Volume One: Planet of Ten Thousand Beasts Chapter 23: The Strange Serpent

Li Juxu could almost hear his bones creaking. Under the threat of death, a wave of desperate ferocity welled up within him. He slammed his mouth open and bit down hard onto the snake’s body. He channeled every ounce of his strength into the bite, so much so that the muscles in his cheeks ached. The snake, stung by the pain, began to thrash violently. As its strength surged, Li Juxu’s vision went dark, and he nearly lost consciousness.

The stimulation of the sharp pain triggered a new reserve of strength within him. He bit down even harder. A surge of warmth flooded his mouth; he had broken the skin. A warm, viscous liquid flowed into his throat—snake blood. He dared not let go. He swallowed the blood, no longer caring whether it was venomous. As long as the snake released its grip, he would swallow anything, even its flesh, to survive.

Man and snake locked in a stalemate. The serpent sought to crush the life out of him, while he fought to bite the creature in two. It became a test of endurance.

The snake had no expression, making it impossible to gauge its intentions, but Li Juxu knew his own situation was dire. He was reaching his limit. His neck was constricted, cutting off his air, and his bones felt as though they were about to shatter. He was thankful for the thick clothing he wore to ward off insects, and for the bulletproof vest beneath it, which provided a vital cushion against the snake’s constricting force. Without it, his body would likely have been twisted into a knot.

Just as his consciousness began to blur, he sensed a subtle weakening in the pressure around his body. A sudden clarity returned to him; the snake was reaching its limit, too. This realization reignited his hope. He grit his teeth and held on, his chest heaving with a thunderous, pounding rhythm. Seconds ticked by. The snake’s strength waned further. When he finally gasped in a breath of fresh air, he knew he had won.

There was no more blood flowing into his mouth, but he still dared not release his grip. Only when the snake’s body hung limp and lifeless did he finally let go, gasping for air. His entire body felt weak and wracked with intense pain, yet the joy in his heart eclipsed the agony—a sensation beyond words.

He wanted to cast the snake aside, but discovered his hands were frozen into claws from the exertion. He couldn't control them. He decided to abandon the thought for the moment and focus on catching his breath, but drifting into a daze, he fell asleep. When he finally jolted awake, it was already daylight, and he heard the voice of Black-Headed Bee sounding relieved.

"You're finally awake!"

"What happened?" Li Juxu asked vaguely, his mind still sluggish from sleep. Black-Headed Bee walked over, examined his complexion closely, and breathed a sigh of relief.

"Good, you weren't poisoned!"

"How long have I been asleep?" Li Juxu began to piece things together.

"It's about two in the afternoon," Black-Headed Bee said.

"I’ve been asleep for nearly twenty hours?" Li Juxu was shocked.

"It’s fine as long as you're okay. Do you remember what happened last night?" Black-Headed Bee asked.

"A snake suddenly attacked—" Li Juxu looked down and found he was still clutching the snake firmly. It was long dead, its body already cold. Only now did he get a clear look at it. He wasn't a snake expert, but the most striking feature was the pattern on its back, which resembled a pair of eyes. Otherwise, it was much like any other snake: as thick as an arm and nearly three meters long.

"This thing was incredibly strong. It constricted me instantly. I had no choice but to bite it. I was lucky enough to kill it first, or else you’d be looking at my corpse right now. What kind of snake is this? It’s not huge, but its strength is terrifying!" Even now, the memory made his heart race.

"I don't know. I don't recognize it, but it’s certainly a venomous snake, and a highly toxic one at that," Black-Headed Bee said.

"Did I pass out?" Li Juxu asked.

"When I woke up, I found you asleep. No matter how I called you, you wouldn't wake up. At first, I thought you had been bitten, but I checked and found no wounds. I suspect it was the snake blood you swallowed. I’m glad you woke up; otherwise, I would have had to carry you back. How are you feeling now?"

"I think I'm fine." Li Juxu stood up and jumped twice. He felt nothing abnormal; the pain had subsided. He only regretted that his helmet was broken. He hadn't felt bold enough to take Lynx's spare helmet yesterday—his skin wasn't thick enough for that.

"Good. If anything had happened to you, I would have felt guilty for the rest of my life," Black-Headed Bee said with a hint of shame. He must have been exhausted yesterday; he was usually very alert. He hadn't noticed Li Juxu struggling with the snake for so long because he had been in such a deep sleep. If the snake had won, it wouldn't have been just one life lost.

"I wonder how the others are doing?" Li Juxu said. This place was too dangerous, and he had no desire to linger.

"I heard gunfire and explosions to the southeast this morning. They might have run into trouble," Black-Headed Bee said.

Li Juxu understood. If he hadn't been a burden, Black-Headed Bee would likely have gone to investigate. While moving at night was difficult, rescuing team members in danger during the day was a necessity.

"Eat something first!" Black-Headed Bee urged.

Li Juxu reached for his food instinctively, but as he put it in his mouth, he realized he wasn't hungry at all. He hadn't eaten for over twenty hours, yet he felt no hunger. Did the human metabolism stop when one was unconscious?

"What's wrong?" Black-Headed Bee noticed his strange expression.

"I was just wondering if there’s any other way. Searching like this is like looking for a needle in a haystack; the odds are too low." Li Juxu changed the subject.

"Everyone thinks the same." Black-Headed Bee’s subtext was clear: if there were a better way, they would have used it already, rather than waiting until now.

"The insects seem fewer today, don't they?" Li Juxu remarked while chewing. He suddenly realized that no bugs were attempting to land on his face.

"It’s because of that!" Black-Headed Bee pointed to the snake carcass.

"Huh?" Li Juxu looked at him, confused.

"Snakes are miraculous creatures. They emit a scent that makes insects afraid. We humans can't smell it, but insects are highly sensitive to it. The more potent the venomous snake, the stronger this scent. I recall hearing that ancient people would hunt pythons and keep their skins in their rooms; it would keep the insects away all summer. You haven't been bitten because of this snake’s body," Black-Headed Bee explained.

"It has that effect?" Li Juxu was pleasantly surprised. He had dropped the carcass at his feet, but upon hearing this, he immediately picked it up. This was a useful trait—it would allow him to move through the forest unhindered.

"Your helmet visor is broken, and we have a day and a half left. Use the snake body to protect yourself; it won't rot in just a day or two," Black-Headed Bee suggested.

Li Juxu ate a little, and the two continued their search for the Red-Spotted Crown Spider. Li Juxu draped the snake carcass around his neck and wrapped it around his waist, tying it in place. It fit perfectly, like a serpentine accessory. The snake weighed about twenty-five pounds, which wouldn't hinder his movement too much.

Sure enough, as Black-Headed Bee had predicted, with the snake carcass on him, not a single mosquito dared to come close. Everywhere he went, insects scattered. Even the Gray-Spotted Crown Spiders kept their distance. Black-Headed Bee marveled at this, as he knew spiders usually sensed prey through vibrations, not scent. But it was a welcome development—it significantly reduced the threat posed by the insects.

"Hmm?" Li Juxu suddenly stopped in his tracks.