Chapter 132 - 125: The Disappearing Ducks

Chapter 132: Chapter 125: The Disappearing Ducks

In the center of the pond was a small patch of land, like an island, about twenty square meters in area. A lone, crooked tree grew there, its species unidentifiable.

Standing on the branches of the crooked tree would provide enough height and a wide field of view. It was indeed a good place for a sniper.

And it should be safe to hide there.

All the birds that had turned into Mutated Beasts—aside from the peacock currently attacking Xia Yu—had been killed, so there was no danger from the sky.

Unless there was danger in the water!

Little Nannan glanced at the pond. Despite all the recent commotion, no Mutated Beasts had emerged from it. ’It should be fine,’ she thought.

"Hm?"

The next moment, she saw a large flock of black-headed ducks paddling about in the pond.

They must have been on the other side of the small island just a moment ago, which was why she hadn’t seen them.

"They haven’t mutated."

"They’ve been swimming in the water for so long without any trouble. That means there’s no danger in the water."

Little Nannan was completely at ease.

Just as the small boat was drawing closer to the island in the pond...

"Take me with you."

SPLASH.

Just then, Snake Man rolled off the bank and plunged headfirst into the water.

Clearly, he had also realized the shore was no longer safe.

However, Chen Hang had no intention of stopping.

Going back to get him would mean wasting several more minutes.

Little Nannan was anxious to help Xia Yu’s group, so she didn’t comment on Chen Hang’s actions. ’As long as we can help them kill all those Mutated Beasts,’ she reasoned, ’that man won’t be in danger anymore.’

She might be young, but her thinking was crystal clear.

Little Ai had been about to say something, but she nodded in agreement after hearing Little Nannan’s reasoning.

Besides, she was one of the weak ones, someone who needed protection. ’What right do I have to object?’

She held the baby boy in her arms, gently playing with him.

In her eyes, her current role was to hold the baby, do her job, and not cause any trouble.

"Help me."

Snake Man’s will to survive was admirable. Despite being so heavily injured, he still managed to splash his way through the water, covering ten meters in just over ten seconds.

He hadn’t given up!

He even shed his down jacket to make it easier to swim.

He was still swimming even as Little Nannan and the others reached the island in the center of the pond.

But his injuries were simply too severe, and he had just expended a great deal of energy. As he swam, his strength gave out, and he began to swallow water.

It looked like he was about to drown.

"Mister, why don’t you... go and save him?"

Little Nannan frowned and looked at Chen Hang, asking in a deceptively pleasant tone.

It was as if she were merely seeking his opinion.

"Uh... okay."

Chen Hang glanced at the black muzzle of the gun Little Nannan had aimed at him. His knees instinctively went weak. Swallowing hard, he said in a trembling voice.

Little Nannan turned, climbed the crooked tree, and began taking aim at the Mutated Beasts on the shore.

"Damn it."

’When I get out of here alive, I’ll make sure you people never leave Shunyang City.’

As Chen Hang started rowing back to save Snake Man, his heart seethed with hatred for Xia Yu, Little Nannan, and their whole group.

"Help... GLUG GLUG... me..."

Watching Chen Hang approach, Snake Man felt a surge of adoration; his savior looked so handsome and divine. A burst of strength welled up from deep within him, and just as he was about to sink, he started swimming again.

The two moved toward each other.

The time until they met went from 10 seconds, to 7 seconds.

seconds.

seconds.

The two men reached out their hands.

They were about to grasp each other.

"Got you."

Chen Hang grabbed Snake Man and pulled him toward the small boat.

"Thank you."

Once aboard, Snake Man gasped for air, his face full of gratitude. ℯℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

"Don’t mention it."

Chen Hang took the opportunity to play the good guy. He waved his hand and said, "I’ll always help someone if I can. I’m not cold-blooded like certain people."

Uh.

Snake Man naturally knew who Chen Hang was talking about.

After clawing his way up from the bottom of society for so many years to reach his current position, he was no longer the type to have a short fuse. He much preferred to bury his emotions deep inside.

He would then slowly weaken his opponent, waiting until they were at their most vulnerable to deliver the fatal blow.

One from which they could never recover.

’In all honesty,’ he thought, ’if I had been in Xia Yu’s shoes, I would have done the same thing—refusing to let others on the vehicle. I might have even done worse!’

"Hm?"

"Where did that flock of ducks go?"

Snake Man knew that Xia Yu’s group was not to be trifled with, and since there was no deep-seated hatred between them, he had no desire to offend them. He proactively changed the subject.

"Ducks? What ducks?"

Chen Hang frowned and looked around.

He honestly hadn’t noticed any ducks in the pond.

But Snake Man’s brow furrowed. The more he thought about it, the more unsettling it was. The flock of ducks had vanished too bizarrely, without making a single sound.

"Something’s wrong!"

Highly alert, he pushed his exhausted body, forcing himself to sit up.

Soon.

Snake Man saw a spot on the water where multiple ripples intersected. "Right there!"

"Hurry!"

"Get to the island!"

His expression changed drastically as he suddenly roared.

?"

Chen Hang jumped, cursing with a look of annoyance. "What are you yelling for? You scared the hell out of me!"

"I’m exhausted! If you’ve got the energy, why don’t you row yourself?"

"Un-fucking-believable. What century is this? Who still uses oars? Couldn’t they get a motorized boat?"

’In my current state, I can’t possibly row. I still need to rely on Chen Hang.’

’I absolutely cannot provoke this man.’

Snake Man quickly analyzed the situation, but the sense of crisis in his heart grew stronger. How could he increase his chances of survival?

’Get help!’

He turned his gaze to Little Nannan in the crooked tree. "Little girl, there’s something in the water!"

WHOOSH!

At his words, Little Nannan, Little Ai, the baby boy in her arms, and Chen Hang all snapped their heads in his direction.

"What nonsense are you spouting?"

Chen Hang’s face turned pale with fear as he stared nervously at the calm surface of the water.

Little Nannan, however, asked, "How do you know?"

Snake Man reminded her, "The flock of ducks is gone!"

Little Nannan’s expression changed.

’There really were ducks?’

’Don’t scare me like that!’

Chen Hang’s heart leaped, and he hurriedly started rowing faster, the boat gradually picking up speed.

Soon.

"It’s coming!"

Chen Hang spotted a dark shadow swimming at an incredible speed just beneath the clear surface not far away. He screamed in terror and shoved Snake Man, who had also stood up to find the source of the danger.

’If there’s some meat to attract the underwater monster, I’ll have time to get to the island!’

Unfortunately for him.

He never expected Snake Man to grab his outstretched hand.

’I’m screwed!’

"You’re courting death!"

A vicious look appeared on Snake Man’s face. He twisted his body, put force into his wrist, and pushed forward with Chen Hang’s own momentum.

Chen Hang instantly lost his balance.

"No—"

SPLASH.

He plunged headfirst into the water.

The next second.

Snake Man saw the black shadow accelerate abruptly, instantly dragging Chen Hang—who had just broken the surface to scream the two words, "You bastard!"—down into the depths.