Yú Qīchí stared at Pàngzi's expression and then noticed that Wú Xié and Xiè Yǔchén beside him were also looking at her with terror.
What was behind her?
Holy crap!
It was definitely not something good.
Swallowing with difficulty, Yú Qīchí had two conflicting thoughts: should she turn back or keep running forward.
Wú Xié's hand was by his leg, and he hooked his fingers, trying hard to get her attention, wanting Yú Qīchí to come behind them.
She saw them, but it felt like countless eyes were staring at the back of her head.
It made her scalp tingle.
Her legs were too scared to move.
The Pheasant-necked snake on her wrist suddenly raised its head, emitting a hissing sound. There was an inexplicable sense of authority in its hiss, as if it were communicating with its companions.
"So this Pheasant-necked snake is the boss?"
Pàngzi exclaimed, pointing a finger at the Pheasant-necked snake in surprise. The next second, afraid of being bitten, he quickly retracted his hand and covered his mouth.
Because all the Pheasant-necked snakes behind Yú Qīchí bowed their heads in unison, as if kneeling in submission before a sovereign.
"Although Pheasant-necked snakes live in groups, there's no concept of one ruling over others. However, if one truly has sentience, who knows? In the animal kingdom, the strongest rules, just like with humans – the victor is king."
Hēi Xiāzi leaned against a large tree, idly twirling a small knife in his hand, but his gaze was fixed on Yú Qīchí and the group of Pheasant-necked snakes behind her.
Was it because of the snake, or because of the person, that they knelt like humans?
The person involved was still unaware.
This scene was much more complicated than Wú Sānshěng had planned.
But then again... it was normal.
He heard they had a child, though he had never seen them together.
"Who can explain this! I'm getting trypophobia, Mom, help!"
Yú Qīchí yelped and jumped almost a meter high, then turned and bolted, grabbing onto the nearest person.
Ā Níng's eyes flashed with a hint of a smile. She looked down at her arm being held by Yú Qīchí. Yú Qīchí wasn't afraid of a snake being so close, yet she was afraid of crowds.
But when her eyes met the snake's eyes on Yú Qīchí's wrist, an inexplicable fear washed over her. It was a profound dread, as if the Pheasant-necked snake would kill her.
"What if the snakes are spirits?"
There were so many of them; they wouldn't be enough to fill their bellies. Moreover, Pheasant-necked snakes needed people who weren't completely dead as incubation chambers for their eggs, how...
Yú Qīchí pouted and looked up at Zhāng Qǐlíng beside her.
Am I going to live or die? Can someone please say something?
"They don't seem to intend to attack. Running away is not an option, so we should observe the situation first," Wú Sānshěng said, glancing at Yú Qīchí. There was not a trace of calculation in his eyes.
Hēi Xiāzi happened to catch a fleeting look in Wú Sānshěng's eyes as he looked over.
But that look... it was easy to doubt if he had seen it correctly.
If I'm going to die, I'm going to die!
But I haven't touched real abs yet.
Yú Qīchí glanced at Zhāng Qǐlíng. Tsk, never mind, half dead is better than being bitten by a snake.
She then turned to Wú Xié. Still not right, haven't touched his head.
Xiè Yǔchén... he looks good-tempered, but he's actually not.
Hēi Xiāzi?
He's occasionally unserious, but he's considered a decent person.
To die with regrets is absolutely unacceptable. Otherwise, down there, you'll just be a lonely ghost, and frightening as well as unsightly.
So...
This is what happened.
Everyone stared at Yú Qīchí in unison, their eyes filled with disbelief, even Zhāng Qǐlíng's eyes showed a faint expression.
Hēi Xiāzi raised an eyebrow, and Wú Xié's eyes widened.
"Do you have eight of them? If so, can I touch them? I think you've worked too hard."
Her tone was too polite.
Yú Qīchí was asking Xiè Yǔchén, the only one who wouldn't talk too much and wouldn't resort to force for now.
"Are you stating your dying wish?"
After only a few days of interaction, Xiè Yǔchén had figured out her personality. With just this sentence, he could understand her thoughts.
It wasn't very surprising that Yú Qīchí would say this.
"Hua'er, can you fulfill my daydream?"
Hēi Xiāzi suddenly leaned in, reminding her, "It's the latter half of the night, it's dark."
"Go away. The latter half of the night is pretty much the daytime," Yú Qīchí said, standing on tiptoe to grab the hair on the back of Hēi Xiāzi's head and push down hard.
Hēi Xiāzi was blocking her from looking at Xiè Yǔchén.
Yú Qīchí raised an eyebrow, her eyes full of anticipation as she looked at Xiè Yǔchén, waiting for his reply.
"Is there a possibility that you won't die?"
"Then when you die, can I touch while it's still warm?"
"..." Xiè Yǔchén understood Wú Xié's pain.
Due to the Pheasant-necked snakes, Wú Xié didn't dare to laugh out loud. It felt like his appendix was about to burst from holding it in.
Where was the terrifying atmosphere? The onlookers were about to forget about the snakes.
Hēi Xiāzi really wanted to ask, 'Are you being polite?'
But the sincerity in Yú Qīchí's eyes was too bright, especially with the orange light from Pàngzi's flashlight shining beside her.
At this moment, the scene centered around Yú Qīchí and Xiè Yǔchén.
Around the tents, on the outskirts of the big trees.The snake group remained still, like the 'king turtle' Yú Qīchí had mentioned.
"I know!"
Everyone looked at her again.
Wú Sānshěng thought she might actually have something sensible to say, his gaze unwavering, his ears focused.
"This group of snakes must be possessed by a king turtle, that's why they're not moving."
Wú Xié's mouth twitched. He thought, what was I expecting?