Chapter 27: Water‑Walking Mouse (Please Follow! Please Collect!)

Originally, the lake bottom near Huanhu Dao, although it was said that many migrating fish schools had come in, making the lake bottom quite lively.

But liveliness does not mean chaos.

Moreover, possibly because of the existence of Yunhe and Ni Qiu, the lake bottom's ecological protection is still okay.

But now, what appears before Yunhe's eyes is a mess all over.

The lake water is turbid beyond tolerance, with large amounts of aquatic vegetation and dead wood haphazardly spread on the riverbed, plus some more obvious gullies, clearly traces left by battle and collision.

Not a single fish shadow could be seen, let alone Ni Qiu.

It seems to have happened not long ago.

Yunhe scooped up a section of aquatic grass and glanced at the broken spot.

Was it done by that school of Black Fish?

Looking at the scene before him, anger welled up in his heart, and he made a reasonable guess.

Before, they had been on bad terms with that school of Black Fish; Yunhe had even fought the Black Fish leader, and Ni Qiu would occasionally go find other Black Fish to practice against.

However, previously Yunhe was awake, so he naturally did not fear that school of Black Fish.

It is very likely that the Black Fish noticed he had not appeared for several days and then attacked Ni Qiu.

However, besides speculation, Yunhe still has some doubts.

First, he indeed slept for three days due to a breakthrough in his Cultivation Base.

But in such a short three days, how did the Black Fish school determine he was missing?

After all, even when he hadn't broken through, he rarely appeared in the water, mostly staying in his cave dwelling or on Huanhu Dao.

Secondly, given the Black Fish leader's strength, subduing Ni Qiu would not require making the nearby area such a wreck.

Finally.

Since they took over this place, why is there not even a trace of Black Fish?

Carrying such doubts, Yunhe moved his claws, disturbed the water flow, and swam toward the Black Fish's habitat.

All the way there.

The water environment is not much better than that near Huanhu Dao.

This makes it even more wrong.

Black Fish have no reason to destroy their own habitat.

There's movement.

Yunhe felt the abnormality in the lake bottom's water flow and involuntarily sped up his actions.

Bang!!

Gurgle——

A surge of bubbles bubbled up.

Then a large-bodied Black Fish tumbled in the water, flipped backward, and fell into the mud.

This Black Fish looks somewhat miserable, its body covered with deep and shallow scratches, threads of blood seeping from the wounds and dissipating in the lake.

Moreover, many scales have fallen off and are missing.

However, even injured like this, the Black Fish remains fierce.

With a flick of its tail, it swam out from the mire.

Looking ahead, its eyes showed a strong sense of apprehension.

And the one that just slapped it away turned out to be a mouse with a bulky body, covered in brownish-yellow fur!

A water mouse!

Its condition is also not great,

it has several wounds on its body.

But compared to the Black Fish, it is undoubtedly much better.

Seeing the Black Fish still vigorous, the water mouse's eyes, resembling Lvdou, glowed with a faint light, and it felt inclined to retreat.

Although it can move underwater, after all it is not an aquatic creature; occasional diving for food is fine, staying a while longer is no problem, but remaining in the water for a long time would also be unbearable.

It bared its teeth like a threat toward the Black Fish ahead and the Ni Qiu hiding nearby, poking its head out.

Preparing to retreat.

However, when it looked at Ni Qiu, the water mouse froze for a moment.

Because it discovered that Ni Qiu was not looking at it at all.

Even.

Not only did it not look at it, but Ni Qiu at this moment kept blowing bubbles, appearing excited and happy, not even minding its own injuries.

This made the small-minded mouse feel somewhat resentful.

If it weren't for this Black Fish, the tiny Ni Qiu would have been swallowed whole by it long ago!

Suddenly.

The Black Fish and the water mouse in the standoff simultaneously looked in one direction.

Only to see.

A turtle the size of a grindstone, paddling its claws, came riding the water current.

Yunhe gave Ni Qiu an annoyed sideways glance.

What's the point of being so excited?

That is, his Cultivation Base had just broken through, his demonic power still unable to be freely controlled, making a sneak attack impossible.

Otherwise, its excitement drawing the enemy's attention would have ruined an excellent sneak‑attack opportunity.

However, Ni Qiu still being alive let him secretly breathe a sigh of relief.

The worst-case scenario did not happen.

It was only when seeing those ferocious wounds on its body that

Yunhe's gaze gradually turned icy.

Nice guts!

His gaze swept toward the black fish.

Gurgle—

【66】 Noticing Yunhe's gaze, the black fish suddenly shuddered.

It's different now!

As a black fish that had fought Yunhe before, it clearly felt that this turtle was different from before!

That gaze gave it an inexplicable chill.

Fortunately, it just swept past it.

【Water-walking Rat】

Ignoring the black fish's change in expression, Yunhe recognized this water rat.

Like him, the loach, and the black fish—ordinary wild beasts that cultivated into demons—such cases are relatively rare, requiring various coincidences.

Although it is not a high-ranking demon beast, it carries demonic power from birth, which is a great advantage.

And upon reaching full adulthood, it can possess the strength of a first-stage early demon beast.

In terms of lineage, it completely overwhelms Yunhe and the others.

But sometimes, lineage does not represent everything.

In terms of foundation, they completely overwhelm Yunhe and them.

With suppressed anger, Yunhe flicked his tail, and a sharp water arrow shot straight out.

In an instant it pierced through layers of water flow, straight toward the water-walking rat!

Yunhe, suppressing his anger, flicked his tail, and a sharp water arrow shot straight out.

However, the water-walking rat's reaction was also quick.

Its already stout body suddenly swelled, then instantly shrank, stirring up layers of ripples that created considerable resistance to the water arrow.

Taking advantage of this moment, it darted aside to evade the arrow attack.

This is the first demon beast that has successfully dodged Yunhe's water arrow technique since he learned it.

Based on this alone, this water-walking rat is more formidable than the black fish.

But Yunhe never intended to achieve merit solely with the water arrow technique.

Although a low-grade first-stage spell can also injure a mid-first-stage demon beast, the latter's body is stronger, not enough to be lethal.

"Once the cultivator body also breaks through to the mid-Qi Refining stage, we can learn some more profound spells."

Although low-grade first-stage spells can also inflict damage on a First Stage Middle Demon Beast Body, the latter's body is stronger, so it is not enough to be fatal.

As soon as the water-walking rat dodged the water arrow and turned its head, it suddenly saw the huge turtle already appear beside it!

That fast?!

Just as the water-walking rat that had dodged the water arrow turned its head, it suddenly saw that huge Turtle, which had already appeared beside it!

The water flow suddenly became turbulent.

A claw shot toward its face!

The water-walking rat hastily raised its claw to block.

A claw struck at its face!

It was seen like a ball, directly slapped away.

Watching the water-walking rat fly backward, the black fish beside, with a solemn expression, was startled.

Recalling how it itself had just been slapped away, it then looked at the water-walking rat that had also been slapped away.

Watching the water-walking rat fly backward, the solemn Black Fish beside it was startled.

The loach, which had always been blindly confident in Yunhe, couldn't help but blink twice.

The boss has become even stronger.

Actually, Yunhe himself was a bit taken aback.

He knew his physical body was strong, at least stronger than the black fish, but he really had no clear idea of just how much stronger.

First, there are too few reference points.

Second, he usually uses the water arrow technique, or the loach can handle it, so he doesn't need to use his tentacles.

And what about the water-walking rat?

Second, they usually just use water arrow technique, or a Ni Qiu can solve it, so there's no need for his tentacles.

Yunhe's slap nearly knocked it out cold.

After regaining its senses, it shuddered violently,

At that moment it clearly realized the gap between them, and without bothering to save face, in panic it exerted all its limbs and leapt straight toward the lake surface.

It wants to flee!

At that moment, he clearly realized the gap between the two sides, and without even trying to save face, in his fright his limbs exerted force simultaneously, and he leapt straight onto the lake surface.

Isn't that courting death?

Besides this turtle, there's also a black fish over there!

The water-walking rat ran with all its might, its speed not slow even in water.

Seeing this, Yunhe's tail flicked repeatedly.

The water-going mouse ran with all its might, its speed not slow, even in water.

Seeing this, Yunhe flicked his tail repeatedly.

Whoosh—whoosh—whoosh—

Three water arrows twined and rose.

Pfft!!

Two of them hit their mark, one missed.

The water‑rat, in pain, flung its mouth wide, and the breath it had been holding burst out uncontrollably.

Maybe the pain stimulated it, or maybe the suffocating feeling drove it desperate, but its speed surged once more.

Tsk!

Yunhe smacked his lips.

He then rose onto the water's surface.

Quickly.

The water‑rat arrived at the water's surface.

It gaped, its Lvdou eyes bloodshot, panting heavily.

It coughed intermittently, spewing out mouthfuls of lake water.

Before it could fully recover, Yunhe rose from the depths.

Seeing this, the water‑rat dared not pause.

It started running across the water.

Only now was it finally freed from its restraint.

Its speed now surpassed its underwater pace by a wide margin.

If it could reach the shore, it would be safe!

That was its aim.

As the lakeshore drew nearer, the water‑rat's survival instinct intensified.

Just as Yunhe could use the water to dodge land demon beasts from shore.

The water‑rat hunts in the water year‑old, and when evading danger it likewise relies on its advantage of moving on land.

"It's running pretty fast."

As soon as he broke the surface, Yunhe saw the fleeing silhouette.

"Let's give it a try."

Having thought that, he inhaled slightly, raised his claw, and demonic power welled up.

The next moment.

A large amount of water vapor rose from the lake and swiftly condensed.

A sheet of dark cloud took shape.

Within the churning cloud, threads of blue‑purple lightning coursed.

Pop pop?

Gurgle.

At that moment the Ni Qiu and the Black Fish also rose to the surface, staring at the lingering little patch of dark cloud not far off, and slowly opened their mouths.

Right after, they saw.

As Yunhe clenched his claw tight.

"Fall!"

Boom!!

Beneath the dark cloud, lightning blazed!

Squeak!!!

A piercing cry rang out, thick with terror and unbearable pain.

How could this be?!

How could a mere turtle gather rainclouds and wield lightning?

The emergence of the water‑arrow technique had already surprised the water‑rat, though it could barely accept it, but lightning—

The water‑rat, its body charred black, stared in disbelief, then rolled over, belched a mouthful of black smoke, and passed out.

"Not even killed by that blast—my Little Thundercloud Technique still needs diligent practice."

Yunhe swam to the water‑rat, ready to give it its final send‑off.

But he failed to notice that behind him, a Ni Qiu and a Black Fish stood frozen, as if struck by lightning.

They gaped, eyes wide, mouths opening and closing, unable to voice the shock they felt.

Glug—

After a moment, someone gulped, and the sound rang out starkly.

Their stiff forms also seemed to spring to life in that sound.

They slowly turned their heads to meet each other's gaze.

Each saw in the other's eyes the same feeling, yet also a different nuance.

Ni Qiu: "Look! It's my boss!"

Black Fish: "This is unreasonable, this is unreasonable."

Only when Yunhe hauled back the water‑rat's scorched corpse did the Ni Qiu and the Black Fish end their gaze.

"You two."

Seeing them exchange glances so often, Yunhe's expression turned odd.

"Should I perhaps step aside for a moment?"

"Bobo!!"

However, Ni Qiu clearly didn't grasp his good intentions, excitedly swimming up and circling him to express its excitement.

"Okay, okay."

Yunhe waved his paw and tossed the water-walking rat's corpse to it.

Then his expression turned solemn.

He approached the Black Fish.

The Black Fish tensed up, looking at the approaching Yunhe, showing a hint of awe.

Lightning is what demonic beasts fear, and the turtle that can control lightning.

"Gurgle!"

The Black Fish relaxed, lowering its guard, facing Yunhe, and slowly lowered its head.

The meaning was obvious.

Submit!

Seeing this, Yunhe was slightly taken aback.

"Bobo!!"

However, Ni Qiu didn't seem surprised, just kept giving Yunhe looks.

Catch it! Boss, catch it!

Yunhe ignored its eagerness.

He just scratched his chin, feeling a bit regretful, saying:

"Tsk, I still wanted to eat Black Fish stew."

The Black Fish in front tensed up again.

Although it couldn't understand what Yunhe was saying, it instinctively felt that it probably wasn't a good thing.

(End of chapter)