Volume 1: Spirit Marriage Chapter 41 - Racing with a Ghost

  My mother's words shocked me, I didn't expect Wu Lele to come to my house, this time thoroughly exposed. Under my mother's repeated questioning, I had no choice but to tell the truth, saying that I came to Zhong Ling'er's house. My mother was indeed very angry and told me to go home immediately. I said I couldn't go back now, being blocked by that little ghost last night, and reminded her and Wu Lele to be careful, it's best to stay at home and not go out. My mother was shocked, asking repeatedly if anything happened to me, I said nothing, just being forced to stay in Zhong Ling'er's house and can't go out... Before I finished speaking, Wu Lele's voice came: "Who are you kidding? If you want to stay there overnight, just say so!"

  Wu Lele must have thought I was lying and snatched the phone from my mother's hand. I said whether you believe it or not, in any case, I won't be able to return for the time being, reminding her to beware of Shuishengzi.

  Suddenly, a hissing sound came from the phone, the voice was extremely sharp, I hastily moved the mobile phone away from my ear. When I put the phone back to my ear again, only the dial tone could be heard.

  I'm so curious, where did that sound come from? And what kind of sound is it? Has the Water God arrived at my house? I quickly called back, but found that the other party's phone was turned off.

  I wiped the water stain on my phone and told Zhong Ling'er that Shui Shengzi might have gone to my house, I had to hurry back. But Zhong Ling'er stopped me, saying that Shui Shengzi was likely still outside the door, and if I went out, I would be attacked by him. I said never mind, now my mother is in danger at home, I couldn't just save myself without caring about my own mother's safety. Zhong Ling'er didn't say a word, I asked her to give me another talisman, just in case. Zhong Ling'er handed me a talisman and said: "I'll go back with you."

  I thought I misheard, Zhong Ling'er said to accompany me back? This is not her style. Seeing me dazed, Zhong Ling'er said again: "Don't be stunned, let's go quickly." I hurriedly said that this won't do, you should stay in the house and not go out, I don't want you to get into trouble too. After finishing speaking, I rushed out, before Zhong Ling'er could catch up, I jumped onto the motorcycle, stepped on the gas pedal, and shouted towards Zhong Ling'er who was walking over: "Quickly go back inside, don't worry about me." After that, I started the motorcycle and sped away at top speed.

  Just a short distance after driving out, I suddenly felt something was wrong. My whole body had a numb feeling, how to say it, it was as if there was someone sitting behind me. In my heart, I was very clear that I didn't let Zhong Ling'er follow me, so it's impossible for anyone to be behind me. If I had to say someone was there, the only possibility is that a ghost was sitting behind me. And this ghost, I'm afraid it was that Water Saint Child!

  When I realized this, I broke out in a cold sweat. My mind was racing and for a moment I was at a loss. I didn't dare look back because I had heard that there are three lanterns on a person's body, one on top of the head and two on the shoulders, which is said to be the yang fire on a person's body. When walking in the dark at night, if someone calls your name, never look around, or it will be blown out and you'll be summoned by ghosts.

  Now, the Water God is right behind me, sitting on my motorcycle like a person. I estimate there are two possibilities why he hasn't attacked me: one is that he doesn't dare to get close to me because of the heavy yang fire on my body and the spiritual symbol given by Zhong Ling'er; the other is that this little guy obviously wants to play with me, first scaring me enough before making a move, just like a cat playing with a mouse...

  I'm worried that if I continue like this, I'll bring the Water Saint back home. I don't mind dying myself, but I couldn't bear it if my mother and Wu Lele were to get hurt. With this thought in mind, I resolutely brought the motorcycle to a stop.

  I only felt a chill wind blowing from behind, and the surroundings suddenly became quiet. My nerves were stretched taut, and all I could hear was my heart pounding non-stop. Tonight there is moonlight, although it's hidden in the clouds from time to time, but three meters away, I can still vaguely see clearly. What's strange is that I didn't see Shui Shengzi.

  Why doesn't he show up?

  I thought that if I ran fast enough, the Water Saint Son might not be able to catch up with me. As soon as I got home, I would take out the Yin Yang Knife and then I wouldn't be afraid of him.

  The key is whether I can return home smoothly.

  The road ahead is quite winding, with a small stream running beneath it for about one kilometer. After crossing that road, there's a relatively wide highway that was jointly built by our village and Wu Village and Li Village, which is two to three meters wide. In this dark night, as long as I cross the stream on that road, I can then drive my motorcycle at its fastest speed.

  Suddenly, two soft sounds came from behind me, just like something was knocking on the back seat of my motorcycle. I quickly turned around and almost lost my soul, a black shadow stood behind me with a sinister smile staring at me.

  It's Water Sakuya!

  "Why haven't you left yet?" he asked.

  I didn't have time to think and had already stepped on the accelerator, suddenly speeding forward. My scalp was numb, and all the hairs on my body must have stood up.

  Suddenly, a black shadow appeared in the middle of the road ahead. As I got closer and closer... it was actually Shui Shengzi. When I was two meters away from him, he suddenly pointed at me with his hand. I let out a loud roar, closed my eyes, and charged forward. All I felt was a flash of black shadow in front of me, and Shui Shengzi disappeared.

  Did I just blow him away? Better yet, I hope he's scared out of his wits! In my terror, I'm getting angrier by the second. The Water Saint didn't directly attack me; he's toying with me. Yes, that's it - he's playing with me. I've figured out his true intentions: he wants to scare me to death. But I wasn't raised on fear, and a witch doctor's son isn't just anyone! Is one little ghost going to easily scare me?

  But I immediately felt something was off.

  A black shadow appeared on my left side, and this shadow was racing with me. I took a closer look, it was Shuǐ Shèng Zǐ! He glanced at me, smiled, and ran towards me while getting closer. I was incredibly furious, roaring: "Get out!" Then I kept pressing the motorcycle horn, the sound was sharp and piercing, Shuǐ Shèng Zǐ's body shook and disappeared.

  He's afraid of the horn! I was delighted, and kept pressing the horn. In about 100 meters ahead, we could drive out of this winding road, and then the road would be straighter and smoother, so I wouldn't worry about Shuishengzi playing tricks again. Ghosts are just like humans, if they want to keep running, they need physical strength too, I don't believe he can outrun my motorcycle.

  In front of me was a big turn, and under the road was a relatively deep pool of water. I slowed down my speed a bit, but just as I turned the corner, a huge wave suddenly rushed towards me. Instinctively, I turned the steering wheel, and my body suddenly sank. With a loud crash, I fell into the pool along with my car!

  Before I could climb out of the water, a hand from the bottom of the river grabbed my leg and pulled me down with force. I wanted to breathe, just as I opened my mouth, the creek water rushed in, and I flailed about, constantly kicking at the hand that was holding my leg with my other foot. Because I couldn't breathe, I swallowed more water, and my thinking became increasingly numb. I don't know how long I held on, but suddenly my foot came loose, and the hand let go of my leg. My heart leapt with joy, and I hurried to swim upstream.

  When I was a kid, I often went to the creek with Big Black to catch fish and crabs, and also took baths in the creek. By the time I was 7 or 8 years old, I had already learned how to swim. So it was easy for me to swim out of the water, wipe away the water droplets on my face, climb up onto the shore, exhausted all over, and collapse onto a rock at the water's edge.

  The sky was dark and gloomy, the moon was gone, and there was only a thick layer of clouds. Thinking of my mother at home, I worried that Shuǐ Shèngzi would go to bother her, so I struggled to sit up and looked into the water pool. The water in the pool was black and extremely quiet, like a black mirror. I thought that the water had also calmed down for the night. During the day, the stream flowed rapidly, not only making a gurgling sound but also creating white bubbles that constantly emerged from the pool as the water splashed against the rocks. But tonight, there were no white bubbles, nor was there any sound.

  This water is very deep, I'm alone tonight and I estimate that I won't be able to push the car out, it seems like I'll have to ask someone for help tomorrow.

  Just as I was about to stand up, I suddenly felt something was off, and it seemed like someone was sitting next to me?

  I turned around and almost shouted out loud, it was actually Shui Shengzi!

  He sat there, his hands resting on his knees, staring ahead, motionless, like a sculpture gazing into the distance. I slowly reached my hand into my pocket, intending to pull out the charm, but instead found a crumpled piece of paper. The charm was gone again. I had no choice but to stare at him while secretly feeling for stones on the ground.

  "Don't waste your efforts," he said suddenly: "In my world, you can't hurt me."