Zhao Han suddenly stepped forward and said, "Three big brothers, wait for me."
"You're here, kid. Too bad you didn't help with this python. You can't expect a share of the money," Yang Li said with a cold laugh, his face full of refusal.
This python was worth at least six taels of silver. Split three ways, that was still no small sum. They couldn't let some young fellow show up and get a free ride.
Zhao Han hurriedly smiled. "I'm just here to broaden my horizons. I understand that the more you work, the more you earn."
"Well said!"
Seeing that Zhao Han really didn't seem to be after a share of the spoils, their expressions softened considerably.
Then they coiled up the unconscious python, tied it with a rope, and stuffed it into a cloth sack.
The group continued forward together, and the area illuminated by their firelight grew much larger.
Before long, they encountered another python. With a splash, it burst out of the Underground River.
This python was eight meters long, but it wasn't thick enough—only about as thick as a forearm.
Zhao Han stayed calm and didn't make a move, standing to one side and warily watching his surroundings.
The python could wait. The important thing was to guard against the Mountain Lord, who still hadn't shown himself.
There were four of them here. Their odds of taking on an injured tiger that had gained intelligence were pretty good.
The other three were overjoyed. Each python meant silver, and the bigger it was, the more it was worth.
The three of them immediately set about preparing to capture the python, excitement plain on their faces.
After working at it for a while, they managed to knock the python unconscious and haul it ashore.
Seeing this, the three were already imagining how much they'd make today.
They'd really come to the right place.
"Whoosh!"
Suddenly, a sharp ripple spread across the river's surface.
A ten-meter-long python, as thick as an upper arm, shot out of the river and wrapped itself around Zhou Fei, who was standing nearby lost in his daydreams. Then it dragged him into the Underground River.
"Not good, there's another python!"
The other two immediately rushed to intercept it, but the python was too fast, and they were standing too far away. It had already dragged Zhou Fei down to the bottom of the Underground River.
"Gurgle, gurgle..."
Bubbles kept rising to the surface. Clearly, the man was struggling in the water.
The hunter and Yang Li both hesitated for a moment. They looked at each other, and each saw the same thought in the other's eyes.
They wouldn't save him. With one less person, there'd be one less person to split the silver with.
The two pythons they'd caught were worth nearly fifteen taels of silver altogether.
If only the two of them split it, Yang Li would get ten taels and the hunter five. They'd both make a killing.
If there were one more person, Yang Li and Zhou Fei would each get six taels, while the hunter would get three. Obviously, that would be far too little.
"Splash!"
What the two men hadn't expected was that the young Zhao Han beside them suddenly plunged into the not-too-rough Underground River and sank beneath the surface.
"I can finally train Snake-Style Deft Hand to great accomplishment!"
Holding his breath, he sank about four meters down. There, Zhao Han saw Zhou Fei wrapped from head to toe in the python's coils, struggling helplessly.
Zhou Fei was still fairly conscious, but the python was incredibly strong. He couldn't fight back, and he'd swallowed a lot of water.
When Zhou Fei saw Zhao Han, hope of survival appeared in his eyes.
The python noticed Zhao Han too, but it didn't loosen its coils. Instead, it stretched out its head and flicked its tongue, warning him not to come closer.
"You're just a beast, and you still dare bare your fangs at me!"
Zhao Han reached out with a Snake-Style Deft Hand. The python immediately lunged to bite him.
But Zhao Han's technique was remarkably skillful, and he dodged the attack.
Snake-Style Deft Hand imitated snakes in the first place, so using it against one came naturally.
In a flash, he clamped down on the python's head and squeezed hard. The python immediately lost its strength and loosened its coils around Zhou Fei.
Freed from its grip, Zhou Fei struggled desperately toward the surface. But he'd swallowed so much water that his body was too heavy to rise.
Crack!
Zhao Han's fingers tightened, breaking the python's neck.
But Snake-Style Deft Hand still hadn't reacted, which clearly meant the python was still alive.
Pythons were tenacious. They weren't so easy to kill.
Zhao Han lifted the python's entire body, then pulled a short knife from his spatial storage and slashed viciously across its head.
Schlurk!
The python's head split open, and blood gushed out. Now it had to be dead, right?
"Grab the tail!"
Zhao Han didn't linger. He grabbed the python's body and swam upward, paying no attention to its head.
Below him, Zhou Fei had a fierce will to live and clung desperately to the python's tail.
What he hadn't expected was that Zhao Han could still wield such tremendous strength underwater and drag him up by sheer force.
Fortunately, the python's body was tough and strong enough to withstand that much force.
Once they reached the bank, Zhao Han began dragging him. Soon, he hauled Zhou Fei—whose belly had swollen up like a drum—onto the shore.
That was the strength of the Muscle Refining Realm.
"Ugh..."
As soon as he reached the bank, Zhou Fei began vomiting up the water he'd swallowed.
He spat out a large puddle, but his belly was still swollen. He stuck a finger into his mouth and pressed down on the back of his tongue, then vomited violently again.
Zhao Han, meanwhile, was feeling the changes in his body.
With Snake-Style Deft Hand reaching great accomplishment, his strength had naturally improved once more.
The improvement was slight, but he could feel it.
Once he couldn't feel any improvement anymore, no matter how much he practiced—not even if he mastered another hundred unclassified martial arts—he'd still be stuck at the unclassified level!
Zhao Han had now mastered three unclassified martial arts and brought one classified martial art to proficiency!
He had walked the road it took ordinary people decades to travel.
"I have to find more powerful martial arts. The unclassified level just doesn't cut it!"
"Cough, cough..."
Zhou Fei had now vomited up most of the water and felt much better. He began coughing repeatedly.
"Th-thank you!" Zhou Fei managed to stand and clasp his fists toward Zhao Han.
Zhao Han looked at him, then glanced at his chest and sides.
After swallowing so much water, the man looked fine for now. But in less than three days, he'd definitely have fluid in his lungs, struggle to breathe, and eventually die.
He wondered whether the physique of a Skin Refining Realm Martial Artist could help Zhou Fei survive this ordeal. An ordinary person who went through something like this certainly wouldn't make it.
"It was nothing. But I never help anyone without getting paid. What do you say...?" Zhao Han waved his hand as if it were no big deal, but his next words left Zhou Fei dumbfounded.
"Of course, of course. I understand..."
"The money from the python I caught together with those two earlier goes to you, benefactor!"
Zhou Fei was generous enough.
But he was pretty stingy too. He didn't offer Zhao Han any pythons they might catch later.
"Then I'll gladly accept it," Zhao Han said with a light laugh.
You think I want your money, but I really just want to use you as a shield against the Mountain Lord.
A tiger that had gained intelligence was worth far more than a python.
Besides, it had gained intelligence. Old Zhang had even gone to ask it for payment. Maybe the Mountain Lord had a lot of money and treasures stashed away.
The other two watched Zhao Han in surprise.
His decisive, practiced movements made it clear that his skill and strength were no ordinary person's.
He was most likely a Skin Refining Realm Martial Artist, just like them.
"I never would've guessed you were hiding your abilities, young man!" Yang Li said, his tone dripping with insinuation.
Zhao Han replied casually, "When you're traveling, you have to know at least a few tricks to protect yourself!"
Before you continue