The three female ghosts went their separate ways.
Following Yang Yong's instructions, the Red-Clothed Female Ghost drifted toward the village, the White-Clothed Love Letter Ghost went to the edge of Black Water Marsh, and the Little Girl Eerie stayed where she was, awaiting orders.
The three shadows scattered into the gray mist and vanished within a few breaths.
Long Ya laid her gun across her knees and turned to Yang Yong. "Master, weren't we heading to Cockscomb Mountain?"
"Why did you send them to investigate Black Water Marsh?"
Yang Yong leaned back in the driver's seat, eyes closed, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.
"There's a stratagem called Besiege Wei to Rescue Zhao. Ever learned it?"
"I have." Long Ya nodded.
"Then tell me how to use it."
Long Ya frowned in thought for a while, her eyes slowly widening. "While all those water ghosts are out and their lair is empty, we go hit them from behind?"
"Right."
Yang Yong opened his eyes. "If they're surrounding the village, they must have left something to guard their home."
"I sent the Red-Clothed Female Ghost to see whether those things stayed behind."
Long Ya immediately perked up and tapped the gun barrel twice with a finger, as though working a little abacus.
She had picked up that gesture from Yang Yong, though he hadn't noticed it himself.
"Then when do we make our move?"
"No rush."
Yang Yong said, "Let's see what else is hiding in Black Water Marsh first."
Liu San was crouched at the back of the truck, clumsily peeling potatoes.
Yang Yong had rewarded him with cooking duty.
The man was about as capable as Long Ya; all he knew was boiling things in water.
The potatoes were cut into uneven pieces, some as thick as a