Chapter 5: Black Big Lizard

January 27, 2023

"So you finally died, old man."

A handsome man with white hair stared blankly at a mound of red earth. A wooden gravestone stood atop it, etched with:

Lao Tzu, the greatest master.

The man with almond-shaped eyes smiled faintly—more like a smirk.

"Seems like you weren't just hiding from me, old man. You also raised quite an impressive disciple.

"Imagine this, right after your death, I sent an Arch Witch to kill him.

"And what happened? Your student managed to kill the creature I sent. That boy... he had a good survival instinct. Ah, those green eyes... they remind me of something..."

Dressed in a pristine white tuxedo with a black tie, the man tried to recall the memory.

"Oh yes, that family. That poor, unfortunate family... the ones who wielded pure magic. So you've raised a monster all along, old man. Your habits were always troublesome. Still, I'll remember you. You were the first human who ever amazed me, old man. I'll remember you for the next hundred years.

"As for the boy... I'll leave him be for now. I have greater plans ahead. Farewell, old man."

With a snap of his fingers, the man vanished in a sudden wusssh, leaving the silent morning behind.

***

"This is the river I saw from atop the mountain months ago... I didn't think it would be this massive."

Sizhu, shirtless and drenched in sweat, had walked all day from his old master house (that now have been burned down into the ground) to reach this place.

The burn wounds that had once covered the right side of his body had dried, leaving only scars and a long healed gash across his waist.

Sizhu's body has a strange gift: he healed twice than a normal human. Even severe wounds would mend themselves within two or three days, while lighter injuries would vanish overnight—leaving only dried marks behind.

During the journey to the river, he sustained himself by eating wild fruits and raw plants—wild strawberries, bamboo shoots, jungle guava, blueberries, bananas. He even passed by a troop of monkeys occupying a fruiting tree.

Taking a bite from a guava he'd picked near the riverbank, Sizhu chewed thoughtfully, trying to figure out how to cross the river.

"This current's pretty strong... If I try swimming, it might take all day to reach the other side—if I survive the pull."

He sat cross-legged by the water's edge. Butterflies and bees danced over a patch of wildflowers growing near the forest fringe.

Unbeknownst to him, something was creeping closer. Slowly, silently, it stalked him—drool dripping from its hungry mouth.

One step... two steps... silent as mist... only three paces left.

Its breath stilled as it closed in. Its jaws opened wide.

SLAP!

Sizhu slapped his neck.

The creature instantly recoiled and darted back into the shadows.

"The mosquitoes around here are big. They must be thriving by the river."

He resumed eating his guava, unfazed.

Seeing another opportunity, the creature crept forward again.

One step... five steps... just one more step—within striking range!

Human meat will nourish us! Hehehe—bite him!

CHOMP!

The massive black-scaled crocodile snapped at empty air.

Its prey was gone.

All that remained was a standing wooden staff and half a guava rolling toward the river.

"I expected a wild beast might approach me. But not one this large... and clever."

With deadpan face, Sizhu stood balanced atop the perfectly planted staff.

The moment he'd felt hot breath on his back, he had leapt upward and used the staff as a base to rise into the air.

"Mosquitoes this big don't just come from nature. There must be something else behind their growth."

He pointed toward the trees.

Someone was hiding there—someone not human.

The figure stepped out from the shadows once Sizhu locked eyes with him. Hiding any longer was pointless.

"Heee, hhhiii, hhhiiiii!"

"Witch? I thought they only came out at night. It's still daylight."

"Hhiiii!" The Witch pointed at Sizhu—with its toe.

At its command, the Black Crocodile lunged forward, jaws wide, trying to take out both the staff and the boy atop it.

CHOMP!

Missed again.

Sizhu had already leapt into the air, retrieved his staff mid-flight, and spun with incredible speed—delivering a crushing blow to the creature's skull.

CRACK!

The satisfying snap of bone echoed through the trees.

The crocodile twitched three times... and collapsed.

"Hmm. That was easier than I thought. Well, I don't have time to play with big lizards."

The Witch—dressed in filthy clothes with both hands missing—trembled in fear, eyes wide in disbelief.

That crocodile... its bite could break through a tree trunk in one snap.

And he defeated it with a single blow from that staff? Who is this boy...?

The Witch's cold sweat dripped as its brow furrowed.

"Compared to the Witch from last night, you're ten times weaker."

"Hhiiii!!"

The Witch shrieked in fear as Sizhu calmly approached.

"I don't enjoy killing... But seeing you like this..."

He raised his staff high above his head.

"Hhiiii!!"

"You attacked me first. So don't blame me. I'm sorry."

WHAM!

Sizhu was thrown back five paces.

He had barely managed to shield himself with his forearm as a thick crocodile tail came whipping toward him.

His eyes widened. The crocodile that had fallen earlier was now... moving.

That blow should have split a boulder in half. How is it still alive...?

The Witch grinned wickedly, delighted by the confusion on Sizhu's face.

Foolish human. He doesn't realize my beast can revive as long as I'm near—channeling dark magic into its body. This time he will die, and I'll devour his mana core!

Sizhu wiped sweat from his brow. He stomped the ground, gripping his staff tightly.

"Alright. Looks like I just found myself a free ride."

The armless Witch gulped. A dreadful premonition worse than death crept into his gut.

"Hhiii... hhhiiiii!!"

***