Chapter 187: Shadows Underwater

　　Under the dim moonlight.

　　The air was damp and cold.

　　Black heads bobbed up and down on the surface of the lake, silently and persistently watching the three people on the shore.

　　Although their faces could not be seen, one could feel those eerie, yearning gazes.

　　Drowned water ghosts are different from blood water ghosts.

　　Blood water ghosts are usually those with immense grievances, unwilling to leave due to their overwhelming resentment.

　　The blood water ghost at Chen Jinfɑ's construction site was like this.

　　But drowned water ghosts, unable to reincarnate, are forever trapped in the dark, bone-chilling depths unless they find a substitute.

　　Therefore, as long as there are people by the water, these water ghosts will do anything to pull them in.

　　At this moment, the three of them, including Lu Fei, encountered such water ghosts.

　　By the moonlight, Hu Zi counted the number of heads; there were as many as seven or eight.

　　"Damn, there are so many! How many people must have died in this water?"

　　If it were just one or two, they would be easier to deal with, but there were seven or eight floating on the surface of the lake alone, not to mention those hidden beneath the water that couldn't be seen.

　　Otherwise, it wouldn't have been so difficult for Hu Zi to pull out the rope and sword.

　　Thinking back, they really were lucky to survive!

　　"Boss, how should we deal with these water ghosts?" Hu Zi tried not to look at the eerie heads in the lake, as even a glance made his whole body shiver.

　　"There is actually a very simple way to deal with drowned spirits, but it requires some raw materials," Lu Fei said calmly.

　　"What, Boss?" Seeing Lu Fei's composed demeanor, Hu Zi knew he already had a plan.

　　"Chicken dung."

　　"Huh? This thing can deal with water ghosts?" Hu Zi was shocked, "It's simple, but where are we supposed to get it in such a short time?"

　　Jing Jian said, "Lu Fei, since you know, why didn't you bring some chicken manure earlier?"

　　Lu Fei gave him a withering look: "Who in their right mind carries chicken manure around?"

　　"Oh, that makes sense." Jing Jian scratched his head, "Then what were you talking about when you said you wanted to give the water ghosts something good?"

　　"There are other things besides chicken manure that can deal with water ghosts. Think about it, earth overcomes water, and incense ash is of the earth and also a ward against evil. It might not be as effective as chicken manure, but it can still deal with water ghosts," Lu Fei explained, "Even if it doesn't wipe them all out, it can at least scatter them."

　　"That's great, we always carry incense ash with us." Hu Zi happily patted his backpack.

　　"However, the water ghosts are quite far from the shore, so someone needs to go into the water and sprinkle the incense ash," Lu Fei added.

　　Jing Jian nodded: "That's a good idea, who's going to go down?"

　　Lu Fei and Hu Zi's eyes simultaneously fell on Jing Jian.

　　"Me??" Jing Jian was taken aback, pointing at himself.

　　"Be more confident, and take out the question marks! If you don't get rid of those pesky water ghosts, how can you capture the fish demon? How can you obtain the inner elixir?" Lu Fei said matter-of-factly.

　　Jing Jian looked at the pitch-black lake and the seven or eight sinister heads on the surface, feeling an enormous pressure instantly.

　　"Hu Zi, bring the incense ash." Lu Fei picked up a wet rope from the ground and tied the bag containing the incense ash to the end of the rope.

　　Seeing that they were already prepared, Jing Jian mentally built himself up for a while, then gritted his teeth and said, "Okay, I'll go!"

　　But Lu Fei reached out to him: "Take off your jacket and give it to me."

　　"Huh???"

　　"Otherwise, do you really think you're going to go into the water yourself?"

　　Jing Jian was stunned for a long while before he realized, "So, it's a decoy!"

　　He happily took off his jacket and handed it to Lu Fei.

　　"Just having the clothes isn't enough to be a decoy," Lu Fei said, looking at him.

　　"I understand, I understand." Jing Jian bit his middle finger until it bled, then quickly wrote down his birth date and time on his clothes.

　　This way, a substitute that could paralyze the ghosts was made.

　　Lu Fei also tied the clothes to the rope, wrapping them with incense ash.

　　"Great! Although any harm to the substitute will have some impact on you, it's still better than you jumping into the water yourself, right?" Lu Fei nodded in satisfaction. For safety, he stuffed a few more ghost-repelling talismans into the clothes.

　　"Yes, yes, Lu Fei, you are quite considerate..."

　　Jing Jian laughed, but suddenly paused, feeling something was off, wondering if he had been tricked again?

　　"Let's start."

　　Without further ado, Lu Fei tied a stone to the other end of the rope and threw it into the lake with force.

　　*splash*

　　Water splashed in all directions, and those dark heads floating on the surface seemed startled, all sinking into the water.

　　The three of them carefully retreated and hid in the reeds, waiting patiently.

　　The water was calm.

　　One second, two seconds.

　　Under the faint moonlight, the rope tied to the decoy's clothes suddenly quivered slightly.

　　"It's here."

　　Instantly, the three perked up, focusing intently on the rope and the changes on the lake surface.

　　The surface of the lake was very still.

　　But beneath the surface, there were undercurrents stirring.

　　The rope tied to the decoy's clothes began to move slowly into the lake.

　　The speed increased from slow to fast.

　　Finally, with a swish, it suddenly plunged into the water.

　　Immediately, dark whirlpools appeared on the water surface, and the water churned violently, as if many things were fiercely competing beneath it.

　　Jing Jian felt dizzy and broke out in a cold sweat on his forehead, and he immediately used his energy to resist.

　　Waa waa waa!

　　Accompanied by a few strange cries that sounded like those of a child, the water surface seemed to boil over, suddenly bursting into clusters of splashes.

　　Water droplets fell like rain, and the rope along with Jing Jian's jacket floated to the surface.

　　The jacket was now riddled with holes, as if it had been torn by several sharp claws.

　　"It worked!"

　　Lu Fei let out a slight sigh of relief.

　　Although there seemed to be no change around, Hu Zi felt that the oppressive feeling, as if it was about to rain, had disappeared, and the air became fresh and clear.

　　"Let them fish, they've really hooked something good this time! Let's see which of those blind, filthy things will dare to cause trouble for us again!" Hu Zi felt thoroughly satisfied.

　　Jing Jian wiped the sweat from his forehead, his face a bit pale.

　　Just now, his decoy had been contested by the water spirit, causing a considerable impact on his consciousness. Fortunately, the incense ash dispersed quickly, and he was not seriously affected; with a night's rest, he would be able to recover.

　　All the water droplets fell, the ripples on the lake dissipated, and the entire lakeside returned to its deathly silence, the tattered coat floating quietly on the surface of the water.

　　However, beneath the coat, there was a large shadow.

　　"What is that thing?"

　　Lu Fei narrowed his eyes and took a few steps forward, but the light was too dim to see clearly.

　　"Hu Zi, give me the flashlight."

　　He turned on the flashlight and shone it towards the coat.

　　Underneath, there was a black mass, shaped like an infant, but much larger than one.

　　Lu Fei estimated, and was instantly shocked.

　　It was about the size of a calf!

　　Such a huge baby was absurdly large.

　　"What is that thing?"

　　Huzi and Jing Jian exchanged a glance, both feeling extremely annoyed.

　　There are too many filthy things in this lake.

　　We just dealt with a group of water ghosts, and now there's another one!