Chapter 1281

The toad arrived riding on a fish, just as Qu was taking off his clothes to rest, embracing his wife for sleep. Hearing that the Toad Lord had eloped to the Yellow Sands, he rejoiced greatly, not even bothering to put on his shoes, barefoot he went out to meet him. From afar he saw the toad, clapped his hands and laughed with delight.

"Your talent surpasses the present age, while your conduct follows the ancient toads! National Master, emerging with webbed feet, truly you attack without failure, win without defeat! With the Toad Lord in Jianghuai, it is indeed the fortune of Jianghuai, the fortune of the water beasts of Jianghuai!"

"I do not claim to be able, I merely wish to learn, which way, which way."

"National Master."

"Liang Qing!"

"National Master, we revere and love you!"

The countersign matched.

One man, one toad, singing in response, eyes locked, sincere and earnest.

The already-sleeping Da He Li was summoned, tidied his fur, dragged out a wooden board, seemingly infected lately by the Yu Prefecture accent, mumbling dazedly, gnawing out "We revere and love you, nin."

Otters leapt out one after another, arriving on the deck, continuously somersaulting, stacking into an otter tower, taking the wooden plaque, carrying it all the way to the top, shaking it vigorously.

The atmosphere was in place, the emotions already brewed.

Liang Qu stood barefoot, revealing anticipation: "Toad Lord, having been apart for over a month, returning today, I do not know — "

"Exactly!" The old toad immediately took off his waist pouch of heaven and earth, rummaging vigorously, "The Northern Sea silver sink and Profound Dark Cold Jade have already been found, that one billion loss, quickly make it up, must not delay further — "

A faint light floated at the bag's mouth, Liang Qu's pupils dilated, even after having repeatedly let the old toad's treasure-finding ability refresh his cognition, confirming the treasures were flawless, he still could not help it, his excited heart, trembling hand.

Really got it!

Over a thousand taels of silver, twenty million!

If this money truly came from the accounts, it would inevitably hurt the territory's muscles and bones.

The items are already within Dashun territory, not fearing flight, Liang Qu shifted his gaze, raised his hand to stop: "Not urgent, though these two treasures are heavy, they are not as important as the National Master's safe return. Tonight the heat is fierce, the scorching summer hard to bear, the National Master has campaigned in the Northern Sea, traveled far and wide, toiled for Jianghuai's prosperity, truly not easy, quickly board the ship, blow on the ice platform to cool off first.

Otter otter open! Set up the feast, lay out the wine, take out the golden carp tail the Dragon Carp Elder sent me last month, Third Prince! Give the National Master a massage, Jin Mao King! Boil water, to welcome and cleanse the National Master! And Ah Fei, right, Ah Fei? Why hasn't he come back?

Looking left and right.

Liang Qu's robe corner was suddenly tugged by something, he lowered his gaze, indeed saw a large black demon point a finger at himself, his steps halted, his smile faded, his eyes showed suspicion.

"You are — Ah Fei?"

The large black demon nodded repeatedly, its signature long whiskers dancing.

Through the mental link, repeatedly observed, confirmed the link's light point and the position below completely coincided —

Liang Qu sucked in a breath of cold air, the surrounding air temperature rose a notch.

Big package on small package, the bulge on the head piled up like a stupa, both eyes swollen and bruised, just like the frog's bulging eyes. In the dark night, Ah Fei's back was also dark blue, further blurring the outline's edge. At first Liang Qu thought it was some large frog carrying the old toad —

"What happened, to let someone beat you like this? National Master, who exactly did this? Dare to lay hands on our Dragon Palace's toad, defying heaven?" Liang Qu hastily summoned the "Bu Neng Dong" from Qing Gong Wan in charge of greening.

"It is the Three Honored Jade Qilin of the Northern Sea!" The old toad fumed, leaping up and down, sternly accusing, "This rotten qilin, actually hid my lord's treasure in his own home, personally guarding it, truly sinister!"

"What? The Northern Sea demon king so vicious? Hid the National Master's treasure?" Liang Qu startled and lost color, "The Jade Qilin is truly cunning, Toad Lord, quickly tell from the beginning, I will condemn it well for you!"

Long Eying: " — "

Never mind, habit becomes nature.

White mist spread, frost froze.

A temporary lounge was built on the deck, freezing ice gathered into walls, the old toad sat down heavily, shifted a little, sighed long and short, temporarily tolerating the harem's eavesdropping.

The fat fish also jumped in, the cold seat greatly eased the pain on his wound, his whole body immediately relaxed, melted like cream, he raised his whiskers, pointed connectedly, letting the Third Prince massage him, letting Otter Open go make ice cream, letting the Monkey King hold up his injured tail so it does not touch the ground.

Priority treatment for the wounded, meritorious wounded get even better treatment.

With the gods beside, all water beasts dare not disobey, even the Third Prince dares to be angry but not speak, honestly spitting white mist, forming a group of small lip dragons pounding shoulders for massage, asking about pressure.

This is the toad's life!

When the old toad and the fat fish, these two noisy fellows, returned, the entire treasure ship was awakened, as if chickens flew and dogs jumped, everyone, every beast busied themselves.

Just as "Bu Neng Dong" was summoned, climbing aboard the ship, the fat fish's spirit lifted, his whiskers pointed at his own buttocks, he lay down and rushed straight at "Bu Neng Dong".

"Bu Neng Dong" sneezed, nostrils exhaling rough air, under the urging of the fat fish shaking his buttocks, slowly stepped forward, aimed at the large black buttocks and spat green mist.

Merely "Bu Neng Dong" spitting mist is not enough for recovery, Liang Qu again took out a small bottle, silvery-white liquid flowing, exactly the 【Dew Droplet】 obtained from Ah Wei, had the Gold Fur Monkey King serving meals apply it to Ah Fei, then personally poured watermelon juice for the old toad, 【Disruptive Flow】 entered bubbles, listening to the old toad accuse the Jade Qilin's sinister nature, all along the perilous journey.

After gulping a mouthful of watermelon juice, feeling the bubbly tingling on the tongue tip, the old toad's frog skin unfolded all over, he narrated leisurely.

As it turns out, the so-called Profound Dark Cold Jade is precisely the associated ore vein of the Northern Sea Three Honored, the Jade Qilin!

As a demon king, long-term prostrate on the land, will transform the environment, the strong have associated ores, the Jade Qilin's associated ore is "Profound Jade", and combined with the unique frigid environment where the Qilin King's Hall is located, part of the Profound Jade essence will grow and change into "Profound Cold Jade", if within it is further mixed with pure earth vein yin qi, it may possibly grow into the essence of essences, Profound Dark Cold Jade!

Because the earth vein yin qi is thread by thread, thus the Profound Dark Cold Jade grown has, but it is very difficult to become a whole large block, mostly measured in taels, the largest no more than fist-sized or head-sized, a few hundred catties, this is already quite rare, let alone a whole block two chi square.

"It is actually an associated ore!"

Liang Qu secretly sighed at the extraordinary origin of the Profound Dark Cold Jade.

Two chi square, that is a cube with edge length over sixty centimeters, even ordinary rock would weigh half a ton to one ton, one thousand to two thousand catties, the density of Profound Dark Cold Jade is not surprising, but it is also mostly over five thousand catties.

Moreover, in my impression, the qilin is similarly an auspicious beast, avoids evil and seeks good, its ability to ward off calamity is strong.

Could it be that meeting an opponent in chess, encountering talent in generalship?

"How did the Toad Lord find it? Could it be he went to the mine cave, let the Jade Qilin discover, Ah Fei was caught, letting the demon beat him?"

"Where in the mine cave would there be such a large block of Profound Dark Cold Jade, if there were, the demons would have long dug it away and hidden it, it is the Jade Qilin's pillow, he inlaid such a one chi three cun block on his pillow." The old toad opened both arms, gestured the size, then rummaged in his heaven and earth pouch.

Bang!

In speech.

A whole piece of polished Profound Dark Cold Jade fell to the ground, the surrounding floor lightly trembled.

Estimated at three chi one cun, neither more nor less.

Liang Qu: " — "

Long Eying:

The old toad complained: "That Jade Qilin, using my lord's treasure as a pillow, himself sleeping all day, how could he get webbed feet? My lord thought it over, only able to use a feint east strike west method, first scare the grass to startle the qilin, draw the qilin out of the cave, then emerge with webbed feet — "

Profound Dark Cold Jade, whole body like ink jade, completely opposite to the milky white of normal Profound Jade, the edge position seems to still carry small gaps from not being pried open well.

That is, the demon king purified himself, with no trace of greasy odor.

He yanked the pillow from under the person who was sleeping and brought it back————

It's literally the story of 《The Thief Shows Off His Skills》 and 《The Red String Steals the Box》 coming to life!

Scratching his fingernail against the edge, feeling the rebound on the gap, Liang Qu took a deep breath: "The more intelligent and prosperous one is, the broader their words; the more talented one is, the farther their knowledge reaches. Sir Frog, what great talent! With a national preceptor in Jianghuai, prosperity advances day by day."

"Ribbit ribbit ribbit!"

His belly puffed out.

The old toad raised his head to the sky and let out a long ribbit.

Long Eying, however, weighed her worries: "The elder startled the grass and scared the qilin—surely he succeeded, but isn't this exposing A Fei? Will the Jade Qilin come knocking later, thus forming a grudge?"

"Bang!"

Tea water splashed and spilled.

The old toad waved his webbed feet and slapped the table, shouting loudly: "Are you teaching me how to do things? Bold! Allowing you, a mere woman, to listen in is already an extra favor. When a true man discusses matters, how could you have a say? Want to interfere in politics, stir up chaos?"

Timid as a mouse, with mouse-eyed shortsightedness, alarmist and sensationalist! Come if you must—this lord will raise his arm and call, and the Jianghuai demon kings will dare not disobey; even the demon chiefs of Peng Ze must heed my command. Want wind? Get wind. Want rain? Get rain. Fear the Northern Sea Jade Qilin? Not a chance—let alone that I also serve as Chief Clerk of the Great Order, and even the Great Order Emperor must grant me face!

"Cough, Sir Frog, don't be angry—Eying is also thinking of us." Tea water nearly spurted from his nostrils as Liang Qu pinched his small hand, soothing Long Eying: "We Jianghuai water beasts, united against outsiders, truly need not fear the Northern Sea King. But what if, in the future, we collude with the flood dragon faction, pollute ourselves, and all rise up to attack us?"

"Two webbed feet cannot match four claws; better to do less than more, steady one part, strengthen one part. Now is precisely the time for our Jianghuai water beasts to strive with vigor and govern well—we must not seek grand achievements recklessly."

The Jade Qilin is a top-tier demon king of the Northern Sea, ranking among the foremost in the world. Moreover, unlike the flood dragon who consumed the divine ability seed given by Liang Qu, it suffers no special suppression, so its full power is unleashed. In battle, the outcome remains truly uncertain.

Having Sir Frog act was originally meant to save money—yet if we provoke a grudge, it would be pure stealing chickens without even getting the rice.

However, stealing treasure might provoke a grudge, but the old toad provoking a grudge seems unlikely?

The old toad furrowed his brow: "Jianghuai lies in ruins, awaiting revival—what Liang Qing said is not without reason————"

At this very moment.

All this time, the fat fish had kept its whiskers upright, secretly eavesdropping. Sensing the opportunity had arrived, it flipped over, placed the ice cream basin into the tray held aloft by the Third Prince, then slid down the ice chair, waving its long whiskers folded ninety degrees, to reassure the heavens and the organization.

"Oh no!"

The Third Prince secretly thought it was bad, clutched the tray, bit its edge, and kicked repeatedly with his hind legs.

This dead fatso—again seeking merit!

As expected.

The two long whiskers swept wildly in unison.

A heavy bomb plunged into the pond.

"You say you diverted the disaster water to the flood dragon?" Liang Qu nearly jumped up.

The fat fish nodded vigorously.

The crowd fell silent.

The old toad stared wide-eyed: "What?"

Liang Qu was deeply shaken twice in one day.

Such a chamber pot—could it really be pinned on the flood dragon's head?

"How————was this done?"

The fat fish cupped his belly and began to speak slowly.

To cooperate with Sir Frog's feint east, strike west, the grand plan to lure the qilin away from the mountain, it had no choice but to pretend to steal the supreme treasure, be captured by the Jade Qilin's great demon underlings, endure the harshest interrogation, challenging both physiological and psychological limits.

But as the most loyal warrior of the heavens, having endured countless trials, the most talented legless frog of Jianghuai, the frog king's half-brother by different mothers—whether branded with hot iron, shocked by electricity, whipped—it felt no fear.

For fish, there is one death—either heavier than Mount Tai or lighter than a feather; the purpose pursued differs accordingly.

Its ferocious fangs fear no death, only fear death that is utterly useless, death that is utterly worthless!

The golden-haired monkey bringing tea had eyes gleaming, hastily pulling out his personal notebook and the charcoal stick taken from the kitchen, diligently recording fine phrases and sentences.

Human words, human speech.

Study.

Must study.

After parting with General Yuan, turning to follow the Monkey King, indeed it became broader and more open, the position treatment favorable, salary ample—but alas, the competition here is truly too fierce: otter otter, fat fish, Third Prince, hedgehog, Jiang Tun,

Da He Li————Eight Immortals crossing the sea, each displaying their powers, relying solely on family ties, one cannot secure a good post.

The pen tip rubbed, charcoal ash falling sparsely.

Liang Qu looked at the fat fish's head wound, embarrassed to let him speak directly, seeing the long discourse still not reaching the point, he simply asked directly for the key.

"A Fei, how did you make the Jade Qilin believe it was the flood dragon who wanted the Xuanming Cold Jade?"

The long whiskers danced.

A Fei felt pleased.

Long ago, on the Jiang Cang River of Southern Ling, the flood dragon had the White Ape use the charm fruit to forcibly break the water flow, but the flood dragon was unwilling, secretly gathering materials, intending to craft a container to temporarily hold the charm fruit, preparing a second assault on the Jianghuai Water Lord's position. It listed all three materials, and the Jade Qilin, on the spot, calculated with his claws—sure enough, they mutually restrained the charm fruit.

Not a single sparrow chirped.

The Third Prince widened his dragon eyes.

Could this really be a lucky mistake?

Liang Qu gathered his thoughts: "Then————what is your identity?"

A Fei felt pleased again.

He was originally the famed Black Whirlwind under the flood dragon, the spineless porpoise, the great poet fish—every fish in Jianghuai knew him, every fish was familiar with him. After the flood dragon's defeat, he couldn't retreat in time, so he followed most Jianghuai water beasts in surrendering to the White Ape, but in truth, he was enduring humiliation and bearing burdens as a flood dragon undercover agent, lurking beside the White Ape, intending to rebel against the monkey and restore the flood dragon. The evidence? After surrendering, he never composed a single poem for the White Ape!

Until recently, when he reconnected with the main force and received again the task of finding container materials, he departed Jianghuai under the pretext of writing poetry inspired by the wind, arriving at the Northern Sea.

Liang Qu murmured, speechless.

Matched.

All matched!

The process was somewhat dangerous, admittedly; if the Flood Dragon and the Jade Qilin were in contact, the lie would be exposed. But Old Toad's side showed no reaction.

Indicating that it seemed, should, possibly really succeeded?

A long while.

"A Fei! You have talent! Recording a merit for you!"

"Bind bind bind."

The Third Prince kicked increasingly violently, like beating a gong.

The fat fish was ashamed; its fins scratched its head, and it revealed another major matter — it might now count as the Jade Qilin's spy.

Long Eying, Liang Qu, Old Toad, and the Third Prince all leaned back in unison.

The Golden-Haired Monkey King wrote furiously with a charcoal pencil, brought paper bearing the words "Distinguish Loyal from Treacherous, Execute Spies" to center stage, and waved it vigorously.

"How was this done again?" Liang Qu pressed down on the Monkey King's head, shocked on top of shock.

Long whiskers danced again.

After the Jade Qilin caught it, it said it had betrayed the Flood Dragon and could not go back, wanted to defect to the Jade Qilin, and showed off its unique skill at fighting corruption. The Jade Qilin said it would consider, but needed to wait and investigate whether things were truly as it said; only afterward contact failed, Frog Lord followed the original plan, directly took the Profound Nether Cold Jade, then infiltrated the prison and released it; seeing an opportunity, it hurriedly escaped.

Perhaps it counts as — half a spy?

Qilin King Hall.

Frost-white grand hall, the Jade Qilin sat on the throne, no wind no current, long whiskers moving on their own.

Qi Ji and Qi Chuan, one left one right, knelt on one knee.

On the left, Qi Ji said: "Great King, we two beasts went to Huaijiang to investigate; everything that black fatty said is true, it really served under the Flood Dragon, was a famous great poet-fish in the Jianghuai Great Marsh, later when White Ape took over it defected to White Ape, and furthermore composed not a single poem!"

On the right, Qi Chuan added in rebuttal: "I don't think this fish is sincerely surrendering; otherwise, how to explain the fact that it spoke of defecting but actually fled in secret? And Great King's Profound Nether Cold Jade is also lost!

Even conceding ten thousand steps, even if it truly wants to defect, such a three-surnamed slave cannot be trusted! Great King, think thrice!"

Qi Ji shook his head: "Cannot beat them all dead with one stick; at any rate it is an Upper Realm great demon, we don't have many under our command, fish talent is rare, even if untrustworthy, not necessarily unusable, I feel we can still give it a chance, see if it is willing to return on its own."

"Oh?" Qi Chuan sneered, "Your meaning: it fled, yet will return on its own?"

On the throne, the Jade Qilin raised a claw; Qi Chuan instantly fell silent.

Seeing this, Qi Ji seized the chance to speak: "Great King, I think perhaps the escape and theft were not its true intention."

"How so?"

"Relying on it alone, a fish, trapped in prison, facing a dragnet, logically it could not escape the dungeon; is it possible the Flood Dragon sent more than one batch of minions, used that black fatty as a sacrificial pawn, deliberately feinted east to strike west, and afterward found an opportunity to rescue it?

If the black fatty can run back on its own, that would prove it was taking advantage of the situation to return at the time; then perhaps it could serve as a triple spy, an even greater help to us! Adding another assist to Great King's schemes —"

"Heaven spirits, earth spirits, water spirits, Supreme Old Frog quickly manifest, quickly manifest!"

Old Toad stuck firebird feathers on its head, smeared camouflage, vigorously shook its turtle shell, hopped left and right, ran on the deck, and finally threw hard.

Clatter.

Golden copper coins scattered.

—

Spun for half a moment, stuck to the deck.

Four upright, two reversed.

Liang Qu had already learned not to look at the so-called divination signs, directly asking Old Toad.

"Frog Lord, how is it?"

"Small Auspicious! Can go!"