Chapter 339: Welcoming the King

The night was deep and heavy.

Chishan trotted back to camp on iron-shod hooves.

Liang Qu stepped back into his tent, and someone beside him pulled back the curtain, voice laced with teasing.

"Back to join the fun?"

Liang Qu recognized the voice as Ran Ran Zhongxi's; before he could answer, Xiang Fang Su also pulled back the curtain from another tent.

"Liang Ashui, last time you made such a huge spectacle at Yixing Town's sacrifice, even summoning three spirit beasts—then you went out of your way to light a fire in Huazhu County. What's the secret? Tell us."

Liang Qu shrugged: "You didn't grow up by the water—you wouldn't understand the meaning. Honestly, doing this feels great."

Xiang Fang Su raised an eyebrow: "Really?"

"Why would I lie? Being chief priest is just like being a general. Tomorrow I'll ask if other places are sending royal boats—want to come try?"

"Really that amazing?"

Xiang Fang Su stepped out of his tent; Liang Qu's words had made his fingers itch.

Who hasn't dreamed of being a general? Could they really be the same?

Ran Ran Zhongxi shook his head, ending the banter: "I'm warning you two—the imperial court will arrive in a few days. Rewards will be given, punishments handed out. Stay alert, don't wander off, don't break protocol."

Liang Qu knew someone must have warned them ahead of time—it was standard procedure.

"Finally! I can't stand this tent anymore—it's stuffy and damp."

Xiang Fang Su stretched, exhaling stale air.

The Huazhu County matters were mostly settled; the rest could be handled by the underlings. But they couldn't leave.

Who would dare return to Pingyang County before the court issued official orders?

"Hey, by the way—how are Lu Kaiyun and the others? Did anyone come to notify them? Any rumors?"

Ran Ran Zhongxi said: "Wei Lin and the boss had their salaries cut for three months. Lu Kaiyun and Ren Yipeng were dismissed. Yu Yu Dayi was demoted."

Xiang Fang Su stared, dumbfounded: "Wait, they really got fired? So Lu Kaiyun and the others won't come to the River Office anymore?"

"I don't know," Ran Ran Zhongxi shook his head. "It depends on Lu Kaiyun's choice—if they return in a few days, things might still turn around."

"What about Liang Ashui?"

"There'll be a reward, but I don't know the details. A promotion is unlikely."

"The River Office must bear responsibility for the dike breach, and Liang Ashui's still young—I guess it'll be a major merit reward plus an elixir. Maybe no major merit, but one choice-of-merit right. Liang Ashui's about to condense true qi Gang, right?"

Liang Qu nodded.

Ran Ran Zhongxi snapped his fingers: "Then it's almost certainly the choice-of-merit right! A good martial art greatly affects true qi Gang."

"But the choice-of-merit right isn't useful—Liang Ashui uses a spear, right? I've seen your spear technique—it's top-tier."

Liang Qu shook his head: "My martial art is incomplete—only the first half exists. The second half is lost."

"Then the choice-of-merit right matters a lot. If you're lucky, the court might help you find the second half?"

"Hope so."

The hallmark of the Wolf Smoke realm is condensing true qi Gang; the quality of true qi Gang directly affects a martial master's strength.

If someone excels in grappling, they'll naturally infuse their martial intent into their true qi Gang, trying to cultivate an avian form—like the famed Peng Demon True Qi Gang.

Only middle-rank or higher martial arts can condense martial intent, but success rates vary.

Hence, the advantage of high-rank martial arts becomes clear: steady cultivation almost guarantees a specific true qi Gang.

But Liang Qu wasn't in a hurry.

He had his own plan for his true qi Gang —even possibly one unrelated to any martial art.

After a brief chat, the three returned to their tents.

Liang Qu sat on his bed and communed with Ze Ding, checking tonight's harvest.

【Master: Liang Qu】

【Refined Ze Spirit: Ze Rong (Blue) (Fusion: 52.6%)】

【River Favor: 1.0178】

0.0177 favor,

The combined population of several villages barely matched that of the old Yixing Town—all ordinary people.

Barely satisfactory.

After all, I didn't lift a finger—just lit a fire. Effectively free.

"I wonder if the dragon will react?"

During his first sacrifice, the favor he gained was even less—and the dragon remained silent.

Probably too little to notice. Last time, things got big—the entire Huai River pulsed with deep malice.

Clearly panicked.

This time, it's in between…

Once might be coincidence. Twice? The dragon might go mad.

"Next time, send Fat Catfish to probe the toad's gossip…"

…

The next two days.

Liang Qu wandered around and unexpectedly discovered two more places sending royal boats.

Their auspicious dates didn't match—wonder if they hired the same Taoist.

Two sacrifices in one day left Liang Qu stretched too thin.

He assigned the smaller one to Xiang Fang Su, then personally lit the second fire—another 0.0098 favor added.

Favor rose to 1.0276.

Like free money.

That night, Xiang Fang Su returned from lighting the fire, face flushed, still exhilarated.

That feeling—every eye fixed on you, solemn atmosphere, the vast, boundless heavens and earth, a single flame consuming the vast paper boat, watching it sink into the riverbed…

"It's really satisfying!"

Ran Ran Zhongxi stared in disbelief: "Wait, you're serious?"

He'd always found ancestral rites exhausting and tedious—could anyone truly enjoy them?

Xiang Fang Su sighed: "Too bad the paper boats aren't sturdy enough—all poor villages. Imagine if they used wooden boats—I heard rich towns use wooden ones, they burn longer."

"Wooden boats take longer to build. By the time you're ready, it'll be late October."

Xiang Fang Su pondered: "No wonder Liang Ashui paid out of pocket to organize the River God sacrifice."

Liang Qu urged: "If you want, put up some silver—I can organize another one this winter in Yixing Town."

Xiang Fang Su blinked: "You can do that?"

"I call the shots in Yixing Town."

Xiang Fang Su nodded in agreement, said nothing to argue—but hesitated: "Won't that burden the people?"

"If you don't pay, it doesn't burden them. In winter, people have no work—joining the sacrifice means a full meal. How's that a burden?"

"Can a hundred taels cover it?"

Xiang Fang Su loved the feeling—but spending too much felt wasteful.

"A hundred taels buys a hundred shi of rice—plenty."

"You two are ridiculous!"

Ran Ran Zhongxi shook his head, pulled back the curtain, and returned to his tent, leaving Liang Qu and Xiang Fang Su to discuss.

Third morning.

The entire camp erupted in noise and commotion.

Liang Qu remembered Ran Ran Zhongxi's warning.

Sure enough, Chen Jie rushed over to announce: "The emissary is coming—Liang Qu, step out to greet them."

At the first hour of Chen, everyone lined up at the camp entrance.

Liang Qu scanned the crowd, preparing to slip into the line.

"Liang Qu, come forward!"

Xu Xu Yue waved from the front.

Liang Qu looked around, ignored the many stares, and took his place behind Xu Xu Yue.

Wei Shao stood behind Wei Lin; seeing Liang Qu beside him, he nodded—unprecedentedly.

Liang Qu scratched his temple, faced north, eyes down, heart still.

Early October—the sun warmed the skin slightly.

Not long waited—two columns appeared on the horizon, racing toward camp, kicking up thick dust.

The flag-bearers ahead waved banners, snapping loudly, then spurred their horses left and right, forming a long line and planting flags into the earth.

The lead man cracked his whip and cried out.

The green-robed emissary dismounted, holding the imperial decree.

Everyone knelt on one knee.

The emissary unrolled the scroll bearing the words "By the Mandate of Heaven," stepped forward three paces.

"By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees:

To establish sincerity for the people's sake, to protect the people is to safeguard the nation… We have heard of the dike breach…"

After a long recitation, the crowd finally heard the rewards and punishments.

Everyone's expressions turned tense as one familiar name after another was called out.

"Wei Lin… suspend salary for three months…"

"Xu Xu Yuelong… suspend salary for three months…"

"Lu Lu Kaiyun… dismissed from office…"

"Ren Ren Yipeng… dismissed from office…"

"Liang Qu has rendered meritorious service in flood control and captured the chief culprit; awarded one Yuanqiao Great Elixir, one choice of superior cultivation technique, two major merits within the Heposuo, and one thousand taels of silver."

"Wei Shao has rendered meritorious service in flood control, devoted himself wholeheartedly; awarded…"

"…

"By imperial decree, this is hereby issued."

The imperial envoy carefully put away the Mandate of Heaven, but did not immediately allow everyone to rise.

He glanced around, then suddenly spoke.

"May I ask, which one among you is Liang Qu, the Liang Official of the Heposuo?"

Me?

Liang Qu froze, then bowed his head: "This humble servant is he. What command does Your Excellency have for me?"

The envoy observed for a moment; seeing no one deny it, he solemnly said: "His Majesty the Emperor has a verbal edict specifically for you, Official Liang."

A verbal edict?

Everyone was stunned.

Why would a verbal edict be given solely to Liang Qu?

Clouds drifted across the sky, dimming and brightening intermittently.

The envoy cleared his throat, his expression grave, his tone solemn.

"Build bridges, construct canals—strive with all your might."