239: Danger, Cave Ghost Python
Hearing Su Ningyu's grumbling.
Xu Jingyu sat not far away, his attention not on those boisterous classmates.
His gaze passed through the light of the campfire and fell on that quiet figure in the crowd.
Specifically, on Lu Yitang, who had just spoken up for him.
Lu Yitang did not participate in the liveliness.
She just sat quietly at the edge of the camp, holding a cup of some unknown drink, her gaze blankly staring into the distant darkness.
"Who knows."
Xu Jingyu withdrew his gaze, his tone indifferent. "Maybe they think they're strong enough."
Su Ningyu glanced at him, then looked at the group of people opposite them.
He decided to part ways with Xu Jingyu after tonight.
Staying with this group, one didn't even need to think to know they would all be dead weight.
Xu Jingyu kept paying attention to his female classmate.
That single glance from the other party made Su Ningyu even more determined in his plan.
What if this guy got him dragged into trouble because of his classmates?
Su Ningyu was certain that if this woman was in danger and Xu Jingyu couldn't solve it himself, he would absolutely drag Su Ningyu down with him.
He released Lucky Frog and let it squat on the perimeter of the camp.
Lucky Frog's [Evil Chihuahua] talent was the best early warning System.
Any presence with ill intent or hostility approaching would immediately trigger "Mental Pollution."
Lucky Frog hopped onto a rock.
Its amber eyes shimmered in the darkness, and its ears were pricked, staying alert to any movement in the surroundings at all times.
Su Ningyu closed his eyes, preparing to rest.
However, he didn't sleep for long.
The danger he had envisioned finally occurred.
It could only be said that some things shouldn't be thought about, or they would surely come true.
"Ah—!"
A shrill scream pierced the night sky of the Gloomy Forest.
Su Ningyu snapped his eyes open.
Coal Ball also instantly sprang up from its prone position, its tail fluffing out behind it.
Lucky Frog's amber eyes suddenly lit up, its body lowering slightly as it entered a combat stance.
"What happened?"
Xu Jingyu woke up from his light sleep, his hand already pressed against his beast taming codex.
On the opposite side of the lake, Shan Yu's camp had already turned into a chaotic mess.
The campfire was kicked over, sparks flying everywhere, igniting a nearby tent.
Several girls screamed as they scattered and fled.
The boys scrambled to summon their beasts.
But their movements were noticeably sluggish.
Su Ningyu stood up, his gaze crossing the lake's surface toward the source of the chaos.
His sleepiness completely vanished at this moment.
Not because of those people's panic, but because he felt something approaching.
A decaying energy fluctuation, carrying the scent of damp earth and making one instinctively feel uneasy, was slowly seeping up from deep underground.
Coal Ball let out a short "Meow" (Master, there's a foul stench).
Su Ningyu's Spirit Eye instantly activated.
A pale purple light swirled deep within his pupils.
His vision pierced through the night and the thin mist floating on the lake, landing on the shadows behind the camp.
Then, he saw a line of data.
[Beast: Cave Ghost Python]
[Rank: bronze Rank 8]
Su Ningyu slowly lowered his hand and turned to look at the burning campfire on the opposite shore and the figures still screaming and running.
"A bronze Rank 8 Cave Ghost Python, and there's more than one."
He said calmly.
Xu Jingyu cursed inwardly.
A bronze Rank 8 beast—if it were just one, his classmates might still be able to handle it.
But if there were more than one, it would be difficult.
Su Ningyu took a deep breath.
He really didn't want to mind other people's business.
These people had nothing to do with him.
That guy named Shan Yu was just bossing him around earlier.
He could completely take this chance to leave with Xu Jingyu and let this group pay the price for their own stupidity.
Just as he was about to do so, he saw a girl running toward them from the crowd.
Lu Yitang.
At this moment, her dress was torn by branches, her hair was disheveled, and her face was full of terror.
She was running in a great hurry, nearly tripping over tree roots several times, but she didn't stop.
Behind her, a massive python was slowly rising from the ground, its body wreathed in grayish-black mist, its triangular head casting a terrifying shadow under the Moonlight.
And her beast had already been killed by the Cave Ghost Python.
"Xu Jingyu, save me—!"
Lu Yitang cried out loudly.
Her eyes were fixed on the figure standing up on the opposite shore, as if she had seen the only light in the darkness.
Hearing Lu Yitang's cry, Xu Jingyu immediately stood up and, without hesitation, prepared to rescue her.
Because the person he liked was calling to him for help; this was his time to prove himself.
"Dancing Peacock—battle!" His voice was a bit hoarse, but every word carried weight.
Two Dancing Peacocks spread their wings in response, their tail feathers blooming with brilliant light under the moon. The light feathers scattered and transformed into countless tiny needles of light, shooting toward the Cave Ghost Python.
Su Ningyu:...
He knew it.
But it was clearly too late for Su Ningyu to leave immediately.
Because Lu Yitang's cry for help and Xu Jingyu's beast attack had caused the Ghost Pythons to discover Su Ningyu...
So Su Ningyu lowered his head and glanced at Lucky Frog and Coal Ball beside him.
Lucky Frog squatted on the rock, its amber eyes darting around.
Croak (Master, are we going to fight?).
Coal Ball lay nearby, its two tails slowly swaying behind it (Isn't that obvious!).
"Lucky Frog, Frog Croak."
Su Ningyu gave the order with no small amount of expectation.
Lucky Frog took a deep breath, and then...
A strange cry, sharp enough to pierce eardrums, exploded from its mouth!
The massive body of the Cave Ghost Python chasing Lu Yitang suddenly stiffened. Its triangular head turned toward the direction of the sound, a hint of Fury and confusion flashing in its vertical pupils.
Its attention had been successfully drawn away.
And at the instant it turned its head, Coal Ball moved.
No sound, no warning.
Coal Ball's figure vanished from its spot, and in the next instant, it appeared above the Cave Ghost Python's head.
Two tails unfurled behind it, their ghostly blue luster tracing two cold arcs in the darkness.
Its right paw was raised high, its sharp claws glinting with a frigid light under the moon. That light suddenly surged the moment it touched the Cave Ghost Python's scales!
Puchi—!
The sound of claws slicing through flesh was dull yet clear.
A deep gash appeared on the Cave Ghost Python's neck, which was thicker than an adult's waist.
Grayish-black blood spurted out.
But Coal Ball didn't even blink. Its second claw followed immediately, tracing the path of the first, going deeper, fiercer, and more thorough.
Puchi—!
The python's head fell to the ground.
The Cave Ghost Python's massive body twitched a few times before slamming into the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.
Lu Yitang slumped onto the ground, gasping for air, her eyes wide as she stared at the still-twitching snake carcass. It took a long while for her to regain her senses.
"I'm... I'm saved..." Her voice was airy, as if coming from far away.
Xu Jingyu quickly ran to her side, knelt down, and carefully checked if she was injured. "What happened? How did you guys provoke Cave Ghost Pythons?"
His voice was hurried, carrying obvious concern.