He leaped onto a tall tree. The python had already emerged from the cave, rearing its upper body so high that it was level with Zhou You's eyes. The sight was genuinely terrifying.

Zhou You almost fell off the branch, but clung to the tree to stabilize himself. He shouted, "Mr. Snake, why are you chasing someone as insignificant as me? I'm hardly a morsel for you. How about we part ways amicably?"

The python hissed, opening its massive mouth. A foul odor hit Zhou You, and as the snake lunged towards him, Zhou You unleashed his flying knife array. Sensing the presence of its natural enemy, the python retreated rapidly, coiling around a nearby tree, watching Zhou You intently.

Zhou You paused, then asked cheerfully, "So, you're afraid of birds? Still want to fight? If not, I'll leave."

This python seemed highly intelligent. After a moment's observation, it determined that the bird was not its natural enemy. It let out an angered hiss and spat venom at Zhou You.

Zhou You dodged easily, but the venom corroded a huge section of the tree trunk. The tree began to wobble. Had it hit him, he might've dissolved instantly.

"That's potent!" Zhou You manipulated a set of 108 feathers, directing them at the python. With his current ability, only half of the feathers were infused with his energy, the others merely served as a distraction.

The python's scaly back was incredibly tough. The flying knives left no marks, merely scratching its belly. Zhou You's hope of pinning it down wasn’t realized.

"Damn, they just keep getting tougher. How do I defeat it?" Zhou You wished he had a powerful weapon. If he had a bazooka, he'd blow the snake to smithereens.

"I have an idea!" Zhou You climbed a persimmon tree and picked several large fruits, each the size of a pumpkin and incredibly sweet. He had nearly overeaten on them the day before.

He channeled his energy into the persimmons and threw them into the python's open mouth during its attack. "Try spitting them out now!" Zhou You leaped onto the snake's head, aiming for its eyes, leaving the snake no time to deal with the ingested fruits.

The python, with its agile moves, threw Zhou You off. Its tail swept out, knocking down many trees in its wake. Zhou You rolled to avoid its strike.

From a distance, Zhou You focused, and shouted, "Explode!" Each energy-infused persimmon burst inside the python's stomach, causing it great pain.

"Now!" Zhou You, with his knife in hand, sprinted and plunged it into the snake's vulnerable spot, the "seventh inch." Without its protective scales, the knife struck true. The python let out a mournful cry, and its head crashed to the ground. After a few spasms, it lay still.

Zhou You, drained of energy, sat down gasping for breath. The persimmon bomb he used was something he had developed during meditation, with explosive power comparable to a grenade, but it consumed much of his energy.

He retreated to the cave to rest, waiting to regain his strength before continuing on his journey.

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Chapter 003: Human Ruins

Zhou You took half a day to recover. By noon, the sun blazed, and the rabbit fur was too warm to wear, so he packed it away and left the cave.

The python's corpse still lay at the entrance. As he approached, a wolf emerged from behind the snake, snarling at Zhou You.

Recognizing it as the injured old wolf that originally inhabited the cave, Zhou You backed off, gesturing placatingly, "Easy there, old fellow. You eat first. I'll wait here."

The old wolf tore open the python's belly, swiftly consuming its gall bladder. To Zhou You, it seemed the wolf momentarily glowed before the luminescence faded.

Once satisfied, the limping wolf disappeared into the forest. Zhou You shouted after it, "Hey, I was just borrowing your cave! You don’t need to move out!"

Of course, the wolf didn’t understand, but Zhou You wasn’t concerned. He circled the snake, contemplating if he could remove its skin for later use. However, lacking the proper tools, he eventually gave up and left.

Shortly after, two saber-toothed tigers arrived, drawn by the scent. The surrounding wildlife froze in place.

One of the tigers inspected the python's remains, noticing the missing gall bladder. It roared in frustration, sending the surrounding creatures scattering in fear.

Zhou You also heard the tiger's roar. Regardless of whether he could take on the tiger, humans naturally fear predators, and he hastened his steps north.

On the third day, Zhou You came across an abandoned highway, now overgrown with foliage. Only some intact portions revealed its former identity as a freeway.

"The Beijing-Taipei Expressway... I've reached here? There should be a town nearby. Even if it's covered in forest, there should be remnants of a human settlement. I need to find supplies, and maybe other survivors."

With a road to guide him, Zhou You followed it, occasionally climbing trees to ensure he was on track. Thanks to his martial arts, he could traverse at an accelerated speed.

Along the way, he encountered many wild creatures but tried to avoid startling them. If cornered, he knew he would have to fight fiercely to survive.

Having evaded an attack by a flock of birds, Zhou You discovered a rusty bicycle along the way. Surprisingly, it was still rideable. He exchanged his feet for the bicycle's wheels and relished the thrill of cycling through the jungle.