Urgent! (Chapter 90)
Ye Sheng felt numb under the watchful eyes of countless snakes, causing cold sweat to trickle down her back.
These snakes stood taller than a person, with dark green scales covered in vivid patterns. Their heads were raised high, flicking their crimson tongues, ready to strike at any moment.
Ye Sheng silently observed, noting that even the snake heads were huge...
No wonder Han Weiwei was too terrified to even scream and frozen in place.
At this moment, Han Weiwei's eyes were wide open, her entire body trembling uncontrollably, her face as pale as a sheet. She barely managed to stay upright, afraid that collapsing would result in being overwhelmed by the snakes.
Given the current situation, Ye Sheng and Han Weiwei were surrounded by the snakes, separated from the camp by some distance.
Getting quick help seemed nearly impossible!
Moreover, it was uncertain whether the mercenaries would even come to their rescue.
The only good news was that the snakes were not attacking yet... but that could change at any moment.
If Ye Sheng were alone, she could simply activate her invisibility and have a good chance of escaping.
However, with Han Weiwei present and the people from the camp nearby, Ye Sheng couldn't just disappear into thin air... Even if she managed to escape the snakes, she would later face questioning from the others.
An incident on the first day of the convoy's journey—clearly, fate wasn't going to let her take it easy!
(╬￣皿 ￣)
"Help me... someone, please save me!"
Just as Ye Sheng was feeling exasperated, Han Weiwei, who recovered from the initial shock, started to cry for help in a small and a trembling voice.
If they weren't standing close together, Ye Sheng probably wouldn't have heard it at all.
Still, even though Han Weiwei's cries didn't provoke the snakes, Ye Sheng decided not to risk it. With help so far away, she chose to remain silent.
Not long ago, when Han Weiwei had rushed over to claim her territory, Ye Sheng thought she resembled a spoiled, arrogant rich girl. Now, it was confirmed!
Crying and trembling in the face of danger, she was even less like a wasteland survivor than Ye Sheng!
It really seemed like she was here on vacation!
Considering the convoy had hired a number of mercenaries and a Psychic Esper for protection, the journey's risks were minimized. It wasn't surprising Han Weiwei felt safe enough to come along for the ride.
After all, she had connections!
Not to mention, Han Weiwei often mentioned the name Ling Lan. Her reasons for joining the convoy probably had little to do with the actual trip.
But now, faced with danger, she had become a burden.
Ye Sheng didn't expect Han Weiwei to kill the snakes; she just hoped she wouldn't provoke them with her crying.
Standing motionless among the snakes, Han Weiwei seemed to give up, no longer calling for help. Instead, she spoke to Ye Sheng in a tone of despair, "Little Pota-... Ye Sheng, we're about to die. I regret so much!"
"If I had been braver and confessed to Ling Lan directly, I wouldn't be so miserable now. Damn it, it's all because my uncle stopped me!"
"I’m only 19; I don't want to die yet. Why isn't Ling Lan coming to save me?"
Even though Ye Sheng hadn't said a word, Han Weiwei kept talking fervently.
Ye Sheng couldn't help but feel exasperated. Was Han Weiwei really that obsessed with romance? Her uncle was trying to protect her from trouble.
After all, espers had special privileges and could kill ordinary people without consequence.
Angering them could be disastrous!
Ye Sheng decided to ignore Han Weiwei, maintaining her battle-ready stance and keeping an eye on the surrounding snakes... What was wrong with these snakes? Why weren't they attacking when she and Han Weiwei were just standing there?
"And these damn White ringed snakes, they hunt live prey for their mother snake to bite and devour. Wuwuwu, Ye Sheng, we're both going to be eaten by the mother snake!"
Compared to Ye Sheng, who had little knowledge about the wasteland, Han Weiwei, with her romantic obsessions, seemed to know quite a bit. Especially the name of the snakes surrounding them!
However, the mention of the mother snake gave Ye Sheng a bad feeling.
At this point, she couldn't worry about whether speaking would provoke the snakes. Ye Sheng quickly asked, "Han Weiwei, are the White ringed snakes poisonous? And what does the mother snake look like?"
"Of course they're poisonous; otherwise, my uncle and the others would have rescued us by now. Those cowardly mercenaries probably decided to stay put and protect the rest of the convoy. Wuwuwu, the mother snake in a group of White ringed snakes is much bigger, it's like..."
Before Han Weiwei could finish her complaint, she suddenly paused, followed by a piercing scream!
Her face was full of terror, and her violet eyes widened in shock.
Ye Sheng felt her ears ache but had no time to care. She immediately looked to the left.
A large white ringed red python, even taller than the surrounding snakes, was slithering towards them. Its orange-yellow eyes locked onto the two, and its crimson tongue flicked out, as if a mutated version of a monstrous serpent disaster was about to unfold.
Ye Sheng couldn't help but feel chills down her spine.
╥﹏╥
This huge snake could swallow her whole!
Where were the mercenaries from the camp? Why hadn't they come yet?
She felt anxious.
But soon, Ye Sheng realized it was better to rely on herself.
The mercenaries probably didn't want to rescue them.
Ye Sheng remembered the energy sword hanging at her waist... a gift from the mercenaries for saving them. Yesterday, she had found an energy stone with only 35 energy while hunting ducks, which she used to charge the energy sword halfway.
Although Ye Sheng wanted to use the crossbow to shoot the mother snake, being in such danger now was no time for that.
She could only fight desperately.
But these snakes were poisonous; one bite and she was done for!
Did this mean she would have to double her lucky points again?
Ugh... she hadn't even paid off the points she owed yet. Doubling the points again would put her debt over 3000, affecting the normal price recovery for weapons in the prize space.
As Ye Sheng worried about accumulating more debt, the people from the camp finally arrived.
However, the leader of the rescue team wasn't from the Blue Whale Mercenary Group; it was the Esper, Ling Lan.
Her short silver hair was tinged red by the setting sun, and her blue eyes were full of urgency as she ran towards them at high speed, followed by a group of mercenaries with stern faces.
It was clear the mercenaries didn't want to come.
If Ye Sheng were in their shoes, she wouldn't want to come either.
But as the one being rescued, she was very grateful.
Even Han Weiwei, who had been muttering about dying, found new hope. She looked at the approaching Ling Lan with hope, her voice trembling with excitement despite being scared by the mother snake.
"Ling..."
"Ye Sheng, don't move. I'm here to save you."
However, her joy was unrequited.
At this moment, Ye Sheng felt so embarrassed she could dig a Barbie castle with her toes and add a playground as a bonus.
Ahhh, if she had done anything wrong, let the law punish her, not leave her standing here.
However, considering her current "appeal" to espers, it made sense that Ling Lan was so concerned about her. Still, seeing Han Weiwei's heartbroken and despairing expression left Ye Sheng a bit frustrated.
If possible, she just wanted to mine and avoid any trouble.
Her little darling was waiting for her at home!
No flirting or romantic entanglements allowed!
As the camp's rescue approached, Ye Sheng felt bolder. She didn't want to rely on the lottery space every time she encountered danger; this time, she wanted to try handling it herself.
If she were unfortunately bitten and poisoned by the white ringed snakes, she could use the double-point lottery to save her life then.
For now...
With the mother snake's arrival, the White ringed snakes didn't seem to care if they moved. Moreover, Han Weiwei had mentioned that these snakes needed to keep their prey alive, so they wouldn't kill them immediately. Ye Sheng quickly took out her Super Intelligence Network wristwatch from her pocket.
After lighting up the screen, she activated an auxiliary function she had never tried before. It cost her 1,000 points from her account to use it, and she aimed it at the approaching mother snake.
The next second, a blue screen appeared before Ye Sheng, clearly displaying information about the mother snake.
[Whited Ringed Red Python (Female): Possesses the ability to lead and breed a snake colony, its size is more than ten times that of the male White ringed snake. It habitually strangles live prey or skewers them with its tail, then hollows out the prey's body cavity to store snake eggs, which will serve as food for the hatchlings.]
Ye Sheng quickly skimmed through the description, feeling a chill run down her spine. She suppressed her nausea and activated the vital point scan.
A blue screen hovering in mid-air showed an image of the White ringed snakes, with several red circles highlighting parts of its body. Ye Sheng noted that the heart was located near the lower abdomen of the snake.
The mutated creatures in the wasteland had undergone significant changes, and some animals' organs had shifted locations.
After memorizing the details, Ye Sheng quickly put away her wristwatch. She had spent points specifically for this vital point scan!
For extra security, Ye Sheng also took out the wish/ruyi storage bag.
She discreetly took out various attribute-boosting syringes from it.
Strength and speed boosters, both of which could be useful now. Ye Sheng gritted her teeth and injected two shots into her thigh.
The effects were immediate.
In what felt like the blink of an eye, Ye Sheng completed her preparations. She then took the crossbow from her waist, gripping it tightly. Just as Ling Lan and the mercenaries were about to arrive, the mother snake got there first.
The enormous mother snake stood up, seemingly blocking out all the sunlight.
Han Weiwei, transitioning from secret crush to heartbreak, hadn't had time to feel sad before the sight of the approaching mother snake made her legs go weak, and she fell to her knees. This caught the mother snake's attention, and it opened its mouth wide, revealing sharp, menacing fangs.
Its orange-yellow eyes locked onto the kneeling Han Weiwei, and its pointed tail straightened, as if ready to skewer them both.
Just as the mother snake was about to strike, Ye Sheng quickly took out a bottle of scent-masking powder from her bag and, with a heavy heart, smashed it on the ground.
The small bottle shattered with a 'pop,' releasing a large amount of powder into the air.
The powder Ye Sheng had bought from the swap shop yesterday wasn't the expensive colorless and odorless kind; it was a strong-smelling powder meant to mask scents and deter creatures like snakes and insects.
At this moment, Ye Sheng focused on the last point: making snakes and insects dislike the powder!
The powder, which could last a long time, now all used up, had some effect.
As the White ringed snakes swayed their bodies to quickly avoid the powder, and Han Weiwei became the target of the mother snake's attack, Ye Sheng took out her crossbow and shot an arrow at the mother snake's eye.
Even though Ye Sheng had decent accuracy in archery, she didn't think she could kill the snake with one shot.
She doubted she could even penetrate the mother snake's defense.
So, after firing the arrow, she quickly discarded the crossbow and immediately activated her energy sword.
Ye Sheng's heart was pounding, and sweat stung her eyes, but she couldn't worry about that now. If she didn't save herself, she and Han Weiwei would be doomed even if the rescue team arrived.
With the speed boost, her movements became light and agile, allowing her to dodge the snakes affected by the powder and swiftly attack the mother snake.
She only had one chance!
Even if she couldn't kill the mother snake, she had to make it stop attacking!
So, Ye Sheng mustered all her strength and charged forward. With Han Weiwei staring in shock and under the watchful eyes of the mercenaries, she thrust her energy sword into the heart area of the mother snake.
With the strength boost, she barely managed to pierce the snake's skin.
But it was only a shallow penetration.
Damn!
She had miscalculated.
This snake's skin was really thick!
? (°?°)?
Everything happened in an instant. Realizing she couldn't kill the mother snake, Ye Sheng quickly retreated, leaving the energy sword behind, and grabbed Han Weiwei by the collar, pulling her away.
While the mother snake was building up its rage, they had a moment to buy some time.
But if Han Weiwei stayed in place, she would surely meet a horrible end!
It was just a matter of convenience; after all, the rescue team was coming fast, and they just needed to hold on for a little longer.
In fact, that was the case. After Ye Sheng's diversion, Ling Lan arrived first.
With fierce blue eyes, she faced the mother snake without fear, charging forward like a sharp sword. To Ye Sheng and the others, the enormous and terrifying mother snake was like a helpless toy in Ling Lan's hands.
After a final, piercing screech from the mother snake, the snake colony became restless and charged.
However, Ling Lan, wielding a curved blade, showed no mercy and swiftly decapitated the mother snake.
The massive snake body collapsed to the ground, blood gushing from the wound. The snake colony scattered, with some attacking Ling Lan out of hatred and others targeting the remaining mercenaries.
A few snakes even pursued Ye Sheng and Han Weiwei, determined to bite them despite the mercenaries' attacks.
But with the Esper and mercenaries holding the front line, Ye Sheng felt much less pressure.
With the speed boost potion, she easily dodged the snakes and thought back to when Ling Lan attacked the mother snake. She had noticed the snake stiffen multiple times, allowing Ling Lan to treat it like a "toy."
The abrupt stiffness—was that a psychic attack?
She'd have to ask her little one when she got back!
Ye Sheng glanced enviously at the snake's corpse. She knew how tough the mother snake's skin was, having stabbed it herself. Yet, Ling Lan had effortlessly decapitated the snake.
It's truly disheartening to compare oneself to others! Abilities certainly make a difference.
After Ling Lan killed the mother snake, the snake swarm, now leaderless, was quickly handled. The entire incident, from start to finish, lasted only three or four minutes, leaving Ye Sheng stunned when she saw the time.
She had thought at least ten minutes had passed!
Perhaps this was the so-called feeling of "a moment lasting a year!"
(? _? )
The mercenaries from the Blue Whale Mercenary Group quickly cleaned up the remaining snakes. Without the threat of the mother snake, their stern expressions turned into grins.
The radiation-tainted but edible snake meat was highly nutritious, fetching up to 800 points per pound in the safe zone, with low-radiation snake meat being even more expensive!
However, in the wilderness, the meat couldn't be preserved for long, so they would have to eat it themselves.
But the processed snake bile could be preserved for a short time and sold later at the base.
It was even more valuable than snake meat!
Edible snakes were a treasure trove, but the reason the mercenaries initially hesitated to approach was due to the White ringed snakes' group attacks and the powerful mother snake leading them.
The mother snakes of the White ringed snakes were B-grade polluted creatures!
But now that an Esper had dealt with the mother snake, the remaining white ringed snakes were no threat!
They were all walking base points!
Initially, the Blue Whale Mercenary Group had sensed something was wrong. But upon realizing it was the white ringed snakes, they didn't want to cause trouble... After all, even though the convoy had a Esper, who knew if she would intervene?
She might only step in during life-or-death situations for the convoy.
She could easily turn a blind eye to other incidents.
So, even though these mercenaries could have taken down the mother snake, it would have come at a great cost.
To save two women?
Not worth it.
They were hired by the convoy, not risking their lives, and protecting the majority was the right thing to do.
So, only one kind-hearted mercenary suggested stopping, but they didn't assist, merely watching coldly.
They kept an eye out for the snake swarm.
However, when Ling Lan rushed over from another area and saw the women trapped in the snake swarm, she was so anxious that she disregarded the convoy and charged straight towards the snake swarm.
This left the Blue Whale Mercenary Group members exchanging looks, eventually deciding to follow the Esper to avoid incurring her wrath.
Seeing the enormous mother snake up close, the mercenaries felt a chill down their spines.
They weren't sure if the Esper could handle it.
The mercenaries, although part of the Blue Whale Mercenary Group, weren't from the elite units and hadn't worked with a psychic before. They'd only heard rumors of the incredible power of such individuals.
Seeing is believing, they thought.
Having never witnessed a esper in action, they were understandably nervous.
But when one esper could decapitate a B-grade mutant creature alone...
No wonder the official base authorities placed such high value on espers and kept strict control over them!
Seeing the brutal efficiency of that single beheading strike, they'd be scared too if they were in the shoes of their enemies!
Witnessing the esper's strength firsthand boosted their confidence for this expedition. At least they didn't have to worry about being wiped out by mutant creatures, and they might even gain some unexpected rewards.
Ling Lan, admired and feared by the mercenaries, looked down at the gruesome snakehead she held, before disdainfully dropping it to the ground. She wiped some snake blood from the corner of her eye, leaving a crimson streak on her beautiful face, giving her a battle-hardened yet beautiful look.
In reality, she had easily won the fight.
Her bright blue eyes sparkled as she looked towards Ye Sheng's direction, hastening her steps. Her silver wolf tail like hair swayed with her movements, and though the distance was short, Ling Lan's heart pounded so hard it felt like it might leap out of her chest.
If she had fallen for Ye Sheng at first sight, the recent battle only deepened her affection!
Unlike the delicate and pretentious ladies from noble families, she preferred someone like Ye Sheng, with her resilient and vibrant nature.
Not only did Ye Sheng possess a mysterious aura that drew her in, but even her action of stabbing the mother snake with the energy sword was something that made Ling Lan's heart race with admiration!
At that moment, Ye Sheng seemed to shine brightly.
As for not being able to kill the mother snake, that was understandable. Even the mercenaries couldn't take it down with one strike. Ye Sheng wasn't even a mercenary; the fact that she could act to save herself was already impressive.
This was the kind of girl who should be with her!
They could be lovers who faced life and death together.
As Ling Lan fantasized about their future wedding, Ye Sheng was suddenly reminded of the awkwardness earlier, making her want to escape!
Especially since Ling Lan was looking at her with such an intense gaze, making Ye Sheng very uncomfortable!
However, having just witnessed Ling Lan easily kill the mother snake, Ye Sheng didn't dare to offend her but also didn't want to be entangled with a psychic...
Ye Sheng quickly devised a plan.
While fleeing earlier, she had grabbed Han Weiwei, who was madly infatuated with Ling Lan and had regretted not confessing her feelings during the snake attack.
Hmm... now's the chance.
Girl, you must seize it!
Ye Sheng thought this and looked down at Han Weiwei, who was slumped on the ground. However, before she could give her an encouraging look, she noticed Han Weiwei blushing and staring intently at her, not even glancing at the approaching Ling Lan.
What?
Han Weiwei, why are you blushing?