Chapter Thirty-Six: Taking Lives

“Hurry, go!”
Blood is the shark’s signpost; to save Liu Quan, more blood must be spilled.
Qin Zhen did not hesitate. He drew the short dagger—a weapon that had once belonged to Chen Shu. After Qin Zhen saved Chen Shu from the bear last time, Chen Shu had entrusted him with the dagger.
He sliced open his palm, squeezed out fresh blood, and swam off in another direction.
If they stayed together, none would survive; only by splitting up did they stand a chance.
Liu Quan, his face deathly pale and his heart full of despair, watched in astonishment as the tiger shark suddenly turned. Then he saw Qin Zhen slapping the water to attract the shark’s attention.
Seeing the tiger shark pursue Qin Zhen, the fishing crew’s eyes turned red.
Qin Zhen was clearly buying them time.
“Zhen!”
Liu Quan shouted until his voice was hoarse.
Only those who have faced death know the true value of a human heart.
“Hurry up! If you’re slow, none of us will make it!” Li Erniu dragged Liu Quan, frantically fleeing toward the shore.
As the tiger shark surged toward him, Qin Zhen remained calm.
It was as if he had returned to the moment he fought the brown bear.
He swam with all his might toward a piece of driftwood, which still bore half a length of grass rope, anchoring one corner of the thousand-fathom silk fishing net.
In the water, he stood no chance against the tiger shark.
To snatch a hope for life, Qin Zhen had to get out of the water!
With every ounce of strength, he climbed onto the driftwood. No sooner had he risen than the bloodthirsty presence roiled beneath him, and a terrifying force knocked him off the driftwood and back into the sea.
The tiger shark brushed past him. Amid the churning waves, he could clearly see its bloodthirsty eyes.
Qin Zhen flailed back onto the driftwood, bending his knees to steady himself.
The dark fin circled again. This time, the tiger shark broke the surface, jaws wide, fangs smeared with shredded flesh, intent on crushing both Qin Zhen and the driftwood to pieces.
In that instant, Qin Xiao had to admit that the next second was a once-in-a-lifetime chance.
He leapt with all his strength, his toes brushing the tiger shark’s fangs as he slid onto the beast’s back.
Gripping the dagger tightly, he plunged it deep into the shark’s slick body.
Blood welled forth, dyeing the sea red.
This blow struck deep—embedded in bone and immovable.

The tiger shark howled in agony, thrashing wildly to throw Qin Zhen off.
He was all in now, refusing to let go of the dagger.
The panicked shark dove into the sea, fleeing in every direction, smashing coral and rocks to pieces, battering its own body and Qin Zhen’s.
By chance, the tiger shark crashed into the fishing net, sending countless fish darting away and knocking Qin Zhen dizzy.
“My goodness!”
Liu Quan and the others had reached the shore. Liu Quan grabbed a wooden crossbow, ready to rush back into the sea to save Qin Zhen—only to witness the desperate struggle between Qin Zhen and the tiger shark.
The contrast between Qin Zhen’s frail body and the ferocious beast was stark, making their battle a stunning spectacle.
Everyone on shore was struck dumb, especially those outsiders who had doubted Qin Zhen’s tale of slaying the bear; now, awe for Qin Zhen filled their hearts.
If he dared challenge the Dragon King, what was a mere bear to him?
“Hurry, pull the rope!”
Seeing the tiger shark dragging Qin Zhen farther out to sea, Liu Quan was the first to react.
If he was swept into deep waters, even Qin Zhen’s skill would not save him.
But now the fish were in the net, and they could haul them in!
Everyone on shore sprang into action, tugging at the net.
With their united efforts, the net was soon hauled ashore. Amid a writhing mass of fish, the gigantic tiger shark thrashed desperately within the net.
The fine silk had sliced it all over, and its black dorsal fin was half broken.
Though the beast fought on, it was clearly at its end—exhausted and dying.
Qin Zhen was nearly unconscious now, but he still clenched the dagger in his teeth, refusing to release it. He knew that letting go meant certain death.
“This Dragon King is massive!” Li Han exclaimed.
From the shore, it hadn’t been clear; only now did they realize what a monstrous creature it was.
Thinking that Qin Zhen had fought such a beast alone to save them, the villagers’ admiration and reverence for him only grew.
“It’s still moving—shoot it! Kill it!” Shan Hai shouted.
“Zhen is still on its back! What if you hit him?” Liu Quan snapped, smacking Shan Hai on the head. “Use stones!” He hefted a rock and hurled it at the shark’s belly.
Others followed suit, and soon the tiger shark was battered beyond recognition.
Once they were sure it was dead, Liu Quan and his men opened the net and pulled out the unconscious Qin Zhen.
“Zhen, are you alright? Don’t scare me!” Liu Quan wiped his tears, sobbing.
“You think he might be dead?” Shan Hai asked timidly.

He was immediately struck by Li Han’s heavy fist.
Li Han’s voice quivered.
“Don’t talk nonsense! Zhen is blessed by heaven—he won’t die!”
“Press his chest! He’s probably choking on water!”
With quick experience, Li Erniu rushed over, laid Qin Zhen flat, and began compressing his chest.
After a few presses, Qin Zhen spat out water and coughed violently.
“My senior sister knows medicine—quick, take him back to the village and let her examine him!” Shan Hai finally spoke sensibly.
“Zhen, you mustn’t die! I still owe you my life!” Liu Quan hoisted Qin Zhen onto his back and raced toward the village.
“Don’t all follow—just a few of you, the rest stay and help me sort the fish!” Li Han called.
These fish were Qin Zhen’s hard-earned reward!
If no one watched them, who knew if outsiders would steal them?
“Shan Hai, take a few men and load the ‘Dragon King’ onto the cart! Damn it, I wonder if the county office will give Zhen a hero’s medal for slaying a dragon!”
In the village, Chen Shu was returning from the mountains with his team.
Aside from the new recruits in the village guard, panting with exhaustion, the original members were calm and relaxed—as if it were a game.
Seeing Liu Quan in the distance, Chen Shu teased,
“Oh, why are there so few of you? Liu Quan, where are the others? Didn’t get eaten by fish, did they?”
“Don’t laugh! Something happened! The Dragon King caused havoc in the sea—people died!”
Liu Quan, carrying Qin Zhen, hurried past the village guard.
Seeing the unconscious Qin Zhen, Chen Shu immediately recognized the gravity of the situation.
“How did Qin Zhen get so badly hurt?” he caught up to ask.
“He was mauled by the Dragon King,” Liu Quan replied.
“And the Dragon King?” Chen Shu pressed.
Liu Quan’s answer was shocking.
“Qin Zhen killed it!”