I Only Want to Lie Flat But Am Forced to Cultivate Immortality
Chapter 175 - 109: Hunter, Prey

Chapter 175: Chapter 109: Hunter, Prey

Fear is where ghosts reside, itch is where fleas thrive.

The more a person worries about something, the more likely it will happen.

The Daoist was far away on the opposite bank, yet even with a rapid river in between, everyone still felt a tightness in their scalps.

Baisha Ferry is a tributary of Baisha River. If Baisha River was a giant tree, then Baisha Ferry would be a small twig on it.

At present, a group of constables were exerting themselves to steer the boat, like an ant clinging to the twig, swaying up and down in the turbulent river water.

"Zhao Yuan, quickly go back to the cabin and look after Shopkeeper Xu and Steward Cai, I’ll steer here!" Zhao Zhonghe shouted to his nephew.

Back then, his nephew and Xu Qing participated in the child student exams together in the same year.

However, the Zhao Family did not have the fortune of scholars; Zhao Yuan studied diligently for five or six years and still failed the child student exams.

Since the scholarly path was a dead end, Zhao Zhonghe had Zhao Yuan work under his command as a Government Official.

"I’m not going!" Zhao Yuan understood Zhao Zhonghe’s intent; he resolutely refused, "Everyone else is outside risking their lives; my life isn’t more precious than others. Why should I hide in the cabin?"

As he spoke, Zhao Yuan went to the edge of the boat, joining the other officials with their blades ready, facing the potential crisis.

At this moment, on the riverbank’s shallows, a Waterwork Daoist in a deep green robe was strolling along.

The boat in the river went further away, and the Daoist’s figure grew smaller.

However, Zhao Zhonghe’s vigilance did not ease.

The reason was simple: the Water Monkey beside the Daoist had vanished without a trace.

Zhao Zhonghe thought only of one possibility – the Water Monkey had gone under water, ready to attack at any moment!

"Watch beneath the boat!"

With everyone’s nerves tense, the boat suddenly jolted upon being struck by an unseen object.

Xu Qing stood on the deck, his gaze intense.

Using his Qi Observation Skill, he could clearly see a blob of deep crimson Gale Qi following the boat underwater.

Judging by its form, it resembled a Water Monkey.

Looking back at the people striving to propel the boat, Xu Qing frowned.

This Waterwork Daoist obviously harbored malice. If he did not act soon, the Water Monkey would certainly claim the lives of everyone aboard.

Returning alone to Linhe would make explanations difficult.

But to act would contradict his principle of discreetly handling corpses amidst the tumult.

Xu Qing glanced at Zhao Zhonghe steering at the stern and then at the other constables rowing the boat.

What was limiting his performance was not the Water Monkey, but these constables.

Xu Qing began planning how to render these people unconscious without their awareness in the shortest time possible.

At the precise moment when everyone’s attention was on the water, Xu Qing quietly approached Zhao Zhonghe from behind.

Raising his hand, wreathed in faint traces of Yin energy, Xu Qing was about to strike when the Water Monkey suddenly broke the surface and charged at Zhao Yuan, who was propelling the boat.

Xu Qing’s heart skipped a beat.

He withdrew his hand and quickly moved behind Zhao Yuan, then grabbed him by the collar and threw him aside.

The prey and hunter had swapped places; Xu Qing confronted the incoming Water Monkey.

The Water Monkey’s eyes flickered briefly but its pouncing motion did not falter.

"Splash—"

Water sprayed everywhere as Zhao Yuan clung to the bow, shouting.

"Brother Xu!"

The water surface quickly returned to normal; both Xu Qing and the Water Monkey had disappeared.

Gritting his teeth, Zhao Yuan stepped back, made a leap, and plunged into the water.

"Zhao Yuan!"

The constables exclaimed, as the boat still moved swiftly. At the stern, Zhao Zhonghe saw the two splashes left behind by Zhao Yuan.

"Old Xue, take the helm!"

Zhao Zhonghe shouted, and another larger splash appeared in the river.

The constable named Old Xue took the helm at the stern. The surrounding constables stopped rowing; with their leader gone, they were at a loss.

Tall and thin, Xue constable shouted urgently, "Why are you standing still? Keep rowing and steering the boat!"

One constable suggested, "The constable fell into the water, we should turn back to rescue him. Old Xue, if you don’t steer, how can we row the boat..."

Old Xue angrily retorted, "Turn back for what? Those are Water Ghosts; anyone falling into the water will meet their end! Would you rather live or die?"

"You all have families; I have mine too. If anyone dares act rashly, I’ll chop them up before the Water Ghosts can even get to them!"

The constables looked at each other. One silently raised his pole, and others followed suit, without further protest.

"A bunch of cowards! How does Chief Zhao treat you daily? If you won’t go, I will!"

One constable drew his saber, held it between his teeth, and resolutely jumped into the river.

In the cabin, Steward Cai closed the wooden planks, hiding in the compartment holding the fish catch, eyes shut tightly, quivering, praying for the River God’s protection.

At the stern, Xue constable nervously watched the rapidly receding river, feeling a mix of fear and a peculiar thrill.

Chief Zhao is likely done for. When they return to the Patrol Office, his seniority would likely earn him the position of Chief...

...

North of Baisha Ferry.

Xu Qing had already been taken to the riverbank by the Water Monkey.

Along the way, the Water Monkey didn’t spare any effort to torment him, including but not limited to filling his mouth with river sand, strangling with water grass, submerging his lungs in river water...

Yet, Xu Qing remained unscathed, maintaining his prey-like demeanor, like a reincarnated turtle.

The Water Monkey was agitated as if being scratched inside by a cat; it had never encountered anyone so hard to kill.

It even began to doubt whether its Demon Techniques were faulty.

Dragging the prey to the shore, the Water Monkey circled Xu Qing repeatedly to probe, while Xu Qing sat on the ground calmly, like a Buddha statue.

A high-level hunter often appears as the prey.

At this moment, Xu Qing was exceedingly patient.

His target had never been the Water Monkey, but the Waterwork Daoist behind it.

The river breeze blew, and familiar voices echoed from nearby.

Xu Qing frowned, as the Water Monkey immediately turned its attention to the voices.

Abandoning Xu Qing, it submerged itself in the river, heading towards the direction of the voices.

Is it trying to cause more trouble for him!

Xu Qing used his Light Body Technique to get ahead of the Water Monkey and reach the riverbank first.

Seeing the soaking wet Zhao Zhonghe and his nephew Zhao Yuan, Xu Qing’s figure, like a specter, appeared behind them unnoticed.

"You’re crazy. If anything happens to you, how would I explain to your father?"

"Uncle, stop saying these things. We need to find Brother Xu quickly..."

"Uncle?"

Zhao Yuan was about to search the riverbank, but didn’t hear a response from Zhao Zhonghe. Turning around, he saw his uncle had collapsed motionless to the ground.

"Uncle!"

Zhao Yuan called out, rushing forward to help, but before he could take a few steps, a bone-chilling wind struck his nape.

With a groan, the uncle and nephew collapsed consecutively.

At the riverbank, the drenched Water Monkey emerged from the water, looking around but saw no living person; that indestructible man was still sitting there.

Moreover, his posture and demeanor hadn’t changed one bit since before it submerged.

Playing dead?

The Water Monkey eyed Xu Qing with suspicion, tonight’s events were eerie enough to exceed its understanding.

Pretending as if nothing had happened, Xu Qing was even more tense than the Water Monkey.

He sensed that the corpse of the Celestial Wu Demon Observation Dao must be extraordinary. Based on his previous exorcism experiences, bodies of cultivators with transcendental abilities in their life often granted valuable rewards.

Using himself as bait, he’d hoped to draw out the master behind the Water Monkey.

Hunting the Water Monkey would yield at most its corpse and a few years of spiritual practice, far less rewarding than exorcising the Waterwork Daoist.

At the riverbank, the Water Monkey hesitated but ultimately chose to dive back into the water.

Xu Qing felt exasperated; what did this mean?

Had he been busy for nothing all night!

Glancing towards the concealed Zhao Zhonghe and Zhao Yuan, Xu Qing was about to return when he heard footsteps crushing gravel from a distance.

Turning his head, he saw a Daoist in deep green robes leisurely approaching.

Well, isn’t that the one!

Xu Qing, who had been frustrated, now beamed with a smile.

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