Chapter 70: Deprivation (2)

The deeper they ventured into the forest, the more hostile the surroundings became. Waves of putrid stench swept through the air, overwhelming the senses and provoking waves of nausea and the urge to vomit. Veil pinched his nose, forcing himself to endure the sickening odor. He followed behind the man with the triangular eyes, pressing on toward the heart of the forest, all the while rummaging through the dense shrubs and undergrowth as if searching for something.

“Um... sir...”

Noticing Veil’s peculiar behavior, the man with the triangular eyes cast him a strange look and waved his hand, warning, “Be careful. There could be poisonous snakes hidden in those bushes!”

“Hm?”

Rather than slowing down at the warning, Veil only intensified his search, inspecting the surroundings with greater diligence. Occasionally, when he spotted a large stone, he would even kick it aside with force.

“He’s just a child after all! That brat!...”

A man standing behind the one with triangular eyes muttered quietly, a trace of schadenfreude flickering across his face as he watched Veil’s actions. From his familiarity with this forest, he knew at a glance that the thick shrubbery was a perfect habitat for venomous snakes, especially beneath those large rocks. More importantly, the snakes in this forest were nothing like their counterparts in the outside world. Nearly all the serpents here were highly venomous, and their toxins were several times more potent than ordinary snakes. Common antidotes were useless against their venom. In other words, if someone were to be bitten here, death would be swift and certain.

Buck deliberated whether he ought to step forward and give another warning. He knew that if this half-grown boy happened to be bitten, it might provide him with a chance to escape. Yet, something strange stirred in Buck’s heart—a peculiar urge to neither help nor warn, but simply to stay put and watch, to see whether this youth would die, to see what he was trying to do...

Yes, it was a strange feeling indeed.

A faint hissing suddenly sounded from deep within the bushes, instantly drawing everyone’s gaze.

A snake!

To be precise, a venomous king serpent.

The three men who had been watching earlier erupted in laughter the moment they saw the king serpent appear. Cautiously, they began edging away, jeering at Veil, “Ha! Look, kid, your luck’s run out at last!”

“What’s the big deal? Hmph! Listen, brat, you’re so close to that king serpent, if you so much as twitch, it’ll attack. You’re just a greenhorn—say goodbye to your life!”

The three men laughed wildly. Once they were safely out of the serpent’s range, they turned and fled toward the edge of the forest, not sparing so much as a glance at the motionless Buck, nor questioning why the man with the triangular eyes hadn’t run.

To them, perhaps nothing mattered more than saving their own skins. As for the rest? Unless someone was a complete fool, who would bother?

Veil lifted his head and looked at the deadly king serpent just a meter away, but instead of fear, a faint smile of delight appeared on his face. Only then did he turn to glance at Buck.

“Why aren’t you running? Is it fear? Have your legs given out already?”

Veil’s tone was calm, his face unperturbed even with the venomous serpent looming before him. His clear eyes were as tranquil as the surface of a lake, betraying no hint of emotion.

“Of course not!”

Perhaps Veil’s words had provoked Buck’s competitive spirit, for he found himself taking a step forward almost against his will. The moment his foot landed, realization struck—he cursed himself for his stupidity. He knew perfectly well the king serpent was right there, and yet he’d foolishly stepped closer.

What would happen now? In that instant, Buck braced himself for the worst. He was now within the king serpent’s striking range.

This breed of serpent required no elaborate biting to deliver its poison. If its prey came within range, it would suddenly spit its venom, the corrosive liquid eating through flesh in seconds, the toxins spreading with the blood to every corner of the body. The king serpent needed only to wait as its prey’s life ebbed away.

“Answer me this—why aren’t you running?”

As Veil spoke, the king serpent behind him began to move. It reared up, nearly two meters high, its broad head inching closer to Veil, forked crimson tongue flickering ominously.

“It... it’s coming!...”

Buck’s eyes widened in terror, his voice starting to falter.

“Answer me!”

Veil seemed utterly unconcerned about the serpent behind him, his steady voice commanding Buck’s attention.

“Damn it! It’s coming! We... we need to run!”

Buck’s face was deathly pale, his voice sharp and hoarse with fear.

“Answer me!”

Veil remained unmoved. Had Buck’s legs still obeyed him, his first impulse would have been to lunge at Veil and strangle him on the spot.

He’s a madman!

That was Buck’s assessment of Veil in that moment, and a judgment that would echo in his mind long after—yes, he was a madman!

The king serpent was now right behind Veil, its slender tongue nearly brushing his clothing. Buck stared at the serpent, his mind a blank void.

“Answer me!”

“Answer me!”

“Answer me!”

“Damn it! You little bastard! I already agreed to be your servant, but I can’t just run away now! Shit! You happy now? We’re both going to die here—does that please you? Satisfied? Damn it, I’m nearly thirty and I haven’t even seen the shadow of a wife, and now I’m going to die here, damn it all!...”

Driven to the brink by Veil’s relentless questioning, Buck erupted in a desperate howl. At that moment, as if provoked, the king serpent behind Veil suddenly opened its bloody maw and sprayed a viscous, milky-white liquid at both Veil and Buck.