Chapter 58

Feng Yi's enthusiasm was fully ignited!

He had been quiet and obedient just a moment ago, but now Feng Yi took the initiative to ask:

"Professor Zhou, are you saying the competition starts now?"

Seeing that Feng Yi was the first to speak, Professor Zhou was taken aback but quickly understood. Feng Yi had joined Team South 6 for the 1000 points, and they had chosen him because of his sensitivity to snakes and his snake-catching skills.

So, Professor Zhou was also looking forward to seeing just how sensitive Feng Yi was to snakes and whether he could be the first to spot one.

"Yes! It starts now!" Professor Zhou said with a smile.

Professor Zhu glanced at his wristwatch, "I wonder how long it will take to achieve the first success. Teacher Lei, how long did it take them to find the first snake last year?"

Teacher Lei, who was carrying a specialized camera, recalled, "About 8 hours."

"About the same," Professor Zhou nodded. "After the climate anomaly, the number of snakes in the Nanchong Reserve has decreased significantly. They may have recovered in the deep mountains, but there are still very few in the peripheral areas. The establishment of the comprehensive research base has increased human activity in the periphery."

"The first snake they found last year was a banded krait," Professor Zhu recalled.

"Yes, a banded krait. Last year, because of camera issues, they didn't start until noon. They found the banded krait by a ditch in the evening, and everyone was very excited," Teacher Lei said.

The others were still discussing the situation from last year and how they found the first snake.

Meanwhile, Feng Yi started putting on gloves.

Cheng Si noticed. He was quick-witted and good at reading people, and he didn't underestimate anyone in the team.

Feng Yi didn't look like the type at all. His previous experience, such as acting in web dramas, had nothing to do with scientific research!

But!

To be selected by Team South 6, he must have something special!

"Have you already found one?!" Cheng Si asked.

The others also looked at Feng Yi.

Professor Zhou glanced at Steve.

Steve shrugged, making a helpless expression. He hadn't spotted any snakes yet.

They were still in the outer periphery of the Nanchong Reserve, where people often walked, so the chances of finding a snake were low.

"Maybe there's a little cutie hiding somewhere here!" Steve said.

Cheng Si didn't comment on Steve's use of "little cutie."

In Steve's eyes, even a three-meter-long king cobra was a "little cutie."

When the news about Xiaolong came out, Steve posted a video on his social media platform, showing him visiting Xiaolong at Yueshan.

In the video, Steve was glued to the glass, looking at the snake with a痴han-like gaze, saying things like, "Wow, it's so beautiful! So charming!"

Who knew how Steve could find charm in such a fierce-looking snake!

When Cheng Si first saw a high-definition close-up of Xiaolong, he almost threw his phone!

However, Cheng Si didn't know that Feng Yi was the "Yueshan Snake Brother" who caught Xiaolong.

To protect Feng Yi's identity, the Joint Protection Bureau hadn't disclosed this information.

On the Nanchong Reserve research team, only the people responsible for the review and a few like Professor Zhou and Professor Zhu knew about Feng Yi's background.

So, Cheng Si's first impression of Feng Yi was: a web drama actor with no particular fame.

At that moment, under the gaze of eight pairs of eyes.

Feng Yi said, "I'll give it a try."

He walked a few steps to the side, lifted a stone slab, and picked up a worm-like "little bug" from the soil underneath.

Feng Yi: "I found a 'little cutie.'"

Cheng Si looked at Feng Yi, then at the worm-like bug in his hand.

"Is this a snake?" Cheng Si asked.

Professor Zhu chuckled.

"It is a snake!"

"It's a hook-nosed blind snake. I've heard they were common in Nanchong a long time ago, often found in fields when plowing. After the climate anomaly, their numbers decreased significantly. Finding one here is important data, so let's record it!" Professor Zhu said.

When it comes to snakes, few people think of blind snakes, especially the hook-nosed blind snake, which is very small. It doesn't look like a snake at all, lacking the typical snake appearance!

Non-venomous, small, and with negligible threat to humans.

Some people might step on one without even realizing it was a snake!

At that moment, the ten-centimeter-long hook-nosed blind snake that Feng Yi had uncovered was coiled around his finger, its head raised, and its tongue flicking slightly.

Cheng Si now saw the clear difference, thanks to the high-definition camera's zoom and slow-motion features, which showed the "mini snake" flicking its tongue.

"Wow! There's such a snake?!"

He quickly took photos with his camera.

"Looking at it, its body is a bit purplish, dark purple, with a grayish-purple belly. The scales reflect light, making it look shiny. It has no segments, definitely not a worm. It doesn't have a neck... Are those two small dots on its head its eyes?"

"Those are its eyes," Steve chimed in, "Oh my God! It's so cute! It's just coiled around your finger! The blind snakes I've caught always try to escape!"

Teacher Lei, who was holding the camera, also came over to take photos. This was too easy to shoot!

There was no need to worry about the blind snake wriggling away or getting hurt while catching it, and they could adjust the angle to get the best shots.

"How did you know there was a blind snake under that stone?" Cheng Si asked Feng Yi.

"I guessed," Feng Yi said.

Cheng Si: I don't believe you for a second!

The others were also skeptical.

Feng Yi continued, "I was just trying my luck. Yesterday, I heard someone say they found ant eggs under a stone. Blind snakes eat ants and ant eggs, so I thought I'd try to see if there were any here."

Professor Zhou nodded, acknowledging the possibility.

They just didn't expect Feng Yi to actually find a blind snake here.

Cheng Si wasn't particularly interested in the three points, but he was very interested in the blind snake.

He started flipping over similar stones, but after several attempts, he found nothing.

Steve couldn't help but remind him, "Don't waste time on stones that are tightly packed with sand. Look for gaps; you might find some larger snakes."

Cheng Si thought: I don't want larger snakes; I just want to find a non-venomous, harmless blind snake.

Researcher Xie, who had been silent, spoke up, "This... the game just started and it's over?"

Researcher Xie thought: My one point was so easily earned by him?

Professor Zhou laughed; he really hadn't expected Feng Yi to catch a blind snake on the spot.

He really did catch it!

Indeed, his sensitivity to snakes was unmatched by others!

No one else had been as accurate when flipping stones!

Feng Yi held up his hand, showing the small blind snake coiled around his finger to Professor Zhou, "Does this count?"

"It counts!"

Professor Zhou took out his notebook and wrote it down, "A gentleman's word, I'll record three points for you first, and we'll transfer them to you when we get back."

"It seems the number of blind snakes has increased. That's good news," Teacher Lei said, taking photos and recording the surrounding environment and terrain with the camera.

"I wonder if the number of other snakes in the Nanchong Reserve has also increased. I'm afraid we might not find many snakes even after two months, and the data might not be sufficient," Professor Zhou said, looking at Feng Yi, "Xiao Feng, if we don't see many snakes later, can you still find them?"

Researcher Xie instantly raised his guard, his face stern as he stared at Professor Zhou: You won't get another point from me!

Professor Zhou ignored him and continued smiling at Feng Yi, "The three points are gone, but how about one point per snake?"

Feng Yi replied, "You're joking, right? The three points at the start were just for fun, to liven up the atmosphere. For the rest, just let me know where to catch snakes, and I'll do it for you! I may not have other skills, but I can catch a 'little cutie' every time!"

With the 1000 points as a reward, catching snakes was his job after joining the team. He wasn't ungrateful or greedy; he knew there should be a limit to earning points.

Besides...

When he caught snakes, he could sneak some food, like fruits from the forest.

Even if he didn't know the type of fruit, he could tell if it was edible by smelling it. This was an ability brought by evolution.

The team paused for a moment, collected enough data, and then Feng Yi returned the small blind snake to its original spot, covering it with the stone.

The blind snake was small, but at least it was a good start, right?

And it was a bright, shiny start!