Burning the Reed Marsh

Chapter 14: Burning the Reed Marsh

Chapter 14: Burning the Reed Marsh

Everyone's hearts were in their throats, some clutching kitchen knives, others gripping fishing spears.

In that instant, even the sound of breathing seemed to vanish, leaving only the sloshing, dragging footsteps of the Water Ghosts before them. As a few Water Ghosts drew near, many villagers finally got a clear look at these horrifying creatures.

Their skin was a grayish-blue like bronze, their emaciated forms resembling bone racks left to dry on a rooftop. Their features were all scrunched together, only distinguishable by the sharp teeth protruding from their mouths like those of rodents.

Lin Mo watched them step through the reed marsh one by one, knowing that the barricade spears set up in the shallows were useless.

As the faster ones approached within a few meters of the earthen slope, Lin Mo did his best to control his breathing, but the pervasive stench of rotting fish still assaulted his nostrils. He began to count silently in his heart.

Three, two, one!

Swish~

A clear, melodious whistle cut through the air. Instantly, several figures darted out from all directions, pulling on ropes with all their might.

Swish-swish-swish

The ropes silently emerged from the mud, tripping up many of the slower Water Ghosts behind them. A number of them fell in a heap, their roars and the whistle blending into one in the night.

"Light it! Charge together!"

With Lin Changshun's shout, he ignited the oil on the ropes. A spark shot up, instantly turning into a fierce tongue of flame.

Flames licked along the ropes in all directions, slicing through the thick night and the thin mist in an instant. Waves of heat rolled out, and thick black smoke billowed into the sky.

Within moments, the fire had engulfed most of the Water Ghosts, and wisps of mist rose from the burning reed marsh.

Sizzle

Whether it was the burning bodies of the Water Ghosts or oil splashing into the reeds, a pungent, acrid smell wafted in with the wind.

As the fire took hold, Lin Mo's heart filled with joy. Seeing a couple of scattered Water Ghost corpses before him, he proactively engaged them to prevent them from suddenly attacking.

Lin Mo's toes pushed off the ground. Using the momentum of his charge, he twisted his waist and turned, his right fist cocked for a White Ape Cannon Fist strike directly at the Water Ghost's chest.

Thud!

The powerful blow landed with a dull thud, as if striking a metal plate. Despite the Water Ghost's gaunt body, it staggered back a few steps, its chest caved in by more than half.

In the next moment, it lunged forward again, its rodent-like yellow teeth unevenly spaced. The nauseating, sour stench emanating from it was even stronger now.

"Still not dead? Just like zombies?"

Lin Mo hardened his resolve. Thinking of the fishermen who suffered under the Water Ghost menace and struggled to survive, a surge of anger rose within him. "Then I'll smash your head and break your neck, and see how you can cause more trouble!"

He planted his feet firmly. As his left arm extended, his entire demeanor changed. His legs bent, and he leaped forward, his right hand forming a claw.

He smashed aside the Water Ghost in front of him with his left arm, his body soaring several meters. His fingertips cut through the air with a whistling sound, like sharp metal, and plunged viciously into its neck.

Half his finger sank in. The Water Ghost still tried to move, but Lin Mo twisted and yanked his hand back, tearing out its throat along with it.

Splash...

Black blood gushed out, almost drenching him in the Water Ghost's blood. He stepped over the corpse and lunged at another Water Ghost.

His body moved ethereally as he leaped into the air. His hands came together like he was plucking peaches. The moment he leaped over its head, another Water Ghost was decapitated.

[Killed Water Ghost, Luck gathered +5]

[Killed Water Ghost, Luck gathered +5]

Within three to five breaths, under the horrified gazes of those around him, Lin Mo moved like a mad ape, tearing off the heads of two Water Ghosts.

The Jade Talisman in his mind chimed intermittently. He hadn't expected a single Water Ghost to be worth 5 Luck.

Lin Mo licked his dry lips, his fierce gaze now tinged with joy. He moved like a mad ape in the firelight, searching for scattered Water Ghosts.

There were quite a few scattered Water Ghosts; he roughly estimated there were more than ten.

Even though the villagers, in groups of three or five, were holding fishing spears and farm tools to fend off the Water Ghosts, they couldn't inflict any significant damage, resulting in a helpless stalemate.

Lin Hai glanced over and saw Lin Mo tearing apart Water Ghosts with his bare hands. He suddenly understood and quickly shouted to those around him, "Focus on their heads! Aim for their heads!"

Easier said than done!

He held his fishing spear, gathering all his strength. Veins bulged on his arms as he thrust the spear at a Water Ghost's head, but it barely penetrated.

At best, he could only scrape the scalp and draw a little inconsequential blood.

"Why is it so hard?!"

Lin Hai gritted his teeth and growled, his eyes red. He tried to thrust again, but the Water Ghost turned, and the spear missed.

Momentarily losing his balance from the exertion, he stumbled towards the Water Ghost, its foul stench just inches away. He instinctively closed his eyes.

My life is over!

Just as the thought crossed his mind, a much faster figure flashed past. Lin Hai felt a sharp wind sting his ears.

Thump!

When he opened his eyes again, he was lying face down on the headless corpse of a Water Ghost, his hands covered in blood.

Lin Hai stood up, looking with disbelief at the figure sprinting into the distance. The clean, decisive, yet frenzied figure was seared into his mind. He swallowed hard.

"Brother Mo, is he already a great martial artist? Truly beyond mortal..."

One, two, three...

Lin Mo had almost annihilated all the scattered water corpses before he stood in place, still not entirely satisfied, watching the fire with the others.

Only after the surge of blood essence subsided did he feel a piercing pain in his fingers. Surprised, he raised his hand to look.

To his dismay, not a single fingernail on his ten fingers remained intact. Either the skin was peeled back or most of the nail had fallen off, revealing bloody nail beds.

"Fortunately, the harvest was good..."

Lin Mo sank his consciousness, checking his Jade Talisman. His Luck had already surged to over sixty.

As the fire died down, the Jade Talisman vibrated again.

His Luck count shot up by a significant chunk.

[United the strength of many, slayed Water Ghosts, Luck gathered +20]

[Luck: 86]

Taking advantage of the abundance of Luck, since [Observe Qi and People] hadn't improved, Lin Mo decided to upgrade it twice at once, pushing this white destiny towards the edge of becoming green.

[Luck broke through, consumed *20, Observe Qi and People -> Insightful Eye]

With the simultaneous upgrade, he felt a surge like a wave rise from his dantian, and his eyes tingled with an itchy numbness. He endured the discomfort and checked the Water Ghost corpses before returning to sit cross-legged under the tree roots.

At first, it was just a tingling sensation in his eyes. He tried to circulate his blood essence to guide the wave from his dantian, but inadvertently, it rushed into his meridians, even breaking through his blood essence bottleneck along the way.

"I've already reached Great Accomplishment in First Level?"

Before Lin Mo could even rejoice, the wave surged towards his eyes. The needle-like pain made him gasp involuntarily, and tears streamed down his face.

If one looked closely, they would notice that the seemingly clear tears were mixed with several streams of murky, ink-like filth.

When he opened his eyes again, the world seemed remarkably clear.

"What exactly does this [Insightful Eye] do?"