Chapter Eight: Where Did the Giant Python Come From?

"Ah—!"
An ear-piercing scream instantly resounded throughout the classroom.
Every student, whether male or female, paled in terror and retreated frantically, overturning desks one after another.
People are always startled by sudden occurrences—how much more so when confronted by a snake! And this was no ordinary snake, but a colossal python.
Its massive body smashed through the glass window, scales gleaming coldly as it forced its way inside, its girth rivaling the size of the students’ thighs.
Hiss—
The giant serpent, as though starved for ages, slithered half its body into the room.
The students closest to the window had already burst into tears from fright. To be able to attend First High School of Yangcheng, they were all children of wealth or prominence, raised carefully and sheltered since birth. Though they were part of the Spiritual Energy Class, few had ever truly seen battle; their experience with animals was limited to a handful of visits to the zoo.
Now, confronted suddenly with a monstrous python, instinct drove them all to flee.
"S-Snake! Ah!!"
"Don’t eat me—ah, I can’t move... sob sob!"
A cacophony of chaotic cries erupted, and amid the tumbling desks and books, the python seemed only more agitated.
It flicked its long tongue and suddenly opened its maw wide, releasing a foul stench from within, revealing sinister fangs—if it swallowed, it could devour a person whole.
"Where did this python come from?" Su Ye was startled at first, but quickly regained his composure.
He had spent years alone, often venturing out to listen to thunder, encountering many frightening things; his courage was unlike that of others.
At this moment, seeing the giant serpent, he found himself oddly fearless.
"Get out of the way!"
Su Ye shouted. Was Jiuya Yue an idiot? The python was bursting in through the window, about to bite, and she stood there frozen while others at least tried to escape.
Without time for further thought, he lunged forward, grabbing Jiuya Yue and tumbling to the ground with her. Something hard pressed against his back—a desk or chair, he wasn’t sure—sending waves of sharp pain.
After rolling twice, Jiuya Yue finally snapped out of her daze, letting out a shrill scream.
Holding this beauty in his arms—even in the face of death—Su Ye could feel her body cold as ice. He didn’t pause to think, rolling again on the ground.
Jiuya Yue kept calling out, but the entire classroom was filled with screams, drowning out any words.
Seeing the python lunge, Su Ye kicked a nearby desk with all his might. With a loud bang, the desk flew toward the serpent, but the beast crashed into it, shattering it effortlessly.
By now, Su Ye had dragged Jiuya Yue to the center of the classroom. Glancing back, he cursed inwardly: Damn it! Not a single person stepped forward to help; all were cowering and retreating.
Jiuya Yue, with Su Ye’s support, managed to stand and stammered, "Weapons—grab a weapon!"
Su Ye seized another desk, holding it before him as a shield against the python.
For a brief moment, the classroom was locked in a tense standoff.

At the end of the classroom nearest the corridor, the python had the space to itself. In the center stood Su Ye, brandishing a chair, while the corner behind him was crowded with sobbing, screaming students.
Jian Muqian had finally recovered herself, but the girls around her clung desperately, treating her as their lifeline and refusing to let go.
Though they were students of the Spiritual Energy Class and had unlocked a few acupoints, it simply meant increased strength and resilience—if stabbed by a knife or bitten by a python, they would still die!
Su Ye wondered if a few forceful punches could kill the beast.
Rip—
The python gave him no time to ponder, launching itself at him.
"Run!" Su Ye yelled, charging forward with the chair in hand.
As he rushed, he summoned the thunder energy within him, delivering a furious blow. The impact sent him tumbling to the ground, his vision spinning wildly.
"Ah!" The students screamed even louder.
The python had locked its jaws around Su Ye’s leg. With several rolls, the beast dragged Su Ye out into the corridor.
"Damn you, vile creature—do you think you can eat me? Die!" Su Ye thrust himself outward, hurling his body away.
At this moment, Jian Muqian and the few braver students rushed out, gripping chairs in trembling hands.
But as they reached the corridor, they saw the python rolling over with Su Ye locked in its jaws, plummeting down.
Their classroom was on the fourth floor—and as the Spiritual Energy Class, their fourth floor was as high as a typical seventh floor.
"Su Ye!"
Jiuya Yue rushed out as well, seeing Su Ye about to fall. She lunged, grabbing his hand.
But she was too late.
Bang!
Su Ye and the python fell together!
Whoosh—
They crashed straight to the ground below, the impact echoing horrifically. Blood splattered across the earth, creating a ghastly scene.
By now, not only Jian Muqian and her group had reached the corridor, but students from other classes had also gathered, staring down in shock.
Screams erupted once more as they witnessed the carnage.
Jiuya Yue’s fair hand remained frozen midair, her stunning face drained of color, eyes wide and staring blankly at the ground, motionless.
Her entire body was cold; in the moment of peril, Su Ye had saved her!
While everyone else retreated in terror, he alone had stepped forward. Wasn’t he always mocked as a coward? Yet it was he who dared to fight the python!
But now, he had fallen.

He was dead...
"No, no, you mustn’t die!"
The other students paled, their minds reeling, still in shock—many couldn’t even bring themselves to leave the classroom.
"Su Ye!"
Jian Muqian cried out and dashed down the stairs.
Her mind buzzed—this was her student! How could such a ferocious python appear in the classroom so suddenly?
Why was it the so-called useless student who stood up bravely?
During class, she had believed Su Ye would never change, destined to be a coward his entire life, utterly lacking courage.
But now?
"Su Ye, Su Ye, please, don’t let anything happen to you—call the school doctor, quickly!"
She nearly leapt down the stairs, rushing to the scene below, but when she saw the bloody spectacle, her pace slowed involuntarily.
Su Ye lay motionless atop the python’s body, covered in blood.
"Su Ye—wake up, please wake up! Don’t sleep, answer the teacher, don’t sleep!"
Jian Muqian placed her hands on Su Ye, gently patting his face, anxiously and carefully checking him, her eyes brimming with tears.
How could such a thing happen so suddenly? Though the campus was surrounded by mountains, how could such a gigantic python appear?
"Hang in there!"
Despite her panic, Jian Muqian quickly noticed the peculiar position in which Su Ye lay—perhaps he truly was fortunate. He had landed almost entirely atop the python, whose contorted body had cushioned his fall.
"Su Ye, you’re alive, you’re alive! Don’t be afraid, you’ll be fine soon!"
She comforted him softly, but dared not move his body, fearing broken bones and the risk of further injury.
Su Ye’s head was buzzing; his entire body ached as if every bone were fractured.
In a daze, he heard the growing commotion around him, the sound of people sobbing, and soon felt hands gently lifting him.
Yet none of this concerned him.
For he was astonished to discover that his body was covered in foreign blood, which was slowly being absorbed into him. The process was agonizing, as if each drop of blood carried a surge of lightning.
In his hazy state, he realized that the thunder energy within him was transforming, generating something strange and unfamiliar...