Chu Jin watched as Su Ling handed him the python meat and five-spice chili powder, his mouth twitching. He asked, "Are you sure this isn't 'returning kindness with enmity'? For a moment, I can't tell if you're being kind or malicious!"
Seeing Chu Jin's obvious resistance, Su Ling smiled without a word.
After re-sheathing the Tang dao into its umbrella handle, she took the knife from Shang Qi and passed the chili powder to him.
Su Ling sliced the python meat and arranged it on a plate, while Shang Qi was responsible for sprinkling the torn chili powder onto the sliced meat.
Then, under Chu Jin's gaze, Su Ling and Shang Qi each picked up a disposable chopstick and began eating the python meat.
Chu Jin was initially shocked. By the time he reacted and wanted to warn them not to rashly try the python meat, they had already finished a plate.
Seeing that the two seemed fine and still wanted more, Chu Jin swallowed and licked his lips, "How does it taste?"
Shang Qi, holding the chili powder, looked at Chu Jin and said, "It tastes great. The meat is quite chewy, almost like roast chicken."
Hearing Shang Qi's description, Chu Jin's appetite was piqued. He glanced at the enormous python behind Su Ling and said, "I'll try it."
Taking the knife from Su Ling, Chu Jin approached the python. He cut a piece of the cooked meat along the marks Su Ling had made, then turned back to face them. He imitated Su Ling by slicing the python meat and asked Shang Qi to help with the chili powder.
With everything ready, Chu Jin began to taste the python meat.
He had expected the taste to be unbearable or difficult to describe.
But in reality, just as Shang Qi had described, it was similar to chicken breast – chewy and with a satisfying texture. With the chili powder added, it was a delightful blend of spicy, fragrant, and a faint smoky aroma.
After tasting it, Chu Jin declared that he had fallen in love with the flavor.
And so, Su Ling and Shang Qi watched as Chu Jin incessantly cut meat and dipped it in chili powder, eating with gusto.
Meanwhile, the phoenix fire on the python continued to burn, showing no signs of stopping until the python was reduced to ashes.
Chu Jin became more and more engrossed in his meal, as if he had discovered a new world.
As for Su Ling and Shang Qi, they eventually took out tables and chairs to sit and enjoy their afternoon tea while waiting for Chu Jin to finish devouring the python meat.
Chu Jin also found it tiring. He would cut a large piece, then return to the table and place it on the large plate Shang Qi had set down.
He then pulled up a chair, grabbed his knife to cut slices, and dipped them in chili powder.
"Speaking of which, you two were inside for so long, how did you manage to come out looking like nothing happened?" Chu Jin asked, his stomach starting to feel full, his mind clearing up as he became curious about the two.
Su Ling had already eaten her fill inside the space, otherwise, she would have joined Chu Jin in his python meat feast.
When asked by Chu Jin about the reason they could stay inside the python for so long, Shang Qi explained, "The moment we were swallowed, we used our knives to stab the python's mouth, inserting them between the flesh and bone. Once secured, we held on tightly without going further into its body."
"He managed to buy himself some time, and then put on a protective suit and gas mask inside."
Chu Jin, having heard Shang Qi's explanation, suddenly understood. He then gave them a thumbs-up, "Just for your quick thinking, you deserve to live. Honestly, even I am utterly impressed!"
Most people, faced with such a situation, would have been paralyzed with fear and lost their senses, resigned to their fate.
Let alone ordinary people, even he himself, if he had been swallowed by the python, would have surely met his end!