Chapter 20: This snake packs a punch!

Chen Wuji strung five crows with grass rope, hung them on his waist, repaired the damaged traps, then set out again to search the mountains for animal tracks; he moved the free stone slabs one by one.

After working for over an hour, Chen Wuji added seven new trap sites.

Two were piercing traps for large game like wild boar; the rest were all simple snares.

After finishing, he went to the pond to have a look.

Probably because the pond's resources were never rich, after digging for two days he only saw two crabs today, and saw nothing else.

These two little things aren't even enough for him to take two bites.

Chen Wuji originally did not want to go upstream.

Although there is plenty of game upstream, tigers and leopards are active, making the danger level extremely high.

But now he has no choice but to go upstream.

When hungry he could tighten his belt and endure, but with less than seven or eight days' worth of tax left, it's a noose around his neck; even if tigers and leopards roam the summit, he must take the risk.

Along the clear small stream going upstream, Chen Wuji fortunately encountered several lost crabs, as well as several things that looked like forest frogs.

Chen Wuji's recognition of this thing is thanks to a joke from Northeastern old iron.

But he wasn't really sure what this thing actually was.

After all, this was truly the first time he had seen this thing alive.

Anyway, as long as it wasn't a toad, it was probably edible.

It is said that forest frogs have extraordinarily high nutritional value, and their oil is also good.

Unfortunately Chen Wuji didn't know how to prepare it; besides taking it home to stew in a pot, he couldn't think of a better use, so he would first offer it to the Five Visceras Temple and then see.

Besides crabs and forest frogs, Chen Wuji also saw many fish, but they were all tiny, finger‑thin trifles; he had no gear to catch such small fry, so he could only watch them play freely before his eyes.

Chen Wuji silently reminded himself to bring a few ground traps next time he went up the mountain.

These little fish may be pitifully small, but their numbers are really not few.

Soon, the gentle slope at the mountaintop was reached.

This platform of green grass and blooming flowers shining together is more like a gathering place for animals to meet and communicate.

At this time many animals were still drinking by the stream, and Chen Wuji also saw the Mountain God who could earn him hundreds of cash a day—the muntjac.

The Mountain God, worshipped with incense by the villagers of Xishan Village, had long forgotten yesterday's grief over losing his kin, strolling leisurely on the grass, completely content and at ease.

Chen Wuji crouched furtively, first surveyed the surroundings, confirmed there seemed to be no sign of tigers lurking, then quietly nocked an arrow.

Between the yellow weasel and the muntjac, he would rather point his Huo Huo Butcher Knife at the Mountain God.

This creature not only can be sold for money, it's also tasty.

The warped bow, after Chen Wuji repeatedly adjusted the shooting angle, finally let out a "peng" sound.

The sharp arrow, whistling through the air, flew far and plunged into the grass.

The muntjac he aimed at was roughly two steps away.

The muntjac with big, innocent, naive eyes lifted its head for a glance, its expression blank like a silly roe deer, then lowered its head to nibble the tender, lush green grass that looked delicious.

Chen Wuji: ……

If he wasn't mistaken, he had just been looked down upon by a muntjac.

Cold violence drives people crazier than real violence.

"I don't believe it; if you've got the ability, stay there and don't move." Chen Wuji grew angry, drew his bow again, and couldn't believe his aim could be off by such a margin for such a large target.

Aiming, adjusting, adjusting again…

Chen Wuji slowed his breathing, and at the moment the arrowhead aligned with the muntjac's neck, he suddenly released.

Thud!

The arrow firmly struck a bloody maw right before his eyes.

Chen Wuji was startled, jumped back two steps, and stared in shock at the huge python coiled on the stone; a sheaf of cold sweat broke out on his back.

Where did this dead thing just come from?

How could it make no sound at all!

Perhaps it was truly the Mountain God's blessing—no, rather the Mountain Lord's blessing.

If Chen Wuji had been just a moment later, the python would have surely snatched his head in one bite.

He was hiding under the stone, while the creature lay coiled on top of it; he had no inkling at all.

The python, in pain, thrashed its several‑meter‑long body violently; its huge, bucket‑sized head slammed against the stone, trying to dislodge the arrow that had pierced its lower jaw.

Chen Wuji casually pulled a crow from his waist, tossed it at the python to create a distraction, then swiftly drew his knife and leapt up, swinging the blade with both hands toward the spot about seven inches along the snake.

He knew the rule to strike a snake at seven inches, but wasn't sure if it applied equally to pythons.

Pfft!

The blade smoothly landed on the python's neck, but it felt like cutting rubber, with astonishing rebound and almost no killing power.

Chen Wuji's all‑out slash left only a tiny wound on the snake's body.

"Damn it, I still don't believe it." Chen Wuji hardened his heart and lunged again.

Snakes have now topped his list of things he loathes.

They make him more wary than tigers.

Having gone into the mountains only a few times, he has already been frightened by snakes twice.

Last time it was at least a harmless little cutie, but this time it leapt to a python as thick as a bucket; Chen Wuji suspects it could swallow a small child whole.

Pfft!

After two consecutive probes, Chen Wuji's heirloom Tetanus Blade finally struck the original mark again, one cut slicing through the python's thick hide.

But joy turned to sorrow; before he could celebrate, the python's tail swept him away, slamming him hard against a distant tree trunk.

The intense pain made Chen Wuji seriously think he was about to die; after catching his breath he felt as if all his ribs were broken, but only when the pain eased did he finally relax.

It seems he won't die, his bones aren't broken, it's just pure pain.

This little monster has tremendous strength.

Just then, Chen Wuji felt as if a solid iron sledgehammer had slammed into his body.

"Come on, keep going, you Old Chen, I've got you today!" Chen Wuji struggled to his feet again.

Fortunately his previous arrow had been aimed relatively well, piercing what was perhaps the python's weakest spot. And this guy seemed to have obsessive-compulsive tendencies; after sweeping Chen Wuji away with its tail, he didn't think to press the attack but continued trying to dislodge the arrow stuck in his mouth.

With an arrow crosswise in its mouth, the great beast's feeling was probably like a person having a thick fishbone stuck in the throat; before the bone could be removed, everything else could be set aside.

Chen Wuji shook his sore, burning shoulder and leapt onto the large rock again.

Now their positions were reversed, the snake below, him above.

"Die, you little idiot!"

Chen Wuji roared, gripping his knife with both hands, and launched himself downward!