Seeing the girl's hesitation, Gu Qin added, "Don't think you can see your brother. The living and the dead cannot meet. Take care of your parents and don't let them grieve. I must leave now."
After Gu Qin left, the girl returned to her room and cried for a while, then hid the hundred thousand yuan in her room. She then opened her computer and posted a thread on the largest forum online.
The incident had only occurred a few days ago, so the post quickly drew attention and replies. The police department also launched an investigation, and the Zhao family was in a frenzy.
After resolving this matter, Gu Qin had other tasks to attend to. Sun Haiyang's death was indeed related to something in the reservoir. She planned to investigate it and, if it was a ghost causing trouble, she would also capture it. This would be a merit deed, preventing accidents at the reservoir.
Gu Qin planned to visit the reservoir on Saturday, as she still had classes to attend. Over the past two days, Sun Haiyang's case had become increasingly heated. Online discussions were rampant, with many hoping for justice for the perpetrator. However, there were also a few trolls, possibly paid by the Zhao family, but these voices were largely drowned out by angry netizens.
Without any surprises, Zhao Changming, despite being a minor, would likely receive some punishment due to public pressure. With increased attention on the case, courts and police would naturally take it seriously.
Apart from this troubling matter, there was also good news. The massive child trafficking case in Liangping City had been resolved, with major offenders apprehended. The ringleader received the death penalty, and others received sentences ranging from twenty to thirty years. Discussions about the case were widespread, with most praising the police. Some netizens hoped for detailed accounts of how the case was solved, noting it was rare to hear of such a large-scale bust.
Thus, there were also some controversies.
The young man is indeed very brave, but he doesn't know the limits of heaven and earth. In the past, there have been Taoist priests who came here too, but in the end, they all failed. Young lady, why don't you persuade your boyfriend? I see him heading straight for the center of the reservoir where it's at least dozens of meters deep. No one has dared to go to the middle of the reservoir to play in these years. This reservoir used to be a large lake, and it was later turned into a reservoir.
"Don't worry, Grandpa." Gu Qin looked at the ripples in the middle of the reservoir. "He's very capable and will find a way to subdue it." She was only worried that the Yin Beast inside him might take advantage of this opportunity to run rampant.
Grandpa
Heaving a sigh, he said, "Forget it, don’t listen if you don’t want to. By the way, do you want to hear the story about this reservoir?" Without waiting for Gu Qin's reply, the old man started talking on his own. "If we talk about this reservoir, no, it used to be a big lake. The big lake had a name too; it was called Dragon Dwelling Lake. Our village wasn't called Anju Village either; it was called Dragon Dwelling Village, named after the lake. That’s because there’s a legend that says a dragon lived in Dragon Dwelling Lake. It’s said that some villagers saw a dragon swimming in the lake many years ago, probably over a hundred years ago. After the reforms, it was forbidden for animals to become spirits, fearing superstitions. So our village changed its name to Anju Village, and the lake was turned into a reservoir. Nowadays, few people even know the lake’s original name."
Gu Qin felt a stir in her heart and turned to look at the old man. "Grandpa, is there really a dragon?" As a practitioner of Xuanxue (esoteric arts), she naturally knew that dragons truly existed in the world, not just dragons but various other spirit creatures as well. She asked this question to gather more information about the dragon in the reservoir.
The old man nodded affirmatively, paused as if recalling something, then sighed softly. "Young people like you probably don’t believe this, but there really are dragons in this world. I saw one with my own eyes when I was young. Alas, nobody would believe me. It happened right here in this reservoir. Although I didn’t see it clearly, I saw a long, large, vaguely green thing moving underwater. This was when I was five or six years old, and I remember it very clearly."
The old man grew excited, his face turning red. "I saw the dragon sucking water. First, there was a whirlwind in the lake, lifting up a water column slowly, higher and higher. Eventually, I could faintly see a green thing twisting inside the water column and swimming upwards. Later, the water column rose higher and higher... I could faintly see the green thing leaving the water column and flipping around in the clouds..." The old man became so emotional that tears welled up in his eyes.
Gu Qin listened attentively. The old man’s eyes shone as he gazed at the reservoir, reliving those incredible moments from his past. "Back then, this place wasn’t like it is now. There was an abandoned straw hut nearby where I took shelter. The thunder grew louder outside, and the rain fell like buckets pouring down. It was still around four or five in the afternoon, yet the sky was completely dark. As a teenager, it was the first time I experienced such weather, and it scared me senseless. I hid behind the door of the straw hut and watched through a crack, witnessing something unforgettable..."
The old man continued, his excitement palpable. "I saw the dragon sucking up water. First, there was a whirlwind in the lake, lifting a water column slowly, higher and higher. Eventually, I could faintly see a green thing twisting inside the water column and swimming upwards. Then the water column rose higher and higher... I could faintly see the green thing leaving the water column and flipping around in the clouds..." The old man grew so emotional that tears streamed down his face.
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Gu Qin remained silent, thinking how fortunate the old man was, having encountered a genuine good deed in his previous life, which brought him such blessings in this one. He must be a true kind-hearted person, deserving of such good fortune. As for the transformation of a green dragon into a dragon, it was indeed real. Dragon tornadoes did exist, but they weren’t common. Scientifically, these were intense vortex phenomena caused by temperature differences and water vapor, typically occurring during summer thunderstorms. Some dragon tornadoes were natural weather phenomena, while others weren’t.
She knew that what the old man witnessed was indeed a green dragon transforming. Dragons were aquatic creatures that evolved over millions of years, starting as serpents called hui, which turned into jiaos after five hundred years, and then into dragons after a thousand years. Dragons further developed into jiao-long after five hundred years and ying-long after another thousand years. These transformations were similar to the cultivation process of practitioners in Xuanxue.
Gu Qin pondered over the old man’s words, concluding that the green dragon likely transformed into a jiao-long. The transformation of a jiao into a dragon was extremely difficult and required the creature to be benevolent. If the jiao acted maliciously, the heavenly punishment during its transformation would prevent it from growing further, leading to its destruction. The green dragon in the Dragon Dwelling Lake had never done evil deeds, which allowed it to transform successfully.
Gu Qin reflected on the old man’s experience, believing he had great fortune. At eighty years old, he could live for decades more, surrounded by loving descendants and living a peaceful life.
The old man continued, "It was strange. Over the years, many girls played in the lake, but only boys ended up in trouble..." Gu Qin considered that perhaps the woman had suffered mistreatment by men in the past. However, regardless of what she had endured, she shouldn’t harm others now.
Qin Xiansheng had indeed followed the creature to the bottom of the lake. The deeper they went, the darker it became. The creature was well-acquainted with the environment, making it difficult to subdue.
Another virtual talisman was cast, causing the creature to emit a shrill cry. Qin Xiansheng remained unaffected, his expression calm. Even in the water, he continued to chant incantations without interruption. Forming the incantation, he struck the creature, rendering it immobile.
Qin Xiansheng immobilized the creature using a binding spell before approaching. The creature was a pale-faced woman dressed in a red robe, her face slightly blue. Qin Xiansheng had no sympathy for such beings and usually broke their souls, preventing them from reincarnation.
The woman sensed Qin Xiansheng’s coldness and cried out, "No, don’t..."
Qin Xiansheng stood motionless, continuing his incantation. The woman pleaded, "Don’t let me scatter my soul, please. I won’t harm anyone anymore."
"Your past misdeeds won’t lessen just because you beg now. Since you’ve killed so many people, you should know your fate," Qin Xiansheng replied coldly.
"I hate them!" the woman screamed. "Those stinking men killed my husband and refused to compensate me. They humiliated me. I hate them, and I wish they all died! Why don’t you die instead?" The woman struggled fiercely, her pain increasing with each movement.
Qin Xiansheng paused, then said coldly, "If that’s the case, help me fulfill one last wish. Tell me who harmed you, and I’ll settle things for you. How about that?"
The woman stopped abruptly, staring at Qin Xiansheng with a terrifying, pale face. "Are you serious?"
Qin Xiansheng replied, "Of course. Do you agree? I’m willing to help you now. Will you surrender?"
The woman hesitated, then her mind cleared. Was he lying? For years, she had been alone in the water, feeling lonely and cold, but her hope of revenge kept her going. She hated men and killed only men, hoping to leave this place and seek revenge. Her son used to swim in the lake, but now he was older and no longer came. She missed them.
Her hatred and desire to see her children kept her going, but now she had nothing left. Her only choice was to trust this man and accept her fate. But she wanted more. If not for this man, she could soon leave this place...
Suddenly, the woman struggled again. "Indeed, this is your own doing!"
Qin Xiansheng responded calmly, "No, I’m willing to help you if you tell me everything. If they suffer, I will consider it."
The woman stopped struggling, realizing she had no choice. She recounted her story, revealing the names of those who had wronged her and the details of the incident. Qin Xiansheng said, "This information is insufficient. If you’re willing, I can search your soul for a clearer picture. Are you willing?"
The woman hesitated but eventually agreed. "Please spare me. I don’t want to be scattered. I’m willing to go to the underworld and reincarnate."
"No, you harmed too many people. You’ll face the same fate in the underworld," Qin Xiansheng replied firmly. He chanted incantations, formed seals, and touched her forehead, revealing her experiences.
The woman’s pale, twisted face showed her agony as she was unable to move. Once it was over, Qin Xiansheng used his qi to draw talismans, striking her chest ten times. With a final scream, her soul shattered completely.
Qin Xiansheng looked at her coldly. Such a person who caused countless deaths deserved no better fate than destruction.
Gu Qin noticed ripples in the center of the reservoir and saw Qin Xiansheng emerge. His muscular chest emerged from the water. She waved, "Xiansheng."
Qin Xiansheng’s stern features softened into a gentle smile. He swam toward the shore.
The old man exclaimed, "Oh, young lady, your boyfriend is quite capable. He wasn’t taken by the water ghost."
Gu Qin smiled back, "He solved the water ghost problem. This reservoir won’t have any more accidents."
The old man approached Qin Xiansheng, "Young man, did you really get rid of that water ghost?" It seemed too easy. He thought they would need to set up an altar or bring talismans or a peachwood sword.
Qin Xiansheng nodded. "Rest assured, it’s taken care of. But it’s deep here, so it’s best to keep people away."
Gu Qin worried, "I should have brought extra clothes. Your clothes are all wet now."
Qin Xiansheng touched her hair gently. "Don’t worry, we’ll head back soon."
Gu Qin nodded and glanced at the water, sensing something amiss. She frowned, unsure of what it was but feeling there was still something in the water. She walked to the edge and used her Heavenly Eye to scan the water. She saw a faint golden aura.
Gu Qin took a breath, wondering if she had seen it wrong. She closed her Heavenly Eye, but the golden light appeared again when she opened it. Her mind buzzed, remembering the old man’s stories about the Dragon Dwelling Lake and the green dragon.
"What’s wrong?" Qin Xiansheng noticed her unease and looked at the lake. "Did you notice something?"
Gu Qin murmured, "It feels like there’s still something in the water."
Qin Xiansheng didn’t ask further and looked at the lake.
Gu Qin didn’t dare speak the truth. The faint golden aura represented dragon qi, rare in this world. Whether it was yuanqi, yinqi, shaqi, or dragon qi, they all had colors. Yangqi appeared as a gentle white mist, yinqi as a grayish fog, shaqi as black, and jiqi as a faint gold. Dragon qi was bright white or a soft gold.
The golden light in the water was faint, hidden under the strong yinqi. Only after the yinqi dispersed did she notice it. She suspected there was something below the surface.
It couldn’t be a dragon, but perhaps a remnant from the green dragon’s transformation. If her guess was correct, this could be very helpful for Ji Xiongdi.
Qin Xiansheng also sensed something. Though he lacked the Heavenly Eye, he could feel the faint energy. Two exchanged glances.
Gu Qin whispered, "Xiansheng, I’ll go down and check. There’s something else."
Qin Xiansheng replied, "Let me go."
Gu Qin glanced at the old man, hesitant. If her guess was right, they couldn’t let others know. Even though the old man was kind-hearted, he might inadvertently spread the word, causing trouble.
Just then, an elderly woman with white hair approached slowly, leaning on a cane. The old man noticed and hurried over. "Old lady, why are you here? Your legs aren’t good, and the path isn’t safe. What if you fall?"
The old woman, probably in her eighties, smiled kindly. "It’s noon. Aren’t you going home for lunch? Your food will get cold. I came to make sure you go back."
"Alright, I was just about to leave. Let’s go together," the old man said, guiding her away.