Don't Mess with that Turtle

The stench of blood on Crocodile Beach hadn't dissipated even after three days.

Over thirty crocodiles died here in the war two days ago, eighteen from the Su Family Crocodile, and twelve Green Crocodiles. There was even more bloodshed.

After the war ended, three more injured Su Family Crocodiles didn't make it and died.

No crocodile mourned for them; life went on as usual after the fight, with only the injured suffering alone.

The sole victor was Su He, who truly became the king of Crocodile Beach after this battle.

Initially, only a couple of crocodiles would wait for Su He to eat their prey first; then twenty or thirty would wait, and later, over a hundred.

Today, all the crocodiles knew that the prey was reserved for the king first, and that sunny rock was the king's exclusive spot.

They might as well be renamed Su Family Crocodiles.

Indeed, war is the catalyst for evolution.

Su He's internal organs had fully recovered, and the regenerative abilities brought about by evolution healed him before he even understood where he was injured.

With the crocodiles' offerings, Su He's physique was steadily improving.

Everything was moving in a positive direction, the only problem: those Green Crocodiles hadn't left and were stationed in the waters six or seven miles away.

For crocodiles, that distance was akin to sticking their mouths directly into the Su Family Crocodiles' pot.

This made Su He feel a thorn in his side!

The thoughts of beasts were too straightforward; they were waiting for Su He to be alone. They didn't dare approach him easily while he stayed in Crocodile Beach.

Su He wanted to lead the Su Family Crocodiles to fight them. But he feared the casualties would be significant, and even if he fought desperately, he couldn't ensure he'd survive between the jaws of two Green Giant Crocodiles.

Besides—receiving tributes, the Su Family Crocodiles accepted, but would they be willing to join him in war?

After feeding, Su He took a rabbit and submerged into the water, using the lake to cover his movements as he swam toward Snake Valley.

He didn't take the main valley entrance but instead infiltrated through the underwater tunnel.

Su He was too eager to acquire mystical powers.

To beat two Green Giant Crocodiles unscathed using only his physical strength, he would need at least one more boost from a substantial nourishing substance and undergo another hibernation evolution.

But with the Green Crocodiles around, Su He couldn't even sleep peacefully with one eye open, let alone hibernate without worry.

Unless he killed those two Green Crocodiles, Su He would be restless.

Considering his last visit to Snake Valley was quite rude, Su He brought a gift this time. This rabbit had its quality doubled by dice, making it a suitable offering.

Su He swam through the tunnel, emerged from the water, and looked happily at Green Snake—before he could speak, a sharp Break Air sound pierced the silence.

Despicable!

Su He quickly retracted into his shell.

With a crisp sound, a Water arrow shattered against Su He's Shell, the immense force shaking him into a quiver underwater.

Mystical powers!

Su He caught a glimpse of Green Snake coiled on a Willow Tree, opening his mouth to shoot a Water arrow as powerful as a crocodile's biting fangs.

He has mastered a new mystical power, the Demonic Fruit is so unfair!

"Swoosh!"

Another Water arrow shot toward him, aiming at the base of his neck; this Green Snake wasn't just driving him away, it wanted to kill him! Su He turned around and faced it with his shell.

The shell produced a sound crisp like a wooden fish.

"Hiss hiss!" Green Snake made a sound of Snake twittering.

This was the first meaningful sound Su He had ever heard from it since meeting it, probably meaning: Kill the intruder.

Sounds of numerous hissing snakes reached him.

You're nuts!

Su He spit out the rabbit and bellowed in the softest voice he could manage, "Growl~".

Offering gifts! Communicating! Friends!

"Hiss hiss!"

Eyeing the treasure, die!

That's probably what it meant; it thought Su He was eyeing its treasure, lover, or something like that.

Although that was true, I only wanted to share, not snatch your Demonic Fruit; who doesn't have it! It's something to master sooner or later, just a quicker way of obtaining it from you, why bother?

"Dang!" Another sharp arrow came shooting.

"Hiss hiss!"

The Snake twittering carried even more malice this time.

Do-or-die!

Has it gone mad?

Watching the Giant Python swiftly approach, Su He flicked his tail and plunged back into the tunnel with a touch of gloom, swimming towards Crocodile Beach.

Snakes are too petty-minded; Su He had only met with Green Snake three times and had always been polite, even bringing it a rabbit. Why then, was it adamant about a fight to the death?

Animals don't lie, and Green Snake held a great animosity toward Su He!

The previously restrained Green Snake now sought a fight to the death. Were those dozen-plus Giant Pythons newly subdued by Green Snake, just to target him?

Baffling!

How did I manage to land so many enemies so suddenly? Could it be that I have a disaster-magnet physique?

The small pond had been surrounded by a wolf pack for half a month, and after escaping, I fought with crocodiles for most of another month. Just when I finally subdued them, a group of Green Crocodiles came along. I wanted to make friends, and even brought gifts, yet Green Snake was determined to fight me to the death.

Who did I provoke?

Emerging from the tunnel, I swam towards Crocodile Beach, the air filled with the faint stench of Demonic Fruit emanating from the Green Crocodiles.

It was quite displeasing.

As I swam, enlightenment struck Su He.

Could it be that Green Snake had misunderstood? Su He had killed the Green Giant Crocodile, and his body reeked of its decay, leading Green Snake to believe Su He was a predator hunting Demonic Beasts?

This was a misunderstanding, for Su He wanted to kill those Green Crocodiles even more than it did. Without their demise, Su He couldn't rest easy!

This misunderstanding was serious; it had to be cleared up. If only Green Snake had developed Spirit Wisdom, it would be easier to appease, perhaps with a heroic rescue or something...

In the middle of swimming, Su He calmed down.

To the east, a group of crocodiles eagerly eyed my body, and to the west, a Green Snake with demon spells wanted to fight me to the death.

Just wonderful!

Su He suddenly changed direction, heading towards the waters where the Green Crocodiles were. He didn't get close, just let his scent spread out.

Half an hour later, a Green Crocodile that was dozing with only its head above water suddenly opened its eyes, looking around frantically.

It had just scented the Turtle and thought it might be leading a troop of crocodiles to attack. Scanning around, it only saw the solitary Su He far out on the sea.

There was a moment of silence in the air. The Turtle seemed to have spotted them too and turned to flee.

The Crocodile's brain couldn't process much; instinctively, it didn't want the Turtle that almost came into its mouth to escape.

"Grr—" Two Green Giant Crocodiles roared simultaneously, leading all the Green Crocodiles in pursuit.

In the water, a Turtle had no chance against the speed of a Crocodile.

Chase!

Kill!

Escape!

The Green Crocodiles gave chase, with one of the Green Giant Crocodiles even leading a few others to take a detour and block Su He's path back to Crocodile Beach.

Unfortunately, the Turtle, in its panic, darted into a tunnel at the bottom of the lake and escaped.

The leading Green Crocodile found this to be very natural. A Turtle should behave like that—escaping and hiding when hunted.

It led the Green Crocodiles chasing after Su He down the tunnel. Following the tunnel forward, they hadn't even emerged from the water when they heard the Turtle's roar ahead.

Mwah~

Quick, run! The treasure thieves are here!

Su He broke the surface, immediately facing a Water Arrow.

He didn't care, tucked his head in, and raced towards the shore—this was no act; nearly twenty Crocodiles were on his tail, one of them a thirty-foot Giant Crocodile that could scare any Turtle into incontinence.

Before Green Snake could launch a second Water Arrow, the Green Crocodiles leaped out of the water, the putrid scent of Demonic Fruit assaulting the senses.

Green Snake instantly grasped the situation. It spewed out a thick fog, covering a large area of the water's surface.

Enveloped in the fog, Su He couldn't see anything beyond an inch; visibility and smell offered no guidance, leaving only sound.

The fog was non-toxic, but it obscured vision and blocked smell—only for outsiders.

Green Snake hissed fiercely, as Giant Pythons slid into the fog. Their target was clearly the Green Crocodiles in the water, obviously unaffected by the fog.

Struggle and roars thunderously erupted.

The Pythons couldn't get a hold on Su He, but the Crocodiles, without hard shells, were dead as soon as a Python wrapped around their chests and bellies.

Crack!

Within the fog, a Crocodile tail struck Su He, who turned his head and bit it, shaking vigorously.

Pia!

The sound of bone breaking crisply carried through the air, as the Crocodile was flung ashore, crying out before twisting and struggling no more.

Having defeated one, Su He lay still—the fog was too thick to see through, and even diving underwater only allowed a partial view; it was too much of an impediment to performance.

At this moment, a great battle erupted in the lake, with the noise of water like cannon fire. Su He had no desire to wade into those murky waters. This was the war of Snake Valley.

The old Crocodiles' cries mixed with the sound of Snake twittering.

Splashing and fighting were everywhere.

Su He listened intently, and the fog in front of him suddenly lifted—not vanished but ceased affecting Su He, though the Green Crocodiles still couldn't see or smell anything.

Green Snake had lifted the restriction from him.

I saw on the shore, Green Snake coiled around that thirty-foot Giant Crocodile, straining to choke it. The Giant Crocodile kept rolling, crashing Green Snake against the rugged rocks onshore.

Green Snake was bleeding profusely.

Just as fragile as a crispy skin, couldn't even withstand rocks!

Green Snake winced in pain but dared not let go, as another Crocodile nearby bit a Giant Python in half, leaving Green Snake anxiously calling out.

"Ssssss!"

Green Snake's cry for help—seeking Su He's participation in the battle to aid the other snakes.

But Su He paid it no mind and instead swam over to Green Snake, biting down on the Giant Crocodile's hind leg that it was entwined with, and spinning in the opposite direction.

Crack—hiss!

Su He tore off a leg.