Chapter 121: Meet Again
After the ordeal, the atmosphere among them grew somber.
Luckily, no one was injured, just frightened.
Xia Huo Qu, worried that Kong Zhi might feel embarrassed, pulled Yan Xi Nian along and headed to the truck first.
Now only Xia Lu Nong and Kong Zhi were left at the temporary base.
Kong Zhi quickly regained his composure, hugging Xia Lu Nong. “I nearly lost half my soul back there.”
Xia Lu Nong nodded, still shaken himself. “I haven’t fully recovered either. If you hadn’t reacted so quickly, I’d probably be dead right now.”
Kong Zhi frowned slightly, about to say something, when Xia Lu Nong leaned in and kissed him, whispering, “Thank you, my amazing boyfriend.”
Kong Zhi’s frustration melted away at his words, and the tension in his face relaxed.
Xia Lu Nong rubbed his back and nudged him forward. “Don’t worry about it anymore. Let’s head back to the truck and rest.”
He glanced toward his brother’s truck. “Brother, can you keeping watch?”
Xia Huo Qu nodded and waved, signaling them to go rest.
Once they were inside the truck, Xia Lu Nong helped Kong Zhi lie down and sat beside him.
Kong Zhi spoke in a low voice, “When my parents died, I was right there. I watched as the wall collapsed and crushed them.”
Xia Lu Nong felt a sharp pain in his heart. He opened his mouth to say something but couldn’t find the right words.
Kong Zhi continued, “I can’t handle it if anything happens to you.”
Xia Lu Nong solemnly promised, “I’ll take good care of myself, be more alert, and avoid dangerous places.”
“Wherever you go, I’ll go with you.”
“Alright,” Xia Lu Nong said, touching Kong Zhi’s forehead gently. “It’s all in the past. Try not to worry too much. Let’s get some sleep, and things will feel better when you wake up.”
Kong Zhi pulled his hand down, holding his wrist. “Sleep with me.”
“Okay, I’ll turn into my beast form.”
“Stay human,” Kong Zhi said. “I want to hold you.”
Xia Lu Nong, understanding Kong Zhi’s vulnerability, didn’t say anything further. He took off his outer clothes and shoes, slipped into the sleeping bag, and wrapped an arm around Kong Zhi’s waist. “Let’s sleep.”
In the dim light of the truck, Xia Lu Nong’s eyes shone brightly, filled with the reflection of Kong Zhi.
Kong Zhi held him tightly and kissed his forehead, murmuring in a husky voice, “Alright.”
The sleeping bag was cramped for two people, forcing them to press close together, chest to chest, their heartbeats gradually syncing.
Kong Zhi’s strong hand rested on Xia Lu Nong’s waist, as though trying to pull him even closer, as if wanting to merge him into his bones and blood.
Xia Lu Nong initially thought this tight embrace might be uncomfortable and make it hard to fall asleep.
But to his surprise, the firm hug gave him a sense of safety, and within five or six minutes, he was fast asleep.
Before drifting off, a hazy thought crossed his mind—so this is what it feels like to share a bed with someone.
It wasn’t bad at all, and there was nothing to fear.
They slept until noon.
When Xia Lu Nong woke up, his body felt limp.
He was still nestled in Kong Zhi’s arms, the air in the sleeping bag filled with their combined scents.
He turned his head to look at Kong Zhi, whose bright black eyes were wide open, his face now calm and normal.
Seeing Xia Lu Nong stir, Kong Zhi kissed him on the lips. “Let’s get up. It’s late.”
“Alright.” Xia Lu Nong climbed out of the sleeping bag. “Are you feeling okay? Anything still bothering you?”
“No, I’m fine. What about you?”
“I’m good too. Let’s pack up, eat lunch, and head back.”
When they got out, Xia Huo Qu and Yan Xi Nian had already loaded all the lotus roots onto the truck.
They had cleaned up the temporary camp, ready to leave at any moment.
When Xia Lu Nong and Kong Zhi came down, Yan Xi Nian waved to them. “Come over and eat. The rice is done, and I brought out soy sauce and pork fat. Let’s eat.”
Earlier in the morning, Xia Lu Nong had excitedly talked about making a simple version of clay pot rice, and the sauce had already been prepared. They just hadn’t expected the events of the morning to take such a turn.
Everyone scooped some rice into their bowls and ate silently by the pot.
After finishing, Xia Lu Nong got up to wash the dishes.
Xia Huo Qu stopped him, “Don’t bother. There’s no water. We’ll wash them back at the base.”
Xia Lu Nong glanced at the two bamboo containers left. “We’re also running low on drinking water. Should I plant another bamboo?”
“Just hold off,” Xia Huo Qu replied. “Going without water for an afternoon won’t hurt. Save your powers.”
Xia Lu Nong thought about it and agreed, deciding to listen to his brother.
Straightening up, he looked out at the fields of lotus in front of them. “Brother, are we coming back here?”
“No,” Xia Huo Qu said. “This place is too dangerous. It’s not worth risking our lives for a bit of food.”
Xia Lu Nong hesitated, looking at the lotus roots and pods ahead. “It’s more than just a bit of food. If we dug up all the lotus roots, it’d be enough to feed the whole base for a winter.”
Xia Huo Qu replied calmly, “If something goes wrong while digging, the entire base might be attending funerals all winter.”
Xia Lu Nong stuck out his tongue and said nothing more.
Yan Xi Nian said, “Since we’ve finished eating, let’s pack up and head back early.”
Xia Lu Nong asked, “We have two cars now. How are we dividing up? Xi Nian, will you ride with my brother, and I’ll go with Kong Zhi?”
“Yes, we’ll take the one without a window. You two take the other one.”
Xia Lu Nong’s beast form wasn’t very strong, and he didn’t feel confident driving the car without a window, so he nodded in agreement.
They packed up their things, tidied the temporary camp, and made sure to take everything with them.
Even though it was after the disaster, they still couldn’t leave any trash behind, as it could pollute the surrounding land and water.
Xia Huo Qu and Yan Xi Nian lifted the heavier pots and bowls, walking side by side to the car without a windshield.
Kong Zhi picked up a few small stools, carrying them back to the car with both hands.
Xia Lu Nong had it easiest—he just had to follow along behind them.
They had stayed at this temporary camp for almost two days and a night, always keeping watch and occasionally checking for nearby dangers. Until the snakes appeared that morning, they hadn’t encountered any major threats, and the camp itself seemed relatively safe.
Despite Xia Huo Qu’s frequent reminders, they had gradually let their guard down, no longer feeling as tense.
Xia Lu Nong walked at the back, humming a song softly.
The song drowned out the noise behind him.
He had only taken a couple of steps toward the truck when he suddenly felt a rush of foul wind at the back of his head.
The wind was thick with a rotten stench and hot, heavy breath.
Xia Lu Nong’s instincts kicked in before his mind could register the danger. He threw himself forward just in time, narrowly avoiding an attack from the massive creature behind him. He rolled twice on the ground.
In that moment, he found himself face-to-face with a huge snake head, staring into its large yellow, lantern-like eyes.
It was another king cobra!
And it was as thick as a water tank!
The snake raised its head high, its flattened neck making Xia Lu Nong freeze in terror.
The giant snake, having missed its first strike, quickly coiled up and opened its massive jaws, lunging at him again.
The snake’s head was so enormous that when it opened its mouth, Xia Lu Nong could clearly see its many teeth, especially the razor-sharp fangs that resembled daggers.
“I’m done for,” he thought.
Though his mind went blank, his body instinctively moved.
In an instant, he rolled again and transformed into his cat form.
As a cat, his body was much smaller than in his human form.
The giant snake did manage to grab onto his pants, but it didn’t get a hold of his body.
Xia the Cat narrowly escaped!
But the danger wasn’t over!
The furious snake, having missed again, lashed out in rage.
It grabbed onto Xia the Cat’s clothing and slammed him violently to the ground, then opened its mouth, ready to swallow him whole along with his clothes.
This snake wasn’t just huge and vicious—it was also smart!
By the time Xia the Cat realized what was happening, it was too late. He was wrapped up in his clothes like a sack, unable to stretch his paws.
Instinctively, he curled up tightly, and when he hit the ground, a dull thud echoed.
The impact left him feeling like his internal organs were being smashed apart. A metallic taste of blood filled his mouth as it spilled out.
He remembered Kong Zhi’s words, “Don’t get hurt—I can’t take it,” and a pang of pain shot through his heart. He wanted to move, to escape.
But he was out of strength.
Xia the Cat’s tail went limp, and he lost consciousness.
The entire encounter only lasted two or three seconds.
Kong Zhi, walking ahead, immediately reacted. With a shout, he burst out of his clothes, transforming into a massive golden eagle. Without needing a running start, he took flight, his iron-like talons aimed straight for the giant snake’s eyes.
The move took less than three seconds.
The giant snake, which had been about to swallow Xia the Cat, was stopped by the huge golden eagle.
The snake’s upper body was on the shore, but its lower half was still submerged in the water. Its head was larger than the ones used in lion dances during the New Year.
Even the massive golden eagle didn’t seem overly large in comparison to the snake.
The two were evenly matched.
The eagle’s iron claws struck the snake’s eyes, and sparks flew in an instant.
Snake blood spurted out.
The enraged giant snake raised its tongue high.
Poison dripped from its fangs, sizzling as it hit the ground, leaving behind two small, smoking craters.
The golden eagle hit its target and immediately swooped down, trying to pick up Xia the cat.
Xia the cat, wrapped in clothes, couldn’t tell how bad his condition was from the fall.
The giant snake’s eyes flashed with rage, and it lunged again. Instead of engaging with the eagle, it whipped its body like a lash, aiming to crush Xia the cat into pulp beneath its massive weight.
This move was incredibly sinister.
The golden eagle let out a sharp cry, its talons grabbing onto the snake’s head, lifting it more than a meter off the ground.
By now, Xia Huo Qu and Yan Xi Nian had also transformed into their beast forms.
A giant wolf and a giant tiger rushed forward.
The giant wolf led the charge, fearlessly sinking its massive jaws into the snake’s neck, dragging it back several meters.
The snake, in pain, turned to bite at the wolf.
The wolf leaped back, and the tiger arrived just in time, biting down hard on the snake’s critical weak spot, severing a large portion of its body.
The golden eagle seized the opportunity to snatch Xia the cat from in front of the snake’s head, carrying him to safety atop a truck several meters away.
Xia the cat was limp, his four paws dangling and his eyes closed, with blood at the corner of his mouth.
Kong Zhi, in his human form, was stricken with fear. He knelt down, trembling, unsure whether to hold the cat. His voice shook as he frantically called out, “Xiao Nong, are you okay? Don’t scare me.”
His voice was hoarse, with a hint of blood in his throat.
Xia the cat weakly opened his emerald eyes and let out a faint “meow.”
He looked anxiously at the giant snake not far away, where his brother was still fighting the beast.
The snake was fighting two opponents but was not at a disadvantage.
Its long body coiled forward, wrapping around the tiger, while its head chased after the wolf.
The scene was extremely dangerous.
Tears welled up in Xia the cat’s eyes.
Kong Zhi glanced at the battle, then at the weakened cat in front of him. With a taste of blood still in his mouth, he leaned down and kissed the cat’s head, whispering, “I’m going to help brother Huo Qu.”
“Meow,” Xia the cat replied softly. Be careful.
The giant snake tightened its coils, squeezing the tiger’s body like a rope.
The tiger scratched and bit fiercely, leaving the snake bloodied, but the snake refused to release its grip.
The wolf gnawed at the snake’s body, trying to pull its head away each time it turned to bite at the tiger.
After several failed attacks, the snake sprayed venom everywhere, making the situation even more dangerous.
With a loud roar, Kong Zhi leaped from the truck, transforming once again into a massive golden eagle. He flapped his wings and launched an attack on the snake.
Now faced with three enemies, the snake became even more ferocious, showing no signs of retreat. It lifted its head and lunged at the eagle.
The tiger pulled back, yanking the snake’s head away.
The eagle searched for an opening to strike the snake’s eyes but failed repeatedly.
The snake was simply too massive. Even with countless wounds on its body, it hadn’t lost an ounce of its aggression, nor had it slowed down.
The tiger, still trapped in its coils, felt its bones creaking under the pressure.
The wolf, frantic from its inability to help, began tearing chunks of flesh from the snake’s body.
The snake, enraged by the attack, squeezed even tighter, causing the tiger’s abdomen to cave in, leaving it on the verge of death.
The golden eagle distracted the snake with everything it had, trying to gouge its eyes, but narrowly missed each time.
In the heat of battle, no one noticed Xia the cat had slowly gotten up, dragging his weakened body to stagger down from the truck.
He ran to the edge of the battlefield but didn’t get too close.
A gust of wind blew by, and from the upwind position, he poured all his remaining energy into his power.
The ground responded, sprouting a mass of vines and grass that whipped around the giant snake, binding it to the ground. At the same time, sharp tree shoots burst from the earth, impaling the snake and splattering blood everywhere.
The snake’s underbelly was punctured! The attack struck a highly sensitive area, causing the snake to lose control of its own body!
The snake shuddered, its coils loosening and freeing the tiger, who escaped just in time.
