Kuai Feifan squatted beside the statue, recognizing it as the one depicting the child reading. He managed to conceal his form as much as possible behind it, poking his head out to stare intently at the approaching silhouette. The figure’s steps were hurried, as if pressed for time, though Kuai Feifan couldn't discern the purpose of their approach to this spot.

As the person drew nearer, nearing the edge of the small plaza, Kuai Feifan felt a rising tension in his chest, activating every nerve of alertness. He couldn't help but regret not bringing some handy tool—even a wrench would have sufficed. Lately, having encountered so many supernatural events, he had forgotten that opponents could just as easily be human.

All he had left was a bit of "Ghost Repellent Water," which probably wouldn't even dampen someone's clothes if sprayed on them. Still, Kuai Feifan slowly drew out the spray bottle. His main consideration was that if the approaching person turned out to be a ghost in disguise, the repellent might still serve a purpose; if not, he’d have to rely on his fists.

The figure advanced, waving a flashlight, the beam occasionally sweeping past the statue where Kuai Feifan was hidden. Yet, the person seemed oblivious, maintaining a quick pace forward. He could vaguely make out that it was a man, but the viewing angle was still problematic, preventing a clear look at his features.

Kuai Feifan thought about rushing out several times, but hesitation kept him rooted. Although the person’s destination was clearly here, no hostility had been displayed; might rushing in prove too reckless?

Soon, he realized the figure was almost at the side of the statue he was hiding behind. If he didn't act now, being discovered from behind would likely cost him the advantage of surprise.

Having made up his mind, Kuai Feifan suddenly sprang up, charging out from behind the statue. He switched on his flashlight, aiming the beam directly at the approaching person's head, shouting, “Stop! Who are you?”

The moment the words left his mouth, and the beam struck the person’s face, Kuai Feifan instantly recognized him, crying out the name in shock: “Ji Ping!”

But immediately, he noticed that even though his flashlight was shining directly into Ji Ping’s face, right into his eyes, Ji Ping showed no change in expression—utterly impassive, as if he hadn't seen Kuai Feifan at all. He stared blankly ahead, his pace mechanical, as if wound up, continuing rapidly forward. He ignored Kuai Feifan’s flashlight, seemingly not even noticing Kuai Feifan, walking straight past him, eyes fixed forward.

It was then that Kuai Feifan truly observed that the flashlight Ji Ping held seemed merely for show; the beam wasn't illuminating the path ahead but was simply swinging unconsciously in his hand as he walked.

Watching the blank-faced Ji Ping brush right past him, Kuai Feifan instantly realized something was terribly wrong; Ji Ping must have been "affected" somehow.

He instinctively tracked Ji Ping’s body with his eyes, wanting to see where he was headed. To his alarm, he quickly noticed that Ji Ping’s trajectory was leading directly toward the edge of the artificial lake. Judging by his current movement, if he didn't stop soon, he would walk straight into the water.

“Damn it, no way,” Kuai Feifan exclaimed in shock. He hurried to catch up, reaching out to grab the arm holding the flashlight. With a hard yank, he couldn't move Ji Ping an inch. Ji Ping’s forward momentum was completely undeterred. Kuai Feifan hadn't anticipated such immense strength; instead, he was pulled forward a few steps himself.

As his hand closed around Ji Ping’s arm, Kuai Feifan instantly sensed something profoundly wrong. His hand felt like it was grasping a block of hard stone. The arm he held lacked the natural softness of human muscle—even the bulging knots of a bodybuilder possess some give—but what he gripped now felt like lifeless, hard rock.

Kuai Feifan's first thought was: the Ji Ping he was holding now was definitely not human.

After a moment’s hesitation, Kuai Feifan reacted, rushing forward a few steps to walk parallel with Ji Ping. He quickly shoved the flashlight into his pocket, his hand flipping to retrieve the bottle of Ghost Repellent Water he had tucked into his sleeve earlier. He’d learned this maneuver from a university acquaintance who did small magic tricks—originally intended for impressing girls, it now served a different purpose. When he grabbed Ji Ping’s arm, the bright flashlight, out of habit, had transferred to his other hand, while the repellent in the original hand was casually slipped into his sleeve.

Now that he held the repellent again, he flipped open the cap and sprayed several bursts onto Ji Ping’s face until the bottle was completely empty.

As the droplets hit Ji Ping’s face, his wooden expression visibly faltered. The blankness in his eyes seemed to regain some semblance of focus; his pupils suddenly contracted, then expanded to a normal size.

However, this momentary clarity was replaced by a look of confusion. Ji Ping glanced sideways, saw someone next to him, recognized Kuai Feifan, and managed a perplexed, "Kuai Feifan, it's you, how did you..."

But neither of them noticed their precarious situation, especially Kuai Feifan. Seeing Ji Ping’s consciousness seemingly return, relief washed over him, yet his feet didn't stop moving. He failed to notice that Ji Ping hadn't fully recovered. Although Ji Ping’s mind was back online, his body’s momentum hadn't halted; it was as if his physical actions and brain control were completely decoupled, causing his forward stride to continue unchecked.

By the time both of them realized the problem, Ji Ping’s leg had already stepped over the lake’s edge, and he was falling into the water completely beyond control. Kuai Feifan, holding onto his arm, was pulled off the bank with him.

When Kuai Feifan registered that they were at the edge and Ji Ping was pitching forward into the water, it wasn't that he didn't want to let go. But in that instant, the hand gripping Ji Ping’s arm felt frozen—his brain screamed to release, but his hand held on tightly. Combined with the immense forward force from Ji Ping, he simply couldn't resist the pull.

And so, Kuai Feifan, utterly unprepared for a swim, was dragged into the lake by Ji Ping. Unexpectedly, this artificial lake had been dug exceptionally deep for some unknown reason, reaching more than head-deep even at the bank. The moment they fell, they disappeared beneath the surface. Kuai Feifan managed a hasty gasp of air between leaving the bank and hitting the water, followed by a massive splash as he and Ji Ping plunged into the icy lake water.

Kuai Feifan instinctively held his breath, unable to comprehend why Ji Ping had managed to drag him down. Simultaneously, he found his hand had lost all sensation, completely unresponsive, still locked onto Ji Ping’s arm ahead. Ji Ping, meanwhile, sank like a stone, showing no sign of movement, as if his soul were trapped in an inert shell.

He desperately tried to force his own hand to let go. It wasn't that he didn't want to save Ji Ping, but the buoyancy of the water seemed to have zero effect on him. Ji Ping was sinking straight down like a massive weight. If this continued, Kuai Feifan would be dragged down to the bottom with him, ending up drowned ghosts joining the ranks of the Water Monkeys.

The thought of the Water Monkeys startled Kuai Feifan—was this another trick of theirs? If so, was the Ji Ping in front of him even Ji Ping?

Having been ill-prepared for swimming in the first place, this surge of panic intensified his fear. The arm and legs he had been struggling with to tread water became uncoordinated. The air in his lungs seemed to vanish instantly, making breathing agonizingly difficult.

This only made him more afraid. Kuai Feifan knew well that panic in the water was the worst enemy, as it only increased the chance of drowning. But as the sensation of suffocation intensified, his chest felt like it would explode; he had to breathe.

Suddenly, a thought—a necessary, desperate measure—flashed through his mind. Gritting his teeth, he summoned all his remaining strength to reach forward with his free hand and grasp his own hand.

The prayer beads on his unoccupied wrist began to emit heat, the temperature gradually rising. What started as a bearable warmth quickly escalated into a searing, burning pain that made Kuai Feifan shudder violently. Under that intense sensation, the hand clutching Ji Ping’s arm involuntarily loosened.

As if granted a reprieve from death, Kuai Feifan surged upwards toward the surface. Soon, he felt his head break free, his face emerging into the air.

He gulped the humid air, every intake stinging his lungs, but he ignored it, frantically working to regulate his breathing. Once he had stabilized, Kuai Feifan took a deep breath, forcing his perpetually tight nerves to relax. With deliberate, steady movements, he submerged back under the water.

As he swam down, he carefully pulled out his flashlight and switched it on. With his mind settling, he felt his senses returning to normal. He noticed that while the surface had looked murky green, visibility underwater wasn't terrible—it seemed within a normal range. Combined with the flashlight illuminating a decent radius around him, feeling the cold water prickling his exposed skin and tightening his pores, his nerves surprisingly began to calm.

Although the lake water was frigid, for Kuai Feifan, a seasoned winter swimmer, it wasn't unbearable. However, looking ahead through the slightly turbid water, he couldn't see the Ji Ping who had been sinking moments before.

He reviewed his memory carefully—the location had to be correct; Ji Ping had sunk right here. Yet, even as he neared what felt like the bottom, Ji Ping’s figure was nowhere in sight.

Could it be…?

He dared not dwell on the thought. He immediately reversed course, returned to the surface for a breath, and plunged back down. He began swimming forward from that spot, paying attention to the direction of the water currents.

Suddenly, something was swaying slightly not far ahead. It only rocked back and forth, left and right. He squinted, focusing his gaze. Beneath the object, there was a dark shadow, like a rope tethering it, preventing it from floating up, allowing it only to drift slowly in the lake water.

A broken buoy or just debris? He swam toward it, fixing his direction. As the distance closed and the flashlight beam hit the object squarely, he could finally make it out: it was a person, a man who looked utterly, irrevocably dead.