Chapter Thirty-Eight: Escaping the Peril of the Underground River

“Don’t worry. In just half a minute, this damned wraith lord’s body will be reduced to ashes.”

Ah Huang was panting heavily, clutching his chest, clearly exhausted. Yet his eyes shone with excitement.

Since that was the case, Fu Yang stopped worrying and let Ah Huang hurry over to help him up.

Just moments ago, he’d been knocked flying by that brat with a lamp weighing dozens of pounds, crashing down from the altar; he’d definitely broken a few bones and probably had internal injuries as well.

Even in such a miserable state, Fu Yang didn’t forget to claim credit: “Don’t forget what I did. I was the one who risked everything and smashed that brat senseless first… The police promised a reward—I should get at least sixty percent!”

The police had long since promised a cash reward of half a million for resolving the supernatural murders at Jiangcheng University. For a “nobody” like Fu Yang, that was a fortune.

Supported by Ah Huang, the two of them watched the wraith lord struggle desperately and writhe in agony within the raging Taoist flames.

But then, something unexpected happened!

A heavy rumbling sounded, accompanied by violent shaking.

An earthquake?!

Fu Yang and Ah Huang were startled.

A huge, dark mass reached into the Bone Temple from above the altar where the black statue sat. Twisting and writhing, it looked like a gigantic serpent—utterly unbelievable.

“It’s roots! So many tree roots!”

Ah Huang shouted in astonishment. Only then did Fu Yang see clearly: they were indeed the roots of a towering tree, stretching into the Bone Temple like living creatures. The roots gathered together, forming what looked like a massive arm, and slammed into the stone wall behind the altar with a resounding crash.

Stone shattered, creating a hole three or four meters wide, from which torrents of icy underground water burst forth!

As fierce as a tsunami, the water crashed onto the wraith lord, instantly extinguishing every trace of flame on its body.

Ah Huang’s face changed dramatically, and he swore, “Damn it! Fu Yang, you jinx!”

“Jinx your sister! How is this my fault? What do we do now?!”

Even as they spoke, the water, as fierce as a high-pressure hose, had already filled half the Bone Temple. It was up to their shins.

The battered wraith lord seized the chaos to vanish without a trace. Whether it had been destroyed by Ah Huang’s Taoist fire or still clung stubbornly to existence was anyone’s guess…

“We can’t stay in this damned place! Let’s go!”

Fu Yang quickly reminded Ah Huang, “Water-warding talisman—use your water-warding talisman, you idiot!”

“Oh, right!”

Apparently dazed from exhaustion, Ah Huang finally remembered to use the talisman.

He reached into the wide sleeve of his Taoist robe and pulled out a crumpled, soggy wad of paper.

The two exchanged glances, despair written in their eyes.

“Damn… the talisman paper’s soaked. I can’t use the spell!” Ah Huang’s face twisted with anguish, as if someone had kicked him where it hurt most.

“Then hold your breath and swim with the current! There has to be an exit.”

The flood inside the Bone Temple was so violent that it swept them both out by sheer force.

And that wasn’t all—other cracks in the cave walls began to spout water too. The floor of the cavern became a raging river, dragging Fu Yang and Ah Huang along. It was like being shot down rapids…

Already badly injured, Fu Yang quickly lost strength as soon as he hit the water, sinking like a stone.

Ah Huang fought the rushing current, swimming toward him and shouting hoarsely, “Grab my hand!!!”

The current was too strong—the first try failed.

Fu Yang tried several times, and just as despair was about to claim him, he finally grabbed Ah Huang’s hand!

Their grip was ironclad.

“Brother, I swear I’ll get you out alive!”

“Don’t take advantage of me… I’m a week older than you.”

“At a time like this, do you really have to crack jokes?”

The current grew even stronger, turning the vast cavern into what seemed like a new underground lake—the very bottom of Linxin Lake!

This made the two of them nervous.

If this was a completely sealed cavern, they’d be drowned for sure.

Finally, as the water rose to within seven or eight meters of the cave ceiling, it suddenly grew more turbulent, emitting an eerie wailing.

That meant water was rapidly flowing in a certain direction—being sucked away.

“That way! Let’s bet on it!”

Enduring the pain, Fu Yang pointed to a spot where the water was spinning into a whirlpool.

“Let’s go for it!”

Ah Huang pulled him along, swimming hard toward it. As soon as they got close, a tremendous suction dragged them in.

Fu Yang felt himself sliding at breakneck speed down a narrow, water-filled passage, like a sealed slide in a water park. His mind was blank—there wasn’t even time to think.

All he could think was, “Don’t let go of Ah Huang’s hand! With my injuries, I won’t survive otherwise.”

In the darkness, time seemed to lose all meaning.

He didn’t know how long it lasted. Just as he was about to lose his breath, he felt Ah Huang pulling him with all his might in one direction.

He opened his eyes and saw light around him—he could make out vague shapes. Ah Huang was above him, dragging him desperately toward the surface…

With a splash, two heads broke the water.

They gasped for air, tongues lolling like dogs on a summer day, greedily drinking in the air.

It was at least half a minute before they caught their breath. They swam to shore and collapsed on the grass like dead dogs, unmoving.

“Xiao Yang… Are you still alive?”

“Full of vigor—could spend the night with a girl and still be fine…” Fu Yang mustered the strength to act tough.

They found themselves on the outskirts of the timberland.

Jiangcheng University’s campus sprawled across a vast area, with a new section built east of the forest. The old and new campuses were separated by a thirty-meter-wide river—the Red Banner River.

Fu Yang and Ah Huang had just emerged from the Red Banner River.

Clearly, the massive cavern beneath Linxin Lake was connected to an underground river, which in turn must have an exit connecting to some part of the Red Banner River.

Half an hour later, Ah Huang managed to recover some strength.

He hoisted the barely-conscious Fu Yang onto his back and limped toward the nearest forest ranger’s cabin…

At last, now that the danger had passed and his nerves relaxed, Fu Yang’s vision went black and he lost consciousness completely.

He didn’t wake up until the next day.

As soon as he regained awareness, before he even opened his eyes, he was greeted by a gentle fragrance—like gardenias or magnolias, elegant and sweet.