Faced with the robust and fierce wolf Yangquan, the unarmed Bai Qi could only swallow his resentment.
But that doesn't mean that any filthy scoundrel can lord over him.
Having a knife plunged into one's heart, that's called "tolerance."
But if you're stepped on by everyone, that's "cowardice."
Bai Qi, who previously drifted through the underworld, understands this better than anyone.
The saying "If a person isn't ruthless, they won't stand firm!"
Is there any truth to it!
"If I can't get rid of Yangquan, I can certainly deal with a few ruffians like you!"
Having mastered the introductory level of the eighth stage and possessing outstanding skills in water, Bai Qi decisively set down the meat he had just purchased.
He stealthily followed Chen Da and his men from Lard Street to the pier.
Under the cover of night, he closely followed at the stern of the boat.
He deployed his supreme water battle skills in the ebb and flow of the waves.
Stunningly, there wasn't a single sound.
Truly like a Water Ghost!
Crash!
Crash crash!
Chen Da was terrified, frantically paddling the oars.
The stern seemed to be forcibly held, plunging into the depth of the reed marsh.
He was so frightened by the terrifying maze-like scene that his lips trembled as he spoke:
"Resentment has a cause, debt has a creditor! Your life was ruined by Wang Laizi, has nothing to do with us!"
Lao San shrunk his neck, repeatedly echoing:
"Right! Wang Laizi said you were without kin or relations, dying at your age, no one would care... If you seek revenge, go find him!"
The short ruffian thought of Old Yu, who was sliced and bled, used as bait in Mihun Bay.
That utterly tragic and terrifying death visage seemed to appear before his eyes, scaring him so much he nearly wet his pants:
"Old Yu! Go claim Wang Laizi's life!
Spare me this time, I'll offer you paper money and ritual sacrifices in the future!"
Bai Qi submerged in the water, silently listening to these ruffians' "confessions," without any emotion stirring in his heart.
It's not that they realized their wrongs, but they began to fear death.
"Brother Chen, we should kowtow to him!"
The short ruffian's face was colorless, trembling like a sieve.
Black Water River spans eight hundred li in radius, vast and deep, breeding unknown terrifying creatures.
No matter how skilled the Fisherman is, none dare cross Mihun Bay.
These ruffians have heard the wild tales of Water Ghosts since childhood; how could they not fear?
Especially since Black River County is densely populated, temples are found everywhere for worship.
Everyone believes in the ghost and deity tales, holding some reverence, which intensifies this fear.
Once the evil aura fades, the courage dissipates.
The ruffians become cowards, letting themselves be manipulated.
"Old Yu, I'm kneeling to you!
Wang Laizi is right by the willow shore of Mihun Bay, have him pay for his life, don't involve us!"
Lao San knelt repeatedly, his head thudding against the boat deck.
"This money stained with conscience and blood, I didn't take a single coin!
Wang Laizi's heart is vicious, specifically targeting solitary, weak individuals without kin!
He even had intentions on the Bai Brothers, planning for us to capture and harm them..."
Chen Da lamented, incessantly trying to absolve himself.
As soon as he finished speaking, the bottom of the boat clunked with a dull noise.
Like the footfalls of a haunting ghost, drawing closer.
The chilling atmosphere felt like an invisible giant hand gripped Chen Da and his men tightly.
"Something's wrong! Brother Chen, why is our boat leaking?"
Lao San suddenly felt a coolness on his forehead, lifted his gaze, and saw water flooding into the boat.
"Damn it! I knew it was no vengeful ghost! It's clearly these bastards puncturing the boat to kill!"
Chen Da immediately realized, his anger surging and pushing away his earlier timid posture.
Ruffians are often guilty, thus fearing ghosts, but unafraid of the living!
Because they habitually oppress others!
"You plug the leak, Lao San, get in the water with me, we'll meet this sneaky bastard!"
Chen Da's eyes were fierce, he swiftly stripped off his gray tunic, revealing his sturdy, muscular, darkened skin.
Though a Hunter, relying on the eight hundred li Black Water River, how could he not know how to swim!
"Good! Brother Chen, once we catch this bastard, we'll slice and bleed him too, sink him in Mihun Bay!"
Lao San's face contorted, he'd almost wet himself earlier.
Now recovering, he was gritting his teeth in hatred.
Splash!
Chen Da plunged boldly into the chilling river water.
Upon diving, he immediately saw an agile and lean figure darting towards him.
Hair tied tight, bare chested.
Below were homespun lantern pants, unmistakably the attire of a Fisherman.
The water rippled, stirred up an undercurrent, and Chen Da collided with those cold, dark eyes, his heart skipped a beat:
"Bai Qilang... how can it be him!"
He couldn't associate Bai Qi, who was timid and submissive at the entrance of Zheng Tu's butcher shop,
with this agile figure resembling a Water Ghost!
"Such skilled swimming! Lao San, run!"
Chen Da frantically waved his hand to signal, exerting his legs to kick up, intending to rise to the surface.
"Too late!"
Bai Qi held his breath, with every pore on his body expanding.
Relying on the swimming skills imparted by his fishing techniques, he barely needed to breathe.
In combination with the body techniques of the Eight-Section Brocade, he moved like a white fish darting through the water, easily catching up to Chen Da.
He grabbed the guy by the ankle and yanked him down fiercely.
"Let go! Ah Qi, I beg you to spare me... glug glug!"
Chen Da struggled desperately but to no avail, immediately becoming both alarmed and scared.
Moments later, his face turned liver-colored as water choked his mouth and nose.
He had brought his mighty strength to the Black Water River, only to find it completely useless.
"Taking my pack of meat, in exchange for your life, isn't excessive, right?"
Bai Qi sneered coldly in his heart, dragging Chen Da towards the rapidly flowing, pitch-black river bottom like a dead dog.
Only until that burly body no longer struggled and its limbs stopped moving did he quietly release it.
He leaned over to search around, deftly unbuckling a money pouch from his waist.
"Two more to go..."
...
...
Lao San dove in too late; by the time he plunged into the river, there was no trace of Chen Da.
The night was vast, a layer of damp, cold mist rising from the water's surface, preventing any sense of direction.
"Brother Chen! Damn it, did that bastard really get you?"
Lao San shouted aloud, but received no answer.
After being immersed for only a short while, his hands and feet began to go numb from the cold.
It felt like being pricked by needles, causing a sharp pain.
"I can't stay, I have to return to the boat..."
Lao San, lacking in strength, became increasingly afraid after swimming a distance.
He hurriedly turned around, frantically paddling towards the black-tarred boat.
The short ruffian had just plugged up a leaking hole when he saw Lao San frantically paddling as if pursued by an evil ghost.
"Lao San, what's going on? Where's Brother Chen?"
He shouted.
But before Lao San could reply, his face turned pale and filled with terror.
His swimming body suddenly seemed snagged, halting fiercely, and plunged downward.
No matter how he flailed his arms, it was to no avail.
Splash! Splash! Splash!
As the splashes gradually subsided, the Black Water River returned to its deep night's tranquility.
Witnessing this sight, the short ruffian gaped in shock, trembling all over:
"Water Ghost... it really is the Water Ghost!"
"Old Yu, he entrusted me with a message."
Just when the short ruffian's heart was in his mouth, an eerie, hoarse voice suddenly arose from the aft of the boat.
"He asks if you know how cold the Black Water River is, how fierce those big fish are?"
A skinny figure, dripping wet, climbed into the black-tarred boat, lifting his eyelids to stare fixedly at the short ruffian.
The latter seemed petrified, the rusted fish fork in his hand clanked onto the deck.
Accompanied by a drizzle-like sound of water dripping down his pant leg.
The short ruffian slumped at the bow, as if utterly resigned.
Water Ghost!
It's the Water Ghost!
It took down Chen Da and Lao San!
"Thanks to the Dragon King's kindness, I can make a living on the Black Water River."
Bai Qi nimbly vaulted over the bamboo shelter, bending down to pick up the fish fork:
"Today, I'm here to make a good catch, to feed the fish as tribute."
"You?"
The short ruffian finally recognized that the "Water Ghost" before him, with hair clinging like ropes and lantern pants tight against the thighs, was actually Bai Ahqi!
"That bastard Bai Ahqi, my big brother is Yangquan! You dare harm me..."
Thwack!
The sharp fish fork punctured flesh, piercing through the neck, abruptly cutting off the short ruffian's words.
Like bursting a water-filled bag, a crimson flood poured out instantly.
"It's just killing, why overthink it."