EBE 004 Killing the Python
004 Killing the Python
What Li Yu encountered first was not a giant python, but flies and ants.
I don't know how flies can be so resilient. In the materially scarce late Han Dynasty, in this early summer season, flies are thriving and have many offspring.
A cacophony of buzzing sounds flew by, making one feel irritated and restless.
Fortunately, the black pigskin covered Li Yu completely, saving him from the disgusting experience of flies crawling on his face or laying eggs in his eyes.
Then, the ants arrived.
These tiny creatures, small in size, squeezed into any crevice they could find. Li Yu clearly felt three or five ants crawling onto his big toe and calf. The thick, almost scabbed pig's blood hindered their movement, making their crawling very slow.
It doesn't hurt or itch, but it's absolutely impossible to ignore.
So annoying!
A sense of helplessness, like trying to scratch an itch through a boot, along with restlessness and anxiety, enveloped Li Yu.
Li Yu vowed that once this snake-killing incident was over, he would thoroughly search every corner of Chenwang Village and kill hundreds of ant nests; otherwise, he would change his name!
Just as he was gritting his teeth and persevering, he suddenly noticed that the buzzing of flies had disappeared, and the "ant-like sensation" on his body was getting lighter and lighter, and then quickly disappeared.
The fishy stench that I smelled when I first arrived at the hilltop became even stronger.
The Corpse-Eating Python is here!
Li Yu's heart jumped into his throat.
A rustling sound came from not far to Li Yu's left. That was where another cart of pork and mutton was located.
Chirp, chirp.
The sound, like a giant python swallowing its prey, sent chills down Li Yu's spine.
After about fifteen minutes, the sound stopped, as if the giant python had finished devouring the flesh. The rustling sound resumed, growing closer and closer towards Li Yu.
Li Yu's heart pounded like a drum, pounding incessantly.
The rustling sound stopped above Li Yu's head. Li Yu felt a chill run down his spine, and suddenly thought of something.
The Corpse-Eating Python devoured him and the dead pig. If it swallowed the head first, he wouldn't have a chance to fight back and would surely die.
Through the narrow gap in the pigskin, Li Yu could see the sky outside the gap sometimes bright and sometimes dark, accompanied by strong winds and a foul stench.
Could it be that the Corpse-Eating Python sensed something was wrong? Or perhaps it heard his heartbeat?
In an instant, Li Yu felt a tingling sensation all over his body, as if he were being electrocuted; his pores opened up and he was drenched in cold sweat.
Am I about to die?
Fortunately, after a dozen or so breaths, the rustling sound moved away from Li Yu's head. Li Yu felt relieved.
The next moment, a powerful force struck, his legs tightened, he was wrapped in the dead meat and violently pulled away.
At the same time, the gaps between the pigskins widened, revealing soft, pink flesh. Foul-smelling saliva dripped down, landing on Li Yu's arms, legs, and face. Despite the congealed scabs of pig's blood blocking the flow, Li Yu still felt a burning pain.
Has it gone into your mouth?
Is that soft flesh the gills of a giant python?
Before Li Yu could examine it carefully, his legs tightened again.
Swallowing so fast?
Li Yu didn't have time to think and suddenly sat up. He picked up the "spiked barbell" with both hands and pushed it forward with all his might, using the force from his legs.
The spikes on both sides of the "‡"-shaped staff pierced the python's upper jaw in an instant, and bright red python blood seeped out. The python instinctively bit down, and the lower end of the staff instantly pierced its lower jaw.
hiss!hiss!hiss!
The Corpse-Eating Python hissed in agony, frantically shaking its head. Air currents, saliva, and a small amount of snake blood swirled and churned within its mouth. Li Yu, who had been seated, was thrown to his feet, flung about, and thrashed wildly.
Fortunately, he was quick-witted. Seeing that something was wrong, he grabbed the [high-quality imitation fish intestine sword] and then tightly hugged the "spiked barbell" to avoid being thrown away.
The "spiked barbell" was deeply embedded in the upper and lower jaws of the giant python. Although the two thick iron plates were deformed by the pressure, they did not break or separate, and were firmly stuck at both ends of the long stick to prevent the long stick from passing through the body.
The giant python was already swallowing a dead pig with its mouth wide open, but now it was stuck by the "spiky barbell," unable to open it, close it, or bite through it, so it became even more ferocious.
The enormous python's body crashed to the ground and then rolled around incessantly. Li Yu felt like he was on a roller coaster, rising and falling rapidly, the earth turning upside down. He felt his stomach churning, but he couldn't care less; he just clung to the long staff with all his might.
"Brother Fisherman, don't panic, we're coming!" A shout suddenly came from beside him. It was Xiong Ba and the others who had come to help after hearing the giant python's screams.
Li Yu felt a sense of relief, and unconsciously reduced the strength in his grip on the stick by half a point.
Suddenly, two snake tongues as thick as arms shot out from below, wrapping around Li Yu's legs and pulling him sharply!
"Aaaaaah!"
Li Yu screamed in agony. His body was taut, like a fully drawn bowstring. His bones creaked and cracked, on the verge of breaking.
Outside the python's mouth, the sounds of swords clashing, sometimes sharp and sometimes muffled, could be heard. It was Xiong Ba and his men attacking the giant python with swords, spears, and lances.
The results were poor, but it angered the other party.
Li Yu felt the constricting force of the two snakes' tongues lessen slightly, when suddenly Chen Lizheng's exclamation came from outside the python's mouth: "Watch out, there's a skeleton!"
Then, the sounds of swords and spears diminished considerably, while screams of agony rose and fell.
Li Yu had no time to think about the battle situation outside the python; he had to save himself.
With one hand tightening the long stick and the other hand raising the [high-quality imitation Fish Intestine Sword], Li Yu gritted his teeth and forcefully slashed at his legs.
hiss! ! !
Despite its name, the [High-Quality Imitation Fish Intestine Sword] is undeniably sharp. With a single stroke, both snakes' tongues are severed!
The remaining forked tongue, like a startled bird, retracted into the fleshy wall of its lower jaw. Gushes of snake blood then gushed out.
The enormous body of the Corpse-Devouring Python suddenly stiffened, and the next second, it soared into the sky.
At the same time, an unprecedentedly powerful gust of air, carrying chunks of pork and mutton, spewed out from the snake's belly. Li Yu twisted his arms and legs around the long stick in a pretzel-like fashion to barely keep himself steady.
Then, the airflow gradually decreased, and the giant python crashed from the sky to the ground.
Boom!
The entire hillside trembled.
Li Yu, trapped in the python's mouth, was cushioned by the soft flesh of his upper and lower jaws. Although he was thrown around and felt dizzy, he was not seriously injured. Taking advantage of the momentum, he rose up, gripped the [high-quality imitation fish intestine sword], and thrust it sharply towards the back of his upper jaw.
hiss~~~
The Corpse-Devouring Python let out an unprecedented wail, its body beginning to thrash violently again. A series of booming sounds came from outside the python, seemingly the commotion caused by the giant python smashing through rocks.
Li Yu hugged the long staff back, his spirits lifted!
Behind the upper palate, it appears to be the vital spot of the giant python.
Could this be the location of the snake's brain?
This time, the giant python struggled for a full half hour.
The prolonged exertion caused Li Yu's hands and feet to become stiff and his body to feel sore. But his eyes were brighter than ever before.
As soon as the giant python paused for a moment, Li Yu raised his stiff right arm again and thrust his sword upwards.
sizzle!
Amidst the splattering blood and the mournful cries of the giant python, Li Yu skillfully sheathed his sword and retrieved his long staff.
Three quarters of an hour later, Li Yu thrust his sword, sheathed it, and then picked up his staff.
The python's blood mixed with a white, milky substance, poured down like rain, and Li Yu felt as if his entire body was being burned by fire or branded with a hot iron.
After several rounds, the Corpse-Eating Python's struggles gradually weakened until they were almost nonexistent.
"[System]: Congratulations to the player for killing the [Mysterious Grade] and [Elite Grade] Corpse-Devouring Python, gaining 14336 combat experience points."
"[System]: Congratulations, player, your combat level has increased to 18."
"[System]: Congratulations, player, your combat level has increased to 19."
"[System]: Congratulations..."
"[System]: Congratulations, player, your combat level has increased to 36."
"[System]: Congratulations to the player for bathing in the blood and brain of the Corpse Python and gaining attribute boosts - Strength +5, Constitution +7, Agility +2, Spirit +3."
Li Yu relaxed, released the long staff and discarded the Fish Gut Sword, lay back, and burst into laughter.