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Lin Yun turned around, a rare look of excitement in his eyes.

Her hand reached to her waist, gripping the hilt of the dagger, and her body slumped slightly, like a fully drawn bow.

"Everyone, carefully surround the crocodile and don't let it get away." She pointed to the water, indicating the front, back, left, and right sides of the crocodile.

"Zhang Liang, you guard the left flank. Zhao Shu, the right flank. Shen Fei, the rear."

Finally, her gaze fell upon the bluebird.

"Lift your foot," Lin Yun said softly.

The bluebird gritted its teeth and lifted its foot off the crocodile.

The moment the bluebird lifted its foot, the crocodile seemed to sense the danger and tried to burrow into the swamp.

Its body suddenly recoiled, and its head plunged into the water, trying to burrow into the mud.

But how could the bluebird let it get away? He stepped back, bent down, reached out, and grabbed the crocodile's tail.

The bluebird's fingers were caught in the gaps between the crocodile's tail scales, its feet were on the dead wood, and its body was leaning back, as if it were in a tug-of-war.

The crocodile thrashed about, its tail whipping wildly with astonishing force.

The bluebird was flung about, its feet slipping on the dead wood.

"Quickly—!!!" the bluebird screamed, "I can't hold on much longer—!!!"

His body leaned forward, and he was dragged two steps forward by the crocodile until his feet stepped into the water, which went up to his ankles and then to his calves.

Just then, Lin Yun made a move.

Her body sprang up from the dead tree like a mother leopard.

Her eyes were fixed on the crocodile's head, on the back of its skull—where its nerve center was located.

Once it's pierced, it will be paralyzed and lose the strength to struggle.

Lin Yun stepped forward, his toes landing on the crocodile's back, his knees bracing against its body, his left hand gripping the scales on its head, and his right hand holding a dagger, which he raised high.

The crocodile's mouth was wide open, revealing two rows of sharp teeth.

The crocodile tried to bite and tear, and attempted a fatal roll—but Lin Yun was faster.

Her dagger plunged down.

"puff--"

The blade pierced the back of the crocodile's head, causing its body to stiffen abruptly and die instantly.

Lin Yun released his grip and jumped off the crocodile's back.

"Done."

The bluebird stood there, still clutching the crocodile's tail in its hand.

He let go, panting heavily.

Zhang Liang walked over, squatted down, and poked the crocodile's head with his finger.

"Captain Lin," he asked, "is this crocodile... edible?"

Lin Yun's lips curled slightly. "Yes."

She used a dagger to make a cut in the crocodile's belly, creating an opening. Blood gushed out, dark red, with a foul, fishy smell.

She reached in and pulled out a piece of white flesh, weighing it in her hand.

"This is the tenderest part of the crocodile; it tastes good grilled."

In the vast swamp, at the junction of aquatic plants and mud, there is a small, slightly drier hill.

It was called a high ground, but it was only a foot higher than the surrounding swamp. The soil wasn't that soft and mushy, and there were a few clumps of low shrubs and a patch of thin reeds growing on it, swaying in the mist.

Lin Yun stepped on the ground, and since it didn't sink, he nodded.

"Right here."

She glanced around, her gaze sweeping over the dark canopy of trees, the dense thickets, and the gleaming surface of the water, and then gave the order.

"Zhang Liang, Shen Fei, go find some firewood. Qingniao, Zhao Shu, be on alert."

Zhang Liang paced around, then began rummaging through the ground. Dry firewood was hard to find; the swamp was damp, and most of the branches were wet, so much so that you could squeeze water out of them if you squeezed them in your hand.

He parted a pile of fallen leaves, revealing several withered branches underneath. He broke off a section; the cut surface was dry and whitish.

"Found it!" He hugged the firewood to his chest, like he was holding a treasure.

The bluebird, holding the dagger, walked to the east side of the high ground and crouched behind a clump of bushes.

Her body blended into the bushes, her eyes fixed ahead, on the corners where enemies might be hiding.

Zhao Shu was squatting beside her, behind another clump of bushes.

The swamp was quiet, with only the occasional bubble rising to the surface with a "pop," like something farting underwater.

On the small hill, Shen Fei began to make fire by rubbing sticks together. He found a flat piece of wood, dug a small hole in it, inserted a thin stick into it, and rubbed it between his hands.

He's single, so he's very fast.

White smoke rose from the pit.

Finally, sparks flew out and landed on the dry leaves, which then caught fire, and flames leaped up.

Lin Yun walked over, squatted down, and placed the skewers of crocodile meat over the fire. The meat was white and fatty, sizzling and dripping oil as it grilled, causing the flames to leap higher.

Within minutes, the aroma began to fill the air—not the strong, overpowering smell of meat.

It's a faint, sweet fragrance with a hint of swamp. Mixed with the smoky aroma of firewood and the charred scent of roasted meat.

The bluebird sniffed and couldn't help but glance back; the firelight reflected in its eyes.

Her Adam's apple bobbed, and she swallowed.

"Captain Lin, is it ready yet?" Qingniao couldn't help but ask.

Lin Yun poked the flesh with the dagger; the tip went in, and when he pulled it out, there was no blood.

She flipped the meat over and grilled it for a while longer, until the skin was crispy and all the fat inside had seeped out. Then she picked up a piece with the tip of her knife, walked over, and handed it to Qingniao.

"Try it."

The bluebird took it, ignoring the heat, and took a bite.

The meat was very tender, with a slightly salty taste and a smoky aroma from the firewood.

This big bite made the bluebird's cheeks bulge out, like a squirrel that had stolen a nut.

"Is it good?" Lin Yun asked.

The bluebird nodded, its mouth stuffed full of meat...