Chapter 352

For a moment, everyone fell silent.

Translation: For a moment, everyone fell silent.

Even if someone wanted to advise, they couldn't find the words to say.

Translation: Even if someone wanted to advise, they couldn't bring themselves to speak about it.

Liu Junyan reached out and hugged me; everything was understood without words.

Translation: Liu Junyan reached out and hugged me; everything was understood without words.

Afterwards, Liu Junyan asked a few more questions, and the Linghai Dragon King answered everything without holding back.

Translation: Next, Liu Junyan asked about some other matters, and the Linghai Dragon King indeed answered without reservation.

We had just finished talking when someone outside came to report that Hui Moqiong had arrived.

Translation: We had just finished chatting when someone outside came to report that Hui Moqiong had arrived.

Liu Junyan and I then got up, preparing to take our leave.

Translation: I and Liu Junyan then got up, preparing to take our leave.

The moment I stood up, I felt dizzy and my body swayed as if I might collapse.

Translation: The moment I stood up, I felt a wave of dizziness, my body swaying as if about to fall.

Liu Junyan grabbed my lower back to steady me, preventing me from falling, and he anxiously said, "Xiao Jiu, are you feeling unwell again? I'll have a healer come see you."

Translation: Liu Junyan grabbed my lower back, preventing me from falling, and he said anxiously, "Xiao Jiu, are you feeling unwell again? I'll have a healer come examine you."

I leaned on the table for a moment, and the dizziness passed.

Translation: I leaned on the table edge for a moment, and that dizzy feeling disappeared.

I waved my hand: "It's fine; maybe I just soaked in the seawater too long and ran low on energy—I'll rest well when I get back."

Translation: I waved my hand: "It's fine, maybe I soaked in the seawater too long, lacking some strength; just resting well when I go back will do."

I picked up the soul-guiding lamp and was ready to leave with Liu Junyan.

Translation: I picked up the Soul-guiding Lamp, preparing to leave with Liu Junyan.

But when I saw inside the lamp, amidst the meritorious light, a floating inner elixir, I stopped again and turned to look at Liu Junyan.

Translation: But when I saw inside the Soul-guiding Lamp that inner elixir floating amid the Merit Light, I stopped again and turned my head to look at Liu Junyan.

My mother's inner elixir was too dazzling.

Translation: Liu Mu's inner elixir was too glaring.

Although it was placed in the soul-guiding lamp, ordinary people couldn't retrieve it.

Translation: Although it was placed in the Soul-guiding Lamp, ordinary people couldn't take it out.

However, after the incident where Feng Xianqiu attracted black crows to attack the soul-guiding lamp, the lamp's merit had indeed decreased a little.

Translation: However, after the incident where Feng Xianqiu summoned black crows to attack the Soul-guiding Lamp, the Merit Light inside the lamp had indeed decreased a little.

It's inevitable that he'll repeat the trick, and if it affects the inner elixir again, that would be disastrous.

Translation: It was inevitable that he would repeat the trick, and if it affected the inner elixir again, that would be disastrous.

Now that everything's out in the open, the Linghai Dragon King has always stood with my mother, so...

Translation: Now that everything has been laid out, the Linghai Dragon King has always stood on Liu Mu's side, so…

Liu Junyan read my thoughts and immediately decided: "Uncle, let me entrust my mother's inner elixir to you for safekeeping; if you can protect it, great, and even if you can't, using it counts as her using it."

Translation: Liu Junyan saw what I was thinking and immediately decided: "Uncle, let me entrust my mother's inner elixir to you for safekeeping; if you can protect it, great, and even if you can't, using it counts as my mother using it."

After all, they are siblings whose lives are now intertwined.

Translation: After all, their lives are now intertwined as siblings.

The Linghai Dragon King didn't refuse and accepted the inner elixir.

Translation: The Linghai Dragon King did not decline and accepted the inner elixir.

"I will add another seal to conceal its aura, keep it safe, and not betray your trust."

Translation: "I will add another seal to it, conceal its aura, keep it safe, and not betray your trust."

Liu Junyan naturally believed him.

Translation: Liu Junyan naturally trusted him.

Elder Owl had been seeing us out of Linghai, and then he turned and headed for the Linghai forbidden grounds.

Translation: Xiaoye had been seeing us out of Linghai before turning back to head for the Linghai Forbidden Ground.

Elder Owl used to always stand guard on the cliffs of the Linghai forbidden zone; now that he knows about Zhong Sisi's situation, he won't let go.

Translation: Xiaoye used to always guard the cliffs of the Linghai Forbidden Ground, and now that he knows about Zhong Susu's situation, he will not let go.

He often visits Zhong Sisi, so Liu Junyan asked him to look after my mother.

Translation: He often went to see Zhong Susu, so Liu Junyan entrusted him with looking after Liu Mu.

Hui Moqiong's vehicle was parked by the sea; his clothes were torn and stained with mud and blood, making him look bedraggled, yet he radiated vigor and clearly was in high spirits.

Translation: Hui Moqiong's vehicle was parked by the seaside; his clothes were torn and stained with mud and blood, looking quite bedraggled, yet at this moment he radiated vigor, his mood clearly good.

From afar he waved at us: "Seventh Lord, Xiao Jiu, over here!"

Translation: From afar he waved at us: "Seventh Lord, Xiao Jiu, over here."

We strode over, and Liu Junyan asked, "How's the situation at the underground tower?"

Translation: We strode over, and Liu Junyan asked, "How's the situation at the underground tower?"

"Seventh Lord, you're amazing!" Hui Moqiong said proudly, "Following your instructions, after we drained all the seawater from inside the tower, I led people down to set up an array, sealing that area. Later the seawater indeed surged back, the impact so great I felt the whole tower might be shattered; under the seal there were ghostly wails and howls—if we hadn't held it back, the consequences would be unthinkable."

Translation: "Seventh Lord, you're truly divine!" Hui Moqiong said proudly, "Following your instructions, after the seawater inside the tower was completely drained, I led people down to set up formations, sealing that area. Later the seawater indeed flowed back, the impact so great I felt the whole tower might be shattered; under the seal there were ghostly howls and wolfish cries—if we hadn't held it back, the consequences would be unimaginable."

Liu Junyan replied, "As long as we held it, that's good."

Translation: Liu Junyan said, "As long as we held it, that's good."

He casually added, "Is the seal complete?"

Translation: He casually added, "Is the seal complete?"

"It's sealed completely," Hui Moqiong said, "I only came to find you after confirming the seawater had fully receded."

Translation: "The seal is complete." Hui Moqiong said, "I came to find you only after confirming that the seawater had fully receded."

Liu Junyan's expression instantly hardened: "What did you say? The seawater has completely receded?"

Translation: Liu Junyan's expression immediately tightened: "What did you say? The seawater has completely receded?"

Hui Moqiong blinked: "Yes, it's all gone; I lay on the tower's bottom and listened carefully for a while."

Translation: Hui Moqiong stared: "Yes, it's all gone; I lay on the bottom of the underground tower and listened carefully for a while."

The Rat Immortal's hearing is far more acute than an ordinary person's.

Translation: The Rat Immortal's hearing is far more acute than that of ordinary people.

He said it's all gone, so the seawater must have completely withdrawn.

Translation: He said it's all gone, so the seawater must have completely withdrawn.

Isn't that a good thing?

Translation: Isn't that a good thing?

But Liu Junyan said, "No, it's bad—hurry back to Wufu Town."

Translation: But Liu Junyan said, "No, it's bad—hurry back to Wufu Town."

Hui Moqiong climbed into the driver's seat while asking, "Seventh Lord, what's wrong?"

Translation: Hui Moqiong climbed into the driver's seat while asking, "Seventh Lord, what's wrong?"

Liu Junyan said, "Even if we sealed the area around the underground tower, the waterway from the Linghai forbidden grounds to the tower still exists—how could the seawater possibly drain completely? Where did it go?"

Translation: Liu Junyan said, "Even if we sealed the area around the underground tower, the waterway leading from the Linghai Forbidden Ground to the tower still exists—how could the seawater possibly drain completely? Where did it go?"

At that moment the Linghai sea surface was calm and flat, yet we broke out in a cold sweat.

Translation: At that moment the Linghai Sea Surface was utterly calm, yet we broke out in a cold sweat from shock.

Indeed, how could the seawater recede on its own?

Translation: Yeah, how could the seawater recede on its own?

Or recede so thoroughly?

Translation: Or recede so thoroughly.

Who is secretly manipulating this, and what is their purpose?

Translation: Who is secretly manipulating this, and what is their aim?

With Linghai so tranquil, the disturbance is likely occurring in the nearby Zhu Pan River.

Translation: With Linghai so tranquil, the disturbance is likely to be this nearby stretch of the Pearl Plate River.

If the Zhu Pan River goes awry, the first to suffer will be Wufu Town.

Translation: If the Pearl Plate River runs amok, the first to suffer will be Wufu Town.

Could it be Chen Ping who's behind this?

Translation: Could it be that Chen Ping made a move?

Hui Moqiong pressed the accelerator, and after only a short drive along the coast, at the junction of Linghai and the Zhu Pan River we sensed something was off.

Translation: Hui Moqiong pressed the accelerator, drove along the seaside for not long, and at the junction of Linghai and the Pearl Plate River we noticed something was off.

I remember when I went to the seafood market to find Li Qingying, I just rode my little electric scooter along the riverbank straight there.

Translation: I remember when I went to the seafood market to find Li Qingying, I simply rode my electric scooter along the riverbank straight ahead to get there.

But today, the riverbank is nowhere to be seen.

Translation: But today, the riverbank is nowhere to be seen.

It's only just past five, and it's raining; the sky is overcast, low-hanging clouds pressing down so low they seem to merge with the endless expanse of water.

Translation: It's only just past five, and it's raining; the sky is overcast, the dark clouds hanging low, so low they seem about to merge with that endless expanse of water.

We had no choice but to take the main road, racing all the way to Wufu Town.

Translation: We had no choice but to take the main road, rushing all the way toward Wufu Town.

When we reached the entrance of Wufu Town, we were stunned.

Translation: When we stood at the entrance of Wufu Town, we were dumbfounded.

The entire Wufu Town was flooded.

Translation: The entire Wufu Town was flooded.

The water rose up to chest height.

Translation: The water level rose up to chest height.

In the darkness, Wufu Town lay silent, with not a soul in sight.

Translation: In the darkness, Wufu Town lay silent, not a single person in sight.

Especially to the west, it was impossible to tell where the Zhu Pan River ended and the road began.

Translation: Especially toward the west, it was impossible to tell where the Pearl Plate River ended and the road began.

The most conspicuous sight was the newly erected spirit theater stage in front of the teahouse.

Translation: The most conspicuous sight was the newly erected ghost opera stage in front of the teahouse.

The spirit theater's framework was built tall, complete with curtains and a rain cover, taking up a considerable area.

Translation: The ghost opera stage's framework was built high, with a canopy and rain cover above, occupying a considerable area.

Now the curtain flutters in the wind and rain, looking somewhat dilapidated.

Where is the person?

With the water this high, even if everyone were asleep, they should have been choked awake, right?

Moreover, when we left, we handed over the entire Dang Pu and Wufu Town to Huang Fan.

Huang Fan couldn't possibly have slept last night.

Even if the water level suddenly rose, Huang Fan should have been the first to bring people to do rescue work.

Right now, the whole Wufu Town should be in a mess.

Not to mention the rooftops, just take this ghostly stage—it should be packed with people, right?

After all, compared to ox ghosts and snake gods, for a matter of life and death, how could one still bother with so much?

But there isn't.

Not a single person.

"What the hell is Huang Fan doing!" Hui Moqiong lifted his leg to jump into the water, his whole self panicked.

I grabbed his clothes in one go: "What are you going to do?!"

"Qingying is still in the Dang Pu." Hui Moqiong urged, "She's stubborn as hell, the Dang Pu is her life; if we don't go back, even if the flood drowns her, she won't flee! I have to go find her…"

He was really anxious, like a bull, you couldn't hold him back no matter how you pulled.

I was utterly speechless: "Please, she's a fish."

Liu Junyan also looked at Hui Moqiong with the eyes of looking at an idiot: "Qingying was born in Linghai, she's a red carp, and she also has Xiūwéi; are you afraid she'll drown?"

Hui Moqiong suddenly stopped moving.

That bull-headed stubbornness instantly vanished.

Then he started shaking his leg, touching his nose, eyes darting around: "Hmm… maybe… huh… hey, what is that?"

His sheepish expression instantly subsided; Hui Moqiong stared fixedly into the distance of a street in Wufu Town.

We followed his gaze.

We saw a person floating on the water of that street.

A man flattened as thin as a sheet of paper…