The plan was perfect, and it proceeded smoothly.
As time passed, a Nile crocodile about three meters long slowly crawled onto the shore.
Three meters, the minimum standard for an adult.
Chen Wen looked at this Nile crocodile, feeling somewhat disappointed.
Yes, disappointed indeed.
Chen Wen had hoped to attract a four-meter-long, lord-level Nile crocodile. That way, a single hunt could provide him with enough meat for several days, possibly even ten days.
But in the end, a novice adult Nile crocodile was lured over.
It was quite far from Chen Wen's target.
Could it be related to the recent rainy season?
Chen Wen speculated: the large Nile crocodiles had their fill, their bellies full and satisfied.
These smaller Nile crocodiles could only eat scraps, leaving them only seventy percent full now.
So was the smaller one tempted, but not the larger one?
But no one could answer Chen Wen's question.
The wonders of nature are unpredictable, beyond anyone's prediction.
Still, a small one would do. At least it would provide several days' worth of meat.
Chen Wen secretly thought to himself.
This Nile crocodile, after coming ashore, didn't approach immediately.
Instead, it showed enough caution.
Facing the food just ten meters away, not too far.
After a brief pause, the Nile crocodile took a step forward.
Just when Chen Wen thought it would head over straight away,
the crocodile seemed to sense danger and directly turned around, retreating into the water.
"Damn it!"
Chen Wen stood up from his hiding place: "Are you trained like some raised Park Ranger? Crocodile sense?"
Carefully approaching the riverbank, Chen Wen found that the fish's innards were still there, but the Nile crocodile had vanished.
"What the hell, could it be that Nile crocodiles don't eat catfish? But the records say Nile crocodiles do eat catfish! This type of less-active carnivorous fish should be one of their favorite foods."
Chen Wen scratched his head, a bit puzzled.
...
Over at the show crew's side, everyone looked towards the guide.
The guide felt the gaze, and after glancing around, said somewhat helplessly, "I don't know either."
"While our tribe does hunt crocodiles, they are usually smaller ones, about one to two meters? Also, our favorite isn't the crocodile itself but the crocodile eggs, so we don't really know the habits of adult Nile crocodiles."
Well, even the locals don't know.
Everyone withdrew their gaze, planning to see Chen Wen's next move.
But the guide muttered, "I think Chen Wen got the bait wrong."
"While catfish can attract crocodiles, crocodiles would be more interested in humans. In our tribe, a Hunter once tried to hunt a Nile crocodile, using a similar method to Chen Wen's."
"But he used a leg of lamb as bait, and the crocodile, upon discovering the Hunter, abandoned the lamb and turned to attack him. If he hadn't run fast, he might have died there."
"Because of his experience, our tribe considers Nile crocodiles as the devil's pets, naturally inclined to eat humans."
Lin Jiawei, standing next to the guide, listened intently.
He couldn't help but ask, "Are you saying that if Chen Wen used himself as bait, the Nile crocodile might take the bait?"
"Very likely."
The guide nodded confidently, "But doing so would be extremely dangerous because you must keep close enough for the Nile crocodile to attack you, ensuring it doesn't give up on the hunt."
"I don't think he would do that."
Hearing this, Lin Jiawei sighed.
I may not know Nile crocodiles, but don't I know Chen Wen?
If he realized this, he would definitely do it!
...
Back with Chen Wen.
He was contemplating.
"Wait a minute, after I threw the fish innards, there was obviously activity from several Nile crocodiles."
Chen Wen couldn't help analyzing, "This indicates they are interested in the fish innards, but why aren't they eating? Could it be too little? But there was some before too, wasn't there?"
After pondering without a solution,
Chen Wen couldn't help but say, "Damn, could it be they noticed me but not the fish innards?"
"Does that mean this Nile crocodile was after me, not the fish?"
Thinking of this possibility, Chen Wen decided to conduct an experiment to prove his guess.
He picked up a javelin and slapped the water surface.
Not far away, the recently surfaced Nile crocodile turned to look.
In no time,
it submerged again.
"Alright, alright, just as I thought, it's coming for me."
Chen Wen grinned, immediately forming a daring plan in his heart: "Then I shall use myself as bait to lure this crocodile away!"
...
As expected!
Upon hearing Chen Wen's words, Lin Jiawei slapped his thigh.
But he wasn't too worried, having witnessed Chen Wen's journey all along.
He just felt the need to remind Chen Wen not to take such risks next time.
Meanwhile, when the other contestants' assistants heard the translation of Chen Wen's words,
their expressions changed once more.
If initially they admired Chen Wen's confidence, now they were in awe of his madness.
Is this person truly not afraid of death?
...
Standing by the riverbank, Chen Wen vigilantly watched the nearby water.
He was ready to leap back at any moment.
After several tens of seconds, the Nile crocodile that came ashore earlier reappeared.
It floated towards him like a drifting log from underwater, motionless.
Any ordinary herbivore wouldn't notice it at all!
Chen Wen couldn't help but think.
Soon, the Nile crocodile got quite close.
Chen Wen held the javelin, continued tapping the water surface, while his legs discreetly gathered strength.
When the Nile crocodile's two short, thick forelimbs pressed against the riverbed and its head slowly approached the water's surface,
Chen Wen knew it was about to strike!
With his senses heightened, and his stats boosted to the maximum,
just as the distance between the Nile crocodile and Chen Wen shortened to less than half a meter,
the crocodile lunged at Chen Wen like a dragon emerging from the water with lightning speed.
Chen Wen leaped back fiercely.
If the Nile crocodile were a dragon, then Chen Wen was a tiger.
His speed was even faster than that of the Nile crocodile.
Before the crocodile had even shown signs of aggression, Chen Wen had preemptively jumped back.
It was almost as if he had predicted the crocodile's attack timing.
The crocodile's snout didn't even graze Chen Wen's clothes.
"Couldn't even dirty the hem of my clothes."
Chen Wen grinned, watching the Nile crocodile that had forayed ashore after its attack.
Brother, practice more if you're weak!
The Nile crocodile missed its strike and didn't continue the attack.
It clearly understood that its combat ability on land was far inferior to in the water.
Just when the crocodile decided to turn back to the water,
Chen Wen stepped forward.
His action not only confused the crocodile but also made the hearts of the spectators skip a beat.
A three-meter-long Nile crocodile, though not the largest among its kind,
is undoubtedly a massive beast compared to humans.
Some timid assistants watching through first-person POV felt their legs weaken.
Yet Chen Wen suddenly raised the javelin, treating it like a long spear, and fiercely jabbed at the crocodile.
Just as the sharp spearhead approached the crocodile's snout, Chen Wen switched from a thrust to a strike, forcefully knocking on the crocodile's head.
The damage was low, but the insult was immense!
The crocodile was instantly enraged.
On Kuanduo River, besides the hippos, it's king!
When had it ever been humiliated like this?
Retreat?
Going back like this would be laughable to other crocodiles!
The Nile crocodile let out a piercing shriek, clearly intent on fighting Chen Wen to the death.
Seeing this, the corners of Chen Wen's mouth turned up wildly.
Alright, alright, a bad temper and a fierce disposition.
Indeed, a river can't nurture two top predators.
Then bring it on!
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