Chapter 11: Unwelcome Reception

After harvesting a few more low-pollution green slender snakes from the tree one after another, Lu Li finally let it be and moved forward.

A few steps later, she reached the riverbank. The water was dark amber, shimmering with ripples masking an undercurrent. The mud beneath steamed with a foul, rotting stench under the sunlight.

Roughly pushing the upturned roots against a nearby willow tree by the river, Lu Li pressed her fingertips to the trunk and commanded, “Reach out a willow branch and fish around—see if there’s anything good in the water!”

Reluctantly, the willow branch dipped into the water, stirring ripples. After a few swipes, it pulled out a small fish no bigger than a palm. With a sharp beep, Lu Li tossed the fish onto the tree and stomped on the willow tree, making the trunk sink slightly.

“The pollution level’s too high. Keep going!”

The branch went back into the water again and again. After several attempts, Lu Li finally caught a few low-pollution loaches.

Not seeing anything bigger after several tries, restlessness stirred within her. Grabbing the willow branch, she stepped onto the mud and carefully approached the riverbank. As she bent down and her fingertips just touched the water’s surface, the branch suddenly snapped. A rushing sound came from behind, and a willow whip lashed hard across her lower back.

Lu Li instantly lost her balance, pitching forward. From the water, a creature resembling a dead tree suddenly opened its bloodthirsty eyes and surged upward rapidly.

Water splashed violently as a massive maw gaped open, reeking with foul odor.

Lu Li spread her arms wide, thrashing wildly. Though she braced her waist with all her strength, her body flailed helplessly like a kite with a broken string, trembling uncontrollably in midair. The willow whip continued to strike her relentlessly, determined to slam her into the water as a feast for the crocodile.

Damn it! They’re definitely working together.

Lu Li’s teeth clenched in fury.

With no leverage for her hands and the slippery mud beneath sinking continuously, she held her breath, enduring the blows, her waist and abdomen trembling with exertion.

As she saw the crocodile’s jaws about to envelop her head, her nerves snapped tight, cold sweat trickling down.

Not dying at the hands of villains, but in the crocodile’s mouth.

In that instant, she didn’t know where the strength came from, but her body’s potential exploded. Before the jaws could close, her cheek scraped past the fangs, rescuing her upper body.

The jaws snapped shut with a loud “ping,” sending a numb shock through Lu Li’s body. The crocodile bit nothing but air, tumbling midair before plunging back into the river.

A few drops of blood dripped down the fangs’ entrance. A fleeting haze crossed the crocodile’s fierce eyes. It lifted its head from the water, and in its vertical pupils, an inexplicable kindness appeared.

Lu Li bent over and collapsed backward. The mud beneath her feet gave way completely. She leapt up and scrambled ashore.

Watching the giant crocodile writhe and sink into the river, she lay on the ground, heart pounding with lingering fear.

Wiping the blood from her cheek with her thumb, she stuffed it into her mouth, burning with anger. Around her, the ruins were shattered, and ripples spread endlessly over the water’s surface.

The metallic, sweet taste of blood spread on her tongue. Swiftly, Lu Li climbed a tree, gripping her dagger and vigilantly watching the water. The blade gleamed coldly, reflecting the chill in her eyes.

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Seeing the crocodile in the water remaining motionless, Lu Li glared fiercely at the willow tree feigning death. “Trying to hurt me? Just you wait!”

She sneered coldly, grasped the thick willow trunk, and plunged her dagger into it forcefully.

You’re done for!

The dagger sank deep into the trunk. With a sharp twist of her wrist and a strong kick to the left along a crack with her left foot—

Crack!

The willow branches pushed fiercely against Lu Li. The big willow tree split down the middle. Lu Li yanked the branches, uprooting both halves and flung them forward. A faint glow flickered in her eyes beneath her colored lenses.

One by one, you’d better pray you grow legs! Otherwise...

“Heh heh heh,” Lu Li drooled slightly, staring at the willow grove before her, releasing her fury completely.

Bending down, she grabbed a trunk, uprooted the tree, and planted it upside down. Then she kicked it again to bury the branches deeper!

She walked, uprooting as she went.

Ignoring the various supplies the willow branches offered, Lu Li strode toward the big willow tree she had just warned.

The soil beneath stirred, and thick roots as large as thighs emerged wildly, thrashing about. After being showered with soil, Lu Li’s anger grew.

Bending down again, she uprooted another willow tree, swinging it forcefully to smash into a patch.

Then another uprooted tree slammed into the big willow tree. Lu Li grabbed the struggling roots as if they wanted to escape, twisting and pulling.

She stepped on broken branches. Her dagger scraped the big willow tree’s hard bark, sparks flying everywhere.

“I think I told you to keep your subordinates in line!”

The trunk trembled. The willow branches pleaded endlessly, stretching out to hand Lu Li all sorts of supplies.

A thick willow branch was whipped fiercely, breaking the newly sprouted leaves on the split tree with a sharp crackle.

The willow branch curled in the air, weaving a small swing just right for Lu Li. It padded it with soft flowers and willow leaves. The branch wagged like a sycophant, beckoning Lu Li to hop on, to swing and watch it thrash the willow trees.

Seeing this scene, some of Lu Li’s anger dissipated. Her eye twitched—this world was too insane.

Suddenly, the deadwood creature climbed out of the river and rushed toward Lu Li.

Startled, she grabbed a willow branch and lifted herself up, pulling her feet onto the swing to keep every inch covered.

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For some reason, when Lu Li looked at the crocodile, it seemed to regard her like a disobedient junior. It clattered forward, scaring her into climbing higher and higher until her back pressed against the willow branches with no escape.

The crocodile crawled slowly to her feet, its huge maw emitting strange murmurs.

She rubbed the goosebumps trembling along her arms, tightened her grip on the dagger, ready for anything.

But the crocodile did not attack. Instead, it stuffed the low-pollution green leaves Lu Li had dropped into its mouth, chewed a few times, then spat them out in disgust. It then widened its bright, watery eyes and looked at Lu Li pitifully, wagging its tail like a dog, full of vigor.

Feeling friendliness from a crocodile left Lu Li stunned.

Carefully, she plucked a willow branch and trembled as she extended it toward the crocodile.

The crocodile swished its tail violently. Lu Li was so frightened she rolled away helplessly, miserably throwing the branch aside.

This was a crocodile! One that could kill by rolling! Before the apocalypse, it was already a top predator—and now it was even more terrifying!

The crocodile looked at Lu Li with confusion.

At first, it just found her smelly and feared she would pollute its pool. But at some point, it began to see her as delicate and adorable, wanting to care for her wholeheartedly.

Looking at Lu Li, the crocodile was full of affection.

Seeing it didn’t attack, Lu Li grew curious—was the deadwood always this gentle?

It hadn’t seemed unwilling to swallow her, but when had it turned so foolish?

Summoning all her courage, Lu Li tested the crocodile, “You protect me well. If anything happens, I’ll come after you! If I’m fine, maybe I’ll be in a better mood and stop damaging so many willow trees. Especially you!”

“As for our grudges, maybe we can talk them out.”

The rustling of leaves sounded as countless willow branches surrounded Lu Li, standing by to act at any moment.

She cautiously stretched out her toes. The crocodile immediately approached. Lu Li held her breath, fully alert.