a thick, dank, earthy smell became stronger. The sound of the wind around them disappeared.

With no thick fog to obscure their vision, the torchlight in the darkness reflected off a field of glistening black scales.

"It’s the giant python!"

A foul wind swept down from above. Jiang Yuxing lunged at Shi Zhile, and the momentum sent them rolling to the base of a tree, successfully dodging the python’s ambush.

The massive snake’s head glided across the ground, circling them again and again.

As its body coiled tighter, shrinking the space around them, its head rose high. Its tail slapped against the ground, and the tremors nearly made them lose their footing.

They were trapped by the giant python. The wall of its coiled body was much taller than them. They wouldn’t get out unless they killed it.

Shi Zhile flexed her wrists, an axe in one hand and a torch in the other.

She looked at Jiang Yuxing. "I’m a good shot. Let me try first."

’The python has a wound on its weak spot, with an axe still embedded in it. If I can just find the right spot, I can pierce it with another axe.’

’But that would mean giving up another weapon. If the python doesn’t die, neither will we.’

Jiang Yuxing guessed her plan. He threw his torch at the python, pulled out a new one, and ran to the side. "I’ll draw its attention."

The python hissed in pain from the burn and focused all its attention on Jiang Yuxing.

A chase ensued, one running, one pursuing. The python’s massive body coiled the space tighter and tighter. Just as its head rose high and then shot down in a lightning-fast strike, Shi Zhile saw her chance and threw the axe.

CLANG!

The dull sound of metal striking metal rang out. Both axes burst through the python’s body, and blood gushed out in a torrent, drenching the two of them.

The giant snake’s head reared back with a long roar, letting out a muffled, wretched hiss.

Its body thrashed violently, making the already small space even tighter.

The two of them tried their best to dodge the thrashing coils, but were still sent flying by the force.

Shi Zhile slammed hard into a tree trunk, the pain so intense it felt like her organs had been rearranged.

Blood poured out in ever-increasing amounts. The wildly thrashing body gradually lost its strength, and in the next moment, its reared-back head crashed down heavily in the center of the coils.

Another impact wave hit them, and both of them were thrown back, coughing up blood.

Her body was squeezed tight by the snake’s coils. Her head was directly in front of the python’s mouth, and the foul stench that washed over her made Shi Zhile want to gag.

But she couldn’t. She was afraid the python wasn’t completely dead and would flick its tongue out to lick her, or worse, suck her into its mouth.

Her front and back were both chillingly cold. The pressure intensified until her chest felt like it was about to burst. Shi Zhile gasped for breath, unable to stop a string of coughs.

On the other side, Jiang Yuxing was struggling to crawl out, but he too was pinned tightly by the snake’s body.

His strength was draining fast. He gave a bitter laugh. "We managed to kill the giant python, only to end up dying on its corpse. For the two of us... COUGH, COUGH... what a pathetic way to go."

Black spots danced in Shi Zhile’s vision, and her ears were ringing. The last bit of air was being squeezed from her lungs. She wanted to respond, but she couldn’t make a sound.

Her vision blurred, her body grew limp, and slowly, she sank completely into darkness.

Just as her consciousness was fading, she thought she heard a sound, but it was too distant.

[World Announcement: Congratulations to players Contentment Brings Happiness and Jiang Yuxing for killing the Level Three Giant Python. Rewards: golden sore medicine x5, Snake Poison x2, Snake Venom Antiserum x10, Diving Equipment x5, Rare Blueprint x5, sunken ship ruins x1.]

[Level Three Giant Python defeated. Decompose?]

In the darkness, the only response was silence.

Just as the panel was about to disappear, a hand slowly reached out, pressed "Yes" on the panel, and then quickly fell limp.

[Giant Python successfully decomposed. Obtained: Python Meat x100, Python Scale x1000, Snake Gallbladder x1, Snake Poison x10. Detected that inventory is full. Items temporarily stored in the transfer station. They will be automatically destroyed after 12 hours. Please collect them in time.]

In the darkness, the two torches were instantly extinguished. A transparent figure emerged from Jiang Yuxing’s body.

He held two round, glowing orbs in his hand and fed one to each of them.

By the time the torches reignited, the transparent figure had already vanished.

A rooster’s crow echoed across the island. Shi Zhile shot up, looked around, and her eyes immediately fell on Jiang Yuxing lying beside her.

She gave him a shove. "Jiang Yuxing!"

There was no response. Her heart pounding, she moved to check his breathing. The next moment, her arm was grabbed, and she was thrown across the room.

She was stunned as she sat on the floor.

She turned to meet Jiang Yuxing’s cold gaze, got up with a deadpan expression, grabbed him, and threw him off the bed too.

Jiang Yuxing: "...I’m sorry. I thought..."

Shi Zhile patted the dust off her backside and cut him off. "Sorry. My hand slipped."