Chapter 104: The Resolute Blind Man

Before the crocodile man could react, the old blind man had already leapt forward several paces, brandishing two short knives. Mounted atop the crocodile’s head, he hacked furiously, blood and flesh flying in all directions, accompanied by agonized howls.

“Monsters! Demons! Gurgle… it’s you who destroyed my home!” the old blind man stomped fiercely, shouting hoarsely with rage.

Beside him, Lu Kuan’s hair stood on end, his confusion deepening. What was going on? The crocodile man was so robust—no matter how powerful a chest-piercing strike was, he shouldn’t have been pinned to the ground and immobilized by the old blind man!

In those few seconds of Lu Kuan’s stupefaction, the old blind man had already swung his blades to shreds the crocodile man’s head, then collapsed weakly onto the ground, gasping heavily.

Lu Kuan hurriedly picked up his hunting bow and approached. Only then, observing closely, did he realize the old fish man’s condition was dire.

The old blind man’s swollen muscles were riddled with cracks, fresh blood constantly seeping out, staining his entire body red. Even the whites of his dead fish-like eyes streamed with blood.

“This is… *cough cough*… houttuynia,” the old blind man weakly said, pulling a leather pouch from his waist and handing it to Lu Kuan. “Take it… don’t forget what you promised me.”

No sooner had Lu Kuan taken the pouch than the old blind man swayed and collapsed to the ground.

“Hey!” Lu Kuan quickly supported him. The old blind man was now pitifully weak, his body rapidly deflating as if the air had been let out, returning to his original size.

“What’s really going on? Didn’t you say fish men aren’t afraid of the red mist? What’s happening here?” Lu Kuan frowned deeply.

The old blind man trembled slightly but smiled bitterly. “I said I’m not afraid… houttuynia is highly toxic, but when fish men come into contact with it, they enter a brief frenzy. After that, *cough cough*… after that, there’s no saving them.”

Lu Kuan’s brow furrowed even tighter. He had never imagined that the price the old blind man paid for picking houttuynia would be his own life!

Seeming to read Lu Kuan’s thoughts, the old blind man said plainly, “Don’t worry about me. I’m beyond saving… go quickly. The crocodile guards are dead, and Yuka will definitely send more fish men soldiers. When that happens, escape will be impossible.”

As he spoke, the old blind man took a cylindrical object from his bosom and handed it to Lu Kuan. “When you arrive, I’ve already told Boda to wait underwater. Blow this whistle once you’re in the water; Boda will take you back. It’s much faster than swimming yourself… *cough cough*…”

Lu Kuan didn’t need to be told. From the nearby forest came the rustling sound of a large group of fish men gathering.

Without hesitation, Lu Kuan downed a vial of instant stamina recovery potion, grabbed two tent ropes from his backpack, and swiftly tied the old blind man to his back.

“Don’t be foolish, adventurer… you’re going to get us all killed,” the old blind man said coldly, watching Lu Kuan’s actions.

Lu Kuan chuckled and tightened the ropes, standing up. “Just think of it as my love for challenging difficulties~”

With that, he drew his weapons again and headed toward the lake shore.

...

Three minutes later.

*Swish!*

Lu Kuan held a sword in each hand, decapitating the two fastest fish men charging at him. With a large step forward, he planted one foot in the lake.

“Ura!”

The fish men behind seemed mad, rushing desperately forward. Some even grabbed onto Lu Kuan’s calves.

Lu Kuan swung his sword back, cleaving one attacker in two, then bent at the waist and plunged his head underwater, immediately blowing the whistle in his mouth.

The wooden whistle emitted a white glow, followed by a melodious flute sound slowly spreading underwater.

“All that’s left now is to pray old blind man’s mount is up to the task,” Lu Kuan thought with a sigh of relief.

Before he could straighten up, a sharp pain shot through his rear. Turning, he saw a short fish man gleefully dancing while holding a bamboo tube, from which protruded a small blowpipe dart lodged in Lu Kuan’s backside.

“Hey, you wanna test your archery against my temper?” Lu Kuan grimaced in pain as he pulled out the dart, then swiftly nocked a bone-shattering arrow and fired at his assailant.

The fight raged on, time slipping away. Though Lu Kuan could kill a fish man with each arrow, he couldn’t withstand their overwhelming numbers. Pressed by the horde, he was forced steadily back into the lake, water quickly rising to his thighs.

He knew once fully submerged, his weapons would be useless, and he’d be at the mercy of the fish men.

Thinking this, Lu Kuan shouted to the old blind man strapped to his back, “Hey, how long has it been since you last saw your mount? It hasn’t forgotten you already, has it?”

The old blind man, barely conscious, muttered after a moment, “*Cough cough*… don’t worry… even if I die, it won’t…”

As if to answer him, a deep, strange roar suddenly echoed from the distant lake surface. Lu Kuan turned and immediately understood what the old blind man meant.

Far off, a massive turtle-like creature swam swiftly toward them at an unnatural speed, its large head breaking the water as it lowly called out.

This was the first time Lu Kuan had ever heard a turtle’s call.

Time was pressing. Lu Kuan fired two more arrows toward the shore, then plunged into the water. Soon, he reached the giant turtle, which proved intelligent—it dove beneath the water, using its shell to lift Lu Kuan and the old blind man, then turned to swim back.

By now, Lu Kuan recognized the massive creature: a Green-Striped Turtle.

The Green-Striped Turtle was well known for being a player’s pet—unmatched in defense, capable of learning magic, and boasting formidable combat prowess, especially underwater.

In his previous life, Lu Kuan had seen a level 100-plus Green-Striped Turtle, a ranger’s pet, as imposing as a small mountain in the water. It could crush a Red-Scale Water Serpent with a single bite—a true lord of the waters.

“*Cough cough*…” The old blind man lay on the turtle’s back, catching his breath, and looked at Lu Kuan. “Boda is too young to carry both of us swiftly…”

Lu Kuan, seizing the moment to recover, waved his hand. “Alright, alright. At this point, we’ll have to make do and row together~ Besides, you risked your life to help me—I won’t just abandon you.”

The old blind man smiled faintly, closing his eyes as he murmured, “It’s not entirely to help you… *cough*… you know, when Captain Quinn found me, do you know whose fish men bodies were around me?”

Lu Kuan raised an eyebrow, watching the old fish man’s expression, already guessing the truth.

“My family—my parents… my son… all were mercilessly slaughtered because I opposed Yuda’s tyranny…”

Boda, sensing his master’s sorrow and rage, let out a low, mournful roar beneath the water.