novelraw Chapter 807 801: Eerie White Lanterns, Fellow Travelers Are Foes
Chapter 807 801: Eerie White Lanterns, Fellow Travelers Are Foes
"Don't trouble yourself, the wedding candy is my thanks."
"Such a good thing shouldn't be wasted!"
A hoarse and old voice echoed near his ear; it was very close.
Jia Ren vaguely caught a whiff of that rotten stench, like an old rice dumpling that had been buried in a coffin for ages, unwilling to sleep, rising from the grave.
A piece of red sugar coating fell to the ground, accompanied by the continuous crunching sounds of chewing.
For some reason, an image flashed through his mind of a dried-up old man with only a few teeth left, gnawing on pale finger bones.
If Extraordinary Power was still with him, he would definitely not resist giving this old geezer a punch.
Now, he could only feign calmness as he rewrapped the candy paper.
Initially intending to return it, he reconsidered, thinking it might come in handy before leaving this place.
"Why won't you eat?"
The chewing stopped, the old voice echoed, and at this moment, a shiver-inducing sensation arose.
He had a premonition that refusing the other's goodwill would definitely lead to something terrifying.
Jia Ren displayed an awkward yet polite smile, and amidst his rapidly spinning thoughts, quickly said with a smile, "I have children at home; such good things should be brought back for them."
Though he said this, his hands still gripped the wooden oar tightly, the only thing that made him feel secure.
"Good things indeed should be shared with family."
The cold sensation gradually receded, and the feeling like needles piercing his back faded away.
His back was unknowingly drenched in cold sweat, with much of his body's heat consumed.
He just wanted to send the other away quickly and find a safe place...
Hoping there were still safe places left in the World of Great Dreams and Thousand Autumns.
The oar stirred the water in gentle waves, and whether it was because the old man was aboard, the journey was quite smooth.
Jia Ren's stomach burned with hunger, involuntarily reminding him of sizzling roast chicken and duck, causing his mouth to water.
"Isn't there a problem with this direction?!"
The voice of the old geezer, silent for so long, questioned the untrustworthy guide of the Ming River.
I don't know the way; isn't it normal for there to be directional issues?
Let's call it a serendipitous journey.
He couldn't say that, otherwise, the guy behind him would rise from the dead on the spot.
"Are you questioning my expertise?"
"If you don't want to take the boat, you can get off!"
At this point, he couldn't back down; he had to assert his authority and professionalism.
No voice of doubt arose, after all, each ferryman had their own route; as long as you reach your destination, it suffices.
Before long, two clusters of eerie white flames seemed to arise from the gray mist, rushing in his direction.
Jia Ren had no expectations of normalcy, staying away from anything strange.
His arms felt weak, but the boat's speed was not slow.
Soon, the two clusters of eerie white flames drew closer, upon closer inspection, they turned out to be two white lanterns.
A small boat, almost identical in shape, approached, the only unusual thing being their two white lanterns.
Under the ghastly glow of the flame, the ferryman onboard had a pair of droopy eyes and a pallid face, as if smeared with thick white powder.
"Finally found you!"
"You young one don't know the rules!" The newcomer spoke first, their aura intense: "Why are you stealing other's business?"
The cold voice explained the reason for their presence with just a few words.
It was for the unseen passenger behind him.
You came at the perfect time!
Finally, I can get rid of this plague!
"Senior, I'll return the person to you."
As the two boats gradually drew closer, at the moment of proximity, an unprecedented sense of danger swept over him.
This was an instinctual premonition.
It wasn't from the passenger behind him, but from the other ferryman.
Jia Ren trusted the instincts that had saved him from danger multiple times; both hands gripped the Black Oar, ready to spring into action.
Just then, the Stygian Ferryman's hand pressed on the two white lanterns, and two clusters of white ghostly flames shot out fiercely.
One flew toward Jia Ren, and the other descended on the boat beneath his feet.
This was murder and boat destruction!
Truly insidious!
Is competition among colleagues so fierce?
If not for Jia Ren's preparation, the person's plan would have succeeded.
The poised Black Oar swept out, tearing through the air, just as the two white ghostly flames were about to disperse to different locations, he struck decisively.
The two white ghostly flames were instantly scattered upon impact, but instead of dissipating, the flames landed on the Black Oar's blade, starting to burn.
Throw it away?
How could I?
Besides, my "weapon" has been enhanced by someone, it is now at its most powerful.
I can return the favor with the tactics used against me.
At this time, he couldn't back down, he had to seize the sole opportunity to turn the tables.
Jia Ren leaped a few yards forward, hopping onto the opponent's deck.
The failed ambush and his forceful boarding took the droopy-eyed ferryman by surprise.
He released his grip on the two lanterns and grabbed the oar nearby.
As fellow Stygian Ferrymen, it's only reasonable to fight with oars.
As soon as his feet landed, the Black Oar, ablaze with white flames, closely followed, crashing down with mountain-splitting force.
The opponent hastily raised their Black Oar to parry, blocking the downward strike.
The two Black Oars clashed together, emitting a dull sound.
Jia Ren only felt as if he had struck a solid reef, unable to make progress, instead his hands were numbed by the shock, nearly losing hold of the oar.
The benefits of the white flame applied to the black oar became apparent, as the white flame teased another Stygian Ferryman's hair, setting it ablaze.
A force of irresistible brute strength came, sending Jia Ren flying.
Seeing that the situation was dire, he took three steps back to dissipate the great force, barely stabilizing his rear foot at the edge of the boat.
Relying on his control over his body, he adjusted his center of gravity.
The white flame on the Stygian Ferryman spread, and he hurriedly rushed towards where the two lanterns were, intending to take them.
Whatever the enemy desires, I must obstruct.
The oar, burning with white flame, swung over, blocking the way, striking the outstretched hand, which recoiled as if electrified.
The white flame spread across his body, causing such pain that he was nearly driven mad.
The enraged Droopy-eyed Ferryman swung the oar, aiming to kill this young upstart.
Seeing that the situation was unfavorable, Jia Ren feinted and quickly retreated, widening the gap.
The strike, filled with anger and resentment, missed, striking the deck with a dull thud.
When the enemy advances, I retreat; when the enemy retreats, I harass. Guerilla tactics were brought to the extreme.
The attack failed, and before the white flame receded, the Stygian Ferryman's body quickly burned and dissolved, corpse oil dripping continuously onto the deck.
The Droopy-eyed Ferryman, no longer calm, reached for the white lantern.
Jia Ren, quick-eyed and swift-handed, aimed a strike at the back of his opponent's knee.
Accompanied by the sound of cracking bones, just as the hand was about to touch the white lantern, he fell to the ground with a thud.
With a successful strike, not letting the opportunity slip, the oar engulfed in white flame emerged from the direction of the lanterns, aiming for the opponent's head.
He rolled awkwardly on the deck, dodging the blow.
The white flame spread over his entire body, emitting a series of heartrending wails.
The Droopy-eyed Ferryman stared resentfully at Jia Ren, realizing he couldn't get the lanterns, and decisively leapt into the Black River.
As soon as the figure burning with white flame hit the river, the flame quickly extinguished, leaving no trace.
A large area of faint light appeared at the bottom of the river, and as he fell into the water, floating corpses and ghosts reappeared.
All who fall into the river will attract unclean things.
A hand, half melted and revealing white skeletal bones, gripped the edge of the boat, climbing back onto it.
The oar, burning with white flame, was placed on the opponent's hand, causing it to recoil as if shocked.
"Ah!"
Accompanied by a cry of unwillingness, the Droopy-eyed Ferryman was dragged into the Black River.
You brought this on yourself, don't blame me!
Countless floating corpses and ghosts surrounded him, forming a huge white sphere, with countless ghostly lights flickering.
The white flame quickly spread across the ship, and it wouldn't be long before it was completely consumed by the white flame.
Jia Ren was about to jump back to his own boat when, at the last moment, he glanced at the two white lanterns.
These were not items his own boat had.
The Droopy-eyed Ferryman's attitude of importance was enough to prove their unusual significance.
The white flame added to the oar was indeed a formidable weapon; without it, he could not have overcome an opponent who surpassed him in every aspect.
Moreover, it could intimidate the unseen passengers on the boat.
Once the opportunity was missed, it wouldn't be so easy to obtain it again.
There was still a small part of the deck that hadn't been consumed by the white flame. He threw the burning oar aside and quickly took hold of the two white lanterns.
A cold, eerie aura invaded, making his body feel extremely uncomfortable.
A familiar eerie presence, was this the Mysterious Instrument?
With both hands, Jia Ren held the two white lanterns, vaguely sensing a strange connection.
With a thought, the white flame flew out.
Unable to control it freely, the flame could only fly out, unable to be recalled.
Why did the opponent still want the lanterns?
To deal with the ghosts and floating corpses in the Ming River? Or to prevent him from taking them?
Jia Ren didn't hesitate for a moment; as the white flame engulfed the boat, he jumped back to his own boat, carrying the two lanterns with him.
Where the lanterns shone, the silhouette of a gaunt elderly man dressed in funeral clothes was outlined on the boat. His entire skin was blackened, with layers of wrinkles on his face that could crush a fly.
Faced with the pale lantern light, the gaunt old man retreated, maintaining a distance, seemingly very wary of the white lanterns.
"Please keep it away!"
The tone was filled with fear, the phlegm in his voice vanished, revealing a bit of clarity.
"I will immediately pay the boat fare!"
A Stick of Yellow Incense was handed over.
Boat fare?
Previously not mentioned, did he not intend to pay?
What was this incense?
Jia Ren hesitated for a moment, giving up on the idea of setting his opponent on fire.
The white flame couldn't be controlled; if the boat caught fire, he would be buried along with it.
Once the boat docked, it wouldn't be too late to act.
Of course, there was the most important point.
After so much exertion, he was quite exhausted, with a parched throat and a lack of energy.
Jia Ren reached out to take the incense, inhaling its faint fragrance, causing saliva to accumulate, feeling even hungrier.
If he didn't find food soon, he would starve to death.
Faced with a scent that stirred his appetite, he had the impulse to eat it.
Compared to the previous joyous candy, the Yellow Incense, though not normal, was much better.
Jia Ren hesitated for a moment, abandoning a reckless approach, and brought the Yellow Incense to the white flame to ignite it.
If the incense posed a problem, he could discard it.
The next moment, the faint fragrance drifted into his nostrils.
The hunger in his abdomen dissipated, replaced by a sense of fullness.
After smelling the fragrance, he unexpectedly... felt full?!