Closer to Revealing My True Self
Chapter 299 - 223 Is That So?_1

Chapter 299: Chapter 223 Is That So?_1

On the fourth day at the observation station.

The search team still hadn’t found any trace of the sea serpent, whether searching near the coast, diving into the water from a boat, or asking local fishermen to keep an eye out, nothing turned up.

Feng Yi had dived once, but he used the station’s boat with station staff around, so the search area was limited.

If they couldn’t find anything in a few more days, they would have to move on to the next observation station.

Feng Yi thought he should swim further out into the sea to catch one himself. He had clearly smelled it on the day of their arrival.

The people at the monitoring station were probably worried about their safety, and they were watched closely, not allowed to go to sea alone. They weren’t permitted to leave the station at night either, restricting them to daytime activities.

Feng Yi then thought to ask Jia to look into where they could rent a boat, one that was sturdy and could bear a heavier load.

The suitable boats in the area were either booked early by other members of the search team or assigned to other tasks.

The observation station was located in a relatively remote area, some distance from scenic spots and tourist areas, and suitable boats were not available for rent nearby.

Therefore, Feng Yi thought that once they managed to rent a boat and pick a suitable day, the two of them would head out to sea without anyone from the observation station.

In the morning, Jia went to the nearest tourist area to see if a boat could be rented.

Feng Yi jogged along the coast.

He didn’t plan to go into the water, so he didn’t change into diving gear.

Feng Yi didn’t bring things like sunglasses, a mask, or a hat, as he wouldn’t encounter many people along the route. The resident structure in this area was simple; unless one explicitly sought attention, most people wouldn’t notice if you were an internet celebrity.

He had become familiar with the area and understood the range the experts in the search team had chosen for their searches.

Feng Yi had his own search route, but he found that the scent of the sea snake near the shore was fading fast and was almost gone. He wasn’t sure if it was because too many people had been diving recently or if there was another reason, but there were no sea snakes nearby anymore.

After completing the route, Feng Yi changed direction and headed to nearby streets to find food. The small street was slightly busier, so he put on his plain glasses and looked for a small restaurant or stall to eat some local specialties while listening to the local residents’ casual conversations.

The experts coming to look for sea snakes was something many locals were aware of. However, some didn’t believe there were sea snakes in the area as they hadn’t been seen for many years, and even if there were, they were rare along the shore. Fishermen spoke of sea snakes, but without pictures, there was no proof; they could’ve been mistaking eels for sea snakes.

Feng Yi listened to their discussions, and when it came to sea snakes, there was more fear than anything else.

During the abnormal climate period, there was a time when semi-aquatic sea snakes appeared more frequently, and some people in the area had been bitten and couldn’t be saved.

Putting aside seasonal and climatic factors, sea snakes were not as aggressive as land snakes and wouldn’t attack humans proactively. However, the phrase "gentle in nature, high mortality rate from venom" captured people’s attention more because of the latter part.

Feng Yi walked back along the coast with two takeout boxes, pondering the matter of the sea snakes.

The main task this time was to find sea snakes and record some data.

Sea snakes might have undergone certain mutations after the abnormal climate period, with their venom now containing some unknown active substances, making it more complex. The venom varied slightly across different regions.

This year’s minor climate fluctuation had many worried about an increased frequency of semi-aquatic sea snake sightings, leading to greater urgency in preparations.

Without anti-venom serum, treatment would be much more difficult for divers or fishermen bitten by sea snakes.

Sampling, venom extraction, data analysis, serum preparation, and establishing the latest sea snake bite treatment protocols were all part of the job, but Feng Yi was only involved in the snake-catching task.

Compared to land snakes, research on sea snake venom was more limited, with few researchers, limited resources, difficulties in cultivation, and on top of that, sea snakes produced small amounts of venom that deactivated easily, which made the research costly.

With land snakes that produce a lot of venom, as the fangs puncture and release venom, it squirts out, similar to juicing a fruit.

Sea snake venom, on the other hand, comes from smaller glands and fangs, producing less venom. In the past, many would extract venom by dissecting the glands after the snakes were killed. However, with the current legal environment and continuous technological innovations, new methods for live extraction of sea snake venom have emerged.

Lost in his thoughts about the sea snakes, Feng Yi returned to the observation station. Just as he entered the main gate, a voice nearby called out:

"Are you... Feng Yi?"

Feng Yi looked over and saw a young man standing not far off, who was presumably not a permanent employee of the station, and who also had a strong scent of sea snake on him.

"Who are you?"

The young man stepped forward briskly, "Hello, my surname is Cui. I’m a student of Station Chief Yan; just call me Cui. I study the Beaked Sea Snake. I don’t work at the station, but I came here today to help deliver anti-venom serum."

The Beaked Sea Snake and Qing Sea Snake are dominant species in this country, and those who research sea snakes often handle these two types frequently.

"Hello," Feng Yi extended his hand for a shake and asked, "Is the serum only effective against Beaked Sea Snake venom?"

"Yes, we don’t store a lot of serums here. The nearby large hospitals will have reserves."

Cui was not Feng Yi’s fan, but after learning that Feng Yi was coming to this area, he specifically took on the task to deliver the serum.

In the circle, Feng Yi’s skill at catching snakes was indeed well-known.

"Did you guys make any progress today?" Cui asked.

"No."

Cui looked slightly disappointed, "I heard from Zuo Di that you’re sure there are sea snakes in this area?"

"There definitely were before, but whether there still are now, I don’t know," said Feng Yi.

Not wanting to discuss his own plans with others, Feng Yi changed the subject and asked, "Does the observatory also store antivenom on a regular basis?"

"It depends. After all, not many people come here. If someone gets bitten, they can be sent directly to a nearby major hospital. It’s not too far from here, and the road conditions are okay, so they will arrive pretty quickly. Even though sea snake venom is feared for its potency, it’s produced in small quantities. Generally speaking, as long as the victim gets medical attention promptly and the snake isn’t a rare species, it’s not a big problem."

As he spoke, Cui extended his hand, "I was bitten as a kid while net fishing with friends. We came across a little green mamba."

At this point, a flash of pride crossed Cui’s face.

Feng Yi: "..."

It must be said that a person who has been bitten by a snake and doesn’t develop a psychological fear, and continues to study sea snakes in their work, is really rare.

Cui continued to share, "The bite mark wasn’t very noticeable since the teeth are small. There wasn’t significant pain or visible swelling and necrosis, just a tiny sting. If you don’t pay close attention, it’s easy to overlook. Fortunately, the net fishing location wasn’t too far from the hospital."

The neurotoxins in most sea snake venoms are a critical lethal component. If not given immediate attention, once the "incubation period" had passed and symptoms were felt, it would be too late.

Feng Yi was curious, "You were bitten by a green mamba, so why are you now researching olive sea snakes?"

"Olive sea snake venom is more diverse in its components, and sometimes we also study green mambas. For example, when comparing and analyzing the venom composition and toxic traits of these two dominant species at the transcriptome and proteome levels. The goal is all about developing targeted antivenoms."

Cui didn’t plan to go into detail on the theoretical aspect since he knew Feng Yi wasn’t familiar with it.

"Have you ever been bitten by a snake?" Cui asked.

"I’ve been pricked by fangs," Feng Yi responded.

Cui nodded, "The experts are those who’ve been bitten."

"...Yes."

Feng Yi thought to himself: As long as I don’t tell anyone, no one will know I’ve been bitten by my own fangs, and not just once!

"People like you, who are familiar with snakes, take them seriously. But some fishermen or kids playing around here don’t understand sea snakes. They might not know they’ve been bitten, or they might ignore it, which can be quite dangerous. If they’re unlucky and encounter an extreme or mutant individual, even if they have antivenom, it’s still very risky. Small differences in the venom components can cause varying degrees of toxicity, reducing the effectiveness of the existing serum."

Indeed, antivenom is a tricky matter.

Antivenoms for species like the banded krait, cobra, pit viper, and many-banded krait are ineffective against sea snake toxins and could cause adverse reactions if used for treatment.

"If there are mutant individuals or uncommon species in the sea, then we must prepare specific serums or research new treatment plans; otherwise, those bitten have no choice but to wait for death."

Thinking of the research being conducted at the Ancestral Factory, Feng Yi said, "Maybe, once the broad-spectrum antivenom is available, it could solve some of these special cases."

"Really?!" Cui’s face lit up in shock.

"Yes!"

"I don’t believe it!"

"..."

"I can’t imagine any antivenom with full immune coverage being prepared from any antigen!"

Feng Yi: "Uh... maybe it’s not the serum form you’re familiar with, but some kind of medication? I don’t know the specifics, just heard it from someone."

Cui frowned and pondered for a moment, then shook his head, "As far as I know, antivenom is currently the most effective way to treat snakebite injuries! But antivenoms are expensive, take a long time to produce, and have a limited range of use. Small local hospitals don’t have them in stock. If there were such a medicine that could address most snakebite injuries, it would save many lives! However, even if such a drug comes along someday, it definitely won’t be cheap; ordinary people won’t be able to afford it."

Feng Yi thought he would inquire about the price the next time he contacted the Ancestral Factory.

The newly prepared antivenom had been delivered, and Cui had his own work to do. He couldn’t stay and chat with Feng Yi any longer.

"Broad-spectrum antivenom is still a long way off for us. There’s no point in thinking too much about it. For now, we still rely on serum. The antivenom I brought today is freshly prepared.

"Don’t feel any psychological burden, worrying about being bitten. It’s purely just in case. Besides, the locals, including fishermen, are more likely to get bitten than you experts, as you know what to do if you really find a snake. The chances of you being bitten are slim..." Cui was heading out when suddenly someone rushed into the station like the wind: "Hurry, hurry, where’s the antivenom? Professor Shen has been bitten by a sea snake!"

Cui: "..."

Feng Yi looked at him.

"Slim chances."