Qin Sang took the chainsaw out of her storage; right now was when the giant snake's combat power was at its weakest.
After taking a few steps with the chainsaw in hand, Qin Sang came to a halt.
She thought about the panic the villagers had felt these past few days regarding the giant snake's sightings. If she let them slay this giant snake with their own hands, then the next time they encountered some fierce beast, these villagers would have the courage to fight instead of blindly thinking of fleeing.
Now that they were deep in the mountains and old forests, they would certainly encounter wild beasts and venomous snakes in the future; they had to face them eventually.
With this in mind, Qin Sang controlled the Drone to fly back. After putting both the chainsaw and the Drone into her storage, she quickly turned around and walked toward the camp.
In the camp, people had already lit torches. Seeing Qin Sang return, Hunter Xu and Tian Yougen immediately came forward, carrying long knives and bows on their backs:
"Da Zhuangs Mother, where did you go?"
"Are you alright?"
Tian Dazhuang and the others also ran over:
"Mother, where did you go?"
"We were worried sick about you."
Qin Sang shook her head:
"I'm fine. I just went out to relieve myself and heard the cry of a wild beast. I intended to go take a look, but it was pitch black halfway there, so I came back."
Qin Sang explained casually, then looked at them:
"Did you all come out because you heard the commotion too?"
Several people nodded. Even more villagers were walking toward the mountain pass, holding not only weapons but also sharpened wooden spears:
"How about we go over and take a look?"
Tian Yougen looked hesitant:
"It's definitely a wild beast, no doubt. If we go over..."
"It might be too dangerous."
"It's the middle of the night, and from the sound of it, it seems quite far from us."
Others felt the same way; none of them really wanted to take the risk.
Qin Sang couldn't miss today's opportunity. After thinking for a moment, she said:
"The reason I wanted to run out and look earlier was because that cry sounded like the White-Haired Pig we hunted the other day. It seemed to be right by the waterfall.
Now that I think about it, there's more than one giant snake, so maybe there's more than one White-Haired Pig too.
That pork is so delicious when roasted. If we catch it, that's hundreds of pounds of meat—enough for everyone to have many meals.
Everyone is almost out of water, and draining the pig's blood could also supplement some fluids.
Also, don't you think it's possible the White-Haired Pig encountered the giant snake and the two big guys started fighting?"
Hearing what Qin Sang said first, everyone couldn't help but swallow their saliva. Indeed, the villagers had all tasted the pork and found it delicious; the meat wasn't gamey or tough, but very tender and fragrant.
By the time they heard the end, everyone couldn't help but look at each other. They say one mountain cannot hold two tigers; why were there so many big guys in these mountains?
"As the saying goes, when the snipe and the clam fight, the fisherman wins. If they fight until both are wounded, and we go up and deliver the final blow, how about being the fisherman and solving two threats at once?"
Qin Sang continued to egg them on.
Some were starting to be swayed, but they still valued their lives dearly.
Qin Sang spoke again:
"Mainly, as long as this giant snake isn't dealt with, I won't dare go out of the mountains to retrieve the supplies Steward Huang hid for me. There's still a lot of water and food hidden outside.
Originally, I planned to go out and get them once we finished what we have, but if this giant snake doesn't die, we're all going to die of thirst."
Reminded by Qin Sang, the people's desire to survive overcame their fear of the giant snake.
"Then let's go take a look. Anyway, dying of thirst is death, and being eaten by the snake is also death. What if we succeed?"
"If we don't kill it, the Hunting Team and Patrol Team won't dare go out. We can't even go up the mountain to find a piece of fruit. It must die."
"Right, if two big guys fight, they'll definitely get hurt. I think it's an opportunity."
"Then let's risk it..."
Hunter Xu also nodded and took the lead toward the riverbed:
"Then let's go take a look."
Seeing that these villagers hadn't been scared out of their wits, a flash of approval crossed Qin Sang's eyes.
Under the Village Chief's arrangement, most of the men followed Hunter Xu, while those remaining in the camp waited for the results, staying together to look out for one another.
Qin Sang thought about it and let Da Zhuang and San Gui follow along to gain some experience.
Halfway there, shrouded in the darkness of night, the villagers holding torches were somewhat uneasy:
"Why don't we hear any commotion anymore?"
"Could it be over already?"
Qin Sang didn't want them to give up halfway, so she pointed toward the waterfall and said:
"I see it, right under the waterfall. Look!"
The others looked in the direction she pointed, but in the pitch black, they couldn't see anything.
Qin Sang didn't give them time to think and started running toward the Deep Pool.
"Mother, wait for me!"
"Mother, be careful!"
Da Zhuang and San Gui immediately chased after her, followed by Hunter Xu, Tian Yougen, and the others. The strongest few ran ahead, and the remaining villagers followed one by one toward the Deep Pool.
Reaching the edge of the Deep Pool, Qin Sang stopped the crowd that had caught up:
"It's right here... Careful, don't fall in."
As the torches illuminated the bottom of the pool, everyone was stunned.
The giant snake saw the torchlight and human figures; it raised its head, and its eerie snake eyes instantly locked onto the crowd that had arrived.
Many people were so scared they slumped to the ground. If Qin Sang hadn't been prepared, someone surely would have fallen in like the big white pig and become the snake's fodder.
"Snake..."
"It's the snake... It's fine, it's not hurt..."
"Help!"
While everyone was in a panic, wanting to flee but having legs too weak to move, Qin Sang immediately said calmly:
"Look at its belly. Did it eat the White-Haired Pig?"
The crowd was snapped back by her shout and regained some courage. They looked down and indeed saw a large, high bulge in the middle of the snake's body. Looking at the shape, it wasn't much different from the White-Haired Pig they had hunted that day.
"Yes, the White-Haired Pig was no match for it at all."
"It swallowed the White-Haired Pig alive."
"The White-Haired Pig was so big, and it swallowed it in one gulp. We..."
Before they could say the words 'run away,' Qin Sang cut them off and ordered:
"Quickly, kill it! It's definitely unable to move after eating such a heavy White-Haired Pig. Da Zhuang, quick, shoot your arrows!"
"Throw the bamboo spears with all your might, stab it to death!"
"Swing your axes! Are you holding them as fire pokers? It's just a slightly larger beast. Kill it with one strike from each of us!"
"If we don't kill it now, we'll be the ones dying later. Quick..."
Following Qin Sang's roar, Hunter Xu took the first shot, firing an arrow at the giant snake.
The giant snake sensed danger and twisted its body, wanting to return to the cave by the waterfall on the mountain. However, the immense weight in the middle of its body made it impossible to drag. It angrily opened its mouth wide at the crowd, as if to swallow these ants in one gulp. But because its body was weighed down by the swallowed prey, its head couldn't fully straighten before being pulled back down. Its long, massive body twisted into a knot as it struggled.
Tian Dazhuang's mind was blank. Hearing his Mother tell him to shoot, he instinctively drew his bow and fired an arrow.
Qin Sang immediately shouted:
"Da Zhuang, you hit it! Keep going, again!"
This word of encouragement was like a shot of adrenaline for Tian Dazhuang, and he fired a second arrow...
Tian San Gui and the other villagers also snapped out of it. Those with bows began shooting, and after throwing their wooden spears, they started throwing axes. Every single one of them was giving it their all, wishing they could hack the giant snake to death with a single blow.