Chapter 124: Sea Beasts

Chapter 124: The Sea Beast

“Haha, indeed the charm of wisdom...” Liu Chang suddenly laughed upon hearing the amphibian’s words. “The charm of wisdom—language alone wields tremendous destructive power.”

“Don’t you believe what I said?” The amphibian looked at Liu Chang’s expression.

“N-no, I don’t doubt you,” Liu Chang forced a smile. “What you said is indeed compelling. But what do you want from me? You say all this only to sow discord between me and Li Qingshui, so you can gain the upper hand in your dealings with him, isn’t that right?”

“Exactly.” The amphibian nodded. “After all, Mr. Li is a shrewd man. I don’t want to lose too much in our negotiations.”

“What exactly do you want?” Liu Chang asked.

“Reproductive ability,” the amphibian said with a smile.

“But aren’t you capable of bearing offspring? That one outside, named Liuxin, isn’t he lively and healthy-looking?” Liu Chang pressed on. “Although you’re alone now, descendants will multiply in time. Why wade into the murky waters with Li Qingshui?”

“Those offspring are sub-species, lives split off from my own body,” the amphibian sighed. “They lack the ability to split their bodies themselves, because bodily fission is a capability I evolved directionally.”

“You can evolve at will?” Liu Chang was startled. “Your body changes according to your will?”

“Yes,” the amphibian nodded. “Actually, everyone can, but your kind’s ability is very slow—it takes dozens of generations to achieve even a slight change. I’ve only enhanced this ability a bit.”

“That’s no small feat—four years, and you’ve already mastered bodily fission,” Liu Chang laughed.

“It’s not slow, but it still doesn’t solve our species’ reproductive problem.” Worry crept onto the amphibian’s face. “If I die, our entire race will perish.”

“What kind of help are you seeking?” Liu Chang asked. “Could Li Qingshui help you solve your reproductive dilemma?”

“Yes. He’s an expert in genetics. I’ve heard he created a drug that can activate recessive genes. Honestly, I’m quite interested in that.” The amphibian smiled. “After all, recessive genes aren’t unique to humans—we amphibians have them too, and in no smaller measure. Our evolutionary paths are similar, after all.”

“I see,” Liu Chang nodded.

“I want a supply of that drug. With it, combined with my ability to evolve autonomously, I believe I can truly give birth to offspring with reproductive ability.” The amphibian looked at Liu Chang with hopeful eyes. “So, what do you say—shall we present this proposal to Li Qingshui?”

“All right,” Liu Chang agreed decisively.

“But before that, I want someone to probe the situation first. You stay here for now. I have other humans here; I’ll have them notify Li Qingshui. How about that?” The amphibian’s pale face twisted into a sly grin. “Let’s see how seriously Li takes this matter before deciding whether to send you as an envoy.”

“That’s not very sincere of you,” Liu Chang shook his head.

“But it’s more prudent,” the amphibian said. “Mr. Liu, please stay in my humble abode for a while. I’ll dispatch another human to inform Li Qingshui. Rest assured, that person will complete the task.”

“During your stay, you may roam freely within one kilometer of this nest. Don’t leave that range; I’ll try not to restrict your freedom.”

“Thank you very much,” Liu Chang exhaled and picked up a water bucket-sized teacup, taking a sip. “If there’s nothing else today, I’ll go out for a stroll. I’m quite interested in the scenery by the Yellow River. There should be many aquatic creatures there.”

“Go ahead. If you need, have Liuxin follow you. The riverside is dangerous—there are giant beasts in the Yellow River even I find hard to handle.” The amphibian stood politely. “Mr. Liu Chang, I hope you won’t mind today’s matters. I take this very seriously, and I hope you bear me no ill will.”

“No worries. You’ve treated me well with food and drink. It might even be better than human society,” Liu Chang forced a smile, then left the sand cave house. He walked from the bedroom to the living room before climbing out.

The sand cave was far too damp for his comfort—perhaps amphibians preferred moist environments, but as a pure human, Liu Chang felt sticky and uneasy all over.

Once outside, Liu Chang sat on the Yellow River’s beach and watched the surging current. He sighed deeply. As he did, Liuxin, the small creature who had previously injured him, emerged as well.

“Hey.” Liuxin poked Liu Chang’s arm with his three-toed foot.

“What?” Liu Chang glanced at him. “Leave me alone. I’m in a bad mood.”

“Why the bad mood?” Liuxin asked.

“Because I’m a captive now, so I’m not feeling great,” Liu Chang turned his head away, stood up, and walked toward the riverbank. “Don’t talk to me—I’m not in the mood to entertain a child.”

“Walking to the water’s edge is dangerous,” Liuxin warned. “There are many hidden beasts underwater, specialized in hunting animals that come to drink.”

“Oh.” Liu Chang replied casually. As he neared the river, a massive splash erupted from the waves. Seeing the swell, Liu Chang quickly dodged backward, narrowly avoiding a massive gaping maw.

Snap!

Two rows of teeth slammed shut just inches from his face, the sharp clacking ringing out. Saliva sprayed over Liu Chang’s face.

Reacting swiftly, Liu Chang kicked the snapping jaw, using the recoil to leap out of the danger zone.

Plop!

The attack failed; the enormous head withdrew beneath the water, and the river resumed its turbulent flow.

“Monsters in the Yellow River all seem huge!” The creature that had just attacked was massive—its head alone as big as Liu Chang’s entire body, with a long neck reminiscent of a snake. But in a fleeting glance, Liu Chang noticed an even larger shadow beneath the water—its body far larger than the head.

“Yes. Many of the Yellow River’s beasts were once sea creatures. Lacking competitive advantage in the ocean, they migrated back to fresh water, reclaiming new habitats. No wonder they’re so large—even the weaker ones retain their sea beast lineage.”

—End of excerpt—