At the same time, the hair binding the Soul-Seeking Claw turned into a wisp of black water and dissipated. Meanwhile, the Soul-Seeking Claw, freed from its binding, began to float aimlessly in the water.
This was because the Soul-Seeking Claw had ensnared many water ghosts, and when it broke free, these water ghosts dragged the claw around in a frenzy.
Furrowing my brow, I suddenly threw a small sword, directly severing the connection between the Soul-Seeking Claw and the water ghosts, and then swam back to the surface with the claw in hand.
Upon resurfacing, I began to breathe heavily. Even though I was in the water, I was covered in cold sweat.
Just a little hesitation during the earlier situation could have resulted in not making it back. Although I easily made it through the whole process, it was actually extremely dangerous every step of the way, with each step potentially being fatal.
Luckily, I managed to get the Soul-Seeking Claw. With the claw in hand, I didn't hesitate anymore and swam directly towards the shore.
When I reached the riverbank, I could hardly move, using up the last ounce of strength to pull myself onto the shore.
"Sob, sob, sob." As I was breathing heavily, I suddenly heard some whimpering on the riverbank. I turned my head abruptly and saw Fat Dun squatting by the water, continuously scattering joss paper into the water.
"Huh?" I couldn't help but be puzzled. What was this kid up to now?
"Duanmu, weren't you always so awesome? How did you end up dead today? How am I supposed to explain this to your uncle and Wang Qian? You've really screwed me over."
"Holy crap!" Upon hearing Fat Dun's voice, I felt like I was going to spew blood. I immediately started berating Fat Dun, "You dead fat pig, it's one thing to bully me all the time, but now you're cursing me to die early?"
Upon hearing my voice, Fat Dun's sobbing abruptly stopped. Then, he turned his face and looked at me. After seeing me, Fat Dun first looked terrified, then hesitant and excited.
Finally, he actually looked at me with a puzzled expression and said, "Are you a person or a ghost?"
"I..." I nearly swore: "I've had it with you. Does your uncle look like a dead person to you?"
"Duanmu." Upon hearing this, Fat Dun's expression turned excited, and he ran towards me, grabbing me in a hug. "I thought you were really dead. It was so dangerous on the water just now, how did you manage to escape?"
Helplessly, I looked at Fat Dun and said coldly, "Stop the nonsense, help me up, and save the tears for later. We've got work to do."
"Okay, okay." Upon hearing this, Fat Dun wiped his tears and helped me up, the guy was really crying.
I was utterly exhausted and, after being helped up by Fat Dun, I turned to look at the water. At that moment, I saw that the river was teeming with nearly twenty heads popping up, all gazing at me and Fat Dun with a dazed look, led by Long Lanxiang.
As soon as he saw these water ghosts, Fat Dun immediately shivered and hid behind me. I ignored him and continued to stare at the water ghosts without moving.
Suddenly, Long Lanxiang emerged from the water, dripping wet, walked slowly to me, bent her legs, and knelt in front of me.
"It's over now, the little river is finally peaceful, the people who shouldn't have died are dead, and the ones who should have died are still living well. It's time," Long Lanxiang's voice sounded mournful and eerie, echoing throughout the riverbank. As she spoke, she performed a deep bow.
I naturally understood what she intended to do and breathed a sigh of relief. "In that case, release the water ghosts from the river and let them move on to their next life."
Long Lanxiang continued to kneel, her voice becoming more sorrowful, even choking up a bit: "You don't need to tell me, I will naturally go to do it. During the days when I was detained by Nie Wei in the river, if it weren't for their companionship, I'm afraid I would have lost my true nature long ago. In fact, they are my benefactors, how could I possibly detain them?"
As she spoke, Long Lanxiang suddenly raised her hand and waved lightly, and then all the water ghosts in the river came ashore. Then Long Lanxiang waved to me and said, "One last thing, please send them to reincarnate."
"Huh?" I suddenly frowned, "Not them, but you, you should also go and reincarnate."
Long Lanxiang was shocked and suddenly turned around, then roared at me angrily, "I haven't avenged my great enmity, how can you ask me to reincarnate? Besides, my corpse is still being controlled by Nie Wei, how can I reincarnate?"
I shook my head gently, "Matters of the living are for the living to handle. You don't need to worry about Nie Wei; you can't control him anyway. As for your corpse, after I have taken control of Nie Wei, I will definitely help you retrieve it and give you a proper burial."
"Impossible." Long Lanxiang suddenly stood up, her face turning pale, and a sinister wind swirled around her: "If you try to stop me, I will not spare you, don't force me."
"Is that so?" I snorted coldly, suddenly taking out several talismans from my bag, sprinkling them into the air while chanting a spell: "Seal the body and seal the door, no passage for human or ghost, a hundred ghosts wail, evil spirits cry injustice."
As the incantation was spoken, Long Lanxiang let out a painful scream, in great agony. At that moment, I said coldly, "I am not negotiating with you, I am giving an order. I promise you that I will help you reincarnate, but you are not allowed to interfere in Nie Wei's affairs."
With that, I pulled out a dog hair whip and struck Long Lanxiang, causing her to fall directly into the water, leaving only her head above the surface.
At that moment, I took out a fan from my bag and handed it to Pang Dun, saying, "Go to the riverside, open this fan and call out Wang Qian's name to summon her father's soul."
"Call out Wang Qian's name?" Pang Dun looked puzzled.
I nodded and said, "Wang Qian's father's spirit is not among these water ghosts. He might be frightened, so you must call out Wang Qian's name for him to dare to come out. Go now."
"How should I use the fan?" Pang Dun asked.
I replied, "Open the fan, call out Wang Qian's name, and when her father's soul appears, call out 'uncle' three times, then close the fan."
Upon hearing this, Pang Dun hurriedly ran to the riverbank.
Watching Pang Dun's figure, I breathed a sigh of relief, and then turned to the water ghosts in front of me.
Next, I had to deliver these water ghosts to the afterlife. I focused and said, "When people die, it's like a lamp goes out. You should all understand this. You've seen that Long Lanxiang's stubbornness leads to a bad ending, harming others and herself. Since you're dead, you should go where the dead belong. If you have no objections, I will send you on your way to the underworld."
"In this way, the river will finally be at peace." I breathed a sigh of relief.
At that moment, the water ghosts took a hesitant step forward and made a mournful sound, saying, "It's the greatest blessing that the Taoist is willing to deliver us. Most of us died unjustly, but since we are already dead, we shouldn't hold any grudges. So, Taoist, please proceed."
"Okay." Hearing this response, I felt greatly reassured and didn't hesitate any longer.
Long Lanxiang had been detained in this river for nine years, and all these people had drowned in the river over the nine years.
Many of them I didn't know, but I knew Zhu Jie's father, Zhu Gui. I really wanted to ask Zhu Gui why he committed suicide, but thinking it unnecessary, I pretended not to recognize him and began chanting the Buddhist scriptures for deliverance.
The scriptures were chanted seventy-seven times, and the sins of these water ghosts were finally cleansed, then white light appeared above their heads, and they slowly disappeared.
Before disappearing, they looked at me with tears in their eyes and said emotionally, "Thank you, great kindness and virtue, we will repay you in the next life."
"Okay." I nodded, "Settle your debts in the underworld in this life, and be a good person in the next life."