Just as she was about to give a warning, a black venomous snake suddenly shot out from the stream, lunging at her in an instant. The snake had a long, sleek body with a vivid red tail—highly poisonous. The sharp tip of its head gleamed with a piercing metallic luster, looking extremely dangerous.
Lin Ningshuang immediately leapt back, swiftly drawing the dagger from her waist. The blade flashed coldly under the sunlight. Without hesitation, her eyes turned sharp as she prepared to face the sudden threat.
Ji Jin reacted just as quickly. At almost the same moment, he drew his hunting knife. Without exchanging a word, the two stood in their positions with perfect understanding, ready to face the venomous snake.
The snake lunged forward. Lin Ningshuang calmly sidestepped, circling to the side. Her dagger gleamed coldly in the sunlight, ready to strike a fatal blow. Ji Jin, on the other hand, charged straight ahead, slashing his hunting knife at the snake's vitals—its seventh inch—trying to deliver a killing strike.
The snake writhed with agility, dodging several attacks without slowing down. It lunged again at Lin Ningshuang, this time its venomous head darting straight toward her chest.
Her pupils contracted. She reacted instantly, raising her dagger to block the attack. The snake's force, however, pushed her slightly back.
Seeing his chance, Ji Jin sprang forward, plunging his blade into the snake's back. The knife sliced between the scales with deadly precision. The snake thrashed violently, twisted a few times, and finally lost the strength to fight. It collapsed to the ground, motionless.
Ji Jin's eyes locked on the dead serpent. He examined it with his hunting knife to ensure the venomous creature was truly lifeless before finally breathing a sigh of relief.
Lin Ningshuang watched his movements in silence, her mouth slightly parted. But her attention was soon drawn elsewhere—a shifting leaf caught her eye. Her gaze sharpened and froze—just beyond the brush, a massive shadow was slowly writhing.
She gripped her dagger tighter and spoke in a low voice, "Be careful."
Ji Jin had already sensed something. He quickly rose and stepped beside her. The air thickened with tension, as if something was lurking, waiting for the right moment.
Then the shadow revealed its true form—a massive black spider crawled silently from the underbrush, closing in on them with alarming speed. Its body was as large as a grown person's palm, its glossy black abdomen marked with eerie red spots. Eight sharp, blade-like legs extended outward, radiating a terrifying threat.
"What is that thing?" Ji Jin asked in a low voice.
Lin Ningshuang frowned slightly, clearly familiar with the creature. "Black Widow Spider. Extremely venomous. We have to deal with it quickly."
Even before her words fully faded, the spider pounced, aiming straight for Lin Ningshuang. It moved with lightning speed, a blur of black darting through the air. Lin Ningshuang twisted aside just in time, barely avoiding contact. Her dagger slashed toward it, but the spider was far more agile than she expected. It twisted midair, dodging her attack with ease.
Ji Jin charged in from the side, leaping with his knife aimed at the spider's abdomen. But just as his blade neared, the spider flung one of its massive legs, parrying the strike.
Its speed and power were astonishing. The spider's attacks were swift as lightning. Neither Ji Jin nor Lin Ningshuang expected it to be this formidable. Lin Ningshuang retreated a few steps, staying calm as she searched for an opening.
Sensing their coordination, the spider's attacks grew even more relentless. Lin Ningshuang's sharp eyes caught a vulnerable spot—a small gap on the spider's back.
"Ji Jin, left side!" she shouted, guiding him.
Without hesitation, Ji Jin turned and lunged at the spider's left side. The spider adjusted quickly, dodging his knife. Lin Ningshuang seized the moment, pulling a small porcelain bottle from her pouch and hurling it at the spider. The bottle shattered, releasing a pungent scent into the air. The spider let out a screech—eerily like a crying infant—and staggered, swaying violently.
Ji Jin leapt again, driving his hunting knife deep into the spider's back. The creature thrashed furiously, trying to bite him. But Lin Ningshuang arrived just in time, driving her blade into its head and pinning it to the ground. Slowly, the spider's movements ceased. It was finally dead.
Lin Ningshuang stood up calmly, wiping her blade and casting a cold glance at the lifeless black widow. Her expression remained steady and composed.
Ji Jin exhaled softly. Looking at Lin Ningshuang, he offered his thanks.
"This time… I owe you," he said quietly.
She nodded but didn't look back. As she walked ahead, she suddenly paused, as if remembering something, and said softly, "I should be the one thanking you… You saved me again."
Ji Jin stared at her back, dazed for a moment, then smiled gently, watching her quietly as she moved once again to inspect the water source.
中文版
就在她准备提醒时,一条黑色的毒蛇猛地从溪水中窜出,几乎是在刹那之间,扑向她的方向.那蛇身形修长,身体光滑,尾部呈现出鲜艳的红色,毒性极强.蛇头的尖刺散发出刺眼的金属光泽,看起来极为凶险.
蔺凝霜立刻跳开,迅速抽出腰间的匕首,锋利的刀刃在阳光下泛起寒光.她没有犹豫,目光一冷,准备应对突如其来的危险.
然而,嵇瑾的反应也非常迅速,他几乎在同一时刻抽出了自己的猎刀.两人没有言语,默契地站在各自的位置,准备各自面对眼前的毒蛇.
蛇迅速扑来,蔺凝霜冷静地闪身避开,迅速绕到一旁,匕首的刀锋在阳光下闪烁着寒光,准备一击致命.而嵇瑾则毫不犹豫地向前扑去,快速用猎刀挥砍向蛇的七寸,试图击中致命的部位.
毒蛇敏捷地摆动着身体,避开了几次攻击,但却没有放慢攻击的速度.它再次扑向蔺凝霜,这一次,蛇头带着剧毒的速度直扑她的胸口.蔺凝霜瞳孔紧缩,瞬间反应过来,举匕首挡住了蛇的进攻,但蛇的力道让她稍微后退.
嵇瑾看准时机,猛地跃起,一刀刺向蛇的背部,刀锋准确地切入毒蛇的鳞片之间.毒蛇顿时翻滚几下,剧烈挣扎着,终于失去了最后的反抗能力,倒在地上.
嵇瑾目光落在那条死去的蛇身上.用猎刀检查了一下毒蛇的毒性,确认它已经完全失去生命力后,才轻松地松了口气.
蔺凝霜看着嵇瑾的动作,微微张口.一片微动的叶片却吸引了她的注意.视线猛地停住——她皱了下眉,不远处的草丛中,竟然缓慢地蠕动着一条巨大的阴影.
她再次握紧匕首,低声对嵇瑾说道:"小心."
嵇瑾已经察觉到了异样,迅速起身站到她的旁边.空气中充满了紧张的气息,仿佛有什么东西正在潜伏着.
就在这时,那阴影终于显现出真面目——一只体型巨大的黑色蜘蛛悄无声息地爬出草丛,迅速逼近他们.那蜘蛛的身体足足有成人手掌大小,漆黑的腹部上覆盖着诡异的红色斑点,它的八只巨爪如同刀锋一样锋利,散发着一股令人不寒而栗的威胁.
"这是什么怪物?"嵇瑾低声问道.
蔺凝霜皱了皱眉,显然她对这种生物并不陌生:"黑寡妇蜘蛛,毒性极强,必须尽快解决."
话音刚落,那只蜘蛛猛地跳了出来,目标直指蔺凝霜.它的速度极快,身形迅猛,仿佛一阵黑影闪过.蔺凝霜迅速侧身躲开,几乎与蜘蛛擦肩而过,匕首随即挥舞,想要阻止它的攻击,但蜘蛛的灵活度超乎她的预料,几乎在她攻击到的瞬间就猛地一转,躲开了攻击.
嵇瑾迅速上前,试图从一侧夹击这只蜘蛛,他一跃而起,用猎刀猛地刺向蜘蛛的腹部.就在猎刀即将接触到蜘蛛时,那蜘蛛迅速甩动一只巨大的蜘蛛腿,挡住了他的攻击.
蜘蛛的速度和力量超乎想象,它的攻击犹如闪电般迅捷,嵇瑾和蔺凝霜都没有料到会如此难缠.蔺凝霜冷静地向后退了几步,准备寻找机会再次出手.
然而,蜘蛛似乎感知到他们的合作,它的攻击更加频繁,毫不留情.蔺凝霜快速寻找机会,她目光敏锐地锁定了蜘蛛的弱点,背部的一个小小的缝隙.
"嵇瑾,左侧!"蔺凝霜喊道,迅速指引他.
嵇瑾没有多问,听从她的指示,猛地转身从蜘蛛的左侧扑向它.蜘蛛迅速调整方向,避开了嵇瑾的猎刀.蔺凝霜抓住时机,从包裹里掏出一个小瓷瓶丢向蜘蛛,碎掉的瓶子里瞬间散发出一股浓郁的气味.蜘蛛发出了一声像极了婴儿的尖叫,开始左右晃动着身体,趁着机会,嵇瑾迅速跃起,用猎刀狠狠地刺入蜘蛛的背部.蜘蛛剧烈地挣扎,它猛地转身想咬嵇瑾,蔺凝霜迅速赶到一刀把蜘蛛头钉在地上,渐渐地,蜘蛛不再动弹,最终失去了生命力.
蔺凝霜缓缓站起,收回匕首,毫不犹豫地扫了一眼已经死去的黑寡妇蜘蛛,她的表情依旧如常,冷静如水.
嵇瑾则轻轻呼了一口气,他看着蔺凝霜,开口道谢.
他轻声说道:"这次多亏了你."
蔺凝霜点了点头,但并没有回头,继续走向前方,然想到什么她停留片刻,低声说道:"该道谢的是我…你又帮了我一次."
嵇瑾望着她的背影,微愣后轻轻一笑,静静地看着她再次查看水源.