Chapter 57 River Ghost
Having won back that dazzling "King of Lamps," Jiang Mianmian was overjoyed.
She carried the enormous revolving lantern in one hand, and was led by Shen Jin's other hand. The two strolled slowly back along the moat. It was late at night, the noisy crowds had gradually dispersed, the willows by the river swayed in the night breeze, and a few scattered river lanterns floated on the water, creating a tranquil and beautiful atmosphere.
Although I didn't get to eat teppanyaki today, this lamp is really nice.
[I'll put it by my bedside when I get back; it'll serve as lighting, a nightlight, and a way to show off. Shen Jin might be a bit reserved normally, but tonight… he did a perfect job!]
Jiang Mianmian hummed an unknown tune, her steps light and quick. Shen Jin turned his head to look at her, his gaze as gentle as the water in the river.
"Are you tired?" he asked softly. "Would you like me to carry you?"
"Not tired at all! I can walk another ten miles!" Jiang Mianmian said energetically.
Just as the two reached a secluded river bend, something unexpected happened. The reeds by the river suddenly shook violently, and then the previously calm water surface burst open with a "splash".
A dark, wet, and disheveled figure suddenly leaped out of the water!
The creature was covered in seaweed, obscuring its face, except for a pair of glowing green eyes (it was actually wearing night vision goggles or something similar). It held a water-splitting spike in its hand and let out a shrill, ghostly cry:
"Give me back my life—!!"
The scene, on this dark and windy riverbank, was like something out of a horror movie. An ordinary woman would probably have fainted from fright long ago.
Shen Jin's eyes narrowed, and he was about to draw his sword. But Jiang Mianmian beside him was faster.
[Holy crap! What the hell? A water ghost? Sadako? Or a kappa?]
[Scaring people in the middle of the night? Don't you have any sense of public decency?! Don't you know that scaring someone can kill them?!]
Being ugly isn't your fault, but going out and scaring people is! Die!
Almost as a reflex, Jiang Mianmian's right foot, clad in an exquisitely embroidered shoe, instantly gathered strength, drawing on the muscle memory from fighting zombies in the apocalypse, and kicked out fiercely with lightning speed!
This kick is called the "Childlessness Kick".
"Bang—!" A dull, loud bang.
The "water ghost" who had just emerged from the water, hadn't even had time to strike a pose, let alone carry out his assassination, felt as if a wild boar had crashed into his chest.
"Awooo—!!!" The shrill scream from before instantly turned into a miserable pig squeal.
The dark figure flew through the air at an even faster speed than when it emerged, tracing a graceful parabola before hurtling back more than ten meters away. With a "plop," it crashed back into the center of the river, splashing up a huge spray of water.
The world fell silent instantly. Only the ripples on the river's surface remained, proof that something had indeed just appeared.
His cautious hand was still on the hilt of the sword, which was only halfway out.
He looked at the calm river surface, then glanced at Jiang Mianmian beside him, who was still standing on one leg and hadn't had time to retract her leg.
silence.
A deathly silence.
Jiang Mianmian froze on the spot, pulled her leg back, and only one thought occupied her mind:
[It’s over. 】
[He lost control again.]
[That kick... seemed a bit too powerful? I hope that "water ghost" isn't killed by my kick?]
[And... Shen Jin is watching right there! My fragile persona! My innocent, pure image! Is it going to crumble again?]
No! I have to fix this! As long as I react quickly enough, embarrassment won't catch me!
The next second, Jiang Mianmian threw the "King of Lights" aside, then covered her face with her hands and let out a belated and extremely affected scream:
"ah--!!!"
"There's a ghost! So much water! How scary!"
She turned abruptly, like a startled koala, and buried her face in Chen Jin's arms, clinging tightly to his waist, her whole body trembling.
"Your Highness! What was that just now? It was terrifying! My legs went weak! Waaah... I'm so scared..."
[Quick, hug me! Quick, comfort me! If I cry enough, that kick was just a hallucination! It was just a stress response!]
Shen Jin: "..."
He looked down at the woman in his arms whose legs were "weak".
Legs are weak?
That kick was so powerful and fast that even he almost didn't see it clearly. Although he didn't know where that "water ghost" came from, he estimated that it had at least three broken ribs and its internal organs were displaced after taking that kick.
Is this what she meant by "weak legs"?
If your legs weren't weak, wouldn't you be able to fill the river?
"princess……"
Shen Jin sighed helplessly, put his arm around her back, and patted her gently. "Don't be afraid. That's...that's a big fish. It's become a spirit."
"A big fish?" Jiang Mianmian peeked out from his arms, her eyes brimming with tears. "Really? But it looks like a human..."
"It was wearing human skin," Shen Jin said with a straight face, spouting nonsense. "It wanted to come ashore and eat people. Luckily, the princess's kick just now... was incredibly brave, and it kicked it back."
"real?"
"Really. The princess is... showing her hidden potential out of her protectiveness towards her husband."
Jiang Mianmian sniffed.
[What the hell is this about being overly protective of your husband? I was just reacting instinctively from being scared!]
[However... Shen Jin's excuse is quite good. A sentient fish? How did he even come up with that?]
“Since it’s a fish…” Jiang Mianmian suddenly stopped crying, her eyes sharpening. “Did it try to bite me just now? How come there’s such a strange fish in this river? Is someone keeping it as a pet?”
Chen Jin's eyes turned cold.
It's definitely not a fish.
Those were assassins lurking in the water. The Water Ghost Camp members were skilled in underwater ambushes.
It seems the lesson learned in the last hunting ground wasn't enough; some people are still looking for trouble.
"Shadow One".
Shen Jin coldly ordered the air, "Go, scoop up that 'fish.' See what kind it is, daring to play tricks on me."
"yes!"
In the darkness, several dark figures silently slipped into the water.
Before long, the unfortunate "water ghost" was dragged ashore like a dead dog. Sure enough, he was an assassin wearing a wetsuit, with a large cave-in in his chest, coughing up blood and foam, clearly not going to live.
“Your Highness…” Jiang Mianmian glanced at it, then covered her nose in disgust, “This fish is really ugly. It’s better not to look at it, it’s disgusting.”
[Tsk tsk tsk, that chest... Did I kick too hard just now? My apologies.]
Shen Jin blocked her view and pulled her back into his arms.
"Hmm, ugly. Don't let it offend your eyes."
“Let’s go back then.” Jiang Mianmian picked up the lantern from the ground and dusted it off. “I’m hungry. I want to have a midnight snack to calm my nerves.”
What would you like to eat?
"I want to eat... boiled fish!"
Shen Jin: "..."
He just kicked someone away, and now he wants boiled fish? His composure is truly admirable, befitting his queen.
"good."
Shen Jin took her hand and stepped over the half-dead assassin. "Go back and have the kitchen prepare it. But..."
He lowered his head and whispered in her ear, "Next time you encounter this kind of 'fish,' remember to stay away. Let me do the dirty work."
"If you accidentally hurt your foot, I will feel sorry for you."
Jiang Mianmian blushed.
[Oops, I got flirted with again.]
However... it feels really good to have someone help you fight monsters.
The two carried lanterns and walked further and further away.
Only the group of guards on the shore, who were dealing with the "big fish," were left, staring at the assassin with his shattered sternum, lost in deep thought.
The princess's kick...
It's best to avoid provoking the princess in the future. This isn't a little white rabbit; it's clearly a Tyrannosaurus Rex in rabbit's clothing!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com