Chapter 23

Just as the atmosphere was developing a hint of intimacy, Hei Ya just returned from scouting ahead. He said in a low voice, “Shaman, Chieftain, we’re almost at the small lake.”

He did not dare make too much noise. The small lake was the only water source nearby, and there might be Ferocious Beasts drinking water in its vicinity.

“En. Everyone, be careful and try not to make any noise,” Yan Jiao immediately became solemn.

The path they were taking now was not the one used by Totem Warriors to fetch water. That route was shorter but more dangerous. If the group only consisted of Totem Warriors, they could carry water buckets and sprint without fear of being intercepted by Ferocious Beasts.

But with Su Bai and Yan Hua, they could not sprint as fast. Thus, they had to take this longer route, which also reduced the danger by more than half.

“Okay,” Su Bai and Yan Hua nodded.

The five continued forward, slowing their pace considerably. After walking for a few minutes, a dried-up stream appeared before them.

“Do you know when the stream has dried up?” Su Bai asked in a hushed voice.

“The stream was already dry when we arrived,” Yan Jiao also replied in a hushed voice.

“Then, do you know when this stream will have water again?” Su Bai did not know about the seasons in this world.

“It’s the dry season now, so there isn’t much rain. We’ll have to wait more than fifty days for the rainy season. By then, the stream should have water again,” Yan Jiao said after estimating.

“More than fifty days… that’s too long…” Su Bai shook his head. That meant waiting for nearly two months before the Tribe’s water usage would be solved. They simply could not hold out until the stream flowed again. Or more like, he could not hold out until then.

He stepped into the dried stream bed, crouched down, and dug at the mud with his hand. He found it to be dry without a trace of moisture.

“This won’t work. It’s very difficult to dig a well and find water in a place like this,” Su Bai decided they should still go to the small lake to take a look.

The five followed the dried stream, climbing higher into the forest. Along the way, they could see many footprints of unknown animals.

Su Bai saw very familiar footprints, like tiger paw prints from Earth, but the size was as big as a human head. One could imagine the size of this Ferocious Beast.

He curiously asked Yan Jiao, “What Ferocious Beast left these footprints?”

“A Long Toothed Black Tiger. Footprints this size, it’s at least a Pure Blood Ferocious Beast level,”

Yan Jiao said with a grave face, but his tone had a hint of relief: “Fortunately, Long Toothed Black Tigers only come out to hunt at night. If we meet one, we wouldn’t be able to escape.”

“It’s good that it’s a nocturnal Ferocious Beast,” Su Bai also breathed a sigh of relief. Pure Blood Ferocious Beasts corresponded to Mid-Stage Totem Warriors, and the Flame Dragon Tribe didn’t have a single Mid-Stage Totem Warrior.

The group walked for another seven or eight minutes.

“The small lake is just up ahead,” Yan Jiao’s voice grew even quieter.

*Splash, splash…*

With Su Bai’s keen perception, he heard a faint sound of water splashing. Following Yan Jiao and the others, he also saw the small lake.

He estimated that the diameter of this small lake should be about five or six hundred metres. The lake surface was churning violently, with a huge creature stirring up waves under the water.

On the shore of the small lake were some lush trees, as well as some open areas where many animal footprints could be clearly seen on the shore.

“Is the Ferocious Beast in the lake strong?” Su Bai asked softly.

“Extremely strong, it’s a Pure Blood Ferocious Beast. It’s the absolute ruler of this small lake,” Yan Jiao said bitterly.

If it were just an ordinary Mix Blood Ferocious Beast, as Early-Stage Totem Warriors, they would not be so afraid of it. However, for a Pure Blood Ferocious Beast, even ten Early-Stage Totem Warriors together would be seeking death if they wanted to fight it.

“Another Pure Blood Ferocious Beast…” Su Bai felt a bit helpless. They did not have the strength to hunt Ferocious Beasts of this level.

“Shaman, this small lake isn’t just about the Pure Blood Ferocious Beast,” Hei Ya gently tugged at Su Bai’s clothes, pointing towards the direction of the lake shore, “Look at the Ferocious Beasts on the shore. There are at least a dozen or so Stone Armoured Crocodiles like that in the small lake.”

Su Bai looked in the direction indicated and saw a familiar species, very much like the extinct Deinosuchus, also known as ‘Terror Crocodiles’, from Earth. The only differences being their armour.

The Stone Armoured Crocodile’s skin was stone-like and uneven. This Stone Armoured Crocodile on the shore was four metres long, squinting its eyes as it sunbathed, or perhaps lying in wait for prey.

“Are these dozen or so all Mix Blood Ferocious Beasts?” Su Bai asked with a grave expression.

“Yes, they’re all Ferocious Beasts,” Hei Ya confirmed.

“Is that Pure Blood Ferocious Beast, the ruler of the lake, also a Stone Armoured Crocodile?” Su Bai asked with a bitter smile.

“En,” Yan Jiao, Hei Ya, and the others nodded in unison.

“To think it’s a Collective Type of Ferocious Beast. This is too difficult,” Su Bai complained, finally understanding why only Totem Warriors could fetch water.

“Shaman, let’s go back. Leave the water fetching to us,” Yan Jiao persuaded.

Who would not want to occupy the small lake? But they truly did not have that capability to. If one was not careful when fetching water from the shore, the next second they could be ambushed by a Stone Armoured Crocodile and dragged into the water. Once in the water, there was no way for them to escape.

“That’s right, if we need more water, we’ll just have to make more trips,” Hei Ya agreed.

Usually, they fetch water four times a day, twice in the morning and twice in the afternoon. All avoiding the active periods of the Stone Armoured Crocodiles.

“Wait a moment, let me think.” Su Bai raised his hand to demand silence. His black eyes scanned the surroundings of the small lake, paying special attention to the conditions on the shore.

Since they could not take it by force, they could only take it by wit.

“There should be a way, right?” Yan Hua murmured, her red eyes secretly observing Su Bai, hoping to find an easy way to fetch water so the Tribe would no longer lack water.

“…” Yan Jiao and Hei Ya silently exchanged glances, knowing it was impossible to easily fetch water from under the jaws of the Stone Armoured Crocodiles.

They did not say much, letting the Shaman give up on his own, so they could return to the Tribe with peace of mind.