"Stabbed many times, even had a hand cut off, and thrown into a small pond. At first, it hid in the corner, and since few people passed by the pond, it went unnoticed. It was only after a heavy rain that it floated up."
"Stabbed to death, huh? I wonder which hero rid the people of this menace. If the body could be brought to the government, the reward would be at least a hundred taels, but that person didn't claim it," Ye Zhi speculated, pondering with her chin.
Ming Yan, who grew up in the Yanyu Building, had heard many stories and knew about the water creature. She felt fearful for her mistress: "Miss, I've heard about the water creatures too. They look like apes, limp on land but extremely agile in water, often lurking beneath the surface, silently appearing and dragging people underwater, causing them to suffocate. It's terribly frightening. Those dragged by it rarely survive. You're truly blessed, Miss. When we go to Longhua Temple today, we must thank the Buddha properly."
