Fang Yuan rushed down from the mountainside, following Chi Shan's group to the foot of the mountain where the Rank five River Swallowing Toad lay.
It was enormous, like a small hill, sprawled belly-up in the riverbed, blocking the water flow.
The river upstream was so full it nearly overflowed, while the downstream stretch had dried to a damp trickle.
Its underbelly was a smooth, lustrous snow-white, while its back shimmered with a clear sky-blue hue, completely lacking the warty texture of ordinary toads.
The beast was fast asleep—so still and silent that it didn't even snore.
Sensing its aura, the Four Flavors Liquor Worm in Fang Yuan's aperture curled up into a ball. The Black Boar Gu's lively appearance seemed to have been wiped out as it flew down. The Moonglow Gu that resided in his right palm hid its glow. Only the Spring Autumn Cicada was still sleeping peacefully.
Fang Yuan withdrew the Moonglow Gu into his aperture. As long as he didn't take the initiative to use these Gu, their aura wouldn't leak out. Putting them in the aperture was very safe and reliable.
"Fang Yuan, it's your turn next," Chi Shan spoke from the side.
He had already explained most of the details on the way.
Fang Yuan also approved of this method. Of course, the simplest way was to use Spring Autumn Cicada; once a Rank six Gu worm's aura leaked out, this River Swallowing Toad would be frightened and immediately flee.
This was also because the River Swallowing Toad disliked conflict.
If it had been a vicious Gu like the Blood River Python, the Spring Autumn Cicada's aura might have driven it into a frenzy, prompting a wild retaliation.
Fang Yuan stood by the riverbank and tried pushing it.
However, the toad's slippery skin made it feel like all his strength was absorbed.
On top of that, its massive weight made it impossible to move.
"Still not strong enough, even with two boar strengths and the Quasi-Great Strength True Martial Gu. Even if I refine the Rank two Quasi-Great Strength True Martial Gu, it just might be enough to nudge the River Swallowing Toad a little," pondered Fang Yuan, as he was aware of his own strength.
"Can you do it?" Chi Cheng sneered from the side.
Fang Yuan ignored him and said to Chi Shan, "Although I have the increased strength from Black Boar Gu, my strength is probably only a little more than yours. As for pushing this River Swallowing Toad, it is not hopeless, but I need your help."
"What help?" Chi Shan immediately asked.
Fang Yuan slowly explained it. Chi Shan was doubtful, "If we do this, wouldn't it be teaming up? Even if the River Swallowing Toad wakes up, will it still acknowledge you and then willingly leave?"
Fang Yuan smiled, "You don't have to worry about it. As long as you guys keep a distance and not let it detect you, it will be possible. After all, it is a Gu, don't think it as too intelligent."
The wind blew gently, brushing Fang Yuan's appearance into motion.
Looking from afar, the nearby villages had little people. Nearby, the hill-like River Swallowing Toad was slumbering, blocking the river bed. Fang Yuan who was standing at the river edge looked like a tiny monkey beside a large elephant in comparison to this Rank five Gu.
"The wave tides it's here." Fang Yuan turned his body around and saw that waves were crashing and approaching, causing a huge movement in the peaceful river water.
The tides surged higher, crashing against the River Swallowing Toad and sending waves flying into the sky.
Fang Yuan stood briefly before getting soaked.
He didn't care and began pushing the River Swallowing Toad with force.
The River Swallowing Toad remained fast asleep.
As a Gu that thrived in rivers and seas, it wasn't disturbed by waves.
With the help of the water's momentum, Fang Yuan kept pushing and finally moved the toad from its original spot.
The riverbed widened further downstream, and the flowing current made the task a bit easier.
After pushing for around three hundred meters, the River Swallowing Toad slowly opened its eyes.
Its sleepy gaze revealed a pair of deep green pupils, which gradually focused on Fang Yuan beside it.
Fang Yuan stared back without fear.
In those eerie, dark eyes, he saw his own reflection.
"Jiangaaaang!" River Swallowing Toad raised its head, suddenly opening its mouth and emitting a strange croak.
The cry echoed across Qing Mao Mountain.
Fang Yuan instantly felt his ears ring, nearly going deaf from the sound.
The River Swallowing Toad lowered its head and began gulping down the approaching river water.
The river surged forward at ten times its usual speed, all of it rushing into the toad's stomach.
The water level visibly dropped.
Standing beside the toad, Fang Yuan clearly saw large amounts of fish and aquatic creatures swept in along with the current.
Noticing the sudden change, the Chi Shan group quickly arrived.
The three of them watched the River Swallowing Toad devour the river and stood frozen in astonishment.
"What a spectacular sight!" Chi Cheng observed, unable to hide his shock.
"You succeeded?" Chi Shan looked at Fang Yuan.
"Seems so," Fang Yuan nodded lightly.
The water level decreased until the water stopped flowing, and the River Swallowing Toad raised its head once again, its stomach expanding and contracting, vomiting out numerous fish, prawns, turtles etc.
At once, a large amount of seafood fell onto the ground, emitting a crisp sound.
A fish splashed on the ground, a turtle fell on its back confused, the crabs walked away horizontally, and then they were smashed by the falling seafood.
Fang Yuan did not mind it and only looked casually, but suddenly he smelt some wine fragrance.
"Strange, why is there a wine smell?" Chi Cheng sniffed, a face of surprise.
"It should be the Hundred year bitter shell," the female Gu Master in the group said and pointed at a disc-sized broken black shell.
This shell was black as ink with white round markings on it, like the rings in a tree trunk.
"That's right, bitter shell can turn the sand and rocks into bitter water juice. Hundred year bitter shell's bitter water, after the accumulation through time, can turn into wine. Bai clan's current clan leader loves to drink this bitter shell wine," Chi Shan added on.
"Jiangang!"
After the River Swallowing Toad vomited the seafood, it croaked again, and then looked at Fang Yuan once before moving its large body to swim downstream along the river.
"He really succeeded!" Chi Shan muttered, his heart feeling relief. He observed the River Swallowing Toad leaving until its shadow was completely gone, away from his vision.
"What, he scared it away so easily. If I knew this earlier on, we could've done it ourselves, but now we let Fang Yuan become a hero so easily!" Chi Cheng pouted, his tone full of jealousy and indignance.
"Fang Yuan, no matter what, this time you have done a good deed, you are the Gu Yue Clan's hero!" Chi Shan stared at Fang Yuan with a complicated expression.
"Oh," Fang Yuan replied absent-mindedly, giving a half-hearted feeling.
What hero, it was merely a title.
Between praise and slander, they were all views and expressions of others onto oneself.
What opinions others had of him, Fang Yuan did not give a damn.
You can think all you want, I live my own life.
News of chasing away the River Swallowing Toad reached the village at once.
Gu Yue Bo said "Good" three times continuously, and the solemnness in the hall was swept away at once.
Only the internal affairs elder's expression was complicated. He did not think highly of Fang Yuan, but Fang Yuan was the one who resolved the issue. Therefore, he kept his mouth shut.
"Gu Yue Fang Yuan has the credit of chasing away the River Swallowing Toad, we'll reward him five hundred primeval stones." Gu Yue Bo thought, before giving the order.
In the wine tavern.
"What, Fang Yuan actually succeeded?!"
"Strange, he's just a newbie, how can he chase away a Rank five Gu worm?"
"Even Chi Shan failed miserably, but he did it…"
The news spread, and everyone was filled with shock.