Chapter 190 - 190 Forty-seven

Words : 1340 Updated : Sep 21st, 2025

190: Forty-seven. Entering the Swamp 190: Forty-seven. Entering the Swamp The road built through Shadow Swamp was compacted with soil and elevated slightly above the swamp to cope with potential rising waters during the rainy season, so as not to be submerged. Leaving Shadow Town with the caravan and entering Marsh Road, some withered trees on both sides of the road were entwined with red strings. Some marks were fresh, while others had faded, turned pale, and darkened. The leader of the caravan that frequently traveled this Marsh Road said those were tied by the people passing through, hoping to ensure a smooth journey in this way. Near the entrance of the swamp, this sight was abundant, but as they moved through relatively normal and level areas and entered deeper into the swamp, the surroundings turned into a dead and dim world. The red strings became sparse, leaving only some completely blackened strings hanging from the twisted branches of withered trees, fluttering in the breeze. It was like twisted shadows waving at the caravan. Lu Li’s unique black eyes and temperament made him quite popular among women... and men. The leader of the caravan was a somewhat chubby brown-haired woman, who warmly invited Lu Li to sit in her carriage and talked about things that might interest him throughout the journey. For instance, every person who traveled the Marsh Road knew about the Shadow Figures and Six-legged Savages, like the abandoned cluster of wooden huts barely visible among the Withered Forest in the depths of the swamp after three or four miles. “I heard that a long time ago, Shadow Swamp wasn’t like it is now; people lived in the swamp then. But as the wilderness became more and more dangerous, the swamp was no longer suitable for living,” said the brown-haired woman, gazing intoxicatingly at Lu Li’s profile. Then she felt an uncomfortable chill emerging from the corner of the carriage. Lu Li nodded without saying a word, his dark eyes reflecting the deep parts of the eerie swamp, deeply imprinting the scene of the old, dilapidated cluster of wooden huts overrun with green fungus. About 8 to 10 miles into the swamp, the convoy of five carriages and trucks gradually stopped. The coordinates were nearly identical to those of the Blood-Colored Tentacles; from here, Lu Li could venture further into the swamp to locate them. The brown-haired woman gave Lu Li a simple walking stick and admonished him to watch out for the swamp’s ground, as some areas covered with fallen leaves that looked like solid ground could be bottomless mud pools, capable of swallowing a person instantaneously and very dangerous. “Thank you.” Lu Li politely thanked her and accepted the walking stick. “So, where can I find you later?” the brown-haired woman inquired quietly, breaking the widely accepted etiquette of distance between strangers. After a brief silence, Lu Li said, “Belfast, The Weird And Multicolored Detective Agency.” He did not hand out a business card because he did not think there would be any future intersection with the brown-haired woman. And her gaze gave Lu Li a feeling of potential trouble. As everyone knew, Lu Li feared trouble. “I’ll keep that in mind,” she said. The longing look of the brown-haired woman lingered on Lu Li by the roadside as her carriage moved away, turning him into a distant speck. Lu Li withdrew his gaze and walked to the edge of Marsh Road to look into the distance. Anna, floating beside him, became visible and regarded him with a slightly resentful expression. “Stop it already! You irresistible charmer!” Anna wanted to say this, but felt too embarrassed to utter such words. A thin layer of mist hovered over the swamp, with the Blood-Colored Tentacles dimly visible through the mist, hanging over a certain spot in front of the swamp. Considering the nearly 50-mile width of Shadow Swamp, this place was far from the center, not even deep into it. In past years, the landscape was lush with greenery, trees covering the sky, and reeds tall enough to disorient a person, making it a paradise for small animals with its abundant plants and wild fruits. But climate change had altered this, the entire Silent Swamp showed not a speck of green, only occasional frog calls and unknown insect sounds emerged from the gaps between the trees, bringing some signs of life. Twisted withered trees exposed their interlaced roots, the moist mud mixing with puddles to form a piece of land stable enough for walking. The true rainy season had yet to arrive, and when the violent storm came, this place would become a marshland once more. Except for the Marsh Road he was standing on. And the green that would never return. Lu Li’s gaze continued upward, landing on the depths of the clouds. A gloomy overcast drifted in from the east, seeming to signal the onset of new rainfall. Entering the swamp at this time seemed like a bad idea. But waiting for the rain that had no definite end was equally ill-advised—especially since Lu Li was to stay in Shadow Town. “Let’s go.” Lu Li said, stepping off the road’s slope and onto the muddy ground covered with a layer of rotting leaves. The soft sensation transmitted from the sole of his boot caused Lu Li to shift his feet and look at the shallow impressions made by his shoes. It was passable. Anna floated behind Lu Li, vigilantly scanning the surroundings, inflating her breath, ready to pull Lu Li out of the mire if he got stuck. However, Lu Li was cautious with his steps and used his cane to probe the path. He remained unharmed as he left the range of Marsh Road and completely entered the tangled swamp forest. The natural light began to turn eerie, the patchy brightness filtering through the gaps between dry branches, casting the swamp in shadows. The sound of mosquitoes buzzing earlier on the road had disappeared at some point, leaving silence all around. The gloomy and cold atmosphere couldn’t shake Lu Li as he navigated between the twisted and parched shadows of the trees, occasionally looking through the sparse jungle to the sky to determine the direction of the Blood-Colored Tentacles and continued his journey. This silence lasted for several minutes. The path underfoot gradually became difficult to navigate. Puddles spanned across the road ahead, and without knowing their depth and true width, Lu Li had to circumvent them or walk over the intertwined roots. Although Anna could use her abilities to lift Lu Li and float him across, it seemed a waste to use on just travelling. During this, Lu Li saw neither greenery nor any trace of insects or animals. Rotten, lifelessly still, it was as though the swamp had died long ago. His cane poked into the fallen leaves on the ground ahead, and what seemed like normal ground suddenly rippled like a water balloon. Lu Li stopped, poking again with his cane. His palm felt a hint of resistance, while ripples spread across a few meters of the dark grey wetland in front. Underneath could be some kind of quicksand or perhaps a water bubble under the grass. With some curiosity, Anna observed as Lu Li cautiously bypassed the area—it was bigger than he had imagined. Lu Li had to walk a good ten meters or so laterally away to circumvent this trap. Rustle, rustle— Not far along, a sound similar to leaves being quickly stepped on reached their ears. Anna suddenly turned her head, her clear eyes narrowing as she whispered, “Something crawled past!” “It might be a small creature living in the swamp,” said Lu Li from the side. Anna looked curiously in his direction and noticed that Lu Li had his back to where the sound had come from, appearing unconcerned. Following her observation, she noticed that Lu Li’s right hand quietly grasped the Spirit-Calling Gun at his waist.

Chapter 190 - 190 Forty-seven

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