Water Ghosts Ashore, a Clever Chain of Traps

Water Ghosts Ashore, a Clever Chain of Traps

Water Ghosts Ashore, a Clever Chain of Traps

Water ghosts were strange creatures indeed. They resembled neither ghosts nor beasts, but rather some kind of spirit born of heaven and earth.

Such spirits generally had their own domain. Once a water ghost came ashore, both its mobility and endurance dropped sharply. With traps laid and the advantage of terrain secured, even ordinary people had a chance of dealing with them.

But at the mention of traps, Lin Mo found himself in a difficult spot.

He knew a few underhanded tricks—throwing lime, slipping sacks over heads, striking with a club—but against water ghosts that were like wild beasts, and with their numbers unknown, they had to prepare for a group.

"Lin Mo, tell us exactly what to do. We'll all listen to you!"

The village chief hurriedly gathered a large group of strong young men. The neighboring villages were close by, and he had informed them as well, but there was nothing he could do about those farther away.

Whenever he went to notify them, the villagers would only make snide remarks, mocking Big Fishing Village's rotten luck inside and out. In the end, he had no choice but to give up.

A great crowd sat outside Lin Changshun's house, each one looking around eagerly. Most of them had been born and raised as fishermen—where would they know how to fight enemies or hunt beasts?

Dozens of young men huddled together, yet they could not come up with a single clever idea between them.

"How about we invite a hunter over to teach us?" someone suggested.

"That thing's called a water ghost. It travels by water. Would mountain tricks even work on it?"

The moment the topic opened up, a young man rejected the notion. As everyone stood there frantic and at a loss, Lin Mo had already prepared himself to notify Senior Brother Xu and ask him to save the day.

At worst, he would swallow his pride and bring a few martial artists here to keep watch for several days...

"Lin Mo, I have a few ideas. Listen and see whether they'll work."

A weak, hoarse voice came from the courtyard. It was Lin Changshun, who had been lying sickly in bed earlier. Lin Hai and his aunt supported him from either side as they helped him outside, and there was an inexplicable firmness on his face.

Lin Mo knew his uncle meant well. But they were all fishermen, knew one another inside out, and were honest, dutiful people.

Out of respect, he helped Lin Changshun to sit beside a tree outside the courtyard. Leaning against the trunk, Lin Changshun coughed several more times.

"Uncle, go ahead. We'll listen slowly."

"I served in the local militia in my early years. Back then, water bandits ran rampant. Some old men taught us a few ways to deal with them. They work whether you're facing wild beasts or people."

As Lin Changshun spoke, he swept his gaze across the young men around him. His expression suddenly hardened, and he spat on the ground.

He said sharply, "No matter how clever these water ghosts are, they can't outsmart people. No matter how wild they are, they can't match ferocious beasts. Those methods will definitely work!"

The young men had already racked their brains over a solution. How could they withstand such provocation? Quite a few immediately pressed him impatiently.

"Uncle Changshun, hurry and tell us. Once you're done, we'll go handle it. You just rest properly."

The instant he said that, Lin Changshun shot him an irritated glare. "How could it be that simple? How can it work without me overseeing it?"

"Uncle, just tell us," Lin Mo said at the right moment.

He could not accurately estimate when the fate mark would dissipate, nor could he determine whether the water ghosts would come ashore today or tomorrow or the day after.

But to be safe, the earlier they made arrangements, the better.

Lin Changshun slowly uttered a string of words. "Barricade Spears, King of Hell's Rope, Life-Taking Fire—though immortals descend, they will struggle to save you!"

After a hasty discussion, the group split into two parties. One, led by Lin Changshun and Lin Mo, chose a location and began setting things up.

The other headed to the county town to buy supplies. Things like rope and battered blades were not worth much and were convenient enough to purchase.

But the largest expense was the lamp oil—and not the ordinary kind used for lighting lamps.

According to Uncle Changshun, this was the most crucial thing.

Whether the water ghosts were made of flesh or forged from iron, once this oil caught fire, they would melt away in an instant like spring snow beneath the sun.

No matter how much water you poured on it, it would be difficult to deal with. You could only wait for it to burn itself out.

To buy enough lamp oil, the few taels the villagers scraped together would certainly not be enough. Gritting his teeth, Lin Mo threw in all five taels of silver he had left.

It was noon, yet not a single fishing boat left Big Fishing Village. Instead, a hundred or so people had gathered in the small reed marsh below the village.

Old and young alike, anyone capable of moving and working was basically here.

If the water ghosts wanted to come ashore without a sound, the calm waters of the reed marsh would naturally be a necessary passage. After discussing it together, they decided to set their traps here.

Lin Changshun crouched in the mud, his rough, callused hands vigorously rubbing a bundle of vine rope. His hands and trouser legs were covered in black, viscous lamp oil.

The many youths beside him did not even dare breathe too loudly, afraid that making the slightest disturbance would set it ablaze.

Only after Lin Changshun buried the large bundle of oil-soaked vine rope in the silt did several villagers finally let out long breaths.

Lin Mo followed suit, working swiftly and cleanly.

A young man wiped muddy water from his face. His voice trembled as he pointed toward the thick rope stretching across the river bend. One end was tied to an old willow tree, while several alert youths held the other within the reed marsh.

"Brother Lin Mo, can we really pull this off? Those are water ghosts..."

"If we can't? Are we supposed to wait for those water ghosts to come ashore and eat anyone they see? Even if we flee, where could a whole village of people go to make a living?"

After working all day, even Lin Mo's voice was a little hoarse, but his tone carried a resolute edge. "Remember, Big Fishing Village is our home! When the bamboo whistle sounds, hit them with everything you've got!"

This was not a martial contest. It was a deadly game where one side lived and the other died.

The traps Uncle Changshun described were actually three layers deep.

First came the Barricade Spears. Put simply, they were sharpened bamboo stakes planted upside down in the silt, meant to guard against water bandits wading ashore after disembarking.

Second was the King of Hell's Rope in the reed marsh. Buried deep beneath the mud, once it was pulled, people would be sent sprawling. Even water ghosts would not have such steady footing.

Last came the centerpiece: the lamp oil. The entire reed marsh would be reduced to nothing in a roaring inferno.

By deep night, behind the earthen mounds along the shore and among the trees in the woods, many villagers stared fixedly at the silent reed marsh.

Lin Mo had sent back the elderly and the young earlier, leaving only able-bodied adults who could run and jump. If the traps failed, they would still have room to flee.

Yet Lin Changshun was stubborn, and since his experience was useful, Lin Mo could only let him stay. At worst, he would shoulder him and run.

Time trickled by. The river wind carried a fishy stench and blew the reeds into restless swaying. Every minute and second was agonizing.

"Why is there still no movement? Could it be they're not coming today?"

Someone behind the dirt slope wondered aloud in a lowered voice. Another person turned, about to tease him, only to see his gaze suddenly sharpen.

"They're here!"

"Get ready. The moment you hear the bamboo whistle, move!"

Lin Mo lowered his voice and reminded them once more. They had chosen a position downwind; whether the water ghosts had a sense of smell or not, they would surely have difficulty noticing them.

Though it was deep night, a thin white mist drifted over the reed marsh. Through it, large swaths of reeds could vaguely be seen flattening as shadowy figures slowly stepped out from within.

Lin Mo narrowed his eyes. As his blood and qi circulated, even his eyesight improved to a certain degree.

As one figure sprang out halfway, then two, three, and even ten...

There were quite a few water ghosts!