Chapter 1301: Merfolk Tears, Ten Thousand

"You go deliver it."

"You go deliver it!"

"I'm not going."

"If you're not going, I'm not going either. Whoever wants to go can go."

"Then who goes? Some fish has to go. How about drawing lots? You draw the short one, the long one."

"Short tail, has a scar!"

"Here."

Bian Ye and Bian Mu held their tails straight up, their fleshy fins tightly curled on both sides as if embracing two spears. Shadows stretched out, slowly emerging from above the two fishes' heads, descending right over them. The two fishes suddenly realized, turned around, and stepped aside with smiles.

Liang Qu crossed his arms, suspended in the water, the waves beneath his feet like visible steps, rippling out ring after ring of shimmering light: "How come it's you two again? Sneaking around, what's the matter that can't be said openly and aboveboard?"

Bian Ye understood perfectly, looked left and right, rubbed his fleshy fins together, and respectfully presented the treasure box with both hands: "The great, respected, mighty,

wise Huai King, this is a thank-you gift from our King to you."

Liang Qu didn't reach out, his hands tucked in his sleeves, looking down from above, half his face in shadow: "What thank-you gift? Thanking me for what? Inexplicable."

Bian Ye was baffled: "Thanking you for the suggestion you made————"

Bian Mu had a flash of inspiration, his short tail whipped against Bian Ye's forehead, knocking him into a somersault: "Not a thank-you gift, not a thank-you gift, it's still an apology gift. Since that day, our King deeply feels the Huai King's magnanimity, moved beyond words, tossing and turning at night. Early yesterday morning, he specially ordered us two fishes to deliver another gift, only the Huai King hasn't come out for a long time————"

"I see, so it's an apology after all." Liang Qu suddenly smiled, "Why didn't you say so earlier? You didn't say it early, just now it was all a mess, wouldn't be good if it was given by mistake."

"Yes yes yes."

Reaching out to take the treasure box, Liang Qu examined the precious wood grain against the sunlight, then gently wiped it, and then pulled open a narrow crack. Medicinal fragrance permeated, sensing the surging Qi of the great medicines inside.

Hm.

Inferior-grade Creation Great Medicines.

One come one go, they actually directly took out three portions.

What ordinary Demon King has this kind of strength?

Traveling far and wide, truly generous.

Closing the lid, Liang Qu took out a small booklet from his waist, right in front of "Short Tail" and "Has a Scar", used his fingernail to cross out one line: "Good treasures, truly hard to refuse such generosity. You say apologizing with so much, making me feel quite embarrassed. Regardless, thank the King for me. I'm a person who doesn't hold grudges, no need to send anything. Driving away the Hai Fangzhu, malicious slander, gathering the Octopus King and such, I've never taken those things to heart."

Bian Ye and Bian Mu looked at each other, faces blank, forcing out laughs, not daring to ask what Liang Qu recorded in his little booklet, what he crossed out.

"Should be, should be."

"When free, let the King come to the Greater Jianghuai Marsh more often, definitely treat you to a meal. Our rivers, lakes, and seas are one family. The Flood Dragon's sun sets in the west, nearing its end, the bell tolls and the water clock runs dry; the Bai Yuan rises slowly, full of vigor, thriving day by day.

I once heard, the Flood Dragon left Jianghuai for the East Sea, still ate well, but sat with the snake, and in a moment excreted three times. We should make our choice early, embrace a brand new future, a beautiful life, mutual exchange, is perfectly normal."

"Yes yes yes, if our King agrees, also please Huai King take more care of our sea merchant business."

The two skate fishes nodded repeatedly.

Just minor demons, can't decide anything, at most pass a message. Liang Qu chatted a couple sentences, lost interest, waved his hand. Bian Ye and Bian Mu, as if granted amnesty, flapped their fleshy fins, and flew out gracefully from the reef shoal.

"A bit interesting————"

Liang Qu pondered.

Many gifts, fish not to blame. Originally the Fresh Fish King was in his little notebook, now can temporarily be crossed out, watch and observe later.

But the key point of the problem isn't here.

Hai Fangzhu withdrew from the sea merchants, led by the Merfolk King, very resolute. Although there was the reason of Hai Fangzhu reaching into the Southern Frontier, violating the merchants' neutrality principle, Liang Qu always believed the Merfolk King and the Whale Emperor had some connection closer than ordinary Demon Kings, should have received hints. In that case, they shouldn't be "apologizing."

But as the Merfolk King's partner, the Skate King apologized. That shows this guy isn't very "on the ball," hasn't clarified his stance.

From this view, the Fresh King and Hai Fangzhu are clearly a notch inferior, especially the King.

Because the King hasn't been in office long?

Hai Fangzhu killed the Octopus King, front to back ten years. The King kicked out Hai Fangzhu, less than three years.

The previous sea merchant Octopus King, would it know more, have closer ties?

Hai Fangzhu wasn't the Octopus King's first wife eaten, but the third. In terms of merchant years, longer than this current Merfolk King. Is it possible, in terms of contact level, Octopus King greater than Merfolk King greater than Hai Fangzhu and the King?

Thinking here, Liang Qu's heart jumped.

Because this means, his early collusion with Hai Fangzhu to poison his own husband, might have been noticed by the Whale Emperor since then. Although the river's favor was on them, Bai Yuan and Flood Dragon clashed very early, but the first time a Yao Dragon fell, and it was a related Yao Dragon, this weight is extraordinary!

The Octopus King had Hai Fangzhu make it into a ritual, don't know if some information can be obtained from the ritual————

"Count it as on the ball, take it one step at a time."

Seaweed swayed.

Can't return to Jianghuai for now, overthinking useless, wild thoughts will only aggravate one's own fear, fear will make one blunder repeatedly.

Have a mouthful of rice, eat a mouthful of dish, fill the belly one fraction at a time.

With the news of Authority Returning to Transformation, the Marsh Spirit and his own cultivation path became increasingly clear.

Stuffing the treasure box into the Qiankun Bag, Liang Qu casually weighed it in his hand. A full three portions of Creation Great Medicines, two portions for impacting the Root Sea, one for impacting Divine Ability, quite exactly matching needs. Moreover, the current Sea Merchant Assembly is a good opportunity for exchange.

If luck is good before the year, might be able to reach six hundred even.

Previously pursuing a thousandfold Root Sea was for self-cultivating a Position Fruit. Now it's no longer simply that. Liang Qu also needs to plan insurance for a certain trump card of his.

This trip to the East Sea, harvest quite abundant!

Whoosh.

Figure vanished, appeared in a void gap.

Sea water surged in, back-rolling into chaotic foam flowers.

"Master, just now I still saw you, how come in a blink you're gone again? Where did you run off to?" Wen Wen Shi Yun topped a big bubble, leaped out from the crowd, hopping and jumping. Then suddenly braked hard, dodging the white sea snake that darted out from in front of her.

"Saw something good, did a little business." Liang Qu grabbed the sea snake, smoothed it straight from the head, threw it aside.

"Pfft! Just now I saw two manta rays pop out, one with a scar, one with a short tail. Was it them? Master bought something good, split half when we meet."

"Not a chance. That's not a manta ray, it's a skate. Manta rays eat plankton."

"Ah, it's all the same, like a plate."

"Skate is tastier than ray; I heard the flying skate in skate tastes like beef brisket, and it's all cartilage, so it's very crisp when eaten."

"Really?" Su Gusha came over.

Wen Wen Shi Yun was enthusiastic: "Still, there's a bit of a difference, Master. Find a chance to catch one and try it!"

"No rush. If we get a chance to catch, let's eat lobster first!" Liang Qu spread out the map, "I asked Yun Bo for a map. There's a rocky beach next to Yun Tian Palace, full of lobsters, all hiding in the rocks. The smallest is as long as a forearm, and the big ones are as big as a person!"

"This is good, that is good too! I hate peeling shrimp, and shelled shrimp isn't fresh."

Starlight and moonlight shone, the black sea tide lashed the shore, small streams washed over pebbles, squeezing out dense foam that submerged Bai Xi's foot backs.

Long Yao, Long Li, Han Yujie and others spread their arms like birds, barefoot walking on the beach.

"Crackle."

The campfire licked the bluish-gray shell, making it gradually turn red.

Two people long, half a person tall, the giant lobster lay on the ground, its head and body shell making it hard to clean, revealing translucent lobster meat and golden lobster brains.

The Golden Haired Monkey King waved the green wolf, slicing strips of lobster meat along the grain, placing them on the heated shell to roast; the transparent meat quickly turned white.

—

The otter adeptly grabbed bottles and jars, like a gambling god shaking dice, before anyone could see clearly, a puff of pepper powder scattered down, then waving the iron shovel, swinging back and forth, cutting into uniform strips just right for one bite, holding them with a single paw, it presented them to Xu Shi.

The Third Prince Wuhu let out a cry and dove down, snatching two strips of lobster meat.

The old toad grabbed a handful and stuffed it into his mouth.

Lobster shells burned outside, and two otters took lobster meat, pounding it with stone pestles into minced meat, shaping it into balls, dropping them into boiling water to tumble, then ladling on broth, sprinkling with shrimp bits and purple laver.

"Hu!" Su Gusha took a sip of hot soup, oil on his lips, in winter he opened his mouth and exhaled rolling white mist, "Comfortable! The lobster meat from the East Sea is fresh and sweet."

"If Uncle likes it, eat more; chances to eat fresh lobster in the East Sea don't come often."

"Hey, I'm afraid if I let loose my appetite, this won't be enough for you."

"Then don't worry; if it's not enough, I'll dive into the sea right away to catch more—today there's nothing else, but the East Sea lobsters will surely suffice!"

Just as a pair of chopsticks picked up a meat strip, Liang Qu plopped down beside them, opened his mouth, spread his hands, Long Eying laughed as she sat in his embrace, took the lobster meat, and fed it to him.

Hot oil mixed with salt and lobster sweetness exploded, all kinds of chatter mingled, all pressure vanished in this moment, even toes stretched out.

What Whale King?

Now, peeking from above, one still has to follow along with greedy eyes!

Life, after all, is about finding leisure in busyness.

Here, feasting heartily, harmonious and joyful, tranquil and refined.

On the other side, in the Huangsha River, clatter clatter, grand construction, smoke and dust rising.

The fat fish tied its double whiskers in a knot on its own head, pinned a "struggle" cloth strip, spat out the yellow sand in its mouth, occasionally bearing double fins, swimming out to supervise work, coming near the fist, eyebrows raised, pointing and finger, on the spot picking out over a hundred flaws, righteously canceling tonight's dinner, making it work overtime. The fist raged, taking advantage of the fat fish swimming past inattentively, aimed direction, and clamped a pincer on its buttocks.

Blood smoke drifted.

Boom—

Black mist spewed, furious dragon coiled, stone giant crab rose, one claw one leg, deathly gripping.

"Ah, disputes, beginning!" The blue fish demon sighed.

Midnight.

The fat fish rubbed and pulled open a half-foot gap in its buttocks, undid the cloth strip on its forehead, confirmed no fish noticed, sneaked to the waterfront, dug out, arrived at the East Sea.

"Beep beep! Beep beep!"

Called all day.

The black viper slithered out slowly, exhaling air currents.

Enemy fish met, eyes especially red.

Formerly, the Black Whirlwind took its forward canyon position; already irreconcilable, after withdrawing from Jianghuai, I thought I'd completely shaken it off, never expecting twists and turns, until today, it still has to send it undercover funds!

Hateful!

Detestable!

Pitiful!

If not for relying only on a few spirit monster razorbacks to relay messages unreliably, following the Ling Scale order to the death, obtaining real contact in Jianghuai once, arranging tasks, it wouldn't want to come!

When the fat fish saw fish, it liked it, snatched the bag, counted the tail number, then weighed the weight, frowned, and pointed at the black viper's nostrils.

The black viper couldn't dodge left or right, furious, lashed its long whiskers: "I didn't steal! You sent razorbacks to the East Sea to find us; we only spoke of quantity, when did we ever mention weight? A difference of three taels isn't abnormal—how could you be so nitpicky a fish?"

The fat fish suspicious, scanned up and down, spotted the treasure box in the black viper's bag, eyes widened.

You've been messing around all day, you little brat, you ate the kickback from the Flood Long Wang's gift to me!

"Bold! This is what the Skate King gave the Flood Long Wang; when did it become yours? Divine Grand Medicine, can you bear it?"

The fat fish slapped its fin on chest: "Surely the Flood Long Wang saw I have demon king bearing and gave it in advance!"

"Hah!" The black viper sneered, turned and walked away.

The fat fish immediately blocked, demanding the black viper explain cause and effect, otherwise not letting it go.

"Scatter fins!"

"If you can't say it, don't scatter!"

"Bold!"

Pa pa pa!

Long whiskers and snake tail fiercely clashed, you come I go.

Finally the black viper's tail ached, could bear no more: "Our snake clan has no waterways, relying solely on one tail to swim, also resting and recuperating, keeping low profile—where would we get so many snake tails? I was ordered to pay homage to the Whale King, and also trade with sea merchants; the middle king gave it, I came back on the way, then to send you provisions! Swimming that much water, am I not tired? Don't think sending treasure fish is easy for me, you who take treasure fish find it simple————"

"Ah~" Long Eying one hand holding chopsticks, one hand receiving, preventing oil from dripping on clothes, gestured Liang Qu to open his mouth, suddenly saw his expression freeze, curious, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

Craning his neck slightly, Liang Qu swallowed the shrimp ball with his chopsticks pursed, and fished out the little notebook from his waist.

Long Eying bit the end of her chopsticks and leaned over to look.

"How come you crossed it out and then recorded it again?"

"Turns out he's a two-faced opportunist! A fence-sitter! A sycophant! He actually sent two portions! And I was saying he was on the level!"

The Fat Fish stretched its neck, watching the Black Li swim away flicking its tail, and hurriedly asked the Heavenly God whether to do away with the other party and snatch back the Great Creation Elixir.

"Forget it, no need to lose the big picture over a trifle; it's just one portion of inferior Great Creation Elixir — more would be nice, but less doesn't matter either."

Liang Qu refused.

However you put it, the other party was returning after paying homage to the Whale Emperor.

That was a Crucible; there was no logic saying nothing would happen on the spot, but once they left his one-acre-three-fen plot of land, there would be no problem whatsoever — what face is that? Even a local tyrant isn't that weak. Even on the way back, nothing could be allowed to happen; otherwise, wouldn't that be slapping the Whale Emperor's face?

When someone bought a large shipment of goods in his own fief, Liang Qu even had to send people to escort them.

Cultivated for thousands of years, a junior paid homage to him and then got robbed on the way back — has his reputation faded or what?

Unless they were spirits or great spirits, those ignorant fellows with no insight, standard cluelessness, wouldn't even realize it was an offense.

Having safety guarantees — that is the fundamental reason the Sea Merchants Association prospers.

"Haha, settled, settled! Hehehe~"

After hearing the report from the two little brothers Bian Ye and Bian Mu, the Skate King was overjoyed, spinning around like fallen leaves dancing in the wind.

The Flood Long Wang, the Ape King, the Huai King — all three kings accepted its gifts, delighted.

The Huai King was greedy, sure, but one isn't afraid of his greed, only afraid he won't be greedy.

As long as it's something that can be resolved with treasured fish, it's not a problem at all.

With the Whale Emperor's tacit approval, the Mermaid King's invitation, the Sea Fangzhu, the Bai Yuan King, and the Huai King resolving their grievances — a momentary loss, future blessings.

What do you call being smooth on all eight sides!

Doing business, how could one make enemies?

The Eight-Clawed King is a cautionary tale; a female fish, he fancied her so he let her go, anyway she was already on her third husband, the fourth was right behind, he wasn't some loyal and steadfast husband either, wasn't he just coveting the Sea Fangzhu's beautiful body? Might as well seize the chance to sell at a good price; did he have to forcibly keep her and let her be killed off?

The Sea Fangzhu is also stubborn to a fault, insisting on running to the Southern Frontier to save the Bai Yuan, breaking the principle of neutrality; the male fish died so just find another young and vigorous one, does she think only her Bai Yuan has exceptional talent?

Sigh, all troubles caused by love and romance.

"Hehehe~ I really am a genius at business; the Whale Emperor should have let me handle things long ago — the Sea Fangzhu, the Eight-Clawed King, the Mermaid King, none compare to me! Hehehe———— Bring fish, bring up the little beauties traded from the North Sea a couple days ago, perform a dance!"

"Yes, Great King!"

【Water Marsh Essence +2741】

【Water Marsh Essence +2541】

【Water Marsh Essence +2499】

【Water Marsh Essence +5,420,000】

"Hualahuala."

Still sugar-roasted chestnuts, still Han Su following along, palm cupping the flawed Mermaid Tears.

"Prince Huai, this is the last batch of Mermaid Tears; counting today's, minus the flawed ones, the total has already exceeded ten thousand, which should be enough for the Great Hunt."

"Oh, the last batch?" Liang Qu turned his head.

"Yes."

"Is that so————"

Liang Qu lingered reluctantly, stir-fried two extra handfuls in the last box, and only then withdrew his hand.

In seven days, he and Yun Bo and several Cloud Giants formulated the framework and details of the Great Hunt; during this period, Mermaid Tears were delivered to him in successive waves.

Each wave, as few as five hundred, as many as six hundred.

Cultivating until now, the acquisition of Water Marsh Essence had never been this satisfying, this fast, this full.

Suddenly losing the supply, he really wasn't too used to it.

When it comes down to it, this wasn't a Fledgling Dragon-level harvest, but a Crucible-level one — borrowing the Whale Emperor's Crucible tiger skin, pulling a big banner, an astonishing achievement siphoned from the East Sea!

Glancing at the Marsh Cauldron.

The cauldron contains depths and marshes.

【Water Marsh Essence: 32,790,000】

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