The Long River runs east to west, its source deep in the vast Western Wilderness. The Western Wilderness is full of towering mountains and dense, wild forests, hiding countless secrets that attract explorers every year. But that's not the topic now—on this quiet night, a swift boat is fighting the current, heading west up the Long River.
If all goes well, this boat will pass Dragon King Point in a day, then turn into another branch of the Long River and follow it southwest. The reason for this overnight rush? This stretch of river—hundreds of miles—is infamous for its danger. You have to get through fast, no delays allowed.
Tonight, there's no wind, no moon. Not a single other boat in sight. The silence is downright spooky.
"Everyone stay sharp! We're at the final stretch of Three Days Gorge—watch out for hidden rocks and rapids! All hands on deck!" The experienced captain barked his orders, and the crew worked together to get through the most dangerous waters of the Long River.
"Miss Fang, please step away from the rail," the captain warned. "If you fall in at Three Days Gorge, you won't even float. Around here, they call it 'the corpse doesn't float'. Please, be careful not to go overboard."
"Eh? It's that dangerous?" Fiona Fang had been leaning over the rail, admiring the view, but now she quickly backed away, looking nervous. "Why is this place so weird? The water looks pretty calm to me!"
The captain pointed at the water. "Miss Fang, the currents here are fierce, and there are tons of whirlpools. Accidents happen all the time—who knows how many ships have sunk here. When a ship goes down, the currents get even trickier, making it harder to navigate. The surface looks calm, but beneath it, who knows how many wrecks and bodies are down there. And us boat folk have a saying: 'Never look back when crossing Three Days Gorge at night.' It means if you're boating here at night, don't stop and don't turn around—otherwise, the dead from before will climb aboard and take your life…"
"Ah?!" Fiona Fang stared at the captain in disbelief. She wasn't great with ghost stories, so she gulped and hurried to grab Rachel Luo. "Sis, sis, did you hear that? There are—ghosts—here!"
"The captain's just messing with you," Rachel Luo replied coolly, unfazed by the silly ghost story. She glanced ahead at the river, frowning. "But this really is a dangerous spot."
The landscape here is unique—the river twists and turns endlessly, flanked by towering cliffs that rise more than a hundred meters above the water. Sailing through feels like squeezing between two giant walls. Even in daylight, it's dim; at night, visibility is worse. And with clouds covering the moon tonight, the boat has to blaze with torches and lanterns just to keep moving.