C13 The Unkillable Female Corpse

The shackles trailing behind Old Master Jiaang had mysteriously lengthened, and the Ghost Dragon King was nowhere to be seen! Could our well-crafted plan and thorough preparation have altered what seemed to be an inescapable demise? I couldn't contain my amazement and immediately shared the news with Grandpa Jiaang, who also let out a relieved sigh.

The currents of the Weak Water River were fierce, yet our boat glided over them with remarkable stability, swiftly carried by the flow. The voyage was tranquil, with gentle winds and fish gliding in the shallow waters, slowly easing our anxiety.

But as we neared the so-called Weak Water, the sky abruptly dimmed, and a thick fog enveloped us, creating the eerie sensation of entering a different realm. A thunderous boom startled both me and Old Master Jiaang. I looked up, shocked to find that the previously clear skies had been overtaken by ominous clouds.

I furrowed my brow, sensing trouble. Without hesitation, I ducked into the cabin and fetched the rooster I had prepared earlier, securing it to the boat's bow with a rope. This vibrant red-crowned rooster, brimming with pure Yang energy—known in ancient times as "Yang Essence"—was believed to ward off malevolent spirits. I hoped it would exert some influence over the Ghost Dragon King.

No sooner had I tied the rooster in place than a massive wave rose from the calm river, nearly capsizing our small vessel. I stumbled, nearly tumbling overboard, but Grandpa Jiaang was quick to grab me, "Changsheng, get back here! The bow is too dangerous."

I nodded in agreement, but as I turned, I was stunned to see Grandpa Jiaang's harbinger of death manifest once more—his shackles had shortened again! Yet this time, it wasn't the fearsome Ghost Dragon King clutching the shackles, but a ghastly woman!

She was clad in white, her complexion deathly pale, drenched from head to toe. But what chilled me to the bone were her mournful eyes, fixed intently on Grandpa Jiaang. I gasped, the cold air stinging my lungs, and Grandpa Jiaang's face turned ashen, as though he had come face-to-face with a specter.

Grandpa Jiaang and I were looking in completely opposite directions...

I quickly turned around again and to my horror, I saw a female corpse standing upright in the stagnant water, her head submerged!

My mind was reeling, and I was shaking uncontrollably with fear. Instinctively, I took refuge behind Old Master Jiaang and stammered, "Grandpa Jiaang, is... is that the female corpse?"

Old Master Jiaang, his one eye bloodshot, gave a slow, deliberate nod.

"But... how has this body not decayed after more than twenty years? There's still flesh on her legs; she looks almost alive," I exclaimed in astonishment.

"I can't explain it either. This weak water is too peculiar, always the site of odd occurrences. But I am certain this is the female corpse. See the steel wire on her right foot? That's the very rope I tied around her all those years ago!" Grandpa Jiaang spoke with a grave tone.

"Then..." I glanced at the ominous signs behind Grandpa Jiaang, hesitating, unsure of our next move.

"Changsheng, we must retrieve the female corpse before the Ghost Dragon King makes an appearance!" Grandpa Jiaang said, rowing the boat closer to the heart of the dead water. Yet, I couldn't shake the feeling that this female corpse might be more fearsome than the Ghost Dragon King itself.

A peal of thunder overhead nearly made my heart leap out of my throat. The nearer we got to the female corpse, the thicker and darker the surrounding mist became, eventually turning a blood-red hue.

My anxiety grew. I tugged at Old Master Jiaang's severed arm, "Grandpa Jiaang, we should head back."

"Changsheng, whatever you think you saw, there's no turning back now. This is my destiny, the destiny of a Corpse Dragging Man," Grandpa Jiaang declared with resolve. Before we knew it, we were face to face with the female corpse.

The weak water here was surprisingly clear. Looking down, I could see the female corpse's long hair trailing in the water, her ghastly pale face, and those eerie, haunting eyes that seemed to stare back with unyielding resentment.