Leisurely Life in the Beast World - Chapter 96

“Well, Ge Xing, have you thought it over? It’s still better for us to cross together and deal with the monstrous fish as a team.” Lu Te’s face radiated smug confidence.

The beastmen all feared the monstrous fish, their sheer size and razor-sharp teeth making them the river’s deadliest predators. Every tribe attending the gathering would bring along a dozen or so elderly or disabled beastmen to use as bait to divert the fish.

The little female cub from the Watson Tribe had already admitted there was no safe way to cross the Ainilu River. Without cooperation with the Tumang Tribe…

Lu Te’s gaze drifted over the Watson Tribe, narrowing as he noted only three elderly beastmen among them. Even if they managed to cross the river, those three were unlikely to return alive.

“Stop your nonsense! Even if we skip this gathering entirely, we’d never cooperate with you lot. Now get lost!” Ge Xing waved dismissively, his face grim. Though the situation was tense, he finally gave up the idea of working with these scheming jackals.

“You… fine! If you refuse, I’ll just wait and see how many of your beastmen die crossing the river! Hahaha!” Furious at Ge Xing’s rejection, Lu Te decided not to waste any more time plotting against the Watson Tribe.

With a sharp gesture, he led the beastmen from the Tumang Tribe toward the river.

The Ainilu River wasn’t far, only about a five-minute journey. The Watson Tribe stopped at the riverbank, watching as the beastmen from Tumang began entering the water.

The river was deep, and the beastmen from Tumang used their swimming skills to move as quickly as possible. Many of them had attended multiple tribal gatherings and were well aware of the river’s dangers. Their bodies were tense as they paddled furiously toward the opposite bank.

But the river’s residents clearly had no intention of letting such easy prey escape.

Confused murmurs rippled through the Tumang group.

“Why are there so many dead trees in this river?”

“No idea. It’s strange—they’re all floating toward us.”

“They probably washed down from upstream. Ignore them and keep swimming!”

Ji Nuan’s breath hitched as she stared at the ‘dead wood’ drifting closer, realization dawning on her. Recognizing what they truly were, she could never mistake them for harmless debris.

“Those are crocodiles!” The realization sent a chill down her spine.

From their visible length and width, Ji Nuan could tell these crocodiles were terrifyingly massive. Even if the beastmen shifted into their giant beast forms, they wouldn’t be enough to satisfy these predators.

“The monstrous fish are here…” Ji Nuan murmured under her breath, her face pale.

Xiu Yan and Ge Xing both turned to her. “How do you know?”

Ji Nuan pointed to the “dead wood” converging on the beastmen from Tumang. “Those aren’t debris washed down from upstream. Those are monstrous fish. They’re only partially visible above the water’s surface, but look—every single one is heading straight for the beastmen.”

Startled, Ge Xing and Xiu Yan turned to scrutinize the river.

Sure enough, upon closer inspection, the so-called “dead wood” wasn’t wood at all. From their vantage point, they could faintly make out the movements of massive bodies beneath the water.

After a moment’s hesitation, Ge Xing raised his voice and shouted toward the river, “Swim faster! Those ‘dead trees’ are monstrous fish! You’re surrounded!”

The beastmen from Tumang froze in confusion, exchanging glances. Then, led by Lu Te, they burst into laughter.

One beastman on the outer edge reached out to touch one of the rough “logs” floating beside him, laughing as he called back to Ge Xing. “Ge Xing, you’re saying this is a monstrous fish? Have you ever seen a monstrous fish this docile—”

Before he could finish, the “dead tree” he was mocking suddenly sprang to life. It rose from the water, revealing its massive jaws lined with razor-sharp teeth.

The monstrous fish’s gaping maw was larger than a beastman’s arm span, and its gleaming teeth sparkled menacingly in the sunlight. Without hesitation, it clamped down on the beastman who had been taunting Ge Xing. In one swift motion, it dragged him underwater before he could even scream.

Blood bloomed in the river like a crimson flower, spreading quickly downstream.

At the same time, the other “dead trees” floating nearby launched attacks on the surrounding beastmen from Tumang.

In an instant, the river became a scene of chaos. Bloodcurdling screams filled the air as the once-clear waters turned into a river of blood. The stench of iron permeated the area.

“Swim faster! Get to the other side!” Lu Te, safely positioned in the middle of the group, bellowed orders. His voice was hoarse with desperation, but he showed no concern for the comrades being torn apart around him. He single-mindedly paddled toward the opposite bank.

As a snake beastman, Ya Li had a natural advantage in the water. He had already reached the far bank and stood there grimly, prepared to assist any surviving tribesmen. His usual smugness was replaced by a deep scowl as he watched the carnage unfold.

“So… they really are monstrous fish,” Ge Xing muttered, swallowing hard. His throat felt dry as he stared at the river. “Sweet ancestors, this is terrifying…”

Ge Xing had faced monstrous fish twice before at past gatherings, but never had he seen them attack beastmen so close up.

Those teeth… they were terrifyingly efficient. The monstrous fish bit through beastmen like they were brittle sticks.