On Shou Shi Jiang's boat, a white paper lantern hung.
It looked rather strange.
Coupled with his profession, which was collecting corpses.
The surrounding fishermen were all relatively superstitious.
Seeing Shou Shi Jiang rowing towards the pier.
Several small boats actually proactively loosened their ropes and moved away, not wanting to be too close to Shou Shi Jiang's boat.
Lao Mo and I paid no attention to this, moving closer and arriving at the side of the pier.
Shou Shi Jiang rowed his small boat directly to the pier.
Seeing the two of us, he spoke directly:
"On board!"
Lao Mo and I did not hesitate and jumped aboard.
Because the boat was very small, the moment we both boarded, the boat began to sway.
Lao Mo and I were both a bit unaccustomed to it.
But Shou Shi Jiang's feet seemed rooted, unaffected by anything.
"Hahaha, it's not like the land on the water, you two, stand firm."
After saying that, Shou Shi Jiang rowed the small boat away from the pier.
That night, a thin mist rose from the river, drifting slowly under the glow of the lantern.
The river surface also looked very calm.
But who could have imagined that beneath this calm river surface, there was a powerful evil spirit.
"Master Jiang, where are we rowing to?
We have another friend who will arrive at the pier later to meet up with us?"
I asked.
Upon hearing this, Shou Shi Jiang let out an "Oh":
"Another friend?"
"Yes, it's the old ghost from this river before. We know him, and we're here to help him reclaim his river dwelling."
Lao Mo answered directly.
He did not mention Qing Dai or the Nine Saint Princess.
Hearing this, Shou Shi Jiang couldn't help but look at us more closely.
He had been following his grandfather to collect corpses on the Qingshan River since he was fifteen, becoming a corpse collector for the Qingshan River.
Counting it up, it had been over forty years.
He knew what was in this river better than anyone.
He naturally knew about the old ghost in the river.
It was just that this old ghost did not harm people, and had even helped him save people in the river several times.
He had also tried to contact the old ghost.
After all, people had good and bad, and ghosts also had good and evil.
But this old ghost in the river did not appreciate it.
Although they were in the same river.
He was above, the ghost was below.
But the two of them never made contact.
At most, he might help him when saving someone.
During festivals, Shou Shi Jiang would also drop some offerings for the old ghost to eat.
Now that an evil spirit had appeared in the river, he had even thought that the old ghost in the river might have been eaten.
He had been furious and wanted to avenge the evil spirit.
But he had tried several times and could not defeat the evil spirit.
Just as he was thinking what to do, he met Lao Mo and me today.
Now, hearing that Lao Mo and I were friends with the old ghost he had known for forty years.
This made him feel shocked.
"You, you know the old ghost in this river, he, he's still alive?"
Shou Shi Jiang asked in surprise.
Seeing this, Lao Mo and I exchanged glances instinctively.
Why was Shou Shi Jiang reacting so strongly to Hei Tou?
But we nodded:
"He's alive, hiding in Qingshui Stream now.
We just went to find him.
And told him we would meet at the pier later."
I said truthfully.
After all, according to Hei Tou's intelligence, that evil spirit had the cultivation of the True Light realm.
It was an evil spirit of the Red Robe level.
A very terrifying existence, not easy to deal with.
One more person meant one more strength.
If Hei Tou could provide assistance underwater, we would have a much greater chance of dealing with the evil spirit.
Shou Shi Jiang nodded:
"Alright, then we'll wait for him.
But speaking of which, this old man has been rowing boats and collecting corpses in this river with my grandfather since I was fifteen, and it's been over forty years.
Although I know of the old ghost's existence, he never shows himself.
How did you two juniors befriend him?"
Shou Shi Jiang was very curious, his eyes wide as he looked at us.
Lao Mo remained silent for a moment, looking at me.
After all, Hei Tou's matter involved Qing Dai.
I thought for a moment, then lied:
"Oh! It was my master who knew the old ghost, and he introduced me."
My master had already passed away, so I could say whatever I wanted now, as no one could verify it.
As for Qing Dai, it was best to keep her secret.
She was a wanted criminal by the Underworld.
The Black and White Impermanence were both hunting her.
Casually exposing her existence might bring her some unnecessary danger.
I thought to myself.
Shou Shi Jiang looked at me a few times, I didn't know if he believed it, but he just nodded and said nothing more.
Next, the three of us sat on the small boat.
Waiting for the old ghost Hei Tou to join us.
Shou Shi Jiang stopped rowing and took out his tobacco pouch, preparing to take a few puffs.
I looked around.
It was pitch black all around, with only a faint light from the direction of the pier.
And I noticed that the fog around was getting heavier.
And this fog was not ordinary water mist.
It was Yin mist.
When the Yin energy became too heavy, it condensed into tangible mist.
And under the Yin mist, it seemed like large fish were swimming, creating slight ripples.
"In just a moment, such thick Yin mist has gathered around. It's so cold!"
Lao Mo said, looking at the surroundings in surprise.
Shou Shi Jiang took a puff of his cigarette and gave a disdainful laugh.
Perhaps he had been lonely for too long, and now that there was someone to talk to, he began to chat with us:
"On the river, it's like crossing the River Styx.
Countless people have drowned in this river.
After their death, if there is no expert to escort their souls for salvation, they can never leave the river water.
Over time, the number of wronged souls in this river has increased.
The Yin energy has naturally become heavier.
There is an old saying in our profession: It's better to die on the river than to be born on the river.
On the river, two things are most taboo.
First, a child born on the river.
Newborns will make the wandering souls in the river agitated, even angry.
They will come to claim their lives.
Second, a weak destiny.
If someone has a weak destiny.
As long as they are on the great river on this dark night, they will surely be claimed by Yin ghosts.
Because those ghosts want to reincarnate.
They all want to find substitutes, and people with weak destinies are the best choice.
The black fish you see churning under the Yin mist are actually those wronged souls who died in vain!"