I wield power with my innate talents, and forge the Heavenly Court.

Chapter 153 Water Ghost Appears, Breaks into the Martyrs' Shrine

Chapter 153 Water Ghost Appears, Breaks into the Martyrs' Shrine
Just outside Yumen Pass, a strange ghostly attack occurred.

Other burial pits have also been the site of strange and supernatural events, with bizarre ghosts appearing in their formation.

Even in some recently deceased people's graves, strange ghosts have formed.

In some places, the situation was quickly suppressed, but in others, there were casualties.

For example, outside Qinzhou City, in Zhangjiachuan and Longcheng Pass, where Gongchang Prefecture and Pingliang meet, there are places where enemy corpses are buried.

Although a long time has passed, most of the remaining souls have completely dissipated.

However, there are always some that gather and merge with the spiritual power of other souls when they dissipate, and thus survive to this day.

In this world advancement, the energy of heaven and earth surged more than tenfold, and spiritual power aggregates could exist for a long time. They also evolved into those special energy bodies, strange ghosts.

This resulted in the deaths of several people.

In the very beginning, although the members of the agricultural community, the village chief, and even the county magistrate, who had all acquired the status of heaven and earth, noticed the unusual nature of these dead people.

However, since nothing like this had ever happened before, they couldn't determine the cause and could only treat it as an accidental death.

until
Cui Jia was a refugee who fled from Pingliang Prefecture to Qinzhou during a famine.

Because the land of Qin Prefecture had been largely distributed after the People's Salvation Army captured Qin Prefecture.

Therefore, the refugees who fled from Pingliang Prefecture could only work in the construction teams of the militia to earn three meals a day and some wages.

Afterwards, Wang Dahu conquered Yumen Pass and Guazhou, and many people, upon hearing that there would be land allocated to them, voluntarily migrated there.

However, many people are unwilling to leave the life they have finally managed to stabilize.

Cui Jia was one of them.

After accumulating some savings, he began to travel north and south along the roads he had once built, doing small business.

More than half a year has passed since then, and the business has gradually grown. It has developed from a small group of three or five people who started a business together to a caravan of dozens of people.

On this day, Cui Jia led his caravan back from Lintao Prefecture.

Throughout the journey, everyone's face was beaming with smiles.

Not only did they sell their goods at high prices to those merchants from the Western Regions, but they also purchased many novel goods from them.

I'm sure I'll make a fortune after I get back this time.

As the moon rose higher, the group finally approached Qinzhou City.

"Master, should we find a place to rest for the night, or should we go straight into town?"

"Well, everyone, it'll be tough, let's just head straight into the city."

"Alright, boss!"

In fact, most people would rather spend the night outside the city unless absolutely necessary.

Although the safety of the National Salvation Army's territory is far superior to that of other countries.

However, the suburbs ultimately didn't feel as good to them as the city.

Moreover, although the moon is high in the sky, the gates of Qinzhou City are not closed, so even if they arrive at midnight, they can still enter Qinzhou City.

"Everyone, you've all worked hard. Let's enter Qinzhou City and get some rest."

Tomorrow I'll be hosting a gathering at Xiya Pavilion.

"it is good!"

Upon hearing that there would be a gathering tomorrow, everyone enthusiastically agreed.

Unconsciously, the group quickened their pace and soon arrived at the Rescue Bridge, or rather, the Qinzhou Rescue Bridge.

This is a bridge built by the Salvation Army, spanning the Wei River. On the other side is Qinzhou City, which greatly facilitates the travel of the people.

Because it was built by the People's Salvation Army, it was named the People's Salvation Bridge.

And similar names, such as "Saving People Bridge" and "Saving People Road," are not uncommon throughout the territory of the Salvation Army; basically, every prefecture and county has such places.

Therefore, when using these terms, the local place name is often added.

For example, Qinzhou Rescue Bridge, Qinzhou Rescue Road, etc.

Walking on the wide bridge, which is nearly a hundred meters wide, even though Cui Jia and the others have walked across it more than a hundred times, they still can't help but sigh in amazement.

"This bridge is really wide; there probably aren't many like it in the entire Ming Dynasty. I really don't know how they built it."

"Hehe, I heard that the People's Salvation Army all possess supernatural powers. It's just a bridge, even if it's a little wide, it's nothing, right?"

“Haha, that’s true.”

"Hey, think about those Ming soldiers, they actually dared to attack the territory of my militia, they really don't know what's good for them."

"Heh, back then, when the leader set fire here, who knows how many Ming soldiers were burned to death."

"I'm afraid those Ming soldiers are also very resentful, resentful of those Ming officials for leading them to attack our militia."

"Hahaha"

For a moment, everyone looked at the surging river below the bridge and felt full of pride and high spirits. This was the People's Salvation Army that had brought them a better life.

Suddenly, someone pointed uncertainly at the river.

"Look over there, doesn't it look like someone's there?"

"Wu Laosan, what nonsense are you talking about?"

"Exactly, don't talk nonsense in the middle of the night."

"Old Wu, you really are something."
"Strange and creepy"

Seeing Wu Laosan's actions, everyone felt a chill and instinctively looked in the direction he was pointing, while also shouting their rebukes.

However, when they looked at the river that Wu Laosan was pointing to, they couldn't help but shudder. A chill ran down their spines, and their hair stood on end.

Hundreds of meters away on the river, there were white, transparent figures floating on the surface, seemingly walking on water, occasionally sinking into the river and then rising again.

"what is that?"

“Not really.”

Just as some of the crowd couldn't help but mutter to themselves, the white, transparent figures seemed to have noticed them and suddenly turned around.

Although they were hundreds of meters apart and it was the middle of the night, the people were strangely able to see their faces clearly.

He was dressed in tattered Ming Dynasty army standard red jacket and robe, with what appeared to be bleeding wounds on his body, and his face was covered in black soot and festering burns.

"Ah~!"

"Ghost!"

"Water, a water ghost!"

In an instant, everyone panicked, and some even screamed in terror.

The fear emanating from the crowd, with its targeted spiritual energy, instantly attracted a large number of eerie ghosts. "Run! Run! Run! Run!"

Cui Jia was the first to react. He immediately shouted and, disregarding his goods and even without untying the horses pulling the cart, ran towards Qinzhou City.

Reminded by him, the others also realized what was happening and immediately followed suit, jumping up and running towards Qinzhou City.

Soon, everyone ran down the Qinzhou Rescue Bridge.

However, while they were fast, those eerie ghosts were even faster.

The two sides were originally several hundred meters apart, but by the time they escaped off the bridge, those strange ghosts had already arrived at the bridge.

Fortunately, they did not ride in a horse-drawn wagon.

Otherwise, the wagons loaded with goods could not match their initial speed.

As for unloading the cargo or untying the horses, by then the strange, ghostly creature would have already caught up with them.

When they saw them escape ashore, the eerie ghosts did indeed pause slightly.

The spiritual power they had just merged with told them that they were water ghosts and that they could not come ashore.

But their instincts also tell them, subtly, that they are not bound by geographical boundaries.

The two different informational awarenesses caused them to hesitate.

However, the negative spiritual energy emanating from Cui Jia and others was simply too tempting.

Even though increasing information suggests they cannot leave the water.

But in the end, they still floated ashore, flashing as they chased after Cui Jia and the others.

However, the speed seemed to be somewhat limited, dropping significantly all at once.

After running for a while, Cui Jia and the others were panting heavily. One of them couldn't help but gasp and say:

"I think everything should be alright now."
"No, wasn't it said that water ghosts can't leave the water?"

"It should be alright now."

The others echoed this sentiment, instinctively turning around to look behind them.

Upon seeing this, everyone's faces turned pale.

how come?
Shouldn't a water ghost be unable to leave the water?
"Run, run!"
Never mind how that water ghost managed to get ashore, let's escape first.

Cui Jia called out to the crowd and sprinted forward once more.

However, their speed was getting slower and slower.

At this moment, they regretted not taking a carriage.

Even if riding in a carriage is slower, the time it takes to travel is certainly much longer than what they do.

Of course, if they were traveling by carriage, the most likely outcome would be that they wouldn't be able to get off the Qinzhou Rescue Bridge before being caught and killed by those water ghosts.

As the water ghosts drew ever closer behind them, despair gradually rose in everyone's hearts.

Suddenly, a building appeared in front of them.

"That is."

"Martyrs' Shrine?"

"Huff huff."
"Master, if there are ghosts, could there also be gods and immortals?"

"Shouldn't that be there?"

Cui Jia wasn't sure if gods and immortals existed in this world; in his entire life, he had never seen any immortals, Buddhas, demons, or ghosts.

Uh... no, there are ghosts now.

But perhaps there are immortals and gods.

"Then, boss, don't you all say that our leader is the Heavenly Emperor?"
Will these soldiers who followed their leader and died in battle become heavenly soldiers and generals?

"you mean"

"Why don't we go to the Martyrs' Shrine and pray to the spirits of the heroic soldiers who saved the people for protection?"
After all, those water ghosts were killed by the leader and the militia.
Perhaps those water ghosts dare not enter the Martyrs' Shrine?

"Hoo hoo. Good, good!"

Cui Jia was panting heavily. He glanced at the water ghost, who was less than a hundred meters behind him, and nodded with difficulty.

At this point, they had no other choice.

They were really too tired to run anymore.

"Everyone, give it your all! The shrine of heroes who saved the militia is just ahead. If we get there, we'll be saved."

Regardless of whether it would work or not, Cui Jia directly encouraged the crowd.

"it is good!"

Everyone nodded in unison. They had already run out of strength, but now they mustered their strength again and their speed actually increased.

Finally, the group approached the Martyrs' Shrine, and the water ghost that followed them arrived behind them, only a few meters away.

"Hurry, hurry, hurry!"

Finally, Cui Jia was the first to arrive at the Martyrs' Shrine. He suddenly accelerated and plunged into the Martyrs' Pool, staggering and falling to the ground.

However, he did not stop at all. Instead, he quickly rolled around a few times and scrambled forward for another ten meters to make room for the people behind him.

Otherwise, he might face the risk of a stampede.

In their panic, the crowd didn't care whether he was the owner or not, and they didn't even notice him standing on the ground.

As someone who fled from Pingliang Prefecture and single-handedly organized a caravan, he understood this principle.

Sure enough, they followed closely behind, and everyone rushed in in a panic.

If he were still at the door, he would definitely be trampled underfoot.

His fate might not be good then.

Even if they don't die, they'll be crippled.

This made him glad that he had reacted quickly.

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