Chapter 1273: A-Fei Imprisoned, Forced Confession

"Aiya, only back for half a month, why leave again? Bossing me around—abominable! Ruining my cultivation, disturbing my Dao heart! When I forge my furnace in the future, I must hang him up and whip him eight hundred times a day, eight hundred times!"

Li Xianghan fell backward, kicking her small legs, gnashing her teeth.

On the table, light and shadow flickered. A gray mouse knelt on one knee, facing a yellow mouse, offering a polished leather whip. The yellow mouse received it with its claws; with a rhythmic tightening and loosening, it whipped the air, *pop-pop* sounding out. With a wave of its large claw, the gray mouse pulled the rope, and a white mouse that had stolen maltose had its paws bound, being hoisted up bit by bit on a gantry, begging bitterly.

The long whip danced wildly, the mouse shrieked.

The *chi-chi zha-zha* puppet theater was vivid and lifelike; Li Xianghan couldn't help but laugh, her anger instantly vanishing.

She held the three mice in her palms, pinching their cheeks to flatten and round them, then turned her head, worried about another matter.

After dragging on for a year, the Insect Valley festival rewards finally came down.

One superior-grade Long Qi, one medium-grade Long Qi, but how to transfer them to Liang Qu?

It wasn't a question of whether she could make the decision on the rewards.

As a member of the Green Pattern Valley, all of Li Xianghan's daily transactions and social interactions took place within the valley. The circulation of resources like Long Qi was highly scrutinized and linked to the Perfected Form Realm; even if she said she was exchanging them for Great Elixirs, internal transactions would certainly take priority. External transactions would inevitably lead to questions about her whereabouts—once there was a loophole, wouldn't she be exposed?

At this thought, Li Xianghan couldn't help but kick her legs again.

"Aiya, so troublesome, let Prince Huai think about it!"

Time flew like a rabbit, earth Qi rose, and the wheat by the river grew increasingly golden.

Old farmers in Yu Province sat and lay on the field ridges, counting the days and the wheat ears, looking forward to this year's harvest.

Wheat in the "filling stage" goes from green to yellow-green, requiring more watering during this period. How well it is handled determines the degree of the first half-year's harvest: wheat in the wax-ripening stage is basically all yellow, with a few leaves still green, and the stalks still have elasticity.

Finally, it reaches the yellow-ripening stage, where the whole plant is yellow and the stalks have no elasticity. At this time, it is fully ripe and at its plumpest, yet the harvest is already late. Because it is too ripe, it easily drops grains and lets birds steal them, commonly known as "ten percent ripe, one percent lost," which is not as productive as harvesting during the wax-ripening stage.

These three periods are squeezed into less than a month, happening one after another. Experienced farmers must keep their eyes wide open every day, watching the last bit of green fade from the wheat, counting the days, racing against time.

Once the day arrives, the whole family mobilizes.

If there are widows, orphans, or those who have lost their fathers—

If the neighborhood atmosphere is good, they help each other; if the atmosphere is not—

"Boom—"

Heavenly thunder shook, as if by divine punishment, accompanied by violent tremors. The blocked silt was suddenly flushed open, a yellow dragon roared toward the east, and the people cheered.

The indescribably majestic body collided with the riverbank, squeezing out beautiful splashes, and a rainbow appeared in the sky.

By the river, the damp silt was pushed into small mountains and slowly leveled out. The villagers scrambled to carry loads, transporting this blessed mud from the River God.

Having signed the contract with the Green River Duke, the great river renovation officially entered its track, vigorous and grand.

Liang Qu also successfully rushed a thousand miles of sand before June 5th.

The thousand-mile Yellow Sand River downstream of Green Duke Bay became flat and open!

"Strange, I wasn't this busy when I was the River Earl at the River Office in the early years; at least I had a rest every ten days. Now I only rest three days a month, and I have to notify in advance. Wait, it seems about the same—"

Liang Qu calculated on his fingers and put away the leave request memorial returned from the Imperial Capital.

Within the spiritual link, he summoned Chishan to pick him up. Taking advantage of the final gap, he made a request to Si Nan.

"The subsequent deployment of the River Office is mainly to continue observing the downstream situation. Bundling water to flush sand inevitably pushes excess silt downstream. If it blocks or causes a levee breach anywhere, it will surely become a disaster.

Furthermore, spread the news of the Imperial Court's water management early, and communicate with the water beasts in the river to avoid conflicts. We must avoid disharmony between land and water, causing contradictions and intentional retaliation; we would be the ones to suffer, and it would not be good for subsequent influence."

"Your Highness, rest assured, the River Office will follow this consistently."

"Be more careful, there will be no mistakes. By the way, sacrifices are labor-intensive and costly. It's not just human sacrifices; even if it's killing pigs and slaughtering sheep, persuade them if you can, and avoid it if you can."

"Understood, I will try my best to dispatch personnel."

Si Nan took up a brush to record.

The common people would not reduce their sacrifices and worship to the River God because of the popularization of information about the Four Gates and Seven Paths realms; instead, they would be more convinced and more fanatical.

The so-called gods were originally conferred by humans, coming after humans.

The Four Gates and Seven Paths—is this not mortals entering the Dao and cultivating into immortals?

Famous mountains and grand temples are everywhere; a hundred-year-old Daoist priest with a healthy body is enough to be amazing, let alone the appearance of a Dragon Martial Saint with the true ability to move mountains and fill seas.

Worshipping gods is inherently to seek wishes and external help to change a predetermined life. The more miserable one is, the more one has this need.

If you do not cultivate, seeing me is like a frog in a well looking at the moon in the sky.

If you do cultivate, seeing me is like a mayfly seeing the blue sky.

Even the more one practices martial arts, the more one feels that the Perfected Form and Dragon realms are unreachable, and the more one thinks of them as gods, unless it is someone close by, witnessing the path taken step by step.

"Let's go!"

Red clouds filled the sky.

Prince Huai stepped onto the Bai Yu Palace, heading south majestically.

Si Nan dispatched officials to take over the Treasure Ship of Creation to avoid being looted by thieves.

Incense curled.

"I wonder how things are going at the Elixir Workshop—eating them one by one is still too slow."

Liang Qu sat cross-legged in the quiet room, taking another inferior-grade Treasure Elixir of Creation worth half an Unworldly Merit, swallowing it down. Now he was doing everything simultaneously, using one mind for two tasks, flushing sand daily while attending to the digestion of medicinal power, digesting all resources as quickly as possible.

Remaining Unworldly Merit: eight and a half.

Four hundred and twenty-five times the root sea, raising waves!

Great Snow Mountain, North Sea, Yellow Sand, Southern Frontier.

Several projects, advancing one by one.

"By the way, A-Fei hasn't returned yet?"

Liang Qu's thoughts jumped, missing his capable official.

The River God festival was to be held soon, and "Ba-Bo-Er-Ben" had to appear to preside over this year's competition—helplessly, the timing of the thought was unfortunate; the medicinal power surged up. Glancing hurriedly at the position in the spiritual link and confirming that A-Fei was generally unharmed, Liang Qu composed his mind and practiced his cultivation.

With Frog Duke, he would naturally turn bad luck into good.

Cultivation first.

North Sea.

The water flowed gloomily, covered in frost. On the jade-white pillars of the Qilin King Palace, iron chains were spread, green light characters flickered on and off, squeezing out circles of rolling flesh.

Two Qilin beasts transformed into human form, brandishing long whips and occasionally greeting with iron fists.

"Confess or not? Confess or not? Still dare to come to the Qilin King Palace? Dare to come and steal things?"

The Fat Fish was bruised and swollen, its belly undulating. Its eyes were swollen into slits, seeing nothing, only able to see two Qilin claws. Hearing the threatening voice and feeling that enough time had been delayed, it hurriedly cried that it would never dare again.

It confessed, it confessed everything.

The Qilin beast saw this and turned to cup its fists.

"Great King! It says it is willing to confess!"

——

The Jade Qilin sat high on the throne, its elegance revealing vigor. Azure light flowed on its jade-white scales, its mouth and nose exhaling Long Qi, disturbing the water flow. The Jade Qilin walked step by step to the Fat Fish, looking for a long time, but couldn't tell what species this lump was.

"At least you are a Great Demon of the Upper Realm, yet you only do things like stealing chickens and dogs. What beast taught you? I consider that your cultivation is not easy, otherwise I would have killed you long ago. Speak, who sent you? Why sneak into the Qilin King Palace? As long as you confess honestly, I will spare your life!"

The subordinate translated for the Fat Fish. The Fat Fish tried hard to open its eyes, pretending to be weak, delaying time while its mind collided, looking for a way to break the situation. Just as the Jade Qilin was becoming impatient, a flash of inspiration jumped into its head, and it mumbled two sentences.

The Jade Qilin didn't hear clearly, and even if it did, it didn't understand the Great Shun official language, so it turned to look at the subordinate.

The subordinate immediately leaned in, letting the Fat Fish repeat it, after which its pupils dilated in shock.

"What expression? Who is it?" the Jade Qilin pressed.

"Reporting to the Great King, this wretch says it was the Dragon that sent it!"

"Jianghuai, no, East Sea Dragon?"

"Great King, it says exactly so."

The Jade Qilin frowned.

The Dragon entered the Long Gong, only to be expelled by the White Ape later—this was one of the major events in the world, and even if it rarely went out, it had heard of it. Coming to the North Sea to steal treasure?

"What evidence do you have to prove that this is not random biting?"

The Fat Fish continued to mumble, the subordinate continued to translate, and the more they heard, the more shocked they became.

"Great King, it says it is a Wuzhi Porpoise, belonging to the Dragon clan. It used to be a famous Great Poet Fish in Jianghuai, a Great Talent Fish, the Black Whirlwind, and was the left and right arm of the Dragon. Later, the Dragon was defeated and went to the East Sea, and it also endured and remained silent until some time ago, when it re-established contact and asked it to come and steal the treasure. Whether it is true or false, one can find out by inquiring."

"It can write poetry?" The Jade Qilin was even more surprised. "What poetry?"

"Speak! What poetry!" The subordinate whipped the air, extracting a vacuum.

The Fat Fish, with swollen eyes, raised its volume by three degrees.

"Carrying pearls and bathing in iron toward the Divine Land, scales and manes towering to move the Jade Tower.

At midnight, fire comes, knowing there is an enemy, protecting Jianghuai marsh all at once!"

"Dark pool rises at night, recognizing the spiritual trace, true appearance not yet revealed, Qi already heavy.

Nine abysses hidden for a thousand years of jade, five-colored light condensing ten thousand gullies of wind.

Occasionally sending rain letters to the human world—"

Silence.

A series of verses emerged, with nose and eyes, truly as if Jianghuai had produced a Great Poet Fish, even if its body was rolling and fat, without half a "literary fish" temperament.

After a long while.

"Hmph, the Demon King from outside waters doesn't know the rules!" The Jade Qilin was not afraid of the Dragon. "Come, beasts, go to the East Sea and Jianghuai to investigate and see if it is true or false. Qiji, Qichuan, you take this wretch down first!"

"Yes!"

All the water beasts were busy interrogating A-Fei.

In a corner that no one paid attention to, two webbed claws pried open the palace gate, weighing the Qiankun bag.

"Hu-hu ha-ha! Hu-hu ha-ha!"

The Bai Yu Palace disintegrated into smoke, the monkey troop surged down from the Heavenly Palace, climbing pillars, jumping onto walls, crawling along the roof ridges, calling out, startling silly chickens and wild cats along the way.

The otters somersaulted into the Prince's Mansion, scouting left and right, exchanging glances, reporting one by one.

Safe!

In an instant, the Prince's Mansion was bustling with activity.

"Finally back!"

Home is best in the hometown, the moon is brightest in the hometown.

Liang Qu hugged the big dog Wulong, laughing as he rubbed its head thoroughly.

The moment he stepped into the courtyard, all the fatigue of the journey was swept away. Looking at the carved beams and painted rafters, seeing the courtyard expand several times over, seeing the jujube tree stretching its branches to greet him, and the Dragon people coming and going in the Prince's Mansion, he was immensely gratified.

A scene of prosperity!

Since the completion of the Prince's Mansion, he hadn't lived at home properly.

The entire New Prince Huai Mansion now occupied more than a hundred acres, surrounded by a crescent-shaped water area on the side, with sea angels wandering, waterfalls cascading, lotus flowers blooming, sharing half with the green-eyed snails, peach trees lush and green, and wooden house bathhouses forming more private small courtyards.

The family was about quality, not quantity; it wasn't that kind of "crowded hundred acres" with a pile of maids and servants and several courtyards pieced together, but truly spacious. Standing in the courtyard, one didn't feel the eaves blocking the view.

In the back, there was a large stable, raising dozens of extraordinary horses, all bestowed by the Imperial Court. Fan Xinglai couldn't take care of them all, so Liang Qu directly assigned the usage rights of these horses to the Martial Hall, additionally hiring three Martial Hall disciples as a daily task, for the Martial Hall's activities, incidentally solving the feed problem. Chishan headed straight there as soon as it landed.

Indeed.

Big is good, big is beautiful.

Master Li the Chief Engineer's designs are always on point.

More magnificent and imposing than the original five or six-acre big house, displaying true bearing.

How many lifetimes of working would it take to live in such a horse-running house?

The water beasts rushed into the pond, the Third Prince flew low.

"Welcome the Great King home!" The hedgehog ran out of the house, wearing a string of spiritual fruits, swatting away the monkey claws reaching out, rushing to Liang Qu, sticking out its butt. "The Great King has been traveling north and south, surely thirsty. Quickly enjoy these fine spiritual fruits, all picked this morning."

The Third Prince hovered in mid-air, arms crossed, staring at the hedgehog.

The hedgehog shrank its head, squeezing out a smile: "Third Prince, you are invited too."

"Hmph!"

The Third Prince tossed its head proudly, mist forming claws, picking a peach, peeling the skin in a flash, and offering it to Liang Qu.

"Boss, eat fruit, all picked fresh this morning."

"Hahaha, not bad." Liang Qu took a bite of the peach, visiting the rooms, poking his head around. "Where is Eying? Not at home?"

"The Princess went to the Long Gong and hasn't returned today. Calculating the time, she should be back soon."

"Tomorrow is the River God festival, how is the arrangement?"

Liang Qu fell backward. The 【Vine Soldier】 in the corner flew over like a tumbleweed, gently catching Liang Qu, spreading out to become a lounge chair and remaining still.

"With the Great King's demonstration, everything is naturally in the plan this year. The Princess also added two major projects for the Tridacna clan and the Beaver clan." The hedgehog handed over the booklet.

"Oh?" Liang Qu flipped through the booklet, his eyes lighting up. "Knife-forging competition? This idea is okay, but—

It lacks a soul, a soul to liven up the entire atmosphere of forging."

"Please give the Great King's guidance."

"Since it is forging weapons, naturally there must be someone to test the weapons."

"Could it be that the Great King wants to personally—"

"I can't, I'm too serious. The biggest feature of Yixing is the mixture of humans and beasts, making others feel fresh and interesting. Tatta-kai!"

!

Tatta-kai somersaulted over.

"Just let the otter go try out the blade; since he's friends with Master Li the Chief Engineer, he can chop up some special bamboo or maybe some dead pork to increase the visual stimulation. Remember to shout 'A Nest of Q' at the end."

"Yi-Wo-Q? What does this mean?"

"No meaning, just that everything must give people a memory point, which can be a picture or a sentence, which can help spread. And because it has no meaning, everyone will be curious, and it may become popular."

"Understood! The Great King has great talent!"

The hedgehog's eyes lit up, recording seriously, learning seriously.

"Tridacna storage box—that's okay, Eying has five percent of my skills."

"Only five percent?"

"Ha!" A figure flashed, Liang Qu supported Eying's butt, lifted her off the ground, and held her in his arms. "Half a month no see, why is the Lady even more beautiful?"

"Oh~" Long Eying let herself be held, half a head taller, resting her chin on Liang Qu's shoulder with her elbow. "Was I not as beautiful before as I am now?"

"Getting naughty, aren't we."

"Don't pinch, don't pinch, haha."

After half a month of separation, the two laughed. Long Eying's crescent eyes narrowed into slits. Her peripheral vision suddenly caught Wulong, who was squatting and panting with a silly smile. Her crescent eyes flattened into a line. She pressed down on the large hand that was pinching her butt, looking down: "Did you touch Wulong and not wash your hands?"

Liang Qu's gaze slanted.

"Eh, Lady, when were those wind chimes hung under the eaves over there? Quite good-looking, did you buy them?"

"Not bought, Cao Shixiong Lu sent them, saying they are to guard the house. Don't change the subject."

"Alas, it's a pity the Great Master can't move around easily and hasn't lived in our Prince's Mansion yet. When I have time, I'll submit a report to the top and let the Great Master come to Pingyang to lecture on scriptures. What do you think? By the way, where is Little Stone? Is he slacking off?"

"Of course it's good for the Great Master to come. Little Stone is practicing martial arts in the Martial Hall, being taught by Cao Shixiong Hu and Cao Shixiong Xiang. You keep changing the subject—"

Liang Qu was furious: "Is there only me in the whole Yixing who has touched Wulong? Why do you always chase after this Prince? Disliking me, right! I really have to deal with you!"

Long Eying pinched her thumb and index finger, forehead against forehead: "A little bit."

"Yi~"

Long Yao and Long Li leaned against the vermilion pillars, holding butter and making hissing sounds.

"What's wrong, what's wrong? Forgetting the well-digger after drinking the water, right?" Liang Qu put Eying down. "Who gave you the essence and blood to pull you to the Great Martial Artist?"

"It's the Master~" The two spoke in a tone. "Welcome the Master home, pay respects to the Master~"

"Hmph hmph, that's more like it."

"Then can the Master let us wash two fewer mattresses tomorrow?" Long Yao widened her eyes, pretending to be pitiful.

"Yes, yes." Long Li echoed.

"Cough, what are you talking about all day? I am cultivating diligently, okay."

"Yes, yes, yes."

It was only afternoon, and there were still arrangements. Long Eying's face was slightly red, she tidied her collar, and looked at the water beasts swimming on their backs in the pond: "Why don't I see A-Fei?"

"Delayed by some business with Frog Duke in the North Sea, said he's still busy." Liang Qu lay down again, eating ice cream in big mouthfuls.

"Then who will preside over the competition tomorrow?"

"Round Head, let Round Head go. Cao Shixiong Xu is enough to liven up the atmosphere."

3

In the pond, Round Head, holding butter, received the task, its fins topping its forehead.

After becoming a King, it was rare to return home. After finishing the ice cream, Liang Qu had Mother Zhang lead the kitchen maid team to prepare dishes, making a banquet for the evening to entertain guests. He seized the time to look over the festival process in various places, checking for omissions. The festival would start tomorrow, and the streets and alleys of Yixing territory were already crowded with people, making him look forward to the next day's favorability even more. Only after the sect members gathered in the evening could he be considered completely settled.

At the hour of the boar (21:00-23:00), people settled down.

Water flowed, rolling foam in the wooden tub.

The bathhouse was steaming with thick fog. Long Eying combed her hair, poured water on herself, and the door opened in response.

The water mist disturbed, revealing a figure.

Midnight.

"Change a little, change a little, just a little, the first layer is enough—"

"Ha~ ha~ How about going to the pond? I planted broad-belly grass, otherwise those two girls will say again—"

The broad-belly grass was filled with fragrant water, overflowing. Occasionally, sea angels glowing with fluorescence floated near, reflecting the broad belly like transparent jade. Suddenly, a palm pressed onto the belly wall, startling the sea angels away, returning to darkness.

The hour of the ox (01:00-03:00), the rooster crowed.

"Second layer, look at the dragon tail—"

The hour of the tiger (03:00-05:00), dawn.

"Is the third layer okay, bury it a little—"

The hour of the rabbit (05:00-07:00), sunrise.

"Master, Lady, get up! The sun is shining on your butts!"

"Coming, coming! Don't urge, don't urge, Eying, where are my clothes?"

Noon.

The cotton thread burned and broke, the copper ball fell, sounding crisp.

"Offer the livestock!"

The loud voice resounded through the pier.

【Sacrificing to the Huai River, River Favorability +20.4478】

【Ruling the Huai River, Seizing Favorability 2.4】

【River Ruling Degree: 2.4 (River Favorability: 47.8207)】

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