Little Loach rolled on the ground, and its body kept growing, quickly becoming nine feet long and chubby. It didn't look very fierce, but it was kind of adorable.
If it had grown to that size yesterday, there would have been no need for the Sword Pill, and it could have easily crushed the Dominant Ferocious Fish.
Little Loach affectionately approached Owen Bertram, looking eager, and it seemed like it wanted to speak: Let's go catch some fish to eat!
Owen Bertram changed his strategy today. After letting Little Loach into the river, he walked towards the Great River.
The moment Little Loach killed the Dominant Ferocious Fish yesterday, Owen Bertram made this decision.
He hadn't found a "reference" to gauge his current strength, but Little Loach had. As long as Little Loach was around, he wouldn't need to be afraid in the village.
He wanted to give his sister a better life, so sooner or later, he would have to show some differences.
As he reached the riverbank, he met Uncle, who was surprised, "Robert, why did you come here? It's very dangerous."
Uncle, recalling what he saw yesterday, was still white with fear. He wasn't exaggerating the danger to Owen Bertram.
Owen Bertram smiled, "Uncle, I know."
Seeing him persist, Uncle sighed, "At your age, it's probably time for you to come here." He kindly pointed, "That tree with three stems is the limit. You can't go downstream from there."
Owen Bertram asked, puzzled, "Why?"
"Don't ask any more questions. Your uncle wouldn't hurt you."
Still embarrassed from his scare yesterday, Uncle didn't want to talk about it.
"Alright, I'll listen to you." Owen Bertram acted like an obedient child.
Uncle liked well-behaved children. He spent the morning showing Owen Bertram the area and teaching him some of his experiences and precautions about the Great River.
Just before noon, they were at a river bay, and Uncle was telling Owen Bertram, "Look, this is the kind of place where the currents hit the shore and turn back. Watch out for the undercurrents when you go down. If you're not strong enough, don't go! You might get swept away by the undercurrents..."
As he was talking, a fierce barking suddenly came from the nearby woods, and a fist-sized stone flew out with a whoosh, Owen Bertram pulled Uncle away, and the stone passed by his forehead, landing in the river with a plop.
A terrifying fellow with a sinister grin walked out from the woods, a chain in his hand, holding a vicious dog.
"Woof, woof!" The evil dog, drooling, lunged at the two of them, stretching the chain taut.
Uncle got angry, "Sandy, what are you doing?"
If that stone had really hit, his head would be bleeding, and he would be useless. It was only three days until the Life Saving Tax was due, and the whole family would starve!
Owen Bertram hid behind Uncle, looking frightened.
Sandy was the village bully. He had escaped here six months ago, having reportedly practiced martial arts for several years. He had been a tyrant in his hometown, where he forced himself on a woman. When the woman's family confronted him, he stabbed them to death.
As a result, the Imperial Court issued arrest warrants for him, leaving him nowhere to hide, so he plunged headlong into Extinct Village.
The vicious dog was originally a wild dog that lived outside the village. After being exposed to the Cold Poison, it became even more violent and aggressive.
The two of them—the man and the dog—made quite a pair.
Sandy laughed coldly, "What am I doing? I've told you so many times that this is my territory. No trespassing!"
Uncle, trembling with anger, said, "When did we start having territory to harvest pearls in the river in the village?"
Scarface Sandy raised his chin: "It's the rule when I am here!"
"Woof, woof, woof..." Evil Dog also barked a few times, spattering his foul-smelling saliva all around.
"You!" Uncle Owen was too angry to speak: "I'm going to seek for Mr. Harris's help!"
Scarface Sandy was not afraid, disdainfully saying, "Go ahead, let's see if those old fools dare to argue with me! I'm telling you, that stone I threw just now was just a warning. If you dare to cross the line again, I'll break your legs, smash your son to death, and take care of your wife!"
Uncle Owen pulled out the pearl-harvesting knife from his waist, but Robert held him back: "Uncle, it's not worth arguing with these desperadoes. Let's just go somewhere else."
He pulled Uncle Owen away. Scarface Sandy laughed loudly behind them: "This little bastard knows better about the situation, but pity that your sister is fat and dumb, I don't like her, hahaha..."
Robert dragged Uncle Owen far away, and he sat down on the ground, still panting with rage.
But finally, he sighed: "We are all living in the Extinct Village, and all of us are pitiful, but that fellow still bullies people, alas..."
Robert changed the topic: "Uncle, have you collected enough money for the Life Saving Tax this time?"
Uncle Owen bitterly smiled: "The pearls are getting fewer, and I dare not go to the River. I haven't even found one yet." He waved his hand: "Alright, I have told you everything you need to know, I'll go to work now."
Robert called out to him: "You're not going to fight Scarface Sandy to death, are you?"
Uncle Owen had already let it go: "Why should I fight him for? It's not worth it!"
Robert nodded, and under the water, little loach had found a pearl, as large as a broad bean. Little Loach was not interested in these pearls and River Clams, as there was not much meat in them, and it was not enough to eat.
Robert watched Uncle Owen from a distance, as he exercised his body on the shore before diving into the river. Robert's soul was attached to the Little Loach, grabbed the River Clam, and quietly placed it in the water near Uncle Owen's side.
With only three days left to pay the Life Saving Tax, Uncle Owen hadn't found anything yet, but he still spent half a day giving Robert advice. Robert remembered this kindness.
Then, it was Scarface Sandy's turn.
...
Scarface Sandy tied Evil Dog to a tree, waved his arms to warm-up, but his eyes revealed a hint of fear and disgust when looking at the rolling river.
Such a difficult life, how could it compare to the time when he bullied men and controlled women back in his hometown?
Once entering the water, the cold poison would invade, and after getting out of the water, he would shiver all over for half a shichen (1 hour).
Suddenly, he looked towards Uncle Owen's direction... Every time that man pays the Life Saving Tax, he always hands in two pearls. His eyes quickly turned vicious, went back to untie Evil Dog from the tree, whispered something to it, and let it down into the water after unlocking the chain.
Evil Dog floated in the water, paddling with its four paws, swimming towards Uncle Owen's direction.
Scarface Sandy looked around from the shore, seeing Evil Dog going more than half a mile away, still not reaching Uncle Owen's side, suddenly the dog sank with a gurgling sound, not even letting out a howl.
"Damn!" Sandy cursed, but he wasn't compassionate, and would just catch another one. However, with the dog dead, he could only do it himself now.
He was about to sneak towards Uncle Owen's side when he saw the dog's corpse float up again and then drift to the shore.
Sandy was curious, drew out his short knife, and carefully went to the shore to investigate.
As he leaned over, a whisker shot out from the river, slender and glowing with a pale golden light.
With a swoosh sound, it wrapped around his neck.