Xia Zhining's mind flashed through the communication code database her superiors had provided before departure, and a code name suddenly popped into her head—

Flicking cigarette ash three times in a row means "It's safe for now, remain silent and wait for contact!"

"It was him! It was the knife!"

Xia Zhining's voice trembled with excitement, "He wasn't caught, but he's trapped and can't escape as planned!"

"He was using every method he could think of to tell us: he was still alive, he was waiting, he was looking for us!"

The news that their comrade was still safe and trying to save himself lifted their spirits.

But what followed was an even harsher reality.

Ji Shuyun frowned, looking at the faint lights and moving beams of light in the distant mountain valley: "He's inside, and he knows we might be outside."

"But now the entire stronghold is heavily guarded like an iron barrel because of that big shot's arrival. We can't get in, and he can't get out."

Xia Zhining bit her lower lip, her mind racing: "Could it be... that we can only wait here until that important person leaves and the alert level drops?"

"But what if he stays for several days? What if the undercover agent is exposed during that time?"

If the undercover agent is exposed, it could alert the enemy, who would definitely increase their defenses or move their base.

Fogtooth scratched its non-existent chin with the tip of its tail.

Its golden eyes gleamed with a light that seemed to say, "I have a bold idea, but I'm afraid I can't handle it."

[Ningning, um... should we roll for some even stronger reinforcements?]

[While I was patrolling on my eagle, I spotted a huge creature by a pool on the other side of the mountain!]

As it spoke, it exaggeratedly stretched itself out, trying to demonstrate its length, almost causing the entire snake to slip off Xia Zhining's wrist: [It's really super—big! It feels like it could swallow ten of me in one gulp!]

[My tiny fangs probably wouldn't even break its skin, let alone conquer it with charm!]

Xia Zhining's eyes lit up: "What is it?"

Fogtooth shrank back, his tone tinged with awe at the "ceiling of size" and a barely perceptible, instinctive tremor from the lower rungs of the food chain: [It's...it's a reticulated python!]

[A true jungle behemoth! It's too short even to wear as a scarf!]

Upon hearing this, Xia Zhining had a flash of inspiration, and a bold, almost outlandish plan instantly took shape!

"Take me to see it?"

There was a hint of eager excitement in her voice, "I have a big business deal I'd like to discuss."

Upon hearing this, Fogtooth's entire body stiffened, and it shook its head vigorously: [Good heavens, Ningning! You...you're going to personally go and negotiate business with that big guy?]

Its little tail tip curled up in fear.

[That guy...that guy is no joke! My legs went weak just watching him from afar in the sky!]

[It lay there coiled up, like a breathing, scaly tree trunk! Its mouth could fit a pig's head, and its throat was bottomless!]

[When it strangles its prey, the sound of bones breaking can be heard from a great distance... We're so small, we wouldn't even be a match for its teeth!]

Fogtooth grew increasingly frightened as he spoke, wishing he could curl up into a ball: [What if it's in a bad mood, or feels that we're disturbing its rest...]

[They don't even need to bite; with a flick of their tails, we'll turn into kites and fly away!]

[Lemon, I'm afraid it'll just "talk" us into its belly as a midnight snack!]