"No!"
Chu Jin stood frozen, his eyes wide with disbelief.
He had watched with his own eyes as Su Ling and Shang Qi were swallowed by the giant python, helpless to intervene. Chu Jin wished desperately that he was mistaken, that the python would leave, and Su Ling and Shang Qi would be standing there unharmed.
But his hopes were in vain.
After devouring Shang Qi and Su Ling, the python turned its head, searching for the source of Chu Jin's voice.
Having its eyes shot out, the python could only rely on the keen senses of a predator to locate its prey.
However, after searching for a long time, it couldn't pinpoint Chu Jin's location.
Chu Jin was a zombie king; unlike survivors, the python could not sense his presence.
As the python moved, Chu Jin could see the spot where Su Ling and Shang Qi had stood.
All that remained was devastation and ruin, poisoned by the python's venom. Su Ling and Shang Qi were nowhere to be found!
Chu Jin found this grim, bloody reality incredibly difficult to accept.
He had finally found friends worth deeply cherishing, yet before they could become lifelong companions, they were...
How could he face Gu Shang Se and the others? He couldn't possibly explain.
Chu Jin's eyes, so different from those of survivors, turned a deep crimson. He stared at the enraged python, wanting to kill the damned beast. But remembering that he too would likely be consumed if he charged, he suppressed his urge for revenge.
While the python, unable to locate Chu Jin and in pain from the burning, slammed its head against the mountain, Chu Jin observed the creature.
He quickly realized the python couldn't pinpoint his location. More accurately, it couldn't sense his existence.
This discovery filled Chu Jin with joy.
Yet, amidst his relief, he felt immense regret and sorrow. If only he had realized this sooner, Shang Qi and Su Ling wouldn't have been swallowed!
Chu Jin remained still, standing in the safe zone.
With his eyes burning red, he watched the python. He waited for it to succumb to the flames, after which he would disembowel the snake.
He only hoped Su Ling and Shang Qi could hold on a little longer; he would bring them back!
The python was now blind, an arrow lodged in its neck, and engulfed in flames. It was merely struggling in its death throes.
Especially when he saw the python spitting blood, Chu Jin's conviction grew stronger!
He clasped his hands together, praying fervently to the heavens for Shang Qi and Su Ling to survive!
The python's life was nearing its end. It was aflame, its entire body consumed by phoenix fire. It lay on the ground, its struggles ceased, spitting blood weakly.
The fire from the arrow in its pierced neck was spreading outwards.
Initially, Chu Jin hadn't noticed anything unusual about the neck. By the time he did, he saw that the injured part of the python's neck was emitting strange noises.
The moment he heard these noises, Chu Jin thought of Shang Qi and Su Ling, swallowed by the python.
His sole thought was that they were still alive, trying to find a way out of the python's body.
With this realization, Chu Jin sprang into action. He approached the python, slowly drawing near its neck.
After a series of damage amplifications and being burned by the intense fire, the python was no longer capable of struggling and was waiting for death.
It could only whimper in response to Chu Jin's approach, too weak to resist.
Chu Jin reached the python's neck. He saw the flames below the neck and, without further thought, rummaged through his bag for his prized possession.
His treasure was a military knife, sharp enough to slice through metal.
Locating the spot on the python's neck where the sounds originated, Chu Jin used the military knife to slash at it.
The knife met the python's neck, cutting a gaping wound.
Chu Jin was certain Shang Qi and Su Ling were alive. His hands continued their work as he murmured, "Shang Qi, Su Ling, hold on! I'm cutting open the neck to save you!"