Chapter Thirty: The Enhanced Calamity of the Mad Serpent

Hou Li was growing increasingly anxious, plagued by a sense that something was bound to go wrong. Nearby, one of the mercenaries suddenly began speaking into his earpiece, his expression shifting to one of shock. He instinctively glanced over at Hou Li.

“What’s going on? Did the mission succeed?” Hou Li stomped his foot when the mercenary didn’t respond. “Hey, you can’t even understand me.”

...

On the rubber speedboat, six mud-splattered mercenaries were massaging their aching bodies. Fang, rubbing the spot where he’d been kicked, spoke uneasily to Red Fox, “Captain, was that really Chinese kung fu? I always thought that stuff was just for show.”

The two who had stayed behind on the boat looked on with curiosity, both asking, “Captain, what exactly happened? Was it an ambush?”

Red Fox had just finished communicating with the yacht by radio. She shifted her crouched position—her bruised backside refusing to sit—and replied, “Yes, it was an ambush. How we were discovered no longer matters. One person disarmed us all as easily as an adult toying with children. Our strength simply isn’t in the same league as the opponent’s.”

“Chinese martial arts truly are profound. I used to think what remained was all for show, but today I see there are still mysteries in that ancient civilization.” The man codenamed Joker, the first to be taken down by Garuru, slammed the gunwale in frustration. “If I’d had a gun, I don’t care how good his kung fu was!”

“Give it a rest—you were the first one knocked out. Even with a gun, the result would’ve been the same,” Fang taunted from the side.

Joker retorted angrily, “Only because I was ambushed!”

“Silence!” Red Fox snapped, and the team instantly fell quiet.

She needed to consider how to explain this to their employer—perhaps they could still get another chance. Red Fox pondered this silently.

“Captain, something’s not right,” the mercenary codenamed Kid suddenly called out.

Red Fox turned to him. “What is it?”

“Look at the river behind us. The waves are huge,” Kid explained.

“Is that unusual? It’s probably just the wake from the speedboat,” Joker remarked after a glance.

Red Fox studied the river. “No, these waves are far too large. Our little boat couldn’t possibly stir up that much water. Even Hou Li’s yacht wouldn’t make it this muddy.” This seemed more like something was churning up the riverbed as it followed them.

A submarine? Ridiculous. In a shallow inland river like this, a submarine would only run aground.

Still pondering, Red Fox failed to notice the water’s surface.

“There’s something underwater!” a panicked shout shattered her thoughts.

She immediately looked, but saw nothing.

“Fang, what did you see?”

Fang looked uncertain. “When the flashlight swept a certain spot, I saw a huge dark shadow at the bottom.”

“A shadow?” Red Fox’s face turned grim as she raised the flashlight to scan the river closely. “Turn on every light we have.”

Three beams of intense light swept over the disturbed, muddy water.

Within seconds, every mercenary’s pupils shrank to pinpoints.

“Run! Full throttle!” Red Fox screamed at Sparrow, who was steering.

The engine roared furiously.

All, except for Sparrow at the helm, gripped the sides of the boat and breathed deeply, but their eyes remained glued to the river.

They had just seen it: the terrifying black shape at the bottom, and, revealed in the beam, a glimpse of bluish scale.

Beneath them was a giant serpent—one that could easily capsize their boat. Or perhaps... something even worse.

This river was called the Azure Dragon River! Red Fox, the Japanese-born captain, screamed inwardly. If that damned shady contractor knew about this and kept quiet, I’ll make him understand the meaning of true terror.

...

Wu You lay on his bed, muttering, “They’ve noticed... Ah, the river is just too shallow.”

“Well, since that’s the case, let’s switch from stealth to a horror show. Yes, let’s call it ‘Cataclysm of the Dragon.’”

With such resources, perhaps he could shoot a fantasy or xianxia film one day.

...

On the Azure Dragon River, the speedboat was still fleeing for its life. At this pace, only five minutes remained before reaching the Qiantang River.

But suddenly, countless splashes erupted on the river’s surface. Even on a pitch-black night like this, they could not be ignored.

First, a corner, then a whole patch—then, a massive dragon’s head rose from the churning water. The thunder-blue flood dragon’s amber eyes, gleaming in the night, toyed with the little boat ahead.

A suffocating pressure smothered each and every one of the Wolfpack mercenaries. It was more than fear—it was a primal, biological oppression.

Their black tactical suits were drenched. Even Sparrow at the wheel, forcing himself not to look back, was sweating profusely.

It was right there.

Death was right there.

“There’s hope! It looks like it can’t catch up with the boat—there’s still hope!” Red Fox shouted in forced encouragement, though her heart was empty of confidence.

That was a dragon. Any East Asian would know—a real dragon would hardly be limited to just swimming.

“That damn contractor! Four more minutes and we’ll be there. If we can just lure this dragon toward the yacht, it’s bound to go after it. Then we’ll have a chance to escape!” Red Fox’s words finally rallied the team, if only a little. As for their comrade still on the yacht, everyone chose to remain silent.

Then, Ao Guang suddenly lunged forward, jaws opening as the dragon’s head snapped toward the speedboat.

“Hard to port!” Red Fox dove for the steering lever.

With a thunderous crash, a pillar of water exploded where the boat had just been, spraying meters into the air. The speedboat rocked wildly, nearly capsizing, as rain-like spray pelted every mercenary on board.

The tension of life and death hammered at every frayed nerve.

Just as they steadied the boat, Ao Guang’s dragon claw burst from the water, flinging up a torrent as it slashed at the rubber boat, the dense blue scales and razor-sharp talons glinting in the beams.

Screams of varying pitch rang out. Once again, the boat barely dodged disaster.

A colossal wave smashed into the left bank, bullets of water slamming densely into the hillside.

...

“Isn’t it dull without a little excitement, right, Ao Guang?” A certain someone, lying in bed, wore a mischievous grin.