Ambush

"How is it?"

The rain fell heavily in the sky, carrying a cold wind that gave people a chilling sensation.

Looking at the collapsed houses before him, Shen Changchuan's heart felt heavy.

Seeing Han Qinhu emerge from the ruined houses, he immediately asked.

"Three are dead. Preliminary judgment is that the beast climbed ashore from the river under the cover of night. It launched an attack similar to the water arrows from that day, instantly collapsing this house and killing the villagers resting inside along with it."

"We only found some mangled corpses; the rest were likely dragged away by the beast."

"Although the village has a patrol team, due to the continuous rain, the team's vigilance has significantly decreased, and their patrol efficiency has dropped. Coupled with the poor visibility from the heavy rain, they didn't notice the beast lurking."

Han Qinhu's expression was also grim as he explained the situation derived from his investigation.

"That beast has probably become a spirit!"

Han Qinhu couldn't help but exclaim.

Shen Changchuan heard this but remained silent.

However, deep within his eyes, a cold killing intent flashed.

That Crocodile Demon in the river must be dealt with!

Just like the definition of man-eating beasts in his past life, once they taste human flesh, there will inevitably be a second, a third, and countless more times after that!

This time, it would only be the beginning.

He had to eliminate it in one fell swoop, once and for all!

Shen Changchuan had already made up his mind.

"Grandpa, have you found where it came ashore and its path of movement?"

After a moment of thought, Shen Changchuan asked Han Qinhu, who was beside him.

Most wild animals have a habit of following old paths.

That is, when traveling in the wild, they tend to use familiar, previously established safe routes.

Shen Changchuan didn't know if the Yao Beasts in this world had such habits.

But at least, determining the creature's travel path would help him predict where the Crocodile Demon might appear next.

This would make it easier for him to set traps or ambushes.

However, Han Qinhu shook his head with some difficulty.

"We checked, but the rain is too heavy, and there's water flowing everywhere on the ground. Even if the beast left tracks, they've all been washed away."

"No traces can be found."

After more than half a month of continuous rain, layers of water had accumulated on the ground, forming rapid currents that rushed down steep slopes.

The grass along the riverbank was flattened by these currents.

Even if there were signs of the Crocodile Demon climbing ashore, they would have been erased by the rushing rainwater.

Clearly, after an investigation, Han Qinhu and his men had found nothing.

Shen Changchuan frowned in thought, and silence fell once more.

"Changchuan, why don't we move the village up to the mountain?"

"Now that the beast's whereabouts in the water are uncertain and it's lurking menacingly, and the village is not far from the river, if it climbs ashore to attack again, I fear there will be more casualties."

Han Qinhu said worriedly, proposing his suggestion.

In fact, he had already had this idea in his heart.

After the failed attempt to lure and kill the Crocodile Demon, Shen Changchuan had told him that he couldn't deal with the Crocodile Demon for the time being, but if it came ashore, he was fully confident in forcing it back.

Han Qinhu knew that his grandson was not someone who liked to brag or overstate his abilities. He usually spoke truthfully, so his words should have been genuine.

But that, conversely, made Han Qinhu worried at the time.

Because his grandson, Shen Changchuan, had said he was fully confident in forcing the Crocodile Demon back if it came ashore, not that he was fully confident in killing it!

The gap between these two was...

This is a big problem!

If they could only be repelled, the beast would eventually return even if driven back.

Living in constant fear and defense, was ultimately not the right way.

From that moment on, he began to consider a solution.

"If we move the village to the mountain, away from the Great Bay River, and cut down all the nearby vegetation, stationing people at the village entrance, then even if it climbs up, we can detect it in advance."

Han Qinhu proposed the solution he had thought of for a long time.

However, upon hearing this, Shen Changchuan pondered for a moment, and then shook his head.

"With the heavy rain pouring down now, the ground is waterlogged, making movement extremely difficult. Furthermore, the mountain forests are full of those mountain leeches. To establish an environment for over two thousand people in such harsh conditions would likely cost dozens of lives to succeed."

"Let's forget it."

A forced relocation could certainly succeed.

But the cost would be too great, and not something he would accept.

"Grandfather, go and gather the villagers first. Select the strongest and most robust individuals and prepare them for battle. Also, find some hunters and have them prepare some traps."

"I'll go and find the creature's movement trajectory after it came ashore first."

Shen Changchuan's voice lingered for a moment. With a general idea in mind, he began to issue instructions.

Han Qinhu, standing behind him, opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but ultimately did not. He could only retreat silently.

Fine, let it be for now.

Since Changchuan has decided this, there must be a reason.

With worry in his heart, Han Qinhu retreated to prepare according to Shen Changchuan's instructions.

Meanwhile, with a flicker of thought, Shen Changchuan's eyes opened and closed, and a faint white light bloomed within his pupils.

The Spirit Eye Technique, now at its perfected level, was unleashed.

His vision changed instantly.

Shen Changchuan seemed to have entered another layer of the world's perspective.

He looked at the collapsed houses and the wisps of gray Yao energy lingering on the ground.

Shen Changchuan's slightly furrowed brow relaxed a little at this moment.

"As expected, the perfected Spirit Eye Technique is enough to see the Yao energy left behind by its movements!"

"This should be sufficient!"

Following the wisps of residual Yao energy, Shen Changchuan soon found the location where the Crocodile Demon had come ashore and the route it had taken.

After memorizing the routes from various places, he cast a deep glance at the muddy and turbulent river on the embankment, swollen from days of rain.

He didn't linger and turned to leave.

Time flew by.

Soon, Han Qinhu personally selected the ten strongest individuals among the over two thousand villagers.

He equipped these ten people with heavy armor and a shield as tall as a person.

They formed a combat-ready team.

He also selected individuals with excellent eyesight and stationed them secretly in high places to observe the steep riverbank between Great Bay Village and the Great Bay River.

At the same time, some ropes were casually laid out on the Crocodile Demon's path, disguised to look as if they had been scattered by the water's impact.

However, with a slight pull on a hidden mechanism, a large net would immediately rise.

Large stones, logs, and other obstacles were placed in suitable positions.

Once the Crocodile Demon attacked, these would at least provide some obstruction.

In addition to the traps they set, Shen Changchuan had also scattered some seeds along the Crocodile Demon's path beforehand.

Everything is ready, just waiting for the east wind.

Just waiting for the Crocodile Demon to walk into the trap!

However, For three days and three nights, Nothing unexpected happened.

It was as if the Crocodile Demon had eaten its fill and gone quiet.

But Shen Changchuan wasn't in a hurry.

He sat cross-legged in the main hall of the village, Meditating to rest his spirit, keeping his condition at its peak, and making various contingency plans in his mind, quietly waiting for news.