The sudden change took the three of us on the boat by complete surprise.
The drowning ghosts that appeared before were just slapping the bottom of the boat.
Then they'd create some ghost-headed waves, trying to capsize us.
But now, it was a different story.
The water ghosts that appeared in the black water could actually climb out of the river.
As soon as one was cut down, a second, third, and fourth would emerge from the water.
Extending their withered hands, they grabbed the gunwales and tried to climb onto the small boat.
"Holy shit, so many?"
Old Mo exclaimed in surprise.
Master Jiang also gasped, perhaps this was something he hadn't anticipated.
Holding my peach wood sword, I slashed at several water ghosts trying to climb onto the boat.
Simultaneously, I shouted to Old Mo:
"Old Mo, deal with these water ghosts first, don't use the Demon Suppressing Net."
"Alright!"
Old Mo didn't hesitate. He dropped the Demon Suppressing Net and picked up two peach wood axes to start hacking.
After all, the Demon Suppressing Net and the Ghost Locking Hook were for dealing with that evil spirit.
Master Jiang, at the stern of the boat, also spoke up:
"These aren't ordinary water monkeys.
They are water corpse ghosts, they can come ashore and are fast.
Be careful, don't get dragged into the water."
Saying that, he smashed his black iron ruler into the water.
With a "bang," it exploded, sending water splashing over two meters high.
Waves surged.
Several water corpse ghosts were knocked off their grip by the impact.
Because the river surface had turned black, we couldn't see anything beneath the water.
All we could see were water corpse ghosts constantly surfacing around our small boat.
These kinds of ghosts were much more ferocious than the water spirits we had encountered before.
So, we had to be cautious and vigilant.
We absolutely couldn't let these water ghosts climb onto the boat.
But the water corpse ghosts were too many.
In just a short while, more than ten had appeared.
These water corpse ghosts weren't stupid.
Unlike the water monkeys we'd met before, who didn't know how to dodge, these were agile.
When you attacked them, they knew to retract back into the water.
In the blink of an eye, they disappeared.
Once they left, they would resurface again.
We three were constantly moving around the boat, driven by these water corpse ghosts.
Constantly attacking those water corpse ghosts trying to climb onto the boat.
It was like playing whack-a-mole.
Fortunately, the boat wasn't large, so the three of us could protect it.
However, after less than five minutes of fighting,
The calm black water surface suddenly began to make splashing sounds.
Following the sound, we looked and saw a whirlpool not far away.
The whirlpool was huge, and in a blink, it turned into a large whirlpool about two meters in diameter.
And after appearing, the whirlpool began to constantly approach our boat.
Upon noticing this, I quickly warned:
"Master Jiang, a big whirlpool is coming, row away from here quickly."
Such a large whirlpool, and such a small boat.
If we were sucked into it, we'd basically sink.
All three of us falling into the water would be very dangerous.
But Master Jiang just furrowed his brow and said coldly:
"These trifling tricks can't capsize this old man's boat!"
After speaking, Master Jiang raised the white lantern and illuminated the black iron ruler in his hand.
The black iron ruler instantly lit up with black light.
It was as if runes were being activated.
Then, on the bobbing small boat, Master Jiang raised the black iron ruler and slashed towards the approaching large whirlpool.
He roared:
"Open!"
This iron ruler struck the water.
The river surface instantly exploded.
A沟壑 (gōuhè -沟壑) one chopstick deep appeared.
It was as if the river surface had been split open with a seam.
The seam extended all the way to the center of the whirlpool.
The next moment, a sinister laugh was heard.
From the center of the whirlpool, a wet, dead man's head emerged.
It was a water corpse ghost.
On its face, there were some peculiar runes from the black iron ruler.
As if branded onto it.
It contorted its face in pain, covering its face with its hands, emitting screams.
Amidst its cries, the whirlpool approaching the boat instantly collapsed and disappeared, turning into turbulent water.
Old Mo and I stared with wide eyes.
The distance must have been over ten meters.
At such a distance, Master Jiang could kill a water ghost in the water; his cultivation was truly remarkable.
However, just as the three of us were focused on the collapsing whirlpool,
At the bow of the boat, our guard was lowered.
In the blink of an eye, a water corpse ghost seized the opportunity and climbed onto the bow.
It was covered in water, its hair disheveled.
As thin as a monkey, exuding black mist, it crouched low.
It bared its serrated mouth.
And let out two "gegege" laughs.
"Watch out! A water ghost is on the boat!"
I exclaimed, picking up my peach wood sword to meet it.
Intending to kill it or force it back.
The water corpse ghost let out a roar and a hiss.
Pushing off with its back legs, it lunged at me.
Its gaping maw aimed directly for my neck.
Its hind legs were like springs.
Its entire body airborne.
With claws flailing.
I instinctively swung my sword.
But to my surprise, the water corpse ghost made a strange arc in mid-air.
Dodging my sword.
Instead, it swiped a claw at my face.
If this were on land, I could have easily dodged it.
But this was on a rocking small boat.
I couldn't move left or right.
It was already good enough that I could stand steadily.
Trying to dodge again was very difficult.
Just as I had a bad premonition,
An axe was swung down from beside me.
At the same time, Old Mo roared:
"Damn it!"
Before he finished speaking, the peach wood axe struck the water ghost's arm.
Its entire arm was cleaved off, turning into black smoke.
The water ghost let out a scream and fell onto the boat.
I seized this opportunity and followed up with a sword strike.
Slaying the water corpse ghost at my feet.
Looking at Old Mo, I smiled:
"Thanks, Old Mo!"
If Old Mo hadn't intervened, I would have been injured.
Old Mo, however, smiled confidently:
"It's nothing. We're the Twin Heroes of Exorcism, living and dying together."