Chapter 9. Lake Maiden. The village of Quiet Reeds. Lands of the Bailing Hu Order.

Li Ye Hua (Su Yu Lan)

The girls took a jug with them. They managed to fall asleep only in the morning. Therefore, completely sleep-deprived, Yu Lan got dressed and, trying not to wake her companion, left the tavern into the courtyard, where the elder and other residents were already waiting for her.

Having told the details and told everyone what they knew or heard about this monster, they saw the girl off. Surprisingly, no one was embarrassed by either the height or the build, everyone was convinced that in front of them stood none other than the young sorcerer. This is for the best.

Approaching the lake, she made sure that there were no residents of either the Celestial or the Earthly World nearby. Standing by the water, she looked closely and did not notice any signs of the monster. She had to wander around and even sit on the shore, but this did not help either.

She remembered that the villagers had prepared a package, in which she found food and wine. A little more time passed and she began to feel sleepy, the stormy night reminded her of itself. Basking in the rays of the sun, she closed her eyes and leaned against a tree.

Lake Maiden

Someone came to the lake again. She sensed him. She looked through the water surface. The one who came was very young, pretty, like a girl. Two in one. He walks along the shore, as if looking for something.

Once upon a time, she loved to come to the bank of the river that flowed near her village. How long ago it was. Then she thought that her life would be wonderful. She would have a husband and many children, and how could it be otherwise, after all, it was not for nothing that the gods rewarded her, showering her with a generous hand and beauty and a good nature, but everything turned out differently.

One day, a rich gentleman came to the village, and he liked her so much that he decided to take her to the city to serve his wife. In the evening, when she and the other girls were doing needlework, as usual, everyone was discussing this news, congratulating her and wishing her happiness. And in the morning the headman personally came and took her to the master.

That was the end of the joy. Terrible accusations rained down on her head, as if she had stolen the ring from the master. How could she? But no one wanted to listen to her. Because one of her friends claimed that when they were returning home from a get-together, the girl bragged to her about this ring, saying that the master had given it to her. The most terrible thing was that the servants of the visitor, having searched her house, found this jewel under the table.

As a result, the one who had slandered her went to the city with the master, and she, as punishment, was sold to a pleasure house. For a long time she cried when there were no clients, but then she resigned herself. And even got used to such a life. Until one day, some young lords bought her.

They were celebrating something in a tavern. Five men sat at a table in a room laden with food and drink. They drank, ate, joked and laughed, and she satisfied them all. By the evening of the next day, they decided to continue in nature and, having packed up, went to the shore of this very lake. She was very tired, because no one had thought to give her even a little rest, but she did not show it, knowing from experience that no one was interested in her condition. If the client has paid, the girl must work the paid time.

But there is a limit to everything, her body, exhausted by a long orgy, took its toll, and she fell asleep. And she woke up only when she found herself in the water. Spitting, she emerged, but the young men, laughing and making dirty jokes, plunged her under the water again. The maiden tried to break free. Sometimes she managed to raise her head again, and she coughed, trying to free herself from the water tearing her lungs and gulp air, it seemed to her then that the gentlemen had taken pity, but they only laughed and repeated it with her again and again, until there was no more strength left, and her consciousness completely faded.

"I hate" — the thought pulled her out of oblivion, and she opened her eyes. There was something strange around, the world seemed to have become different. She raised her hand to her eyes. The air behaved unusually, as if it had become denser. She tried to breathe in, but she could not do it. Air ... no, water. There was only water around her. Looking around, the girl realized that she was at the bottom of the lake.

Gradually, her memory returned.

— I hate, — emerging to the surface, she looked into the water's surface. It was as if she had become even more beautiful than she had been in life. The thick black hair became longer, and mysterious highlights appeared in the dark eyes. Hearing footsteps, she hid under the water. Some girl, smiling and humming something softly, started doing the laundry.

— I hate you! Because of people like you, I lost everything, — the thought was like a red-hot nail in her head. After swimming a little, the maiden climbed out onto the shore. Sneaking up from behind, she pushed her hard in the back and jumped after him, dragging her first victim into the abyss.

She doesn't remember how many of them there were later. Young men, girls. All of them, all who come here, will all be here, at the bottom.

Returning her gaze to the newcomer, she grinned. The guest went to bed. Without thinking twice, she swam up and, grabbing his leg, dragged him into the lake.

Li Ye Hua (Su Yu Lan)

Waking up was most unpleasant. Not realizing what had happened, she tried to fight back with her free leg, but where was it... The lake monster, here it was, or rather she, unwomanly strong. Having taken out her sword, already being in the water, she tried to fight back, but the monster seemed to have steel pincers instead of hands, with which she dragged her to the bottom of the lake. Choking from lack of air, she began to struggle. Still, he managed to hit it, the blade passed over the skin, and the undead let go. But not knowing how to swim, she only began to splash around even more, trying to get out.

Lake Maiden

The guest turned out to be nimble. It was unclear where he pulled out a sword from which light was coming. She couldn't dodge for long, the flexible blade still touched, scratching the skin on her ribs. Hissing from the unexpected pain, she released her prey, jumping aside. And froze. It looks like she won't have to do anything, even though he has steel in his hands, he won't escape retribution. This young man can't swim. The maiden laughed, watching with satisfaction as the impudent stranger tried to fight for his life. She knew the outcome, and she wouldn't interfere. The fool prolongs his own agony. She shook her head, driving away the memories, and swam further, so that it would be easier to watch.

Zhou Xin Xie (Tian Kuo)

After the memorable meeting with the wandering spellcasters, Xin Xie walked along forest paths, avoiding towns and villages, not wanting to linger. People, seeing a spellcaster, always find something to distract him with, sometimes one thing, sometimes another.

Immersed in drawing up a strategy for the correct education of a dragon, he suddenly heard a woman's laughter and stopped. It rings like a silver bell, as if luring. What is a girl to do in such a place? Deciding to take a look, the spellcaster followed the sound.

Behind the trees, a lake was discovered. Two were in the water. One is very close to the shore and is clearly drowning, and the second is further away and... laughs. Frowning, the young man jumped into the water and in a couple of strokes reached the man in distress, grabbed him by the waist, holding him above the water, and swam to the shore. Along the way, he took away the sword that the would-be drowned man was trying to swing.

The laughter died down, and a strange girl, who knows how she appeared next to him, tried to grab him. Not wanting to figure it out, he waved his hand, and it flew off to the middle of the lake. Having reached the shore, he released the rescued one and chuckled. Contrary to expectations, it was also a maiden. The wet fabric, treacherously clinging to the slender body, repeated all the curves.

Li Ye Hua (Su Yu Lan)

At one point, it seemed that she was about to reach the shore, but the monster grabbed her even tighter than before and dragged her into the water. Trying to break free, Yu Lan began to wave her sword, trying to drive away the evil spirits, but it took the weapon away, and the girl began to break free with all her might until she found herself on the shore.

Finally, having taken a closer look, she opened her eyes wide in surprise. She was saved... oh, gods be with the fact that he saved her. Judging by everything, this was a spellcaster, at least the magical energy was clearly felt. And he was completely hairless!

Trying to understand at least something, she stared at the young man, but the undead reminded her of itself, and she pointed her hand at the lake.

— We need to kill this monster! It's dangerous, — with the last words, the water that she had swallowed burst out. Already busy emptying her stomach, she once again pointed her finger at the lake maiden.