Chapter 363: True Dragons Emerge from Shallow Waters (4k)

Liang Qu's heart stirred.

The imperial court's officials, when hunting treasure fish, surely have better methods than rural peasants.

At the very least, they use good nets—treasure fish go in but never come out, unlike fishermen who constantly drag them through the water.

The only question is, if I enter the deep water zone, will the dragon spirit detect me?

"How deep is the deep water zone?"

Xu Xu Yue opened his five fingers: "At least five hundred li—one trip takes seven or eight days, a full ten days. If you can endure the ship, have enough supplies, and possess sufficient skill, it's even possible to last half a month. Where you fish and how much you catch depends entirely on the crew's own ability."

"The most capable can sail to the center of the Great Marsh and hook up that dragon spirit—boil its flesh into soup and no one will stop you. But the captain bears full responsibility for the crew. If he neglects his duties and leads the team into certain death, once discovered, he'll be dealt with under military law."

"Then how much is the profit share?"

"Not yet determined," Ran Ran Zhongxi answered. "The river office at Xishui Lake takes one and a half percent; the Chizhou Prefecture on the northern edge of the Jianghuai Great Marsh takes two percent."

Each water region differs—danger and opportunity vary. Profit share depends on specifics: more danger, fewer fish, higher share; less danger, more fish, lower share.

So for the first few months, we'll record all profits and temporarily assign a one percent share. After several trips, once the river office has fully assessed the conditions, we'll set a precise figure and compensate for those initial trial months."

Liang Qu asked: "What about Wei Lin?"

Ran Ran Zhongxi said: "Same everywhere. Live off the land, live off the water. Farmers do it, martial cultivators do too. Forming fishing fleets isn't our invention—all river offices across the land do the same."

But in the first half-year, we're newcomers, short on manpower, with shallow roots. Many deep harbors remain unopened, and we lack enough martial cultivators—so even if we catch treasure fish, we can't sell them at good prices."

Right now, I'm busy finalizing supply agreements with multiple merchant guilds. The largest one you've met—the Tianbo Merchant Guild."

Policy implementation requires a foundation.

In the far northwest interior, there simply won't be any river offices.

Locals there know only the Demon Pursuit Office, not river offices.

Conversely, near the great marshes and lakes, river offices wield far greater authority than the Demon Pursuit Office.

Entering the deep water zone to fish isn't Xu Xu Yue's sudden idea.

Every river office has planned development strategies for the Great Marsh; forming fishing fleets is the most basic step.

Fishing treasure fish in the deep water zone combines official production and official sales with official production and merchant sales.

Pingyang County hasn't developed enough. Before the prefecture's shadow takes root, its foundation is too thin. A single river office expedition might incur losses—the silver earned won't cover compensation and losses.

Now, with many major merchant guilds and powerful families gradually testing their roots here, clear chain reactions have emerged, accelerating the growth of Pingyang County like a mighty tree.

Five hundred li away, seven to eight days—roughly no more than three thousand li…

Liang Qu's eyes gleamed. Given the vastness of the Jianghuai Great Marsh, such distances haven't yet reached the true core of great demons—mostly spirits and major spirits dwell there, with occasional demonic appearances.

The fat catfish often travel in groups and have never encountered a demon, only crossed paths with a few major spirits.

Moreover, the river office should have countermeasures against water demons in the marsh's center.

Liang Qu had seen in his Minor Merit Exchange Ledger that special demonic beast blood could be used to make incense sticks—worth two hundred minor merits each, burning them repels all kinds of spirits.

The river office surely possesses superior, higher-quality versions.

Ke Ko Wenbin devoured his noodles, biting through half and slurping it clean: "Once things get going, everyone'll be busy. The fish monsters in the northern Great Marsh are terrifying—the river office there struggles to find anyone willing to lead monthly expeditions."

But ours is different. I heard it's just a bunch of toads—they've caused little trouble, the demonic beasts in their territory are all of the same lineage and barely move. Even if we occasionally meet a few major spirits, it's troublesome but not overwhelming. Maybe soon, people will fight over who gets to lead."

Liang Qu thought of the giant toads.

Indeed, they've caused little trouble, and they're quite reasonable.

Their frog-like appearance—admittedly, they lack any real intimidation.

"Damn, the worst part is this—I heard the western demon king is a thousand-year-old turtle. Even his subordinate demon kings are impossible to meet. Yet the river office's Hengshui Enforcer leads expeditions eagerly."

"The damn Chusheng even cuts his own share! Reduced it from one and a half percent to one and three-tenths. I hear it's now below one percent."

"Damn, really?"

"Our southern region isn't truly safe," Xu Xu Yue said, prying open a crab shell. "Whether demonic disasters exist is another matter—but human threats are certain. Have you forgotten the Ghost Mother Cult?"

"Shit, I nearly forgot!"

"The Ghost Mother Cult hasn't stirred in months—I forgot entirely. Come to think of it, we destroyed one of their branches, yet they've gone so quiet?"

"Quiet? Not really. Throughout Huaiyin Prefecture, they've been quietly active. All reports funnel to me—you just don't know."

I suspect they fear an ambush in Pingyang and dare not move. Once we form our fleet, they won't let us fish for treasure fish."

So I told Ran Zhongxi: we'll delay setting the leader's profit share precisely because of the Ghost Mother Cult—our situation is entirely different from elsewhere."

"That's truly troublesome."

The Ghost Mother Cult strikes and flees, hiding deep within the marsh—there's no good way to deal with them.

Last time, that branch was the one that contributed most to the sacrifice. So many deaths left too many traces.

Plus, Pingyang County seized two key witnesses—one a direct bloodline—and after extensive searches and divinations, we finally unearthed their base.

Moreover, human threats differ from demonic ones. Against demonic threats, many methods exist to avoid direct confrontation.

But human threats? They fixate on you—no breathing room. Once you fall behind, total annihilation is likely.

"Look ahead—dark and hollow—that must be the bandits' den. I'll charge forward and wipe them clean! As the saying goes: 'If you don't enter the tiger's den, how can you catch the tiger's cub?'"

Ke Ko Wenbin sang a line with heroic flair, then turned to Xiang Fang Su: "Fang Su, such a golden chance for promotion and wealth—how could I possibly compete with you? From now on, I'll leave all leadership duties to you—I won't fight you for it!"

"That delicious crab roe bun can't even shut your mouth!"

Xiang Fang Su pinched a crab roe bun with his chopsticks and shoved it straight into Ke Ko Wenbin's mouth.

"Come on, come on—I'm not afraid of you!"

Martial cultivators have huge appetites. Liang Qu prepared enough crab feast for eight days—over half was gone in just over an hour. The kitchen master was drenched in sweat, but thankfully, everyone had finally eaten their fill.

Wu Long himself, belly swollen, turned away from Ran Ying's offered crab roe and trotted outside to sprawl on the courtyard, basking in the sun.

The lively scene lasted until late afternoon. After wandering around Liang Qu's home and viewing the pond, everyone departed.

In the kitchen, the still-smoldering hearth radiated residual heat.

The master chef and assistants sat on stools, sweating profusely. Empty red crab shells littered the floor. The pungent scent of steamed ginger, garlic, and scallions, soaked in crab odor, filled the air.

Cracking crabs takes the most time and effort—especially patience. It drains you utterly.

But this rest is only temporary. After a short break, once the chefs and assistants are refreshed, they'll immediately clear the space, grab their tools, and rush to Yang's Martial Hall in Pingyang County to begin another round of work.

Evening arrived, the sky painted crimson.

Shadows of people were cast on the walls as apprentices, having finished their daily training, filed out of the hall, greeting Liang Qu one by one: "Brother Liang."

This instantly elevated Liang Qu's seniority—he found it deeply warm.

Hu Qi and Xiang Xiang Zhangsong had been waiting inside the martial hall, setting up a table with a cloth under the osmanthus tree in the back courtyard.

Liang Qu entered the kitchen.

In the martial hall, apart from the lowest-tier apprentices, many trainees were fed and housed. Dozens needed meals—each serving required substantial quantities—so the kitchen was far larger than Liang Qu's home, with far more staff.

Over thirty assistants worked busily, yet the space didn't feel cramped.

But one "assistant" stood out as utterly out of place.

Liang Qu stepped forward and placed a hand on his shoulder: "Master hasn't arrived yet—why are you, Brother Xu, sneaking food alone?"

Xu Xu Yue showed no shame: "Brother, you're mistaken. I'm tasting the food on Master's behalf."

"And what did you taste?"

"Fresh! Sweet!" Xu Xu Yue gave a thumbs-up. "But I haven't tried the crab-stuffed orange yet—I must taste it for Master. Brother brought so many big crabs—can't waste the ingredients, right? Any problems must be pointed out immediately."

Saying this, Xu Xu Yue walked to the stove, lifted the lid off the orange, scooped out the crab meat inside, and devoured it.

Liang Qu smiled: "And what do you think now, Brother?"

"Excellent! Excellent! Best of all! The master chef's skill is incredible!"

The chef chuckled: "Crab-stuffed orange is our Langyun Restaurant's signature dish. Both ingredients are seasonal. Even without skill, just using fresh materials ensures a good result."

Crab-stuffed orange means cutting off the top of a large orange, scooping out the flesh while keeping a bit of juice, then filling it with crab meat, crab roe, and crab oil. Finally, it's steamed with a mixture of wine, water, and vinegar, then sprinkled with salt before serving.

Oranges ripen in mid-to-late October, so both ingredients are seasonal—eating them together is truly exquisite.

"Ah, Brother Xu! We've been out working, looking for you to help—and here you are, sneaking food! I'll tell Master you've been stealing bites!"

Xiang Xiang Zhangsong stepped over the threshold, shouting.

Xu Xu Yue denied it instantly: "Stealing? I'm tasting! Don't make things up, Brother Xiang!"

Hu Qi, listening outside, laughed: "Brother Xu, you stole one crab now—you'll have to dismantle ten to make up for it."

"Tasting, brother—I'm tasting!"

Xu Xu Yue stubbornly insisted.

The three exchanged glances, then moved apart in perfect unison.

Hu Qi fetched the crab-cracking tools. Liang Qu counted crabs. Xiang Xiang Zhangsong shut the door. Then the three surrounded Xu Xu Yue.

Xu Xu Yue quickly set down the fragrant orange and leaned against the stove.

"Three younger brothers, what are you doing? Have you forgotten our oath? No harming fellow disciples! No harming fellow disciples!"

…

The moon rose above the branches, casting a faint white glow through the canopy, painting dappled shadows on the ground.

Yang Yang Dongxiong and Xu Shi arrived together.

Such scenes were not new to Liang Qu—he guided the two elders to their seats with ease.

Yang Yang Dongxiong didn't care for formalities—he first served Xu Shi a crab-stuffed orange, then took one for himself, and a bowl of crab meat dumplings, urging everyone to eat quickly.

"Don't wait for the crabs to cool—once cold, they turn fishy. Hot is the only way to enjoy them!"

"Yes, yes, eat quickly! Master, Mistress, try the crab roe buns I peeled myself!"

Xu Xu Yue rolled up his sleeves, pulled out a whole tier of crab roe buns, and placed them directly before the two elders.

Yang Yang Dongxiong hesitated, reluctant to pick up his chopsticks: "You really did this?"

Xiang Xiang Zhangsong said: "Master, I swear—it's truly Brother Xu who peeled them. Though the reason…"

Xu Xu Yue interrupted: "No matter the reason, brother, just tell me—did I peel these crabs?"

"Indeed you did," Hu Qi nodded. "Caught stealing, ate one, peeled ten as compensation—definitely peeled by Brother Xu."

Yang Yang Dongxiong burst into loud laughter.

Cao Rang chuckled: "That's exactly the sort of thing Brother Xu would do!"

"Exactly ten crab roe buns—each of us takes one, taste them—see if Brother Xu's peeled crabs taste fresher."

"Mm, truly, they're noticeably tastier!"

Around the table, voices chimed in one after another.

Xu Xu Yue showed not the slightest embarrassment: "If it's good, eat more. Next time you want some, call me to peel them for you—don't worry, we're brothers, I'll give you a discount! Half a tael per crab, how's that?"

At this, the table erupted in loud groans.

Zhuo Zhuo Shaoqin flexed her five fingers, glanced around, and was astonished by the size of the crabs—she couldn't decide which to pick: "Brother, all your crabs are sizable? I don't see a single one under seven taels."

"Sister's eyes are sharp. Every female crab weighs over seven taels; every male crab weighs over eight. Anything smaller was used for the crab roe buns. Do you prefer roe or fat?"

Zhuo Zhuo Shaoqin didn't hesitate: "When eating crab, you eat the roe—crab fat clogs your mouth."

"Then try this one—seven taels and eight mace, a large female. Taste it. Ginger vinegar, sesame oil, soy sauce—mix your own seasonings."

Liang Qu selected one and presented it to Zhuo Zhuo Shaoqin.

"Impressive! I've lived in Jianghuai my whole life, and this is my first time eating such a crab feast. Brother, you've gone all out! No wonder you've received the Emperor's imperial decree—you've got grandeur!" Cao Rang pried open a jar of rice wine and poured himself a cup. "And since it's Brother's treat, shouldn't we toast to him?"

"Oh, almost forgot." Xu Xu Yue raised his cup. "To my little brother—may your future shine bright, rise swiftly to glory, become a Sect Master, and attain the title of Martial Saint!"

"Hahaha, Brother Xu is right! To my little brother—may your future shine bright, rise swiftly to glory, become a Sect Master, and attain the title of Martial Saint!"

At the table, ten hands raised cups, some wine spilling.

The head cook in the kitchen resumed his busy work.

One dish after another, steaming hot, was brought forth—the scent of meat mingled with cinnamon, making everyone's mouth water.

As they ate and drank, everyone shared recent news; Liang Qu spoke the most.

Of the ten present, Liang Qu's recent exploits were the most extraordinary—water control, imperial decree, enough to fill a volume of official chronicles.

He also told the senior brothers about the River Office's fleet retrieving treasure fish.

"Master should know."

Yang Yang Dongxiong nodded: "Xu Xu Yuelong told me. I know quite a bit—not just official production and merchant sales. If any merchant caravan wishes, they can build their own ships and join the River Office's expeditions into deep waters. The River Office takes only a twenty percent cut."

"Twenty percent? That's so low?"

Xiang Xiang Zhangsong suddenly looked up, but quickly realized something was wrong.

Xu Xu Shila put down her chopsticks: "Changsong, think again. Heaven doesn't drop buns from the sky."

Xiang Xiang Zhangsong pondered a moment, then faintly understood: "A scapegoat?"

Yang Yang Dongxiong nodded.

Xiang Xiang Zhangsong suddenly saw the truth—no wonder.

The waters were complex, filled with beasts unheard of.

Not to mention the visual obstruction—no one could tell if a beast lurked directly beneath the ship.

If disaster struck, it would be too late to react.

When facing a bear, you don't need to outrun the bear—just outrun your companion.

Ordinary dangers were manageable—the River Office earned its cut fairly. But in true emergencies, even self-preservation was hard; unimportant merchant ships became mere sacrificial shields.

Cruel as it was, didn't the merchants know this?

Everyone understood. High risk, high reward. With the River Office taking such a low cut, merchants would flock to it.

Besides, with the River Office bearing the brunt, they only needed to hire ordinary martial cultivators. If disaster struck, the cost was still acceptable.

Both sides got what they wanted. Those who joined had to be prepared.

"Making money isn't easy," Xu Xu Yue sighed deeply, then raised his cup again. "Senior and junior brothers—when you rise to greatness, don't forget little Brother Xu, little Brother Xu!"

Yu Dun chuckled: "Of everyone in the sect, the true rising star is probably Cao Shixiong and Little Brother. Compared to Little Brother, even Cao Shixiong falls short. You're asking the wrong person, Brother Xiang."

"Ninth junior brother is terrifying—in just one year, he's already nearing the Wolf Smoke realm?"

"I always said his destiny was flawless—who said true dragons can't rise from shallow waters? Little Brother is the true dragon!"

"Come, let's drink another toast—to the true dragon!"