Chapter 70 - Sacred Mountain in Myanmar (Part XXIV)

Chen Shaoxian reached out and grabbed Thomas by the collar, startling him so much that he shouted, “No!” Ignoring Thomas’s cries, Chen fiercely threw him onto the adjacent bamboo raft, where Nie Wei and Zhang Zeshan quickly caught him. The bamboo raft wobbled, and the three almost fell into the water.

Turning back, Chen Shaoxian said to Song Yumu, “Song-Ge, you didn’t encounter the reincarnation fish. Hurry over to the other side.”

“No, you and Xiao Zhuang need help,” Song Yumu refused.

Watching the rapidly approaching ripple, Chen Shaoxian anxiously said, “Only by going over can you help us.” He then reached out, intending to grab Song Yumu.

Having witnessed how Chen Shaoxian tossed Thomas earlier, Song Yumu quickly responded, “I can get over myself.” He then pushed off forcefully with his feet, lunged forward, and Nie Wei on the bamboo raft extended a hand to pull him over, allowing Song Yumu to stabilize himself.

Seeing Song Yumu safely across, Chen Shaoxian felt somewhat reassured. He then drew the evil-slaying blade from behind him, fixed his gaze on the ripple on the river’s surface, and told Xiao Zhuang, “We must strike with one decisive blow.”

Xiao Zhuang said nothing, only nodding while aiming his gun at the ripple on the river’s surface. Suddenly, the ripple disappeared about two meters from Chen Shaoxian’s bamboo raft.

Chen Shaoxian slightly raised an eyebrow, scanning the surrounding water. Suddenly, the bamboo raft underneath his feet began to shake violently, emitting creaky sounds from below.

Exchanging a glance with Xiao Zhuang, they both crouched down as the vines tying the bamboo raft began to loosen. Feeling the vibrations with his hand, Chen Shaoxian quickly identified the most intense spot.

With a swift tug, he easily pulled off the tore vine and pointed at the torn section below.

Xiao Zhuang nodded.

Kneeling on the bamboo raft, Chen Shaoxian gripped the blade with both hands. After finding the right spot, he fiercely thrust the evil-slaying blade downwards. The blade pierced through the bamboo with an excruciating creak, and with such force that the entire blade was embedded to the hilt within the bamboo below. Immediately, the bamboo raft was thrust high into the air, then slammed back down onto the water’s surface. The already loose bamboo raft became even more fragmented, only to be lifted high once more.

Chen Shaoxian gripped the blade tightly. Judging from the vibrations coming from it, the evil-slaying blade seemed to be lodged in the water monkey. He shouted, “Shoot as soon as the raft hits the water!” The moment he finished speaking, the bamboo raft slammed back onto the surface with a loud splash.

Xiao Zhuang quickly steadied himself and squeezed the trigger through the gaps in the splitting bamboo raft.

As the gunfire sounded, Chen Shaoxian felt the evil-slaying blade in his hand begin to violently shake from side to side, with the swings growing larger. Feeling uneasy, Chen quickly said, “Keep shooting!”

Xiao Zhuang swiftly swapped magazines, crouched down, and plunged the gun barrel into the water, firing another volley.

At that moment, the shaking of Chen Shaoxian’s blade ceased, and the weight on it lightened. He pulled it out, extracting the evil-slaying blade from the thoroughly mangled bamboo. As the blade was freed, a heavy stench nearly overwhelmed him.

The blade was coated with a slimy, dark green substance, emitting a pungent odor. Chen Shaoxian shook it forcefully, only managing to flick off a few drops.

Looking at the nearly broken bamboo raft, Xiao Zhuang asked, “Is it dead?”

Chen Shaoxian pursed his lips, “If not dead, it’s seriously injured.” Before he could finish speaking, a splash echoed from the crack in the water beneath his feet. A white claw emerged, grabbing onto Chen Shaoxian’s shoe, the talon-like nails digging into his military boot.

Chen Shaoxian could even feel the icy nails of the water monkey pressing against the top of his foot. It was too late to swing his blade, and cold sweat streamed down his face.

Fortunately, Xiao Zhuang reacted swiftly, crouching down and aiming the barrel at the water monkey’s arm, unleashing a burst of fire.

Chen Shaoxian felt the water monkey’s claw shudder violently, causing his leg to tremble along with it.

The water monkey’s claw was severed at the wrist by the bullets, and the talon remained stuck to Chen Shaoxian’s shoe.

Xiao Zhuang, still cautious, continued firing into the water below until the gun clicked empty. He quickly reloaded and kept his gun trained on the surface, asking, “Are you hurt?”

Chen Shaoxian wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and swallowed hard, “I’m fine.” Turning to the others on the adjoining bamboo rafts, he shouted, “Row quickly! Shoot or throw grenades if you see ripples!” He then ignored the claw attached to his shoe and used the evil-slaying blade as a paddle to row forward swiftly.

The lookout group, armed with their weapons, energetically paddled along with the current. Thankfully, they were rowing downstream, so the speed of the bamboo rafts increased rapidly.

After just a short while of rowing, lookout Thomas shouted, “They’re coming!”

Everyone turned to look back as they rowed, noticing several ripples racing towards Chen Shaoxian and Xiao Zhuang’s damaged bamboo raft.