After quite a while, Sun Yiqiu finally let out a breath of relief. He patted his chest and asked the Ferryman.
"Boatman, what was that just now?"
"Who knows."
The Ferryman seemed uninterested. He continued poling and rowing, but after the boat had traveled for a while, Sun Yiqiu suddenly felt his chest turn scalding hot. Then a force surged up from within him, giving him a forward thrust.
"Hey, hey, hey, ah—"
Sun Yiqiu lunged straight to the edge of the boat. Several ghosts beside him tried to grab him, but before they could reach him, Sun Yiqiu fell into the water with a splash.
Only then did the Ferryman swing his long pole over to stop him, but it was already too late.
"Boatman, save me! Save me—"
Sun Yiqiu shouted. Countless hands emerged from the surrounding water, all reaching for him as he fell in. Laughter, weeping, and shrieks mingled into an unending cacophony. In an instant, Sun Yiqiu was dragged far from the ferry boat, little by little into the deep water.
"Save me!"
The Ferryman on the ferry boat merely sighed and made no further move. The ghosts aboard huddled together, staring into the water in terror. Sun Yiqiu's entire struggle lasted only a few breaths. After being dragged under by countless Ghost Hands, he quickly went still.
"Alright, all of you, watch yourselves."
The ferry boat departed.
On Sun Yiqiu's side, countless Ghost Hands seized him and dragged him into the fathomless Yellow Springs. Yet a faint silver light covered the surface of his body, like a thin membrane. Countless pale or grotesque hands tried to tear at Sun Yiqiu, but none could break through that membrane. Countless mournful, horrifying faces flashed before his eyes, yet none could truly seize him.
Sun Yiqiu had