Chapter 76: Entering the “Little Hell

“It’s a pity that I didn’t ask Brother Chengqing.” With a question in my heart, I couldn’t help but sigh. For the past two days, I’ve been sitting at the door, dazed, because I’ve been feeling a little unwell. They’ve all been busy, and I didn’t even know that Brother Chengqing had already calculated such a big thing without me knowing it.

“I told you it was the same, didn’t I?” Mr. Zheng took a sip of rice wine and began to tell me in detail: “The result of the calculations made by the little boy Chengqing is that the incident occurred on the way to the Lake of a Thousand Ghosts. In other words, the fog along the way will gradually dissipate within three days, because of the incident in the Lake of a Thousand Ghosts. This incident is natural.”

“Natural?” I was pouring the second bowl of rice wine when I heard what Zheng said, and I couldn’t help but stop what I was doing. Obviously, I didn’t understand what he meant.

“You know that the Lake of a Thousand Ghosts attracts ghosts from hundreds of miles around for reasons unknown! The only thing that has been analyzed is that the environment here is suitable for ghosts, but why have the ‘tentacles’ grown so far? The mystery of this is something we cannot understand! As long as you understand, this outbreak of ghosts is due to the natural effects of the Lake of a Thousand Ghosts, and the road that faces the Lake of a Thousand Ghosts will fade away, breaking through and completely encircling our small village.” While Mr. Zheng was telling me this, he took a sip of wine. He looked a little excited. After all, the gods had finally given us a way out.

I naturally had no doubt about the result that Chengqing had calculated, but was this breaking the siege of the village? It was just like escaping from the jaws of the wolf and entering the jaws of the tiger. After all, the exit was facing the Lake of a Thousand Ghosts, which was probably even more terrifying than this small village after the ghost tide broke out.

As if he could read my thoughts, Mr. Zheng said, “This is the only chance that the little boy Chengqing has calculated. In other words, the only chance is in the Lake of a Thousand Ghosts. Only by going to the Lake of a Thousand Ghosts can the crisis in this small village be completely resolved.”

“What do you mean?” At this moment, I had already poured the second bowl of rice wine, and took a sip. Does wine make people brave? At least I wasn’t shocked or scared when I heard that we were going to the Lake of a Thousand Ghosts!

My thoughts were that, rather than being trapped here, if there was a chance, even if it was a knife mountain and a sea of fire, I would have to take a chance. And originally, we were going to the Lake of a Thousand Ghosts to look for something.

“My meaning is simple. After the ghost fog along the way dissipates, I will send someone to go with you to the Lake of a Thousand Ghosts. Of course, we will cover you along the way! My people will hurry to repair the great formation. After all, we have detailed diagrams of the formation here, and you will go find the opportunity left by your master! Chengqing the little boy calculated that the key to resolving the situation lies in that opportunity. But after that, because it involves you and him, he couldn’t calculate it! To be honest, our village fortune teller is far less skilled than that little boy, and he can’t calculate anything more. Mr. Zheng’s words were as direct as ever.

In his mouth, he spoke of three such matters of life and death in one breath. Whether we went to the Lake of a Thousand Ghosts to take risks, or whether they repaired the great formation or covered it, they were all risking their lives!

But at the same time, I also felt a faint sense of pride. Chengqing, my Li family is truly remarkable.

Looking at me without saying a word, Zheng thought I was hesitating. He sighed and said, “It’s selfish of me to ask you to risk your lives for the village. But, Chengyi, you have to know that I’m not doing this for the village. The significance of this village is to be on the front line of the Lake of a Thousand Ghosts. If we fall, we don’t know what kind of tragedy will happen next. It’s terrifying to think about it! Repairing the great formation is for the peace of the next hundred years. Asking you to find an opportunity is also for the peace of the next hundred years! What is my life worth? On behalf of the people in the village, I say that their lives have been entrusted to us since the beginning of the protection of the lake. I…”

“Master Zheng, I have nothing to hesitate about. I was going to the Lake of a Thousand Demons anyway. I was just proud of my senior brother.” I said to Master Zheng seriously.

“You…ha ha, good boy!” Mr. Zheng patted my shoulder and said, “I knew that my rice wine would not go to waste when I gave it to you! The world’s morals and guardianship always have to be borne by people. Taoists sometimes know more than ordinary people, and they can see farther, so they have greater responsibilities! What kind of reward you will get after guarding the lake for ten years is not the key. Everyone who has stayed here for ten years has already agreed that guarding the lake has become a responsibility in their lives.

After guarding the lake for ten years, it turns out that the villagers here have been living like this? But what about Mr. Zheng?

“As for me and your second uncle, Granny Yun came here to guard the lake of her own free will when she grew old! When people grow old, they want to find a meaning to life even more!” Grandpa Zheng said very calmly.

I was not at peace, so I picked up the rice wine and said to Zheng, “Bottoms up!”

“You want to drink it?” Zheng’s eyes showed a hint of surprise.

“Yes, I want to drink it!” I was very sure.

In the end, Zheng really drank with me, but I passed out on the roof less than two minutes after drinking the rice wine. All that could be heard in the night sky was Zheng’s hearty laughter.

My wine is strong…

The next afternoon, I sobered up and opened my eyes to see Chengyuan carrying a basin of water to wash my face. She wrung out a towel and handed it to me, along with a bowl of warm water that had already cooled down.

This girl is very good at taking care of people. I drank the water in the bowl in one gulp, then wiped my face, and the drowsiness brought on by the hangover immediately improved a lot.

“How did you know I would wake up?” I asked Chengyuan.

Chengyuan laughed and said to me, “Master Zheng thought you would wake up at about this time. He said he knew his own drinking.”

I was a little embarrassed, but then I saw Ruoyue walking over to me and leaning against the wall, saying, “Third brother, hurry up and pack. In an hour, we’ll be leaving! We’re almost done packing.”

An hour later, we were supposed to go out? Go out where? I was a little distracted, and then I suddenly remembered what Mr. Zheng told me last night, and then asked Ru Yue, “Do you all know?”

“Yes, Grandma Yun already told us. You have already promised Master Zheng, so we naturally have no objections. Hurry up and pack up.” After saying this, Ru Yue left with Cheng Yuan. After all, there were many men sleeping in this large room in various positions, and it was not good for the two women to stay for too long.

I stood up and stretched, and a faint feeling of emotion flowed through my heart. The trust they all gave me, I would really take on my life without a frown.

I quickly packed everything I needed to take to the Lake of a Thousand Demons. There was going to be a huge battle there, and I wouldn’t mention the ghost Rakshasa. I kept thinking about the unknown creature I had encountered in the ghost fog. The reason why the ghost’s illusion was so powerful was that all of its illusions had a realistic basis. Otherwise, if it conjured up an alien, who would be afraid? Who would be affected?

When we were about to break through the ghost fog, a monster appeared so solemnly. Could there be a monster in the Lake of a Thousand Demons?

My hand trembled slightly, and the three-pronged bell I was holding almost fell to the ground. I quickly stopped thinking about it and simply packed it up.

“Chengyi, are you ready yet? Master Zheng said to go have a meal. He said that we should eat until we are full before we do anything!” The voice of Lushan came from behind me, and behind him was the timid Tao Bai.

“You’re going too?” I was surprised. After all, they were only here to ‘monitor’ the operation, not to take risks. There was no reason to go!

“Of course we have to go. If you really want to explore something, you’re better off on the front line. Besides, didn’t you say you considered me a friend? You came to the Ghost Mist, even though it was dangerous. Lu Shan said seriously, and Tao Bai and he left.

I smiled. Such a group of people, about to embark on an unknown adventure, to go to that place known as Little Hell, a place only the wise can go to, and they were so relaxed, as if they were going on an outing.

Should I be grateful that I gave them courage, or that they ultimately gave me courage?

Little hell?