Having succeeded with the first blow, Jie Xi leaped into the air once more; this time, her target was the Giant Python's head!
Seeing Jie Xi leap up, the Giant Python charged forward again, intending to open its mouth and swallow her. But the Python's jaw was already locked open; only then did it realize it could no longer bite its enemy.
Pfft! Jie Xi struck again with her sword, aiming for the Giant Python's vulnerable spot (seven inches from the head), but the effect of this second strike was clearly less than the first.
This second blow only managed to slice through the Python's outer skin. When wounded the second time, the Giant Python became even more frenzied, immediately coiling around the airborne Jie Xi, trapping her so she couldn't move!
Wang Zhi secretly thought this was bad; once caught in a snake's coil, it only tightens until the victim is choked to death!
Fortunately, the Giant Python's mouth was now disabled and could no longer bite. It was currently using all its strength just to constrict Jie Xi, while its head kept ramming against her.
Watching the Giant Python coil around Jie Xi layer after layer from head to tail, Fatty immediately started thinking of retreating. "Cap... Captain Wang, if this really isn't working, let's scram quickly. If Captain Jie Xi can't handle it, what are we waiting for?!"
Everyone present understood Jie Xi's current predicament; unless another combatant equal to her appeared, there was no way to break free from the Giant Python's constriction.
The Giant Python continued to slam its head against Jie Xi, whose hands were still outside the coils, wielding her greatsword to block and struggle.
Wang Zhi looked at the struggling Jie Xi, feeling a pang of unwillingness to watch, and tried to move forward, but someone grabbed him. Wang Zhi turned back to see Su Muying shaking her head at him, signaling him not to go forward.
At this moment, everyone except Wang Zhi and Jia Liuli had made the most rational decision: to run quickly before the Giant Python locked onto them, cutting their losses immediately.
Wang Zhi pushed Su Muying's hand away, pulled out his Magnetic Card from his chest, and tossed it to Su Muying.
"You all retreat. Jie Xi cannot die. Even if we evade one Giant Python, thousands of monsters await us later; running away won't change destiny." After speaking, Wang Zhi snatched the blade from Jia Liuli's hand.
Among the weapons they currently possessed, only Jia Liuli's was the most advantageous. Wang Zhi threw down his backpack and immediately charged toward the Giant Python!
At this moment, Jie Xi seemed to have lost strength from the python's constriction, and the sword in her hand dropped to the ground.
Wang Zhi held Ye Linglong with both hands. Taking advantage of the Giant Python's focus being entirely on Jie Xi, he thrust with all his might into a spot on the python's body. Thrusting is different from slashing; the point of impact is much smaller, making it easier to pierce the skin layer. After the long blade stabbed into the Giant Python, the creature roared in pain again, and the coil around Jie Xi loosened by one turn. The freed tail immediately sent Wang Zhi flying!
Wang Zhi, struck by the tail, felt as if he'd been hit by a car; his insides churned violently, and he finally spat out a mouthful of blood, collapsing next to a tree.
Wang Zhi's consciousness grew increasingly hazy. He never imagined he would fall here, in a place devoid of even a single Zombie. Had Ying and the others evacuated? Would they avenge him? Who would become the next Captain? Many thoughts flooded Wang Zhi's mind. Finally, the Ye Linglong in his hand seemed to be taken by someone. Wang Zhi lacked the strength to lift his head to see who it was before closing his eyes.
The one holding Ye Linglong was none other than Jia Liuli. The moment Wang Zhi rushed forward and was thrown back, everyone else had moved!
Su Muying quickly devised a plan: have Zhang Ming, Fatty, and Old He use suppressing fire to distract the Giant Python, while her target was the creature's eye—the only place she could penetrate. Liuli was also to close in and attack the python; the wound Jie Xi had inflicted on the python's vulnerable section (seven inches down) could certainly be finished off with a few more strikes.
Old He and the other two held their rifles, continuously firing at the Giant Python's tail section. Su Muying quickly approached the python's head. Seizing the moment it gathered strength to retract its strike, the daggers in her hands successfully pierced the Giant Python's eye.
"Liuli!" After succeeding, Su Muying gave Liuli a signal and immediately retreated.
Upon receiving Su Muying's call, Liuli immediately changed her attack method, moved behind the Giant Python, locked onto the soft spot (seven inches from the head) that Jie Xi had previously wounded, leaped into the air, and brought her blade down, splashing blood everywhere!
Roar! The Giant Python let out the loudest bellow since the encounter began. The body wrapped around Jie Xi loosened momentarily, only to coil back even tighter than before.
Everyone was shocked. How was it still moving!?
"This is bad! The Giant Python's roar has attracted all the surrounding Zombies!" Zhang Ming said in horror while looking through the binoculars.
"Damn it! They're dense, countless numbers! We have to run now or we're done for!" Fatty also grabbed the binoculars and was immediately startled; hordes of Zombies were closing in from all directions.
At the center of the Giant Python's coiled body, only a mass of crushed metal armor remained, and Jie Xi, who had been inside the armor, was nowhere to be seen!
The others were stunned for a moment, then saw Jie Xi had already retrieved the greatsword she had dropped.
"What a brilliant 'Golden Cicada Sheds Its Shell' maneuver!" Old He exclaimed from the side.
At this moment, the Giant Python's eyes had been blinded by Su Muying. While the python still believed it had its target trapped, Jie Xi had already leaped up and struck the broken wound with a heavy sword blow.
Slash! With that strike, the Giant Python's soft spot was completely severed, and its massive body crashed heavily to the ground.
"Captain Jie Xi, let's hurry back! The surrounding Zombies are all rushing over here!" Fatty approached and said to Jie Xi.
"No rush." Jie Xi replied, lifting her sword again. She approached the Giant Python's head and stabbed forcefully a few times, ensuring it was completely dead, before hacking off its head and returning with the snake head in hand.
"Fatty, you carry Wang Zhi back. Everyone else, hurry and follow me to gather some supplies." Before leaving, Su Muying did not forget the supplies the guards had dropped yesterday.
...
Inside the medical room of the Dawn Tower.
After regaining consciousness, Wang Zhi slowly opened his eyes. After a moment of hesitation, he sprang up to a sitting position.
"Hiss!"
As soon as Wang Zhi sat up, pain shot through his body.
"Lie down! You broke three ribs on your right side; why are you moving around when you haven't healed yet?"
Wang Zhi turned his head and saw Su Muying, immediately relaxing.
"I'm not dead!"
Su Muying sounded displeased upon hearing Wang Zhi's words and said coldly, "If you want to die, I can grant your wish!"
Wang Zhi lay back onto the pillow and said with his eyes closed, "Rather than dying in the Giant Python's mouth, I'd rather die in Sister Ying's arms."
"Heh heh, rather than dying in my arms, I think you'd rather die in Jie Xi's arms," Su Muying sneered coldly.
"Jie Xi... did she sacrifice herself?" Wang Zhi looked at Su Muying and asked tentatively.
"No, later she still had the strength to drag the hundred-jin Giant Python's head for three hours."
"That's great." Hearing this news, Wang Zhi finally let down the worry that had been hanging over him.
"You! She clearly had a way to get out, but you insisted on going up to play the hero. Next time your luck runs out, let's see what you use to survive," Su Muying lectured from the side.
"She could break free on her own?" Wang Zhi found it hard to believe. At that time, he clearly saw the greatsword in Jie Xi's hand had already flown out of her grip. How could she break free by herself?
"Shedding the cicada's shell; she spent some time getting out of the armor."
Could it be done like that? Wang Zhi inwardly sighed that he was still too young.
"What about the others?" Wang Zhi asked.
"Everyone went back to rest. They haven't closed their eyes for two days and are about to collapse. Now that you're awake too, I should go back and catch up on sleep. Here is your Magnetic Card. If you need anything, call the doctor yourself." After speaking, Su Muying tossed the Magnetic Card onto Wang Zhi and turned to leave.