Chapter 69: The Road of Double Exile (11)

Shi Xianyu gripped the steering wheel and saw an overturned off-road vehicle ahead, half-buried in the sand. She frowned, pressed the brake, and refrained from approaching further. Draped atop the off-road vehicle was a massive python, its presence intimidating.

Should she take a detour and leave? But what if someone alive remained inside the vehicle? Would she simply ignore them, let them die? Shi Xianyu felt torn. Her heart was compassionate, yet she knew her limits—she stood no chance against a python.

She couldn’t bring herself to just drive away. After much deliberation, she decided to wait and observe; perhaps the python would leave soon, and then she could attempt a rescue.

Shi Xianyu parked, switched off the engine, and rose to find her binoculars, hoping to see more clearly—ideally, glimpse the inside of the vehicle.

Lu Li, curious, pressed her face against the window, peering outside.

Shi Xianyu worried the child might be frightened. She handed Lu Li the bubble machine, gently stroked her head, and said, “Stay in the car and play. Don’t get out, okay? It’s too hot outside, and if you step out, you’ll be roasted into a little charcoal.”

She deliberately avoided mentioning the python, not wanting to give the child any psychological trauma.

Lu Li, however, seemed calm enough—perhaps accustomed to living alone and facing all sorts of mutant beasts, she was not easily fazed.

Shi Xianyu rummaged in the storage compartment, found her binoculars, and opened the car door, preparing to observe the situation more closely.

At that moment, the giant lizard that had been trailing their camper lumbered over, snorting and scraping across the sand—

Shi Xianyu: “???”

Before she could figure out what the giant lizard was up to, it picked up a dead baby snake from the ground, chewed twice, and swallowed it.

Shi Xianyu: “…………”

So you really are a carnivore!

Hundreds of baby snakes lay scattered across the sand, a scene of carnage. Shi Xianyu had been so focused on the giant python that she hadn’t noticed the devastation before her.

The giant lizard ate snake after snake, delighted, and by the end, didn’t even bother chewing—slurping them down like noodles, drawing them into its belly.

Shi Xianyu found its conduct rather improper. Even if that’s how nature works, you shouldn’t eat the children right in front of their mother—it was simply too cruel.

As expected, the Thorn Python that had been twined around the off-road vehicle gradually twisted its head, its triangular serpent face pointing wherever the giant lizard went.

Its tongue flickered, body contorting into an aggressive stance; its cold eyes fixed upon the giant lizard.

The lizard, however, seemed oblivious—or perhaps unconcerned. It devoured the snakes one after another, slurping them down in smooth rhythm.

Finally, the python’s fury erupted. It opened its mouth wide, the entire head splitting into six segments. Venom sprayed at the giant lizard.

The venom splashed against the lizard’s rough, armored hide, causing no harm. Unperturbed, the lizard continued slurping snakes. In just a short while, it had eaten dozens.

The python, beside itself with rage, finally released its grip on the off-road vehicle and lunged at the lizard, jaws agape!

The giant lizard, intent on its meal, was caught off guard as the python bit its hind leg. The snakes in its mouth tumbled to the ground like chopped eels. In pain, it extended its tongue, scooping the fallen snakes back into its mouth, determined not to waste a morsel, then resumed eating.

The python’s usual method was to bite, then constrict its prey until death before swallowing. But it hesitated at the large flower marking on the lizard’s back; though it clamped onto the hind leg, it couldn’t constrict effectively, only biting down and curling its thick body to drag at the lizard.

Yet the lizard was unlike an off-road vehicle with spinning tires. Even with one leg caught, it still had three to crawl with!

Massive and powerful, it dragged the python behind it, crawling onward, eating as it went, indifferent to its wounded leg.

If the python could chew, it would surely gnaw the lizard’s leg to pieces in fury. But its anatomy only allowed swallowing.

The Thorn Python released its mouth, targeting the lizard’s thick tail, and bit down again.

It intended to swallow the giant lizard whole, starting from behind, piece by piece!

Inside the camper, Lu Li grew anxious, wishing she could rush out and help the giant lizard, but no sound came from her open mouth. Desperate, she pressed the bubble machine in her hand.

Cheerful music played, bubbles floated out in a flurry, scattering through the hot air.

Shi Xianyu watched from the car door, puzzled by the lizard's equanimity. It was nearly being swallowed, yet remained intent on its meal.

She certainly hoped the lizard would win over the python. Seeing the python had already swallowed most of the lizard’s tail, Shi Xianyu gripped the sprayer at her waist, hesitating whether to approach and spray into the python’s mouth.

But the sprayer’s range was short; she’d have to get very close. The python was so large—if it wrapped her up...

The thought sent chills down her spine, and the courage she had just gathered dissipated completely.

What should she do?

Was there any way to help the giant lizard from a distance?

While Shi Xianyu agonized, the python had swallowed the lizard’s entire tail, and soon its hind legs would be inside the python’s mouth as well!

Lu Li was frantic, wishing she could wield her bubble machine to help.

Shi Xianyu too was desperate. She decided to try spraying a few times first, and if that failed, she’d think of something else.

She picked up the sprayer and got out. After just two steps, she saw the giant lizard suddenly kick its legs, and—crawl away?

Shi Xianyu stopped in astonishment, stunned.

She wasn’t the only one; even the python was dumbfounded. It had never imagined the giant lizard would sever its own tail! Like a gecko shedding its tail, the lizard nonchalantly crawled off, abandoning its tail.

The Thorn Python held the tail in its mouth, unable to swallow or spit it out, so enraged its eyes bulged.

Shi Xianyu saw the python’s mouth stretched wide by the lizard’s tail—a perfect opportunity!

She rushed forward and sprayed wildly into the python’s mouth, then bolted back.

The python couldn’t cry out, but its entire body twisted like a spinning screw, writhing in agony.

Shi Xianyu dashed back into the camper, fearful the python might chase her, slammed the door shut, and hurried to the window. She saw the giant python, after a bout of struggling, collapse and slither away, burrowing into the sand, soon vanishing from sight.

The giant lizard remained near the off-road vehicle, slurping away, unmoved as a mountain.

Shi Xianyu: “…………”

In ancient times, heroes severed their own wrists. This one had the resolve to sever its own tail—truly remarkable.

She continued observing from the camper, and once certain the python wasn’t returning, Shi Xianyu opened the door and ran toward the off-road vehicle.

She needed to check quickly if there was anyone left to save inside.