69novels Chapter 417 The Immortal Master's Sword Sheath Pressed Against Me
Chapter 417 The Immortal Master's Sword Sheath Pressed Against Me
Shopkeeper Hu tightened the talisman again, his tone hardening.
"I know the old river's underground channels better than you do. There are two wastewater ditches under the maple forest. Do you remember which one leads to the dock and which one leads to the mass grave?"
Old Zheng choked, and changed the direction of the iron spoon in his palm.
"At least I can fight."
Mo Chengyue looked at the iron spoon in his hand.
"You'll be more useful if you stay and cook."
Xiao Liu, clutching the talisman, asked cautiously, "What's my purpose?"
Mo Chengyue said, "You are responsible for carrying the fish out alive."
Xiao Liu looked troubled.
"This job sounds harder than making a pot."
Manager Hu had already walked to the back window and was looking towards the warehouse.
"Red paper money floats on the water, but there's less on the ground. While the fog is still light, leave now if you want to."
Old Zhou took out an old boat license plate from his pocket and handed it to Manager Hu.
"If you hear the sound of a watchman's drum in the maple forest, do not believe it."
Manager Hu did not answer.
"Keep it; the watchtower will be protected by it."
Old Zhou looked at Mo Chengyue.
"When you enter the woods, don't step into the damp patches under the fallen leaves; those are where the old waterways connect."
Mo Chengyue nodded.
"I understand, we'll use the wet ground as the gunwale."
Xiao Liu carried the fish basket on his back, the salty and fishy smell of the dried fish making his face wrinkle.
"If Boss Fan wakes up and finds the fish gone, will he ask me to compensate him?"
Old Zheng shoved the iron spoon back into his hand and then pulled it out of his arms.
"You're risking your life in that fish basket, and you're still thinking about losing money?"
Xiao Liu, carrying a basket on his back, said with a wronged expression, "I'm poor, but I have my rules."
Mo Chengyue pushed open the back window, and Fu Guangxian spread out along the windowsill. The red mist was thinned by the morning light, but left a layer of wet red shadows at the base of the wall.
Shopkeeper Hu first held out the white paper lantern, letting the light shine across the ground to confirm that there was no shadow of the red embroidered shoes, before whispering, "Walk along the wall, don't step on the dock steps."
Mo Chengyue held the array hook horizontally in front of Xiao Liu.
"Follow me as I land, don't look at the river, don't ask what's written on the paper money."
Xiao Liu nodded hurriedly.
"I can't read."
Old Zheng called from inside the house.
"You know the price of fish."
Xiao Liu turned around.
"Uncle Zheng, when I get back, you'll still owe me the dried fish."
Old Zheng cursed, but stopped halfway through, his voice lowering.
"Come back alive, and half a basket will become a full basket."
Xiao Liu's eyes welled up with tears again, and she quickly turned her head away.
"Don't raise the price, I'm afraid I won't be able to bear the thought of dying."
Mo Chengyue led the two away from the watchtower, close to the wall. The morning light fell on the ferry, but it couldn't dispel the red paper money on the water. One after another, the paper money was stuck to the waves, and the edges turned out with a white light like a knife.
Shopkeeper Hu walked to the side and slightly ahead, with a white paper lantern hanging low.
"Don't go down the main street; the stone on the main street leads to the inn's kitchen."
Mo Chengyue glanced at her.
"Have you memorized the entire waterway of Hongfeng Ferry over the years?"
Manager Hu kept his eyes on the ground and didn't turn around.
"I'm afraid that one day Shuang'er will come back from the water, and I'm also afraid that when she really comes back, I won't be able to find the path she took."
Xiao Liu lifted the fish basket higher and didn't dare to interrupt.
Mo Chengyue only said, "Today, let's find a way for the living."
The lamp cord in Manager Hu's hand was tugged by the wind, and she steadied the lamp.
"I know."
The three of them walked around the dock and through half a deserted street. A few households peered out through the cracks in their doors, but no one dared to come out. Only the braziers in front of their doorways emitted ash smoke.
An old man was leaning over the window and shouting.
"Manager Hu, is it really true that we can't touch the water vat?"
Manager Hu replied to him.
"Dry your hands after touching it, and don't let water drip into the house."
The old man asked again.
"And the tea?"
Mo Chengyue passed by the window and casually added a comment.
"If you drink, at least you'll die a little more confused."
Silence fell behind the window. Little Six whispered, "Master, can this be passed on?"
Mo Chengyue looked at him.
"No, no one will reimburse the cost of the drinks."
Manager Hu suppressed a laugh, but quickened his pace.
We soon arrived at the maple forest.
The fog outside the forest was thicker than at the ferry crossing. The tree trunks were wet and black, and strings of red lantern tassels hung from the branches. The tassels had no lampshades, only the soaked red threads and paper. When the wind blew, they swayed against the branches, and water droplets fell on the withered leaves, instantly burning dark red spots on the leaf surface.
Xiao Liu stopped at the entrance of the forest, the fish basket on his back making a soft rustling sound as the dried fish rubbed together.
"Can I walk blindfolded?"
Mo Chengyue handed him a calming talisman.
"Blindfolded people are more likely to fall into culverts and get their foreheads stuck to the ground."
Xiao Liu took the talisman and skillfully pasted it on.
"Won't sticking on too many talismans seal my brain?"
Manager Hu glanced at him.
There aren't many places in your mind that can be sealed off.
Xiao Liu choked for a moment.
"Shopkeeper, you were much harsher this morning than last night."
Manager Hu carried a lantern and entered the forest.
"Who could stay in a good mood if they had to be chased by ghost ships during the day?"
Mo Chengyue walked at the back, his Yuhua sword still sheathed, but the scabbard was close to the edge of Xiao Liu's shadow.
"left."
Manager Hu reminded him.
"The right side is covered with fallen leaves, and below is an abandoned ditch."
Xiao Liu immediately moved to the left, and the dried fish hiding the message in the fish basket gently bumped against the side of the basket.
Mo Chengyue asked, "Is the basket getting hot?"
Xiao Liu carefully felt it.
"It only smells like fish."
Shopkeeper Hu said, "It's good that it smells bad. If the Red Lantern Boat has been able to put up with it until now, then it has some manners."
The red lanterns in the forest grew denser the deeper they went, and water droplets fell from the branches. Instead of scattering after hitting the ground, they flowed forward along the gaps in the dead leaves, in the same direction as they were moving.
Mo Chengyue stopped and used the array hook to part the layers of leaves.
A narrow line of water was visible beneath the leaves, with bits of red paper money floating on the surface.
"Change route."
Shopkeeper Hu looked at the tree roots.
"Go around the old locust tree on the left. It's farther from the culvert there, but it will take a longer walk."
Xiao Liu looked miserable.
Will I be charged more for walking more?
Mo Chengyue said, "Speaking less can save your life."
Xiao Liu shut his mouth, but the fish basket made another sound.
Manager Hu turned around.
"Did it move in the basket?"
Xiao Liu quickly shook his head.
"I didn't touch it; the fish was just being restless."
Mo Chengyue reached out and pressed his hand on the edge of the fish basket. The red pattern of the wedding boat decoration shone through the back of his hand, and the dried fish in the basket immediately quieted down.
"It knows we're almost out of the Three Mile Fog Boundary."
Manager Hu looked ahead.
"After passing that row of broken stakes, you'll reach the edge of the fog."
Xiao Liu quickened his pace, but was stopped by Mo Chengyue with his sword sheath.
"Don't cut in front of others; the closer you get to the edge, the more likely you are to have an accident."
Xiao Liu pulled his foot back.
"I'm not going to rob anyone; I just want to die sooner and have peace of mind."
Manager Hu was in a bad mood.
"You're saying that living early means peace of mind."
The three of them walked around the old locust tree, and the broken stake appeared at the end of the mist. The stake was wrapped with an old red rope, and the end of the rope was full of bloated paper money, but it did not cross the outermost boundary tree.
As the morning light shone in from beyond the boundary, the colors finally returned to normal.
Xiao Liu looked at that glimmer of light and his lips moved.
"Master, after I go outside, can I hand the fish over to Boss Fan?"
Mo Chengyue stared at the red rope on the boundary tree.
"Once you're out there, don't stop. Follow the main road and chase after the cargo ship. When you see Boss Fan, just say that the fish basket was left in the watchtower. Don't mention the Red Lantern boat, don't mention me, and don't mention Manager Hu."
Xiao Liu nodded seriously.
"What if someone asks me why I'm carrying a fish basket?"
"You're vengeful, you stole it."
Xiao Liu looked hurt.
"This reputation is too expensive."
Manager Hu urged in a low voice.
"Go out first."
Xiao Liu hugged the fish basket tightly, and just as he stepped towards the boundary tree, the fish basket in his arms suddenly emitted a clear and melodious sword sound.
The sound of the sword emanated from the aroma of dried fish and pickled vegetables, so clean that it stopped the swaying of the red lanterns in the entire maple forest.
Mo Chengyue placed his hand on the lid of the basket, and the red lines on his palm lit up.
Manager Hu's hand holding the lantern stopped in front of the boundary wood, and the lantern light illuminated a line of cold white sword light through the crack of the basket.
Xiao Liu looked down at the fish basket in his arms, his voice trembling.
"Master, this fish... can it use a sword?"