Someone began inputting data into the computer to build a model. A moment later, someone cried out in surprise:
“Over the past three years, the drowning rate in this stretch of the Yangtze River has indeed been significantly higher than before. Furthermore, news reports regarding ‘water monsters attacking people,’ ‘giant underwater monsters,’ and ‘Yangtze River monsters’ have gradually increased!”
“So, its true hunting grounds should be beyond Stone River. For some reason, it suddenly chose Mulian Village, which is near its nest, this time.”
This colossal creature had been hiding in Mulian Lake for nearly three years!
Zhang Jin felt all the clues in her mind connect, forming a new narrative:
“We were previously wondering whether the anomalies in Mulian Village came first or the toxic miasma did. Now it seems highly likely that some change we are unaware of occurred around the Mulian Village scenic area, which stimulated the water monster and forced it to hunt outside its nest.”
But what was this change?
That remained unknown.
However, if this sudden incident hadn't occurred, this giant monster might have remained hidden in Mulian Lake for years, decades, or even centuries, just as Ma Lanhua had suggested.
——By then, that thing wouldn't be something that could be dealt with by a few simple torpedoes.
Wait.
If the orange trees of the Shi family in Mulian Village were blooming and bearing fruit so frequently because of this mysterious change...
Could this change be a positive one?
Besides the strange fish, were the animals in the mountains also affected?
“Request the higher-ups for access to recent satellite maps of the Mulian Village scenic area. Preferably a comparison of images over the last few years!”
Zhang Jin's breathing tightened.
Almost at the same moment, Zhuang Sinan also looked up:
“Director Zhang, I believe there might be a spiritual pulse or something rich in spiritual energy nearby. This is what caused the water monster to be unable to wait any longer and come ashore to target the villagers—”
Another flurry of activity ensued.
The operations room remained lit all night. No one noticed when the white mist that had risen outside the tent quietly dissipated.
It was as if it had never appeared.
...
...
The fifth day.
Daylight broke.
Military trucks drove into the camp. Blue and white cordon lines were stretched out over a dozen meters along the lakeshore. Heavy cranes slowly rolled in as on-site surveyors in camouflage green gestured:
“Back it up, back it up, back it up...”
The military took this mission very seriously. The person in charge of taking over was a very young Colonel. She wore a crisp olive-green uniform, had neat, ear-length short hair, and her name was simple and direct:
Yu Lan.
“Director Zhang, my unit has been assigned two tasks. First, to ensure the safety of the fifteen missing persons. Second, to capture the underwater monster fish alive with minimal loss. For the sake of the people's lives and property, my unit is authorized to open fire if necessary.”
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, she laid out the deployment plan:
“I have reviewed all the materials on the way here. The underwater conditions are complex, and the risk for divers is too high. Therefore, we need to control the monster fish first.
Our proposed operational plan is as follows: first, use radar to locate the monster fish. Then, use live cattle and sheep as bait and torpedoes to drive it toward the middle section of Stone River.
We will first block off the upper reaches of Stone River. Once the monster fish enters the designated river section, we will use giant harpoons, spears, or darts to inject anesthetics into its body, aiming for a live capture. Finally, we will send divers down to rescue the people.”
“Similar to a whaling operation?”
Zhang Jin thought for a moment, constructing the scene in her mind, and couldn't help but frown:
“I apologize, but we don't know much about the monster fish and cannot provide more data. Currently, we only know that it can produce a certain toxic gas that triggers the deepest fears in people's hearts.
In the words of the experts from the Jingbei guidance group, it is something similar to the Buddhist concept of ‘karmic hindrance.’ Secondly, this fish has likely lived in Mulian Lake for several hundred years. In the last three years, it has begun hunting humans and feeding on their souls.
So, please be very careful.”
“I understand.”
Yu Lan nodded knowingly, not expressing any opinion on the new terms in Zhang Jin's words. She simply gave a cold smile toward the lake surface:
“Although my mission is to capture it alive, I am authorized to open fire if it endangers lives or property. Rest assured, we have plenty of ammunition. If one shell doesn't solve it, we'll use two.
I also brought newly developed munitions that won't leave a single bone behind after the blast. It might just make collecting samples a bit more troublesome.”
Within range, no matter what kind of demons or monsters they were, as long as they had a physical form, the truth was held firmly in their hands!
Zhang Jin: “...”
Should she remind her that there were still living people at the bottom of the lake who couldn't withstand a bombardment?
Should she expect anything less from a soldier? Her methods were forceful.
**
The satellite maps Zhang Jin requested were quickly delivered to the operations table, categorized by year, month, and day. Under the ultra-high-definition maps, everyone noticed something was wrong without even needing it to be pointed out.
“Qingmeng Mountain... where is this area? Why is it always covered by clouds and mist?”
“It should be the area around Huyue Gorge. For the past half-month, this region has been perpetually shrouded in white mist. Why do I feel like this mist is somewhat similar to the miasma produced by the underwater monster fish—”
“The weather station specifically tested it. These mists are just ordinary mountain fogs. Aside from the fact that they won't dissipate, they are harmless to the human body.”
“There's a century-old monster fish in the water; surely there can't be some mountain spirits or monsters in the mountains too? What exactly is going on with Mulian Village? Things swimming in the water, things running in the mountains—even the orange trees behind people's houses have become spirits!”
“What's the situation? The flowers, plants, and trees around this mountain mist seem to be growing exceptionally well. Look, they’re a layer greener than everywhere else.”
As the group shared their various opinions, Zhang Jin looked around and didn't see Zhuang Sinan. She turned her gaze to Ma Lanhua, who stretched and yawned:
“He said staying here wouldn't help much with catching the catfish, so he went with the men in green to fly a drone.”
A drone?
Hopefully, they could find the cause of the anomalies in the Mulian Lake scenic area.
Zhang Jin shook her head and continued to confirm the details of the operational plan with Yu Lan.
——Every minute delayed could mean another citizen losing their life.
...
Huyue Gorge was named after a steep canyon. Legend had it that the canyon was so treacherous that only the king of beasts could leap across it, hence the name ‘Tiger Leap.’
The colors of autumn were already visible outside the mountains, but inside the canyon, it was a sea of lush greenery. Withered vines coiled around ancient pines, climbing upward and appearing even more vigorous.
Elegant old trees were rooted before caves, their pine needles distinct, with tips tinged with a dark hue, looking as if they had been splashed from a landscape ink painting.
The top was shrouded in swirling clouds and mist, making it impossible to see clearly, but one could hear the faint chirping of birds, the flow of clear springs over stones, the long cries of apes, and the scent of orchids wafting through the valley where moss grew everywhere.
The drone that had accidentally entered the area was as jarring as a flaw on a piece of fine jade.
“It's too beautiful. Spiritual energy is radiating outward, nourishing the world. This is a prime, tranquil place for cultivation. If other practitioners found this, they’d likely fight to the death for it.”
Zhuang Sinan stared at the footage transmitted back by the drone and couldn't help but mutter to himself, “Wait, has the mist cleared a bit?”
The mist from a moment ago had been as thick as milk, with wisps of clouds visible to the naked eye as if one could touch them by reaching out. Now, it had clearly thinned significantly.
Could something have changed?
“It seems so.”
The operator stared at the screen, unable to help but be captivated by it, while still remembering to answer him:
“The mist was too thick just now and the magnetic field was messy, so we couldn't fly. Fortunately, the mist has cleared a bit, so we can get a little closer and capture some footage.”
“Can you get any closer?”
Zhuang Sinan pointed to a spot. “Is there something there?”
It was a sleek leopard. Judging by its size, it should be an adult.
It was carrying a dead deer in its mouth, slowly approaching a cave. After submissively dropping its prey, it lowered its head to the ground and crawled backward to leave.
Not far away, three black bears of varying sizes were walking through the flower bushes and shrubs. As soon as the leopard left, they immediately followed, placing a massive honeycomb they had painstakingly gathered at the cave entrance.
A golden-feathered eagle sat silently on a branch at the top of a tree, its keen eyes scanning the surroundings while its sharp beak glinted with a cold light.
It held a rabbit in its beak that had been dead for some time.
A gray-furred alpha wolf led a pack, moving gently through the forest. They approached the cave on tiptoe, baring their teeth at any small animals that tried to get close, letting out low growls from their throats:
“Grrr... Roar...”
The commotion quickly ceased.
A giant python was coiled around a pine tree, its dark gray eyes fixed on the spot. Its red tongue flicked slightly, spitting out a bundle of green medicinal herbs.
——All these giant predators were gathered together, yet they did not interfere with one another. It was as if they had all agreed to face this paradise-like cave entrance as if on a pilgrimage.
“What the hell, this is eerie. All these animals are like humans, taking turns to bring offerings here!”
The operator couldn't help but gasp. He piloted the drone to get even closer to see more clearly, and Zhuang Sinan also held his breath.
Finally.
The mist outside the cave slowly dissipated completely. All the predators froze, submissively lowering their heads in a gesture of surrender.
As the mist at the cave entrance cleared, a tall figure appeared outside.
It was a giantess with beast ears and a human body, snowy skin, and black hair.
She was completely naked, yet she did not inspire the slightest sense of profanity. Standing upright, she was nearly two meters tall. Beneath her spine, a thick white tail curved upward proudly.
The predators outside the cave began to tremble uncontrollably, but not a single animal chose to flee.
Absolute majesty, absolute obedience.
The lord of all beasts, looking down upon the world.
The white tiger woman, with her distinct features, suddenly looked up and stared expressionlessly at the drone in mid-air. An overwhelming pressure hit like a crashing wave—
Golden, sharp, a certain predatory intent belonging to a beast was revealed plainly and nakedly.
It was the gaze of a predator.
No one would doubt whether she would hesitate for a second to pounce and tear open everyone's throat with her sharp claws.
Everyone who saw this scene froze in place, their bodies going numb. It took everything they had not to cry out in terror:
“!”
“!”
“!!”
Zhuang Sinan felt it most strongly. That single glance seemed to pierce through the screen and strike his soul. He felt his mental state become unstable, a buzzing ringing in his mind. When he touched beneath his nose, his hand was covered in blood.
He gave a bitter smile:
It seemed he had found the cause of the anomalies.
But whatever that thing was, it was definitely not a tiger!
Rate on N.U.
