Chapter 18: The Pool of Corpses

The merfolk believed that these black stones possessed a mysterious power, allowing them to build a palace that could withstand the scorching flames. So, they collected all the black stones scattered across the land and used them to construct this ancient city. The final mural depicted a grim practice—due to the lack of resources in the area, the deceased merfolk were refined into an oil-like substance, the very same "merfolk oil" we had encountered before, used for illumination. At this point, Uncle Li continued questioning the middle-aged man, "So, the 'Water God' in the murals is actually the deadly plant you mentioned?" "Yes, the spores of this plant seem to mature every seven years. If an animal comes into contact with it during this time, it will release its spores. Given that this underground water vein has likely existed for tens of millions of years, it's not surprising that a Cretaceous-era organism would still be present. The merfolk worshiping it as a guardian deity of the water source makes sense," the middle-aged man explained. Dr. Ye Zhiqiu, the team's medic, was most concerned about finding a water source. She quickly asked, "Sir, have you found any drinkable water here?" The middle-aged man nodded confidently, "Yes. This place was originally a temple for sacrifices, and beneath it lies the water reservoir that once supplied the entire city." I glanced at the middle-aged man's dry, cracked lips and felt a strong sense of doubt. If there really was water, why hadn't he drunk any? If the water wasn't the problem, then maybe he was the problem! The middle-aged man led us to the entrance of the temple's water reservoir. It wasn't hidden at all, but when I got closer, I was still shocked by the ancient engineering skills. The reservoir was about the size of a basketball court, with a water surface as still as a mirror. Stepping inside, an eerie chill immediately seeped into my bones, suggesting the water temperature was extremely low. Suddenly, my heart clenched, and that familiar sensation returned—though this time, it was different. I didn't see any visions, but I could hear countless whispers all around me. Some were deep, some shrill, some male, some female, some old, some young… The overwhelming voices left me momentarily dazed. The dim lighting inside forced everyone to turn on their high-powered flashlights. When the beams illuminated the reservoir, we were surprised to find that despite being stagnant, the water was crystal clear. Unable to resist his thirst, Zhao Qiang eagerly scooped up some water with his canteen and took a swig. "Wait! Better boil it first—it's not flowing water," Ye Zhiqiu warned. But Zhao Qiang shook his head. "Don't worry, this has to be a flowing water source. Otherwise, it would have dried up long ago. The reservoir must be connected to the underground water vein!" His reasoning seemed sound, and Liu Ziping followed suit, scooping up a handful of water and sniffing it. After tasting a small drop on his tongue, he reassured everyone, "No strange odor—it should be safe to drink." Encouraged by this, everyone started filling their canteens. The only one who didn't join in was Ding Yi. He had a suspicious expression as he walked deeper into the reservoir, shining his flashlight into the water. Then, suddenly—a pale, ghastly face surfaced from below! I was still hesitant about drinking from this dead-still water. A strong sense of unease gnawed at me. Could this really be safe to drink? Why was the entire ancient city abandoned, except for that red-dressed corpse bride? My mind flooded with unanswered questions, but before I could process them, Ding Yi suddenly shouted, "Don't drink it! There's something in the water!" But it was too late—Zhao Qiang and Liu Ziping had already taken a sip. Their faces paled as they turned to look at Ding Yi in horror. Hearing Ding Yi's warning, I immediately understood—there were corpses in the water. A lot of them. I rushed toward Ding Yi. Although I had braced myself, the sight of the swollen, bloated corpses floating beneath the water still made me turn away and vomit. This was my first time encountering such a mass of dead bodies. The others immediately realized something was wrong, especially Zhao Qiang and Liu Ziping, who had just drunk the water. Their faces turned even greener as they gagged and retched. It took all my willpower to suppress the nausea churning in my stomach. I forced myself to take another look at the water. The bodies appeared to be the original inhabitants of the ancient city. But why had they all died here? These ancient corpses had remained intact for thousands of years, likely preserved by the low, constant temperature of the water. The reservoir had been sealed off for a long time, preventing further decomposition. I wanted to step closer for a better look, but Ding Yi quickly pulled me back. "Don't touch the water—it's contaminated." I didn't need him to tell me that. This was essentially corpse water that had been brewing for over two thousand years. I could only feel pity for the two unfortunate souls who had already taken a sip. Uncle Li's face darkened as he stared at the floating bodies. "This water source is no longer viable. We'll have to find another one." Then, turning to the middle-aged man, he asked, "Do you know of any other drinkable water sources?" The middle-aged man seemed equally shocked by the discovery, muttering to himself, "How could this be? Why didn't I notice these corpses before? How could this have happened…?" After a long pause, he finally responded with despair, "No… I've searched every inch of this ancient city. This is the only reservoir." Everyone fell silent, their expressions bleak. Were we really going to die of thirst here? As the group's morale plummeted, Ding Yi suddenly whispered to me, "Be careful of that man—he's not alive." His words sent a chill down my spine. Had I been right all along? I turned to look at the middle-aged man again. His complexion was bluish, his eye sockets sunken… If he truly wasn't human, then maybe he had brought us here on purpose. Was he planning to make us all stay with him? The atmosphere grew heavier with despair, as if we were already doomed. Sensing this, Uncle Li quickly stepped in to rally everyone. "Don't give up hope just yet! We'll find another source of water somehow. As long as we don't quit, there's still a chance! This place is filled with corpses, and the air is heavy with death. We should leave immediately and come up with another plan." He was right—experience spoke volumes. Uncle Li had been through far more than any of us, and he remained steady even in dire situations. Right now, all I could do was pray that he wasn't just bluffing. Because if he was lying—if there really was no way out of this—I would make sure that even as a ghost, I wouldn't let him off the hook!