Chapter 46

Although the Embroidered Uniform Guard understood, they still found it hard to accept.

Being the River Earl or not makes no difference.

How can a big carp five or six meters long make such an adorable sound?

Only see this Carp Jade speak in a loli voice: "This sir, you came for those wild wolves, right?"

Shen Qing nodded.

"I've also seen those wild wolves; they're just a bunch of unenlightened creatures, probably ran out of White Egret Marsh again."

"Oh, right, yesterday I even heard a tiger's roar."

Lin Zikai suddenly spoke: "Your tone makes it seem you look down on those wild wolves; why don't you just go ashore and beat them to death?"

Carp Jade gave Lin Zikai a glance, and everyone clearly felt a sense of contempt.

"Ah, saying that makes me seem clueless."

"It's a pity I'm just a carp; in this Red Date River I can barely call myself Carp King, but once ashore what can I do? At most I can flop around twice."

"In the end, I'm still despised by you adults, unlike other River Earls who are born with hands and feet."

Carp Jade spoke, her tone sounding pitiful, yet somehow a special feeling came across.

Shen Qing couldn't hold back: "Who taught you to speak like that?"

"Born in these poor mountains and remote lands, who would teach me to speak? Only storytellers by the river; I love listening to Red Chamber, and I'm especially fond of that sister Daiyu."

Shen Qing fell silent for a moment; at this point, her approval of postnatal education peaked—any notion of innate human nature is bullshit.

Look, a perfectly fine carp listening to Red Chamber can end up sounding like a Grandmaster of the Yin-Yang School.

Shen Qing continued asking: "Do you know where those wild wolves went after crossing the river?"

"Although I can't go ashore, I can still guess a bit: when those wild wolves cross the river they always leave a trace of osmanthus fragrance; after crossing, they head northwest ten li, where there is an osmanthus grove— that's likely where they are."

Shen Qing nodded; with that, the goal was clear, saving a lot of effort.

Seeing Shen Qing silent, Carp Jade said: "Sir, if you want to cross the river, you can ride me across."

Shen Qing waved a hand, stepped one foot onto the river surface, and the true qi gathering beneath her let her stand steadily on the lake.

This made Carp Jade's big eyes flash with a glint; walking on water in the Innate Realm is normal, but Shen Qing being able to stand steadily on the river surface is different—she had never seen such control even in the Innate Realm.

Being a koi, her intuition in certain aspects far surpasses that of other fierce beasts, allowing her to instinctively sense Shen Qing's strength.

But now it seems she still underestimated Shen Qing's strength.

Moreover, listening to Red Chamber didn't just teach her Yin-Yang; she also picked up a bit of scheming.

Ordinary officials generally know nothing about the River Earl matter; those below fifth rank are clueless.

But Shen Qing could know this, and seeing her so composed, she inferred Shen Qing must be a descendant of the powerful.

Both powerful and backed by influence.

She also wanted to form a good karmic bond.

Who said carp can't progress? She also wants to advance!

Shen Qing stepped on the wave-tossed river surface and slowly walked to the opposite bank, as if on level ground.

"You figure out how to cross the river yourselves; I'll wait for you in the Osmanthus Grove."

After the time it takes to finish a cup of tea.

Outside the Osmanthus Grove appeared three figures—one man and two women—dressed in identical white robes.

The man held a wine pot, walking and laughing; the two women each carried various pastries, making them look more like they'd come out for a sightseeing trip.

The man, Liu Wen, turned back and smiled at the two women.

"How about it, Junior Sister Hui, Junior Sister Lian—isn't it much more fun out here than in the Azure Mountain Sect?"

Liu Hui took a bite of osmanthus cake: "Indeed it's more interesting than the sect, but we should head back soon—once we cross the Red Date River we'll be close to White Egret Marsh."

Lin Lian'er, standing under 1.6 meters tall, swayed her arm with a coquettish tone: "Senior Sister Liu, I finally got out once—don't make me go back so quickly."

"There'll be no danger; besides, Senior Brother Liu is with us, and he'll surely protect us, right, Senior Brother Liu?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Wen felt elated and vigorously patted his chest.

"That's only natural."

Lin Lian'er smiled sweetly: "Senior Brother, where exactly are those wild wolves you mentioned? Can I catch a little wolf pup to bring back? Then the senior sisters will surely envy me to death."

Liu Wen lifted his chin and pointed ahead to the Osmanthus Grove: "Right there; those wild wolves have been in this osmanthus grove for days. Junior Sister Lin, rest assured—if there are wolf pups, I'll definitely get you one."

"Stop." Liu Hui suddenly spoke, halting her steps.

"What's wrong? What's wrong? Did you see wild wolves?" Lin Lian'er's voice trembled with a hint of delight.

Liu Hui shook her head: "It looks like someone is ahead."

"It's the Embroidered Uniform Guard!"

Liu Hui, upon hearing the Embroidered Uniform Guard, stretched her neck, eyes full of curiosity: "Embroidered Uniform Guard? Let me take a look."

"Are they the Embroidered Uniform Guard? They don't look special at all, not the three-headed, six-armed figure my father described."

Liu Hui had no intention of moving forward: "Let's step back a bit, wait until they leave."

"Is it that frightening?" Lin Lian'er glared, unconvinced: "Aren't they just people? Does the Embroidered Uniform Guard make them superior?"

"Junior sister, you rarely come down the mountain, you haven't heard their name." Liu Hui, eyes full of apprehension: "The vermilion horsemen patrol the Vermilion Bird Lane at night, the heavenly prison locks the Northern Dipper railings—this refers to them."

"Moreover, recently a hundred-household commander newly arrived in Luo Shui City, having fought his way out of Bai Yun County; in less than a month, the families and sects he has exterminated number no fewer than five, and he has literally earned the title of 'World-Passing Yama'."

"A few days ago I caught a glimpse of that Shen Qing in Luo Shui City from afar; his whole person exuded killing intent that pierced the heavens—definitely not an ordinary person."

Liu Wei let out a light laugh from the side: "Junior sister Liu, you're just boosting others' morale while crushing your own prestige—those Vermilion Bird Lane and World-Passing Yama are nothing but rumors."

"Furthermore, even if that Shen Qing were truly that frightening, these Embroidered Uniform Guard before us aren't him; the leader of this squad is merely a petty flag officer."

Lin Lian'er hurriedly nodded: "Exactly, exactly; our senior brother also has some reputation in the Jianghu of Yong Ning Prefecture—known as the Stone-Shattering Hand."

Liu Wei couldn't help but straighten his chest; suddenly, his eyes darted about, and he spoke to Lin Lian'er with a wicked smile.

Junior sister, you say such a good evening, just watching wild wolves—wouldn't that be boring? Want to do something exciting?

Lin Lian'er instantly became interested: "How do we play?"

Liu Wen then took out three sets of nightclothes from the bag he carried.

Liu Hui immediately understood what the two intended to do, and she exclaimed in disbelief: "Are you crazy? You want to ambush the Embroidered Uniform Guard?"

Liu Wen put on a mask and smiled: "These Embroidered Uniform Guard are too arrogant; I'm just giving them a lesson, not killing anyone."

Liu Hui wanted to say more, but Liu Wen spoke directly: "Junior sister Liu, if you're coming, change your clothes; if not, don't speak."

The scholar and his group arrived outside the Osmanthus Forest, soaked.

"This carp is really unreasonable—it just left without asking if we wanted to cross the river." Lin Zikai patted his ears, drained the water inside, his tone full of complaint.

The scholar laughed: "Even letting others carry you, the adults said, this beast capable of serving as a River Earl at least has reached the Innate Realm, and it's also a seventh-rank official appointed by the Imperial Court."

"Do you want a Seventh-Rank Official to carry you, or do you want an Innate Realm cultivator to carry you?"

"How shameless are you?"

Laughter burst out from the crowd.

Suddenly, a gust of wind blew past, a faint cracking sound rang in the woods, and Pang Xiyuan snapped his head around.

"Who's there! Come out!"

The scholar and his companions immediately wiped smiles from their faces, drew their hand crossbows, and aimed at the darkness in the woods.

Liu Wen and Lin Lian'er, masked, stepped out from behind the trees.

"'Imperial court's lackeys, you're somewhat alert.'"

Pang Xiyuan's expression turned grim; he tapped his finger, and the hand crossbows of Black Dog and his companions shot out instantly.

As the crossbow bolts were fired, Pang Xiyuan drew his waist blade and lunged at Liu Wen to kill him.

Black Dog and his companions fired three rounds of crossbow bolts, then drew their weapons and charged forward.

Only saw Lin Lian'er suddenly unfold an iron fan, blocking the crossbow bolts.

"'What an imperial court lackey! You attack on sight—looks like today I'm going to give you a proper lesson, so you know there are always people stronger than you and heavens beyond the heavens!'"

After dodging, Liu Wen let out a cold grunt, his fingers curled into claws, and he lunged at Pang Xiyuan to attack.

Blade and claws clashed, erupting in fierce sparks—this Liu Wen, nicknamed Suishishou, relies on his hand technique; his fingers can easily crush stone.

However, Pang Xiyuan, after all being an Embroidered Uniform Guard, though his realm was inferior, his combat experience stood there—he actually endured being six minor realms behind and still slashed Liu Wen's leg.

Liu Wen winced in pain, a trace of blood appearing in his eyes, and he actually employed his innate skill, slapping Pang Xiyuan's blade away with a claw, then lunging with another claw to grab Pang Xiyuan's head.

If he landed the grab, Pang Xiyuan would either die or be severely injured.

Just then, a palm strike came, sending Liu Wen's hand flying.

Liu Hui, wearing nightclothes, blocked in front of Pang Xiyuan.

Liu Wen's tone was displeased: "What are you doing?"

Liu Hui's tone icy: "What are you up to again?"

Liu Wen's eyes flashed a hint of ferocity: "Of course I'm going to kill them, so those Embroidered Uniform Guard know that the affairs of the martial world aren't something they can just meddle in..."

Gradually, the ferocity in Liu Wen's eyes faded, his voice growing weaker; he seemed to feel a savage beast appear behind him, a chill rushing straight to his spine, but he dared not turn around.

"Senior sister... behind me..."

Only saw Shen Qing slowly emerge from the darkness, the clear moonlight illuminating his face.

Liu Hui kept stepping back a few steps, then collapsed sitting on the ground, her voice trembling uncontrollably.

"World-saving... Yama..."

"Shen Qing!"