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A shout suddenly came from the water, and then three water demons rose up, one with the head of a shrimp, another with the head of a fish, and the last one was a green turtle with a shell on its back. Each of the trio held weapons in their hands—a knife, a fork, and a shield—making them look quite formidable and well-prepared for a feast.
The three water demons had been sent by the Linggan King of the Tongtian River to capture young boys and girls. These fellows were accustomed to swaggering along the riverside, used to the people cowering before them, bowing and scraping, and calling them 'Your Excellency.' Naturally, they looked down on the folks on the shore with high and mighty airs.
But as soon as the three had taken their positions, they felt several pairs of glowing eyes looking at them from the shore.
These gazes were different from the ones they were used to, which were filled with fear, timidity, dread, and reverence. But these eyes bore a stark and naked desire!
