Chapter 4

As soon as he entered the forest, Lin Bei immediately felt like a fish in water.

Lin Bei was a researcher, so he had also studied snakes to some extent, though not thoroughly, as his job did not focus on this. According to Lin Bei's knowledge, there were about 3,000 species of snakes, with about 200 in China. Half of them preferred to move around in plains or hills, while the other half liked to dominate in the forests. Compared to outside the forest, there was clearly more food inside, but the competition was also more intense. Therefore, the snakes encountered in the forest were mostly venomous.

Lin Bei did not know what kind of snake he was, but he still believed that, as a snake, the forest was the ultimate destination. Moreover, as a snake with human thoughts, Lin Bei now had enough confidence to survive in the forest. However, if Lin Bei were not so strong, he definitely would not consider the forest.

Was the forest dangerous? Of course, it was. The idea that modern people could spend a night in the forest with just a tent was nonsense. Either it wasn't a primeval forest, or the person wasn't truly experienced. As someone who loved nature, Lin Bei had plenty of experience with outdoor camping. Except for the first time, he always prepared well: long-sleeved shirts, long pants, various snake and insect repellents, food, water, and various tools. Otherwise, the forest would be a nightmare. Mosquitoes alone could suck a person dry. But now, Lin Bei felt that these things shouldn't be a problem.

After entering the forest, Lin Bei stopped first, his tongue flicking to gather information about the area. Lin Bei was quite cautious.

It had to be said that the snake's instincts were incredibly strong, or rather, the instincts of this body were incredibly strong. In the various air vibrations, Lin Bei almost instantly sorted through the information here.

This should be the outskirts of a primeval forest, which was not surprising. In ancient times, the land was vast and sparsely populated, and forests were mostly places rarely visited by humans. Even experienced hunters dared not venture too deep, so the forest's original appearance was well-preserved, with vegetation much more lush than in modern times.

Outside, the sun was shining, and the climate was dry, but inside the forest, it was cool and humid, with a thin layer of white mist drifting due to the air currents.

Although it was just the outskirts of the forest, various bird calls and the rustling sounds of small animals moving around were already reaching Lin Bei's ears. Through his tongue, Lin Bei could see these little creatures: mice, rabbits, and even a weasel. The weasel poked its head out of a small hole, its front paws raised, listening carefully. Its target seemed to be Lin Bei. After noticing Lin Bei, it quickly retreated, clearly frightened. Lin Bei now not only intimidated humans but also had a significant impact on these small animals.

Weasels generally lived on the outskirts of forests, following the migration of rodents, as their main food source was mice. They wouldn't mind a rabbit for a treat, but they occasionally killed small snakes, though they didn't eat them. They killed small snakes to prevent competition, though they didn't have the concept of competition; it was purely instinctual. This instinct was particularly terrifying.

The moment Lin Bei saw the weasel, he suddenly felt a surge of hatred, wanting to bite it to death. Lin Bei suppressed this hatred, as it was also a snake's instinct. Now, with Lin Bei's human thoughts in control, he was trying to inherit the good instincts and discard the bad ones. This was not difficult, as the clear rationality of humans was the most obvious distinction between humans and animals.

"Chirp, chirp, chirp, chirp!!" Lin Bei heard some urgent calls.

An unlucky wild rabbit had run into a trap set by a hunter. The trap was simple, designed specifically to catch small animals like rabbits. Made of vines, it was a live snare. The poor rabbit was trapped inside, struggling desperately, kicking its legs wildly. The more it struggled, the tighter the snare became. If it couldn't break free, it would end up as human food.

The weasel poked its head out of the hole again, first looking at Lin Bei. Seeing that Lin Bei posed no threat, it then looked at the rabbit. These little creatures had an incredible sense and were likely eyeing the rabbit, though whether they had the courage to go for it was another matter. Humans were a threat to all creatures, and a significant one at that.

Seeing the unlucky rabbit, Lin Bei felt a strong sense of hunger. He was hungry.

Snakes feel hungry after waking from hibernation, and at this time, they are the most ferocious. If it's a venomous snake, its venom is at its strongest, as the venom in its fangs has been stored all winter. Lin Bei didn't know how long his predecessor had been asleep, but he felt he could swallow an elephant.

The hunger instinct reminded Lin Bei to eat the rabbit, as rabbits were a delicious food for snakes.

Lin Bei moved, but not toward the rabbit. Instead, he headed deeper into the forest, choosing not to eat the rabbit.

Eating raw food was normal for a snake, but for Lin Bei with human thoughts, it was too abnormal. He found it hard to accept the idea of swallowing a live, wriggling creature and letting it slide into his stomach, which made him feel uneasy. Hunger might make one lose their rationality, but Lin Bei was far from that point. At least, he didn't dare to eat it.

Because he was so hungry, Lin Bei didn't care about his surroundings, crushing through low shrubs. He needed to find something to eat quickly, as filling his stomach was his top priority.

For animals, especially powerful ones, food was never lacking in the forest. But for Lin Bei, he felt a thousand horses galloping in his heart. Why were there so many animals in the forest?

Mice, frogs, wild rabbits, wild chickens, badgers, and even his own kind, snakes. The resources in this forest were abundant, but Lin Bei couldn't eat them. He had a tragic premonition. Would he become the first giant python in history to starve to death despite having the ability to hunt?

Lin Bei's snake body moved faster. It had to be said that this snake body was indeed exceptionally strong. Despite his hunger, it still had great vitality. After traveling several miles, Lin Bei didn't feel the slightest bit tired. The thorns of the shrubs barely left marks on his scales, a testament to his robust body.

By now, Lin Bei had ventured deep into the forest. The ground was thick with fallen leaves, the smell of years of decay overwhelming. However, Lin Bei could tolerate it. In fact, he didn't care. The constant hunger pangs in his stomach had made him ignore everything else.

"Food, I need some food, not animals, some fruit!!" Lin Bei muttered in his mind.

Hard work pays off, even for a snake. A not-so-tall tree appeared in Lin Bei's perception. Seeing the fruit on the tree, Lin Bei's eyes lit up, but then he felt an urge to spit blood. Damn it, it was a walnut tree!

Walnuts! Oh, my God.

PS: I always believed that if a human really became an animal, the challenge of eating raw meat and drinking blood would be quite difficult to overcome. Don't talk about animal instincts; human instincts are even stronger. Even if I became a snake, I doubt I would dare to eat raw food in the short term.