After the Immortal Disappeared

Chapter 138: Chapter 139: Negotiating Terms Ashore

Hee Lingchuan helped Wu Shaoyi onto the crocodile’s back, then went back to the Stone Beach to look for the long spear, but found it was already gone.

”Let’s go.”

The Crocodile God slowly submerged. The two of them held their breath and gripped the spiny protrusions on its back.

Fortunately, this stretch of water was very short, and the Crocodile God swam quickly. After a dozen or so breaths, it surfaced and did not submerge again.

The two of them let out long sighs of relief.

In reality, the turtle’s nest was very close to Xianling Village. Hee Lingchuan guessed Lui Yao and his men were still smashing ice on the Western Route, so to avoid being seen, he specifically asked the Crocodile God to take a detour and land on the eastern shore.

For the giant crocodile, this was just a matter of a few more tail flicks. It climbed onto the east bank leisurely, without much effort.

Unexpectedly, one of Lui Yao’s bandits happened to be wandering nearby. Seeing movement by the lake, he immediately rushed over.

His view was blocked by grass and trees, so at first, he didn’t see the Crocodile God. He only saw two people limping as they emerged and assumed they were villagers hiding in the bushes, so he eagerly came over for a robbery.

But when he got closer and took a look—whoa, what a huge monster!

”C-c-Crocodile God!” the man screamed and turned to run. Hee Lingchuan wasn’t about to let him get away. He reached out to...

”Keep him alive,” Wu Shaoyi suddenly stressed.

Hee Lingchuan took out the Broken Blade, only to remember his terrible aim. ”Uh, I’m not a good throw.”

”...”

Wu Shaoyi sighed. He somehow produced the long spear and hurled it like a javelin.

WHOOSH! The spear tore through the air, pierced the bandit’s pants, and pinned him to the road.

Hee Lingchuan rushed forward. Just as the bandit was about to draw his blade, Hee Lingchuan chopped him on the back of the neck, knocking him out cold.

Looking at the long spear, he saw it had only pinned the bandit’s pant leg, not harming him in the slightest.

Hee Lingchuan subconsciously glanced at Wu Shaoyi. The man looked like his life was hanging by a thread, yet when it came time to act, his power and accuracy were still impeccable.

Even a dead centipede doesn’t stiffen.

’Truly, one should never let their guard down around such a person, not even for a second.’

Of course, Wu Shaoyi hadn’t spared the bandit’s life out of kindness. He gasped for breath, saying, ”This man can save... save my life!”

The effort of that throw had torn open the wounds all over his body.

Just then, more footsteps sounded from the shore. The bandit’s shout before passing out had evidently attracted unwanted attention. Hee Lingchuan drew his dagger, slipped behind a tree, and was about to launch a sneak attack when there was a rustle in the bushes, and something pounced on the approaching bandit first.

The creature moved with extreme speed. The bandit saw only a blur before a sharp pain exploded in his left eye. He let out a pained scream and flailed his arms wildly.

Seizing the opportunity, Hee Lingchuan closed in and plunged his dagger into the man’s back, piercing his heart.

The world fell silent.

He turned his head and saw something moving nimbly on the ground. Its body was hidden in the shadows and hard to make out, but a pair of small, beady eyes reflected a faint, eerie glow.

’What the hell is this thing?’

Hee Lingchuan raised his dagger, but then he heard Wu Shaoyi call out from behind, ”Coal Ball, come here!”

The creature zipped over in a flash, letting out a squeak as it leaped into his arms.

Hee Lingchuan walked back over, only to find it was a Sable. Its back was so dark it looked like it had knocked over an inkwell, making the name ”Coal Ball” quite fitting.

The Sable clambered over Wu Shaoyi’s body, carefully avoiding his wounds. Then, it looked at Hee Lingchuan and tilted its head.

”This man saved my life from the crocodile’s jaws,” Wu Shaoyi said, stroking its head. ”Where are the others?”

”They thought you were dead, so they scattered,” the Sable suddenly spoke. After seeing the Crocodile God speak, Hee Lingchuan wasn’t too surprised. ”Lui Yao took the opportunity to recruit some of them. Most just ran off, but they haven’t gotten far. I came to check on things.”

”Go get them back.” The words had barely left Wu Shaoyi’s mouth before he changed his mind. ”No, wait half an hour before you go.”

Hee Lingchuan glanced at him, thinking, ’This man is deeply suspicious. He doesn’t even fully trust the men he’s with day in and day out. He doesn’t want them to see him at his weakest.’

The sun was bright, and several giant crocodiles were sprawled lazily by the eastern lakeshore, sunbathing. A few of them had their mouths agape in contentment.

Hee Lingchuan quickly swept through the east side of the village. He didn’t find a soul, only a few chickens wandering about. It seemed Lui Yao had only left two bandits behind to guard and plunder Xianling Village.

It was clear the bandits had been having a hard time lately if they weren’t even willing to pass up the wealth of a small village.

He found a spacious house, moved both Wu Shaoyi and the unconscious bandit inside, and asked Wu Shaoyi, ”How are you going to use him?”

”Injury Transfer,” Wu Shaoyi said with great effort. ”I’ve learned a Secret Art that can transfer my wounds to another animal or human. But the conditions are extremely strict. It’s best if our birth data is compatible. This man... this man isn’t a good match, but fortunately, you have the Turtle Pearl. With it, he’ll suffice.”

’You can even transfer injuries?’ Hee Lingchuan’s interest was suddenly piqued. ”Is this Secret Art difficult to master?”

”Not difficult, but the materials are a one-time-use item, and it comes with numerous repercussions,” Wu Shaoyi said with a bitter smile. ”But I can’t afford to worry about that now. Survival is what’s most important.”

”Can you handle it on your own?” Hee Lingchuan stood up and stretched. ”I still need to catch up with my team.”

’It’s not like I’m leaving him to die. Wu Shaoyi and I are neither friends nor family—we’re on opposing sides, even. I already pulled him back from the brink of death. Haven’t I done more than enough?’

’Besides, saving him would cost me a Turtle Pearl, and that thing sounds priceless.’

”I can’t. It’s impossible without you.” Seeing Hee Lingchuan was about to leave, Wu Shaoyi had no choice but to grab the corner of his sleeve and point to the long spear beside him. ”This spear is named ’Soaring Dragon.’ It originally belonged to Liao Mozhao, a famous general of the Xuan Kingdom. The tip was forged from Black Gold mixed with Extraterrestrial Meteorite Iron, and the shaft was taken from a seven-hundred-year-old Twin Vines. Do you know of Twin Vines?”

Hee Lingchuan shook his head honestly.

”Twin Vines specifically refers to two types of vines that grow parasitically on the Immortal Plate Tree. They become entangled in a desperate competition for the tree’s nutrients, each trying its utmost to strangle the other. Over time, this struggle makes both vines incredibly strong. In fact, it’s the Immortal Plate Tree, often growing twenty to thirty zhang tall, that might end up being strangled to death. You’ve already seen how tough the Soaring Dragon’s shaft, made from Twin Vines, is.”

The spear had been stuck in the giant crocodile’s mouth, and no amount of biting could break it. Although the Crocodile Demon’s fear of aggravating its toothache was a factor, the resilience of the spear’s shaft had nonetheless left a deep impression on Hee Lingchuan.

”In recent years, Immortal Plate Trees have become rare, found only in remote mountains and great marshes. That makes Twin Vines even harder to harvest.” He sighed. ”In any case, I won’t be able to wield a spear anymore. This treasure is yours.”

Hee Lingchuan stroked the spear’s shaft. ”If I heal you, your men will just turn on me when they arrive.”

’As wonderful as the Soaring Dragon Spear is, it’s not enough of a reward.’

’He knew he was Wu Shaoyi’s only hope for survival.’

’This kid is no saint,’ Wu Shaoyi thought with resignation, knowing Hee Lingchuan was about to negotiate. He could face death with equanimity while fighting the Crocodile God, but now that he was back on land, breathing in the scent of soil and lakewater, his desire to live had returned with a vengeance.