Chapter 1345: Radish Club (Happy New Year)

"Beep beep, beep beep, Left General, Left General!"

"Beep beep————"

The Sha River was turbid, the water waves deep and dim; two fish with long flowing whiskers, bellies pressed against the riverbed, swayed their tails and swam beneath the small boat, the bubbles they exhaled rising slowly.

"No way, bro, what are those two up there doing? Not catching fish, just splashing water early in the morning, yelling for half the day—scaring the fish to death. Got bubbles in your brain? 'Left General'—where would a 'Left General' come from around here? Is there anyone called that?"

"Dunno. Wait, maybe it's some kind of sacrifice? I heard humans enshrine their ancestors and throw things into the river. When someone dies, the parents and sons have to kneel and wail for half a day, calling out their father's and mother's names. Maybe his dad's name actually is 'Left General'."

"So that's it. By the way, have you heard? Recently, a big demon seems to have shown up nearby, wandering just outside our territory. The fishing squads are catching way fewer fish."

"How could that be? In the whole Yellow Shahe, who doesn't know this is the Great King's turf? Would an outside big demon dare wander around without presenting a tribute? Besides, our territory is huge—one big demon shows up and eats up all the nearby fish? It's just that fish don't grow much in winter; come spring, there'll be plenty."

"You, quit your wild guessing. Hurry up, move it! The Great King wants East Sea Golden Gong Fish; he can't eat without them. If we haven't found them by the time he wakes up, we're done for. Sigh, the East Sea is so far, who knows if we'll make it in time."

"It's all Old Hei's fault, not telling us sooner about the missing treasure fish————"

He had been calling for half a day, the oar in his hand nearly beaten to pieces; Rakshasa Sha called until his mouth was dry and tongue parched, but there wasn't the slightest response from beneath the Yellow Shahe.

"No reaction? Did I remember the signal wrong?"

"Impossible, my lord. Three short, one long, two short, two long, nine shallow, one deep, left left right right up up down down—can't be wrong. That's the exact rhythm from last time. Maybe the Left General is busy, not home? Could be he went out on some important business."

"Makes sense." Rakshasa Sha licked his lips, feeling the large pills in his bag. From Fish General's hint, he had rushed back to the Southern Frontier, then rushed back again, running nonstop between the two places for a whole month on his own two legs, without sleep or rest. Now that he couldn't summon the Left General, he genuinely felt a wave of exhaustion. "You keep splashing. I'm going to the cabin to sleep. Wake me if anything happens."

"Got it, my lord. Rest assured, I'll definitely shout the Left General out."

The subordinate guaranteed it, watched Rakshasa Sha duck into the cabin, and continued splashing the water in rhythm.

Rakshasa Sha folded his arms, lay on his side, and closed his eyes.

If the east isn't bright, the west will be.

On this trip back to the Southern Frontier, he had heard that Blackwater Tuying Ye's bribery plan was remarkably effective. Though there wasn't much progress on the Yellow Shahe, several Demon Kings in the East Sea had already agreed—enough to give Da Shun a headache. If things succeeded here as well, coordinating from inside and out to drag down Da Shun's plans, it would be a massive achievement. He might even seize the chance to advance further, obtain and refine the treasure medicine, and enter the ranks of the Five Gu and Nine Poisons!

Thinking of this.

Rakshasa Sha couldn't help but curl his lips into a smile, and listening to his subordinate's shouts at the bow, he quickly fell asleep.

"Beep beep, Left General, Left General————"

The Marsh Kingdom.

"Left General" rolled over, sleeping soundly with loud snores.

"Pop!"

The snot bubble burst. The fat fish scratched its belly, always feeling like it had forgotten something, like there was something it should have eaten but didn't. It lifted its head, looked around, found nothing amiss, lowered its head, smacked its lips, rolled over, and continued sleeping.

"If everyone agrees, let's swear brotherhood today. I'll split this half of the treasure medicine among you brothers. Also, everyone knows I'm tight with Da Shun. If any of you trust me as Big Brother, I can help get the Court's alchemists to refine pills for you—better effects. I'll cover the costs in between."

Outside the Marsh Kingdom, the treasure medicine floated in the water as the White Ape spoke generously.

"Just a verbal promise and we get it? No extra price?" The Crow King was tempted.

"Of course not————"

As expected!

The gathered Demon Kings knew pies don't fall from the sky; free lunches always come with demands.

But the White Ape's tone shifted: "Of course not—that's for other Demon Kings. A verbal promise won't do; what if they take it and run? But for you lot here, I have zero demands. Three reasons.

First, everyone gathered today came to help the Horse King. That alone makes you all people of loyalty and righteousness, unwilling to see the weak bullied. You just don't know the truth. The Whale King may be a bit blind to right and wrong, but humans have a saying: 'A monk may be a fool but can still be taught; a demon is a den of evil and will surely bring disaster!' Of course, 'this demon' isn't necessarily 'that demon.' The Whale King's heart is in the right place. I believe if other Demon Kings face trouble in the future, you'll all step up just the same."

The demons nodded incessantly.

The Whale King no longer wanted to bother arguing. He'd seen it—anything he did that left a handle, this white-haired monkey would harp on for a lifetime.

"Second, today we braved the Southern Frontier together. In human terms, we've shared a trench—comrades who've faced death together, battle brothers. What's there not to trust?"

"Third, you're all men of insight who understand mutual aid. You can see the pros and cons clearly. Would you be so shortsighted as to trade long-term gain for a quick profit?"

"Ape King, if I join, can I be a Great Sage?"

"More than enough!"

With things at this point, and the Swordfish King taking the lead.

The Crow King suddenly shouted: "Elder Brother speaks truth! I'll be a thorough Great Sage."

The Swordfish King said: "I'll be the Free-Flowing Great Sage."

The Horn Shark King said: "I'll be the Primordial Chaos Great Sage."

"Good, good, welcome, I welcome you all!"

"Second Brother, Third Brother!"

"Big Brother, Second Brother!"

"Hahaha, excellent, excellent, excellent."

The White Ape waved a big hand, presenting the treasure medicines one by one to the kings—generous and open-handed. Seeing that a few words could win such heavy gifts, the atmosphere grew even more heated.

Yet some Demon Kings still hesitated.

"The Ape King's proposal is good. The East Sea has strength but no clear organization, so we fight alone—strength we can't deploy, energy we can't release. However————"

"Banner King, whatever concerns you have, speak freely!"

"It's just... this brotherhood thing—I don't think it's necessary. One meeting and we call each other brother? That's really————I feel it's improper. If some demon does evil later, won't it drag everyone down for no reason?"

"Yeah, true, makes sense————"

"We really want to join, but the brotherhood thing————"

"No problem." The White Ape called out loudly. "Today's gathering is fate. No brotherhood, same benefits. You can be friends like the Swordfish King—no oath needed. But if you don't swear brotherhood yet want to join, we'll have to change the terms."

"What terms?"

"We need to establish an extra market on the border—or in the middle—of each Demon King's territory. Station spirits, set up shops, connect waterways, trade freely. You'll still get the big medicine. Don't worry, waterways can't be walked off with by a Demon King."

"Ah, this————"

The Banner King and the other Demon Kings exchanged glances, even more hesitant than before.

Liang Qu was surprised. What's going on?

Hai Fangzhu emerged, strolling out: "Rest assured, everyone, the market opening isn't my doing—it's the Jianghuai yao beasts, specifically the dragon people and dragon sturgeons; my octopus clan has nothing to do with it."

Upon saying this.

"Good! I agree, it's just the market opening! I'm joining!"

"I'm joining too."

Liang Qu suddenly recalled.

This group of yao kings were wary of the Whale Emperor!

The Whale Emperor wore one more white hat than the Whale King, the gold content entirely different; initially silent, but the entire group of yao kings were wary of Hai Fangzhu's experience.

Hah.

Bai Yuan coldly snorted, said nothing more—nothing but import turned export; in the end, Hai Fangzhu still bore responsibility, merely changing the guise, giving everyone room to save face, temporarily enduring; he personally distributed the Great Transformation Elixirs to the yao kings.

Two portions superior, four portions medium, eighteen portions inferior.

The quantity was so great that, averaged out, it equaled more than two portions per king.

Bai Yuan grasped the elixir: "Whale King, truly not coming?"

"Hmph." The Whale King coldly snorted, "Sworn brothers? On what basis do you acknowledge me as elder brother? If you're willing to let me be elder brother, I still————"

"Good! Elder brother, that's settled!" Bai Yuan slapped down a superior Great Transformation Elixir, turned to look at the newly acknowledged brother, "Quick, the Whale King agreed—everyone, shout elder brother!"

Hai Ya Wang was the first to rush forward: "Elder brother, second brother!"

"Elder brother!"

Whale King: "?"

Giving the Whale King no chance to refuse, Bai Yuan seized the Whale King's fish fin: "From today, Ping Tian Great Sage!"

"." The Whale King's heart leapt—he never expected Bai Yuan to be so unruly as to easily relinquish the elder brother position; having spoken, he directly took offense, "I dare not accept this name!"

"What's wrong with that? The Whale King stabbed his ribs for his brothers, not a faithless little fish—deserving of it!" Liang Qu again stuffed in a portion, two portions of the finest Great Transformation Elixir, all given to the Whale King.

"Oh dear."

The Whale King swallowed saliva; he originally didn't want to join, but the superior elixir was too tempting, and having spoken, he couldn't retract his words without losing face. Faced with several familiar yao kings all agreeing, he thought of sharing misfortune together, ended up half-reluctant, half-willing, truly becoming the "leading elder brother," but under strong insistence, changed his title to "Black Whale Great Sage."

A vague organizational framework gradually took shape.

Settled!

It was agreed to select a day to install waterways at each other's homes, and to decide on trading locations.

The kings acted on their own, self-styled, couldn't wait any longer, each dispersed, not long after, only the Hai Ya Wang and the Big and Small Horse Kings remained in the clan lands; Liang Qu waved his hand, letting Hai Ya Wang go first to await in Jianghuai.

The Small Horse King glared angrily, in his view, if it weren't for Hai Ya Wang selling out first, none of this would have happened!

"Whale King, what exactly do you want?" the Big Horse King drooped his head, spiritless, "We've done what we could, given what we should—don't push your luck."

"Hmph, push your luck—do you even deserve it? Truly think you have something worthy of my coming to extort? Rotten trash divine arts, how much effort, how many resources spent, same realm—likely not being strung up and beaten by other yao kings, no wonder eleventh level, two kings of one clan never participate in strife, mostly because fighting exposes flaws, even seventh and eighth level can't beat them!"

"You!" His divine arts belittled to nothing, the Small Horse King's hair stood on end with rage.

"What me? What me? Have I said wrong? The more greedy for life and fearful of death, the more likely to truly die at critical moments—the Eight-Armed King is a prior example! Still relying on dragon phase, overestimating oneself!"

Eight-Armed King!

The Big and Small Horse Kings' pupils dilated.

Everyone said the Eight-Armed King died in seclusion—could the adulterer and adulteress rumor be true?

Liang Qu said no more, picked through the elixirs, selected four Great Transformation Elixirs, six elixirs, actually throwing back the bribes from Nanjiang previously given by the two kings.

The Big and Small Horse Kings stared wide-eyed, unaware of the reason.

"Take it—this lord rewards you two; in a few years, when your cultivation becomes more formidable, this lord ascends immortality, having a twelve or thirteenth level, barely able to come pull this lord's cart, hahaha!"

True void suddenly appeared, water flow reversed.

Bai Yuan laughed loudly to the heavens, arrogantly departed.

The Big and Small Horse Kings held the Great Transformation Elixirs in hand, looked at each other.

For some reason, Bai Yuan's belittling and contempt of them instead made them less tense in heart.

"Elder brother? What exactly is this monkey thinking? He returned things to us?" the Small Horse King incredulous, then followed by a shame from extreme humiliation.

Shouldn't it be them being caught with a handle, then Bai Yuan extracting marrow, sucking bones, draining all value?

They exhausted their schemes, obtained the elixirs, in Bai Yuan's hands————

The Big Horse King stored the elixir properly: "No matter how one thinks, it's good for us—hurry and invite the third brother back, urgent matter is to shift positions————"

"Four elixirs, twenty times the root sea."

Bai Yuan beat his chest and stamped his feet.

"Forget it—two yao kings, later will be three, value higher than four Great Transformation Elixirs! Correct, just like this."

Absolutely cannot, having grasped another's handle, become complacent; on the contrary, the more one grasps another's handle, the more one must interact cautiously.

No one wishes someone to ride on their head—not even the Flood Dragon King, likely all less desiring Bai Yuan's disappearance from this world than the current Big Horse King!

The Flood Dragon King is contention, the Horse Mare clan is loss, invasion mostly belligerent men, defending homeland yet even women and children can take up steel forks—the latter's resistance stronger than the former's.

The Flood Dragon King still weighs, judges opportunity size, while this existence of being caught with a handle, given opportunity, will go to seize; to smoothly, long-utilize, cannot drink poison to quench thirst, drain the pond to fish.

Therefore, the more disdain shown, the less concern for the Horse Mare's existence, the Big and Small Horse Kings instead feel their interests preserved, resistance thoughts greatly reduced.

Defend resistance high and endure if able to endure—these two are originally one body; at this time, treating as normal subordinates to command, radish and club, plus various mindsets, not long, the Horse Mare clan will thoroughly sink, not sink, not sink—【115】 "How come this sounds so strange————"

"How does that sound so strange—"

"Haha hai, Water Lord! You've finally returned, old minister sees you on southern campaign, together with Tortoise King defending the great marsh, petty scoundrels dare not offend—alas, Tortoise King's vigilance lacking, didn't wait for Water Lord's return before leaving, later Hai Ya Wang came, saying Water Lord ordered, but no token, I directly pressed this brat down with one claw, still dared to return fire with horse gun————"

Jianghuai Great Marsh entrance, Shoushan burst through cloud mist, mountain up mountain spirits mountain cries sea tsunami, Old Yuan blocked the entrance, turtle claw pressing down on the splashing Hai Ya Wang, shouting loudly, words not finished.

Bai Yuan performed a 【Water Journey Thousand Li】, actually directly detoured around General Yuan, entered the great marsh, ran back to Dragon Palace!

"，Water Lord! Hey, trying to renege on debt?"

Old Yuan cursed silently, hurriedly loosened the turtle claw, slapped the Hai Ya Wang away, stroked water forward.

The duck in hand can't fly away.

The King of Haixia felt dizzy and looked up to the sky with a long sigh.

"I'm really stupid, really — "

Dragon Palace, Bai Yuan leapt and flashed into the palace, scattering the precious medicines.

"Long Yanrui, these few portions of precious medicine are to be sent to the West Water Turtle King, just say — "

"Hahaha gua, Liang Qing! This lord has arrived!"

Webbed feet treading water, a spherical object spun three thousand six hundred degrees in midair, stirring up a water spout.

Liang Qu's teeth ached; he could dodge the Elemental General, but not the old toad, and he squeezed out a smile.

"Toad Lord, happy New Year, what a coincidence — I was just about to send you a gift."

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