Chapter 1279

"Ah, I've only been back half a month, why am I leaving again, being ordered around like this—damn it, ruining my cultivation, disturbing my Dao-heart! When I return, I'll hang him up for a day and whip him eight hundred times, eight hundred times!"

Li Xianghan fell backward, looking up at the sky, kicking her little legs, gritting her teeth.

On the desk, light and shadow flickered; the gray mouse knelt on one knee, facing the yellow mouse, presenting the oiled leather whip; the yellow mouse received it with both paws, loosening and tightening, making the air whip, crackling with sound. With a swing of its big paw, the gray mouse pulled the rope, the white mouse stealing malt sugar was bound at the wrists, slowly hoisted onto the dragon gate frame, begging bitterly.

The long whip danced wildly, the mice shrieked.

Chirping and chattering, a lively little theater, vivid and colorful, Li Xianghan couldn't help but laugh, her anger instantly gone.

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

Dragging on for a year, the rewards from the Insect Valley Festival finally arrived.

One superior-grade long qi, one medium-grade long qi, but how to transfer it to Liang Qu?

It's not a matter of whether the reward can be decided upon.

As a member of Qinggu Valley, Li Xianghan's daily transactions and social interactions all take place within Qinggu Valley; the circulation of such a resource as long qi is highly scrutinized, linked to entering Zhen Xiang, so converting it to great medicine would certainly prioritize internal trade. External trade would inevitably raise questions about one's whereabouts—once a leak occurs, wouldn't it be exposed?

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

"Ah, so troublesome, let the Huai King think about it!"

Crows flew, rabbits ran, the earth's qi rose, the wheat by the riverbank grew ever more golden.

The old farmers of Yuzhou sat and lay on the field ridges, counting the days, waiting for this year's harvest.

Wheat in the "grouting stage" goes from green to yellow-green, during which it needs more watering; how well it's handled determines the abundance of the first half-year's harvest: wheat in the wax-ripe stage is basically all yellow, with a few leaves tinged green, the stalks still elastic.

Finally, at the yellow-ripe stage, the entire plant is yellow, the stalks completely inelastic; at this point it's fully ripe, most plump, yet harvesting is already too late. Because it's overripe, it easily sheds grain, letting birds steal it—commonly said, "ten parts ripe, one part lost," which is actually worse than harvesting at the wax-ripe stage.

These three stages are crowded into less than a month, occurring in succession; experienced farmers must stare wide-eyed every day, watching the last trace of green fade from the wheat, counting the days, racing against time.

When the day arrives, the whole family mobilizes.

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

If the neighborhood atmosphere is good, they help each other; if the atmosphere is bad—

"Boom—rumble—rumble."

Heavenly thunder shook and surged, as if divine punishment, accompanied by violent trembling; the blocked silt surged open violently, the Yellow Dragon roared eastward, and all the people cheered.

The immeasurably majestic body collided with the riverbank, squeezing out splashing beautiful waves, rainbows appearing in the sky.

By the riverbank, the damp silt was pushed into small hills, then gradually leveled out; villagers rushed forward to shoulder poles, transporting this mud blessed by the river god.

After signing the contract with the Qinghe Public Works, the great transformation of the submerged river began, formally entering the track, mighty and grand.

Liang Qu also succeeded in racing ahead of June 5th, scouring sand for a thousand li.

Downstream a thousand li of the yellow sand river at Qinggong Bay, it became entirely flat and open!

"How strange, in earlier years when the Heposuo served as the River Earl, it wasn't this busy—at least they rested every ten days; now they only rest three days a month, and even need advance notice—wait, it's almost the same—"

Liang Qu calculated on his fingers, putting away the leave memorial submitted from the capital.

Through the mental link, he summoned Chishan to come over, taking advantage of the last gap, he made a request to the South Director.

"The upcoming deployment of the Heposuo mainly involves continuing to observe downstream conditions, restraining water and scouring sand; inevitably, excess silt will be scoured downstream—if any place suffers silt blockage and dike breach, it will surely become a disaster.

Furthermore, we should early on spread the news of the imperial court's water control efforts, and communicate with the aquatic beasts in the river, to avoid conflict, lest land and water fall into discord, stir up contradictions, invite deliberate retaliation, and we would be the ones to suffer—also bad for subsequent influence."

"Your Highness, rest assured, these Heposuo have always been consistent in this regard."

"Be more meticulous, there will be no mistake. By the way, sacrificial rites that harm the people and waste wealth are not limited to human sacrifices; even if it's slaughtering pigs and sheep, if you can persuade, do so; if you can avoid, do so."

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

The South Director took notes with his brush.

The common people will not, due to the popularization of information about the Four Gates and Seven Paths realm, reduce their sacrifices and worship of the river god; on the contrary, they will become more convinced, more fervent.

The so-called god is merely one who received investiture from humans, coming from ancestors.

The Four Gates and Seven Paths—is it not mortals entering the Dao, cultivating to become immortals?

Famous mountains and grand views everywhere, a hundred-year-old Daoist priest with healthy bones is enough to astonish people, let alone a true infant dragon martial sage with the power to move mountains and fill the seas appearing before one's eyes.

Worshipping the god is essentially to seek fulfillment, to seek external help to change one's predetermined life; the more bitter the suffering, the greater the need for this.

If you do not cultivate, you see me as a frog in a well gazing at the moon in the sky.

If you cultivate, you see me as a tiny ant seeing the blue sky.

Moreover, the more one practices martial arts, the more one feels Zhen Xiang and the infant dragon are unattainably lofty, the more one regards them as gods—unless someone close by, step by step, witnesses the path they came from.

"Left!"

Crimson clouds filled the sky.

The Huai King strode onto the Bai Yu Palace, mighty and grand, heading southward.

The South Director dispatched officials to take over the造化 treasure ship, lest it be looted by bandits.

Incense smoke curled gently.

"I don't know how the situation is at the丹坊—eating them one by one is still too slow."

Liang Qu sat cross-legged in the quiet room, again taking a portion of造化 treasure medicine worth half a peerless merit, swallowed it; now he is nearly doing everything in parallel, single-minded and dual-use, daily scouring sand while digesting medicinal effects, striving to digest all resources as quickly as possible.

Remaining peerless merit: eight and a half.

Four hundred twenty-five倍根海, stirring up waves!

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

Several items, advanced one by one.

"By the way, A Fei hasn't come back yet?"

Liang Qu's heart leapt, he began to miss his capable minister and clerk.

Immediately holding the river god祭, needing the "Overwhelming Wave Child" to appear as the abbot for this year's competition—unfortunately, the timing when he thought of it was inconvenient; the medicinal power surged upward, he hastily glanced at the mental link's position, confirmed A Fei was roughly unharmed, Liang Qu gathered his mind, circulated his qi, and cultivated.

With the Frog Lord, one can always turn misfortune into fortune.

Cultivation first.

North Sea.

The water flows dimly, frost covers everything, on the jade-white great pillar of the Qilin King's Hall, iron chains lie horizontally, the green light characters flash on and off, squeezing out rings of rolling flesh.

Two qilin beasts transformed into human form, waving long whips, occasionally greeting with iron fists.

"Confess or not, confess or not, still dare not come to the Qilin King's Hall, dare not come to steal things?"

The fat fish has a blue nose and swollen face, its belly rippling, eyes swollen shut into a slit, seeing nothing, only able to see the two qilin claws, hearing the threatening voice, feeling the delay is almost over, hurriedly calls out, no longer daring.

It confesses, it confesses everything.

Seeing this, the qilin beast turns and clasps fists.

"Your Majesty! It says it is willing to confess!"

—

The jade qilin sits high on the throne, elegance revealing vigor, azure light flowing over its jade-white scales, exhaling long breaths from mouth and nose, disturbing the water flow, the jade qilin steps stair by stair, walks to the fat fish, gazes for half a day, yet cannot discern what species this mass is.

"At least you are a great demon of the upper realm, yet you do nothing but steal chickens and dogs, which beast taught you? This seat pities your hard cultivation, otherwise you would have been slain long ago; having said that, who sent you here, why did you sneak into the Qilin King's Hall? As long as you honestly confess, this seat will spare your life!"

The subordinate translates for the fat fish, the fat fish strains to open its eyes, feigning weakness, buying time while thoughts collide, seeking a breakthrough, just as the jade qilin grows impatient, a flash of inspiration jumps into its mind, it mutters two phrases.

The jade qilin did not hear clearly, even if it heard clearly it would not understand the Mandarin of Great Shun, turns to look at the subordinate.

The subordinate immediately leans in, lets the fat fish repeat, then pupils dilate, shocked and dismayed.

"What expression? Who is it?" the jade qilin presses.

"Reply, Your Majesty, this fellow says it was sent by the Jiaolong clan!"

"Jianghuai, no, the East Sea Jiaolong?"

"Your Majesty, it says exactly so."

The jade qilin frowns.

Jiaolong seized the Dragon Palace, later expelled by the White Ape, a major event known throughout the world, even though it rarely leaves its doors, it has heard of it, coming to the North Sea to steal treasure?

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

The fat fish continues to mutter, the subordinate continues translating, the more they listen, the more shocked they become.

"Your Majesty, it says it is the spineless porpoise, belonging to the Jiaolong clan, once a famous great poet fish of Jianghuai, a talented fish, Black Whirlwind, the left and right arm of Jiaolong, after Jiaolong's military defeat, it went to the East Sea, it also lay low in silence, until recently, re-established contact, letting it come to steal treasure, whether true or false, a little inquiry will reveal."

"It can compose poetry?" the jade qilin is even more astonished, "What poetry?"

"Speak! What poetry!" the subordinate waves the long whip in the air, drawing out a vacuum.

The fat fish swells its eyes, raises its voice by three degrees.

"Holding pearls, bathing in iron, facing the Divine Land, scales and mane brilliantly moving the jade tower.

Midnight fire comes, knowing there is an enemy, for a moment all unite to guard the Jianghuai marshes!"

"The Mystic Pool rises at night, recognizing spiritual traces, though the true form is not yet revealed, the aura is already heavy.

Nine abysses lie hidden for a thousand years of jade, five-colored light condenses the wind of ten thousand ravines.

Occasionally going to the human world to bring rain news————"

Silence.

A string of verses bursts forth, with nose and eyes, truly seeming as if Jianghuai had produced a great poet fish, except its body is round and fat, lacking half the air of a "literary fish".

A moment.

"Hmph, the water demon king from outside waters knows no rules!" the jade qilin fears no Jiaolong, "Come beast, go to the East Sea and Jianghuai to investigate, see if it is true or false, Qi Ji, Qi Chuan, you take this fellow and lock it up first!"

"Yes!"

All water beasts busy interrogating Ah Fat.

In the unnoticed corner, two webbed claws pry open the hall's door, heft the Qiankun bag.

"Huhuhaha! Huhuhaha!"

The Bai Yu Palace collapses into smoke, monkey troops surge down from the Heavenly Palace, climbing beams and pillars, leaping onto the walls, crawling along the roof ridges, issuing calls, all the way startling foolish chickens and wild cats.

The otters somersault into the Wang Fu, left and right reconnaissance, exchanging glances, reporting one by one.

Safe!

In an instant, the Wang Fu becomes extraordinarily lively.

"Finally back!"

Home is the native land good, the moon is the native land bright.

Liang Qu embraces the great hound Wulong, laughing heartily while rubbing the dog's head well.

At the moment of stepping into the courtyard, all the travel fatigue is swept away, looking at carved beams and painted pillars, looking at the courtyard broadened severalfold, looking at the jujube trees stretching branches to greet, the Wang Fu of the dragon people coming and going, he feels incomparable relief.

A flourishing glory!

Since the Wang Fu was completed, he has never properly lived at home.

The entire new Huai Wang Fu now covers over a hundred mu, the side one-third crescent-shaped water area encircles, the Heavenly Envoy roams, waterfalls flow down, lotuses bloom in full, sharing equally with the blue-eyed snail, peach trees lush and verdant, the wooden bathhouse stands alone as a more private small courtyard.

The household values refinement over multitude, not that kind of crowded hundred mu with piles of maids and servants piecing together several courtyards, but truly spacious, standing in the courtyard, one does not feel the eaves blocking the view.

Moreover, there is a large horse stable behind, raising dozens of extraordinary steeds, all bestowed by the imperial court, Fan Xinglai cannot attend to them all, Liang Qu directly allocates their usage rights to the Martial Hall, also hires three Martial Hall disciples, as daily tasks, to supply the Martial Hall's activities, incidentally solving the fodder problem, Chishan, upon landing, heads straight there.

Indeed.

Great is good, great is beautiful.

The design of Li Zonggong is always on point.

Compared to the original five or six mu of the great house, it is more expansive, more magnificent, fully displaying dignity.

After working several lifetimes, can one live in such a horse ranch?

The water beasts rush into the pond, the Third Prince dances in low flight.

"Welcome the King home!" the hedgehog runs out from inside, hanging a string of spirit fruits, slaps away the reaching monkey paw, rushes to Liang Qu's face, lifts its buttocks, "King, your north-south travels must have left you thirsty, quickly enjoy these excellent spirit fruits, all picked this morning."

The Third Prince hovers in midair, embraces dragon claws, stares at the hedgehog.

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

"Hmph!"

The Third Prince tossed his head arrogantly, mist forming into a claw, plucked a peach, and in a flash peeled its skin, presenting it to Liang Qu.

"Big Brother, eat fruit, all freshly picked this morning."

"Hahaha, not bad." Liang Qu took a bite of the peach, looked around the room, craning his neck, "Where's Eying? Not at home?"

"The Wang Fei has gone to the Dragon Palace, has not returned today; reckoning the time, she should be back soon."

"Tomorrow is the River God Festival; how are the arrangements?"

Liang Qu fell backward, and the corner's 【Vine Soldiers】 flew over like tumbleweeds, gently catching Liang Qu, spreading out into a reclining chair, motionless.

"With the Great King's demonstration, this year everything is naturally within the plan; the Wang Fei has also added two major events from the Qiuqu Clan and the Da He Li Clan." The hedgehog handed over the booklet pages.

"Oh?" Liang Qu flipped through the pages, his eyes lighting up, "A forging competition? This idea works, but———

It lacks a soul, a soul to enliven the entire forging atmosphere."

"Please, Great King, instruct."

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

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

"I won't do it; my coming is too serious. Yi Xing's greatest feature is the mixing of humans and beasts, making others feel novelty and interest. Ta Ta Kai!"

!

Ta Ta Kai came flipping over with a somersault.

"Just let Ta Ta Kai test the knives; it just so happens he's friends with General Manager Li, so he can chop some specially made bamboo, or dead pork and the like, to increase visual stimulation. Remember to shout 'Yi Wo Q' at the end."

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

"No particular meaning; it's just that everything must give people a memory point — it can be a scene, or a phrase — to help spread it. Precisely because it has no meaning, people will be curious, and it might become a sensation."

"Understood! Great King, great talent!"

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

"Qiuqu storage boxes———not bad, Eying has fifty percent of my ability now.

"Only fifty percent?"

"Ha!" Figure flashing, Liang Qu cupped Eying's buttocks, lifting her off the ground, gathering her fully into his embrace, "Half a month apart, how has Madam become even more beautiful?"

"Oh~" Long Eying let herself be held, half a head taller, elbow resting on Liang Qu's shoulder propping her chin, "Was the previous me not as beautiful as the current me?"

"You've become mischievous, that's what."

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

Long separated half a month, the two frolicked; Long Eying's eyes were crescent moons, but her peripheral vision suddenly caught sight of the Wulong squatting to the side, tongue out, grinning foolishly; the crescents narrowed into a line, she pressed down on the big hand groping chaotically on her buttocks, looking down: "Did you just touch Wulong and not wash your hands?"

Liang Qu's gaze slanted.

"Eh, Madam, when did that wind chime get hung under the eaves over there? It looks strange and pretty; was it bought?"

"Not bought; Senior Brother Lu gave it, said to guard the residence; don't change the subject."

"Ah, a pity; the Grand Master cannot move about freely, hasn't stayed at our Wang Fu yet; when I have time I'll file a report upward, have the Grand Master come to Pingyang to lecture on a sutra; what do you think? By the way, how's Little Stone? Any slacking off?"

"Grand Master coming is naturally good; Little Stone is practicing martial arts at the Wu Hall, Senior Brother Hu and Senior Brother Xiang are teaching; you keep changing the subject———"

Liang Qu flew into a rage: "In all of Yi Xing, am I the only one who's touched Wulong? Why do you keep chasing after this King and not letting go? Despising me, are you! Really going to discipline you!"

Long Eying pinched thumb and forefinger, forehead against forehead: "Just a tiny bit."

"Eh~"

Long Yao and Long Li leaned against the vermilion pillars, holding dairy curd, making shushing sounds.

"What what? Eat your fill and forget the well-digger, huh?" Liang Qu set Eying down, "Who gave you essence blood, pulling you up to Grand Martial Master?"

"It was Father~" The two put on affected tones, "Respectfully welcoming Father home, paying respects to Father~"

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

"Then can Father let us wash two fewer sets of bedding tomorrow?" Long Yao widened her eyes, feigning pitifulness.

"Yeah yeah." Long Li chimed in.

"Cough, talking nonsense all day; your Father I cultivate bitterly, okay."

"Yes yes yes."

It was only afternoon, still had arrangements; Long Eying's face was slightly red, she tidied her collar, looked at the pond full of backstroking water beasts: "How come I don't see A Fei?"

"He and Frog Grandfather have some business in the North Sea delaying them; said they're still busy." Liang Qu lay back down, eating ice cream in big mouthfuls.

"Then who will preside over the competition tomorrow?"

"Yuan Tou, let Yuan Tou go; with Senior Brother Xu there, livening the atmosphere is enough.

3

In the pond, Yuan Tou holding dairy curd received the task, fin touching forehead corner.

Became King, rare to return home once; after eating ice cream, Liang Qu had Zhang Da Niang lead the kitchen squad to prepare dishes, make a banquet table, entertain guests in the evening; himself seizing time, reviewing the festival process overall everywhere, plugging gaps and making up deficiencies; the festival starts tomorrow; the streets and alleys of the territory Yi Xing are already packed with people, making him all the more anticipate tomorrow's attention degree; in the evening the sect gathers once, only then counting as completely settled.

Hai hour, people settled.

Water flushing, foam rolled out in the wooden tub.

Inside the bathhouse, thick mist steamed and rolled; Long Eying had coiled her hair, pouring water over herself; the door opened in response.

Water mist disturbed, a figure intermittently visible.

Zi hour, midnight.

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

"Ha~ha~ why not go to the pond? I planted Broad-Belly Grass; otherwise tomorrow those two girls will say———"

Broad-Belly Grass stored full of fragrant water liquid, brimming and overflowing; occasionally glowing Sea Angels floated near, reflecting against the Broad-Belly, like transparent jadeite; suddenly, a palm pressed against the belly wall, startling away the Sea Angels, returning to darkness.

Cockcrow at the hour of the ox.

"Second layer, let's see the dragon's tail — "

Dawn at the hour of the tiger.

"Can the third layer be done? Bury it a bit — "

Sunrise at the hour of the rabbit.

"Master, Lady, wake up! The sun is shining on your butt!"

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

Noon.

The cotton thread burned through, the copper ball fell to the ground, making a clear sound.

"Offer the sacrifice!"

A loud voice echoed across the dock.

【Ritual offering to Huaijiang, river favor degree +20.4478】

【Dominion over Huaijiang, seizing favor 2.4】

【River dominion degree: 2.4 (river favor degree: 47.8207)】

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