Where Immortals Once Walked

Exerting that much force had to be draining him of blood, for the coppery stench in the water grew stronger. Still, He Lingchuan could not tell whether the blood was coming from Wu Shaoyi, the giant crocodile, or both of them.

What puzzled him most was why the monster did not just drag Wu Shaoyi under and drown him outright. Then he realized that there was a long spear still wedged in its maw, driving upward, keeping its head forced back. Even the beast could not stand that kind of torment.

This giant crocodile had prowled rivers and seas all its life, devouring everything in its path. Never once had it expected to meet such a thorny morsel here. It was only normal for it to be this violently enraged.

“Why don’t you just let go and jump out?”

“I tried! Twice! It only rammed me harder. It wants to smash me to death!” Wu Shaoyi spat, gasping between words. “This thing has intelligence!”

And his own wounds were too severe; he could not possibly outrun it. The crocodile’s jaws might be jammed open, but its locomotive bulk was still that of a charging train. On land or in water, anything it struck would be flattened.

Is the safest place really inside its mouth? He Lingchuan pictured those cavernous jaws lined with fangs and gave a bitter laugh.

“How am I supposed to help?”

“Think of something, quickly!” Wu Shaoyi barked. The sudden appearance of another person overhead was heaven-sent, and he would not let the chance slip. “Save me and I swear I’ll repay you!”

But how am I even supposed to save you? He Lingchuan’s mind raced. Was he supposed to stab the crocodile to death with his broken saber? That was a joke. He would be flung into the rocks long before he pierced its hide. Ram a stalactite down in place of the spear? Impossible. The beast would not sit still for that.

Seventeen or eighteen ideas flashed through his head, and he shot each one down.

Below, Wu Shaoyi urged him frantically, his voice growing hoarse.

Annoyed, He Lingchuan finally shouted, “You there, crocodile monster... Ah, no, crocodile god! Can you understand human speech?”

He had distinctly heard Wu Shaoyi call it “crocodile god.” A beast of such colossal size had surely cultivated to the level of a sentient monster, but to address it as a god implied more. Wu Shaoyi must know its origin.

And besides, had Uncle Hao’s sparrowhawk monster not been able to understand, even mimic, human language? This creature’s cultivation was clearly far deeper.

It’s worth a try. It’s not like I’ve got anything to lose.

So, he called out again, “Would you like me to help you pull out that toothpick stuck in your mouth?”

Compared to the abyss of its jaws, Wu Shaoyi was nothing more than a mouthful of flesh. Calling the spear a toothpick was no exaggeration.

The moment the words left his lips, the water stilled. Only a few faint ripples broke the surface.

The darkness below yielded no clue. He Lingchuan could only ask, “What’s it doing?”

“It nodded,” Wu Shaoyi replied grimly. “It understands!”

Of course. This was once a god venerated by incense and prayer. Why had he assumed it could not speak? Why had he fought it to the bitter end instead of trying to parley? To think he had dragged himself to this point of mutual destruction. Wu Shaoyi cursed his own stupidity. Had his brains rusted at the very brink of death?

He Lingchuan let out a long breath. If one could negotiate with such a monster, then saving Wu Shaoyi was no longer impossible. He was a genius after all.

He raised his voice, speaking clearly, “Crocodile god, shall we strike a deal? I’ll remove the toothpick for you, and in return, you’ll spare the two of us and see us safely to shore. How about it?”

The next instant, a voice echoed coldly in both their minds, “Deal.”

Monsters that had attained true sentience usually communicated with humans through mental transmission. Their throats simply were not suited for human speech.

Huh? This crocodile actually agreed so readily? He Lingchuan blinked. “Are you really going to keep your word?”

The giant crocodile answered, “The Armored Dragon Clan never lies! I swear it upon the bloodline of my ancestors!”

He Lingchuan had heard that most monsters did not lie, save for a handful of deceitful breeds.

After some thought, he pulled a candle from his storage space, lit it, and tossed it down. Wu Shaoyi caught it with great effort. If the crocodile had still been thrashing about, even such a simple act would have been impossible.

He Lingchuan instructed, “Get out of the water first.”

The giant crocodile slowly paddled forward until its massive head broke the surface. By the flickering light of the candle, the two men finally saw the cavern clearly. Half of the cavern was submerged, while half was dry land. Shadows loomed deeper within, suggesting further chambers, but now was not the time to worry about that. He Lingchuan only cast a glance before letting the thought slide away.

The giant crocodile climbed onto the rocky shore and pressed its gigantic skull to the ground, lying still.

“Out,” it commanded.

Wu Shaoyi struggled with all his might, but when he tried to get up, he failed. The long, brutal contest with the crocodile had drained every last ounce of strength from him. Now that the tension had broken, his limbs would not even obey him. Twice more he tried, but he could not so much as stand.

The giant crocodile gave its head a shake, tossing him unceremoniously onto the stone bank.

“Pull the spear out!”

Wu Shaoyi could not even lift his arms, let alone wrest the weapon free. He turned a pleading look upward. “Boy, get down here and help me!”

He Lingchuan grimaced. He was safe where he was. Why would he risk his neck below? But both Wu Shaoyi and the giant crocodile pressed him urgently, and their patience wore thin.

Wu Shaoyi’s body told the truth anyway: two neat rows of puncture wounds, blood pouring from him in steady rivulets. The fact that he had fought like this for hours with such injuries was unbelievable. He Lingchuan had no doubt that Wu Shaoyi’s oil was nearly spent, his lamp nearly extinguished.

Without him, the man would already be dead, the spear still lodged in the beast’s maw.

So, Young Master He let out a long sigh, pinched his nose, and jumped.

Splash.

He cut into the dark water, swam with a clean stroke, and hauled himself onto the stony bank.

First, he dragged Wu Shaoyi deeper into the cave, pressed a recovery pill into his mouth, and then turned back toward the water’s edge.

The giant crocodile waited there, jaws agape, tears glistening at the corners of its eyes.

Each of its teeth was longer than his broken saber. That cavernous mouth could swallow three grown men in a gulp. Standing beside it was anything but reassuring.

He leaned cautiously forward to peer inside. The spear was jammed at just the right angle. Its tip was driven deep into the monster’s upper palate, its shaft wedged in a cavity along the lower jaw.

Yes, this ancient crocodile had a rotted tooth, a cavity that reached the root. The spear had struck it dead on, locking in place and inflicting agony beyond bearing.

No wonder it had accepted his bargain without hesitation. What was one missed meal compared to the torment of a raging toothache?

Still, walking into that maw to pull out the weapon took more courage than he liked to admit. He rubbed his palms together, then cautiously stepped onto its lower jaw.

Sensing his unease, the giant crocodile even tried to reassure him, “Do not fear. I never eat my dentists.” Crocodiles often kept the company of birds who picked at the rotting scraps between their teeth, keeping their mouths clean.

“...” He Lingchuan stared up at the rows of fangs dangling over his head. Somehow, that was not reassuring. The stench rolling from its breath was so foul he feared he might faint before finishing the job. He had no idea how Wu Shaoyi had endured it for so long.

“Open wider,” He Lingchuan told it bluntly. “I need to reach deeper into the palate. Bear with me for a moment.”

He braced himself, gripped the spear, and shoved it further upward.