Cao Yu nodded upon hearing this and drove towards the Min River.
A long time passed.
Zhang Wei arrived at the scene of a murder case by the Min River.
The Min River is vast, spanning four cities in the Fujian region, making it the longest river in the area. It supports numerous industries such as trade, tourism, machinery, and hydropower. Zhang Wei and his team were heading to a spot on its banks.
The water flow at that particular bank was not rapid, making it a popular spot for fishing enthusiasts. The incident occurred at night when a night angler was dragged into the water. Several companions attempted to rescue him, but not only the person dragged in, but also those who went in to save him, never returned.
As soon as he got out of the car.
Zhang Wei saw a large crowd of onlookers by the riverbank.
Although the bank had been cordoned off with yellow tape, warning people not to get too close, many still lingered.
Looking closer.
Some people were burning incense by the riverbank. They were the families and friends of the anglers who had been dragged into the river and killed by the water ghost, including the few anglers who were present at the time. The rest were simply curious onlookers, whispering and discussing amongst themselves.
"This must be the work of a water monkey, dragging people into the water as substitutes to reincarnate."
The speaker was a nearby villager, who, upon hearing about the deaths, was discussing it with his companion.
The term "water monkey" he used meant "water ghost." In some folk traditions, water ghosts are often referred to as water monkeys.
His words.
Caused many around to murmur.
"Oh, come on, water monkey? What era is this? I think that person just slipped and fell in."
"Then how do you explain that the people who went in to save him also died? I knew that person, he was a swimming instructor. My daughter learned to swim from him."
"Being able to swim doesn't mean you won't die in the water. Haven't you seen the news? It's often those who are good swimmers who die. They get overconfident, thinking they're fine, and then they're gone in an instant."
"I think so too. Besides, saving someone is different from swimming. If the person being rescued struggles, it can easily lead to the death of the rescuer."
"No! That was the water ghost that killed them. I was there at the time, I saw it with my own eyes. I saw a hand pull Ah Yong into the water. If I hadn't been taking a crap and playing on my phone nearby, I would have even filmed it."
The speaker was a friend of one of the victims. He confidently took out his phone and said:
"Look, isn't there a black hand in the water where Ah Yong was fishing? That's the water ghost. I even saw the water ghost's eyes. I was so scared then, and I was still on the toilet, so I didn't have time to film it. Speaking of which, if I hadn't been on the toilet, I might have been dragged in by the water ghost too."
Zhang Wei overheard their conversation.
However, Zhang Wei did not approach them. Even without looking at the photos, he knew the other person was telling the truth.
He looked towards the Min River ahead. Through his Heavenly Eye, he saw a chilling, dark aura by the bank where the deceased anglers were. That was the residual Yin energy of a ghost.
At this moment.
Listening to the surrounding conversations, Cao Yu said to Zhang Wei:
"It's not just this one incident. There have been several others nearby. We've tried to search for the bodies in the water. I even invited my dad to bring his water motorcycle, which was blessed by the Qilin Guard. We couldn't find the water ghost, and it almost capsized my water motorcycle."
In his words.
Cao Yu recalled the situation when he learned about this and came to exorcise the ghost, shuddering with lingering fear.
"Fortunately, my water motorcycle was blessed by a Ghost King-level Qilin Guard, which blocked the water ghost's attack. Otherwise, I would have died too. It was from that incident that I confirmed it was a Ghost King-level water ghost."
His words.
Because it involved a Ghost King-level ghost, Zhang Wei didn't have time to praise Cao Yu for developing his ghost-exorcising spiritual vehicle into an amphibious one.
He gazed into the seemingly endless Min River ahead and said:
"This Min River is very long and wide, spanning four cities. The area is too large. If we want to search for the water ghost, it's difficult to find. However, this is the last place the water ghost appeared, so it must still be nearby in a short period."
"Therefore, we cannot delay. I'll take this mission. I need to find it while the water ghost is still around."
Cao Yu was stunned for a moment upon hearing this, then quickly nodded and said:
"We're looking for it now? So soon?! Then Brother Wei, wait for me. I'll go get my water motorcycle. Wait for me a moment..."
However, before he could finish speaking.
Zhang Wei interrupted him with a gesture:
"No need to bring the water motorcycle. I'm not going to search on the river."
"Ah?!"
Cao Yu's expression changed, and he cried out in surprise as if he had thought of something.
"Not searching on the river, then how will we find the water ghost? Damn it! Brother Wei, are you going into the river to search?!"
Zhang Wei nodded noncommittally and said directly:
"The Min River is deep. If the water ghost hides at the bottom, it will be difficult to find. Only by going into the river will it be easier to find it. We can clearly see the situation in the river and find the water ghost more easily."
His words.
Cao Yu immediately gave Zhang Wei a thumbs-up:
"As expected of Brother Wei. If I had to go into the water to find a Ghost King-level water ghost, even if my strength was also Ghost King-level, I wouldn't dare. You're so brave, Brother Wei. But Brother Wei, you have to be careful too. Stay safe."
Saying this, he immediately turned to go get the vehicle.
"Brother Wei, I'll go prepare a diving suit, oxygen tank, and other things for you right now."
"No need to prepare those," Zhang Wei stopped Cao Yu once again.
"Ah????"
Cao Yu was once again bewildered, staring blankly at Zhang Wei with wide eyes.
"No diving suit and oxygen tank? Then how are you going into the river? Damn it! Brother Wei, are you going into the river naked? Don't do that, Brother Wei. Although you can hold your breath for a long time at the airport without dying, this is in the water."
"Who said I was going into the river naked?"
Zhang Wei, knowing what Cao Yu was thinking, smiled and said frankly:
"I said I need to go into the river to find the water ghost, so it's easier to find it. But I didn't say I would personally go into the river, nor that you would."
"Then who will?"
Cao Yu was stunned and asked subconsciously.
In response.
Zhang Wei took out six spherical objects from his pocket. These six objects looked identical, like spheres, about the size of a palm. The upper half was red, and the lower half was white. There was also a raised circular light-like object in the middle between the upper and lower halves.
Holding these six objects, he said:
"These will go into the water."
Cao Yu was stunned upon seeing this, looking at Zhang Wei as if he had seen a ghost. It wasn't for any other reason than that he recognized what these six objects were...
These were the Poké Balls from the anime "Pokémon" he watched as a child!
"Brother Wei, are you kidding me? Poké Balls??? What are you doing? Are you going to capture the water ghost king with Poké Balls? Are you going to challenge the Fire-type gym next? Or are you going to release a Water-type Pokémon to exorcise the ghost in the river? Stop joking, Brother Wei, this isn't funny."
Facing Cao Yu's helpless teasing, Zhang Wei smiled and said nothing. It was better to act than to explain.
Immediately.
He pulled Cao Yu to a spot away from the onlookers and then threw the Poké Balls towards the riverbank.
"I choose you, Squirtle."
As the words were spoken.
[Ding! System points increased by 40,000 for blessing six Squirtle Poké Ball toys]
[Ghost Back Tattoo activated, borrowing some of the strength of the Willow Elder and bestowing it upon the six Squirtle Poké Ball toys]
The system notification sounded immediately.
Zhang Wei threw out the six toy Poké Balls.
The next second.
The six Poké Balls landed, each shooting out a red beam of light. To Cao Yu's stunned gaze, the beams enlarged and condensed, forming blue turtle-like creatures standing upright.
At the same moment.
The turtles let out cries of 'Squirtle, Squirtle.'
Looking at the appearance of those turtle-like creatures, their bodies were blue, their heads were very round, and the back of their shells was brown, with a tail like a small wave. Their front and hind limbs were three-toed and very short. Their appearance was too similar, no, it was more than similar, it was real.
Cao Yu was stunned. When the sound of Squirtle echoed in his ears, one of the creatures even ran to his feet, patted his leg, and looked curious.
Feeling the warmth of the creature's small hand, Cao Yu's eyes widened, and he grabbed his head, exclaiming:
"Oh my god?! A, a, a, a, a living... Squirtle!?"