Chapter 70: Repaying a Kindness

Zhang Jian looked ahead at the water pool with astonishment, but amidst the huge waves he saw a huge object suddenly emerge.

It was a huge spirit turtle.

Its entire body emanated spiritual energy that seemed to merge with countless splashing water droplets, shaking heaven and earth.

"How enormously huge……"

Gazing at the terrifying ink‑jade turtle shell that resembled a skyscraper, Zhang Jian's expression changed.

He was somewhat puzzled; this place was the core area of Fengyang Commandery, and there should be the power of the City God Divine Realm guarding it, plus the stationed tiger‑and‑wolf troops of the commandery city, so how could such a terrifying existence appear?

The giant turtle's shell emitted a faint clear light, as if shielding the power of the City God Divine Office.

Yet Zhang Jian instinctively gripped his Dragon Chant Sword in hand; despite the colossal creature, he never sensed any hostility from beginning to end.

Only from the mist did a leisurely, aged figure's voice emerge.

"Old man Xuan Jiu has met Young Master Zhang! Please, Young Master, do not worry; I have come this time solely to repay a kindness!"

Zhang Jian startled; the enormous spirit turtle before him had actually come to repay a kindness.

Zhang Jian's mind speculated.

Yet he spoke aloud.

"Repaying a kindness, Senior, have I ever known you?"

From deep within the mist, the spirit turtle's warm, moist eyes appeared, carrying a touch of playfulness as it laughed: "No, we have never met! But Young Master, you once saved my young grandson; you should still recall the white turtle you casually rescued at the fish market!"

"When I passed through Fengyang, my grandson was mischievous and fond of play; he carelessly stumbled into a net, was caught by the fishermen, and narrowly escaped death!"

Zhang Jian understood, clasped his hands and smiled: "Ah, that explains it, Elder, there's no need for such formality; it was merely a casual act of a junior—had it not been the white turtle but any other living being, I might still have acted!"

The giant jade turtle nodded slightly; then it let out a deep, low roar, and in a moment it released the boundless mist, a thick layer of ink‑jade radiance appearing on its head, instantly transforming into an old man with white beard, clad in an ink‑jade robe and holding a cane.

"Perhaps this form of mine will be more pleasing to your eyes, Young Master!"

"... Another Yin Spirit!"

Zhang Jian's face grew somewhat stiff.

He did not know whether his luck was too bad or too good.

He felt that the frequency of worshipping his ancestors ought to be a bit higher…

Only hearing the old turtle speak with a smile on its face, he clasped his hands.

"Young Master, your momentary kindness was a re‑creation‑level favor to my grandson!"

"Young Master, your kindness I cannot repay; I originally intended to use my skill in divination to forecast your fortune, but your fate is special, and I know my ability falls short, so I settled for divining a few of those around you, and learned that the Qi Manor also faces disaster; I therefore urge Young Master to deal with it carefully, lest strange calamity arise!"

"The Qi Manor faces disaster?"

Zhang Jian reacted, his brows knitting.

At the same time he gazed at the old turtle with some astonishment in his eyes, yet he harbored no particular suspicion.

After all, a great elder who has cultivated to the Yin Spirit stage appearing so earnestly would not come merely to deceive him, a novice just entering the Great Dao Gate.

But what disaster could the Qi family have?

Now the Governor's Manor is already overwhelmed, and the Qi family is fully on guard, so nothing should happen!

"Could it be a cornered dog leaping over the wall? A trapped beast's struggle!"

Zhang Jian had no other ideas for the moment, but after returning he still decided to warn Qi Yi, to guard against the unexpected.

"Thank you for the information, Senior! Zhang Jian hereby thanks the elders of the Qi family on your behalf!"

The old turtle shook its head and said: "Young Master, you need not do so! Whether this succeeds or not remains unknown!"

His words were vague, and Zhang Jian listened, feeling somewhat perplexed.

He silently thought that the old turtle's obscurity was a deliberate ploy to peddle anxiety.

After a brief pause, the old turtle, as if seeing through Zhang Jian's inner mutterings, twitched its longevity brows and added: "Besides that, there is also a bit of good karma to inform you; if you can seize it, perhaps it will greatly benefit your future cultivation!"

The old turtle hesitated at this moment, as if weighing something, then after a moment made up its mind.

He spoke softly: "That bit of good karma lies within the Governor's Manor; if you can secure it before the Governor's Manor collapses, it will be advantageous for forging your destiny in the future!"

Zhang Jian's spirit shook, and he asked: "Senior, could you elaborate?"

"That thing must not be spoken of aloud, otherwise your good karma would likely fly away!"

Seeing Zhang Jian's eyes show a hint of helplessness, the old turtle's eyes flickered with a faint smile,

"When you, young friend, get that thing in hand, you will naturally know then!"

"In that case, Zhang Jian thanks you, Senior!"

Zhang Jian secretly shook his head; these words were only half spoken, and though the old turtle seemed fond of showing off mystic secrets, there were still clues.

First, that is the good karma.

Second, that is an object!

Immediately Zhang Jian invited the old turtle to his villa, preparing to entertain it warmly; this is a patron visiting, and he ought to receive him enthusiastically—although it is a repayment of kindness, the benefits are genuine.

Moreover, he is an elder whose cultivation spans who‑knows‑how many years; having such a senior visit, how could he not seek instruction?

This would be a pity!

At that moment, the old turtle's expression shifted as it gazed into the distance, and Zhang Jian's keen spiritual sense likewise detected changes far from the Governor's Manor.

Boom—!!

In the depths of the clear sky, it seemed a muffled thunder exploded.

After that clear‑sky thunderclap, Zhang Jian's spiritual sense felt that some vital energy above the Governor's Manor had become disordered.

The old turtle, however, secretly shook its head.

"Casting spells haphazardly, utterly chaotic—but that old flood dragon had already become a trapped beast, so it's understandable!"

Sensing that Fengyang Commandery was about to turn into a mire, the old turtle, wishing to avoid trouble all the more, declined Zhang Jian's kindness, turned, and prepared to leave.

Standing on the high cliff, watching the old turtle's figure step by step enter the mist, Zhang Jian could not help but say.

I haven't yet asked, senior, where is your immortal abode?

In the thick fog, the old turtle's voice slowly drifted back.

My humble home is in Li River; if you, young sir, have leisure, you may come visit, and my wife and I will surely sweep the mat and await.

Li River—where exactly is that?

Zhang Jian had no special impression in his mind and immediately shook his head.

Perhaps the old turtle was merely passing through White Water; fortunately that white turtle landed in his hands, otherwise Fengyang Commandery might have been in trouble—this great elder lost his grandson, who knows how he'd take revenge.

……

After the old turtle left, Zhang Jian couldn't stay in the annex any longer; after sending someone to deliver a letter to the Qi residence, he prepared to schedule the ancestral rites again.

This time he resolved the disaster in Fengyang Commandery and the surrounding several commanderies.

He believed that after the ancestral rites, things would be different.

He then summoned Zhang Lu and the few veteran soldiers under his command to head to the bustling streets of Fengyang Commandery, preparing to find a paper horse shop with a bit of novelty.

As for the treasure, Zhang Jian, in the governor's mansion, he wasn't in a hurry; at the very least he'd need to topple the governor before looting.

Willow Grove Street, one of the most prosperous streets in Fengyang Commandery, was thronged with merchants.

Along the way, people came and went, carriages and horses flowed incessantly.

Fresh fruit!

Fur, white fox pelts hunted from the mountains!

Top-notch detoxifying ointment, ladies and gentlemen, come take a look—specially for mountain snake venom! A family-secret ointment!

Just entering here, Zhang Jian couldn't help but sigh—this street is indeed extraordinarily prosperous.

Surrounding shops of all kinds were packed together, with a great variety—tea stalls, wine shops, foot clinics, butcheries, temples, government offices, and so on.

In the shops there were those selling jewelry and spices, and also those selling fine silks and satins!

There were also barbers, carriage and horse repairs, and so on!

The promotional methods of the many surrounding shops were also eye‑catching—either hanging colorful banners or directly pulling people into the central thoroughfare, making the atmosphere here quite different.

At the corners of the street there were many stall vendors, offering everything one could need.

Zhang Jian also saw a few believers mingling at the street corner, secretly recruiting followers, seemingly spreading the cult of the Red Flower Maiden, as well as some strange doctrines like the Red Lotus Way; after a glance he paid no heed.

He soon found a fairly spacious funeral shop.

Liu's Paper Horse Shop!

Likewise in front of a large willow tree, but what surprised Zhang Jian was that the style here was fairly familiar to him.