Closer to Revealing My True Self-Chapter 216 - 173 Throwing away troubles_1

Feng Yi sat on the giant python’s back, holding onto the tail part to stop it from curling toward this side. His expression was serious, but his eyes were unfocused, unsure of what he was thinking.

Steve hadn’t noticed Feng Yi’s distraction at all; he was praising the regal shape of the python’s head.

"Look at this head, it’s the head of a born ruler! And these old scars on its head, they’re its battle badges from the swamp—domestic pythons don’t have these! Wow, look at its gaze, detached, cool, even the scales around its eyes are wild and domineering! It has much more ’Spiritual Energy’ than the domestic ones!"

Feng Yi: "..."

Steve: "This head shape, this look, this figure! Ah, it seems to have a bit of reticulated python lineage. You can tell it’s not a purebred reticulated python, and a purebred one probably wouldn’t be so willing to move in this temperature.

"Before the period of climate anomalies, someone had discovered in the swamp that, after generations of natural selection, individuals that survived the climate anomalies and were able to adapt to the swamp conditions may have interbred with other pythons, like Burmese or other rock pythons, to produce hybrid pythons?"

Steve spoke his speculation.

This hybrid giant python was comparatively slender, also resembling a reticulated python.

Six meters is considered the limit for a Burmese python, but there are many reticulated pythons of six meters; as long as the conditions are right, six meters is easy. Steve had also seen reticulated pythons of seven meters, though most were in captivity.

He had never seen a wild reticulated one of seven meters.

"Although it’s not a purebred reticulated python, this kind of hybrid is rare enough, and wild individuals also appear more robust!"

As Steve spoke, he finally noticed Feng Yi’s distraction and asked with concern, "Are you alright?"

Feng Yi came back to his senses and shook his head, "No, just a little hungry."

"Ah, hang in there for a bit longer, once Director He and the others arrive, you can go and have something to eat."

Feng Yi hummed in acknowledgment, then turned the conversation back to the python, "This one is about seven meters, right? Can it set a new world record?"

Excited by the topic, Steve said, "It should be seven meters, we have to measure carefully to be precise. It might not break the highest data, but it’s definitely the longest python found in the wild. Some of the captive ones, the extreme individuals, are also very big."

"Under wild conditions, human activities can affect their living environment, which naturally limits their growth. In the past, when human activity wasn’t as widespread, there were vast primary forests, greater wetland jungle areas, plentiful food, and suitable growing environments that definitely could support larger and more extreme individuals.

"Now, it’s hard to find extreme individuals in the wild, but you can see captive ones in zoos and research centers. Look at those celebrity pythons in zoos; they are generally larger, some have been selectively bred with care. Following the climate anomalies, when funding increased, zoos got very competitive with grants, subsidies, and donations; everyone’s trying to grow the biggest one."

Speaking of zoos, Feng Yi also recalled the golden python he had seen before, "There’s a golden python in Rong City Zoo, over six meters, a very big one."

Steve’s tone showed little fluctuation, a very casual attitude, "Oh, I know that one, an albino Burmese python, artificially selected and carefully fed to grow, it’s an extreme individual among the dominant ones; not surprising it grew so big."

Usually, a "golden python" refers to an albino Burmese python. But to the average person, albino Burmese pythons and albino reticulated pythons look the same—they’re all "golden pythons."

However, for Steve, the difference was significant.

"I’ve seen a seven-meter albino reticulated as well; albino Burmese pythons tend to be a bit shorter. Reticulated pythons are leaner, except for those raised like pigs. I still prefer the wild ones." Steve said.

Steve, facing the giant python that nearly bit his head, could still admiringly sigh, "Truly beautiful."

"I’ll take you to catch green anacondas in the tropical jungle sometime; they’re a different kind of cute! Bad-tempered, but not too bad."

Feng Yi: "...How big can green anacondas get?"

"Hard to say, depends on their living environment. The current extreme individuals certainly can’t match the reticulated ones. Many of the exaggerated data turn out to be just over five meters when actually measured. However, huge anaconda skins from decades ago prove that larger individuals existed back then, when the environment could support such size, but not anymore."

"Can’t you guess based on the data?" Feng Yi asked.

"The data obtained from scientific investigation usually underestimate their growth limits. After all, without factual evidence, you don’t know how big they can get in the wild; it’s not that easy to come across special individuals. Like this one here, it’s a special individual."

Steve nodded towards the giant python they had captured, "As for those snakes that exceed my common sense, they only exist in the fancy stories spun by marketers."

Feng Yi seemed thoughtful, his hand holding the python’s tail involuntarily flicked it, then he realized this was not his own tail.

For a moment, he felt dispirited.

Alas, he wanted to go home.

Feeling stifled.

However, Steve was quite enthusiastic and continued to explain to Feng Yi, "The one we’ve caught has hybrid vigor. For example, a python that favors wetlands and a python that prefers highlands—if they breed, some of the offspring might be superior individuals that can adapt to wetlands and thrive in highlands. This is the hybrid vigor that may result from crossbreeding different species."

By the time Director He arrived, Steve was controlling the python’s head and Feng Yi was pinning down the body and holding the tail. The python didn’t move at all.

Director He even suspected that the python was already dead.

Their helicopter couldn’t land at the snake-catching site; after searching nearby, they found a suitable spot to land. As soon as the helicopter touched down, Director He hurried over to where Feng Yi and Steve were.

The professionals who arrived were not only numerous but also skilled. They took control of the giant python, freeing Feng Yi and Steve’s hands.

Director He glanced at Feng Yi meaningfully, somewhat reminiscent of the encounter in the hotel lobby — an hour of safety training along with a handwritten promise.

That written promise was still in Director He’s hands.

Director He’s gaze swept over to Steve, who stepped forward before he could speak, gripping Director He’s hand tightly, "Director He! I finally understand how you felt back then! These years have been so tough!"

Director He: "..."

Expressionless, he pushed Steve aside, "Let’s check the snake first."

Feng Yi and Steve followed obediently.

Feng Yi briefly repeated the snake-catching process he had explained to Steve before.

Director He didn’t know whether to believe it or not, he just grunted and asked Feng Yi, "Are you injured?"

"No."

Director He checked carefully and did not find any injuries on Feng Yi, "There might be internal injuries, don’t take it lightly. We have a medic who came along; let him take a look later."

Someone from the Conservation Bureau came from the python’s direction, "The python is still alive, not sure if it has any internal injuries, didn’t see any obvious external wounds. To know the specifics we have to get it back for examination, as our equipment here is limited."

After speaking, he took a device to measure the ground temperature and the python’s body temperature, glanced at the time after a while, and stepped aside to make a call, urging, "Hurry up, as the daylight raises the temperature, it will become more active, making it harder to control."

Director He approached for a closer look at the giant python that Feng Yi had caught.

The size was indeed a visual shock and was indeed a wild species, not one that had been raised in captivity and then released.

"The temperature in Florida has risen in the last few days, the nights are also a bit warmer than before, bringing out a lot of nocturnal animals, so that’s why it chose to come out at this time."

After inspecting the python’s condition, Director He told Feng Yi and Steve, "Leave this to us now. We’ve already set up a temporary tent over there and brought food and water; you two go and rest for a bit."

First, let’s deal with the python incident, Feng Yi’s problems can be discussed later, now is not the time to pursue them.

Steve said, "Feng Yi, you go ahead, I’ll go back to the Boze area to tidy up and drive the car over."

Before Feng Yi could say more, Steve hurried off.

Feng Yi always felt that this guy had dumped some trouble on him.

What trouble, exactly?

Feng Yi glanced at Director He’s back. Director He and his team are busy now and haven’t gotten around to him yet.

But what is it, exactly?

Unable to figure it out for the moment, Feng Yi didn’t dwell on it. Whatever, let’s get some food first, he was so hungry.

As Feng Yi walked toward the tent, he saw several familiar faces among the people who had set up camp here—faces he had seen during training sessions back home.

Just as he was greeting them, the night sky was again filled with the sound of helicopters arriving.

This time it was three helicopters landing, but there was no suitable spot left here, so they landed elsewhere.

"Are those your people too?" Feng Yi asked someone nearby.

That person glanced over and denied, "No, the helicopter model looks like the one used by the local media."

Feng Yi: "..."

Fuck!

He now knew why Steve had run off so fast!

Feng Yi turned and was about to dash into the tent, but after taking a few steps, he stopped.

After some thought, he decided to face the situation head-on; otherwise, these people wouldn’t leave easily.

As Feng Yi had suspected, using their local advantage, the local media who had arrived first, not only came in force but also brought their partner media, poised for action and well-equipped.

The python was being strictly monitored by the United Enforcement Bureau and local law enforcement, and they couldn’t get close or shoot anything useful. But they weren’t in a hurry; the transport vehicle hadn’t arrived, and the python was still here, so there would always be a chance.

If they couldn’t shoot the python, they would start by interviewing the person who caught it!

A group of media rushed up to Feng Yi, firing off a series of questions at him. Someone even brought an interpreter, fearing that Feng Yi might not understand.

In the camera’s frame, even though Feng Yi’s looks were high-caliber, he appeared extraordinarily fatigued, and his smile lacked energy. People thought he was depleted from capturing the python.

However...

Fatigue!

Extreme fatigue!

His brain cells were nearly depleted!

Listening to these reporters, the residential area had been completely stirred up! Why was there such a big fuss!

Why did these people have so many questions? I haven’t even thought of the answers yet!

Don’t shoot my face like that!

Dammit, the lights are so bright they’re about to bring out my vertical pupils!

Just take the photo, why pinch my arm! Restrain yourselves a bit!

...My teeth are starting to itch.

Feng Yi pulled out his sunglasses and put them on.

The lights here really are too bright.

After a while, someone from the United Enforcement Bureau came to stop the reporters’ frenzy. Feng Yi finally let out a sigh of relief.

Director He dispatched two people to stand by Feng Yi, preventing any further disturbances.

After a brief interview, Feng Yi walked towards the tent with a tired face.

The two officers from the United Enforcement Bureau, sensing Feng Yi’s impatience, were about to say a few words of comfort when they saw Feng Yi suddenly bend down and pull out a small python from the bushes by the tent.

Not big, just over a meter long.

Both men: "?!!"

Feng Yi held the snake’s head in one hand while unwrapping the snake that had coiled around his wrist with the other.

From a distance, it looked like Feng Yi was waving around some kind of strip in his hand.

"Got a bag?" Feng Yi asked.

"Uh? Oh! Yes!"

One of them hurried into the tent and quickly brought out a snake bag.

Feng Yi tossed the snake into it, and after securing the bag, he said, "I’ll leave this with you?"

"Yes, leave it with us. We’ll make a record for you."

"Then I’ll go inside and take a nap."

"Sure, we’ll be right outside, just shout if you need anything."

After Feng Yi entered the tent, the person holding the snake bag lifted it and asked his colleague, "Did you see a snake there just now?"

"No. You’ve been in and out a few times, and you were the one who set up the tent. Did you notice a python hiding there?"

"...No."

"He truly is the top combatant in our team, just casually catching a snake like that!"

"If I didn’t know that was a snake, I would have thought he was making noodles just now!"