CHAPTER 192: CHAPTER 115 DRIFTING, GHOST PLAY_3

The water of this river was turbulent, connecting the lakes of Yu and Mian to the south, the waterworks to the north, and traversed east and west by the Baisha River. With the fierce winds and heavy rain, even the most skilled swimmer wouldn’t survive, let alone someone bound by ropes.

Strangely enough, the Wu brothers didn’t sink or drift with the current towards the sea after falling into the water. Instead, they went upstream, heading towards the Capital City.

"What a strange thing!"

Zhou Heng ordered the helmsman to chase after them. As they got closer, he raised his harpoon and aimed at the two brothers.

Just at that moment, a faint light appeared, and the harpoon in Zhou Heng’s hand felt as if it had hit a slippery eel, missing its targets twice in a row.

"Let me do it!" Yuan Hu grabbed the harpoon, determined, but before he could act, a large wave suddenly surged in from the bow of the ship.

The ferry was nearly overturned by the wave, swirling like a leaf in the wind.

Once the wave passed, Yuan Hu looked again, but there was no trace of the Wu brothers in the water.

Zhou Heng breathed a sigh of relief and laughed. "Such a big wave, even if they were immortals, they wouldn’t survive."

"Since this matter is settled, Master Zhou, what do you think..."

Zhou Heng took out a silver ingot, saying, "Ten taels as the guarantee, and ten taels as the final payment, making a total of twenty. Not a penny less for you all."

...

Meanwhile, amidst the river waves, the Wu brothers were separated by the large wave. One was swept towards the Jing River, while the other went upstream to Yuzhou.

Amidst the hidden undercurrents and obstructing floats and rocks, Wu Zhiyuan thought he had no chance of survival. But to his surprise, he survived the dangerous journey.

However, he brushed against something strange in the water, which damaged the Crane Bone Flute at his waist, breaking it into two pieces.

After floating for half a day, a warmth spread in Wu Zhiyuan’s stomach. He heard whispering voices near his ears and forced his eyes open to see an elderly couple in front of him, carefully feeding him ginger soup.

At the same time, outside Yuzhou City.

Wu Wencai drifted along, eventually finding himself amidst a scenic view of Jiangnan when the waters calmed.

Seeing the boats and tower ships passing by, he frantically paddled while shouting towards a dazed woman on one of the boats, "Miss, save me! Please, save me!"

...

In Jin Sect, Linhe District.

Xu Qing stepped on the rain-soaked bluestone pavement, slowly making his way back to his courtyard.

In the past few days, he had collected nearly fifty corpses. As per tradition, tonight he would plant them in his courtyard, waiting for them to produce new Rampant Soldier Fruits.

Soon, the iconic arching stone bridge of Shuimen Bridge was in clear view.

At this moment, the mist thickened, and the night’s dampness mixed with the sound of flowing water under the bridge, creating a serene atmosphere.

As he got closer, he heard sorrowful, lingering singing.

"When the husband is in joy, the wife is in heartbreak. Only the moon knows the grievances. Meeting is hard, parting is easy. The abandoned wife now regrets...

Do you remember the day the phoenix rejoiced? Do you recall the vow to never break? Do you miss the old love? Do you think of the lone child with no father...

Oh husband! Do you know that I have been sick for long, and soon will die of heartbreak for you!"

The mournful and plaintive singing echoed, sometimes near, sometimes far, as if the singing woman appeared at the bridge’s end one moment and at the other end the next, sometimes seeming right in front of him.

Combined with the surrounding scenery, Xu Qing instinctively looked towards the bridgehead.

Through the misty rail, there seemed to be a figure moving, with pale water sleeves stirring the mist, matching the sorrowful melody with dramatic motions like shaking, throwing, brushing, and tossing.

The candlelight in his lantern flickered along.

When the water sleeve seemed to fly towards him, the flickering flame suddenly emitted a puff of white smoke, plunging the surroundings into darkness.

The darkness around seemed thicker than before, and the dampness felt even heavier.

Xu Qing raised an eyebrow and snapped his fingers.

The orange-yellow flame rekindled, and he squinted his eyes, raising the lantern to look towards the bridge.

But there was not a single figure at the bridgehead, as if the woman he had seen earlier was merely an illusion.

Xu Qing clicked his tongue in annoyance and stopped lingering.

Because he felt the chill of ghostly air on the back of his neck.

Turning his head, he saw a female ghost in white leaning towards him, her face charming yet icy.

"Husband, I am so lonely. Will you come and keep me company..."

The female ghost grabbed his sleeve, her voice soft yet imbued with sorrowful yearning, mixed with an odd fragrance hitting his face.

"Cut out the scent! And who told you to wander out at night instead of watching the door?"

Xu Qing irritably pulled his sleeve away.