I am the Ruler of the Kingdom of Mysterious-Chapter 154 - 128: Beneath the Lake

The road was near the lake, the mist damp and cold, with an eerie silence that swallowed every sound. Even the creak of the donkey cart was absorbed by the fog, as if they were walking in a world without sound.

Suddenly, a rustling noise came, like someone reciting something in a low, hurried voice.

Xuan Yu immediately jumped off the cart and quickly rushed ahead into the thick fog.

Meow~ Meow~

Xuan Yu used her voice to guide Sang Que, who followed by jumping off the cart and handed the reins to Xia Chan.

She took the soul lamp from the cart and drew the Hundred Victory Saber from her back, holding it in her hand as she slowly walked forward.

The thick fog surged and spread to both sides. Sang Que saw Xuan Yu crouching in the roadside grass, gazing toward the lake.

Meow~

Xuan Yu raised a paw and pointed—someone was there.

Sang Que walked closer, lifted the soul lamp to disperse the surrounding fog, and sure enough saw a man dressed as a fisherman continually bowing toward the lake.

"Qingjiang Divine Envoy, forgive my sins, Qingjiang Divine Envoy, forgive my sins..."

"Miss Sang, why did you stop?"

Xu San ran over with a torch. Just as Sang Que was about to say that someone was ahead, she heard the sound of something splashing into the water. When she turned her head again, no one was at the shore, and there was no ripple on the lake.

"Did you hear any sound just now?" Sang Que asked.

Xu San frowned and shook his head, looking around. "The mist blocks sounds. I only followed because I saw the light of your soul lamp pointing this way."

"Let’s keep moving."

Sang Que led Xuan Yu back to the donkey cart, confirming that she wasn’t hallucinating, as Xuan Yu had also seen the person. Likely Xu San and the others had a lower level in Nine Netherworld, so they neither heard nor saw anything.

Continuing south along the dirt road, Sang Que soon saw an old archway appear amidst the dense fog, vibrant in color with white dragons carved on the columns. The plaque above had the words ’Good Wind and Rain’.

At the lower right corner of the gate stood a stone stele, inscribed with ’Pinghu Village’. 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

Sang Que glimpsed at the four people behind her, flicked the whip lightly, yet the Black Donkey refused to move, snorting while stepping back.

"If you don’t go in, I’ll have no choice but to cut off your four hooves for defense."

Sang Que said expressionlessly. The Black Donkey twitched its ears and then resumed pulling the cart forward.

Upon passing through the archway, all the fog disappeared, and under the sunlight, a peaceful and tranquil small village nestled by the mountain and lake appeared.

Sang Que stood on the cart’s shaft, seeing the distant lake, mirror-like, with turquoise waters. Fishing boats were neatly docked by the lake, birds soaring, occasionally skimming the water’s surface.

Willows swayed by the shore, drifting with the wind. The village was paved with cobblestone roads, and small homes of green bricks were built against the mountain, varied in height. Net drying racks were beside each household’s door, holding fish nets and drying racks.

There was absolutely no sense of being haunted.

Sang Que drove the donkey cart into the village; several roosters clucked by the roadside, looking for insects. Suddenly, a wild cat ran across the rooftops, Xuan Yu darting like an arrow to chase it.

Sang Que paused, waiting for Xu San, Qin Ze, Wan Biao, and Zhao Qi to catch up.

After a brief moment of surprise, Wan Biao ran to the courtyard gate and called out.

"Is anyone there? Someone respond!"

Wan Biao’s voice was loud, echoing through the village, but no one came out to answer.

Exchanging glances, Sang Que pushed open another unlatched courtyard gate and walked inside.

"Sister, wait for Little Chan." Xia Chan ran up with a pancake.

The yard was clean, not even a weed; the house was dust-free, everything tidy, not like it had been unoccupied for long.

"Sister, look at this big tortoise over here!"

Xia Chan squatted at the main house’s doorway, pointing to a Divine Statue of a stone tortoise in the corner’s shen kan, inviting Sang Que to see.

Sang Que approached, noticing something odd.

The entire shen kan had many mold spots due to the lake’s humidity, and the stone tortoise statue inside was covered in a layer of moss. Judging by the marks on the ground in front of the shen kan, there used to be an incense burner.

This stone tortoise must be what Pinghu Village’s villagers reverently called the ’Qingjiang Envoy’. How could devout believers let the Divine Statue become so dirty?

It seems Pinghu Village’s villagers have already betrayed their Ghost God. Could the Qingjiang Envoy’s curse have made the village like this?

Otherwise, why would that man outside the village keep pleading for the Qingjiang Envoy’s forgiveness?

After searching around with no further discovery, Sang Que emerged and others reported no results as well.

Xu San said, "Let’s stick to the initial plan. Miss Sang, you and Wan Biao, along with Zhao Qi, thoroughly search the village for anyone alive. Qin Ze and I will check the lake."

This lakeside fishing village was much larger and wealthier than Black Mountain Village; every household had green brick houses, whereas Black Mountain Village had earthen houses.

Sang Que paired with Xia Chan, Wan Biao with Zhao Qi, each combing assigned areas before gathering at the lakeshore.

An hour later, they quickly scanned the whole village, still unable to find anyone alive.

Sang Que and Xia Chan returned to the lakeside; Qin Ze and Xu San had just come off a fishing boat.

After regrouping, Qin Ze bit on a stem, his body adorned with lively crimson water plants.

"At first glance, there’s no issue with the lake, but we’ve already passed Noon, and we dared not dive directly. Should we retreat now or stay in the village until tomorrow?"

Wan Biao and Zhao Qi exchanged a glance, indicating they’d follow Xu San and Qin Ze’s guidance.

Sang Que, having kept her abilities hidden, left the small team with Xu San and Qin Ze as leaders. After all, one was an experienced Day Traveling Envoy, the other a Yin Walker.

Xu San thought for a moment, "Typically, problematic places only arise at night. We’re already here; let’s stay overnight to observe. After inspecting the lake by Noon tomorrow, we will decide how to leave."

Sang Que nodded, agreeing with the suggestion.

They selected a high-lying courtyard at the village’s entrance, close to the road out of the village and offering a clear view of the lakeside.

As dusk approached, they focused on the lake when someone suddenly appeared at the misty village entrance.

Sang Que went out and was surprised to find Zhang Yuanzhong.

He bore a fearful expression, scuttling inside as if chased by a ghost.

Seeing the people in the courtyard, Zhang Yuanzhong’s eyes brightened. He scrambled up after falling, rushing into the yard.

"Great, I finally found you."

"Why are you here?" Xu San asked, displeased.

Zhang Yuanzhong was grief-stricken, "The children miss their mother too much, Second Aunt cried an entire night, and the eldest seemed possessed, always claiming someone will take Second Aunt. They insisted I find Ying Niang quickly—I had no choice."

Zhang Yuanzhong looked around frantically, "Where did the villagers go? Ying Niang—"

Yuan Zhong shouted, but only echoes answered.

Xu San sighed regretfully; Qin Ze shook his head with the stem in his mouth, leaving Zhang Yuanzhong with strict instructions not to wander or consume anything here, and stopped tending to him.

The sky grew darker, tension mounting as they kept watch on the last glow disappearing behind distant hills.

As night truly fell, a cold, damp wind blew from the lake.

Thin fog rose at their feet, blanketing everything. Where the mist spread, damp mold appeared rapidly on the ground and walls.

Chickens in nearby courtyards clucked alarmedly; the fog rolled over them, and in an instant, they collapsed, rotted away leaving only feathers and bones.

Waves broke on the lake as shadows emerged from the depths, something about to surface.

The Black Donkey tethered by the door brayed and struggled against its reins.

A greenish-black cobra appeared from nowhere, quickly slithering toward the Black Donkey.

Sang Que’s eyes narrowed as she flung her original dagger.

The cobra instantly turned, revealing a human face on its head, hissed as Sang Que’s dagger pinned it to the ground.

"Look at the lakeside!" Wan Biao yelled roughly.

Turning, Sang Que saw figures rising up, marching straight out from the water.

Xu San took two steps forward, eyes wide with shock. Among them, he recognized Yan Jiu and three other Day Traveling Envoys previously reported missing.

"Ying Niang!"

Yuan Zhong also saw Qiao Ying; at this moment, no one could distinguish if they were human or ghost.