Seeing such a scene, Mo Ting and I tensed up.
But our masters still told us to remain quiet and not move.
We could only endure.
Silently, we watched the chilling and terrifying scene before us.
The water ghost extended its blood-red tongue and exhaled.
With its tongue, it licked the back of Steward Li's neck.
Then it retracted its tongue, looking extremely satisfied.
A look of ecstasy appeared on its pale face.
As if sensing something, Steward Li subconsciously touched the back of his neck with his hand.
He shivered, then looked back.
Although the water ghost was right beside him, Steward Li saw nothing when he looked back.
He merely tightened his arms and walked a few steps to the side.
The water ghosts surrounding him crawled a few more steps behind him.
All of them extended their blood-red tongues and licked Steward Li's body.
Several of them also stood up.
Their bodies were dripping wet, and water pooled on the ground...
One or two even tentatively reached out their claws to scratch Steward Li.
But perhaps due to his fear of the box in his hand, they never struck with full force.
This scene was agonizing.
Fortunately, Steward Li couldn't see them, otherwise, he might have been scared to death.
We continued to hide, waiting silently.
The water ghosts' movements grew bolder and their courage increased.
At first, they only extended their tongues, occasionally licking Steward Li's exposed skin.
But now, these water ghosts had revealed their fangs.
Several times, they tentatively tried to bite Steward Li.
They also let out low growls of "wuwuwu."
Although I watched nervously, I also noticed Master Tang and my master.
Although they kept signaling Mo Ting and me not to move or make a sound,
their right hands were always forming a sword finger seal.
Clearly, they were prepared.
At the critical moment, they would have a way to save Steward Li.
Otherwise, why would they form the sword finger seal?
This situation continued for another three to five minutes.
Among the water ghosts, one might have been unable to resist the temptation of Steward Li, a living person.
After struggling uncomfortably, it suddenly glared.
It shoved aside the two water ghosts sucking its vital energy and,
with a low "wu" growl,
lunged to bite Steward Li.
And at that very growl, Steward Li's underworld path seemed to be shaken open.
Steward Li's vision blurred. The surroundings that were empty just moments ago
were now densely populated with malevolent spirits.
One of them, with an exceptionally fierce expression, opened its mouth and lunged at his neck.
This sudden change terrified Steward Li, and he cried out, "Ah!"
He fell onto the ground, his entire body filled with immense fear.
"Don't, don't come over, don't come over..."
Steward Li screamed in terror, kicking his legs and scrambling backward.
But the water ghost also pounced.
It landed directly on Steward Li, its dark, empty eyes wide, its face contorted with ferocity, revealing its fangs and tongue.
"Eat, I'm going to eat you..."
"No, don't!"
Steward Li instinctively raised his hands to shield himself, his body trembling uncontrollably.
Seeing this, Master Tang and my master raised their right hands in sword finger seals.
Clearly, they were about to chant spells.
However, at this critical juncture,
the flock of crows in the big tree began to caw loudly, "Wawa wawa."
The caws were dense and appeared suddenly.
And as the "wawa wawa" of the crows sounded,
the surrounding water ghosts seemed startled.
Each one of them looked up at the big tree in terror and began to retreat.
At the same time, a deep voice echoed from the darkness behind the tree:
"Scram!"
The voice was penetrating.
As soon as it sounded, the water ghost that was about to bite Steward Li, terrified, retreated repeatedly and trembled all over.
Its entire body collapsed onto the ground, shaking uncontrollably.
As if experiencing the most terrifying shock.
Master Tang and my master, who were by my side, immediately withdrew their sword finger seals.
They both said in low voices:
"He's here!"
Upon hearing this, Mo Ting and I tensed our nerves and gripped our peach wood swords.
Mo Ting even held his breath and swallowed hard.
One shout had repelled over a dozen water ghosts; this person was likely extraordinary.
The next moment, we saw a dark figure slowly emerge from the direction of the big tree, walking towards Steward Li.
From our position, we could only see the man's profile.
He wore a gray robe, his complexion was sallow and thin.
As soon as he appeared, he said in a dry voice:
"Mr. Li, I apologize for frightening you."
Steward Li was still trembling, but upon seeing the gray-robed man, his emotions stabilized slightly.
"Dao... Daozhang..."
"Heh heh heh! Mr. Li, you brought the box, didn't you?"
The gray-robed man continued, a sinister smile playing on his lips.
After speaking, he extended a hand to Steward Li.
Steward Li's eyes were filled with fear.
He forced down his anxiety at this moment.
Trembling, he got up from the ground.
"I... I brought it!"
As he answered, he cautiously handed over a box he had been protecting in his arms.
Seeing this, the gray-robed man nodded happily:
"Good, good. Your box, it's exactly ten years tonight."
With that, he took the box with one hand.
Although Steward Li was very frightened, he still remembered what Master had told him when he came.
Panting, he tried to compose himself:
"Dao... Daozhang, now, now can you let, let my wife and children, my wife and children go to reincarnation?"
The gray-robed Taoist who took the box gave a cold laugh:
"Reincarnation?
Hahaha...
My pool of water slaves is still hungry!"