The Phantom's Promise: The Last Respite of the Drowned Village

The sun dipped below the horizon, casting a golden hue over the once-thriving village now submerged beneath the Yangzi River. The villagers had been long gone, their lives lost to the relentless force of nature, but the spirits remained. Among them was Li Hua, a woman who had witnessed the drowning of her family and the destruction of her home. She had been one of the few to survive, and now, years later, she was the last resident of the village.

Li Hua's life was a solitary existence, spent tending to the graves of those she had lost. She had seen the river as a monster, a beast that took away her loved ones, but she also saw it as a source of comfort. It was here, in the quiet solitude of the village, that she had found solace. However, the peace was fleeting, as the river was never still.

One evening, as the last light of the day faded, Li Hua heard a voice. It was not a human voice, but a voice from the depths of the river, calling her name. "Li Hua," the voice echoed, "your time is near. The promise is made, and you will be delivered."

Li Hua was confused. She had never made a promise to anyone, let alone the river itself. But as the voice grew louder, she felt a strange sense of hope. The river, which had once been her enemy, now seemed to offer her salvation. She spent the night in a state of confusion and fear, but the voice was persistent, whispering promises of deliverance.

The next day, Li Hua decided to investigate the source of the voice. She ventured down to the riverbank, where she found an old, abandoned boat. Inside the boat, she discovered a worn-out journal, belonging to her great-grandfather. The journal spoke of a legend, a promise made to the river by the villagers long ago. In exchange for the river's favor, they would sacrifice a child to it every seven years. The promise was meant to keep the river's wrath at bay, but the cost was too great. The village had been cursed, and the children were never seen again.

Li Hua's heart raced as she read the journal. She realized that her great-grandfather had been the last child to be sacrificed, and now, she was next. The voice from the river was not a promise of deliverance but a warning of impending doom.

Determined to save herself and the village, Li Hua sought the help of the few surviving villagers. They had all heard the voice and were just as afraid as she was. Together, they planned to break the curse by finding the lost child and performing a ritual to free the village from its bondage.

As the day of the ritual approached, Li Hua and the villagers grew more anxious. The voice from the river grew louder, more insistent, and it seemed that the river was aware of their plans. The night before the ritual, Li Hua had a nightmare. In the dream, she saw her great-grandfather, his eyes filled with sorrow, warning her that the river would not be appeased.

The next morning, as the villagers gathered for the ritual, the voice from the river was more intense than ever. Li Hua felt a strange connection to the river, as if it was speaking directly to her heart. She knew that she had to make a choice. She could follow the river's promise and become the sacrifice, or she could defy it and break the curse.

In a moment of clarity, Li Hua decided to defy the river. She stood in the center of the circle, her eyes locked on the river. She began to chant the words of the ritual, her voice growing stronger with each passing moment. The villagers joined her, their voices rising in unison.

As the last word was spoken, the voice from the river fell silent. The river's surface calmed, and the villagers felt a strange sense of relief. The curse had been broken, and the village was free. Li Hua looked out over the once-submerged village, her heart filled with hope and gratitude.

The river, which had once been her enemy, now seemed to offer her peace. She knew that the promise had been a lie, a trick of the river to keep her in its grasp. But by defying it, she had saved herself and her village.

As the sun set over the river, Li Hua felt a sense of closure. She had faced the river's promise head-on and emerged victorious. The village was safe, and she had found a new purpose in life. She would continue to care for the graves of those who had been lost, but now, she would also be the guardian of the village, ensuring that the past would not repeat itself.

And so, the story of the last resident of the drowned village was told. It was a tale of courage, defiance, and the power of hope in the face of despair. The river, once a monster, now offered a promise of peace, and Li Hua was the one who had made it a reality.