827 Living off the sea

Time seemed to stand still in the thick fog. The scout closed his eyes, relying on his senses and experience to try and perceive the movements around him.

All around was utterly silent. After a cup of tea, something seemed to move slowly and subtly, taking a few steps unconsciously before stopping again. This repeated itself, as if it were moving within a small area, but there seemed to be quite a few of them.

Suddenly, it seemed to see a terrifying figure not far away. It looked like a person, but it was twice the height of a person, and a foul smell of dead fish came from the wind.

Suddenly, I felt a terrifying sense of life and death coming from the wind, as if Yama, the King of Hell, was beckoning me!

They buried themselves tightly in the grass and bushes, barely daring to make a sound.

Beyond this place, a terrifying fog slowly spread out, burying an area of ​​dozens of miles!

Outside of Nanping Prefecture, in a small, unknown town, people make a living by fishing. Naturally, they must first join a fishing gang and pay a small fee for the fish head. In return, they receive half a share of the catch.

Of course, there's always an extra per capita fee every year!

If you don't pay, you can't go fishing in the safe area. Of course, you can go fishing secretly!

Reefs, wild beasts, people, and other terrifying things; where there are many fish, there are also many monsters!

At this moment, on the only road leading to the safe sea in this small town, at a crucial intersection, a solitary tower stands quietly, like a faint lighthouse in the sea, guiding the lost.

It's also to prevent anyone from secretly going fishing!

After all, in the dead of night, there are always a few who are bold and fearless!

In front of the tower, two burly men, dressed in rough cloth, held huge, thin knives, the blades gleaming coldly.

At this moment, sitting one in front of the other, they worked together tacitly to build a roaring campfire. The firelight illuminated their ruddy, rough faces, revealing their defiance and cunning.

The man with a gourd of wine hidden in his arms had a cunning glint in his eyes. He couldn't help but lick his lips, as if he was savoring the braised pork he had just eaten!

The knife was plunged into the ground with a loud clang, shaking the surrounding still night. He grinned at another man, pulled out a gourd of wine and waved it in front of Old Wang, revealing a mouthful of uneven, yellow teeth, his voice seemingly rough and unrestrained!

"Brother Hai, who would dare to wander around in the dark? Let's go inside and have a drink to warm up, how about it?"

The dark-skinned man, Brother Hai, had a sly glint in his eyes. He glanced at his cousin's wine gourd and a rare smile appeared on his lips. "Haha, you sure know how to enjoy yourself."

I also secretly brought some peanuts from the gang. Come on, let's enjoy this rare "leisure" time tonight!

He glanced warily back the way he'd come, then looked towards the distant town where a faint torchlight flickered like starlight. He whispered a warning, "Brother Wu, you've been here for over a year now, and you know the situation in the gang. Be careful!"

Brother Wu quickly replied respectfully, bowing his head to listen attentively, and whispered, "Yes, yes, Brother Hai, I will definitely be careful and will not cause you any trouble."

Looking at his respectful younger brother, Brother Hai's eyes showed a hint of satisfaction. He whispered a word of advice, "Don't underestimate our nighttime guard duty. It's hard work, but it's safe, and we can rest during the day."

If it were daytime, we might be at the forefront. More than a dozen of them have died this year alone.

Brother Wu quickly nodded in agreement, a hint of reminiscence in his voice, "Brother is right. Last month, the gang had a lavish meal—braised pork belly, lamb leg—it was so delicious! I didn't feel hungry for two days straight!"

As he spoke, he carefully looked around. There was no one around the house, and no one else. He didn't think anyone would dare to take the risk of going out to fish at night. You know, every year there are a few daring ones who either die in the sea or have their arms and legs broken!

The two brothers politely defered to each other and walked into the tower house side by side. They placed the wine gourd on the table, opened the lid, and a rich aroma of wine immediately filled the air.

A small bag of peanuts, which I had smuggled along, looked golden and tempting under the firelight. I drank some wine and savored this simple delicacy. A cup of wine made me feel like an immortal, and I instantly forgot the hardships and dangers of the outside world.

Brother Hai took two small sips, his face immediately flushed slightly, and he became more talkative, saying in a slightly louder voice, "Brother, let me tell you, this job at night, although it's a bit hard, is not as lucrative or enjoyable as other jobs."

But the advantage is that it's still safe. See that skin flake talisman? As long as the talisman is intact, we don't need to worry.

If anyone dares to sneak into our area to fish, we'll be rich and will surely be rewarded handsomely.

Let me tell you, last time when Lao Si and I were on duty, we found one. Hehe, the deputy gang leader led a group of people to raid the house, broke all four of their limbs, and afterwards even gave us half a tael of silver!

Hehe, if we catch a few more, we can get promoted!

He chuckled, his smile brimming with the thrill of catching a few more, his eyes filled with genuine hope that he could catch as many as possible so he could also enjoy the benefits of having his household registration taken!

He took a sip of wine, ate a peanut, and casually pointed to the talisman hanging at the door, something the two of them were already familiar with.

Talismans are made by immortals and contain a mysterious power to dispel evil spirits!

Brother Hai, slightly tipsy, said with a strong and proud voice, "As long as this talisman remains intact, it can protect us for several months without needing frequent replacement."

Before he finished speaking, the talisman suddenly began to turn black, as if it had been scorched by an invisible flame.

Hai Laoda stared wide-eyed, unable to believe what he was seeing. He thought he was seeing things, so he rubbed his eyes hard, trying to dispel the illusion.

But the facts were clear: the talisman was indeed rapidly charring, as if it were about to turn to ashes.

Boss Hai's expression instantly turned serious. He frowned, hurriedly gripped the thin knife, and fear surged in his heart, a sense of foreboding rising within him.

Knowing the importance of this talisman, and that the consequences of its damage would be unimaginable, he hurriedly took a few steps to close the door.

The moment it took a step, the talisman turned to ashes!

Suddenly, fog descended outside, enveloping everything in mist, even inside the house. In the dim light, one could still vaguely make out the other person!

Outside, suddenly, the wind picked up, howling like the wailing of a vengeful ghost, accompanied by a rustling sound that sent chills down one's spine.

The man in the fog suddenly felt as if he had wet his pants!

Startled by the sudden noise, the two men could not hide their fear. They quickly exchanged a glance, reading the same terror in each other's eyes.