Chapter Twenty-Eight: Catching a Sheep and Shearing It Relentlessly

As for Lu Chen, he had no interest in this low-quality meat and didn't intend to take part in the feast. Still, when Croc Four brought over a crucian carp and dropped it by his side, he swallowed it in one gulp and rubbed his head against the little one as encouragement. The youngster wasn’t doted on for nothing—at least when there was food, he thought of his leader and “family.”

After the three young saltwater crocodiles had eaten their fill, there were still plenty of fish left in the trap. Lu Chen’s plan was to keep them alive for now, so the little ones would have food for the next day. But reality proved him too optimistic.

No sooner had the four crocodiles returned to the den than seven or eight skuas descended from the sky, wings flapping noisily. These birds, notorious for their thieving habits, had been watching the fish in the pool for quite some time. Earlier, they’d been too wary of the giant reptiles to land, but now, with the opportunity before them, they wouldn’t let it slip by. They stabbed fiercely at the fish, then flapped away in a flurry of wings.

By the time Lu Chen noticed something was wrong, only a few splashes of bird droppings remained on the water’s surface. As for which birds were responsible, he had no idea. All he could do was raise his head and curse the sky in crocodile tongue: “%……*（）9.”

But Lu Chen’s frustrations were just beginning. The next day dawned bright and mild. Soon after Lu Chen emerged from the cave, the three young crocodiles had already set the trap and, once enough fish had entered, quickly sealed the entrance and rushed in for the feast.

None of the little ones noticed the ghostly figure that appeared silently overhead amidst the dense branches of the great banyan tree. Its golden-brown fur was sleek and smooth as silk, blending perfectly with the tree’s limbs for an exquisite natural camouflage. Its short, powerful limbs bent low, keeping its center of gravity near the branch, while its oversized paws and long, thick tail provided perfect balance and stability among the branches.

It was the same clouded leopard that had stolen Lu Chen’s food the day before. Peering through the overlapping leaves, its wide animal eyes shone with greed and curiosity: why was there so much food in the pool below?

The clouded leopard didn’t dwell on the question; all it knew was that those fish were a tasty meal that would fill its belly. As for the three young crocodiles hunting below, they were nothing more than little reptiles, unworthy of notice. All it had to do was leap down and roar, and they would scatter and abandon their meal, just as the one yesterday had done.

Feline intelligence was well developed, both cerebrum and cerebellum, making them highly observant and quick to learn. This clouded leopard was no exception. Its long hunting life had honed its instinct to obtain food with the least effort. Now, it leapt gracefully from the tree, bounding to a large rock by the riverbank. There, it opened its jaws wide and let out a threatening growl: “Woooo…”

At the sound, the three crocodile hatchlings looked up as one, only to see a hulking beast looming close, baring its teeth at them. With terror in their eyes, they scrambled into the river, emitting urgent, low cries for help. Instinctively, in the face of danger, they called for Croc Three—their all-powerful protector.

At that moment, Lu Chen had just swallowed a big catfish and was lying in the reeds on the opposite bank, quietly digesting and pondering his (crocodile) existence: what would he eventually become? In his previous life, a saltwater crocodile had its limits. Take, for example, the most famous of its kind—Lolong, nearly seven meters long and weighing over a thousand kilos. Its bite force was said to reach an astonishing five thousand pounds—over two tons of pressure with every chomp. Such a creature was truly a lord of the waters, yet even it was the pinnacle of its species.

But in this world, with the system’s enhancement, Lu Chen would, in theory, become even stronger, with stats far exceeding Lolong’s. Such a massive creature could not remain hidden from humanity’s advanced detection equipment for long. Unless he could retreat into the vast ocean and never set foot on land, he would eventually be found. When that day came, what kind of relationship would he have with humans?

Lost in thought, Lu Chen was startled by the urgent cries of his crocodile siblings from across the river. Danger! He shot into action, launching himself into the water with powerful limbs. His massive tail churned like a high-powered propeller, and in barely ten seconds, he had covered more than a hundred meters and reached the young crocodiles.

Seeing the clouded leopard feasting on fish at the riverbank, Lu Chen immediately recognized it. This creature was absolutely addicted to stealing food—it had snatched an otter from him just yesterday and was now back for his fish. Damn, it’s like finding a sheep and never letting go!

What surprised him even more was the little ones’ fearless bravado; they dared to challenge the giant predator on the shore with bold cries. Fortunately, the clouded leopard was more interested in the fish, or it might have leapt into the water and killed the three young crocodiles before Lu Chen could return.

He quickly roared, summoning the little ones to stay away from the bank. In truth, given his current strength, with the three young crocodiles to help, Lu Chen could have gone head-to-head with the clouded leopard. But there was no need—the risk and reward didn’t match. Even if he defeated the leopard, the spoils would be nothing more than common food. But defeat could cost his companions their lives.

That’s why, in the wild, even the fiercest beasts rarely fight to the death over food; they weigh the cost. As a saltwater crocodile with human intelligence, Lu Chen would never risk life and limb for pride alone. Life and death must be taken seriously; defiance is for when there’s no other choice! If he were truly forced into a deadly crisis, Lu Chen would never back down—just as he’d fought the king rat snake to save Croc Four.

But now, it was best to let the intruder eat; once it was full, it would go. At worst, he could always lure more fish with earthworms later. Other than that, Lu Chen had no solution—the difference in their physical capabilities was just too great; they weren’t even in the same league.

There’s a well-known twenty-kilogram rule among felines: once a big cat exceeds twenty kilos, its fighting power multiplies, allowing it to kill animals much larger than itself with ease. This clouded leopard was clearly above that threshold, and, worse, it could climb and swim—natural counters to Lu Chen.

So, despite his frustration, he could only lead his siblings far out into the middle of the river, watching helplessly as the intruder devoured every last fish in the pool and strutted away with arrogant steps.

“Don’t look down on the young and poor; the river’s fortunes shift every thirty years… One day, this clouded leopard will pay for what it’s done!” In his previous life, there had been a young man named Xiao Yan who had also suffered humiliation. He remembered his grudges in silence, turned his pain into strength, and ultimately became the revered Emperor of Combat!

So, for now, Lu Chen’s only choice was to endure, to grow stronger in silence, and one day, turn the tables. That day, he believed, was not far off.