PCJ – Chapter 415 The Taoist Saves Someone

Xie Yunliu suddenly stopped in his tracks, his face showing a shocked and terrified expression. “What is this?”

A black shadow leaped out of the water, spraying a powerful jet like an arrow straight at the men operating the pumps on the shore.

The workers, caught completely off guard, were stunned and unable to react. They could only watch helplessly as the water jet struck some of them like a pillar, sending the unlucky ones flying over ten feet away. They landed heavily on the embankment of the pond, losing consciousness immediately and lying motionless.

Although the diesel water pump was not overturned by the water jet, it shook violently before stabilizing again. However, the spray managed to extinguish several neighboring diesel pumps, silencing their roaring engines. Only the unaffected pumps continued to hum steadily in the background.

The creature in the water appeared so suddenly that no one managed to catch a clear glimpse of its true form. It was shrouded in a high splash of water, giving it a vague and obscured appearance.

While most assumed it was the water spray that obscured the view, both Zhang Jiaohua and Xie Yunliu realized it was no coincidence. The creature had deliberately manipulated the water to conceal itself entirely. Its ability to control water was so extraordinary that even Zhang Jiaohua, an expert in water techniques, couldn’t match it.

“Quick, save them!” Chaos erupted along the pond embankment. These workers had been brought in by the big bosses, He Shouye and Long Wuyi, who had deliberately excluded the locals from participating in their plan. Every participant had been handpicked, ensuring their loyalty.

The operators of the diesel pumps, now terrified, took advantage of the situation to run over and help the injured men.

One of the workers, who had been struck directly in the chest, suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood—his sputum mixed with tissue fragments. The impact of the water jet had inflicted life-threatening injuries.

“Hurry up! Get him to a hospital!” someone shouted.

“It’s no use,” another replied. “It’ll take about forty minutes to get from Meizi’ao to Gezhuping Town. By the time we get there, he’ll already be gone.”

The embankment fell into chaos, and no one paid attention to Zhang Jiaohua and his companions, who stood nearby.

“Jiaohua, what kind of monster is that?” Zhang Yuanbao asked, his mouth wide open.

“How would I know? I didn’t get a good look,” Zhang Jiaohua replied, shaking his head.

“Do you think it will come out again?” the mute companion asked.

Zhang Jiaohua shook his head again. “You’re asking me? Who am I supposed to ask?”

Xie Yunliu, on the other hand, shouted, “This person is beyond saving. What’s the point of taking him to the hospital? Those who aren’t dead, get moving! The pumps can’t stop, or all the work we’ve done will be for nothing. Don’t worry—I’ll ask the bosses to give you an extra bonus. This was just an accident; no need to panic!”

“An accident? Someone’s dead! You brought us here to die on purpose. Forget it! No amount of money is worth this. We came to earn a living, not lose our lives!” The pump operators began to revolt.

“That’s right! We’re leaving! There’s a monster in this pond! The villagers warned us it wasn’t safe, but the bosses insisted on pumping water. They’re sending us to our deaths!” The group became increasingly agitated.

Xie Yunliu roared back, “Shut up! If you want to leave, I won’t stop you. But don’t forget what will happen to your two bosses if you walk away!”

Indeed, without He Shouye and Long Wuyi, they wouldn’t have come all the way to Meizi’ao. Those two men were infamous figures. Though they no longer dealt with underworld affairs, their influence remained formidable. The workers, who had followed them for years, knew their bosses were ruthless.

“This man isn’t dead yet. As long as I’m here, I won’t let him die,” Xie Yunliu declared. He knew that unless he displayed some skill, he wouldn’t be able to calm the crowd.

Given the severity of the injured man’s condition, ordinary methods were useless to save him. However, the techniques of a cultivator could achieve the impossible.

Zhang Jiaohua had been watching closely. He knew this Taoist had considerable power and was curious to see how he would save the injured man.

The Taoist brought a bowl of water, then began chanting and performing an intricate ritual. “One, two, three, four, five—gold, wood, water, fire, and earth. Water eases pain; talismans stop blood. Great Golden Blade, cut off bleeding; Small Golden Blade, stop the flow. Disciple seals blade and blood under the protection of Liu Sanlang. Swelling subsides, heat dissipates, and pain vanishes. By the command of Hua Tuo, so be it!” He infused the water with a talisman and gave it to the injured man to drink.

An expert can spot true skill at a glance. Zhang Jiaohua noticed that, apart from the Taoist’s slightly more refined technique, his cultivation wasn’t necessarily superior. The chants were also strikingly similar to his own, suggesting a possible connection.

Xie Yunliu handed the bowl of water to one of the injured man’s companions. “Give him this to drink, and his condition will naturally improve. His injuries are severe, but he’s far from death. Now, quickly set up the remaining pumps and speed up the water extraction!”

The injured man, after drinking the water, miraculously began to recover.

“Jiaohua, that guy is amazing!” the mute companion exclaimed.

“Yeah, his ritual was so cool!” Zhang Yuanbao added.

Zhang Jiaohua rolled his eyes at his companions. “You two are such idiots!”

He turned serious and warned, “Be careful later. If that creature gets desperate, it’ll come out again. The more pressured it feels, the fiercer it’ll get!”

“Don’t worry. We’ll be fine,” Zhang Yuanbao said, patting his stomach.

“I’m worried about you. You never listen to instructions,” Zhang Jiaohua retorted, exasperated.

Meanwhile, Xie Yunliu called for reinforcements. Somehow, they managed to procure firearms. He Shouye and Long Wuyi also sent over a group of guards, all trained marksmen. Armed and ready, they aimed their guns at the pond, preparing to eliminate the creature the next time it appeared.