Chapter Fifteen: Water Grass and the Lake

Perhaps it was just Fu Yang’s imagination, but as soon as he pushed open the door, an icy chill seemed to sweep over him, making his whole body uncomfortable. Yet, strangely, a sudden current of warmth welled up inside him, instantly dispelling the cold.

At that moment, Ahuang suddenly paused, casting Fu Yang a peculiar glance.

“What’s wrong, Ahuang?”

“It’s nothing, probably just my imagination. Let me search the room. The police only searched using normal procedures, so they may not have found anything.”

With that, he removed a bracelet from his wrist and held it in his hand. With the other hand, he raised his fingers, thumb and little finger extended, ring finger curled inward, forming a bizarre gesture. Then he began to chant a rapid string of syllables, the cadence reminiscent of the chants Fu Yang had once heard Taoist priests recite in temples.

Officer Liu watched with admiration. “Master Huang is about to perform a ritual again. These days, there are few real masters left.”

So, Ahuang was already considered a master in the eyes of others?

As Ahuang’s chanting quickened, the bracelet in his hand suddenly whirled up into the air, hovering on its own!

Old Zhao rubbed his eyes hard. “Fu, am I seeing things? Damn, the bracelet is flying?”

Fu Yang feigned calm. “You’re not seeing things. My childhood friend’s Taoist skills are profound, that’s all. I’m just inexperienced.”

The bracelet circled in the air. Guided by Ahuang’s gestures, it darted around the room as if alive, finally stopping above the windowsill.

With a soft clatter, the bracelet dropped onto the windowsill and lay still.

Ahuang relaxed visibly. “There’s something here, just as I thought!”

Everyone hurried to the window, but saw nothing unusual. Carefully, Ahuang produced a pair of tweezers and probed into the gap where the window frame met the sill, extracting a slender green object and a black bird feather.

“It’s a strand of waterweed, probably left by that water wraith’s corpse. It seems that after killing Dudu, it escaped through the window.”

Ahuang leaned out to peer into the woods outside. Beyond lay a dense forest, which stretched some distance before giving way to the main road encircling the school. Across the road, the forest extended further into an immense woodland, sprawling and unbroken.

Jiangcheng University was unique. Although situated in the heart of Jiangcheng, it possessed a vast forest. This woodland, located in the city center, was known as “the lungs of Jiangcheng.” It was something like Central Park in New York, except that here there were no buildings—just pure, dense forest. It was a remarkable feature of the university.

Ahuang’s gaze seemed to pierce through the small woodland, across the ring road, straight toward the vast forest at the campus’s edge.

“Are there any ponds or bodies of water in the forest?” he asked.

Fu Yang was taken aback. “How did you know? Yes, there’s an artificial lake in the center of the forest called Heartwood Lake. It’s not very large, but it’s quite deep. I think it’s been there since Jiangcheng was first established.”

“The water wraith’s corpse—and the ghost general controlling it—are likely hiding in the depths of that lake. I have to check it out! Officer Liu, come with me. Fu Yang, you and Zhao shouldn’t follow. It’s too dangerous.”

Just then, a jarring ringtone blared. “You are my little apple, my precious little apple...”

Startled, everyone looked as Officer Liu calmly answered his phone. His expression changed as he listened. “What? Another student is dead? Also a girl? Also drowned in her sleep? You’ve already secured the scene and spoken to her roommates? Good, I’ll be right there!”

Hanging up, Officer Liu looked grave. “Master Huang, another female student in the university dormitory has died, in exactly the same way as Yang Dudu—sleeping safely in her bed, only to drown in the middle of the night.”

The water wraith!

Fu Yang and Old Zhao turned pale with shock. Ahuang had been right—once a vengeful ghost appears, the deaths never stop at one. There will inevitably be more victims, each drowned in their sleep.

“Officer Liu, you handle the case,” Ahuang said. “I need to hurry to the lake in the forest.”

Though frightened, Fu Yang and Old Zhao were adamant about accompanying him. They argued that it was broad daylight and no evil spirit would appear; after all, they often strolled in the woods, and the place was a favorite haunt for courting couples. Seeing their determination, Ahuang had no choice but to let them come along.

“And I can help carry your bag,” Fu Yang said, grabbing the cloth bag Ahuang had just set on the bed, as if afraid he’d escape. “Damn, did you pack rocks? Why is this so heavy?”

Jiangcheng University Forest.

The forest was vast and lush. Even at noon, when the sun was blazing, the interior remained cool and tranquil, a few degrees colder than the outside. Normally, it felt more like a park than anything sinister. But knowing there was a water wraith in the depths of Heartwood Lake—and perhaps something even worse—made the entrance seem downright ominous.

To Fu Yang, the path into the forest resembled the gaping maw of a ghost, ready to devour them whole.

Ahuang looked at the nervous pair, smiling faintly. “Are you sure you want to come? Once we go in, stick close to me. It’s daytime, so we should be safe, but better not take chances.”

The two nodded eagerly, like pecking chicks.

Once inside, the dense canopy blocked out the sunlight, bringing a welcome coolness amidst the summer heat. Fu Yang led the way, while Old Zhao, fearful, clung close to Ahuang.

The forest paths crisscrossed in all directions, evidence of an original design, though the authorities had long since abandoned maintenance. The trees had been left to grow wild, and many smaller paths were now wholly swallowed by tall weeds.

After some fifteen minutes, the air grew more humid, tinged with the scent of water.

“Heartwood Lake is just ahead,” Fu Yang announced, hurrying forward to part a stand of shoulder-high weeds. A lake appeared before them.

The lake was oval, with two narrow channels extending from its east and west ends. The water was deep, and a worn wooden sign at the bank warned, “Deep water—No Swimming.” Dead leaves lay in thick, undisturbed layers along the shore. Whether by nature or design, the trees around the lake were especially dense, standing shoulder to shoulder in an almost eerie formation.

In such a place, one truly felt the isolation of the wild. If not for witnessing it themselves, who would believe that such an untamed expanse existed right in the center of a bustling city?

Fu Yang explained, “The lake is pretty remote, even within the forest. Hardly anyone comes here.”

But Ahuang wasn’t listening. His eyes were fixed intently on the thick ring of trees encircling Heartwood Lake.

(The second update! The story truly begins.)