Chapter 69: Sudden Change

In the middle of the Black Water River.

Fang Xiu and the others hurried over and saw a squad of special forces wearing black combat uniforms and carrying submachine guns from a distance.

Each of them was tall and muscular, standing straight and tall, clearly having undergone professional training.

However, standing before the special operations team were a man and a woman, both wearing hiking jackets, hiking boots, and carrying hiking poles, with backpacks on their backs, dressed as if they were on a tourist trip.

The man and woman seemed to be arguing with the special operations team.

"Why are you making us leave? This place isn't your property. We're here to tour and enjoy the scenery, and you're telling us to leave."

"That's right. This isn't a tourist attraction, and even if it were, we could buy tickets."

"We are on a special mission. No unauthorized personnel are allowed to approach. Please leave immediately," a member of the special operations team said coldly.

At that moment, Fang Xiu and the others had already walked over.

The member of the special operations team immediately ran over, saluted, and said, "Investigator Fang, the 10th Special Operations Team reporting for duty."

Fang Xiu nodded and was about to speak when the man and woman walked over.

The man was tall and muscular, with a stern appearance, while the woman was tall and slender, with a wheat-colored complexion, giving the impression of someone who frequently engages in outdoor exercise.

"Are you their leader? What gives you the right..."

The woman began to speak, her tone brimming with defiance.

Fang Xiu didn't give them a chance to finish, ordering directly, "Get them out of here."

"Yes."

The Special Operations Squad immediately sprang into action, with two members stepping forward to escort the man and woman out.

The man tried to struggle, but seeing the overwhelming numbers and the guns, he eventually dared not resist.

The woman, however, screamed louder than anyone else.

"You just wait! I'll file a complaint against you! Do you know who I am? My father is friends with the leaders of the Public Security Bureau! You..."

The man and woman were gradually led out of sight.

Zhao Hao sighed softly, "There really are all kinds of people. I always thought the videos online were staged, but some people actually dare to fight with public security officers. I never expected such people to exist in real life.

These two are quite bold. With so many armed officers in uniform carrying out their duties here, they still dared to confront them?"

"Investigator Fang, these two claimed to be backpackers on a trip. They don't like tourist attractions; they prefer remote, uninhabited mountain areas. We had just arrived when they showed up."

Fang Xiu nodded: "Was it Wang Dehai who sent you here?"

The man nodded and produced his investigation bureau credentials: "Director Wang instructed us to assist you in your work."

Fang Xiu wasn't surprised. This was the advantage of having the ability to foresee the future. If it were any other new spirit master, they wouldn't be able to enjoy such treatment, and even if they could, they'd have to submit a report in advance.

But all he needed was a phone call.

"Do you have everything you need?"

"Yes, we do."

"Alright, let's begin."

At Fang Xiu's command, the special operations team immediately sprang into action.

They moved swiftly and professionally: some wielded shovels to dig trenches and divert water, others dragged bundles of plastic pipes, some installed water pumps and generators, and others patrolled the perimeter to prevent outsiders from interfering.

They had clearly conducted professional calculations to divert the river water to nearby low-lying areas.

Soon, the rumbling sound of machinery filled the air.

Under the combined force of dozens of water pumps, the river water level dropped rapidly.

Zhao Hao and Liu Shuai, standing nearby, were speechless with astonishment.

"Is this what professionals do? It's so impressive."

"Yeah, if it weren't for the fact that hot weapons don't work well against the strange creatures, there probably wouldn't be any need for spirit masters."

Several hours later, the river had successfully reached its lowest point.

The mud at the riverbed was visible, along with numerous small puddles scattered around. There were also many fish jumping in the mud, and even some turtles.

Throughout the process, Fang Xiu and the others kept a close watch to prevent the water spirit from suddenly attacking.

However, as the water level dropped, the water spirit never appeared.

"A female corpse! There's a female corpse!" Zhao Hao pointed at a patch of silt on the riverbed and shouted in shock.

In the silt, there was a female corpse with half its body buried, and no hair.

"Holy shit, who was so brutal as to cut someone's face into four pieces?"

Fang Xiu didn't answer but instead activated his Blood Eye.

While everyone's attention was drawn to the female corpse and under the cover of his sunglasses, he used the Blood Eye to search the mud.

Moments later, his Blood Eyes locked onto a small puddle in the middle of the river.

He immediately closed his Blood Eyes and pointed at the puddle, saying, "Shen Lingxue, use your flames to blast this puddle."

Shen Lingxue didn't hesitate for a moment and immediately followed Fang Xiu's instructions, as she knew that Fang Xiu had the ability to foresee the future.

In her mind, Fang Xiu must have foreseen the location of the anomaly.

Shen Lingxue opened her palm, and a ball of intense, brilliant flame appeared in her hand, causing the surrounding temperature to rise instantly.

She aimed at the spot Fang Xiu had indicated and violently flung the flame from her hand.

The flame shot straight toward the water pool like a dragon.

Boom!

The flames exploded with a loud bang, and a wave of heat swept across the entire area.

The water in the pool began to boil and evaporate, and the moist mud around it started to crack.

At that moment, a piercing scream echoed from the bottom of the water pool.

Immediately afterward, a mass of hair, still ablaze and emitting a burnt odor, wriggled its way out of the ground.

"Something strange is happening!" Zhao Hao exclaimed, then instinctively hid behind Fang Xiu.

The hair floated in midair, wildly flailing about. The few strands of hair engulfed in flames were flung away by it, like a lizard shedding its tail.

At that moment, the hair seemed enraged. Its strands began to spread out, resembling a spreading spiderweb—five meters, ten meters, twenty meters...

It seemed intent on enveloping everyone.

At that moment, Shen Lingxue acted, seeking revenge for being submerged in the icy lake for half a day yesterday.

Boom! Boom!

Flames gathered in her hands, one after another, blazing brightly as they continuously struck the hair.

But just then, Fang Xiu heard the sound of a bullet being chambered.

He furrowed his brows and looked toward the Special Operations Squad.

Instinctively sensing something was off, he wondered why these professionally trained soldiers, who knew guns were useless against the supernatural and hadn't received orders, would chamber a round.

Zhao Hao and Liu Shuai also urged, "Just watch from the sidelines. Shen Lingxue's abilities are naturally superior to this supernatural entity."

But the next moment, a shocking event unfolded. The special operations team, as if they hadn't heard anyone's words, raised their gun barrels and aimed them at Fang Xiu and the others.

"Hey, hey, hey! What are you doing? We're on the same side!" Zhao Hao shouted in fear.

"Quick... quick, get out of the way! Our bodies are no longer under our control!" A member of the special operations team shouted stiffly.