Would a Son of the Li Lineage Really Die Here?
The night was as dark as ink, and the reeds along the river rustled in the wind.
Li Mao led seven or eight Captain along the banks of the Green Creek River, their footsteps sounding particularly clear in the quiet night.
"Brother Mao is wise!"
"We should take the initiative and attack; how can we just sit idly by the river mouth and wait for the wind?"
A Captain lowered his voice and flattered,
"While everyone else was still in a daze, we had already claimed the credit."
Li Mao's lips curled up slightly, and his steps became a little lighter.
"That's natural."
"Our Li Lineage has been established in Blackwood Commandery for hundreds of years, not by waiting passively for opportunities to come to us. If we keep waiting, by the time Jiang Chen and the Black Flood Dragon are wiped out, we won't even get a taste of the spoils."
"Brother Mao is right!"
Another Captain chimed in, "Those guards at the river mouth are nothing but pedantic fools. Only by following Brother Mao can we achieve anything."
Hearing the crowd's support, Li Mao felt smug.
"Keep going." He waved his hand. "This area is overgrown with weeds; there might be Water Demon hiding there."
The group continued along the river, the moonlight shimmering on its surface.
After walking for about ten miles, the surroundings became extremely quiet, the reeds on the bank grew increasingly dense, and the aquatic plants gradually increased.
"Brother Mao, how about..."
A Captain, feeling a little uneasy, hesitated before speaking, "We've come this far, should we turn back first?"
Li Mao paused, turning to look at the man.
"Go back?"
He sneered, "How far have we gone? If we go back now, what's the point of this trip? A wasted trip?"
The Captain felt a chill run down his spine from the look in his eyes and lowered his head, daring not to speak again.
Li Mao looked around at everyone, feeling somewhat unwilling to give up after a night of fruitless labor, yet also somewhat resentful. "Let's walk another five miles."
"If we still find nothing after five miles, we'll go back."
The Captain exchanged glances, and although they were somewhat worried, none of them dared to object.
Li Mao was at the Liquid Condensation Early Stage and a scion of a powerful family, while they were merely Qi Gathering Realm Captain; how could they dare to disobey him?
The group continued onward, walking further and further along the river.
The night breeze carried a damp scent, blowing from the river and a faint fishy smell.
Li Mao frowned, a vague unease creeping into his heart.
But he quickly suppressed his unease.
With his dignified cultivation at the Liquid Condensation Realm and the seven or eight Qi Gathering Realm Captain he led, he could even handle a Liquid Condensation Realm Water Demon.
Moreover, if you find that you cannot handle the situation, just hurry back and report it.
He's not stupid; why would he risk his life?
They walked for about two more miles.
The reeds along the riverbank grew even denser, and the aquatic plants shimmered with a faint green light under the moonlight.
"Brother Mao, look!"
A Captain suddenly lowered his voice and pointed to the water's edge ahead.
Li Mao paused, following the Captain's finger.
About ten feet ahead, a figure could be vaguely seen crawling among the dense water plants by the water's edge.
The figure was about a person's length tall, shaped like an ape, with a dark blue body and skin that gleamed smoothly and stickily in the moonlight.
Water Wraith!
Li Mao's eyes lit up, and a surge of joy welled up inside him.
There really was Water Demon!
He lowered his voice and gave a wink to the Captain behind him.
"Surround them."
Several Captain drew their swords and cautiously approached the Water Demon.
Li Mao also gripped the long sword at his waist, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes.
Judging from its small size, this Water Wraith should only be a weak Water Demon at the Qi Gathering Realm level.
If we can kill him, it will be a great achievement!
As the group approached, the Water Wraith remained hidden among the water plants, seemingly oblivious to their presence.
"Brother Mao, this Water Wraith seems to be sleeping."
A Captain whispered.
Li Mao sneered, "Perfect! Let's catch it off guard and kill it with one blow!"
He gestured to several Captain, signaling them to flank the monster from both sides. The Captain understood, dispersed, and approached the Water Wraith.
Li Mao gripped the hilt of his sword tightly, secretly calculating in his mind.
After the Captain made their move, he seized the opportunity to deliver a finishing blow, killing the Water Wraith.
The credit naturally went to the leader; the other Captain were merely his assistants.
Ten feet... eight feet... five feet...
As the group approached, the Water Wraith remained completely still.
"Do it!"
Li Mao gave a low shout.
Several Captain simultaneously sprang into action, lunging at the Water Wraith!
At that very moment--
The figure lying prone among the water plants suddenly moved!
It turned around abruptly, its pale, vertical pupils gleaming with a cold, eerie light in the moonlight.
At the same time, the curled-up torso stretched out and instantly grew taller, reaching nearly the height of two people!
Boom--
A half-smile flashed across the Water Wraith's face, and its aura, no longer concealed, soared into the sky.
Liquid Condensation Mid Stage!
Li Mao's pupils contracted sharply, and he froze on the spot.
"Withdraw--"
Before he could finish speaking, the Water Wraith had already sprang into action!
It moved like lightning, darting out of the water plants and pouncing on the nearest Captain!
"Ah--!"
The Captain screamed in agony as the Water Wraith's long, sharp claws pierced his chest, killing him instantly!
"Surround them! Surround them!"
Li Mao's expression changed drastically. He roared at the Captain behind him, but after observing his surroundings, he turned and ran!
Before the Captain could react, the Water Wraith had already pounced on its second target.
"Brother Mao, save me--!"
A Captain shouted in alarm, but Li Mao had already run more than ten feet away.
The Water Wraith's pale, vertical pupils swept over the fleeing Li Mao, and it let out a low growl.
It didn't chase Li Mao, but instead pounced on the remaining Captain.
"Ah--!"
"Brother Mao--!"
Screams rose and fell, particularly piercing in the night.
Several Captain fought desperately, but their Qi Gathering Realm cultivation was no match for the Liquid Condensation Mid Stage Water Wraith.
In the blink of an eye, all seven or eight Captain were killed!
The reeds along the riverbank were littered with corpses.
The Water Wraith licked the blood off its claws, its pale vertical pupils turning towards the direction Li Mao had fled.
It let out a low growl and moved like lightning, chasing after Li Mao.
Li Mao ran for his life, his heart pounding like a drum.
He hadn't expected that the Water Demon was actually at the Liquid Condensation Mid Stage!
He never expected that the seven or eight Captain he brought wouldn't even last a moment!
"Damn it! Damn it!"
He cursed inwardly, but dared not stop, for the roar of the Water Demon came from behind him, growing ever closer.
Li Mao gritted his teeth, drew his long sword from his waist, turned around, and slashed at the pursuing Water Demon!
A hint of mockery flashed in the Water Wraith's pale, vertical pupils.
It twisted its body to avoid the sword light, and at the same time slapped at Li Mao with one claw!
"Bang!"
Li Mao was swatted away by a claw, crashing into a small tree and falling to the ground.
He coughed up a mouthful of blood, and a sharp pain shot through his chest.
"Cough cough..."
He struggled to his feet, his hand gripping the sword trembling.
The Water Wraith's strength far exceeded his expectations!
His prized Li Family Sword Art was utterly inadequate against this Water Wraith!
The Water Wraith slowly approached, its pale, vertical pupils filled with mockery.
"Isn't this the Lord of the Demon Suppression Division? I was hiding perfectly well, yet I presumptuously came knocking on your door. Did you really think I was playing hide-and-seek with you?!"
A sense of despair welled up in Li Mao's heart.
Is he, a member of the prestigious Li Lineage, really going to die here?