Closer to Revealing My True Self-Chapter 68 - 65 Too Hard_1

Call, call, call! What’s the point of calling me after you’ve already caught it!

We agreed to catch it together if we found a python!

After making sure Feng Yi was fine, Steve started to think—

To have such a big and beautiful Burmese python and not be a part of catching it!

It was Feng Yi who found it again!

Steve regretted that he must have missed many important clues on the way, such as crawling traces, shed skins, and so on.

The main problem was that the weather changed so rapidly these days, catching everyone off guard, and Professor Zhou always said there were no released pythons nearby, so some important clues were overlooked!

Alas!

If I had been more careful observing my surroundings, I wouldn’t be just watching Feng Yi catch snakes now!

What hit Steve hard was that Feng Yi’s technique in catching snakes and his strength in dragging the snake were not something Steve could compare with.

Catching pythons also requires skill; if you don’t grab it in the right spot, it can turn around and bite you.

So, looking at this snake, you can tell Feng Yi got it just right.

I thought I was the best snake catcher in this team, but now I have to admit that, aside from theoretical knowledge and experience, I’ve been outdone in other areas!

I really am getting old!

Over there, Cheng Si, who heard the commotion, also came over.

“Holy shit! There really is a python! Teacher Lei—”

Cheng Si hurriedly called Teacher Lei to come and film, and he didn’t stop either, taking out his camera and starting to film right away.

At this time, Feng Yi no longer moved the python, just held it down on the ground, ensuring it didn’t escape.

He was still panting, looking completely exhausted, sweat all over.

“That wasn’t easy! I didn’t expect to actually see a big python here! Feng Yi, did you catch it with Steve?” Cheng Si asked.

Steve said dejectedly, “Feng Yi caught it by himself.”

“No way?!” Cheng Si’s face was filled with disbelief. He looked at Feng Yi, then at the python on the ground, and back at Steve.

Seeing Steve nod, Cheng Si exclaimed again, “No way! Feng Yi, you’re too awesome!”

“You really went all out!” Cheng Si patted Feng Yi on the shoulder, “Look at the sweat on your face, you weren’t even sweating this much when you were carrying a big bag up the mountain under the sun!”

“Yeah! It wasn’t easy at all!” Feng Yi pulled out a smile. He certainly couldn’t tell them that his profuse sweating was from fear, that he had indeed given himself away and his persona had taken quite the hit.

Feng Yi wiped his sweat, pondering how to smooth this over.

Professor Zhou and the others, along with Teacher Lei, also came over, and they were very excited to see the big python that Feng Yi had caught. However, their expressions turned somewhat odd after learning that Feng Yi had caught it alone.

Steve: “I was nearly dumbstruck when I heard a cry and looked over. That huge snake was coiling around him, and all of us know about reptiles, we know the strength of such a big python.”

Steve remembered very clearly, once, when he participated in an international field trip, he tried to tackle a Burmese python over four meters long by himself and ended up choked and uncomfortable, even though he could walk with the whole snake after catching it, he was staggering and it was extremely difficult, definitely not capable of running!

When he was peeling that snake off himself at the time, it took a huge effort! He almost didn’t catch it!

The Burmese python in front of him was even bigger and longer than the one he encountered back then; even if Steve himself could catch it, he certainly wouldn’t handle it as casually as Feng Yi did, especially when Feng Yi effortlessly peeled the snake off himself, Steve nearly doubted his own eyes!

Professor Zhou and the others were eyeing Feng Yi.

Feng Yi said, “It gave me quite the scare. I was just strolling, and it was right there in the shrubs beside me, even in an attacking position. I panicked and just grabbed the snake and ran back, looking for Steve to help.”

Steve: “…”

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“Having strength is one thing, but running wildly with such a big python?!” Professor Zhou said.

“That was just an adrenaline rush, I could only keep it up for a little while. The python is too heavy to carry for long, I had to put it down halfway and change positions. My muscles are still aching all over, my arms are nearly done for,” Feng Yi shook his hands.

Steve: “…”

Steve reached over and gave Feng Yi’s arm muscles a squeeze.

“You don’t look it, but your muscles are really solid!”

Feng Yi, “That’s right, I used to do strength training quite often. After joining the team for expeditions into the mountains, I’ve been continuously exercising. It might not show, but my muscles are definitely solid and strong!”

Steve, “If you acted in movies, you could easily carry the female lead… no, you could even carry the male lead and sprint away without needing to change angles or use props.”

After a moment of thought, Steve asked, “Are you interested in going in that direction? I know some people in the entertainment industry.”

Feng Yi shook his head, “Shot a web drama before, not interested anymore.”

Steve didn’t press further on this topic. He just felt that it was a pity for someone with Feng Yi’s face and physical condition to not take a shot at the entertainment industry. He had a friend who owned an entertainment company and was always looking for such talent.

But Steve had also learned from Professor Zhou and others that Feng Yi wasn’t lacking money. If there was no interest in singing or acting, then there was truly no need to enter the entertainment circle. Tagging along with scientific expeditions from time to time wasn’t bad either… though it always sent one’s blood pressure skyrocketing.

Moreover, with Feng Yi having a precedent of dragging a European catfish late at night, the explanation for his brief spurts of energy wasn’t entirely implausible.

“I won’t even mention you running around with a python, people have different physiques. But! How did you manage to so easily peel it off you?”

While they had been talking, he had wound a section of the snake’s body around his own and clearly felt the python’s constricting pressure as it would on its prey.

Of course, there were other people around, and with someone restraining the snake, Steve dared to conduct this experiment. Otherwise, he would absolutely not have hoped to be so entwined by a python, as it carried the risk of being constricted to death. Liking snakes didn’t mean wanting to be killed by one.

Steve felt the pressure for a bit.

Though it was nowhere near the strength of its actual hunting constriction, it definitely wasn’t something that could be easily peeled off after being wrapped around!

Feng Yi, “…It’s not in good spirits, lacking strength.”

As he said this, Feng Yi stared at the snake.

Suddenly, everyone felt a chill surround them as if a cold wind had harshly blown by.

However, weather in the mountains is unpredictable; it wasn’t too strange.

They continued to focus their attention on the snake.

“Nonsense! As if I have never caught a python…”

Steve didn’t believe it and reached out to pull forcefully.

The section of the snake’s body coiled around him was peeled off onto the ground, limp and lifeless.

Steve, “…”

The others looked towards Steve.

Steve glanced at his hand, “…I really… didn’t use much strength!”

Feng Yi was energized, “See, I told you, it’s not in great spirits.”

Professor Zhou frowned, “It seems like it.”

Once they heard the snake might be sick, everyone shifted their attention away from Feng Yi.

Professor Zhou and his colleagues started to check the snake’s vitals and even connected with the base for online guidance.

Feng Yi handed the snake over to Steve and turned to wipe the sweat from his forehead.

He had been too excited just now, and his mind hadn’t kept up. His back was soaked with sweat.

When Professor Zhou contacted the base, they also received the latest distribution map of signals. Indeed, this snake wasn’t on it.

“This one isn’t a released snake; it’s very likely a native of these mountains,” said Professor Zhou.

Cheng Si inspected it carefully, “By estimation, it’s around 5 meters, only moderately large, not huge. The Burmese pythons in the zoos are bigger and offer more of a visual shock.”

Steve chuckled, “A wild Burmese python over 5 meters is already quite big. This one looks very robust, much heavier than those I’ve encountered before. There’s no shortage of food in these mountains. But no matter how much they eat in the wild, their weight won’t reach the exaggerated levels of those in zoos. Those are like being fed like pigs, to see who can get fatter and heavier! While their size isn’t top-tier, they can easily weigh over 100kg.”

Steve preferred wild snakes over those artificially fed ones that were always competing to break records, which were no better than looking at pigs.

“Burmese pythons can’t compete with green anacondas in terms of weight, nor with reticulated pythons in terms of length. Though green anacondas and reticulated pythons are quite terrifying, their wild habitats don’t include our country. Those that are artificially bred or have escaped don’t count.

“Burmese pythons have been protected in our country for a long time, but they once invaded a swamp in another country and had to be culled by humans after they ate their way through.

“Then they were almost wiped out during the period of abnormal climate.

“Cold-blooded animals like snakes and lizards aren’t like warm-blooded animals that need to keep eating to ensure continuous metabolism. They can go a long time on one meal, minimizing their daily energy needs. Of course, there’s a downside to this; they are more affected by the environment and climate.

“So in that nearly 20-year period of climate change, the ectotherms died off in droves.

“Just think, even humans are susceptible to falling ill when unprepared for a sudden drop or rise in temperature. For temperature-sensitive ectotherms, the situation is even more dire.”

Cheng Si asked, “So, you’re saying that large specimens can now only be found in zoos or other artificially managed environments? Do they exist in the wild?”

Steve replied, “They definitely exist; it’s just that their numbers are fewer and they’re harder to find. Moreover, the individuals that have made it through the abnormal climate are stronger, and their offspring are likely to be stronger as well. If we encounter them in the wild in the future, we will have to be even more cautious!”

Seeing Feng Yi looking their way, Steve couldn’t hold back, “Don’t be so reckless next time. Even if you’re strong and it’s not in good spirits and lethargic, you should never take chances!

“Also, such bursts of strength can really strain your muscles. It’s just a Burmese python this time; if it were a fatty like the green anaconda, I’d like to see how you’d fare! With the same length, one could easily crush you flat!”

Feng Yi knew Steve meant well and listened obediently, “Yes, got it.”