I Only Want to Lie Flat But Am Forced to Cultivate Immortality-Chapter 169 - 106: Facing Snipers at the Middle Gate

Beneath the river, shadows of piled bones loomed, and atop the highest point of the heap, a wild child was gripping a bunch of water grass with all his might, pulling downwards with all the strength he could muster.

Xu Qing, expecting more than he got, instantly found the corpse in his hand less fascinating after seeing the heap of bones and the wild child at his feet.

Depositing the corpse in the Box Garden, Xu Qing rubbed his chin, scrutinizing the naked three-year-old child.

Though said to be a three-year-old, it didn’t quite resemble an ordinary child. In fact, it looked more like a water monster.

This monster had small horns on its head, scales like a carp on its body, a tiger’s tail, and knee joints like tiger paws. The key feature was its human-like face, resembling a young child’s.

"This appearance is somewhat similar to the Water Tiger mentioned in the legends..."

Linhe, blessed with abundant water transport, was rife with tales of water monsters, the most famous of which were the Water Tiger and the Water Monkey.

Both were water-loving spirits frequently documented in ancient literature like Xiangmian Records, Commentary on the Water Classic, Bird Scripture, Ten Dao Chronicles, and others.

The Xiangmian Records states: In the water, there is a creature called the Water Tiger. It resembles a three-year-old child, with knee joints like tiger paws and claws often submerged in water. It shows its knee to lure children, then devours them. If someone captures it alive, plucking its "gaoyan" can make it obedient; such a creature is called a Water Tiger...

The Water Tiger is born with heightened hearing, possessing an ear that can understand the languages of fish, birds, and humans.

The Water Tiger’s mouth lacks teeth, but its stomach contains sharp teeth to chew and digest the prey it swallows.

In addition, the adept Water Tiger also possesses a supernatural power that allows its body to become invisible in the water.

Encountering such a spirit in the water is extremely difficult to handle, though they are not without weaknesses.

Legend has it that to control the Water Tiger, one should pluck its "gaoyan".

However, some ancient texts, like the Compendium of Materia Medica, interpret "gaoyan" as "nose", stating that capture of a Water Tiger involves plucking its nose to control it.

Yet, in the poem "Sand-washing Stream·Passion" from Yanluo’s words it’s written: Seven Xiang brocade and eight silken fillings, the gaoyan carefully draped on the mat, cherished by the beloved in private, long-favored by the young nobleman.

Here, "gaoyan" definitely does not refer to the nose. ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom

So, whether controlling a Water Tiger is better achieved by pinching its nose or grabbing its crotch...

Xu Qing pulled out his Finger Tiger and grinned.

Does one need any skill to discipline their own wild child? Does one need any skill to subdue a wild bear child?

Xu Qing’s body suddenly relaxed, allowing the water grass to drag him down to the riverbed.

The child, with lips purplish, was tirelessly pulling at the water grass. Suddenly, he felt the tension at the end of the grass loosen as if a big fish had slipped off the hook.

Caught off guard, he fell heavily on the muddy bones, rolling several times before he managed to stand up.

The already murky riverbed became a cloud of sediment. The Water Tiger, driven by a strong hunting instinct, pushed off its webbed feet like an arrow, darting through the water towards the surface.

At the same time, Xu Qing, who had just entered the water, took advantage of the momentum from the pulling rope to dive to the bottom.

Zombies do not need to breathe, so the pig’s bladder for storing air was useless to Xu Qing. With the Water Technique aiding him, he experienced no discomfort entering the water.

The Water Tiger’s location was a pit about four or five zhang deep, with river sand and stones gathered around its periphery. Reeds grew extensively around the pit.

Such a concealed nest would indeed make finding the Water Tiger’s whereabouts quite difficult.

Xu Qing sank into the water, and shortly after, he saw the Water Tiger rushing out of the muddy whirlpool, heading towards him.

The Water Tiger did not expect the person on the surface to dare to enter the water, let alone actively swim towards it.

Caught off guard, it collided head-on with Xu Qing before it could react.

A dull sound echoed underwater.

Xu Qing felt a jolt throughout his body but experienced no adverse effects.

The Water Tiger, however, had many of its scales scraped off from the collision.

Bloody wisps began to spread in the water, and the dazed Water Tiger was slightly disoriented.

What kind of creature had it dragged back?

As the unknown entity swam towards it, the Water Tiger’s scales nearly stood on end in terror.

Knowing it had met a tough opponent, the Water Tiger didn’t dare face it directly. In panic, its body surface rippled like water waves, blending with the surrounding water and disappearing right before Xu Qing’s eyes.

Xu Qing activated his Qi Observation Skill, scanning around. The area was filled with thick demonic aura, leaving no trace of the Water Tiger visible.

The previously turbulent riverbed gradually calmed down.

Light rippled above the water, and the reeds around the deep pit cast reflections and shadows on the water’s surface.

Amid the dancing lights and shadows, Xu Qing suddenly felt water rushing against his mouth and nose, as if trying to enter his lungs.

"..."

Xu Qing fell silent. He had never heard of a zombie drowning. How was this different from trying to drown a Piggy Dragon?

But having the child constantly avoiding him wasn’t a solution either.

After a moment of contemplation, Xu Qing hatched a plan and suddenly began flailing on the spot.

His hands gripped his neck, his eyes rolled back, and his legs kicked out repeatedly. He looked just like a person on the brink of drowning.

After a while, Xu Qing stopped struggling, his limbs went limp, and his body curled up, sinking towards the riverbed.

In the deep pool, currents swirled, and a hand-wide piece of water grass slithered out from a shadowy corner like a swimming snake.

The water grass clung to the bottom, extending towards Xu Qing’s sinking body.

When it reached him, the water grass climbed up his waist and belly, slowly creeping higher.