Chapter 421 - 66: Encounter at the Boiling River
Niger Boiling River, located south of Xuan Beast Ridge and opposite to Greenland Black Forest, lies between two ridges. Due to the influence of the geothermal heat from the ridges, the river water maintains a high temperature throughout the year. An experiment was once conducted in the river where an egg was thrown in, and it only needed half a minute to be cooked.
Those who have been to the Boiling River always remember the unique spectacle of the river; the bubbling boiling water and the continual popping noises are long-lasting in one’s ears.
Due to the boiling water, the plants and Dark Beasts in the area mostly possess both Water and Fire attributes, which requires Dark Practitioners to be more cautious than in other areas of Xuan Beast Ridge.
This time, Qin Dongting went to capture the Fire-spitting Octopus, a soft-bodied Dark Beast that lives in the Boiling River. Once this Dark Beast encounters an attack and surfaces, it can eject a blast of flame with a force comparable to a high-pressure water gun, making it a relatively dangerous Dark Beast.
After separating from Yue Jinghua, Qin Dongting immediately headed to the Niger Boiling River.
After a day’s journey, near dusk, Qin Dongting heard the loud water sounds of the Boiling River. In his sight was a wide river churning like boiling water.
Both sides of the river were lined with pebbles that had been heated by the boiling water.
Qin Dongting was wearing a pair of thick-soled beast skin boots. As he stepped on the stones, the scorching hot pebbles immediately exploded under his feet.
Next to the Boiling River, it was stifling and hot.
After slaughtering a few Five-clawed Raccoons that tried to sneak attack him beside the riverbed, Qin Dongting soon discovered a group of Fire-spitting Octopuses in the Boiling River, shaped like inverted triangles and about the size of a palm.
The Fire-spitting Octopus is hermaphroditic, and during this season, it is their breeding and egg-laying season. Beneath the river surface, large numbers of Fire-spitting Octopuses are like groups of tropical rain, occasionally gliding through the water.
Noticing an additional shadow on the river surface, a Fire-spitting Octopus retracted its tentacles and "puff", a red flame was sprayed out.
Qin Dongting was already on guard. He swiftly waved his Mountain and River Fan.
This new Mountain and River Fan, after Yue Jinghua’s second forging, became even lighter. As the fan swept across the water surface, a dense mist emerged, slicing through the flames.
The mist from the fan suddenly tore and pushed forward, like a spear thrusting into the water. With a gentle pull, a Fire-spitting Octopus with shining red patterns followed the fan back into Qin Dongting’s hand.
Surprised by the smoothness of handling the fan, Qin Dongting hesitated a moment before folding up the fan.
After extracting a few eggs from the Fire-spitting Octopus, Qin Dongting reached to throw the octopus back into the water, but a random conversation popped into his mind unexpectedly.
It was a conversation he overheard while working as a bartender at Helen Tavern.
Yue Jinghua was casually chatting with Helen, grabbed a fried onion ring, and sighed, "Besides onion rings and peanuts, life is bitter. When can I eat some roasted squid strips again?"
Helen casually asked, "What is squid shred?"
Listening to Yue Jinghua’s description, the so-called squid is actually a cuttlefish, a species much larger than a normal cuttlefish, with delicious flesh that makes a fine dish when grilled.
Unfortunately, on the Canglong Continent, most cuttlefish are flat and small, and even if caught, their flesh is dry and tough, not fit for consumption.
Recalling the lost expression on the face behind the mask, Qin Dongting’s eyebrows furrowed.
Imitating the earlier action, Qin Dongting scooped out several Fire-spitting Octopuses from the water. After gathering enough Cuttlefish Eggs, he didn’t leave the Boiling River. Instead, he followed the pebbly riverbank upstream to the source of the Niger Boiling River.
Three days after Yue Jinghua returned to Five Saints Town, there was still no news from Qin Dongting.
Yue Jinghua got restless and went to Helen Tavern to inquire about the Niger Boiling River.
The seasoned and new mercenaries in the tavern unanimously stated that the Boiling River area wasn’t very dangerous. For a Two-star Mercenary, even encountering a large number of Fire-spitting Octopuses returning to spawn during breeding season would only result in minor injuries.
"However," just as Yue Jinghua was gathering information, the stunning tavern owner Helen, holding a glass of ice and fire whiskey, took a sip and said with a dazed look: "If that lad is unlucky enough to encounter the Ghost Fire Squid King, then it’s a different story."
Yue Jinghua’s ears perked up, and she pushed a calm old mercenary away.
"You haven’t heard of the Ghost Fire Squid King? That’s right, you haven’t been at Xuan Beast Ridge for long, so naturally, you wouldn’t know about the tyrant of Niger Boiling River, the Ghost Fire Squid King. Legend has it that the Niger Boiling River was once an ordinary river until one day, a cuttlefish egg drifted from the distant sea, hatched, and the creature it released turned the river boiling with its body red as flames. The monster wreaked havoc everywhere, troubling the locals and Dark Beasts nearby. Thankfully, a legendary mercenary drove it to the uppermost reaches of the Boiling River, which has since known peace. It’s said the Ghost Fire Squid is over two meters tall and weighs a staggering 500 kilograms, consuming hundreds of kilograms of fish and shrimp daily," Helen said, paying attention to Yue Jinghua’s facial expressions.
The latter listened intensely and suddenly wiped his mouth, blurting out, "The cuttlefish from the sea must taste pretty good, right?"
Helen almost spat her drink on Yue Jinghua’s face upon hearing this. Was this person too heartless? After all that talk, not only did he not worry about Qin Dongting’s whereabouts, but he was also concerned about the quality of the cuttlefish’s flesh.
"I don’t know about the taste, but I’ve heard that the Ghost Fire spat out by the squid can turn a person into mere bones. Also, its tentacles are the toughest ropes; once caught by them, there’s no escape. Aren’t you worried? Qin Dongting has been missing for days," Helen wondered, suspecting that Qin Dongting was the unfortunate one to encounter the tyrant of the Boiling River, the Ghost Fire Squid King.
"Afraid? What’s there to be afraid of? Use people without suspicion, suspect not those you use. I believe every member of my team is the best. Besides, he, Qin Dongting, has already returned," Yue Jinghua grinned, crossed his arms over his chest, and lounged comfortably on a barstool, casually picking up a fried onion ring and popping it into his mouth. Crunching down, a burst of sweet aroma filled his mouth instantly.
His eyes blissfully narrowed like crescent moons, and just as he finished speaking, the tavern’s door was swung open.
The noisy tavern felt as though someone had cast a silence restriction; new and old mercenaries gaped with mouths wide, and even the usually composed Helen couldn’t keep her grip on the glass of whiskey, which dropped to the floor with a clatter.
Qin Dongting, he really had returned.
But he wasn’t alone; atop his shoulder, he carried an enormous Inkfish Monster.