CHAPTER 84: CHAPTER 83: BIG HEAD WATER THIEVES

Happy days are always too short.

Eleven days after Wang Wu arrived at the Xijiang River, the endless rainy weather began again.

Thick fog rose on the river’s surface, almost reaching a state where one couldn’t see ten meters ahead.

In such weather, it was impossible to rely on sunlight to absorb the golden particles.

Wang Wu didn’t mind and quietly hibernated beneath the cliffs by the riverbank, not even catching fish or shrimp.

Thus passed three consecutive days.

The rain continued, the fog lingered, and there was no sign of clearing up.

Although it seemed like a normal weather change matching the current seasonal characteristics, for some reason, he couldn’t shake an inexplicable feeling of discomfort.

Especially by the third day, this feeling became more concrete and clearer.

"Could it be that I’ve been targeted by some strange little demon again?"

"Or, because the King of Xijiang left, an external Great Demon has set its eyes on these waters and wants to take over?"

Wang Wu naturally wouldn’t ignore such a feeling. Just the other day, he had advanced his Danger Perception Talent to Level 10. Although it didn’t provide detailed information descriptions like Passive Concealment, Danger Perception itself was something understood but not spoken.

It was an instant reactive response to surrounding danger factors.

Sometimes, even he had trouble making sense of it.

Thus, Wang Wu didn’t act rashly and maintained his Level 10 Passive Concealment. His current Basic Attributes were impressive; he wouldn’t have any issues going a month without food and it wouldn’t affect his combat strength.

After all, he wasn’t worried unless it was some all-encompassing super AOE big move; otherwise, he wouldn’t be the unlucky one.

Thus, a light drizzle continued for another day and night, the dense fog on the river still did not dissipate. But on the fourth night, Wang Wu suddenly heard intermittent chewing and splashing sounds in the river.

A chill ran through his heart, and the sense of unease spread. Although he had no concrete evidence, he was sure that there was indeed an invading water demon in the river.

"Crash-bang!"

The sound of the water splashes grew louder, as if a large fish was swiftly swimming through the water. Even though he couldn’t see anything, Wang Wu could imagine the impact of a fierce and large fish moving swiftly.

This creature was coming with a menacing force!

"Caw! Help! Caw! South Mountain King, help—"

A shrill voice echoed over the river, but it stopped abruptly.

Only then did Wang Wu realize that the quick splash sound was made by the River Patrol Water Demon. It was running, and running fast, yet unfortunately, it was of no use. It was killed with a single blow by some mysterious enemy!

The river returned to silence, as if nothing had happened, but Wang Wu sniffed the smell of blood, a strong scent spreading from upstream. A sense of agitation, noise, and uncontrollable feeling grew in his heart, spreading. He was even a bit flustered, even wanting to jump out of the water immediately and escape to the shore.

A terror from deep within his bloodline was awakened, making it nearly impossible for him to maintain his Level 10 Passive Concealment State, almost causing him to break down!

"Calm down, calm down! Fleeing to the shore now might not be the best choice. Level 10 Danger Perception only makes me more sensitive to danger and does not mean I will definitely trigger danger. I must understand these are two concepts. I must overcome myself and defeat this accursed, tremor in my bloodline!"

"I have to understand, though I am a bear, I’m not truly one! I am human. I have enough confidence and reason to weigh things out."

"Don’t move, don’t move!"

Wang Wu desperately suppressed in his heart, soothing that damned fear. Finally, after a few seconds, he managed to control his emotions and calm the shivering fear from deep within his bloodline.

Although he didn’t know what had happened, he was confident in his Level 10 Passive Concealment and his cautious actions over the past few days.

Even if a powerful demon indeed appeared, before he revealed any flaws, and under the perfect concealment of the external environment, it wouldn’t be so easy to find him at once.

"Swoosh-swoosh!"

The river suddenly boiled. At this moment, countless fish and shrimp leapt from the water, fleeing from upstream as if escaping an indescribable horrifying existence.

In an instant, the fishes jumping out even stirred up the thick fog on the river surface. Around Wang Wu, there were fleeing fish and shrimp as well. This was a river over a thousand meters wide, and fish and shrimp were so densely packed, it was as if there was an invisible giant net catching them.

Just as this thought crossed Wang Wu’s mind, most of the thick fog on the river surface suddenly dispersed. Upstream and downstream, hundreds of bizarre creatures emerged. Their bodies resembled sharks, but their heads were extremely large, with gaping blood-red mouths that could be more than ten meters wide.

They swam quickly, devouring the dense fish and shrimp in the river, much like heavy cavalry on land, wielding lances, charging through a cluster of infantry like a herd of sheep.

The blood dyed the river red, countless fish and shrimp were devoured, only a few managed to escape with their lives.

Wang Wu was appalled by the sight. What kind of demons are these? Their methods of hunting fish were skilled and coordinated, like an assembly line in a slaughterhouse, completing the massacre in the most efficient and speedy manner.

In just under two minutes, the fish in the river were devoured nearly completely, with even some River Patrol Water Demons not spared.

At this point, these hundreds of big-mouthed fish turned in unison, swiftly swimming downstream along the river, disappearing from the water’s surface in no time.

From start to finish, clean and decisive, killing with the swiftness of the wind. This must be the nomadic Demon Race of the rivers, lakes, and seas!

A few minutes later, the sky resounded with the angry cries of a giant black eagle, followed quickly by the arrival of a brown giant eagle under the command of the North Mountain King. But besides voicing angry cries, they couldn’t do anything.

A few more minutes passed, and the rumbling sounds of the earth came, and a dozen or so demons of varying sizes appeared on the riverbank.

Among them were those Wang Wu recognized, belonging to the South Mountain King, including the Cyan Wolf, Gray Fox, and a terrifying black bear standing at least ten meters tall, as well as those under the North Mountain King, including the Black Spider Captain, Silver Fox Captain, and a one-eyed tiger.

"Damn it! Before the King of Xijiang left, he entrusted us with watching over his West River Water Race, and now they’ve been wiped out! Black Eagle Captain, did you find out which Over-border Water Demon it was?"

The Cyan Wolf roared and questioned the black eagle in the sky.

"Reporting to Marshal Lang, I didn’t see. Those Water Demons came too quickly and slipped away just as fast. Especially in these recent days of continuous rain and thick fog, even flying patrols yielded no clues."

"Fool, you’re clearly slacking! The West River Water Race suffered heavy losses this time, including the kin of the King of Xijiang. If they are exterminated, how will we explain when the King of Xijiang returns?"

The Cyan Wolf cursed angrily, genuinely furious, not feigning it.

The black bear beside him, however, remained expressionless as he spoke slowly, "Marshal Lang, calm down. This shouldn’t be blamed on us. The King of Xijiang took away most of the capable Demon Soldiers in hopes of successfully transforming into a dragon, leaving only the old, weak, sick, and disabled, unable to guard such a vast river defense."

"We, as Land Demon Race, can’t act in water. Moreover, these Over-border Water Demons are cunning and despicable, using the heavy fog for cover and the advantage of water terrain, acting quickly and viciously, making it impossible for us to rescue in time."

"Speaking of which, Younger Brother Hu, having been to Yun Ding City, you’re the most knowledgeable among us. Can you discern anything?"

The black bear suddenly asked the Gray Fox.

The Gray Fox immediately stepped forward and respectfully replied,

"Reporting to Marshal Xiong, I can’t be sure either, but considering today’s encounter of the West River Water Race, I recall a bounty once issued by the Wind Tiger King, targeting a gang of Big Head Water Thieves, said to have bodies of the Angry Sea Shark Race but heads like Taotie, with four legs beneath their bodies, moving three hundred li on land in a day, and three thousand li in rivers, lakes, and seas, coming and going like the wind, fond of plundering."

"They often infiltrate silently, using strange sounds to alarm the Water Race, causing them to panic and crowd together. Then, they weave in and out for encirclement, usually causing heavy losses in just a few moves."

"Once successful, they flee a thousand li away, extremely hard to deal with."

If the West River Water Race faced these Big Head Water Thieves today, then in my humble opinion, we’d likely not be able to catch up with them."

Upon hearing what the Gray Fox said, the demons on the riverbank looked at each other in dismay. Although they all had over a hundred years of cultivation, most had always lingered here and hadn’t heard of such tales, especially not regarding the Water Race territory.

The Marshal Xiong pondered for a moment, then said, "For this matter, let’s report to the Great King and let him decide. Marshal Hu, Marshal Lang, what do you think?"

The Cyan Wolf snorted without a word, just gazing at the still blood-red river, with a fierce gleam in his eyes.

The one-eyed tiger, however, looked as if he was decrepit, casually nodding before leaving, with an air of detachment and indifference.

Soon, all the demons left one after another, leaving only the Cyan Wolf, Gray Fox, and a rather inconspicuous weasel on the riverbank.

Clearly, they were the trusted aides of the Cyan Wolf.

At this moment, the Cyan Wolf spoke with a face full of sorrow:

"Both of you, I trust you completely, so I’ll be straightforward. The King of Xijiang once saved my life, and I’ve never forgotten this grace. Today, his kin in the Water Race suffered such calamity. My heart is troubled. If I can’t do something, I won’t be at peace. But after all, we are land demons, unable to act in water. Do either of you have any good strategies to help me?"

"Marshal, under the Black Mountain King, there’s a Water Demon Captain. I have an old acquaintance with them. Shall I bring some gifts and invite them for help, perhaps to find some surviving kins of the King of Xijiang’s Water Race?"

The weasel suggested.

"Great, Lao Huang, proceed with this matter at once."

The Cyan Wolf was delighted, and the weasel departed hastily upon receiving orders.

At this time, the Gray Fox suddenly spoke: "I know the elder brother is deeply grateful, but now is a time of turmoil. Marshal, you should still diligently train the demon soldiers as a precaution."

The Cyan Wolf shook his head, "Younger brother, you’re overthinking. This place is ten thousand li away from Yun Ding City. How could the Human Race invade? Even if they did, what of it? We have the Snow Mountain Great Ape King here, a millennial Demon King occupying both geographic and temporal advantages, rallying every call. Human Race Cultivators aren’t foolish."

Hearing this, the Gray Fox said no more, but hidden in the depths of his eyes, a glint flashed.