Chapter 38

Editors: Kat & Alysia

Proofreader: Junyans

The ferry was narrow and looked a bit like a boat with an awning. It wobbled on the water and appeared unstable.

Miao Fangfei and Shi Tao put the bamboo baskets containing their ghost babies on the boat, before they picked up the bamboo poles and began to row the boat to the other bank.

“Our speed is constant.”

After a while, Miao Fangfei whispered.

As the first group of people on board, they had previouslysummarized many key points that could be determined on board, such as whether they could reach the opposite bank faster if they rowed the boat quickly.

But obviously, this ferry was unusual.

“Yes, the voyage’s duration is fixed at 15 minutes.”

Shi Tao looked worried. Even with a conservative estimate of the time, they could not consider making four round trips in two hours.

“Uwa——”

A splash sounded out, and Spotty swam back to the ferry from the waters. It hissed rapidly as if it were panicking. The ghost babies in the bamboo baskets looked at it curiously. There was a naughty baby who wanted to get out of the bamboo basket to play with the snake.

“Leader Miao, you can look after them.”

Shi Tao said, “I’ll just row the ferry.”

Since the ferry would move at the same speed whether two people or one person rowed it, they could row it in turn.

Miao Fangfei righted the bamboo basket, wrapped Spotty around her wrist, and examined it carefully. She saw a circle of scales on Spotty’s body had been flipped up or broken in the middle. It was terrifying, like they were torn by sharp teeth. The wound was swollen and white, with a thick fishy smell. Miao Fangfei was careful during the examination, yet Spotty still hissed and spat out its forked tongue in pain.

“There’s something in the river.”

Miao Fangfei worriedly said, “It’s best if we don’t fall into the stream.”

Guide III reminded them that the sound of crying was taboo when sailing across Mourning Stream. He said that the river leads to both Yin and Yang shores. In ancient times, people often sacrificed offerings to river gods by the stream. If someone cried on the river, the Dragon Lord would take the people on board as sacrifices, creating waves of black water and swallowing the ship.

The ghost babies often cried very loudly and didn’t obey their instructions completely, so Miao Fangfei and the others also expected their ferries to be overturned in the stream.

Originally, when they saw that the bamboo pole could reach the bottom of the stream and judged that the stream was a bit deeper than two meters, they felt it didn’t matter much if they fell in. However, if there were monsters in the stream, the situation was different.

Fortunately, different from what they expected, the ghost babies in the bamboo baskets were very quiet. They didn’t let them play with the snake or make noise. Instead, they skilfully grabbed the edges of the bamboo baskets to let them view the scenery on the other side. There was a faint glimmer of hope in their dark, scary eyes.

“The opposite bank should be the final assembly point.”

Miao Fangfei observed the expressions of the ghost babies, but she became more worried in her heart. She kept trying to think of a way to solve their dilemma and figure out how to allow everyone and the ghost babies to reach the end smoothly, but Miao Fangfei couldn’t think of a solution. She was not good at such logical problems, and could only hope that Wang Pengpai and the others’ side had a plan.

The crimson ferry drove to the center of the river, where the waves became bigger. The ferry fluctuated among the waves. It seemed that something was pushing against the bottom of the boat. At the same time, a rustling sound was heard, like a newly hatched silkworm eating broken leaves.

Miao Fangfei had an awful expression and her gaze met with Shi Tao’s. Shi Tao gritted his teeth and raised the bamboo pole with one arm. When the bamboo pole was pulled out of the water, a string of palm-sized fish with silver scales were hanging off the pole.

“Bam!”

Shi Tao cleverly flung the small fish off the bamboo pole. One of them fell into the ferry and Spotty bit it immediately. Spotty was highly toxic, but this small, silver fish was still very energetic, and it almost broke free several times. Its vitality was strong, and it only stopped moving after more than a minute.

Miao Fangfei tied up the fish with her bamboo pole. She saw that the shuttle-shaped fish was strong and powerful. The edges of its fins on both its upper and lower sides were sharp, and its mouth was full of sharp teeth that shone in the cold light. The sharp teeth grew in circles like a female fish’s mouthpart. If they were really bitten, it would definitely tear off a piece of meat.

“The stream is full of these fish.”

Miao Fangfei threw the dead fish into the stream and saw that the stream boiled. The dense group of fish crazily grabbed the flesh of the dead fish and bit it wildly. In less than a second, the dead fish was torn and swallowed up, leaving no bones.

They now knew what the rustling sound at the bottom of the ship came from. It was clear that the strange fishes were eating their ship!

“The time limit is also the maximum time that the ferry can sail on the waters.”

Miao Fangfei continued, “The more the ferry returns, the more dangerous it is. In two hours, the ship may be completely bitten through.”

Fifteen minutes later, the ship reached the other shore. Wang Pengpai, who was already waiting there, pulled Miao Fangfei and Shi Tao ashore together with the rest.

“No matter how many people row the ferry, the ferry speed remains the same. It’s still 15 minutes.”

“There are piranhas in the river that will bite the boat. Don’t fall into the waters.”

Miao Fangfei said quickly, “The ghost babies are going to die here. Their final destination is likely to be here.”

“Also, there are five people and five ghost babies over there.”

As soon as she said this, Wang Pengpai, Xu Chen, and the others showed helpless and bitter smiles. Looking at their faces, Miao Fangfei felt her heart chill.

“Time is short, so let’s keep things short.”

Wang Pengpai recounted their experiences in a few words. Finally, he said, “These ‘babies’ are the guests of the former Cordoned-off Village. These children are disobedient and will likely make trouble when they get on board.”

Miao Fangfei frowned. Compared with the clever ghost babies, Wang Pengpai and the others’ side was much more dangerous.

“Little Zhao and Old Yu, get on board first.”

Wang Pengpai looked at the time. The ship had docked for two minutes and they could not delay any longer. He made a quick decision and said, “Do as we instructed previously.”

“Noted.”

Zhao Hongtu and Yu Hean got on the boat without hesitation. They were clutching something white and fluffy in their hands. It was Wang Pengpai’s idea that if they had to take a “baby” on board, they must hold onto its broken limbs. However, in order to avoid letting the remaining limbs escape due to the “baby’s” fear of the fetal flesh by drilling back into their stomachs, several of them reaped the benefits of the baby’s bodies, since they had already paid the price.

t/n: reaped the benefits, since the price has been paid: basically describing how Wang Pengpai & gang were ripping off the baby’s limbs since they had already paid the price of tearing off the babies’ off their stomachs.

Since the ferry did not have any extra space, they couldn’t bring the fetal flesh. Even the most ruthless Zhao Hongtu didn’t suggest killing the fetal flesh, peeling off its skin and wrapping it around its limbs. However, Wang Pengpai had an idea. He took out a strange looking razor and scraped the bare skin of the fetal flesh. With this, he was able to scrape off long curls of white hair that looked like a beard.

“This is just a small toy.”

Seeing that Zhao Hongtu and the others had gotten curious, Wang Pengpai threw the razor for them to look at it.

[Name: Shaver that is pretty much useless]

[Quality: Ragged]

[Function: It can shave some beard off a chin that hasn’t grown a beard]

[Note: The smoother the chin, the thicker the beard! This is a razor that is pretty much useless… Uh, fine, it’s true that it’s useless]

Seeing the brief introduction of the prop, the corner of Zhao Hongtu’s eye twitched. He took this and ran it along the bare chin of the fetal flesh. Unexpectedly, he really shaved off a layer of snow-white long hair.

“Anyway, we just need to use something from the fetal flesh to wrap the broken limbs.”

Wang Pengpai spoke happily, touching his bare chin, “Initially, I didn’t want to take this ragged prop along, but hey, I haven’t grown a beard since I obtained it, so I’ve always brought it with me on tours.”

Surprisingly, this junk could actually be used here. Zhao Hongtu simply didn’t have the energy to grumble about the prop.

But all in all, the effect of the fetal flesh beard was really good. After wrapping the remaining limbs in it, the limbs were motionless as if they were dead, and they didn’t drill into Zhao Hongtu and the others’ stomach again.

“Get on board, on board.”

After Zhao Hongtu and Yu Hean pushed the ferry away from the shore and rowed about ten meters off the shore, Wang Pengpai noticed that there were two babies less behind the fetal flesh. Zhao Hongtu, who was guarding the baskets on the ship, noticed the babies who appeared in the basket instantly. He quickly closed the top of the bamboo baskets and covered them with the fetal flesh beard.

“Ah——! Ah, ah!!”

An angry and shrill roar sounded from the bamboo basket, and the baskets were knocked about by the baby inside. It was as powerful as a live fish that was caught moments ago, struggling in one’s bare hands.

“Little Zhao, are you okay!”

Yu Hean asked nervously while rowing the boat.

“I’m fine.”

Zhao Hongtu showed a ferocious smile. He tightly clasped the bamboo basket he was holding in his hands, and kept the other between his feet. Suddenly, the vein in his forehead throbbed and his limbs let go of the bamboo basket. He put on a mask and said, “Uncle, put on a mask.”

“Damn it, the smell is really strong.”

Yu Hean’s stomach growled, and he felt hungry. He was so hungry that it was as if his chest was sticking to his back. The tempting smell came from the basket. Without Zhao Hongtu’s reminder, Yu Hean had put on a mask.

The mask was stuffed with the fetal flesh’s beard. With the pressure of genuine fetal flesh, the tempting and appetizing smell of the medicinal egg was covered.

“Good riddance. Fortunately, Brother Wang had the foresight to make preparations.”

After the scent of the medicinal egg was covered, Yu Hean shook his head and spoke with a lingering sense of fear, “If it weren’t for this mask, it would be much harder for us to bear the scent on this voyage.”

“Brother Wang had a very comprehensive outlook of the situation.”

Zhao Hongtu admitted. Along the tour, his pride had finally succumbed. He really didn’t do enough and had a long way to go.

“The fishes are coming! Little Zhao, be careful!”

Yu Hean cursed. His action of rowing the ferry with a bamboo pole had obviously become more difficult. He lifted the bamboo pole and saw a string of fish biting on the pole. He was stunned. “These fish are really fierce, just like what Leader Miao said!”

At the same time, they heard a rapid crackling sound, as if raindrops were smashing on the bottom of the ship. The piranhas were crazily gnawing at the bottom of the ship, and the sound of it made one’s scalp numb. Originally, their legs would have already gone soft if they had to row a rickety boat on a choppy river. Coupled with the fierce and crazy piranhas, without courage, one may not even be able to row the boat.

Yu Hean was so frightened that he turned pale and tried hard to pass through the waterway faster. But as Miao Fangfei said, the speed of the ship remained the same no matter whether he exerted great or little strength, or whether he rowed quickly or slowly.

The bamboo pole was getting heavier and heavier, and the boat was sinking. A wave appeared and the boat shook violently. Yu Hean quickly stabilized his body and repeatedly chanted, “Bodhisattva, please bless me.” He didn’t dare to look at the water surface and kept looking at the other shore, waiting anxiously.

“We’re halfway there. We should be halfway there. We’ll reach the other side soon.”

“We’re almost halfway. We’re approaching the center of the stream.”

Zhao Hongtu was also worried. The babies in the bamboo basket were making more and more trouble, and the limbs wrapped in the fetal flesh beard began to move about, wanting to gather together. Zhao Hongtu’s figure was rather thin, so it took him a lot of energy just to suppress the two baskets. Just now, when the wave came forth and the ferry shook, a bamboo basket pressed against his abdominal wound, and Zhao Hongtu’s face turned white.

He really wanted to be like Guide III, who wasn’t afraid of pain.

Zhao Hongtu gritted his teeth and persevered through the severe pain. Hearing Yu Hean’s words, he also looked up at the other side and looked forward to arriving at the shore early. But after looking, Zhao Hongtu’s face changed dramatically.

“Something’s wrong!”

“What, what’s wrong?”

Yu Hean shivered, and due to nervousness, he stuttered, “Did we go in the wrong direction? Did we meet a Ghost Hits The Wall? Then, shall we turn around?”

“Why the heck should we turn around!”

Zhao Hongtu scolded, “Damn it, the distance is wrong!”

Miao Fangfei said that it was only when the ferry reached the center of the river that the piranhas bit the ferry, but now they had only traveled a quarter at most. Why were the fishes crazily biting the ferry?

In each voyage, would the piranhas bite the ferry earlier and earlier, or——

“Uncle, smack the fish dead!”

“Oh, good, good.”

The best thing about Yu Hean was his obedience. When III-9 was there, he acted according to Guide III’s instructions. When Leader Miao was there, he listened to Leader Miao’s instructions. Now, he listened to Zhao Hongtu’s instructions. Although he was afraid, with an “Umph,” Yu Hean’s arm muscles grew tauter, and he pulled the bamboo pole out of the water. Goodness gracious, there was a long string of fish hanging under it, and the bamboo pole looked as if it had gotten shorter.

“Go!”

Yu Hean glared at the fishes and with the strength of a cow, he forcibly smacked the bamboo pole onto the water. The force caused the fish to fall to the water as if they had been smacked on the ground. He immediately got rid of the fishes on the bamboo pole. Zhao Hongtu clenched his teeth and pulled his bowstring with one of his hands. He turned his head and his hand that was clasped tightly suddenly loosened. Then, an arrow accurately stabbed into the water surface where the fishes were. For a moment, blood filled the air.

The scene of the stream buzzing and the ferocious rush of fishes occured again, frightening Yu Hean pale and stiff. Zhao Hongtu licked his teeth, sensed carefully around the surroundings, and his heart sank.

There was clearly a bloody fish corpse, but the fish gnawing on the bottom of their boat were still there, and the inexplicable vibration of the ferry was still there.

In other words, the things on board were as tempting as blood to the fishes.

Zhao Hongtu told Yu Hean about it. Yu Hean immediately nodded and said, “Yes, yes, it must be that bullshit medicinal egg. When I said that there was something wrong, the fish began to gnaw at the ferry!”

Yes!

It was when the smell of the medicinal eggs spread out that the fishes started biting the bottom of the ferry!

But what should they do? Zhao Hongtu racked his brains and couldn’t think of a way. It wasn’t as if he could stick the fetal flesh on the bottom of the ferry, as they didn’t have a lot of time. However, if they ignored this issue and their ferry kept getting bitten and chewed on, maybe the ferry would sink in advance after making a few trips.

What should they do!

“Little Zhao, you keep up with the rowing.”

“Ah? Ah!”

Zhao Hongtu subconsciously took over the bamboo pole that was thrown over. Before Zhao Hongtu could row much, he saw Yu Hean take out the old cowhide and wrap the two bamboo baskets with it. The cowhide was big enough to wrap the two bamboo baskets. At the opening of the baskets, Yu Hean tied his own mask there. Zhao Hongtu was stunned by his quick actions.

“Heh, I should have thought of that a while ago.”

Yu Hean patted “cowhide pocket” and said nervously, “This should be slightly more useful.”

“It’s useful.”

Zhao Hongtu sensed the bottom of the ferry. Sure enough, he felt less fish chomping onto the ferry. He instantly said happily, “It turns out that this cowhide can still be used in this manner!”

“I just thought of it.”

Yu Hean embarrassedly scratched his face, took the bamboo pole from Zhao Hongtu’s hands, and continued to row. “I didn’t think about it before. After all, the description is ‘Put on the cowhide of the old yellow cattle, and they will recognize you as a cow.’ I used to allow others to use my cowhide, but when I thought about it carefully, it didn’t say that the ‘you’ could only be a person. Therefore, I decided to try it. I didn’t expect it to work.”

Yu Hean said happily, “I did this because I was inspired by Brother Wang. You say, why does his brain work so well? He could also think of a new way to use the ragged razor, so I’m really convinced. Huihui must also like Brother Wang. Huihui has a flexible brain, his grades have always been good, and he said he wants to take the entrance examination for a good university in reality. He’s much more promising than me.”

Yu Hean mentioned his brother with a proud face and no envy. He was simple and honest, and was excellent to his brother. But when Zhao Hongtu listened to his words, his heart clenched tightly, soaked in sourness.

Yu Hean didn’t know that there was a problem with his younger brother. Zhao Hongtu was too lazy to meddle in his business. But after all, the people in their tour group had experienced life and death together, and who wouldn’t have feelings of attachment with each another? Seeing that Yu Hean was still in the dark, Zhao Hongtu was really troubled by his own conscience.

After pondering for a long time and seeing that they were approaching the other shore, Zhao Hongtu pursed his mouth and finally hesitantly revealed:

“Uncle, your younger brother, he——”

The author has something to say:

Today I’m very capable as well, chirp, chirp. I want praise from you guys! [Shoulders back, chest out]

T/N: I’m sorry for the late chapter update, I lost track of time playing Arceus