Huh? Isn't this an adventure kingdom building game?!-Chapter 879 - 794: Life-Buying Money (Part 2)
This is a threshold; if you can't awaken, the lingering resentment slowly dissipates and you die completely. Ordinary water ghosts might need to consume a lot of people and take many years to learn. I became awakened in a fit of anger—couldn't that be what young people often call 'chosen talent'?"
The whole room burst into laughter.
Wu Yegen pointed to himself, "When I died and became a ghost, I also thought it was an opportunity, that I was the chosen one. But what happened?"
Seeing him drift off topic again, Jiang Yuan tapped his finger on the table, "Talking like this is just to seek sympathy, isn't it? It's a common trope for villains to wash away their sins, claiming they had no choice. If you keep babbling, I'll deal with you instantly."
Guo Quanzhi's face turned gray and white, his speech hastening, "After I awakened wrapped in resentment, I still couldn't deal with those energetic young men. To get revenge, I had to find a way to become stronger.
Anyway, after devouring one person, I was able to leave the waters where I died and roam around looking for suitable people.
You said that Pei Jiqiang is a lustful ghost; though he's young, he's so obsessed with beauty that it's easy for him to be drained of vital energy and be haunted by ghosts. While I was selecting a candidate in the river, I saw him up-skirt paparazzi a young girl—made me so angry..."
Almost went off topic again when he saw Jiang Yuan's face darken a little, hurriedly brought it back, "At that time, I hadn't encountered other ghosts. I figured everything out by myself, so I couldn't consume many people within a year or so.
Finally, I encountered a suitable target, a fisherman, and used resentment to entangle him. I fabricated beautiful women haunting his dreams at night, thereby absorbing his yang energy and vitality.
When Pei Jiqiang came to fish, I would entangle him to have beautiful dreams at night. If he didn't come, my spirit would hardly last, and he wouldn't dream beautifully, thus.
Secondly, after being drained of vitality, he becomes dazed during the day and desires such things even more. No woman can match the dream I concocted. He figured out the pattern and became deeply addicted to fishing, and I took the opportunity to coax him into bringing more friends.
I thought, like attracts like. Could the lustful ghost's friends be any better? The more he brought, the more I could entangle. After I've drained enough yang energy to entice into the water, I would devour them instantly!
He indeed brought several friends along to fish. But luck plays a part—can't entwine them all.
Later, Pei Jiqiang was entangled by me daily, his spirit out of sorts. Until his soul became severely fragmented, delirious, I called him from the water, making him believe there was a beautiful woman bathing in the river. He jumped into the water and drowned in a few minutes, and I devoured him."
"What about my brother? Was he also entangled by you?" Wu Yegen patiently asked, having finally heard the crucial part, "Shouldn't you hurry and cough up that consumed living soul!"
Guo Quanzhi was taken aback, "Your brother? Who is he?"
"Pei Jiqiang's colleague, who often accompanied him to fish." Jiang Yuan pointed to the table, exerting some pressure, urging him to rack his brains.
Feeling the threat of death, Guo Quanzhi racked his brains based on the clues Wu Yegen provided and finally recalled, "Remembered! That young man even brought his wife and kids to fish. Seems like he even had dragon-phoenix twins, about the same age as old third's granddaughter..."
He paused and nodded in confirmation, "Initially, seeing them as a family reminded me of old third's tragic death, so I didn't harm them. But he couldn't help acting!
Pei Jiqiang talked to him about those things, and he wanted to try, clearly having a good wife and kids, not thinking about how to live. Instead desiring thrill and mental affair? Bah! Since he's seeking doom, I might as well fulfill it!"
When Guo Quanzhi mentioned this, he suddenly realized it seemed quite improper, immediately softened his tone, "But that young man was tough to tangle. I finally caught him during frequent family quarrels and conflicts while his fortunes were low, only partially consuming living souls to refine him. Couldn't yank him into the water.
Later, I encountered a formidable water ghost, followed for guidance and study. Left for several years, only returned this spring, wanting to seize the opportunity of frequent disasters the past two years, aiming big, hadn't even succeeded yet when Liu Xian'Er apprehended me."
Liu Xian'Er?
Everyone in the room looked at each other, realizing the water ghost mistook papier-mâché for a real snake, suppressing laughter silently.
"Tell me about the money." Jiang Yuan heard 'refined' and knew Aunt Yu had to use the water ghost's divine soul to replenish Wu Genxiang, so transitioned the topic.
Indeed, upon mentioning money, Guo Quanzhi thought he could buy life with it, his eyes immediately lit up!
"I learned lots of skills from the old water ghost, besides traditional ways like guiding fish, enchanting people, using water plants to entangle, mastered basic calculations, most importantly how to receive devotees.
They're quite generous with money!
Also, valuable items like gold, jade, jadeite from drowned people's possessions were collected in large sums, I'll offer them all to you; can't cough up living souls, awaiting post-decisions! Will you kindly spare me afterward?"
"Tell us more about your studies."
Guo Quanzhi couldn't grasp what they intended.
Pleading victimhood seemed ineffective, being a prisoner couldn't withstand more beating. Might avoid calamity by honestly transferring divine soul, then escaping afar to slowly recover.
After all, it's every monk for himself!
"Only after becoming a water ghost did I realize how rare ghosts are, but lurking corners could hold one or two; heard there's even one pretending to be an immortal in a broken temple demanding incense."
He addressed the topic, "Less than six years ago, post consuming his brother's living soul, I got revenge, devoured those who killed me one by one. The next day chose new targets, overheard two fishermen chatting.
They read online that dozens died in a single summer along Kuan River in Fulan, upper, middle, lower reaches, with police patrolling day-night, playing warning recordings, couldn't prevent those indulging in wilderness swimming coming to their doom.
They all claimed water ghosts sought substitutes, but I thought it was fishy, intending to inspect. Far off is Fulan, away from here, rested by day, headed through nights, nearly a month arriving Kuan River seeking old water ghost to apprentice.
He taught me skills on the condition: could demand money from collected believers, but they required placing tablets for the Kuan River God, burn incense worship."
"Ugh, mere water ghost thinking to enshrine into deity?" Huang San immediately understood their intent, snorted disdainfully, "Arrogant fool, thinking occupying a river temporarily confers 'River God' status?"
Jiang Yuan unintentionally paused, glanced at the water god title overhead, wondered if the system hinted something?
Then realizing unlikely, while channeling enshrinement, numerous titles like Mountain God, Water God, Demon God exist... how can one person handle multiple roles?
"Just heard an amusing tale, and the rain's about ending outside." He stood, making decision, "Aren't you about to do charity? Hand over those deceased belongings for handling; labor Master San accompanying to retrieve fortunes;
Aunt Yu checking how to replenish Wu Genxiang's soul, group dispersing promptly, still having evening feast to celebrate."
Chuci became solemn, feeling the weight of responsibility, hurriedly vowed, "I'll strive first locating deceased families, especially valuable or meaningful artifacts, as commemorations for drowning victims' relatives.
Those unfound relatives transferring on property, request Master San blessing ceremony, ensuring no safety concerns hosting little auction sale. Proceeds contribute to charity." 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎
He supplemented, "Of course, this charity we do together. Future keepsakes or aid-giving, engrave everyone's names there."
Huang San and Aunt Yu rejoiced appreciating the prospects; Even Wu Yegen, reassured having a share, expressed gratitude.
The rain ceased, power swiftly restored.
Momentarily flooding persisted but nobody bothered, fishermen sentenced to corners bustling gearing up showcasing skills; farm courtyards kitchens hustling busy, majority rooms reserved.
People busy sharing moments, uploading 'dragon' clips, Jiang Yuan's team sought Wu Genxiang, Aunt Yu's fin flickered mesmerizing, obediently waiting soul replenishment.
Everybody rejoiced, only water ghost wounded world realized!
