Chapter 532: Gaining Long Qi Again

"Auntie, I'm full, really full! I can't eat any more."

Liang Qu's bowl was piled high like a small mountain as he politely declined Xu Shi's generous offerings.

Too enthusiastic.

Every time I come to eat at Master's house, Xu Shi keeps shoving food onto my plate—I simply can't finish it.

He secretly slipped two chicken legs under the table to Black Tooth, finished lunch in a few bites, then climbed onto Chishan, his belly round and wobbling as he rode off, daydreaming about his bright future.

The Grand Master shattered and then rebuilt himself.

Master has everything ready.

My own future is brilliant.

Everyone has a glorious future ahead!

He pushed open the gate.

"Elder!"

"Oh, Long Eying and Long Binglin—didn't see you this morning, were you out?" Liang Qu patted Chishan's back, letting the horse return to the stable on its own.

Long Long Eying bowed slightly: "Thank you for your concern, Elder. Long Yanrui attained the Master realm on the eighth day of the eighth month, and our clan has been swamped with affairs."

"You went out fishing, so we had nothing urgent to do—we came back each day to help for half a day, listened to the Master's insights, then hurried back to tend the oxen, so you wouldn't be left searching for us."

Liang Qu perked up: "Master's insights? Do you have notes?"

"We do, Your Excellency—do you need them?"

Long Long Binglin brushed his sleeve and pulled out a stack of manuscript paper.

Long Long Eying did the same.

Two sets of notes—one bold and vigorous, the other elegant and refined—content-wise nearly identical.

"Please go to the study and copy one for me."

The Dragon Clan and human folk must share similarities; perhaps cross-applying these insights could prove more useful than ordinary observations.

I've truly worn myself out worrying about Master's attainment of the Entering Zhen Xiang Master realm.

At the Elder's request, Long Long Binglin went to the study to copy the notes.

Long Long Eying brought out a small basket filled with unshelled lotus seeds.

"Your Excellency, all the July lotus seeds are here—shall I shell them?"

"No need to shell them all—eat a hundred, no more, or you'll get bloated."

As the Fourth Elder of the Dragon Clan, Liang Qu was entitled to his monthly allotment of giant lotus seeds.

Not much.

The day before, he'd received two shipments—over two hundred seeds—treated as a "convalescent," and he'd devoured every ripe one.

Now the lotus seeds are entering their growth phase, and the entire Dragon Clan must harvest them collectively.

As Fourth Elder, his monthly quota is only seven hundred seeds, yielding over sixteen thousand units of water essence.

Combined, the July and August quotas give him over thirty thousand units of water essence.

Crunching them is far more satisfying than eating rooster-comb fruit.

…

For the next three days, the River Office granted leave.

Liang Qu was busy nonstop, barely spending any time at home.

The Weishuiliu waterway to Xiangyi County needed rebuilding.

After a month's absence without maintenance, the Weishuiliu waterway connecting Pingyang's north and south collapsed entirely.

If trouble arises again—like the snake demon's mass of spirits—without the waterway, reinforcements won't arrive in time.

Three days is enough to repair and use it simultaneously.

Besides, Liang Qu took the copied notes from Long Yanrui to Fucheng and delivered them personally to his Master, then brought along the mermaid gifted by the snake demon in June, choosing one to give to his Auntie—she hugged his head and rubbed it for a long while.

Far more visibly joyful than gifting giant clam pearls or mermaid tears.

The next day, Liang Qu joined his senior and junior brothers and sisters again; Xu Shi sat at the head, radiant, her appearance so youthful that anyone would believe she was twenty-seven or twenty-eight—even twenty-five or twenty-six!

"Auntie, when you return to your family in October, won't they not recognize you?" Xu Xu Yue crossed his arms, chin resting on his hand.

"When Auntie returns, all the young women in the Xu family will be outshone," Xiang Xiang Zhangsong chuckled.

"Auntie is truly beautiful," Fifth Sister Zhuo Zhuo Shaoqin said with envy, "Where did you get that mermaid, Younger Brother?"

Liang Qu sensed her intent: "Sister wants one?"

"How much will you sell it for?"

Zhuo Zhuo Shaoqin wasn't unaware—mermaids offered mediocre benefits to martial cultivators, but their beauty-preserving effects were extraordinary; at least ten thousand taels per one, and even then, they were unobtainable.

"No need," Liang Qu waved his hand, "If you want one, just go get it later—I think you're young and gifted enough, you don't need it."

"Oh? So you think Auntie needs it, right?" Xu Xu Yue stoked the fire.

Liang Qu sneered: "Brother Xu, don't stir up trouble—Auntie's definitely on my side."

"Little Four, don't cause trouble," Xu Shi frowned slightly, waving her sleeve, "Little Nine means well."

"?"

Zhuo Zhuo Shaoqin felt uneasy: "Then how can I accept it?"

"They were all gifts—didn't cost me a single tael."

"Gifts? You sneaky Liang Liang Ashui, you're accepting bribes, aren't you?" Xu Xu Yue leapt up from his chair again.

Second Brother Yu Dun reprimanded: "Don't talk nonsense—Younger Brother isn't like that."

"You guys, hey hey hey."

Xu Xu Yue sighed deeply and slumped back onto the long bench.

After much back-and-forth, Fifth Sister wouldn't take it for free, but with limited funds, she gave Liang Qu three thousand taels, promising that someday she'd make it up to him.

After auction purchases, expenses on mermaid tears, and income, Liang Qu's total wealth had rebounded to a staggering two hundred twenty thousand taels.

As for the remaining one…

Liang Qu had planned to sell it, but upon returning home, his mind shifted.

"Long Binglin! Long Eying!"

"Elder, this…"

Long Long Binglin and Long Long Eying stared at the crimson-maned lionfish and the mermaid before them, puzzled.

"You've worked hard—take them!"

Two Great Martial Masters shouldn't be working for free forever; they deserve rewards now and then.

Use the snake demon's money to win their loyalty.

I'm counting on you two to accompany me to Huangzhou in October.

"Elder, this is unacceptable!" Long Long Binglin dropped to one knee, "You are the Fourth Elder of the Dragon Clan—we serve you as our duty. If we lack resources, the clan will provide them."

"What the clan gives is the clan's matter—what I give is mine."

"Absolutely not."

Long Long Binglin and Long Long Eying repeatedly refused.

Yet the crimson-maned lionfish and mermaid between them thrashed wildly, spraying water left and right, the fishy odor growing stronger.

Reluctantly, they accepted.

"Thank you, Elder!" *2

Long Long Eying stared at the mermaid in her hands, then at Long Long Binglin's crimson-maned lionfish, glancing back and forth three times, silent.

Liang Qu noticed: "What's wrong?"

Long Long Eying hesitated: "I'd like to trade with Brother Long Binglin."

"Huh?"

"The mermaid… I don't need it."

Liang Qu looked up, studying her—she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, tilting her head slightly.

Hmm.

That actually makes sense.

She has little room for growth.

There were still two crimson-maned lionfish left in the house, but Liang Qu wanted to eat them himself.

"How about… you two split one each?"

Long Long Binglin's expression turned slightly odd, but he didn't refuse.

"As the Elder commands!"

"Remember to save the organs and bones—feed them to Yuan Tou. Don't waste them," Liang Qu instructed.

"Yes!"

Evening.

The pond's lotus flowers swayed, golden ripples spreading.

The toad caught another sea demon; the fat catfish was blissfully content, staying with the frog clan; only Yuan Tou, immobile, devoured the organs and crushed bones with Bai Awei and the three beasts.

Half a mermaid was gone.

Not even Long Long Eying showed much effect.

Even Long Long Binglin felt little.

The Dragon Clan's skin is like white jade—born at the pinnacle.

Blood loss.

The third day.

The fat catfish flicked its tail and glided beneath the giant water lily.

【Absorb one strand of Dragon Seed qi】

【Consume three strands of Dragon Seed qi to generate one Yinglong pattern.】

Liang Qu rode the fat catfish, wandering aimlessly through the Dragon People's lands under the pretenses of "visiting home" and "inspecting this year's summer harvest," successfully carrying away the Long Qi of Master Long Long Yanrui.

The formation of the Yinglong pattern followed the exact same growth curve as the River Lord Emperor's. One layer, one strand.

"So one strand per Master? Then do Jiaolongs have them too?"

Liang Qu's mind raced with wild ideas.

A Dragon Seed Master has one strand.

As a Wu Sheng, the Jiaolong's Dragon Seed affinity is far richer and higher in rank than the Dragon People's; logically, it should possess more Long Qi, not less.

Unfortunately, Liang Qu lacked the spirit of reckless daring.

Rather than trying to extract it from Jiaolongs, it's better to hope the Dragon People themselves produce more long qi and more Masters.

Plucked the Long Qi and returned home.

Liang Qu entered seclusion again.

The soul golden lotus gifted by Master Yuewang—activate!