The great snake escape

Chen's biggest catch was a 2.5-kilogram cobra, which he found in a greenhouse.

Many online commenters urged him to wear protective gloves, but Chen said bare hands are essential for speed and dexterity. "Gloves get muddy and slippery; they affect my feel," he explained.

To him, the most dangerous part of the hunt was not the confrontation, but the "ambush".

In one instance, while pursuing a cobra in a cluttered corner, he was surprised by two more that suddenly rose up, staring straight at him.

Fortunately, they didn't all attack at once, and Chen managed to catch them one by one. "If they all attacked at once, I wouldn't be afraid either," he said. "I'd just tap their heads."

For Chen, the most important tool isn't technique, but staying alert and composed.

The intense physical work, in Guangxi's high temperatures, took a toll. "Several times I almost got heatstroke," he said. "Only when I sat down to rest did I realize how exhausted I was."

He would take a dose of huoxiangzhengqi water, a traditional Chinese herbal remedy for heatstroke, and press on.

During his time in Hengzhou, Chen was bitten only once, by a non-venomous rat snake.

Chen spent more than 10 consecutive days catching snakes in Hengzhou, moving from village to village.

At one school, he captured over 30 rat snakes, which are non-venomous. However, he caught even more cobras, each about 1.5 meters long and weighing around 1 kilogram.

Before his departure on July 29, Chen livestreamed online. Some locals came to present him with homemade wine, chickens, gifts and banners expressing gratitude.

"The villagers are so warmhearted. It made me feel that my efforts were truly appreciated," he said, adding that he would definitely come back for a visit if he had the chance.