The Master of the River
“Huh?”
“Think about it. If he were truly that confident in his own strength, wouldn't he welcome other beasts entering the river? His prey would be delivering themselves right to his mouth. In my eyes, he acts so ferocious precisely because he's a coward.”
“Oh... is that really true?”
Whether that was actually the case was impossible to know without peering inside the catfish's head. Jekyeong had only said this to boost Cheongo's confidence, as the bird seemed far too intimidated.
“But you still have to be careful. I saw that catfish fight before, and he has the ability to manipulate the river water.”
“Is that so?”
Jekyeong fell into thought for a moment, but soon flicked his tongue dismissively. Manipulating water? It would certainly be troublesome, but could it possibly compare to the Dharma Treasures and spells unleashed by groups of Human Race cultivators?
Even if it was an ability awakened from his bloodline, if it was wielded at the level of a mere Yo-beast, it would be a simple spell at best. Having already experienced spells—and having been battered by them quite a bit—Jekyeong did not find the catfish's ability, as described by Cheongo, particularly impressive.
“And he can move incredibly fast underwater.”
“The same goes for me.”
He too was confident in underwater combat. Of course, even if he couldn't fully compare to a fish Yo-beast that lived exclusively in the water, there was no reason to cower before they even clashed.
Jekyeong synthesized the information he received from Cheongo to formulate a hunting plan. While avoiding a fight would be ideal, now that Cheongo had failed, his only option was to enter the Spiritual Spring himself to verify the presence of the Medicinal Water. Since a clash would be inevitable, it was best to plan the hunt in advance.
“A fish Yo-beast with an excessively strong sense of vigilance...”
A hunt. This had to be a hunt, not a fight. Though the end result of clashing was the same, the difference lay in the latter: facing an unprepared enemy with thorough preparation.
“I'm going to need you to do some work.”
Flicking his long tongue, Jekyeong looked at Muksu, who was quietly enjoying a sunbath, as he meticulously formulated his plan.
Ooooooh—
Aside from absorbing surrounding life force to nourish itself and bearing Yeonggwa, Muksu's defining characteristic was its massive size. While a body so massive it could be spotted from anywhere was usually a disadvantage in the struggle for survival, it could be highly useful for specific purposes. For instance, right now.
Splash!
One of Muksu's thick roots plunged into the rapidly flowing river. As if checking the temperature before taking a bath, Muksu shyly dipped a single root into the water. Deciding the temperature was fine, it began lowering its other roots one by one. Just as it had submerged about half of its roots and was about to push its main trunk into the water—
Crash!
With a roaring sound, a massive wave—no, a small tidal wave—surged directly toward Muksu. Sensing something amiss, Muksu anchored its roots deep into the riverbed to withstand the violent current.
But right then, the wave, which should have broken upon impact, abruptly changed direction and shook Muksu once more. It looked as though a miniature whirlpool had formed right around Muksu.
“That's him.”
On a small hill overlooking Muksu, tearing his eyes away from Muksu, who was caught in the churning currents, Jekyeong stared intently at the center of the river where waves were still rising. Although he couldn't see through the water, his sensitive Spiritual Awareness detected a powerful presence lurking there.
“It seems he detects anything the moment it enters the water. A similar ability to that frog from before. Is his perception maximized only within the water?”
The fact that there had been no reaction until Muksu dipped its roots into the river suggested the catfish hadn't known of its approach beforehand. Thus, it was more reasonable to assume his detection ability only functioned within the water or in its immediate vicinity. After all, Cheongo had also been discovered when approaching the river to look for the Medicinal Water.
“Even so, that alone is impressive enough. The river is vast.”
Compared to his phenomenal detection ability, his water manipulation didn't seem particularly impressive. Of course, Muksu, who was currently helpless against it, would probably beg to differ, but that was Jekyeong's assessment.
“Are you really going to do this?” Cheongo, holding its breath beside Jekyeong, asked cautiously.
“Don't worry. My body is sturdy.”
“I know. I know, but...”
Cheongo poked its head out and looked down at the river, which was thrashing violently like a giant serpent.
“I'm going. Watch from here, judge the situation, and move accordingly.”
Jekyeong focused his Spiritual Awareness on the presence beneath the river, measuring the distance.
“Three. Two. One.”
A memory of bungee jumping in his past life surfaced. He had sworn never to do it again after that single time, yet here he was, about to leap without even a safety rope. Yet, strangely, he felt no fear at all. Was it because a Yo-beast's liver was physically larger—making him bolder—than a human's, or because he knew jumping into the river wouldn't hurt him in the slightest?
It was likely the latter.
Thud!
He coiled and sprang, launching himself into the air. Feeling the cool wind rush past his entire body, Jekyeong focused on the rapidly approaching river and the intense presence radiating from beneath it. The water drew closer and closer. Just as his body tensed in anticipation of the impact—
Half a dozen massive water droplets shot up toward Jekyeong all at once.
“Faster than I thought.”
He couldn't dodge, nor did he intend to. Trusting his sturdy body, Jekyeong took the water droplets head-on. He felt some pain, but it wasn't severe. At most, the impact was comparable to being struck by Muksu's roots.
Splash!
A massive splash erupted as his colossal body, well over twenty-five meters long, crashed into the water. Naturally, his vision was obscured by a flurry of white bubbles, but that was no obstacle for Jekyeong. He surged toward the presence directly beneath him, his movements swifter than his opponent's reaction.
“So it's you.”
The moment a dark silhouette entered his field of vision, Jekyeong lunged without hesitation, baring his teeth. His wide-open maw, lined with saw-like teeth, sank deep into slick flesh.
Squeeeak!
Through his single functioning eye, he saw thin, long, tentacle-like barbels thrashing frantically. Clamping his jaws shut and wrapping his body around his opponent, Jekyeong wondered what kind of creature this was.
...Ah. Right, he said it was a catfish.
He had only half-believed Cheongo's words, but seeing it now, the beast definitely resembled a catfish.
“Give up. I'm never letting go.”
The catfish Yo-beast's struggles grew increasingly violent, but Jekyeong held on with all his might. Biting the opponent and constricting them with his entire body—it was a maneuver he had repeated countless times since his days as a mere beast, a finishing move that had never once let him down. Once he ensnared his prey, Jekyeong was confident, even if the opponent was a Yo-beast.
Crunch!
After several minutes of a fierce struggle of raw strength, the catfish Yo-beast seemingly realized this wasn't working and changed its strategy. Giving up its attempts to break free, it painfully twisted its head and bit Jekyeong with its massive mouth. Was it trying to compare their bite force and endurance? If so, Jekyeong welcomed it. However...
“Of course, it won't be that simple.”
The current, which had been flowing in one direction, suddenly reversed. And not even a few seconds later, the same whirlpool that had surrounded Muksu now enveloped Jekyeong.
It was a strange and bizarre sensation. It felt as if he had become an uninvited guest, singled out and glared at in a gathering where hundreds or thousands of others were socializing harmoniously. His natural breathing grew labored, and the river water, which had felt as cozy as a cotton quilt, seemed to transform into a bed of thorns.
Though it was all an illusion, Jekyeong felt the change as if it were real for a fleeting moment. The indescribable pressure and the feeling of being rejected seemed to tell him that this was not a place where he belonged.
“Bullshit!”
Jekyeong glared with his single eye and unleashed the full power of his body. He constricted the massive catfish's body as if to burst it, violently shaking the flesh clamped in his jaws. The catfish's demonic blood flooded into his mouth. Jekyeong drank it down like a delicious beverage. He wondered if this was what it felt like to be a vampire.
The blood pouring endlessly down his throat was rich with vibrant vital energy, which instantly transformed into new strength for Jekyeong. The catfish was also biting him, but Jekyeong possessed sturdy scales that the catfish Yo-beast lacked. The catfish's feeble teeth couldn't even properly pierce Jekyeong's scales, and even when they barely managed to, they failed to inflict any significant wound.
“You made a mistake.”
This catfish was certainly extraordinary. Perhaps he possessed a decent bloodline, as he wielded several mysterious abilities Jekyeong had never seen before. An aquatic creature possessing the ability to manipulate water? Had he confronted the beast in a conventional manner, Jekyeong would have been battered to a pulp before he could even get close.
However, even though Jekyeong hadn't known the catfish's ability was this powerful, he had known of its existence. Thus, he had sought to avoid a disadvantageous situation as much as possible, and he had succeeded. On the other hand, this catfish had not only suffered a surprise attack but had also attempted to counterattack in the most foolish way possible. Jekyeong had been highly alert, wary of the catfish escaping his constriction, but the beast had chosen to retaliate instead of fleeing.
“He must be furious.”
How long had this creature run rampant as the master of this river? With the ability to manipulate the river water at will, he probably believed he was invincible underwater. In that case, was this cute little bite of his merely a childish tantrum born of that pride?
“What a waste of talent.”
How could such a foolish creature possess such an excellent ability? It was truly casting pearls before swine. Come to think of it, his squeals did sound a bit like a pig. Jekyeong channeled his burning jealousy and dissatisfaction into his already tensed jaws.
The giant serpent and the catfish sank toward the riverbed, biting into each other. Enveloped in the whirlpool, the two rolled along the bottom of the river. Fish that failed to escape in time were torn to shreds, instantly dyeing the surrounding water crimson.
Squeeeeeeak!
Jekyeong locked jaws with the catfish, but he carefully managed his strength. Though the beast was currently acting foolishly out of blind rage, there was no telling when he might snap out of it and struggle to escape. If he let go even once, there would be no second chance. He had to hold on with the grim resolve that letting go meant death.
“Give up.”
Jekyeong clearly recognized the difference between himself and the catfish. If his own cultivation was equivalent to the early-mid stage of Qi Condensation by human standards, the catfish was at the late stage. Whether the beast was at the beginning or the middle of the late stage was unclear, but the presence radiating from him was undeniably formidable.
However, cultivation was merely cultivation; combat power was a different story. While cultivation and combat power usually went hand in hand, it was by no means absolute. There were always variables that depended on the circumstances. Jekyeong, who had nothing to boast of except his physical durability, and the catfish, who reigned supreme with his water manipulation. If they fought strength against strength, Jekyeong, with his inferior cultivation, would naturally be overwhelmed.
But wasn't the wise way to fight to target the opponent's weakness with one's own strength? Furthermore, the foolish catfish had abandoned his greatest advantage and was playing right into Jekyeong's hands. It was the absolute best-case scenario for Jekyeong. If he couldn't seize the upper hand even under these conditions, he wouldn't have come here in the first place.