Chapter 53: Stone Lion River River God, Stone Lion King Statue

Xu Yanran looked at the center of the lake and smiled. "This is the Stone Lion King Statue. According to records, there was a flood here during the Guangyu era, so this Stone Lion King Statue was erected. Since then, there has never been a flood here.

Counting it up, it has been over three hundred years. That offering table was spontaneously offered by the people in the nearby villages.

This Stone Lion King Statue can almost be said to be the River God of this Stone Lion River. Every year on the summer solstice, sacrifices are held here."

"Three hundred years?"

Qin Jiang muttered to himself, stepping forward and stepping directly onto the water surface. *Sha* Qi surged under his feet, but it didn't cause any ripples.

This is the benefit of practicing the Earth Dragon Body concurrently; his control over his own physical body has reached a very high level.

Arriving at the stone platform and walking to the side of the Stone Lion King Statue, one could clearly see that the statue was covered with gullies, with heavy traces of rain erosion and weathering.

His fingertips touched it lightly, rubbing the rough and uneven statue, and a cold aura surged into his body.

【Potential Points absorbing... 0.2, 0.5, 0.6, 0.5】

【Potential Points: 10.5】

It increased by a full 5.2 potential points! It is worthy of being a presence that has stood for three hundred years and can be revered as a River God.

It's just that he looked around, but there was no *Yin* Qi accumulation here. Perhaps that weird entity was not here.

*Trot, trot, trot! Trot, trot, trot! * Just when he was confused, urgent and heavy hoofbeats came, and a black horse far larger than an ordinary horse galloped quickly.

Qin Jiang looked over and recognized that this was a warhorse belonging to the county soldiers, and the figure on the horse was very eye-catching—the iron-tower-like body was the County Lieutenant Long Yuesheng.

*Whoa——! * Long Yuesheng pulled the horse to a stop, holding a Blood Flame Golden Spear in his hand, his eyes scanning all directions.

Seeing Xu Yanran, he breathed a sigh of relief and nodded slightly to signal.

Afterward, he turned to look at Qin Jiang, and suddenly became a bit surprised. When he saw the fox fur cloak Qin Jiang was wearing, his eyes changed from surprise to shock.

Qin Jiang walked from the center of the lake to the shore. Long Yuesheng sat on the horse looking at Qin Jiang, his eyes complex.

"Lord Long," Qin Jiang called out.

Long Yuesheng reacted, dismounted, casually inserted the Blood Flame Golden Spear into the ground, his expression carrying a hint of gratification and a sigh.

"I originally thought you were a commoner without much background. After becoming a county soldier, when I am transferred back to the county city in the future, I would let you follow as a personal soldier, which could be considered a good future.

Yet I never expected that you have already put on the fox fur cloak of the Red Tiger Gang. I'm afraid it won't be long before the Red Tiger Gang has another Hall Master.

If I had known this earlier, I wouldn't have let you go to the banquet that day. Please don't hold a grudge against me."

Qin Jiang smiled. "Lord Long is joking. How could I hold a grudge because of this?"

Long Yuesheng also laughed. "It was I who worried too much."

"I don't know why Lord Long came here?" Qin Jiang asked.

Recently, weird entities have appeared frequently, and the Red Tiger Gang has dispatched many people for this, and even the Gang Leader rarely stays in the gang. This Lord Long should also be busy exterminating weird entities.

"Oh, yes, I'll take charge of the matter here. I think you have roughly guessed that this incident was caused by a weird entity.

I received news that the weird entity here is powerful. In Black Mountain City, besides me, only Gang Leader Lu has the confidence to solve it, even the County Magistrate can't.

Speaking of which, I have to thank you for bringing back the Blood Gold. This Blood Flame Golden Spear has a restraining effect on weird entities, which made me much easier," Long Yuesheng laughed.

As he spoke, he looked at Xu Yanran. "Furthermore, the Xu family fully supports me, so naturally, I cannot be ungrateful, haha."

"Lord Long is too polite. You have contributed a lot to Black Mountain City, so our Xu family should naturally do our part," Xu Yanran smiled.

"Hahaha, Miss Xu is a good person. I know a little about your Xu family's background. Although I can't help much, if there is a chance in the county city in the future, we can interact more," Long Yuesheng laughed.

Xu Yanran was overjoyed upon hearing this. "Then thank you, Lord Long."

*Trot, trot, trot! Trot, trot, trot! * Hoofbeats came, and Tian Shangfei came quickly. At this time, besides riding a horse, Tian Shangfei was also leading a horse with his right hand, looking a bit funny.

*Whoa~~* Arriving nearby, Tian Shangfei pulled the horse to a stop. "Bo... Boss, these two horses together... Lord Long?!"

Before he finished speaking, he saw Long Yuesheng standing beside Qin Jiang.

He felt a bit familiar when he saw the black warhorse from afar, but he didn't expect it to be Long Yuesheng who came. "Who are you?" Long Yuesheng asked.

Tian Shangfei quickly dismounted. "The little one is a small leader of the Sixth Hall of the Red Tiger Gang, oh no, no, no, now I am a Head Chief, working under Boss Qin."

Long Yuesheng nodded. "So you are Brother Qin's person. I have remembered you."

Tian Shangfei was a bit flattered and shrank his neck. He knew that this was County Lieutenant Long giving his Boss face.

*Trot, trot, trot! * Another burst of hoofbeats, this time it seemed unhurried and orderly.

After a few breaths, the steward drove the horse through the forest. When he saw Long Yuesheng, he was stunned for a moment, and then quickly adjusted and pulled the horse to a stop.

"Lord Long," he greeted softly.

"Steward Xu, long time no see. How has Master Xu been lately?" Long Yuesheng laughed.

He knew some of the Xu family's background and also knew that although this steward didn't seem to have much presence, he was actually an expert in the Divine Intent Realm.

His Golden Flame Blade had been practiced to the fourth layer, not far from the Grandmaster Realm of the peak of Divine Intent.

In terms of strength, it was enough to rank in the top five in Black Mountain City, and even he didn't have the confidence to suppress him.

"Master is well, thank you for your concern, Lord Long," Steward Xu bowed slightly.

"You came just in time, handle a matter with me," Long Yuesheng said, as if he were asking, but it was not an inquiring tone.

Steward Xu looked at Xu Yanran, and Xu Yanran nodded slightly after pondering for a moment.

Long Yuesheng smiled when he saw this. "Brother Qin, you and Miss Xu go back first. I will look for this weird entity with Steward Xu."

Qin Jiang nodded. "Then we will take our leave first, and wish Lord Long a triumphant return."

On the way back to the city, Tian Shangfei made an excuse to leave, leaving only Qin Jiang and Xu Yanran riding slowly.

"Does Young Master Qin still have relatives at home?" Xu Yanran asked.

"There is still my elder sister," Qin Jiang said.

Xu Yanran nodded slightly, her eyes a bit lonely. "Among the peers in Yanran's family, only Yanran is left."

If it weren't for this, she wouldn't have to shoulder this huge Xu family.

The road was silent until they reached the West Gate of the Inner City to part ways, when Xu Yanran suddenly called out to stop Qin Jiang.

Qin Jiang turned his head, his face full of inquiry.

Xu Yanran tilted her head down slightly, with a hint of redness that was hard to detect. "Young Master Qin, don't forget the Lantern Festival on the fifteenth of next month. You promised."

Qin Jiang smiled upon hearing this. "Hahaha, naturally."

It was already near noon when he returned to Anxin Villa, and several Red Tiger Gang disciples were standing at the entrance of the villa.

After seeing Qin Jiang, one of them walked over quickly to take the horse. "Deacon Qin, I am Liang Wei under Elder Chen. The Elder is currently waiting for you in the courtyard."

Qin Jiang raised his eyes slightly. "What does Elder Chen want with me?"

"It seems to be about the Hall Master matter," Liang Wei said.

After dismounting and walking into the courtyard, Chen Feng was lying comfortably on the seat of the pavilion, holding a bunch of grapes in his hand.

Seeing Qin Jiang enter, he waved his hands repeatedly, pointing to the table in the center of the pavilion. "Come and taste this quickly. This is the best Purple Jade Grape, it's delicious!"

Qin Jiang sat down, picked one and tasted it; it was iced, crispy and... *uh*, cool and refreshing.

"Elder Chen, you are looking for me because...?"

Chen Feng sat up. "It's not a big deal. The Hall Master matter has been decided. Five days later, on the first of the seventh month, you will have a fight with another deacon of the Fourth Hall who has mastered the Red Tiger Fist.

Whoever wins will be the new Fourth Master after the Fourth Hall and the Sixth Hall merge."

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 54 =====