C3 Drink the Blood of the Snake

The sudden appearance of the portly man in the service area sparked a flurry of gasps. It was through these gasps that Zhao Lin learned of the Carefree Palace's structure, which included the service, Outer Sect, Inner Sect, and core divisions. The service was essentially a group of slaves without any cultivation skills. Surprisingly, the portly man was an Outer Sect disciple. Naturally, Zhao Lin was still unaware of the differences between the Outer Sect and the service.

After the portly man handed Zhao Lin off to the service supervisor, he exchanged a secretive glance with him before departing the area. The service supervisor was a man in his thirties named Chen Quan. "Go, chop down a hundred trees every day. Miss one, and you can forget about eating!" Chen Quan handed Zhao Lin an axe and gestured towards the back mountain.

"Understood!" Zhao Lin accepted the axe. He had caught the exchange of glances between the portly man and Chen Quan. Knowing better than to stir up trouble while under someone else's roof, he complied. As Zhao Lin walked away, Chen Quan's smile took on a cruel edge. "So young and already offending an Inner Sect disciple. He's truly clueless about the dangers he's courting."

Upon reaching the back mountain, Zhao Lin grimaced at the sight of the massive trees, each thicker than his waist. The axe felt inadequate in his hands, better suited for slicing grass than timber. His stomach growled embarrassingly, having only been filled with a rabbit's stomach all day. "Just chop. We'll deal with what comes after we get through this," he muttered to himself. But as he swung the axe down, it snapped in two, leaving only a faint mark on the tree's trunk.

"What kind of tree is this? How can it be so incredibly hard?" Zhao Lin was in disbelief. He had never encountered such resilient wood. "This is an iron tree, famed for its toughness," came Chen Quan's icy voice from behind. "Senior Brother, this axe has broken as well. Could you possibly provide me with a larger, more durable one?" Zhao Lin asked, turning around with a wary look in his eyes.

"No. Each disciple is allotted only one axe. If it's damaged or lost, punishment follows. You'll forfeit this month's allowance to cover the cost of this axe," Chen Quan declared, picking up the broken tool and leaving with a smug turn. "The scoundrel did this deliberately!" Zhao Lin watched him leave, his expression darkening.

His stomach growled again. "Forget it, I need to find some food!" Noticing that Chen Quan was long gone, Zhao Lin vanished in a flash, disappearing from the spot. "What kind of forsaken place is this? Not even a rabbit in sight!" Having lost his bow and arrow, Zhao Lin wasn't about to mess with any larger creatures. "Shhh!" Suddenly, a faint rustling of leaves came from behind. Zhao Lin spun around to find a python, thick as an arm, flicking its tongue, eyeing him warily.

"Ha, perfect timing. I haven't had snake meat in ages!" Zhao Lin was delighted. This creature was quite audacious; most people would have fled at the sight of such a large python. Zhao Lin crouched down, readying himself, and began to inch forward. The python, sensing a formidable opponent, flicked its tongue more aggressively, trying to intimidate Zhao Lin.

Then, Zhao Lin sprang into action, lunging at the python like a starving tiger attacking its prey. His powerful hands clamped down on the python's vital seven-inch area. The python's true weapon was its lengthy body, and as Zhao Lin secured his grip, the python's several-meter-long body coiled tightly around him. The struggle between man and snake sent them tumbling across the ground, the sound of bones creaking under the pressure. Zhao Lin's face twisted in agony; he had clearly underestimated the python as the sound of his bones fracturing echoed through his body.

But Zhao Lin refused to surrender. His hands remained clamped on the python's seven-inch, preventing the creature's gaping maw from reaching him. "What now?" Panic set in. This python was far more formidable than any he had encountered before. "It's do or die!" With each passing moment, more bones snapped. At this rate, Zhao Lin would be strangled alive by the python.

With reckless abandon, Zhao Lin bit down on the python. A foul stench and a ghastly blood taste filled his mouth. Yet Zhao Lin, accustomed to daily encounters with wild beasts, could withstand this minor discomfort. As he bit into the flesh, the python's blood gushed forth as if finding an escape, pouring rapidly into Zhao Lin's stomach.

Blood drained from the python, and in its panic, it unwound its lengthy tail from around Zhao Lin, seeking to flee. But Zhao Lin, intent on feasting on its flesh, was not about to relent. With a strong inhalation, the snake's blood, already flowing freely, surged even faster into his mouth. After the duration of an incense stick's burning, the python writhed briefly before succumbing to blood loss and dying.

Zhao Lin let out a burp and collapsed to the ground, his complexion ashen. After a brief rest, he fought through the sharp pain in his chest and rose to his feet. His initial craving for the snake's meat was now overshadowed by the overwhelming presence of snake blood in his belly, leaving him unable to stomach more. The metallic taste of blood lingered with every breath. "It's getting late; I better find somewhere to stay," he thought. After another short rest, he hoisted the python over his shoulder and made his way down the mountain.

"Hey, isn't that the new kid from today? What's he got with him?" In front of a row of thatched huts, onlookers who were freshening up caught sight of Zhao Lin and expressed their astonishment. "Snake meat feast!" Zhao Lin announced loudly as he approached. With a thud, he dropped the python onto the ground, seemingly oblivious to the fact that he had carried the hefty creature, which weighed over a hundred pounds, without breaking a sweat.

"What incredible strength! This boy must be only fifteen or sixteen, yet he possesses such power!" The crowd gathered around, marveling at the python on the ground and gasping in amazement. "Hey, are those bite marks on the python?" Those paying close attention to the fresh blood on Zhao Lin's lips couldn't help but imagine a horrifying scene. "Senior Brother Chen, could you tell me where I'll be staying?" Zhao Lin asked, feeling utterly exhausted.

"Wang Yu, you'll be sharing your room with Zhao Lin," Chen Quan reluctantly called out, feeling somewhat uneasy after seeing the blood on Zhao Lin's mouth and the scent of blood that filled the air. Wang Yu, slight of build but with a glint of slyness in his eyes, led Zhao Lin into a thatched hut. Upon seeing the wooden bed, Zhao Lin made his way over but then promptly passed out.

Wang Yu gave Zhao Lin's shoulder a gentle pat. When Zhao Lin didn't stir, he kindly removed Zhao Lin's straw sandals and assisted him onto the bed, even taking the time to tuck him in with a blanket. As Zhao Lin slept, he was plagued by thirst and an intense fever. In a bizarre dream, he found himself sitting cross-legged, his body slowly elevating. Just as he was about to graze the ceiling, he gently descended, only to repeat the cycle again and again.

"Hey, Zhao Lin, Zhao Lin, wake up!" A voice pierced the silence, rousing Zhao Lin from his slumber and banishing the odd dream. "Zhao Lin, are you feeling alright? You're burning up and you kept calling out for 'Big Sister Fairy' in your sleep!" Wang Yu's face was etched with worry as he watched over Zhao Lin. Zhao Lin glanced at the blanket draped over him, feeling a wave of gratitude. He had not only taken over Wang Yu's bed but had also burdened him with his care.

"Wang Yu, thank you. I don't know what happened; I just suddenly dozed off!" Zhao Lin said earnestly. He seldom interacted with others, so Wang Yu's kindness was especially touching.

"Hey, no need for thanks among friends. And really, it was nothing!" Wang Yu said with a simple, genuine smile. "Friends, that's right, we're friends!" Zhao Lin affirmed with a nod, his expression serious.