C15 The Fate

The blood wasn't ours—neither mine nor Old Master Jiaang's. It belonged to the red-crowned rooster.

Somehow, the Ghost Dragon King had managed to glide over without a sound, his dark hand brutally twisting the rooster's neck.

In that moment, the Ghost Dragon King appeared even more menacing. He had shed a large number of scales and armor, and his face bore several gashes, likely inflicted by the paper dolls.

I had braced myself for an onslaught from the enraged Ghost Dragon King, but unexpectedly, he grabbed the Undead Corpse by the feet, intent on dragging her away.

I couldn't help but wonder, what could drive such a fierce creature to act with such determination?

"Changsheng, take cover behind me. It's my turn to step in," Grandpa Jiaang said gravely, pulling me to safety.

I watched him, no longer bewildered. The fear that had once etched Old Master Jiaang's face was replaced by a resolute smile as he drew a peculiar steel cable from under the boat's cover.

This cable, with a sharp, triangular blade every three centimeters, bore a resemblance to the Wolf Brush, a weapon designed by the renowned Ming Dynasty general, Qi Jiguang.

"The time has come to end this with the Ghost Dragon King. You've been preparing for two days, Changsheng, but I've been ready for twenty years," Old Master Jiaang declared, his smile unwavering.

"Grandpa Jiaang, what are you...?"

Before I could process my astonishment, Old Master Jiaang had already launched the steel cable. With a lifetime of experience binding bodies, he wielded the cable as if it were an Immortal Binding Rope, ensnaring the Ghost Dragon King with precision.

Enraged, the Ghost Dragon King seized the cable, attempting to tear it apart. But this cable was the culmination of over twenty years of Old Master Jiaang's dedication. Far from breaking free, the Ghost Dragon King's hands were lacerated by the sharp prongs of the blades.

The more it thrashed, the more grievous its wounds became, quickly turning the river a dark, crimson hue.

I glanced at Old Master Jiaang with a surge of joy, but the sight of the chains trailing behind him quickly extinguished my newfound hope.

Old Master Jiaang knew all too well what was happening. With a heavy sigh, he said, "I knew these wounds weren't enough to take on the Ghost Dragon King. Changsheng, I'm entrusting you with my smoke pot. Every year, at this time, remember to light a bag for me."

While speaking, Old Master Jiaang handed me the smoke pot that was fastened to his waistband. Before I could even process what was happening, he plunged into the river with a splash.

"Grandpa Jiaang..." I yelled out. I watched as he swiftly grabbed the steel cable and swam circles around the Ghost Dragon King, attempting to wrap it several more times with the Immortal Binding Rope to restrain it in the water.

"Go... Go now! Do you want me to have died for nothing?!" Old Master Jiaang, gasping and choking on water, bellowed.

With a heavy heart, I stamped my foot, wiped away my tears, and frantically paddled. Soon, the Ghost Dragon King's roar faded into the distance.

The roars and the churning of the waves behind me grew silent. When I looked back, both Old Master Jiaang and the Ghost Dragon King had vanished.

As I sat there, bewildered, I suddenly caught sight of a dark shadow darting towards me in the water. My heart lurched, realizing that Old Master Jiaang's valiant efforts hadn't been enough to detain the Ghost Dragon King for long...

It was over! Now, even releasing the female corpse might not spare my life.

Regret consumed me. I should never have come to retrieve the body, inadvertently causing Grandpa Jiaang's death and now, seemingly sealing my own fate.

My mind was a blank slate, all I could do was paddle the boat furiously. The Ghost Dragon King appeared to be drawing nearer, and I could feel a chilling Yin Qi creeping over my entire body.

But I was mistaken. The source of the oppressive Yin Qi wasn't the Ghost Dragon King, but rather a horde of zombies walking in the river not far ahead.

Unexpectedly, this horde of zombies had shown up just when I needed them most. This could be the break I needed. I quickly rowed towards where the zombies were.

The Ghost Dragon King, desperate to reclaim the female corpse, followed in pursuit. To my surprise, the zombies didn't attack the Ghost Dragon King as I had anticipated. Instead, they continued to drift aimlessly with the current, as still as statues.

As the Ghost Dragon King's dark hand nearly grasped the small boat, it suddenly surged forward as if propelled by an engine, swiftly gliding across the river's surface and quickly out of harm's way.

Watching the Ghost Dragon King and his horde of zombies fade into the distance, I felt as though I was in a dream. A wisp of smoke wafted towards me, its scent unmistakably familiar.

I whipped my head around in surprise to see an old man with a missing arm standing at the bow, gently paddling the boat...