"Is this Immortal Bi You of yours, is her full name Nanrong Biyou?" Wang Mu asked.
"Eh?" Little Jiao Huo popped her head above the water, looking at Wang Mu with a hint of surprise. "There's actually a human who knows Immortal Bi You's real name! However, to address Immortal Bi You by her full name is quite impolite! Since you let me go, I won't hold it against you!"
Wang Mu's lips twitched momentarily.
Nanrong Biyou, one of the main heroines in the game.
Born into a minority ethnic group, she supposedly possessed an ancient Bloodline. Her personality was quirky and ingenious, her intellect unparalleled, and she was morally ambiguous. Extraordinarily talented in Martial Arts, she had also inherited the "Heavenly Snake Nine Transformations" Cultivation Technique. By the late game, her strength ranked among the top five!
Holy shit! These heroines actually didn't die… It looks like each of them might have become a major power in this Immortal World? Wang Mu's heart grew cold.
Yan Qingwu, who had appeared earlier, was already unfathomable.
As for Nanrong Biyou, her name alone carried such weight, even without her making an appearance.
I must lay low!
If they discovered that Dongfang Mu, the Love Saint from the game and a scoundrel in reality, was me, not even my 'golden finger' could save me.
"Then I'm off!" Little Jiao Huo waved at Wang Mu.
However, though she said she would leave, her tail swayed and she loitered on the water's surface, not departing.
Seeing this, Wang Mu asked, "Are you injured?"
"Boo hoo hoo..." Not asking was better; once asked, Little Jiao Huo started bawling like a child.
"Stop crying," Wang Mu quickly said.
"Sob... I never thought a human would care about me after I left home for so long. I'm so touched," Little Jiao Huo said through her tears.
Yu Li looked at Little Jiao Huo. Could his father really have been tempted by such a silly-looking fish species back then?
However, Yu Li glanced at Wang Mu with some relief. At least the lad is normal; he shows concern for the opposite sex.
"That's not it," Wang Mu pointed at Yunlai Creek. "Your crying has raised the water level of Yunlai Creek so much that it will be difficult for me to fish later."
My luck today is off the charts! I need to catch several Top-grade Fish Species to boost my Attribute.
Jinlong Carp aren't easy to come by.
Little Jiao Huo paused, looked at the water, and then burst into loud sobs.
"WAAAH..."
She cried for a moment, then suddenly laughed. "You're tricking me! It's not that exaggerated!"
She swayed her fish tail; several claw marks were visible on her back and tail.
Wang Mu returned to the village to fetch some Medicinal Grass, which he gave her to apply herself. While she rested by the bank, she shared her story.
"I left Glazed Lake and wandered along the streams and rivers. Accidentally, I found a treasure at the bottom of some water. Just as I was about to take it, a Mystic Water Crocodile appeared, claiming it had found it first."
Little Jiao Huo tearfully recounted the event. "I wasn't going to hand over the treasure! That Mystic Water Crocodile wasn't very big, but its claws were too sharp. If I hadn't escaped quickly, you wouldn't have been able to catch me when you were Fishing."
Wang Mu was speechless.
"Mystic Water Crocodile?" Yu Li's expression grew somewhat grave. "This kind of water-dwelling Fierce Beast is solitary and exceedingly brutal."
"Is it very powerful?" Wang Mu asked.
"They're alright. Your Uncle Tie Niu chopped up a few with an axe a few years back."
Wang Mu was speechless.
"That strong?" Little Jiao Huo exclaimed in surprise. "You don't seem like those Cultivators who can fly through the sky and tunnel through the earth."
"Hmph, naturally," Yu Li said indifferently. "We may not be Cultivators, but we still possess some strength."
"So, you don't want to leave… is it because you're injured, or are you scared?" Wang Mu surmised.
"That Mystic Water Crocodile remembered the scent of my blood. It can track me in the water from a great distance," Little Jiao Huo thought for a moment, then said, "If you help me, I'll give you the treasure."
Wang Mu's interest piqued. Has this triggered an additional quest?
"I will not help the Jiao Huo clan," Yu Li shook his head.
Clearly, he still mistrusted this species.
The choice now fell to Wang Mu.
My strength is feeble... I probably can't help you. Wang Mu thought for a moment.
It's been over half a year, and all I've done is chop trees and now, also Fishing. Forget about Cultivation; I haven't even had any Martial Arts training. With my current level of strength, wouldn't confronting Fierce Beasts be simply courting death?
"Mu Guy, don't underestimate yourself," Yu Li said calmly. "Although we people of Anle Village don't have much aptitude for Cultivation, you've reached Tie Niu's level in just half a year. Your strength is actually not weak."
"Dealing with an ordinary Fierce Beast like a Mystic Water Crocodile should be no problem."
"Besides, the fact that this Mystic Water Crocodile couldn't even finish off this Little Jiao Huo shows it's nothing special."
Little Jiao Huo was speechless.
"Is that so?"
Wang Mu pondered.
Grandpa Yu is very proud, and his strength is undeniable. After all, he's been Fishing for decades and has maxed out his Attribute from eating fish. But I've only just started.
"But I don't know how to do anything," Wang Mu said.
"Who says you don't know anything?" Yu Li retorted, annoyed. "You've been chopping trees for so long; you must know how to use an axe, right?"
"Of course."
"Just treat the Mystic Water Crocodile like a Purple Shuo Tree and chop it down," Yu Li said lightly. "People from our Anle Village have even produced Ancient Sages in the past. We mustn't be afraid of anything!"
"Then… should I give it a try?" Wang Mu looked at Little Jiao Huo.
"Hehe, then I'll lure the Mystic Water Crocodile over." Little Jiao Huo hesitated for a moment before adding, "If you can't beat it, I'll lure it away. Its primary target is me."
With that, she plunged into the water.
Wang Mu drew his axe, feeling a flicker of excitement, but he quickly calmed down.
A high Fishing skill really does have its benefits; my Concentration is solid!
A moment later.
SPLASH!
A violent surge of water erupted in the distance.
"It's coming!"
Accompanied by a frantic, high-pitched voice, a crocodile roughly seven meters long with a dark, blackish body emerged on the surface of the water.
Wang Mu's pupils contracted.
This was his first time seeing a Fierce Beast.
Unlike crocodiles on Earth, this Mystic Water Crocodile looked terrifying at first glance. Its skin was dark and patterned like water ripples, looking as hard as steel.
Its eyes emitted a laser-like malicious glint. Its tail thrashed upon the water's surface, effortlessly creating water columns several meters high. Its claws, in particular, were dark and stained with blood.
The intimidation it exuded was immense!
A single glance was enough to make one lose courage before a fight even began!
Wang Mu's heart pounded; he quickly took a deep breath!
Fortunately, his mental fortitude now was far greater than when he had first transmigrated.
If he had encountered such a Fierce Beast right after transmigrating, a single look might have scared him witless!
SPLASH!
The Mystic Water Crocodile let out a low growl. Its gaze locked onto Wang Mu and Yu Li on the shore as if it were sizing up a delicious meal.
As a Fierce Beast, it also possessed spiritual awareness and could sense that these two were not powerful Cultivators.
They appeared to be mere mortals.
To Fierce Beasts like it, mortals were just everyday rations.
Yu Li patted Wang Mu on the shoulder.
Wang Mu took a deep breath, axe in hand, recalling the times he had chopped Purple Shuo Trees.
The next moment, his entire aura changed. The Mystic Water Crocodile before him seemed to transform into a Purple Shuo Tree!
WHOOSH!
Wang Mu leaped up, wielding his axe. A faint current of air swirled around him. His body arched like a fully drawn bow, and the axe descended like a meteor streaking across the sky.
With one mighty swing, he chopped down towards the water's surface!