Chapter 30: Jingjiang Water Mansion

"Righteous Judge of Heaven?" At that moment, a certain string deep in Su Yuanshan's heart was thoroughly plucked.

Why does everyone look up to a righteous heaven? Because righteous heaven is rare — because they are wronged! Wrongs with nowhere to be told, grievances with nowhere to be redressed! How could they not long for a righteous heaven? So it is in the courts of the living, and so it is in the courts of the dead.

He thought to himself: since someone has called me a righteous heaven, then I shall be a righteous heaven for them to see!

Since the two words "righteous heaven" rest above my head, I must bear their weight.

Since no one will right the wrongs of those who died unjustly, then I shall. Since no one dares to govern the injustices of this world, then I shall. Even if I lose this black official's cap, at least there is still merit to be earned!

For a moment Su Yuanshan was filled with surging righteous spirit, and with a grand sweep of his hand.

"When the Son of Heaven breaks the law, he is punished the same as the common folk — rest assured, even if he were the Heavenly King himself, an ancestor deity, or an immortal, murder demands a life, and a debt demands repayment! If you have a grievance, I shall cleanse it for you; if you have a wrong, I shall redress it for you. If you have any other unfulfilled wish, speak it all at once — so long as I can do it, I will surely help you achieve it!"

"Thank you, City God, thank you, City God!"

Mei Silang wept with gratitude, kowtowing in thanks.

After Su Yuanshan's questioning, Mei Silang spoke of his other wishes.

The first: to see his old mother, wife, and children one last time, to bid them a final farewell.

The second: to continue and complete the unfinished tongshi examination, fulfilling the wish to bring glory to his ancestors and shine upon his family's door.

After speaking of his unfulfilled wishes, Mei Silang felt a little uneasy, thinking these wishes were asking too much of others.

After all, no matter which one, each was very hard to fulfill — in his view, perhaps even impossible.

Sure enough, Su Yuanshan fell silent. He gave no answer, only poured a bowl of wine and gazed at the river's surface, then channeled a sliver of divine power into it, after which he poured the wine into the river. Before long, the river's surface not far away began to boil.

At last there came a "Boom!" — a black shadow burst forth riding the water, leaping from the surface. One saw him with several long whiskers sprouting from his head, a pointed snout, a body clad in blue-green armor, gripping a steel fork. The instant he emerged from the water, he bellowed loudly.

"What demon dares to stir up the Jingjiang Water Mansion? Truly you've eaten the bear's heart and leopard's gall!"

The one who had come was actually a shrimp soldier!

Before Su Yuanshan could speak, the little white fox beside him spoke in human tongue and rebuked.

"How dare you! The one standing before you is the Lord of the Huangliang County City God Mansion — why don't you summon the Jing River Water God to come pay his respects?"

The Huangliang County City God?

Hearing this, the shrimp soldier seemed greatly startled, and his arrogant manner immediately weakened considerably.

He rolled his big, round eyes and looked toward Su Yuanshan. He saw the other wreathed in the spiritual energy of mountains and rivers, radiant with treasure-light. Though he could not be sure whether the little white fox's words were true or false, he did not dare offend lightly, and cautiously cupped his hands and said.

"Please wait a moment, all of you — I shall go summon my lord to come at once!"

One saw him employ a Water Escape Technique, slowly sinking beneath the water, and with a ripple, he vanished from sight.

The entire river surface returned to calm once more, with only the bright moon, the gentle breeze, and the willows along the bank swaying in the wind.

But the calm lasted only a moment, before several black shadows were seen riding the water toward them. The one at their head had a green face and wide eyes, tusks protruding outward, yet wore an official's robe. His appearance was rough and fierce, much like a deity statue in a temple.

Several others followed behind him, their appearances strange and odd — clearly not human.

At the sight of Su Yuanshan, the green-faced, tusked official at their head hurriedly paid his respects.

"This minor god is the Jing River Water God. I did not know a higher god had arrived, and failed to greet you from afar! Guilty, guilty!"

The others also followed suit, bowing and paying respects to Su Yuanshan.

This scene left Mei Silang dumbfounded; from this moment on, he no longer dared doubt Su Yuanshan's identity.

Su Yuanshan said lightly.

"Lord Qiu, no need for such ceremony. I am going to take up my post at Huangliang Xiancheng, and cannot afford delay, so I would like to entrust you with one matter!"

The Jing River Water God was seen to say with an accommodating smile.

"What are you saying, higher god? This minor god is already your subordinate. Whatever task you have, just give the order directly — this minor god will go through fire and water without hesitation!"

Su Yuanshan nodded, had Mei Silang repeat his ordeal once more, then opened his mouth and said.

"Will you help him fulfill these two wishes on my behalf? Will that be all right?"

The Jing River Water God said, trembling with awe and caution.

"This matter occurred on this minor god's territory — it is truly this minor god's duty. Since the higher god has given the order, this minor god will spare no effort to handle it well."

Su Yuanshan gave a slight nod.

"Very well, then! Go!"

The Jing River Water God cupped his hands and said.

"I humbly obey the divine decree!"

Turning his head, he said to Mei Silang.

"Young Master Mei, please follow me!"

As he was leaving, Mei Silang dropped to his knees before Su Yuanshan and kowtowed three loud times — naturally, his kowtows carried no sound.

After finishing, he followed the Jing River Water God toward the center of the river, looking back every few steps, until at last he vanished from sight.

All that remained was the gentle breeze and the bright moon, along with the shimmering, rippling river surface.

Su Yuanshan put the wine jar and wine bowl into his Spiritual Void Ring, then rose and said to the little white fox.

"Let's go — it's time we set off too!"

One person and one fox walked farther and farther along the willows by the riverbank......

Now, with the help of the Jing River Water God, Mei Silang used a Returning Sun Pill. This pill was extraordinarily precious — the Jing River Water God had spent three whole years refining only three of them.

It was out of regard for Su Yuanshan's face that he brought out this pill, so he was quite pained and very reluctant to part with it, but in the end he still gave it to Mei Silang to use.

However, this pill only had a duration of three days. Within those three days, even a lone wandering soul could walk beneath the sunlight, and would look no different from a real living person.

This Returning Sun Pill was truly wondrous. The Jing River Water God merely went to the bottom of the river, found Mei Silang's corpse, had someone carry it ashore, and gave him the Returning Sun Pill. After that, the originally swollen and deformed corpse gradually returned to its original appearance, and at last he opened his eyes — he had actually come back to life.

Before he could even recover from his shock and astonishment, he saw a rough, burly man with a slightly greenish face, deep-set eyes, and a high forehead, his hands tucked into his sleeves, urging him.

"Hurry up and walk! This old man will take you to take the tongshi examination. As for whether you can pass, that will depend on your fortune."

He was the Jing River Water God in disguise.

When the Jing River Water God brought Mei Silang to Huangliang Xiancheng, it happened that the tongshi examination had not yet begun — the candidates had only just started entering the examination grounds.

After Mei Silang waved goodbye to the Jing River Water God, he entered the examination hall. He took the Children's Examination as he had wished and passed smoothly; now only the final results of the County Examination, Prefecture Examination, and Academy Examination remained to be posted.

The moment he stepped out of the examination hall, he saw the Jing River Water God coming to meet him.

"How did you feel about this Children's Examination, Young Master Mei? How confident are you of passing?"

Mei Silang gave a wry smile and shook his head. "I didn't perform as well as I should have. I can only wait until the day the results are posted to see."

The Jing River Water God offered some comfort. "The imperial examinations select one in ten thousand — it's perfectly normal not to pass!"

Mei Silang nodded. "What you say is absolutely right! I've already done my best; the rest is in the hands of fate! Right now I'm aching for home, so I'll have to trouble you to accompany me on the journey."

At the thought of seeing his family soon, Mei Silang's worried expression vanished completely, and he became extraordinarily excited. This was likely the last time he would ever see his family, making the chance all the more precious.