As Long Cheng and the others returned, Li Ya anxiously put the question to them.

A number of wild beasts were still swarming around, tearing at the chunks of meat on the ground, but the more that came, the more perished. Fortunately, the beasts arriving now were not very large and posed no threat to the group.

"Big! So big! A truly enormous python!"

Chang Feng patted his chest lightly, the terrifying sight he had just witnessed still vivid in his mind.

Such a massive snake head—Chang Feng had always assumed things seen in movies were fabricated, never imagining that something this immense could exist in reality. It was utterly terrifying.

"I know it was a python. I’m asking specifically what you saw," Li Ya pressed, concern lacing his voice.

He wanted to know the details of the python’s appearance, as all he had so far were vague notions, having not seen the head himself.

"If you want to know what it looked like, go see for yourself!"

Huang Hai shook his head with a bitter smile. He had just been utterly humiliated; the sight of that colossal snake head had nearly made him wet himself.

Long Cheng had to practically support him back, and even now, his heart was hammering against his ribs.

"Let's go take a look!"

Seeing Li Ya still hesitating, several members of the local defense team accompanying Mayor Wang spoke up together.

Wild beasts were still feasting near the python, and none of the survivors paid them any mind; they all understood these animals wouldn't be around for much longer.

The meat of the dead beasts was inedible, but their hides could be useful; they would be able to collect another batch later.

Mayor Wang hesitated for a moment before stepping out as well. Those carrying the elk lowered their burden and followed him.

They couldn't abandon the elk; among all the spoils, it was the only source of food. Wu Zhiguo was already planning to prepare a grand venison feast upon their return.

"Oh, heavens!"

"My God!"

As soon as they approached, several defense team members let out sharp cries. The Golden Crown Python had died a gruesome death, and its head was especially horrifying.

The less courageous ones immediately scrambled back, crawling away in a state of utter panic, their bodies still trembling, already regretting having gone to look. That massive snake head would likely haunt their nightmares for years to come.

Mayor Wang, however, remained composed. He stared intently at the gigantic head. Mustering his courage, he led two of the bolder defense members closer to examine it thoroughly.

The more he looked, the more shocked he became. After a short while, he led his men back.

When he returned, his face was still somewhat pale.

"Mayor Wang, how was it? What exactly did it look like?"

Li Ya urgently asked again. He dared not approach, yet his curiosity was a torment. Since Huang Hai and Chang Feng wouldn't elaborate, he could only appeal to the Mayor.

"This python, this python was killed by someone. I saw knife marks, and I saw where the fangs were torn out!"

Mayor Wang took a few deep breaths before speaking slowly. His greater experience allowed him to discern numerous cuts on the python's head, leading him to conclude it had been slain by human hands.

"What? Killed by someone?"

Li Ya gasped in disbelief and glanced back at the behemoth.

For someone to kill something this enormous—and Mayor Wang mentioned knife wounds—the sheer act of using blades against such a massive serpent was beyond Li Ya's comprehension.

He failed to notice that as they spoke, Long Cheng’s body twitched again slightly.

Long Cheng cautiously retrieved something he had hidden, glanced at it quickly, and then swiftly tucked it away again.

Afterward, he looked up at Zhang Yang, his eyes filled with intense fear.

What he had picked up and hidden was a small strip of torn cloth. A scrap of fabric was common, but finding it near the corpse of this giant python was highly irregular.

This was the primal forest. Unless they were fools simply trying to fill their bellies, no one came this deep. The townspeople never ventured into the dense mountains for hunting; it was far too perilous. Yet, here was a scrap of cloth, proving that someone else had been here recently and left it behind.

Even more unsettling was that this scrap looked strikingly similar to the material of the clothes Zhang Yang had worn the day before—the same high-quality fabric. Long Cheng recognized such material, as Zhang Yang’s clothes, apart from those gifted by Mi Xue, were generally of considerable value.

The massive python carcass, coupled with cloth fragments resembling Zhang Yang's attire, sparked a bold, terrifying hypothesis in Long Cheng's mind.

Yesterday, when they entered, Zhang Yang had discovered the giant python and urged them to leave. Then, after returning to camp, Zhang Yang must have sneaked back here at night to fight the behemoth, ultimately killing it and even taking its fangs.

Mayor Wang had only noticed the broken teeth; he couldn't discern what had been sliced away by the knife wounds on the Golden Crown Python’s head. Being an ordinary man, he wouldn't recognize the species.

It must have been during the battle that Zhang Yang left behind a piece of his own clothing. The area Zhang Yang had forbidden them from entering yesterday, he permitted them access to today because he knew the danger was gone—he had eliminated it.

This realization sent a chill of dread through Long Cheng. Faced with a snake this size, he couldn't even contemplate fighting it; he’d probably fail to escape. The fact that Zhang Yang could vanquish it made Zhang Yang’s strength seem terrifyingly absolute to him.

This calculation hadn't even factored in the fact that this giant snake was a Spirit Beast. If Long Cheng knew it was a Golden Crown Python, and worse, a Five-Crowned Golden Crown Python, his shock would have been far greater.

However, killing the Golden Crown Python wasn't entirely Zhang Yang's doing; the whole group had contributed.

Even Wuying played an essential role. Without Wuying, they would all have been poisoned to death by the Golden Crown Python’s toxic mist. Anyone who saw Long Feng at that time could gauge the potency of that venom. If that had happened, it would have been their corpses that the current swarm of beasts was devouring today.

The returning group continued to cry out, each person clearly traumatized.

More dead beasts littered the ground, attracting a steady stream of newcomers.

Li Ya called out in agitation, desperate to know what they had seen, yet too afraid to approach himself.

"Zhang Yang, Zhan Tao, can you two accompany me for a look? Just one glance, one quick look, and we’ll come right back!"

Li Ya suddenly turned around. Most of the others had gone to see; only a few remained who hadn't witnessed the scene.

Long Feng was Zhang Yang’s bodyguard—a dense, quiet man who rarely spoke, so Li Ya didn’t bother asking him.

Wu Zhiguo was still vomiting uncontrollably; he wouldn't go even if threatened, so there was no point in asking him either.

The only ones who might accompany him were Zhang Yang and Su Zhantao. As for Yang Ling, she was still huddled on the ground, too frightened to move.

"I'm not going. If you want to go, go by yourself. Don't drag me along!"

Li Ya gritted his teeth and resorted to bribery, directly tempting Su Zhantao. Su Zhantao’s network company was doing reasonably well, having appreciated significantly, which gave him considerable confidence. This was the golden age of the internet, and Li Ya harbored the long-held dream of building his own company into a massive portal like Yahoo, complete with capital infusion and an IPO.

Li Ya’s words struck a nerve.

"I'll go, but Zhang Yang has to come too!"

Su Zhantao clenched his jaw. For the sake of his company, he agreed to accompany Li Ya to see this sight that had driven everyone else into a frenzy. Truthfully, curiosity gnawed at him as well.

Li Ya immediately turned to Zhang Yang. Since Zhang Yang hadn't founded a company and possessed valuable medical skills and wealth, Li Ya had no clear way to tempt him and could only look at him with pleading eyes.

Su Zhantao also looked toward Zhang Yang. His desire for Zhang Yang to accompany them was rooted deeper. Zhang Yang was rumored to be a martial arts master; having him nearby would ensure a minimum level of safety. With so many wild beasts roaming, who knew if one might suddenly go mad and attack? Zhang Yang’s presence was an invaluable shield.

"Fine, I’ll go with you two to take a look," Zhang Yang conceded with a slight nod of helplessness. He had viewed this Golden Crown Python countless times; its tragic state was entirely his doing. But he couldn't bear to disappoint his friends, and a short trip would be no bother. Zhang Yang was always generous toward true friends.

With Zhang Yang accompanying them, Su Zhantao's confidence instantly swelled. After reassuring Yang Ling with a few words, he, Zhang Yang, and Li Ya began walking slowly forward. He gripped his hunting rifle tightly; currently, only that weapon offered him any measure of courage and security.

Finally, the three stood directly opposite the Golden Crown Python. Li Ya stood there foolishly, completely frozen. His legs trembled ceaselessly, and his entire body felt on the verge of collapsing. He finally understood Huang Hai's earlier sensation—why Huang Hai had been forced to sit on the ground.

Su Zhantao fared even worse. After just one look, he squeezed his eyes shut and buried his face in Zhang Yang’s shoulder, daring not to look again. To continue staring, he knew, would guarantee nightmares.

"Z-Zhang Yang, let's go back," Li Ya pleaded, his face ashen. He couldn't bear to look at the terrifying snake head any longer and only wished to retreat. However, at this moment, he lacked the strength to even move his feet.

"Jee-jee-jee!"

Just as Zhang Yang was about to agree, Wuying suddenly chirped and scrambled off Zhang Yang’s body, crawling straight toward the head of the Golden//Book Fan Tower fastest text update.

Before the Golden Crown Python's head, Wuying cried out repeatedly, though no one could decipher its meaning. Zhang Yang, having achieved a degree of communion with Wuying, sensed something.

Wuying felt a profound sorrow, a grief stemming purely from the python being a Spirit Beast. It could not bear to see the Golden Crown Python suffer such a degrading fate in death. If Lightning were awake, it would show similar distress. The Golden Crown Python was no longer their enemy; it was merely a deceased Spirit Beast. Spirit Beasts possessed a certain dignity that should not be profaned by common wild animals.

"You want to... bury it?"

After a moment, Zhang Yang slowly walked closer and asked softly. This was a guess, inferred through feeling. If Lightning were present, he would have understood instantly.

Su Zhantao, trailing close behind Zhang Yang, nearly fainted upon hearing the question. Such a monstrous, terrifying creature—dead was dead—and now someone wanted to bury it? He wondered if Zhang Yang had lost his mind or if the man had simply gone insane. In any case, he wanted to be as far away from this spot as possible, unwilling to linger a second longer.

………… Second update not finished, stay tuned. Book Network