Chapter Seven: Life and Death on the Line

In ancient times, the initial rulers of any civilization also bore the responsibilities of physicians. From the priests of the primitive Indian civilization to the shamans of Mesopotamia, and then to the voodoo healers of the universal civilization in Africa, this was universally true. Naturally, the 'witches' of the Huaguo (China) were no exception

"Only one, oh God, such a devil has already turned this forest into hell. If there were several, I would have been torn to pieces long ago," exclaimed the blonde woman.

Sighing, Zhang Lisheng inwardly cursed the ignorance of the deceased woman while reciting incantations, gradually approaching the pond.

That is a centipede; how could there be such a large centipede

Zhang Lisheng looked closely and discovered that the mound of earth was actually a young man lying motionless on the ground. He was dressed in an outfit that blended completely with the jungle, which made him appear very concealed

However, the weight of an adult black leopard is only about thirty kilograms, and once its head is poisoned, its resistance is even inferior to that of domesticated livestock.

Bitten on the tongue by the venomous fangs of the green and red, the black panther immediately abandoned its attack on the prey, roaring as it struggled in the forest, continuously biting at the exposed half of the poisonous insect's body.

However, Zhang Lisheng will not save people, but he can guide the stranded travelers to rescue themselves. Pointing at the robust 'Earth Mound Man' who is carrying a huge travel backpack of the same color as his clothes, he said: "With such a large backpack, it surely must contain something useful inside."

Water represents life, but it also signifies endless danger

Guided by the sound of wailing, Zhang Lisheng crawled up from the forest floor, carefully maneuvering around a tangle of branches connecting the thicket of books. He then saw a young woman with muddy blonde hair lying beside a marshy pond, roughly ten square meters in size, covered in deep green moss, nervously tilting her face upward and screaming loudly.

Zhang Lisheng could not discern that the dirty brown jacket, which barely preserved its owner's life under the claws of the black-spotted leopard, was a customized piece from the internationally renowned outdoor sports brand Arc'teryx. The total cost of the outfit was enough for him to live a comfortable life in the mountain village for ten years, yet he understood what a pond in the deep mountains and forests signified

Prompted by Zhang Lisheng's reminder, the blonde woman hurriedly struggled to retrieve her backpack from behind her boyfriend. After doing so, she rummaged through it and found a small black leather first aid kit.

The woman's statement about there being only one attacker eased Zhang Lisheng's tense mood somewhat. He recited a spell, summoning Qinghong to his side, and said: "If there is only one leopard, it is truly already dead"

Seeing the blonde woman rudely trying to "rescue" her boyfriend to bring him back to consciousness, Zhang Lisheng, who had barely saved two lives, did not wish to become one himself after escaping. He walked over to the woman, forced a smile, and quietly said: "Miss, shaking your boyfriend's body like that, if he has internal bleeding, it could..."

Cultural differences between countries can sometimes lead to seemingly absurd misunderstandings. For instance, both Chinese and Americans believe that almost all Indians practice a form of breathing exercise known as 'yoga', just as Americans and Indians think that all Chinese people are proficient in a martial art called 'kung fu'.

Thirdly, the breeding and enhancement of the witch insects clearly cannot rely solely on the witch power they emit; blood and flesh are still essential for the witch insects.

Firstly, the spells can only intimidate insects and reptiles; at least, the initial capabilities of the spells are limited to this. When entering the jungle and casting the spells, the reason small wild animals scatter in fear should be merely because they are startled by the poisonous insects

After Zhang Lisheng appeared, the wails of the blonde woman gradually diminished, and after about twenty seconds, they finally disappeared. She then gasped in terror for a moment and hoarsely asked, "Sir, was that you who called out just now?"

Unfortunately, human movements are far less agile than those of the leopard. Before Zhang Lisheng's hands could shield his throat, he seemed to feel the sharp teeth of the leopard piercing into his flesh.

I have heard that well-equipped trekkers always carry emergency medications and even emergency injection syringes with them

Only the most experienced hunters have the courage to stand by the pond in the dense forest to hunt, for there, although one can effortlessly capture an endless supply of prey, the roles of hunter and prey can interchange at any moment

Unfortunately, newcomers like Zhang Lisheng currently lack the ability to alleviate crises and difficulties for others. The medical skills he possesses are quite practical, focusing solely on dietary therapy, which involves using various spices and herbs to prepare nourishing soups, or employing special techniques to grill meats, thereby replenishing the vital essence and blood that individuals may have depleted for various reasons

He instinctively began to shield himself with his hands against the large mouth of the black panther, while continuously muttering incantations to command the witch insects to counterattack

Did you say that the devil is already dead

Although I just cursed him to die immediately for bringing me to this dangerous place, that was a thoughtless remark made in anger. Oh, my Lord in heaven, that is not my true rebirth... I stumbled and crawled to a giant cedar tree by the pond, collapsing onto a mound of decaying earth.

At that moment, the witch insect, with its countless limbs, suddenly thrust itself forward in the forest and had already taken the lead in burrowing into the mouth of the black-spotted leopard

As Zhang Lisheng reflected on his path of witchcraft, the traveler who was not far from him had already begun to lose his sanity, emitting only painful wails, no longer even calling for help

As the skin was shed from the corpse of the black-spotted leopard, the cracks on the body of the witch worm had vanished, though its movements while crawling were slightly slower than before

However, Zhang Lisheng's words did not ease the tension of the blonde woman who had narrowly escaped death. After all, encountering a giant centipede nearly one meter long in the dense forest is no less alarming than facing an attack from a leopard.

The same reasoning applies; Zhang Lisheng's absurd explanation of using a centipede as a hunting dog may not convince any Chinese person, but for the blonde woman, it only deepens her sense of the mysterious and unfathomable nature of the Chinese, who have a civilization that has been passed down for thousands of years.

Oh God, I am truly foolish; indeed, we have everything in our backpack

Four to five seconds later, the corners of the mouth of this fearsome jungle predator oozed foul black blood, losing its life, while the body of the witch insect that killed it was nearly bitten in half by the sharp teeth of the forest leopard

"I have killed the leopard; its corpse is just beyond the thicket at www.hetushu.com. You are safe now." Approaching the blonde woman, Zhang Lisheng spoke in a calm whisper, offering no further explanation. Instead, he cautiously resumed reciting the incantation in a low voice, his head turning rhythmically as he remained vigilant.

After finally feeling a bit more relaxed, she suddenly thought of her boyfriend, whose fate was uncertain. She exclaimed, "Oh God, right, Harik, Harik is still out there. I hope he is okay. No, no, he must still be alive.

Fortunately, the wild beasts are rich in vitality. After the black-spotted leopard's death, the green-red creature slithered its long body into its mouth. Subsequently, the leopard's corpse began to slowly collapse, and soon only decayed fur and rotten bones remained

In this moment, Zhang Lisheng had never been so close to death, yet whether it was his innate nature to remain calm in the face of dire circumstances or the combat instinct bestowed upon him after becoming a novice sorcerer, his mind was not in the least bit flustered. Instead, he broke free from the earlier illusion of having everything under control and felt surprisingly clear-headed.

Secondly, the abilities of low-level sorcerers, or novice sorcerers, are more evident in their insidious ambush tactics. By controlling two highly venomous sorcerous insects, Zhang Lisheng could completely annihilate a village unexpectedly and silently. However, in a straightforward confrontation, his sorcerous insects may not be stronger than a large ferocious beast

Yes, just now I responded a few times to your cries for help. Was the leopard that attacked you a single one or a group?" Seeing the woman calm down, Zhang Lisheng asked in return.

You, you can save him, yes, yes, you are the forest hunter, you must know first aid, please save him, I beg you

It is a specially bred unique species. I, m.hetushucom.com, am a native hunter from western Sichuan. This centipede is akin to the hunting dogs raised by Western hunters for foxes, wild ducks, and elk, albeit with some distinct differences

For those trapped in dire circumstances, a rescuer with a strong will, calm demeanor, and methodical actions is more persuasive than any comforting words, even if this rescuer appears to be less than 160 centimeters tall in the dim light

With each step he took, hundreds, if not thousands, of strange insects scurried away from the shadows, their movements producing a rustling sound. This noise, coupled with the terrifying shadows that constantly shifted in the darkness, amplified the meaningless screams of the blonde woman, whose sanity had already begun to unravel.

"Miss, you do not even recognize a leopard or a centipede, yet you dare to venture into the primeval jungle. I truly admire your courage," Zhang Lisheng explained with a sense of helplessness regarding the woman's ignorance

The pond in the dense forest is very dangerous, we must leave immediately

He knows that the hunting activities of the lynx may be conducted either individually or in groups. Until the situation becomes clear, one must never let their guard down, especially near the dense forest and pond, where no one knows what else might be encountered

Her features, no longer distorted, reveal that she is quite young, and her appearance is beautiful. Her facial features possess the exquisite qualities characteristic of Western beauties, yet lack the somewhat rougher skin that is often seen in their Eastern counterparts of the same age.

"Oh God, what is that by your feet? Goodness, that is a poisonous snake with countless toes..." the woman cried out incoherently.

The attack of the black panther lasted less than ten seconds from start to finish, yet it provided Zhang Lisheng with a more intuitive assessment of the abilities he currently possessed