Chapter 177: Luo Shui

Ling Yin seemed to sense their skepticism and spoke plainly, “If you have anything else to ask, just say it.”

Collaboration required sincerity; otherwise, it would be far too easy for that humanoid verbal assault machine to find new and creative ways to curse her out.

At the thought of Luo Wushuang’s sharp tongue, Ling Yin subconsciously curled her lip.

After stealing a glance at Luo Wushuang, Ling Yin couldn’t suppress her curiosity and asked, “What exactly did you come to this island for?”

Others braved the dangers of the island for hidden treasures or vast wealth, but this group didn’t look like they were lacking money at all.

For one, the wheelchair the lady was sitting in was so ornate it nearly blinded her. To be able to encrust so many precious gems onto a chair so casually only proved one thing…

They were rich! Filthy, stinking rich!

They clearly didn’t give a damn about these baubles.

While Ling Yin was inwardly sighing over the vast divide between the haves and the have-nots, Luo Wushuang’s low voice rang out.

“We entered the island to heal my Sister’s legs.”

Luo Wushuang looked down at the calm Shangguan Liqian in the wheelchair and continued, “Master Yujing said that if we reached Spirit Spring Valley, he would have a way to help her walk again.”

Upon hearing the name ‘Spirit Spring Valley,’ Ling Yin froze, letting out an instinctive cry of surprise. “Spirit Spring Valley?”

Sensing the abnormality in Ling Yin’s reaction, Luo Wushuang’s tension spiked. “Do you know where it is?”

Ling Yin nodded, her expression clouding over with difficulty. “I know where it is, but… no one can actually get in there.”

“What do you mean?” Luo Wushuang’s volume rose sharply, her face hardening.

Whenever it concerned her Sister’s legs, she found it impossible to remain calm.

Seeing her lose her composure, Shangguan Liqian quickly took her hand and spoke in a low, soothing tone, “Don’t be anxious. Let’s hear what Ling Yin has to say first.”

Ling Yin hadn’t expected them to be heading for Spirit Spring Valley. After a moment of hesitation, she told them the truth.

“A strange river completely surrounds the outskirts of Spirit Spring Valley. To enter the valley, one must cross that river. However, for thousands of years, no one on this island has ever been able to cross it.”

Hearing this, Luo Wushuang’s brow furrowed even deeper.

What did she mean by ‘no one could cross it’?

“Why is the river impassable?” Luo Wushuang asked with a dark expression.

Since she had already started, Ling Yin didn’t intend to hide anything. She began to recount the river’s bizarre nature in detail.

“That river cannot support the weight of anything. Even a single leaf or a strand of hair falling into the water will instantly sink to the bottom and vanish. It is impossible to cross by boat or by swimming.”

“And if I sent someone with exceptional Lightness Skills…”

Luo Wushuang was interrupted by Ling Yin’s bitter laugh before she could finish.

“Many people who were overconfident in their martial arts have tried. But that river seems to possess a terrifying suction. No matter how good your Lightness Skill is or how high your Internal Energy, the moment you fly over the water’s surface, you lose all strength and plummet into the depths.”

Luo Wushuang frowned, still unwilling to abandon the idea.

Seeing her persistence, Ling Yin sighed and asked, “Do you know what happened to those who fell in?”

Luo Wushuang raised an eyebrow, looking at her.

Ling Yin spoke one word at a time, “Not even their bones remained.”

With another sigh, Ling Yin explained helplessly, “The moment that water touches a living being, it acts like a corrosive acid. Everyone who falls into the river ends up screaming as they dissolve into a pool of bloody water before vanishing entirely. There are no exceptions.”

Luo Wushuang’s face turned deathly pale.

From the sound of it, their chances of successfully entering Spirit Spring Valley were virtually non-existent…

As for Shangguan Liqian, she had fallen into deep thought the moment Ling Yin mentioned that the river could not support the weight of a single object.

She suddenly remembered the journey to the River of Forgetfulness when the Right Protector of the Nether Realm had led her past a strange body of water.

The Right Protector had said that the river had existed since the beginning of time, a force that connected the Heavens, the Earth, and the Mortal Realm—the Luo Shui.

The Luo Shui contained immense power, capable of toppling mountains and churning the seas. However, its temperament was perverse and volatile. It would not support a single object; any living thing that fell into it would be swallowed, obliterated, and erased without a trace.

The river Ling Yin described sounded exactly like the Luo Shui the Right Protector had mentioned. Could this be the portion of the Luo Shui that existed in the mortal world?

Even though she was in a foul mood, Luo Wushuang never ignored Shangguan Liqian. Noticing her distraction, she whispered, “What is it, Sister?”

Shangguan Liqian shook her head without speaking, but the feeling that this was the case grew stronger in her heart.

She had suspected for a while that whether it was her inability to walk or the journey to Spirit Spring Valley, it was all likely part of the Nether Lord’s design. If her guess was correct, the appearance of the Luo Shui here made perfect sense.

Seeing that both their expressions were grim, Ling Yin quickly tried to offer some comfort. “Since Master Yujing was the one who sent you here, he must have a way.”

Luo Wushuang’s expression softened slightly, though she still looked incredibly somber.

Ling Yin, having already experienced the sting of Luo Wushuang’s tongue, was being quite well-behaved. She was terrified of hitting a sensitive nerve and triggering another explosive tirade.

If Master Yujing hadn’t told her that these helpers could clean up the chaos on the island, she would never have endured such grievances! She would definitely—

“Did Master Yujing leave any other instructions?”

Ling Yin was busy beating Luo Wushuang up a thousand times in her mind, but the moment she heard her speak, she forced a smile.

“The Master only said I should assist you first. He mentioned that once this lady’s legs are healed, perhaps you two could help us restore order to the island.”

In the past, Ling Yin wouldn’t have been so sycophantic, but now… If she didn’t hurry, the island would turn into a complete mess.

“We just want to live peacefully on the island. We have no grand ambitions,” Ling Yin said pleasingly.

Luo Wushuang felt nothing but disdain for her flattery. She was about to speak when Shangguan Liqian pulled her back.

After a slight shake of her head at Luo Wushuang, Shangguan Liqian looked at Ling Yin and spoke cordially, “I am Shangguan Liqian, and this is my wife, Luo Wushuang. We will likely have to trouble you for a while, Miss Ling Yin.”

“It’s no trouble, no trouble at all!” Ling Yin waved her hands with a bright smile, but then she suddenly froze.

Wife? Is the outside world so open now?

A wife can be a woman?

Wait, no! A wife has always been a woman.

Is it that two women can be a married couple? One ‘Madam’ and one ‘Wife’?