Chapter 31

The Jing River Water God nodded slightly.

"Then let's go."

The man and the god exited the county gate, and after walking two miles, they turned into a clear breeze and vanished. This scene left an old man herding cattle in the distance stunned; he didn't even notice his tobacco pipe fall to the ground. By the time he came to his senses and rubbed his eyes, there was no sign of anyone on the official road in the distance.

The old man couldn't help but mutter to himself.

"I've seen a ghost, I've truly seen a ghost... or was my vision blurred? Two people... suddenly... just disappeared!"

At the foot of the mountain at the entrance of Fangtou Village in Chuyuan Township, there was a small courtyard enclosed by a fence; although simple, it was very warm, and the laughter of children and the kind, earnest teachings of an elder could be heard from afar.

The courtyard was surrounded by golden-yellow rapeseed flowers, and there was an old well. Beside the old well was a patch of shade, where an old dog was cooling itself under the tree.

Mei Silang came stumbling from afar, almost running, his heart surging with indescribable emotions—excitement, joy, and also desolation.

The closer one gets to home, the more timid one becomes, afraid to ask the passersby! This was exactly his state of mind at this moment.

Seeing the old dog lying outside the courtyard, he couldn't help but call out.

"Dahuang, Dahuang!"

The old dog looked up in confusion, first puzzled and then excited. It saw Mei Silang and got up, running toward him, wagging its tail and panting.

It licked Mei Silang's hand and rubbed against his trouser legs as if greeting him, but when it saw the Jing River Water God, it seemed to see something terrifying; it let out an 'Awoo' sound, hid far away, and began to bark wildly at him.

The barking seemed to startle the women and children in the courtyard. A white-haired old woman was seen walking out of the courtyard, trembling as she leaned on a cane. As she walked, she used the cane to tentatively tap the ground; she seemed to be blind and could not see the path under her feet.

"Silang, is my Silang back?"

Seeing the old woman, Mei Silang could no longer hold back his tears; he fell to his knees before her with a 'thump' and burst into uncontrollable sobs.

"Mother, it's me!

Your unfilial son, Silang, has finally returned! I've returned!"

"My child, it really is you!"

The old woman touched Mei Silang's face over and over, appearing very excited, and wiped the murky tears from the corners of her eyes with her sleeve.

"You hadn't returned for several days, and your mother thought something had happened to you! It's good that you're fine, it's good that you're fine!"

As she was speaking, a young woman was seen walking out of the house holding a young child. Seeing Mei Silang, she looked pleasantly surprised. "Husband! You're back?"

"I'm back, I'm back!"

Mei Silang took the young child from the young woman's arms and kissed him again and again.

However, the young woman's gaze turned toward the Jing River Water God.

"And this is...?"

"This is..." Mei Silang didn't know how to introduce him for a moment; he couldn't very well say the other party was the Water God of the Jing River, or he would certainly be taken for a lunatic.

It was the Jing River Water God who gracefully eased his predicament; he cupped his hands and said.

"My young master is a classmate of Young Master Mei. Fearing that the young master would not be safe on the road, he specifically ordered me to escort him all the way here!"

Upon hearing this, a kind smile appeared on the old woman's face.

"Your young master is truly thoughtful. Thank him for our family when you return. Those who come are guests; please, guest, come inside to talk!"

She turned back and instructed.

"Guilan, brew a pot of good tea for our guest!"

"Understood, Mother!" the young woman replied and went off.

Mei Silang finally breathed a sigh of relief, a look of gratitude appearing on his face.

The Jing River Water God had not wanted to go in, but he could not resist the hospitality of Mei Silang's family, so he had to step through the brushwood gate.

Only the old yellow dog stayed far away, watching him vigilantly; although it no longer barked wildly, it emitted low 'woo-woo' sounds of threat.

Seeming to worry about the Jing River Water God's mood, the old woman comforted him.

"It's alright, Dahuang doesn't bite! Please follow me, guest."

She ushered the Jing River Water God into the living room and they sat as host and guest.

The so-called living room was actually a thatched hut. Two gardenia trees were planted at the entrance, some melons and green beans were planted by the windowsill, and there was a bamboo chicken coop in the corner of the courtyard, where a few hens were kept.

Several strings of dried chili peppers, dark red in color, were also hanging on the windowsill.

After the young woman brought the tea, the old woman took a sip and asked with a smile.

"I wonder where your young master is from, and how did he come to know my Silang?"

The Jing River Water God was slightly startled; he hadn't expected the old lady to ask this. He stroked his beard and said.

"My young master met Young Master Mei by the banks of the Jing River, and they became close friends who talked about everything. Later, they participated in the child examination together, and thus gradually became familiar."

The old woman seemed to suddenly understand.

"So that's how it is!"

Seeing that the old woman's eyes were clouded and blue, and although they were open, they lacked any luster, the Jing River Water God couldn't help but ask.

"Forgive my presumption, but does the elder have an ailment of the eyes?"

Upon hearing this, the old woman sighed.

"The gentleman is right. This old woman has been blind for over a decade. It's an old ailment; I've consulted many doctors, but none could cure it, so I gradually got used to it."

The Jing River Water God stroked his beard and smiled.

"This eye ailment of yours is but a minor matter. May I take a look?"

A minor matter? Is this person not speaking boastfully? The old woman's face subconsciously turned toward her son, Mei Silang, as if asking.

But Mei Silang smiled.

"Mother, rest assured, this gentleman is a famous doctor and will certainly cure your eye ailment!"

"Is that so?" The old woman was clearly somewhat skeptical, as was the young woman; they both stared at the Jing River Water God.

However, the Jing River Water God merely took her pulse and fed her a medicinal pill.

In just a moment, she exclaimed in excitement.

"I... I can really see, I can see!"

Everything before her eyes became clear at a speed visible to the naked eye. The old woman's white hair trembled with excitement, and she turned to look at Mei Silang's face, saying with deep emotion.

"Child, you... have grown so big, and you look more and more like your father..."

She spoke somewhat abruptly and incoherently.

Mei Silang smiled happily.

"Yes, Mother, your son has grown up... you... don't worry about me anymore from now on."

The old woman's gaze turned back to the Jing River Water God, and she asked while trembling.

"Are you the benefactor? This old woman... will kowtow to you!"

She had Mei Silang support her as she was about to kowtow to the Jing River Water God, but she was stopped by him.

"Elder, there is no need for such formalities. If you want to thank someone, thank my young master. It is precisely because of my young master's command that you and I had the fate to meet, and that I was able to cure your eye ailment. As the saying goes, for every cause there is an effect, and for every effect there must be a cause!"

The old woman: "Yes, yes, what you say is reasonable, reasonable!"

She turned back and instructed her son, Mei Silang.

"Child, another day, bring some gifts and thank your classmate on your mother's behalf."

Mei Silang smiled bitterly in his heart, thinking that the Jing River Water God had no young master commanding him; it was merely his superior, the City God of Huangliang County.

However, he dared not say it.

Far away, Su Yuanshan noticed that a few small characters had suddenly appeared on his spirit pearl.

【Merit +1】

He couldn't help but curl the corner of his mouth, thinking that it seemed the Jing River Water God was quite efficient. He must have fulfilled Mei Silang's wishes according to his instructions, which was why merit had fallen upon him.