Chapter 821 — Strange Tales Aboard the Ship
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 1 of 5
Outside the black coffin, everyone waited a while, but the two red points of light within the coffin remained utterly still.
In the distance, the others who had boarded the ghost ship with them were also watching closely, awaiting the results of Zulong Wang and his companions' exploration. The ghost ship's fearsome reputation preceded it, so they were quite content to let others brave the dangers while they reaped the rewards. The silence all around was somewhat oppressive.
Zulong Wang threw a glance at one of the demigods. Understanding, the demigod marshaled his magic power, first casting layer upon layer of defensive divine abilities to shield his body, transforming into tortoise shields one after another, with mystic turtle patterns emerging on his arms. Only then did he steel himself and step forward, cautiously reaching his hand into the black coffin to feel around. The coffin was enormous; his hand was still far from the red lantern glow in the darkness. Gradually, the demigod walked into the black coffin and vanished from sight.
All went quiet within. After a moment, the demigod's voice came from inside the coffin: "It really is a lantern!"
Everyone outside breathed a sigh of relief, and Zulong Wang relaxed somewhat as well. The demigod stepped out of the coffin and said with a laugh, "What's glowing red inside this coffin really is a lantern—two paper lanterns. I only found one, so I brought it out. There's nothing dangerous in there... Why are you all looking at me like that?"
The demigod, carrying a lantern, looked around in astonishment. He saw the crowd looking at him as though they had seen a ghost, quietly backing away. Zulong Wang also took a step back, tightening his grip on the dragon-head scepter in his hand. Even he had never witnessed such an eerie sight, and he could not help but feel somewhat alarmed.
In the distance, Luo Wushuang and the others were also silent. The Lingxiu Army disciples looked on in alarm at the scene unfolding here.
"Sword God, what's going on?" Huanlong Jun's voice trembled as he hid behind Lizheng. Lizheng and Shang Cang were old rivals; Huanlong Jun had more than once narrowly escaped death at Lizheng's hands—there was enmity between them—yet what Huanlong Jun admired most was still Lizheng. Thus, faced with such an eerie scene, he could not help but draw close to Lizheng. As for Shen Mu, his lord, Huanlong Jun instinctively disliked the lad.
Shen Mu frowned, his gaze falling on the demigod who had emerged from the black coffin. This demigod held a paper lantern in his hand; the light from within the black coffin earlier had been the red glow of the paper lantern—it was merely the darkness that made one involuntarily associate it with two crimson eyeballs. The paper lantern was most peculiar. When the wind blew, it spun round and round. On the lantern was a face, eyes wide open, smiling as it looked around.
Yet this was not what had frightened everyone. What truly frightened them was the demigod himself—atop this demigod's neck sat another paper lantern. And his head had vanished without a trace! His face appeared on this paper lantern, complete with nose and eyes, and was speaking: "What's wrong with you all? Why are you looking at me like that?"
His face appeared on the lantern's surface, while the light from within shone outward, as though someone had torn off his facial skin and pasted it onto the lantern. The light flickered faintly, and his face too wavered between light and shadow.
Zulong Wang abruptly raised the dragon-head scepter and made a feinting point. The lantern on the demigod's neck suddenly went dark!
Clatter. The lantern fell and dropped to the ground. And the demigod's neck was utterly empty. Divine blood suddenly gushed forth; his body swayed and collapsed to the ground, lifeless.
"You will all die..."