Chapter 98: The Elusive Water Specter

Zhang Shouzhen’s method of attack was direct and decisive. He utilized the pure yang energy within his primordial spirit to disperse the ghastly aura. The female ghost struggled desperately, her face contorting into an expression of pleading, yet Zhang Shouzhen remained stone-faced.

After breaking free, the young man cast a look of profound gratitude toward Zhang Shouzhen before sweeping his hands to either side, utilizing the buoyancy of the water to make his way to the shore.

A vivid talisman was etched into the center of the ghost’s forehead. The searing heat of the pure yang energy caused her once delicate features to twist, and her body began to swell, returning to the exact state in which she had first appeared.

"A ghost thrall, hmph. Speak—who is controlling you?"

Zhang Shouzhen remained unmoved, staring coldly at the entity. Based on the mark upon her brow, it was clear she had been reduced to a ghost thrall, driven by the will of another.

"I... I don’t know. I only follow orders. If I speak, my master will scatter my soul to the winds. Please, I beg you, let me go, let me go!"

The female ghost shrieked, sending ripples of water scattering in all directions. She was in agony, yet being ensnared, she could not escape.

"Very well. I will erase the seal, and you may go to be reincarnated."

Zhang Shouzhen tapped her forehead with his other hand, and the crimson seal was forcibly wiped away. He then released her.

The ghost’s expression softened considerably. Her long hair drifted in the water, and she wore a green plaid shirt; she was, in fact, a beautiful woman.

After the seal was removed, she looked at Zhang Shouzhen with deep gratitude. "Thank you for helping me break free; otherwise, I do not know how long I would have been driven by others. This Mirror Lake is not as simple as you imagine. Many have died here, their bones buried deep beneath the lake bed, and someone specifically controls these remains. However, my own bones have already been reduced to ash by your fire, so this is true liberation. Had you merely erased the seal without that, I could never have left. As a token of my thanks, this is all I can tell you."

As she finished speaking, her voice faded, and her form blurred, finally dissolving into specks of light within the water.

Zhang Shouzhen was about to investigate the depths of the lake when he sensed a vast, sinister power rapidly approaching. He immediately flew out of the water to return to his physical body.

The primordial spirit is ethereal, coming and going without a trace, which is why Zhang Shouzhen chose to project it. Upon returning to his body, he found the boy who had fallen into the water sitting on the ground, gasping for air. Pale and terrified, the youth stammered, "I am Liu Ming of the Wind and Fire Sect. This place is far too dangerous. I saw my fellow junior sister fall into the water and dove in to save her, only to find it was a female corpse!"

"You’re finished. You’ve likely already been exposed," Jiang Puti said, shrugging his shoulders as he looked at Liu Ming with a pitying expression.

"We are trapped within a nested formation. On the surface, it appears to be a Confusion Array, but it is combined with the water-based malevolence of Mirror Lake, creating illusions that are invisible to ordinary people but clear to those of the Daoist arts. Everyone, do not be deceived," Jiang Mingyue said, her breath coming in heavy gasps as she halted her pace.

"If it were merely water-based malevolence, that would be one thing, but there are many ghost thralls in Mirror Lake, their remains all buried at the bottom. When I saved Liu Ming, I encountered one. She was only at the Qi-Consumption stage, but according to her, there are many more within." Zhang Shouzhen frowned. If this were true, aside from the grand killing formation, the lake itself was a treacherous place.

"It’s no use; I can no longer maintain control with my mountain-moving techniques. Liu Ming, you cannot stay here. You must have been noticed by Teacher Qian Hui when you went into the water. If you want to live, do not come to school tomorrow. You must leave us now; if you stay, we will all be discovered," Fan Xiaopang panted, his plump frame trembling.

"My thanks to you all for today. If there is ever a time when the Wind and Fire Sect can be of service, I, Liu Ming, will surely do my utmost to help." The youth bowed to the group and, without another word, fled the scene.

"Three, two, one!" Fan Xiaopang released his hold, and with the help of Zhang Shouzhen and Jiang Puti, he stood up. At that moment, Jiang Mingyue chuckled, a glint of cunning in her eyes. "Is anyone there? Where has everyone gone? We’re lost."

Before long, the surrounding fog began to dissipate, and the figures of the other students reappeared. Qian Hui emerged from the woods, smoothing her somewhat disheveled hair. "Students, do not panic. This is a unique spectacle of Mirror Lake. It produces this thick fog every so often. As long as you do not wander off, you will be safe, and it will clear on its own after a while."

"So that’s it. No wonder this is a holy site for lovers; with this fog, the teachers can’t find you."

"Indeed, this is a fine place. We must come here often."

"Very well, now that we have been delayed for so long, the school day is nearly over. Remember to come early tomorrow, students," Qian Hui said with a beaming smile. Her gaze landed on the drenched Liu Ming, the corners of her mouth curling slightly upward. She then departed for the administration building.

A few moments later, she reached the administration office. She knocked lightly on the door, which was left ajar. She pushed it open, stepped inside, and locked the door behind her.

Inside sat a middle-aged man with a potbelly and a bald head, wearing thick-rimmed glasses.

"Huihui, you’re here. How is the situation with Class One?" the man asked in a muffled, nasal voice.

"Oh, you’re annoying. The moment I arrive, you order me to do this and that." Qian Hui took off her glasses, pouted, walked over to the man, sat on his lap, and poked him lightly in the chest with her finger.

The man buried his face in her chest, inhaled greedily, and then grabbed her firmly, laughing. "Isn't this all for our future, Huihui?"

"Annoying. You’re always touching me the moment I arrive. I did have some success today; I discovered a Daoist practitioner." Qian Hui tilted her head back, enjoying the sensation, her arms wrapped around his neck as she let out a soft moan.

"Only one? I heard there were quite a few Daoist practitioners in Class One. That information shouldn't be wrong."

The man squeezed her tightly, causing Qian Hui to let out a coquettish cry. Her face flushed as she said, "It’s true, I could have observed more, but there were some minor complications. Don't worry, I will handle this."

"Good. To reward you, I shall feed you well today, my charming little vixen!" The man chuckled, reached out to tear at her clothes, and pounced upon her like a wolf.