Closer to Revealing My True Self
Chapter 220 - 175 Who is this?_1

Chapter 220: Chapter 175 Who is this?_1

The United Insurance Bureau acted quickly and efficiently. The day after Director He came to him, the points were deposited into his account.

When he entered the client end of the giant python hunting activity on his mobile phone, Feng Yi found his participation status had changed to[Ended].

Feng Yi looked at the snake he had caught and the reward money he was eligible to receive. After doing some mental calculations, he started purchasing equipment.

He had already picked out several items to order. These models were the latest releases, with many restrictions on purchase, and required points plus cash, a strict requirement that demanded a significant amount of points.

Feng Yi met the purchase criteria, and he had the necessary points on hand.

When placing the order, he glanced at the shipping and anticipated delivery times; it looked like it would be after the new year when engineers would come to install and adjust the equipment.

After paying, Feng Yi let out a long sigh of relief.

He was one step closer to getting his medical laboratory up and running!

He opened his account to check the balance. The cash deduction wasn’t much, but the points showed a detail of [Available Points] and [Frozen Points]; the points would be in a frozen state after use.

Looking at his available points balance, Feng Yi mused about when to visit Florida next to earn more points.

After buying the equipment, Feng Yi began to look at plane tickets.

Even though his results had already been settled early, and he was no longer in a participating status, Feng Yi couldn’t leave immediately—there were still some matters that required his presence.

The more than seven meters long wild giant python was indeed explosive news. There were still few photos and videos of this python available, and even the local official media didn’t get many benefits in front of the United Insurance Bureau.

The officials reported it, but people wanted to know more. The videos circulating online had been reshared and reposted countless times, with the clearest ones being those Feng Yi sent to Cheng Si. Cheng Si’s videos on social media platforms were extremely popular.

The research center would only hold a press conference after they had finished examining the python and observing its condition to ensure stability.

All kinds of rumors were flying around online, so they needed to make an official statement and let everyone see this beast that has been lurking in the marsh for years.

The research center planned a rather formal press conference about this matter to give the python some official publicity, telling everyone that the incident was real, that the python is in good condition, and that it wasn’t killed or dissected for research as the rumors suggested.

Feng Yi, the person who captured the python, was definitely expected to attend the research center’s press conference.

During the conference, the administrative departments of Florida praised their own efforts extravagantly.

This huge python’s size is proof of their good governance, they claimed. Under the supervision of the United Insurance Bureau, they managed pesticides and cultivation strictly. While pythons are endangered globally, they are thriving here!

Of course, ecological issues are not just about pesticides and cultivation; biological invasion is also a concern. Whether pythons can be eradicated remains a problem that interests people.

People do not want to see a python outburst; this is not something to brag about. Look at how many other animals in the marsh are left after being preyed on by the pythons!?

Opossums, raccoons, deer, and other mammals, as well as waders—are there any plans to reintroduce these?

Was the captured giant python known to have eaten humans, and would it be released back into the wild?

As Feng Yi listened to the back-and-forth questions and answers, Director He mentioned that they would have to write a reflection after the press conference.

Other issues depended on how the local departments considered them; Feng Yi wasn’t privy to the details, so he didn’t offer any unnecessary reflections. However, he knew that the captured python would definitely not be released. It wouldn’t be returned to the marsh or any other location.

It was too dangerous. Judging by its various reactions, it was very likely that it had eaten humans. Releasing it would pose a deadly threat to people and other animals.

Regarding residents’ concerns about the possibility of more dangerous pythons appearing in the marsh in the future, the representatives from the research center stated:

"Up until now, we haven’t found any smaller pythons that are similar. Possibly, this type of hybrid python has low fertility, or its offspring differ greatly from it, or have very low survival rates. Reproductive isolation could also be a factor. We can only speculate that the birth of such pythons is a low-probability event..."

The contestants were a bit disappointed.

Did this mean they wouldn’t be able to catch this kind of hybrid giant python?

Different professionals had their own thoughts as Feng Yi contemplated how he would write his reflection. Meanwhile, a journalist’s question had already been directed at him.

The same old questions.

Journalist: "It was so dark around you, how did you catch it?"

Feng Yi: "Instinct and intuition."

While answering, Feng Yi’s gaze was especially sincere.

However, the journalists suspected he was just brushing them off.

They had already checked out Feng Yi and had all the details available online about him. This fellow was no stranger to the entertainment industry; look at that acting—so convincing!

Feng Yi didn’t care whether they were satisfied or not; his answer stood—ask and he’d say he was exceptionally gifted, ask again and he’d say his luck was extraordinary!

As for "snake-catching secrets" or "Chinese martial arts," let them guess!

Just as Feng Yi had anticipated, the journalists returned believing he was lying. So, after releasing the interview verbatim, they added their own "truthful" speculations.

After the press conference ended, Feng Yi slipped away first. The journalists who hoped for a private interview after the press conference were left empty-handed.

Feng Yi went to the local United Insurance Bureau to activate his Hunter’s card, then arranged a meal with Steve and Cheng Si at the hotel, and after that, he could leave.

To avoid any trouble, Feng Yi simply arranged for the dinner in the hotel room and had the food delivered.

Cheng Si and Steve arrived one after the other.

Cheng Si was in a particularly good mood these past few days. The number of shares and comments on the videos Feng Yi gave him nearly split his face with smiles. Now calling Feng Yi ’Brother’ wasn’t enough; he’d gladly call him ’Dad’!

"Brother, you’re definitely going to be the Python King of this event!" Cheng Si said as he walked in.

Feng Yi: ???

"You caught the biggest python!"

"Oh."

"Also, congratulations!"

Feng Yi thought Cheng Si was referring to the prize money or maybe they had heard about his official certification as a python hunter.

Then he heard Cheng Si say, "Congratulations to Brother Se on becoming the Python King!"

Feng Yi: ???

What’s that?

Seeing Feng Yi’s bewildered face, Cheng Si continued, "To be precise, the Python King! Congratulations on your promotion to Python King, Brother Se!"

Feng Yi: "..."

What Python King?

I honestly don’t want such a weird title!

Taking a deep breath, Feng Yi asked, "Who came up with this name?"

"Everyone online says so. I saw people mentioning it during my live stream; after searching, I found out that they had already coined this nickname for you," Cheng Si said.

Thinking of the message Feng Yi had sent him, Cheng Si looked puzzled, "Brother, why are you quitting the competition now? If you go back now, your results for this event will be tallied ahead of schedule."

Feng Yi snapped back to reality, "They’ve already been tallied, and the results of this event are fixed; even if I catch more pythons now, they won’t be counted."

"It’s not worth it. Although you’ve caught quite a few pythons previously, Brother Yi, there are other contestants who have caught a lot as well; of course, they’re not as good as you, but if they complete the whole course, their total number may not necessarily lose to yours."

The contestant with the most pythons caught also gets a prize.

Both the "Largest Size" and "Most Number" categories have prize money.

"Even if you just stay in the hotel every day and occasionally go out to catch a few pythons, that would be okay," Cheng Si said.

"No, there’s too much media here, it’s annoying," Feng Yi replied.

These were just excuses Feng Yi made up.

If he had a choice, of course, he could stay in the hotel every day, occasionally sweeping through the swamp.

But it’s too inconvenient!

Can’t get full, still have that itchy feeling on my teeth!

Can’t even let my tail out!

Now, also being in the critical period of venom gland enhancement, it’s better to go back first.

Besides, he had already obtained what he wanted; the remaining opportunities could be left for other contestants.

Seeing that Feng Yi had made up his mind, Cheng Si sighed, "That’s really too bad, catching one more is still money. These kinds of events are said to be once a year, but it’s not every year that we have such great weather; in the past, there have been storms and significant temperature drops during the events, or other reasons to cancel. At other times, it’s okay for tourism, but many areas are off-limits."

"No problem, I can come over after the event ends," Feng Yi said.

Upon hearing this, Steve’s eyes lit up, "You got certified?"

"Mhm."

Feng Yi took out his python Hunter card.

Steve had his physical card back in the hotel room; he pulled up the electronic card on his phone to show Feng Yi, "I have one too! As far as I know, there are no more than five people in the country with this card; among them, two haven’t been catching much in recent years due to health reasons, and another has shifted to theory. That is to say, right now, it’s just the two of us who can enter the swamp to catch snakes."

Thinking of what Feng Yi had said earlier, Steve agreed, "It’s okay to withdraw. We won’t join this craze; we’ll go in when there are fewer people."

Having encountered a python over 7 meters long on this trip, Steve was already quite satisfied. For the rest of the time, he wanted to mingle in the research center, join the group theorizing about pythons, and participate in the construction of the breeding room that the research center was building.

Cheng Si leaned in tentatively, "Brother, may I check out this card?"

Feng Yi handed it to him.

Before coming, Cheng Si had also looked up such certification cards and had heard people talk about them.

Any card recognized by the union bureau is not easy to obtain. And those with a python Hunter card, without exception, are all top-notch experts in catching pythons—officially recognized by both local governments and the union bureau!

"Can I take a photo and post it on my Moments and social media?" Cheng Si asked.

"Go ahead."

After taking a photo with the card, Cheng Si saw there was an ID code on it, blurred it out, then posted the photo with the card on his Moments and social media:

[Posing with the big shot’s Hunter card [smug]]

...

After the gathering, Feng Yi didn’t pay attention to the developments above; he bought a plane ticket, packed up some good stuff, took a nap, and set out for the airport before dawn.

After the long flight, Feng Yi once again stood at Yang City Airport, wearing a hat and a mask.

Perhaps due to the proximity of the new year, the airport looked more festive compared to when he left.

He called a ride-share, and the driver glanced at Feng Yi several times, finding him familiar. Still, with many working outside returning for the new year or locals whose families are from out of town, the passenger flow was large, with many people looking alike; that said, this outfit...

"Are you a celebrity?" the driver asked.

"No," Feng Yi replied calmly, "I have a cold, just wearing a mask."

"Ohh," the driver glanced at the hat Feng Yi was wearing.

"For the sun, it’s too hot."

The driver didn’t ask further.

The sun outside was indeed very strong.

Once he reached the destination, Feng Yi got out of the car.

The driver looked at Feng Yi’s retreating figure and then at the name of the neighborhood up ahead.

He pulled out his phone to check the news feed and scrolled to find the photos of Feng Yi taken in Florida.

"Holy shit?!"

"Is it really him? It looks so much like him! And the internet says ’Python King’ lives here!"

Unaware of the driver’s dilemma, Feng Yi entered the neighborhood with his suitcase in tow and hitched a ride on the property management’s electric cart.

Standing at the gate of his house, Feng Yi breathed deeply. It was indeed more comfortable being home, and he couldn’t wait to stretch out his little tail!

Feng Yi didn’t inform the housekeeper, wanting to surprise the old housekeeper by sneaking home, curious to see his reaction later.

Jia, Yi, Bing, and Ding had already gone on holiday, each off to enjoy themselves. The yard was very quiet.

Leaving the old housekeeper alone at home was indeed quite lonely.

As Feng Yi pushed open the door, ready to call out, he suddenly paused.

He smelled the scent of a stranger. And it didn’t seem like a recent arrival, rather someone who had been living here for a day or two.

Setting aside his suitcase, Feng Yi followed the scent toward the tea room next door.

In the tea room, a young man was enjoying tea with the old housekeeper.

The atmosphere seemed quite harmonious.

Feng Yi: ???

Who is this?

Why are they in my house?