Originally, Qin Ziwen had planned to have the Crowned Eagle guard the Fish Trap, but after his conversation with Wang Yun just now, he had to abandon that idea.
Leaving the Crowned Eagle, which wasn't skilled in night combat, outside at night was simply too risky.
But since he had already recruited it, he couldn't let it freeload either.
He decided to take it with him tomorrow to map out the surrounding area!
Having a radar in the sky to help with surveillance would significantly improve safety.
As for the Fish Trap, he would retrieve it tonight and hide it in a different location tomorrow evening.
He refused to believe anyone would be bold enough to search inch by inch along the riverbank in pitch darkness in the middle of the night.
He pulled on the rope and hauled the Fish Trap out of the river.
Splash splash~
Something was flapping inside the Fish Trap.
The flapping sound caught the Crowned Eagle's attention. It let out two squawks, spread its wings, and clumsily crept closer to the riverbank.
Its neck stretched out long, its large eyes fixed intently on the spot inside the cage.
"You greedy glutton, you haven't been any help at all, just staring at the food."
Seeing this, Qin Ziwen laughed and scolded, giving its rear a light kick.
The Crowned Eagle didn't get angry. After clearly seeing what was inside the cage, it called out even more excitedly.
Qin Ziwen exerted strength in his arms, forcefully lifting the Fish Trap completely out of the water.
Clear river water spilled out from the gaps.
A large fish that looked to be at least two or three jin was wildly thrashing its tail.
"Looks like another Tiger Fish."
Among Tiger Fish, this one should still be a juvenile.
Aside from the Tiger Fish, the Fish Trap was empty. Any small fish that might have been inside had probably ended up in the Tiger Fish's stomach.
After moving away from the riverbank, he shook the Fish Trap vigorously, causing the Tiger Fish to fall to the ground.
"Eat."
Upon receiving the command, the Crowned Eagle eagerly pecked at the Tiger Fish's head.
The previously lively Tiger Fish instantly fell into eternal slumber.
The massive claws stepped on the Tiger Fish's head, the four toes clamping down, crushing the fish's head flat.
The eagle's beak pecked down, tearing off a large piece of fish flesh, which it devoured ravenously.
With each bite, the Crowned Eagle lifted its head and glanced to the side.
"What are you looking at?"
Following the Crowned Eagle's gaze.
"Rustle rustle......"
Suddenly, there was a sound of leaves rustling in the bushes, followed by a figure fleeing in panic.
"Crowned Eagle, catch him!"
Upon receiving the command, the Crowned Eagle instantly released its claws, flapped its wings, and soared into the air, swooping toward the fleeing figure's back.
The man's shoulders were grabbed from behind by the attacking Crowned Eagle, causing him to stumble forward and fall.
"Ah!!!"
A scream erupted, followed by the man shouting, "Help! Murder! Ah!"
"Shut him up." Qin Ziwen said coldly.
From the familiar voice and the fact that he appeared here at this time, Qin Ziwen had already recognized him and guessed his intentions.
Qin Ziwu drew the firewood chopper from his waist and quickly walked over.
He struck Liu Changgen's mouth with the back of the blade. "My brother told you to shut up!"
Liu Changgen suffered a heavy blow, blood gushing from his nose and mouth.
His hands frantically groped the ground, grabbing a rock, but before he could properly grip it, Qin Ziwu kicked him in the face.
Liu Changgen nearly passed out.
Qin Ziwen walked over, his eyelids lowered. "You came here just now to steal my Fish Trap, didn't you."
"Yes... No, ah it hurts, make it let go." Liu Changgen's head was nearly kicked into a daze by that kick, but the searing pain in his shoulders kept him conscious.
The Crowned Eagle's two claws were like hydraulic clamps, firmly gripping his shoulders.
"I said you could buy it, so why steal?"
"I didn't steal, I didn't steal!"
"Lower your voice. Stupid eagle, release your claws."
Upon receiving the command, the Crowned Eagle released its claws, flapped a couple of times, and moved aside, staring intently at Liu Changgen.
Its favorite food was mammals living in trees, like monkeys and sloths.
This thing in front of it looked somewhat like a monkey.
It stirred its appetite.
"I'll ask one more time, why steal."
Liu Changgen wailed miserably: "I can't afford it, your price is too high."
His face and shoulders, which had been hurting intensely, were now starting to go numb.
He only felt an indescribable swelling and discomfort, and his head was still somewhat dizzy.
Qin Ziwen nodded. "That's a good reason. Actually, I don't like killing people. I'm quite a kind person. But such a serious conflict has occurred between us now, and I'm very worried you'll hold a grudge and seek revenge from behind someday. Do you understand what I mean?"
"I won't, I won't, I'm not the type to hold grudges." Liu Changgen shook his head desperately.
"Really? Then swear it."
"I swear, I will never cause you trouble in the future! If I cause you trouble again, may my whole family die."
Qin Ziwen nodded, seeming to believe him.
He stood up and called his brother and the Crowned Eagle to leave.
Liu Changgen lowered his head, reached out to touch his nose, then spread his fingers—the tips were covered in red blood.
A trace of venomous hatred flashed in his eyes.
This young guy was too soft-hearted. Not seek revenge? If he didn't get even, he'd write his name backwards! He had never suffered such a huge loss before.
And what was up with that big bird? Such a huge bird, how did it obey him?
He had never heard of anyone in the residential complex keeping such a large bird either. Why did he have not only the Fish Trap but also such a big bird?
He tilted his head, his resentful gaze secretly turning toward the direction Qin Ziwen had left.
The next second, his expression froze.
Because that kid was actually walking backward. Their eyes met.
Seeing the hatred in Liu Changgen's eyes, Qin Ziwen's lips curled upward. "It seems your eyes are lying."
......
By the riverside, Qin Ziwen and Qin Ziwu carried a 130-jin corpse and threw it into the river.
"Plop~"
The river surface splashed with a large spray.
This river had Tiger Fish. It wouldn't be long before he was eaten clean.
The Crowned Eagle didn't quite understand its owner's action of discarding the food, but it didn't care. Since the owner didn't let it eat that, then it wouldn't. Fish was tasty too~
The Crowned Eagle tore off pieces of fish flesh, swallowing them in large gulps.
Qin Ziwen assigned a task to the Crowned Eagle: "Little Eagle, after you finish eating the food, return the way we came. Circle around the area once, then return through the window. Don't fly around randomly, understand?"
The Crowned Eagle's eyes shifted. It received the task, its tiny CPU working at full capacity to analyze.
Finally, the Crowned Eagle understood, letting out two squawks.
After Qin Ziwen left, it finished the fish, flapped its wings, and flew to a nearby branch.
"Rustle rustle~"
It looked at the river surface, believing it had understood its owner's meaning.
Food, circle around, return.
The owner wants me to take the food, circle around, and then return!
Moonlight lay like a silken band on the river surface. Occasionally, a few fish leaped out of the water, splashing.
The Crowned Eagle tilted its head. Its large pupils, like high-speed cameras, precisely locked onto the fish leaping from the river surface. Its claws couldn't help but rub together lightly.
The next second, it transformed into an arrow shooting toward the river surface.
It accurately grabbed a large fish, then soared into the sky.
Qin Ziwen returned home and opened the window.
The Crowned Eagle flapped its wings and flew into the room.
It dropped the large fish from its claws onto the floor, lifted its neck proudly, and waited for praise.
......