"I'm sorry, I'm sorry... Brother Ju Snake, please rest assured. I'll leave right away. I'll never dare set foot in your territory again..."
Under Ju Snake's piercing stare, the Mirage Tapir trembled as it apologized over and over. Then it quickly drew back its elephant trunk, trying to retreat through the lakebed.
But the moment it moved, a shout from Ju Snake scared it stiff.
"Stop! You think you can come and go as you please on my turf?"
The Mirage Tapir was on the verge of tears. "Brother, I really didn't mean it. I promise I'll never dare do it again..."
"Heh, I'm in a good mood today. Leave that trunk of yours as tribute, and I'll let bygones be bygones," Ju Snake said lazily.
"Ah, but..."
The Mirage Tapir was shocked. It wanted to object but didn't dare say so outright. After agonizing for several seconds, it cautiously ventured, "Brother Ju Snake, this is how I make my living. Could I leave a little less... A third? How about that?"
"Are you telling me what to do?" Ju Snake immediately narrowed its eyes at it, its icy aura erupting once more. "You want to bargain with me? Do you have the strength for that?"
The Mirage Tapir opposite it began trembling in fright again. "No... Brother Ju Snake, I'm not, I wouldn't dare... I just..."
"Leave your trunk and scram!" Ju Snake roared.
The Mirage Tapir shuddered and dared not say another word. Its entire elephant trunk silently severed at the lake's surface and crashed to the ground, while its body below swiftly retreated into the lakebed and vanished.
At the same time, the surrounding Mirage Qi, along with the Shrimp Soldiers and Crab Generals within it, began visibly retracting like footage played in reverse, returning to the