Huh? Isn't this an adventure kingdom building game?!-Chapter 867 - 788: A Different Price

With a name and a rough timeline, Jiang Yuan quickly found a brief old news article on his phone.

An elderly man collecting waste near the river discovered a floating shape that looked human but wasn't quite right. He called over a young man with good eyesight, who identified it as a bloated corpse.

After investigation, the deceased was identified as a librarian, unmarried and living alone, with parents still residing in their rural hometown.

When the incident occurred, he was fishing alone, and due to holidays and other reasons, no one realized he was in trouble. Suspecting foul play was eliminated, and the forensic doctor speculated that Pei Jiqiang likely suffered a sudden low blood sugar attack due to irregular eating while fishing and fell into the water where he drowned.

The police also found his electric bike and fishing gear in a secluded spot under the bridge. The site remained intact, and after a public notice, they reminded anglers to stay safe, among other things.

"The announcement doesn't show any issues." Mu Mian, having read carefully, looked up at the big goldfish, furrowed her brows, and asked, "Aunt Yu, do you think the damage to Wu Genxiang's Divine Soul is related to Pei Jiqiang's death?"

"There shouldn't be a direct connection, but the reason for Pei Jiqiang's death might be the reason Wu Genxiang's Divine Soul was damaged."

Aunt Yu turned to Huang San and Jiang Yuan, "What do you two think?"

"Could it be the Water Ghost?" Pondering the eerie events Chuci encountered, Jiang Yuanxin thought, they're all related to fishing, it surely can't be all coincidences.

Master Huang San paced with hands behind his back, "The most likely culprit is the Water Ghost.

In recent years, online hype around certain popular sites being spillways has led to news of drowning deaths, all caused by Water Ghosts at play.

The day before yesterday, news reported three students drowned in suburban canals, hopefully not by the same Water Ghost, otherwise it'll be hard to deal with!"

Wu Yegen listened in a daze, "Uh… isn't summoning the spirit enough?"

"It's not that simple," Mu Mian patiently explained, "Ever since my grandmother started offering to Aunt Yu since her teens, she's summoned spirits for all sorts of people, usually because someone lost their soul for some reason, you just need to call it back.

But your brother's case isn't a typical lost soul; his Divine Soul is damaged, which differs from normal symptoms. Though the method's the same, you summon the spirit, the difference lies in where the soul is and the consequences of summoning.

If your brother's soul is just wandering, calling it back to soothe is fine; but if some demons or ghosts have retained or even swallowed it, we need to consider the consequences of summoning, like if we can handle what emerges."

Chuci was dumbstruck, "Could it end in confrontation?"

The big goldfish swished its tail, speaking in a gentle tone, "A regular adult's soul doesn't easily get lost, even if a shock causes a Soul Emergence, it typically returns after a few days stabilized.

Wu Genxiang, a strong adult, his family unaware of his incomplete soul is likely being retained or even devoured. If the former, detained for six years indicates deep resentment; reasoning likely won't suffice; if the latter, it's even more dire.

Avoiding confrontation would be best, but before taking up the commission, considering the worst outcome will prevent loss."

"Swallowed?" Wu Yegen grew increasingly afraid, his voice trembling, "Can it be retrieved?"

Mu Mian shrugged helplessly, "It's fifty-fifty. If the adversary's skills aren't deep, if they swallowed the living soul but can't refine it, Aunt Yu can assist in the summoning, which could bring the culprit out and find a way to make it regurgitate;

But if the opponent can refine the living soul with deep skills, summoning it draws them too, then we'll strategize to kill it, using its soul to replenish your brother's Divine Soul."

Li Tiezhu couldn't find a chance to speak.

Scanning the room, he miserably realized he alone bore an Immortal but saw nothing, even the absence of Grandfather Huang's possession rendered him powerless.

Unable to see, he couldn't hear what Grandfather Huang and Aunt Yu discussed, hearing mention of another ghost while Jiang Yuan, Mu Mian, and Chuci, plus two Immortals and one ghost were engrossed, isolating him.

He sighed, quietly poured himself some tea, only to feel a numbness in his arm and Grandfather Huang's leisurely voice said by his ear, "This tea's too expensive, better stick to plain water, add an extra dish at dinner."

Li Tiezhu: ... 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

Truly envious of little Mu Mian!

Since Grandmother started offering to Aunt Yu, now passed to the third generation with each profiting bountifully from Aunt Yu. The young girl inherited the ancestral business post-college graduation, earning herself a villa in just a year and a half.

The disparity was immense, where to seek justice?

Just glancing at Chuci and Jiang Yuan... nevermind, these two are respectively exceedingly wealthy and impressively capable.

He silently switched cups, poured himself plain water, and took a sip, bland and tasteless like his uneventful life.

"Judging by Wu Genxiang's condition, I can summon the spirit, but not certain what comes," After some discussion, Mu Mian decisively said, "I'll just charge for the summoning, should combat arise…"

She gleamed, looking at Li Tiezhu, "Brother Li, discuss thoroughly with Grandfather Huang before deciding.

Mainly, Water Ghosts are very troublesome, Aunt Yu's not adept at fighting and offers little help; Grandfather Huang's not skilled in water combat, if we can't drive the water ghost ashore, there're many river tributaries nearby, which could be problematic."

Pausing briefly, she added, "Of course, it might not be a Water Ghost but something else, yet from current analysis, I'm eighty percent sure it's a Water Ghost. Besides…"