Peng Fei aimed his gun at the giant python with his right hand, while secretly pulling a sweet potato grenade from his waist with his left. If the python attacked them, Peng Fei was confident that he could throw the grenade into its mouth when it opened its jaws.
"Awooo..."
The atmosphere suddenly became tense. Just as the two sides were about to clash, a gorilla roar suddenly rang out from beside the giant python. Immediately afterwards, a gorilla crawled up to Zhuang Rui's side, using both hands and feet to grab onto the vines.
"Silverback?"
Zhuang Rui recognized him; he was the original leader of the group of gorillas.
"Waaaah, ooh..."
The silverback ignored Zhuang Rui, instead waving its arms and growling at the giant python. Its expression didn't resemble that of a natural enemy meeting; rather, it seemed to be communicating with the giant python.
That's right, it was communication. The silverback gorilla pointed at King Kong one moment, and then at Zhuang Rui and Peng Fei the next, making whimpering sounds that the two of them couldn't understand, as if it were introducing guests to the giant python.
Moreover, this communication seemed to have an effect; at least Zhuang Rui and Peng Fei felt that the murderous intent directed at them seemed to have subsided.
Their guesses proved correct, as the enormous python head slowly rose and disappeared into the darkness in the blink of an eye. If it weren't for the fact that Zhuang Rui and Peng Fei's clothes were completely soaked with sweat, it would have seemed as if nothing had ever happened.
"No, if we can't completely eliminate the giant python's hostility, we won't be able to enter this castle..."
With a thought, Zhuang Rui took advantage of the silverback gorilla blocking his way and used his spiritual energy to chase after the giant python that had just disappeared into the top of the castle. In an instant, he sensed that faint life force.
A rich spiritual energy seeped into the giant python's scaly skin. In that instant, Zhuang Rui's heart leaped into his throat. If he misjudged the situation, he would be digging his own grave.
Just as the spiritual energy entered the snake's body, Zhuang Rui clearly "saw" the giant python, which had already retreated back into the castle, suddenly jolt.
Before Zhuang Rui could even groan inwardly, the giant python had already crawled back the way it came. Before Peng Fei could react, the enormous python head was already in front of Zhuang Rui.
By the time Peng Fei reacted, the giant python had already gently pushed aside the silverback gorilla blocking Zhuang Rui's way with its head. Its two bulbous eyes stared intently at Zhuang Rui. Although the python didn't open its mouth, the stench was so strong that Zhuang Rui almost fainted.
At this moment, the giant python's body was revealed. Behind its millstone-sized head, its body was more than a meter thick and covered with dark brown scales, somewhat resembling a dragon from Chinese mythology.
No one knew exactly how long the giant python was, hanging upside down from the castle, but from what Zhuang Rui could see, it was already more than ten meters long.
"Peng Fei, don't shoot..."
Zhuang Rui shouted to stop Peng Fei's actions, because he could sense that the giant python meant no harm.
While increasing the output of spiritual energy, Zhuang Rui slowly raised his right hand and touched the head of the giant python with a trembling hand. The cold scales made Zhuang Rui feel an intense stimulation like being in the highest heavens.
Chapter 1261 Prehistoric Crocodile
"This must be the largest python on Earth..."
Touching the python's scales, Zhuang Rui's heart was not completely at ease. He knew that snakes were known as cold-blooded animals, and if one of them opened its mouth and bit him, it would be a rather unjust death.
Fortunately, the giant python seemed to enjoy Zhuang Rui's caresses and showed no signs of suddenly attacking. However, the stench emanating from its nostrils was somewhat unbearable for Zhuang Rui.
"Alright, go back and rest. Don't hurt my companions..."
Zhuang Rui tried to communicate with the giant python, but he had no confidence that the python could understand him like the white lion could, since he rarely came into contact with this type of species.
"Hiss..."
Upon hearing Zhuang Rui's words, the giant python suddenly spat out its red tongue, and a foul-smelling liquid licked Zhuang Rui's body. Poor Zhuang Rui didn't know what the giant python meant, and stood there without daring to move.
When the snake's tongue touched Zhuang Rui's clothes, Zhuang Rui's entire body stiffened, and his heart was beating more than twice as fast as usual. He really couldn't understand how the python was greeting humans.
Zhuang Rui used to enjoy the white lion's tongue affectionate touch, but after the python's experience, he vowed never to let any animal's tongue lick him again; the smell was just too damn awful.
After licking Zhuang Rui with its tongue, the giant python nodded at him, then rose into the air and disappeared into the dense vines in an instant.
Zhuang Rui sensed the spiritual energy he was following, and the giant python's enormous body was curled up in a spacious hall inside the castle.
"Brother Zhuang, are you alright?"
After the giant python left, Peng Fei grabbed Zhuang Rui, completely ignoring the stench. If it weren't for Zhuang Rui, he would have almost fired at the python's head.
"It's alright. Luckily, this guy didn't vomit stomach acid, otherwise, I'd probably be in the same boat as these skeletons..."
Although he said he was fine, Zhuang Rui knew that his clothes were completely soaked. If you weren't there in person, it would be hard to understand the intense stimulation he had just experienced.
Only after the giant python left did Zhuang Rui finally relax. At least he now knew that spiritual energy had an effect on cold-blooded animals; otherwise, he would have already become the python's food.
"I need to take a shower, I smell awful..."
The stench emanating from him was unbearable for Zhuang Rui. Just as he lifted his foot to walk towards the lake, his legs suddenly gave way and he collapsed to the ground.
At this moment, Zhuang Rui's behavior was like that of a normal person. Peng Fei smiled and reached out to help Zhuang Rui, saying, "Brother Zhuang, you can be scared too?"
"Get out of the way..."
Zhuang Rui swatted Peng Fei's hand away and said irritably, "Don't pull me, your legs are still weak. Let me rest. And don't talk nonsense. Try being kissed by that python yourself. If you can still stand, I'll call you 'brother' from now on..."
Zhuang Rui's words made Peng Fei nod with lingering fear. If that giant python had opened its mouth towards him, Peng Fei would definitely have thrown a grenade inside.
After sitting on the ground for a while, Zhuang Rui finally stood up, leaning on the vines on the city wall. It was fortunate that it was him; if it were someone else, they would probably have been scared out of their wits.
After regaining his senses, Zhuang Rui just wanted to wash himself thoroughly in the lake. The stench all over him was unbearable. The thought that the bones on the ground were spat out by the giant python sent chills down Zhuang Rui's spine.
"Awoooooo..."
Just as Zhuang Rui was about ten meters away from the lake, the silverback gorilla that had been blocking his way suddenly jumped out, grabbed Zhuang Rui's clothes, and growled incessantly.
Although the silverback gorilla was still as ugly as before, its actions just now made Zhuang Rui no longer feel that way when he looked at it. Now that the silverback was tugging at his clothes, Zhuang Rui couldn't help but laugh and say, "Silverback, I need to go wash up. I smell terrible. If I don't wash up, I'll be suffocated by the stench..."
"Ouch..."
Upon hearing Zhuang Rui's words, King Kong also ran over and gently pushed Silverback with its hand, signaling it to release Zhuang Rui.
Even when King Kong came over, Silverback still clung tightly to Zhuang Rui's camouflage uniform, refusing to let go no matter what. With his other hand, he pointed at the lake, making gestures and opening his mouth wide, making a threatening gesture towards Zhuang Rui.
"Huh? Silverback, what's going on?"
Seeing Silverback's behavior, Zhuang Rui couldn't help but feel a little strange. Recalling that none of the gorillas seemed to have walked along the lake when they returned to the castle, a thought struck him. He pointed to the lake ahead and said, "Silverback, is there a monster in that lake? A man-eating monster?"
Zhuang Rui hadn't spent much time with Silverback, and fearing Silverback wouldn't understand him, he mimicked its bared teeth and gestures.
"Waaaah, ooh..."
Upon hearing Zhuang Rui's words, Silverback nodded repeatedly, released Zhuang Rui's clothes, and drew circles in front of him with both hands to indicate that there was a big guy hiding in the lake.
"Alright, let's not wash anymore, let's go back first..."
Having already been terrified by the giant python, Zhuang Rui didn't want to encounter any more monsters. He immediately turned and headed towards the castle. If there was a creature like a giant python, who knew what terrifying creatures might be lurking underwater?
"Brother Zhuang, what's wrong?"
Seeing Zhuang Rui turn back, Peng Fei couldn't help but ask curiously.
Zhuang Rui shook his head and pointed at the silverback, saying, "This guy won't let me go to the lake. I bet there's some kind of monster in the lake..."
"Well, so what if it smells a bit? It's better than having to take a shower and dying..."
Peng Fei nodded. What had happened today had completely overturned his understanding. Just like Zhuang Rui thought, if there were creatures like giant pythons in this primeval forest, who knows what kind of monsters might be in the lake?
"Brother Zhuang, shall we skip going in? Let's just sleep here for the night..."
Seeing Zhuang Rui grabbing onto the vines and trying to climb inside, Peng Fei couldn't help but say something. Thinking of the giant python inside the castle, Peng Fei was very reluctant to enter the castle. Living with a giant python would put immense psychological pressure on him.
"Okay, let's eat something first..."
Zhuang Rui nodded in agreement. He also wanted to take this opportunity to observe the lake and see what kind of creatures were in it that would frighten the silverbacks that had lived there for so long.
To avoid provoking the giant python inside the castle, Peng Fei didn't take out the vacuum-packed beef. Instead, he grabbed two rice balls that didn't have much flavor and started eating them without even bothering with any other dishes.
It was already past nine o'clock at night, and there were more stars in the sky. Even without glow sticks, one could see more than ten meters away by the light of the moon and stars.
With a rice ball in his mouth, Zhuang Rui's gaze was fixed on the lake surface, which seemed to be covered with a layer of silver light. The fish in the water seemed to have entered a dream. The lake surface was very calm, without a ripple.
When Zhuang Rui's spiritual energy flowed into the lake, he discovered a colorful world. Fish of different sizes and colors were swimming among the aquatic plants at the bottom of the lake, and groups of fish were blowing bubbles on the surface of the water.
"Hmm? Seems like there aren't any big guys around?"
After carefully searching the bottom of the lake, Zhuang Rui frowned. Apart from the fact that the lake was hundreds of meters deep in the center, there was nothing special about it, and there was no monster as he had imagined.
"Huh? What's that boat? It doesn't look like a boat. Oh my god!" When Zhuang Rui withdrew his spiritual energy from the bottom of the lake, he inadvertently discovered a huge, boat-shaped object in the middle of the lake. However, after Zhuang Rui examined it closely, he couldn't help but gasp, and he didn't even realize that the rice ball he was holding had fallen to the ground.
"Brother Zhuang, what's wrong?"
Peng Fei reached out and picked up the rice ball from the ground, blowing off the dust. He didn't bring many of these, but he didn't want to waste them.
Just as Zhuang Rui was about to speak, he noticed that the "boat" in the middle of the lake seemed to be moving towards the castle. He couldn't help but shudder, grabbed Peng Fei, and said, "We'll talk about it later, let's go... let's go into the castle..."
"Hey, hey, Brother Zhuang, these rice balls have fallen on the ground..."
Suddenly pulled by Zhuang Rui, the rice ball he had just picked up fell back into his hand. Peng Fei was far weaker than Zhuang Rui, and was dragged up to the castle, which was more than five meters high, as if he were being lifted up like a chick.
Once they reached the top of the castle, Peng Fei forcefully broke free from Zhuang Rui's grasp and exclaimed in confusion, "What are you doing, Brother Zhuang? All the supplies I brought are in the pack down below. Besides, I'm not sleeping in the castle. What if that guy swallows us up in the middle of the night?"
"What kind of supplies do you need? Don't talk, look over there..."
Zhuang Rui covered Peng Fei's mouth with his hand and then pointed to the edge of the lake.
On a bright, moonlit night, with the glow of glow sticks, the lake surface more than 30 meters away was clearly visible. Peng Fei followed Zhuang Rui's finger and saw a scene he would never forget.
A ripple more than twenty meters long suddenly appeared on the shore of the lake, and then a huge body broke through the water and silently climbed onto the shore covered with bluestone slabs.
If you hadn't seen it with your own eyes, it would be hard to imagine that this creature, despite its enormous size, was incredibly agile. When it climbed ashore, there was only a slight splashing sound, and no other noise.
"Damn it, have we wandered into the Jurassic period? There are dinosaurs everywhere..."
Peng Fei stared wide-eyed in disbelief, stammering as he spoke.
Zhuang Rui unconsciously slid down towards the bottom of the castle behind him and said, "Not a dinosaur, but close enough. That was a prehistoric giant crocodile."
Chapter 1262 Prehistoric Crocodile
"A prehistoric giant crocodile? Wait, it really is a crocodile."
By this time, the monster in the lake had completely climbed ashore, its enormous body fully revealed under the moonlight and starlight.
This creature, which Zhuang Rui called a prehistoric giant crocodile, had a long jaw that was about three meters long. Its sharp, cone-shaped teeth, like short swords, protruded from its mouth. Its eyes were even larger than those of the giant python, like two lanterns, emitting a faint glow in the night.
Looking at the giant crocodile, which was at least twenty meters long and covered with protrusions the size of footballs, like armor, Peng Fei couldn't help but curse, "Damn it, this...this is even bigger than a dinosaur..."
"Dinosaurs? Dinosaurs would probably avoid it..."
Zhuang Rui pursed his lips. Although he was not a paleontologist, he enjoyed watching science and education channels. The moment he saw the giant crocodile, he recognized its origin.