Chapter 192: Ghostly Familiar

　　The rain was torrential.

　　The streets of the entire town were deserted.

　　Black aquatic plants tightly entwined around the doors and windows, and a cold, damp air permeated the whole small inn.

　　The corridor was so dim that one couldn't tell day from night. Water dripped from the walls and floor everywhere.

　　A small red figure would occasionally flash past the corner.

　　Jing Jian, holding his peachwood sword, chased closely behind, determined to capture this water ghost. Unconsciously, he rushed into a room.

　　The door slammed shut, leaving Lu Fei outside.

　　Jing Jian glanced back and decided to deal with the little ghost first. He carried his sword and stepped cautiously.

　　"Woo woo woo, woo woo woo——"

　　A mournful weeping sounded in the darkness.

　　Jing Jian immediately looked in the direction of the sound.

　　He saw a little girl in a red dress crouching in the corner, her pale hands covering her face as she cried sorrowfully.

　　Her braids were loose, and she had only one shoe on. Her skin was pale and swollen, and water continuously dripped from her body, making her look very pitiful.

　　"Woo woo woo, Mom and Dad, don't leave me, I'm so scared..."

　　"Little water ghost! Do you think such a petty trick can deceive me?"

　　Jing Jian remained unmoved, let out a cold snort, and strode forward, thrusting the peachwood sword viciously at the little girl.

　　The little girl glanced up at him with a look of venom, and then suddenly vanished.

　　The peachwood sword pierced nothing but air. Jing Jian felt a chill on his back as the little girl materialized behind him, her pale, swollen little hands gripping his calf.

　　His body immediately started to sink.

　　The floor of the room had somehow turned into an inky black lake.

　　"Come down with me!"

　　The little girl's deathly pale face bore a malevolent smile as she clung tightly to Jing Jian, dragging him down with her.

　　"In your dreams!"

　　Jing Jian steadied his mind, raised his hand, and swung the sword at the little girl.

　　However.

　　His arm was grabbed by a cold, strong hand.

　　Jing Jian was taken aback and turned his head to see a pale woman drenched in water.

　　The woman's swollen body pressed against Jing Jian's back, like a heavy stone hanging on him, pulling him down.

　　"Come down and join us!"

　　Jing Jian's heart chilled.

　　There was more than one water ghost!

　　"Jing Jian! Jing Jian!"

　　Lu Fei pounded on the door, which was covered in water, as if it had been sealed by concrete, making it impossible to open.

　　He raised his hand, infusing his magical power into the thunder-struck jujube wood stick, and was about to strike out.

　　Drip.

　　Drip.

　　Cold water dripped down from above, landing on Lu Fei's face.

　　Lu Fei's heart tightened, and he looked up.

　　The entire ceiling was already soaked with water, which trickled down the walls, and in no time, a thin layer of water had accumulated on the floor of the corridor.

　　"So cold——"

　　An elderly figure slowly emerged from the water, waving stiffly at Lu Fei.

　　"Help me, it's so cold down here..."

　　The voice quivered, carrying an enchantingly hypnotic power.

　　"Alright, I'll save you!"

　　Lu Fei gripped the lightning-struck jujube wood staff, splashed through the puddles, and quickened his pace.

　　Infused with magical power.

　　Rushing to the elderly figure, the ghost immediately reached out for Lu Fei, who promptly swung his staff at it.

　　Boom!

　　Blue arcs of electricity flickered, and the elderly figure, without any resistance, turned into a pool of dirty water without even a scream.

　　Lu Fei immediately turned to find Jing Jian.

　　But at that moment, a hand entangled with water weeds extended from above, grabbed Lu Fei's shoulder, and pulled him upwards.

　　Startled, Lu Fei realized the ceiling had transformed into a stream of black water.

　　A grotesquely swollen middle-aged man emerged from the water, his face so decomposed that chunks of flesh mixed with murky water dripped continuously.

　　"So many water ghosts?!"

　　Lu Fei frowned, but there was no time to think at the moment.

　　Dense aquatic plants grew from all around, tightly entangling his limbs.

　　With his hands immobilized, it meant he couldn't use the lightning wood.

　　The water above him seemed like a dark, gaping mouth, and the man's tattered face showed an excited smile.

　　Lu Fei did not panic; he bit down hard on his tongue, and a sweet, metallic taste spread in his mouth.

　　Since he couldn't use his magical tool, he still had the True Yang Splash.

　　Puh!

　　A spray of blood from his tongue spurted out.

　　Black smoke billowed from the male water ghost, who screamed and recoiled.

　　But the aquatic plants were still there, and Lu Fei had not completely escaped his predicament.

　　At that moment, the black umbrella inserted on the side of the backpack moved slightly, and a thin strand of hair emerged from it, weaving back and forth through the aquatic plants.

　　Then, it suddenly tightened.

　　All the aquatic plants were cut, and the black leaves scattered everywhere.

　　Lu Fei fell to the ground, ignoring the pain in his body, and quickly got up.

　　"Is the black umbrella saving me?"

　　He curiously took out the black umbrella; the strand of hair had already retracted into the umbrella, and there were a few small drops of blood on its surface.

　　They should have splashed onto it when he spat out the blood from his tongue.

　　The drops of blood were absorbed by the umbrella's surface, turning into a few small red flowers, which then disappeared.

　　"What does this mean?"

　　But there was no time to think about it now; saving people was the priority.

　　Lu Fei stuffed the black umbrella back into the side of his backpack, picked up the thunder-blasted jujube wood stick, channeled his magic power, and struck hard at the door wrapped in aquatic grass.

　　Boom!

　　The aquatic grass broke, and the door suddenly sprang open, a damp fishy smell rushing out.

　　"Jing Jian!"

　　Lu Fei rushed in, only to see that the room was filled with water. Jing Jian, drenched, stood in the middle, holding a peach wood sword, panting heavily.

　　"Are you okay?"

　　"I'm fine, just two water ghosts, I can still handle them."

　　Jing Jian moved his body, speaking as if it were nothing.

　　Just now, the two water ghosts had held him back, making his body feel as heavy as a thousand catties. Fortunately, he still had a family heirloom, a protective spirit jade.

　　At the critical moment, the spirit jade took effect, giving him the opportunity to counterattack.

　　"I also encountered two water ghosts." Lu Fei frowned, "Brother Jing, do you remember the family that drowned in Fuxian Lake not long ago? There was a little girl in a red dress among them."

　　"It seems the drowning of these people is all connected to that giant fish, they've become the vengeful spirits of the big fish." Jing Jian nodded.

　　"These water ghosts seem to be intentionally separating us, then picking us off one by one... Not long ago, besides that family of four, another person who was fishing also drowned!"

　　Lu Fei suddenly remembered something, and his expression changed immediately.

　　"That's bad! Huzi is alone in the main hall!"

　　He dashed towards the stairs, with Jing Jian following closely behind.

　　Main Hall.

　　Huzi sat restlessly beside the innkeeper.

　　The storm raged outside, and the entire hall was deathly silent.

　　The innkeeper was deathly pale and motionless, and Huzi kept feeling like he was a dead man, checking his breath every now and then.

　　"The boss and A Jian have been gone for so long, why haven't they come down yet?"

　　Huzi stared at the staircase, feeling anxious and restless, and wanted to go upstairs to look for them.

　　But Lu Fei had instructed him to watch over the innkeeper, and he didn't dare to act on his own.

　　"The boss is so smart, he must be fine..."

　　Just as Huzi was trying to reassure himself, he saw Lu Fei coming down the stairs.

　　"Boss!"

　　Huzi was overjoyed in his heart and hurriedly went forward to meet him, but only Lu Fei returned alone.

　　"Are you alone? Where is A Jian?"