Chapter 839

"Really or fake, split the sun down? Drank too much in the middle of the day?"

"Don't believe it, I saw it clearly. My eyes are still tearing up looking at the sun now!"

"I think the three families all looked stupid, didn't expect to lose so cleanly."

"Not necessarily. You didn't go and didn't see. The scholars invited by the three families were writing so vigorously. Baron Xingyi just said two sentences, and they copied them like flowers, wishing they could hang a sign on their necks and parade through the streets."

"Amazing, why is the gap so big?"

"There are heroes beyond heroes, heavens beyond heavens. I heard people say that this sparring opportunity was begged by the three families, begging grandpa and grandma, and finally begged for it! A few days ago, the disaster relief grain with blue flags in several counties came out like this. Also, the mountain sealing a month ago, hunters for many miles were not allowed to go. The three families did so many things, and even then, they had to look at people's faces!"

"Tsk tsk tsk, ten thousand shi of refined rice, for one or two sentences, is it worth this price?"

"Who knows..."

"Fame and profit, fame and profit, there is fame and profit."

"Used to bragging, pulling big flags, you tell me clearly, what profit is there?"

"Isn't this simple? Uncle Liu in the village, came out as an apprentice with no fame, no work for half a year, almost starved himself to death. Later, he did two good jobs, had a reputation, ten miles and eight villages, who doesn't look for him? Gave birth to three sons, two daughters, isn't life beautiful?"

On the field ridge, the grass was lush, several men with mud-covered trouser legs squatted and bragged with two grass stems in their mouths.

Emotions need to be placed, life needs entertainment.

Wealthy families with bell-ringing and tripod-eating, apart from chicken, duck, fish, and meat on the dinner table, also need two plates of seasonal vegetables, otherwise they can't shit.

Xige Prefecture "recovered from a serious illness," the villagers' emotions fell to the extreme. The local Three Heroes they heard about every day sparring with the "world's number one" Baron Xingyi in rumors was truly a joy to see.

The hundred-meter-by-hundred-meter super-large martial arts platform split in two for seven or eight days. The discussion not only didn't stop, but became more intense. From why the dragon Liang Qu rode had wings, to what he looked like, a small point could make people blush and have thick necks, attracting large groups of people to boo.

This diluted the sad and low atmosphere and added a bit of vitality.

It can be seen that the custom of holding big festivals after disasters is not without reason.

Clatter!

The otter poked its head out of the water, lying on its back.

It lowered its head to bite off the fish head in its arms, its claws cleaned out the fish's internal organs, eating while floating, savoring carefully.

Eating cooked food too much, occasionally it would miss the taste of raw food.

"Boat boss! After eating this fish, we're going back!" Long Pingjiang beckoned at the bow.

The otter waved its claws to indicate it knew. It gnawed the fish tail clean in two or three bites, threw away the fish tail, grabbed the cable and climbed up, shook its tail to shake off the water stains, called a few times, and the little river otters in the cabin moved at the sound, each performing their duties.

"Cheep!"

The black swallow with a cut tail landed on the windowsill, tilted its head and chirped, interrupting the brush writing the letter.

Liang Qu put down the brush and ink, stared for a moment, the mysterious swallow vibrated its wings and flew along the water.

"It's Bai Xi Dew."

There are twelve months in a year, twenty-four solar terms. Outside the twenty-four solar terms, there are seventy-two pentads. Bai Xi Dew has three pentads: first, wild geese arrive; second, mysterious birds return; third, flocks of birds store food.

Came out at the end of the seventh month, finished things in the middle of the ninth month.

Without knowing it, summer had passed again.

"Busy, busy..."

A few days ago, after the sparring match, the three families held a banquet. At that time, the support from Pingyang Prefecture was basically nearing its end. Yesterday, the Prefect held another big banquet to reward the soldiers, completely announcing the end. Xiang Fasu, Ke Wenbin, and others blackmailed Liang Qu for a meal, and this morning they rushed to Pingyang Prefecture.

Tail Fire Tiger and Sea Yaksha, like last time, were arranged to pick up the Jiaoren.

He should go back too.

Liang Qu dried the brush, folded the letter, and stuffed it into the envelope.

In the sea of consciousness, the Ze Tripod trembled.

【Second entry into the Huai River, River Favorability +0.1315】

【River Favorability: 14.3379】

"Huh?"

Liang Qu froze in place.

"Auntie, walk... walk slower, I, I can't climb anymore."

Donghao County, the strong woman strode forward, the young girl behind panting, her cheeks flushed red.

In the middle was a woman in simple clothes. Her face was beautiful, her skin fair, not at all like a woman doing farm work, more like the wife of a wealthy family. She carried a bamboo basket on her arm. Her sweating neck was covered with a layer of brightness, and her hair was stuck to her forehead. She was clearly exhausted, but she didn't complain, silently gritting her teeth and persisting.

Hearing the girl's call, the strong woman stopped slightly.

Until noon.

The three of them and two guards climbed to the top along the rugged mud road.

Passing through the woods, what came into view was a deep pit of several mu, with a clear spring at the bottom. A few newly released koi swam quietly inside. Outside the clear spring stood a simple small temple, the thick smell of lacquer dispersing, clearly newly established not long ago.

A few hunters were knocking on the door frame of the small temple, not surprised by the few people coming to worship.

The three crossed the threshold.

The woman put down the bamboo basket, lifted the blue cloth, and took out leek and eggs, blanched shrimp, winter mallow, water celery stir-fried meat... one by one from the basket.

All were dishes used for sacrifice.

Placed upright on the table, the strong woman, the woman, and the girl all held long incense, inserted them into the incense burner, knelt on the futon, kowtowed respectfully, and closed their eyes to pray for blessings.

Blue smoke curled.

Center of the temple.

A pale dragon coiled, the tall and straight young man holding a long spear was dressed in civil and martial sleeves, his heroic appearance hazy in the smoke.

Above the roof beam.

The little Mirage Dragon landed on four claws, circled around, and sent back everything it saw and heard.

"So that's how it is."

Liang Qu suddenly realized.

The hunters in the countryside built a temple for him, but the favorability didn't increase as much as the last time.

Too few people?

The grandeur when Xiangyi County invited the ape into the temple was indeed much larger than this small temple in the mountains.

Don't know how long it can last.

Liang Qu was quite happy, and hoped that this small temple would not become dilapidated to the point of no one knowing after ten or twenty years, collapsing and accompanying the dust.

"Madam wants to be a temple keeper?"

The hunter was greatly surprised, looking the woman up and down. Her hands had no thick calluses, her skin was fair, and she should be in her thirties, but she was no worse than a girl in her teens. She was definitely from a wealthy family.

But, a woman being a temple keeper—he didn't know if there were any in other places, but there was no precedent in Donghao County.

Would it be taboo?

The woman handed over a hundred-tael silver note.

Hmm.

The hunter was silent.

The Dragon King and Dragon Son are all male. Perhaps they really need a maid to serve them?

The treasure ship split the waves, traveling to a certain location. With no ships and no people, Liang Qu manipulated the water flow, and the entire treasure ship sank into the water, traveling along the shore.

The water area near Xige Prefecture was North Water, belonging to the territory of the Iron-headed Fish. Last time returning from the Imperial Capital to Cangzhou, Liang Qu had a shadow in his heart, and the assassin on the way gave him a wake-up call.

Careful sailing makes for ten thousand years of ships...

Purr.

【Water Travel】 activated, the large ship sped under the water, leaving behind a large cluster of white flow.

A certain corner.

River Patrol Office fleet, banners fluttering.

Two Iron-headed Fish flicked their tails, looked around, and continued to share the fish meat.

Out for half a month, not a bit of benefit, and they still had to solve their own meals. Why be too serious?

A few days passed in a flash.

The large black dog flicked its furry tail, strong as a small calf, healthy as a fierce tiger, jumping left and right excitedly. When the treasure ship docked, it leaped onto the deck.

"Hey! Wulong!"

Liang Qu supported Wulong's dog head, rubbing with one hand and raising the other to avoid saliva getting on his face.

"Master Liang!"

Liang Qu turned his head: "Uncle Fu! Rushing to work?"

"That's right, there's a big job today."

"Good thing."

"Sigh, all thanks to Master Liang."

"I thought Wulong ran to the pier today, so happy, thought it picked up a big bone!"

"Nonsense, if you go to pick up bones, Master Liang's dog won't go to pick them up either."

"Hahaha."

The villagers joked wantonly, spreading the good news of Liang Qu's return by word of mouth.

A burst of laughter.

Liang Qu dug into his pocket, threw broken silver to the tea stall: "Haven't seen you for a long time, treat everyone to tea."

"Good!"

Cheers like thunder.

River otters lined up and passed through the street.

The otter pushed open the door, carrying a large bundle half a person high, and broke into the courtyard.

"Finally back, home is comfortable after all!" Liang Qu took a deep breath, stretched his chest, suddenly smelled a wisp of fragrance, looked up, and was pleasantly surprised to find red fruits drooping from the branches of the jujube tree in the courtyard. "Eying, Binglin, we have jujubes to eat!"

"Elder!" Long Yao and Long Li heard the movement and hurried out.

"Why, something happened?"

"There is something. Master sent things back! And that Clan Leader Quan of the Jiaoren tribe also sent a box."

Old monk?

"Can't be that coincidental, right?"

Liang Qu's heart surged, and he walked quickly into the hall.

In the hall, a wooden box, a leather box, the leather box had a Jiaoren tail mark.

Liang Qu knew what was in Quan Linghan's leather box. He opened the old monk's wooden box first. Inside the wooden box was another large lacquer dragon-pattern box.

Imperial court special reward box!

Liang Qu had quite a few similar boxes at home. The patterns on them depended on the status of the recipient, with dragons, tigers, rhinoceroses, and golden pheasants.

It was the first time seeing a dragon pattern!

Martial Saint's congratulatory gift?

Couldn't wait to open the dragon-pattern box.

What came into view first was a letter, and under the letter lay metal tiles flashing with golden light.

Xuanhuang Badge.

Three pieces!

(End of chapter)