The bounty issued by the Demon Suppression Division this time targeted a Half-Snake Water Ghost who had drowned in the Guishui River, and the reward was as high as one hundred taels.
Among ghosts and monsters, Water Ghosts were often regarded as the weakest of the low-level spirits. However, the subject of this bounty was somewhat special.
This Half-Snake Water Ghost had been a mother before she died, so after drowning, she developed a powerful obsession with children.
She wandered the Guishui River year-round, snatching passing children and dragging them underwater.
At first, not many people cared about this weak Water Ghost. But as she dragged down more and more vengeful spirits of children, her strength grew at a terrifying rate.
Her intense obsession caused her to launch indiscriminate attacks on any commoner passing by with a child. In the last three years alone, nearly a hundred children had been dragged into the water and drowned by her.
Furthermore, after every incident, the Half-Snake Water Ghost would immediately dive back into the depths, leaving the demon slayers who arrived a step too late completely helpless against her.
“A child?”
Thinking of the Substitute Puppet Divine Ability he had just acquired, a flash of inspiration struck Chen Ning, and he instantly had an idea.
At that moment, gazing at the clothes in the wooden box, Qing Yan asked shyly in a soft voice, “By the way, Young Master... when do you want to see me wear this dress?”
Chen Ning replied, “I happen to have an urgent matter, so I’ll wait until I return tonight to see it.”
“Alright, Young Master!”
This happened to coincide perfectly with Qing Yan’s own thoughts. To wear such a beautiful dress for the first time, she had to take a fragrant, hot bath first! She would take a bath and wait patiently for her Young Master to return.
...
Before leaving, Chen Ning made some preparations, using the Substitute Puppet Divine Ability to cut out two small paper figures. Afterward, he set out alone for the Guishui River.
It was early spring, and the scenery was in full bloom. Green buds were sprouting near the riverbanks, and flower buds were opening.
Only the location indicated by the Demon Suppression Token was starkly different.
Near the area where the Half-Snake Water Ghost frequently appeared, dark clouds loomed in the sky, and the whistling yin wind carried a chilling cold that did not belong to spring at all.
Scanning the grass near the riverbank, Chen Ning immediately spotted several bald heads lurking nearby. These people were monks from Mingji Temple.
The monk in the lead, who held a Buddhist staff, also saw Chen Ning. When he saw the Demon Suppression Token hanging at Chen Ning’s waist, his gaze froze for a moment before he hurriedly approached.
“That token...
“Yesterday, two disciples from my Mingji Temple were tragically killed by a Headless Female Ghost on Xitun Mountain. When we arrived, we found that the Headless Female Ghost had already been slain. Could it be that you were the one who did it, Fellow Daoist?”
“Are you their senior brother?” Chen Ning nodded. “Yes. Unfortunately, I was a step too late and couldn't save those two young monks.”
The monk sighed but still spoke gratefully, “You need not worry, Fellow Daoist. My two junior brothers went to Xitun Mountain for the bounty without permission; it can only be said they were blinded by greed and brought it upon themselves. This monk’s Buddhist name is Jingkong. On behalf of my two junior brothers, I thank you for avenging them.”
Although this monk was tall and burly, Chen Ning found his personality to be quite agreeable. Thus, the two exchanged names and explained their reasons for being there.
“We are here for the Half-Snake Water Ghost, just like Benefactor Chen, but...” Jingkong looked toward the Guishui River, his expression turning solemn.
“We have been staking out this place for a full hour, yet it has been to no avail. That Half-Snake Water Ghost is extremely cautious. Ever since she sensed she was being watched, she has stayed hidden in the water and has not appeared. The water is a Water Ghost’s domain; as long as she doesn't come ashore, I’m afraid no matter how many people we have, there’s nothing we can do.”
Just as Jingkong said, the Half-Snake Water Ghost hiding in the Guishui River had actually been the subject of a bounty from the Demon Suppression Division once before. However, due to her timid and cunning nature, as long as she sensed the aura of a cultivator, she would not easily show herself even if there were children nearby. Consequently, even though people had come to the Guishui River many times to eliminate her, they had never been able to catch her trail.
Staring at the undulating surface of the water, Chen Ning soon smiled faintly.
“Don't worry, I have a way.”
“Brother Chen has a way?”
“Yes, it’s very simple. I just need a small paper figure...”
After hearing the plan, Jingkong was suddenly taken aback. “A paper figure? Are you sure a child faked with a paper figure can fool that Water Ghost, Brother Chen?”
“Of course. My paper figures are different from ordinary substitute puppets.”
While sects like the Daoists also had techniques similar to substitute puppets, their level of realism was vastly different from the Divine Ability Chen Ning possessed. As long as he wished, the Substitute Puppet could not only disguise itself as any form but its aura could also be made identical. Forget a Water Ghost—even a human would find it difficult to tell the difference.
...
“Substitute Puppet.”
Taking out a paper figure, Chen Ning transformed it into the likeness of a one-year-old child. After placing this lifelike child by the Guishui River, he led Jingkong and the others to retreat several hundred meters away.
The Puppet Baby was transformed by Chen Ning based on his appearance in a childhood photo from his past life. Its features were delicate and handsome, with a pair of large, watery eyes; it looked extremely adorable from any angle.
But the Half-Snake Water Ghost indeed possessed an extremely high level of caution, just as the rumors said. Even though the aura of Chen Ning and the others was no longer near the riverbank, she still did not appear.
For a full ten minutes, there was no movement in the river, as if the Water Ghost hadn't noticed the child on the bank at all.
But as time passed, the Guishui River gradually began to show signs of abnormality. Not only did ripples appear on the water's surface, but whistling yin winds also swept through from time to time.
It seemed as if a pair of eyes buried deep in the depths were staring unblinkingly at the child on the shore.
“A child... such a beautiful child!”
Finally, the Half-Snake Water Ghost hiding in the depths of the Guishui River could no longer suppress the longing in her heart.
Dozens of water columns converged in mid-air simultaneously, forming a massive body. Her lower half was a snake's tail, and while her head and upper body were human, the hair on her head had transformed into snake heads flickering their tongues.
“Lovely child, how could anyone have the heart to abandon such a lovely child like you? Let me be your mother.”
She looked at the Puppet Baby lying on the bank. Although a few glimmers of maternal tenderness emanated from her eyes, the depths revealed a greed that made one’s heart turn cold.
She wanted to take this baby for her own, just like the over one hundred sunken corpses in the deep water!
Rising up on a surging wave, the Water Ghost excitedly gathered the Puppet Baby into her arms.
However, the moment she touched the Puppet Baby’s skin, her expression instantly stiffened. Even if the appearance and aura were imitated without flaw, a paper puppet was ultimately just a puppet; the skin was merely a piece of cold, lifeless white paper.
“You tricked me! You aren't my child, you tricked me!”
The Half-Snake Water Ghost let out a roar, and the snake heads on her head flickered their tongues in anger. She could not tolerate anyone taking her child away.
“How dare you deceive me! I’ll kill you!”
Massive water claws tore downward, snarling with the intent to rip the Puppet Baby into pieces.
“Children don't love you anymore when they grow up. Acting like this, you really aren't fit to be a proper mother.”
A voice came through the screen of water.
In the blink of an eye, the Puppet Baby had vanished, replaced by Chen Ning standing on the water with his sword in hand!
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