Chapter 26: The Mysterious River of Blood

  But I have to say, as someone who has never been in a fight before, the thrill of victory is just too intoxicating. It's like an irresistible temptation, and now that I'm standing on Naihe Bridge, I'm craving for another ghostly second-generation opponent to come out and let me practice my skills, indulge in this addiction, and unleash my inner beast.

  Relying on the golden devouring dark catcher's effect, I use the "Twelve Character True Words" as a standard. Although the pose is not so high in appreciation, it still fights with great momentum. I concluded that this kung fu belongs to the Xingyi school of martial arts, but instead of imitating tigers, cranes, snakes, leopards and toads, I completely imitate the fierce wives' street fighting and shrews' quarrels.

  This carefree play, with an attitude of turning no move into a move, and turning irregular rhythms into regular ones, perfectly matches my discordant self!

  It gives me a sense of superiority, like a master of a generation. If my hair were just a bit longer, standing against the wind with hands clasped behind my back, gazing into the distance, how melancholic it would be.

  Unfortunately, with just one Li Xiaogang, how can I show off my majestic male hormone charm?

  At this time, the ancestor was packing up his phone on one side, and on the other side, he was constantly sending autumn waves to Meng Po with that face that made people's blood vessels burst, until they were both satisfied, only then did he remember there was still me.

  I really doubt this representative duel, a battle that will go down in history, whether our ancestors have seen it or not!

  I deliberately coughed twice, and my ancestor turned his head around. The deep and affectionate eyes that didn't have time to adjust were filled with shyness and charm, and the dazed expression revealed a hint of sensuality. My suddenly bursting male hormones instantly dissipated.

  Ancestors came forward, gently stroking my big package with scales one after another. Full of concern, he said, "Kid, you're really something, a cultured person is more ruthless than a hooligan when they get tough, this year's most feared are cultured people acting like hooligans!"

  After a moment of contemplation, the ancestor continued:

  "Just now I was considering whether to tell you that if the spell fails, you will turn into eternal dust with the last drop of Xuanwu blood. Since I see how overbearing you are, I'm at ease. I know you'll definitely do it, kid, good job!" Ancestor's words were undoubtedly a heavy rain pouring down on my thriving fighting spirit, instantly extinguishing the special flame behind me.

  As I had expected, even if the spell was broken, at most I would have ended up in the underworld with my ancestors. But who knew that my ancestors would take away the lifeline at the last moment? It seems there really is no turning back now.

  "I'm done for", I muttered to myself after failing, and this catchphrase bypassed my IQ and blurted out of my mouth. I thought about what I said earlier that didn't work out, and my intestines turned green with regret. It's really true that when you're feeling smug, you should be low-key, low-key, and even more low-key! The punishment for being impulsive is simply beyond what I can bear!

  If I retreat now, my ancestors will be furious and throw me into the six paths of reincarnation, turning me into a cat, dog, pig or bird. Just thinking about it is unbearable, it's truly worse than death. Thinking about these six paths, the first path is hell, the second is the hungry ghost realm, the third is the animal realm, the fourth is the asura realm, the fifth is the human realm, and the sixth is the heavenly realm. The last two are basically not considered, any of the first four paths would be unbearable for me, how can I show my face?

  If I were to end up like this, with the posture of being unlucky all these years, if I were to die and become dust, and be taken away by a sand collector to repair a toilet...

  Between the devil and the deep blue sea, one side is miserable, the other side is even more miserable.

  It seems I've chosen a path of no return, this is the rhythm that was destined not to become rich! Suddenly, looking at my ancestors' determined eyes, I nodded with tears streaming down my face, lamenting who made my sorrow fall into the Yellow Springs.

  At this time, I suddenly felt something was wrong. In my heart, I silently recited the words I had just thought of, and the first one was "rely"! It was "rely"! Before I could even regret it, another explosion occurred! I almost fainted!!! The ancestral power that made me sigh with amazement was clearly mixed with hatred towards Li Xiaogang, making me deeply doubt whether I could leave the underworld alive?

  "I like you and your stubbornness, we sing loudly in the wind! Since Cui Ming is so determined, this matter is settled, it has saved a lot of unnecessary procedures and tongue-wagging. It seems that my ideological education work is quite effective!"

  Did our ancestors do ideological work? Educational work? Ideological and educational work? Obviously it's because I have high awareness.

  Looking at the ancestors' proud and satisfied expression, I have a heart-wrenching pain that makes me want to cry but can't shed tears.

  I gaze blankly into the distance. With a sorrowful yet elegant profile, I've been melancholic throughout the underworld. At this moment, it's reached the point of heartache, and what should be silence seems to have sound. The background music is a solo erhu performance.

  While I was indulging in melancholy, my ancestor said: "Are you looking at Meng Po? Do you want to drink a bowl of Meng Po's soup? Then you've really come to the right place! That soup is an absolutely authentic thousand-year-old soup, suitable for both young and old, delicious and nutritious, loved by gourmets! Wait a minute, I'll get you a bowl. Taste the true specialty of our underworld!"

  As we spoke, my ancestor rolled up his sleeves and prepared to force-feed me. I quickly grabbed hold of him and, with great effort, let out a few fake burps, saying in a shocked tone, "Next time, next time, I ate too much before bed, can't drink anymore." Seeing that I was indeed unwilling, with a resolute expression and a puffed-up face, my ancestor finally gave up on the idea. He consoled me to take good care of my digestive system and not overeat or overdrink. I silently nodded in agreement, rubbing my flat stomach which I barely recognized.

  I secretly let out a sigh of relief, this bowl of soup is going down, I reckon even I myself won't remember who I am anymore. Who's got nothing better to do than drink Meng Po's soup for fun? This ancestor seems to be somewhat unreliable. Could it be that the Blood River Dan also has the function of restoring memories? I don't dare try it lightly!

  Squatting beside the Nahe River with our ancestors, puffing on fragrant incense smoke, our ancestor said in a deep voice: "Enough fuss, let's talk about serious matters!"

  The underworld is the place where all living things are in charge of life. All the creatures that die, their souls will be taken to the netherworld by Hei Bai Wu Chang, and Ox-Headed Horse-Faced will distinguish between good and evil. Everything they did in the sun will be settled here. This is a natural law, irreversible and unchangeable."

  Actually, the underworld isn't as frightening as you imagine. It's similar to the world of the living, with both good and evil, rewarding good deeds and punishing bad ones, where good is rewarded and evil is punished." I nodded in agreement at my ancestor's words.

  "As long as we have nothing to be ashamed of, everywhere is a beautiful scene!" The ancestors said calmly, with eyes full of love.

  "Some people are more terrifying than ghosts, some ghosts are kinder than humans. Where there is good, there is evil; cause and effect cycle, all are inescapable fate. You see, even in the underworld, there are gentle ones like me, warm ones like Meng Po, honest ones like Wu Chang, and kind ones like Ox-Head and Horse-Face. It's just this principle." Hearing Ancestor's words, I almost spat out my heart, liver, spleen, kidney, and stomach all at once. Is it still possible to have a proper conversation?

  "Others laugh at me for being too rude, I laugh at them for not being kind. Don't look at my appearance, I'm actually more kind-hearted and gentle inside. For evil people, you can only use evil to control them, who will listen to kindness?! So, sometimes I may not look so handsome either! This speech really gave me a new understanding of this ancestor, the one in front of me is clearly different from what was reported on the news! Nowadays, news is usually exaggerated after being spread around, at least ten times."

  This boastful talk is really boring, I secretly recited the multiplication table in my heart, calculating the generation of this ancestor in front of me, to see if this guy is too old, so that he's a bit silly or confused. Who knew that at this time I was so confused that I couldn't even recite all twelve zodiac animals, it's really too brain-burning!

  "Kid, don't bother calculating it, I've lost count of how many generations back I am from you, just call me Ancestor directly!" Looks like this Ancestor's Soul Reading Technique is always on, and he speaks solely to satisfy his verbal addiction! Having an Ancestor like this really means nothing can be hidden from him.

  I picked up a stone and skipped it across the Yellow Spring, but to my surprise, not a single ripple was stirred up by the stone, and it sank straight down into the water with a gurgling sound! My ancestors tried to stop me, but failed. The stone drew a perfect arc as it flew through the air before splashing into the water below.

  I saw my ancestors' faces suddenly wrapped in black lines, and I felt like I had done something wrong.

  Is it that throwing stones into the river is not allowed? Or is my ancestor jealous of Meng Po's gaze at me? I pondered what I should apologize for.

  Just as I was hesitating in astonishment, a sharp, dog-like howl suddenly came from the water, followed by a crimson column of water surging up with flesh, hair and unknown organs, bringing up a scarlet mist. Along with the ancestor's voice "It's gone bad, you little scoundrel, you've really done it!"

  I suddenly saw a monster, as big as a cow, with the shape of a tiger, covered in sharp thorns all over its body, with wings on its back, jumping out from the water column, carrying half a human head in its mouth and pouncing towards me.

  What's even more terrifying is that this thing has a half-human head in its serrated mouth, which seems to be wailing and begging for mercy. As it rushes forward, it occasionally chews with a sound like a starving ghost chewing gum, scaring me into continuous retreat.

  As the monster ran, its mouth occasionally dropped pieces of flesh and hair, this bloody scene was even more terrifying than a bloodthirsty ghost swallowing another ghost, I was instantly stunned.

  As the thing landed, I saw that the monster's two eyeballs were like two dim green lanterns, baring its teeth and coming towards me. On top of its head was a large meat package similar to a unicorn, no, it seemed to be swollen. Suddenly, I realized that it must have been my stone that I threw out earlier that completed this work. If I'm not mistaken, it should be here to seek revenge from me.

  Looking at this fierce monster, I quickly retreated a step back and stood behind my ancestors, putting on an air of being unrelated to the matter, completely not seeing who threw the stone.

  The ancestor let out a sigh! Got up, tidied up his hair, took out a fragrant "cigarette" from the bronze box and put it in his mouth, that action was simply too stylish. Then, he pulled out a piece of hell money with 10 million written on it from his back pocket, placed it on both sides of his nose, and sniffed hard, causing the hell money to catch fire. The ancestor's majestic face lit up the cigarette in his mouth amidst the flames of the burning hell money, looking as sturdy as a mountain peak, giving me an extremely strong sense of security, and I was no longer so afraid.

  Watching the ancestor nonchalantly light up a "fragrant" cigarette in his mouth, squinting his eyes and waving the judge's pen in his hand, speaking to the monster that pounced on him with an indescribable language at an extremely fast speed. The monster's movements suddenly slowed down, and it was gentle like a domestic dog. It crawled to the ancestor's feet, rubbing the ancestor's boots black and shiny with its body. The ancestor kicked the monster's buttocks, spat out the cigarette in his mouth, and the monster caught it in mid-air, turned its head and glared at me before leaving with a huff.

  From a distance, it looks like an enormous dog raised by ancestors. However, the exposed sharp teeth and the half-chewed human head reveal that this thing is not a benevolent creature.

  I hid behind the ancestors and watched as this thing returned to its usual state, only then did I awkwardly smile, at this moment the heroic spirit of violently beating Li Xiaogang had long since dissipated.

  "How dare you laugh! Do you know what this thing is?" Looking at the serious expression of my ancestors, I shook my head timidly.

  The ancestor looked at the Naihe water, which was constantly bubbling with blood, and said, "This is Xuehe Qiongji, a relic left over from ancient times. It's ferocious by nature and is known as one of the four Naihe poisons along with Huangquan Tuoqiang, Naihe Xuejiao, and Youming Pianchong. Among these four poisons, the most cunning and ferocious is this very Xuehe Qiongji!"