34: Sorry, my water arrow can turn!
The icy river water had become a purgatory for the Martial Artists.
The martial arts hall's Elders and Deacons were all out in force.
Dividing the labor, some were busy fishing out Disciples.
The rest were scattered, fighting against the Vicious Beasts within the Great River.
In the distance.
Lu Shanhe slapped away a Second Tier water snake that was attempting a sneak attack, his True Qi vibrating to steady the wooden plank beneath his feet.
His expression was solemn as he watched the chaos around him, his heart filled with intense tension.
Something was very wrong.
These Vicious Beasts seemed to have gone mad; they only attacked the boats, forcing the Martial Artists into the water, yet they weren't in a hurry to kill them.
They were primarily surrounding and trapping everyone.
That Third Tier Four-Clawed Black Python was cruising not far away, its giant blood-red eyes locked onto their position.
The pressure exuded by the Third Tier Fierce Beast's aura was overwhelming.
“Clan Uncle!”
Lu Yunfei's voice carried a tremor; he was shielding Chen Meng closely, his face pale.
“Don't panic!”
“The Hall Master and Elders have already taken action; we'll be saved soon!”
Lu Shanhe shouted in a low voice, encouraging the Juniors as well as himself.
But just as he finished speaking, a massive whirlpool suddenly exploded in the water beneath his feet.
An ugly and enormous head lunged out from the whirlpool, its gaping maw large enough to swallow an ox, bringing with it a foul, fishy stench.
“Black Armored Giant Catfish!”
Lu Shanhe cried out in surprise; it was a Middle Stage Second Tier Vicious Beast!
This giant catfish was clearly much more difficult to deal with than the water snake from before.
As soon as it appeared, it churned the water, whipping up a massive wave that slammed toward the plank the three were on.
Lu Shanhe had no choice but to leap forward to meet it.
“Hold on tight!”
He let out a roar as his long saber left its sheath, the blade's light cold and sharp as it collided violently with the giant catfish's sharp teeth.
A clanging sound exploded as True Qi and demonic power clashed, sending sprays of water flying in all directions.
Although Lu Shanhe was at the Peak of Condensing Essence Realm, he was in the Great River.
Facing a Middle Stage Second Tier Vicious Beast fighting on its home turf, he was actually pinned down for a moment, unable to break free at all.
With this, only Lu Yunfei and Chen Meng remained on the plank.
Having lost his Clan Uncle's protection, Lu Yunfei completely lost his composure.
He looked at the Four-Clawed Black Python watching them like a predator not far away, then at the Black Armored Giant Catfish entangling his Clan Uncle; his legs couldn't stop trembling.
“Senior Brother, we...”
Just as Chen Meng began to speak, her voice was interrupted by the sound of water breaking.
Swoosh!
A water arrow as thick as an arm shot out from the murky river water without warning.
Its speed was beyond imagination, the tip condensing a point of cold light, aimed straight for the center of Lu Yunfei's forehead!
This arrow contained a lethal killing intent!
Lu Yunfei's pupils suddenly constricted, and the hair all over his body stood on end.
The shadow of death completely enveloped him.
He wanted to dodge, but the water arrow was too fast, giving him no time to react at all.
In a flash, he reached out his hand.
Saving his own life was the priority!
Beautiful women could be found anytime!
Instinctively, he grabbed Chen Meng beside him and violently pulled her delicate body in front of him to use as a shield!
“Senior Brother, you!”
Chen Meng's mind went blank.
She never expected that Senior Brother Lu, who had just vowed to protect her moments ago, would use her as a human shield the next second!
The Senior Brother she had always admired, that elegant and powerful Inner Sect Disciple, was actually this kind of person.
Despicable.
Shameless.
That handsome and gentle face now appeared only hideous and cowardly in her eyes.
However, the expected penetration and sharp pain did not arrive.
That lethal water arrow, at the very moment it was about to touch Chen Meng's back, actually curved at an inconceivable angle, perfectly bypassing her body.
Puchi!
A soft sound.
The water arrow accurately shot into Lu Yunfei's astonished forehead and pierced through the back of his head.
The terror and desire to survive on his face froze instantly.
His body stood there stiffly, his eyes still reflecting Chen Meng's face, which was filled with shock and disbelief.
In the distant river, the Black Armored Turtle swam away.
In the distance, Li Qing's original body curled its lips into a cold arc.
Ridiculous.
You didn't expect my water arrow to be able to turn, did you?
“Yunfei!”
Lu Shanhe let out a roar.
He watched helplessly as his nephew fell, those eyes full of terror and disbelief.
He saw the water arrow.
He saw Lu Yunfei push Chen Meng out.
And he also saw the water arrow eerily bypass Chen Meng to pierce Lu Yunfei's skull.
An anonymous fire ignited from the depths of his heart, instantly burning through his entire body.
Fury.
Heaven-shaking fury!
“Vile beast!”
He suddenly erupted with a roar, his True Qi surging as his long saber burst forth with a dazzling blade light.
“Die!”
He poured all of his rage onto the Black Armored Giant Catfish in front of him.
The blade light was like a waterfall, carrying a violent momentum as it slashed heavily toward the giant catfish's head.
The Black Armored Giant Catfish hadn't expected Lu Shanhe to suddenly erupt; it rapidly swung its massive tail, trying to avoid the strike.
But Lu Shanhe had completely thrown caution to the wind.
His saber technique now carried a resolution to perish together with the enemy.
The blade edge slammed heavily into the giant catfish's hard skull, producing a deafening boom.
Crack!
A clear fracture appeared on the giant catfish's skull, and foul blood instantly gushed out, dyeing the surrounding river water red.
The giant catfish let out a pained wail, its massive body lunging backward, churning up a colossal wave.
It was injured.
Heavily injured.
Lu Shanhe's breathing also became heavy, his hand holding the saber trembling slightly, the fire in his eyes never dissipating.
“Who is it?!”
He suddenly turned his head, scanning the surroundings, trying to find the mastermind who had struck from the shadows.
That water arrow was definitely not something an ordinary Vicious Beast could condense.
That eerie trajectory showed an extreme mastery over water currents.
He even suspected it was a Martial Artist who had made the move!
Various possibilities flashed rapidly through Lu Shanhe's mind.
Was it an enemy of the martial arts hall?
One of the families within Jinling City?
Or... he suddenly looked at that massive Four-Clawed Black Python not far away.
It was cruising nearby, its blood-red giant eyes staring at them coldly.
That Third Tier Vicious Beast had been emitting an unusual aura from the beginning.
It wasn't in a hurry to attack; instead, it was watching from the sidelines, waiting for something.
A chill rose in Lu Shanhe's heart.
Could it be that all of this was being manipulated by this Black Python behind the scenes?
No!
Vicious Beasts might have intelligence, but it was impossible for them to achieve such precise calculation and control.
Unless!
Unless there was an even more powerful existence behind this beast!
Or, a Beast Tamer was controlling it from the shadows!
This thought made Lu Shanhe's expression turn even uglier.
If it really was a Beast Tamer, then tonight's Autumn River Night Hunt had turned into a conspiracy targeting the Fierce Wind Martial Arts Hall!
His nephew, Lu Yunfei, had become a sacrifice in this conspiracy.
Thinking about how the Lu Family had been a single-line succession for generations, and how they had finally produced a Genius like Lu Yunfei, who carried the hope of the Lu Family's revival.
Now, he had died under such a bizarre attack.
Lu Shanhe's heart was bleeding.
Anger and grief were intertwined in his heart.
Only by hacking the Vicious Beast before him to death could he vent his hatred!
He suddenly charged toward the giant catfish.
“All Disciples, close in toward the Deacons' boats! Fast!”
The martial arts hall's Third Elder used his True Qi to let out a deafening roar, his voice carrying far across the river's surface.
The Disciples across the river gradually regained their senses.
In the distance, the Black Armored Turtle Clone slowly approached the main ship.
Lu Yunfei is dead.
Gao Qiang, next, it's your turn!
There was no expression on Li Qing's face.
The slaughter has only just begun.
Black Python, Catfish Head, Xiao Hei, Crab Number Two, Turtle Three, Xiao Qing, Thorn-Armored Fish, Giant Rock Shrimp... the ten great generals gradually approached the main ship.
Gao Qiang.
Tonight, you must die!