Chapter 9: Mermaid Sister

Cheng Shan ran for miles, her feet blistering, but there was no sign of Little Potato. The Mingpo furnace she had finally obtained was lost like this. Cheng Shan felt disheartened and exhausted, sitting on the ground, not knowing what to do.

The night was dark, the stars and moon were dim, a cool breeze blew, and at the foot of the desolate mountain, there was silence—not even the sound of cicadas or frogs—and no hint of summer. Perhaps due to exhaustion, Cheng Shan, who had a fearless attitude just now, began to feel scared.

Cheng Shan nervously got up and looked around blankly, pitch-black in all directions, unable to distinguish north, south, east, or west. Just as she was gazing around, she suddenly saw a faint light ahead. Cheng Shan couldn’t help but move towards it, hoping to encounter a villager to ask for directions. As she got closer, she realized that the light was not from a normal lamp but from tiny green phosphorescent lights.

The phosphorescence was emitted by rows of humanoid white bones. The bones were neatly arranged in two rows, moving in a uniform and seemingly slow but actually rapid pace towards the desolate mountain, forming a long queue that couldn’t be seen at a glance.

Cheng Shan stood still, and the air was filled with the smell of scorched earth. Cheng Shan prayed that it wasn’t Han Luo who had been burned. If that were the case, after she collected Han Luo’s body, she would have to consider buying a coffin for Cheng Qian.

After searching for a while, Cheng Shan didn’t find Han Luo’s corpse. Feeling slightly relieved, she began to think. Was Han Luo looking for her?

In the midst of her chaotic thoughts, she heard a creaking sound. The leading white bones turned their heads left and right, as if sniffing something. After searching for a moment, they led the army towards the mountaintop. Cheng Shan, worried about Han Luo’s safety, summoned the courage to follow.

After a short walk, she heard Ming Yan’s calm voice from a distance: “I don’t know what Han Lou has been busy with for the past two hundred years. It seems that his cultivation hasn’t improved; instead, it has regressed.”

“So what?” Han Luo’s voice was hoarse but much more arrogant. “Even if I’ve regressed a bit, you’re not my opponent. Reflect on yourself first.”

Ming Yan chuckled. “I have always been concerned about His Majesty, the Ghost Emperor. How could I, Han Lou, who is at ease all day long, compete with you for true essence?” Ming Yan flew into the dark night sky, and his voice became more distant. “I specially trained a white bone army for you as a gift, a welcome for Han Lou. Consider it as valuing you, hahaha.”

Ming Yan and Han Luo tangled for a long time, consuming a lot of true essence. At this moment, Ming Yan retreated to the side, giving way to the ignorant and tireless white-bone army, aiming to wear down Han Luo. The white bones surged towards the mountaintop, finally finding their target and eagerly rushing towards Han Luo. Han Luo’s face was calm, but he cursed Ming Yan in his heart. These white bones, like marionettes, had no souls. Han Luo was powerful in spiritual power; during his peak period, he could control three thousand ghost servants to fight against the Ghost Emperor Xiyi. However, facing these confused white bones, he had no idea how to deal with them.

It took Han Luo two hundred years to restore his physical body. After these white bones were dispersed, they could pick up their broken bones and reassemble themselves in a moment, moving as usual. Han Luo had no choice but to use his spiritual power to shatter them, which consumed more energy than fighting against Ming Yan. It was by no means a long-term solution.

Cheng Shan, lying in hiding, saw Han Luo using his hands to break them one by one, effortlessly and skillfully. She was almost tempted to applaud. However, the white bones were like locusts, incessantly coming. Cheng Shan looked at Han Luo’s face again, remembered the tone of his voice just now, and knew that this sick ghost couldn’t hold on for long. She couldn’t help but break into a cold sweat.

Anxious, Cheng Shan wiped the sweat from her forehead and, impatiently, threw it away. Suddenly, a white bone’s forehead emitted white smoke. Cheng Shan was stunned. She then noticed that she had thrown her sweat on the phosphorescent part of its skull. The white bone began to wobble and stagger, but it still rushed towards Han Luo.

Cheng Shan’s eyes lit up. She immediately understood what was happening. Not caring to conceal herself, she stood up and shouted, “This thing is afraid of water!”

Seeing Cheng Shan suddenly appear, Han Luo’s eyes flashed with surprise. He leaped high into the air, rushing towards Cheng Shan. Two white bones followed suit. Han Luo kicked one away, but more white bones continued to move towards Cheng Shan.

Cheng Shan, frightened, covered her eyes and turned around, crawling away. Suddenly, a hand reached out, lifting her up. Cheng Shan opened her eyes and saw herself hanging in the air. Below her were the surging white bone army, extending bone claws, spewing phosphorescent fire from their eye sockets, and making strange noises.

Cheng Shan thought she had been grabbed by the white bones, and her hair stood on end. She screamed for help. Then, someone picked her up horizontally. A cold voice sounded in her ear: “Shut up, too noisy.” It was Han Luo.

Cheng Shan patted her chest. “Oh my god, you scared me.”

Flying in mid-air, Han Luo’s speed increased, and the white bone army below, whether running or jumping, couldn’t be shaken off like a persistent plaster. Han Luo sensed himself but couldn’t find any tracking curses on him. Anxious, he lowered his head and said unkindly to Cheng Shan, “It would be more convenient if you were scared to death! What’s the point of a foolish girl like you running back?!”

Cheng Shan looked at him with a disdainful expression, recalling that she had been worried about him just now. She thought it would have been better to feed the dogs. She said in frustration, “My mother mentioned something about ‘Taiyin True Water saving my father,’ but I don’t understand.”

“Don’t understand? Ask your mother then.” Han Luo realized she was empty-handed and felt speechless. “What about the Dark Soul Furnace?”

Cheng Shan, already feeling guilty and detecting a hint of questioning from Han Luo, couldn’t bring herself to admit that a potato had snatched it away. Tears welled up, and she said quietly, “Lost it.”

Han Luo rushed past several mountain peaks without finding any water bodies. The relentless, skeletal army pursued them from below. With Cheng Shan in his arms, her eyes watery, Han Luo felt a sense of urgency and said sternly, “If it’s lost, it’s lost. What’s the use of crying?”

Cheng Shan felt even more upset. If it weren’t for wanting to find out what “Taiyin True Water” was, she would have jumped out of Han Luo’s arms, fallen into the pile of white bones below, and considered it done. She vowed silently that one day she would personally rescue her mother and no longer endure the frustration of this dead place.

While Cheng Shan sulked, Han Luo led the skeletal army, wandering for thousands of miles, and finally discovered a valley with a tranquil lake. The lake emitted a purplish-black mist, carrying a mixed demonic aura. Han Luo glanced at the army of skeletons below, hesitated for a moment, and decisively plunged into the lake with Cheng Shan.

As they descended, it seemed like they hit something like a barrier. Han Luo became more certain that the lake was mysterious. Unfortunately, he couldn’t summon any true qi in his body. Having experienced Yi Niang’s methods, he believed Cheng Shan wouldn’t drown so easily. He let go of Cheng Shan and, with his eyes going black, fainted in the lake.

Initially panicked after falling into the water, Cheng Shan floundered for a while. Realizing there was nothing to fear, she seemed to have a natural sense of water flow. Even with the faintest ripple or surge, she could predict and respond in advance. In no time, she became adept at navigating. Cheng Shan surfaced, took a few breaths, and, under the sparse moonlight, noticed Han Luo was missing.

After searching in the water for a while, Cheng Shan, with great effort, managed to pull Han Luo onto a large stone in the middle of the lake. Seeing his closed eyes and unconscious state, she felt indignant and poked Han Luo’s cold forehead, gloating, “You think you’re so capable? Still have to rely on me to save you? It’s better to be easygoing in life; being fierce will have consequences.”

The surroundings were eerily quiet, and the ominous feeling was no less than the desolate mountains they had just escaped. Cheng Shan, sitting on the edge of the stone in the middle of the lake, curled up and hoped for Han Luo to wake up quickly. Even scolding her would be fine; this ghostly place lacked any signs of life.

Cheng Shan struggled all night, feeling sore all over. With most of the large stone occupied by Han Luo lying down, Cheng Shan took off her shoes and socks, drying her feet. In this drowsy state, she suddenly heard a burst of female laughter, soft and bone-piercing. The atmosphere, however, was as eerie as a nightmare.

Startled, Cheng Shan looked around and asked, “Who?” Could there really be mountain ghosts?

“Little girl,” the voice was elusive, echoing in the valley, “what kind of drama are you playing in the middle of the night? Eloping or committing suicide for love?”

Cheng Shan, barefoot on the large stone, shivered. She was more concerned than refuting, whispering, “We’ll leave at dawn. Sorry for disturbing you, sister.”

“Sister?” The woman’s laughter grew louder, and even the inexperienced Cheng Shan could sense a hint of licentiousness. “How fortunate am I to have such a charming sister?”

Cheng Shan, with a flattering smile, looked around. The barren cliffs surrounded them, and she didn’t know where to direct her laughter. She could only look up at the sky and say, “Sister, your voice is so charming. You must be a beautiful woman. Beautiful women are always fortunate.”

“Hahaha!” The woman burst into laughter, and the lake gradually showed ripples. “Considering your sweet talk, your sister needs to teach you a lesson. In this world, beautiful women often have unfortunate fates.”

The woman’s voice carried a hint of sorrow, and sighs emanated from underwater. Cheng Shan stared, feeling as if the moonlight had brightened. A beautiful woman emerged from the water, her silver-gray veil almost transparent. Dark and shiny hair lay gently on her jade-like face. Her graceful figure appeared elusive in the water, creating a lake full of beauty.

Cheng Shan, stunned by such beauty, could only express astonishment, not fear. The woman suddenly sparkled with light, and something swept underwater. Cheng Shan saw a large fish tail and instantly thought of a mermaid from a New Year’s painting. How could she escape from such a water spirit? She chose to give up, not crying or making a fuss, treating every extra moment as a bonus.

Breathing heavily, Cheng Shan dragged the unconscious Han Luo onto the large stone. However, the mermaid seemed to be teasing. With a sweep of her tail, she knocked Han Luo back into the water.

Without hesitation, Cheng Shan dove in to rescue him. She exerted all her strength, pulling Han Luo back up. Exhausted, she sat beside him and said, “Sister, this game isn’t fun. Let’s play something else.”

The silver-veiled mermaid stared at Cheng Shan for a while, then said, “Why bother saving such a useless man? I can lend you this stone bed, but men are not allowed.”

Cheng Shan forced a smile. “This stone is a natural thing; how can you claim it as yours? Call it your son and see if it responds.”

The mermaid snorted, “I just don’t like filthy men in my territory. Get down!”

As she spoke, her fish tail burst out of the water, ready to strike Han Luo. Cheng Shan shouted, “Mister!” and reached out to pull Han Luo, managing to get him into the water just in time. However, the mermaid’s tail, missing its target, rose again and, pushed aside by the water, was out of Cheng Shan’s reach. Helplessly, she watched as Han Luo was about to be pounded by the tail.

The fish’s tail slammed into the water, but the mermaid’s expression stiffened. It seemed she did not succeed and instead became alert, suddenly letting out a scream. She slid forward and was then thrown far out of the water by someone grabbing her tail.

The mermaid angrily slapped the water with towering waves, shouting, “Who? How dare you! Come out!”

On the other side of the waves, a person calmly stood on the water with a weak laugh but a composed demeanor. “Yin Li, you have quite the courage.”

As the waves subsided, Cheng Shan sat on a large rock like an unshelled turtle, and the mermaid, looking up, was shocked. “Han Bushang!”