Closer to Revealing My True Self
Chapter 167 - 137: What Do We Need a Bike For_1

Chapter 167: Chapter 137: What Do We Need a Bike For_1

Hong Xun was unable to discern any emotional difference in the python’s eyes.

He didn’t know how Feng Yi could tell whether it was docile or ferocious just from these impassive eyes.

However, the repeated incidents had made Hong Xun more convinced of Feng Yi’s abilities.

If Feng Yi said so, it was very likely true!

Hong Xun’s voice was hoarse, "You mean, the one captured last night, no, early this morning, was much more docile, but the one in the photo seems more temperamental?"

"Yes," Feng Yi nodded. "Are you sure it has been released into this lake?"

"Positive!"

Hong Xun trusted his colleagues’ investigative skills and had already found evidence proving that the python in the photo had been secretly released into the lake before them, even marking the exact location of its release.

Comparing each scale and pattern, Hong Xun confirmed that the two pythons were indeed different!

He urgently contacted the security personnel in the cordoned area and those conducting further investigations there, "Do not approach the lake! Do not act alone! Beware of the grass and woodlands by the lake! An unknown danger remains to be confirmed, stay alert!"

Having notified his own people, he then called the Forestry Bureau, sent the photo over, and asked them to make careful identification and urgently dispatch reinforcements to assist.

Afterwards, Hong Xun reached out to his colleagues at the Joint Protection Bureau to brief them on the situation.

After hanging up, Hong Xun looked grim; the circumstances had exceeded their expectations.

In fact, upon further thought, the python Feng Yi had captured in the early hours was exceptionally docile and definitely used to frequent human contact, as even the Forestry Bureau staff mentioned it must have interacted with many people.

But the python in the photo had been secretly kept by the wealthy young master in his basement and undoubtedly hadn’t interacted with many people.

The danger posed by a large and bad-tempered python was easy to imagine.

Thus, the lakeside recreational area that was about to be unsealed was cordoned off once again.

The python caught in the early hours had often been in contact with people and handled by humans; therefore, it exhibited emotion when captured but remained within a controllable range of responses.

If it had been the python in the photo that Mo Xiaoguang and his group had encountered, given the circumstances at the time, at least one of them would have been dragged down.

Similarly, if Feng Yi had encountered this more ferocious python from the photo in the early hours today, it would not have calmly greeted him, as it would have likely attacked proactively.

This has little to do with whether it was hungry.

A bad-tempered and incredibly strong python of this size is quite dangerous.

Upon receiving Hong Xun’s call, backup quickly arrived, and Feng Yi also saw the Forestry Bureau staff from earlier that morning, accompanied by two experts who had been urgently called in, both skilled in capturing snakes: one in his thirties and the other in his fifties.

The fifty-year-old expert wasn’t a professional snake catcher; his specialty was breeding snakes.

Current laws on this are strict, and private individuals can hardly obtain permits. However, this expert cooperated with some institutions and departments; his case was a special one - breeding for scientific research approved and authorized by the administrative authorities, making it a legal operation.

Therefore, this expert was also accustomed to handling many snakes, possessing a wealth of experience in capturing them.

Yet, as they approached, Feng Yi’s gaze fell on his arm.

The recent weather in Yang City had been clear and hot; the temperature was high, and these people had rushed over in haste, their faces still damp with sweat they hadn’t wiped away. The expert had his sleeves rolled up, revealing several bite marks on his arm.

They were unmistakably snake bites.

Marks from both venomous and non-venomous snakes were present.

Feng Yi: "..."

Noticing Feng Yi’s gaze, the expert smiled indifferently: "Scared you, didn’t it? No worries, it’s normal. Just like how someone who keeps a cat ends up with a few scratch marks."

Feng Yi: "..."

This kind of thing can’t be compared that way!

Hong Xun and several people from the Forestry Bureau discussed the search plan. The situation was urgent and they didn’t have much time for discussion; several drones were already searching from the air above the lake, but Feng Yi felt there wouldn’t be much yield.

If the python had indeed been placed in this lake, and no one had spotted it by now, it meant the large python was very good at hiding.

It wasn’t necessarily a sign of intelligence but perhaps habit or wild instinct that made it more elusive than the previously captured python.

The fact that it hadn’t been found also suggested that the python might not be hungry. Such a creature, once fed, could stay hidden in one place for a long time.

Just like the python Feng Yi caught early in the morning, which hid motionless, you wouldn’t notice it was there unless you looked closely, even if you squatted right beside it during the daytime.

Wei Hongxun discussed with the forestry bureau staff for a while, then hurriedly called for Feng Yi.

"Since you can search by scent, let’s search along the lakeshore."

As he said this, Wei Hongxun spread out a map.

This map was actually produced by the resort for tourists, indicating areas open to the public and those off-limits.

The so-called off-limits areas were parts of the resort that were undeveloped and usually fenced off, leaning more towards a natural, wild environment. They also served as activity areas for migratory birds to overwinter, with obstacles and cordons placed to prevent tourists from entering and disturbing them.

However, due to the urgent situation, the obstacles meant to serve as barriers had been temporarily moved aside. Wei Hongxun pointed to a pale brown line on the map by the lake, "This circle is a pedestrian path, rather narrow, with complex paving. Some sections are uneven, and the scenic area’s tour vehicles can’t pass through smoothly."

Hong Xun then pointed to another circle: a white line further to the outside. "This circle is the driveway, though it’s a bit farther from the lake. To facilitate your search by scent, I’ll go with you by bike on the inside, while others drive on the outside."

Normally, this pedestrian path does not allow bicycles, and violators would be fined. But now, with the entire area sealed off and circumstances being special, exceptions were made for urgent matters.

Hong Xun’s intention was for him and Feng Yi to cycle along this interior path around the lake, searching carefully. Being closer, the scent would be clearer.

The forestry bureau staff and other personnel would take the outer driveways, following in vehicles.

Feng Yi had no objections to this arrangement.

So, Wei Hongxun contacted the manager of the resort to borrow some of their bicycles.

"Bicycles? No problem!" said the resort manager.

The variety wasn’t extensive since the resort wasn’t specialized in bicycle racing but occasionally rented out bikes to tourists for short-range activities. They put a lot of thought into the design, featuring cartoons, prints, and cooperative IP imagery, which were eye-catching and indeed very stylish.

To enhance comfort, the bikes used tires that needed to be inflated. Although this meant they required regular maintenance, the resort didn’t mind the expense.

The resort manager was very responsive, not least because there was no choice! Everyone thought the python issue was resolved with just one capture, but now there was another! The resort’s owners were so shaken by the events that they nearly pulled their hair out. They had "warmly greeted" the ancestors of the two people who had released the pythons into the lake.

Knowing that Hong Xun needed bicycles for a purpose, the manager immediately introduced the three types of bicycles the resort could provide.

"Which bicycles do you need? Single rider? Tandem? Parent-child... oh, you don’t need the parent-child ones."

While speaking, the resort manager pulled up photos of the bicycles for Wei Hongxun and Feng Yi to choose from.

Hong Xun’s gaze moved from the single rider bicycles to the tandems, and finally settled on the parent-child bikes.

Then, Hong Xun pointed to a parent-child bike with a comfortable rear seat and said to Feng Yi, "How about we choose this one? I’ll pedal the bike, and you just need to sit in the back and concentrate on distinguishing scents."

Hong Xun was concerned that Feng Yi might be distracted while cycling and accidentally head into the lake. He also wanted Feng Yi to focus all his attention on the search, which was why he thought of this type of bike.

He had just looked at the details of the parent-child bicycle. This model was for older children within the parent-child category, with a wider and larger rear seat and decent weight capacity that could even accommodate adults.

Feng Yi understood Hong Xun’s thoughts, but...

"I won’t."

Feng Yi pointed to a single rider bicycle. "I’ll ride my own bike. It allows for a broader view, and I can spot anything unusual more quickly."

Hong Xun thought about it and agreed.

To resolve the python issue quickly, the resort was quite efficient and immediately had the bicycles delivered.

Something occurred to Feng Yi, who then asked the resort manager, "Doesn’t the single rider bicycle have a weight limit?"

From the images brought up earlier, only the tandem and parent-child bicycles had weight limits listed, but the single rider bicycle did not.

The resort manager quickly scanned Feng Yi from head to toe and said with a smile, "Don’t worry, your weight is definitely not a problem! It can easily handle up to a hundred kilograms!"

Feng Yi: "..."

A few moments of silence passed.

"Do you have any with a higher weight capacity?" Feng Yi asked.

The resort manager was puzzled. Why would someone riding a single rider bicycle need such a high weight limit? Could it be that...

This expert was planning to cycle and tow "Big Niuniu"?!!