Chapter 60: The Moon is Brightest in One's Hometown

Su Yuanshan smiled slightly and said indifferently.

"Satisfied! The Longjun is very thoughtful, you actually...."

"As long as you are satisfied!" Dongting Longjun seemed very happy and couldn't help but laugh.

"As long as you gain its recognition, this scroll of cultivation technique and secret manual will be yours."

Su Yuanshan pondered for a moment before asking.

"Does the Longjun really want to give this family heirloom to Su? Is there really no problem?"

However, Dongting Longjun just smiled.

"Our Dongting Dragon Clan's water-controlling arts are divided into three volumes: upper, middle, and lower. We have historically only practiced the first and second volumes. As for this third volume, because it is too profound and the difficulty is too great, no one has succeeded in practicing it to this day. Leaving it here is a waste, so it is better to give it to someone fated!"

Su Yuanshan: "........"

He finally understood why Dongting Longjun wanted to give this supreme treasure to him.

After all that, he hadn't even learned it himself.

But regardless, a treasure is a treasure.

Su Yuanshan said, "Since it is the Longjun's kind intention, Su will accept it. However, how can one confirm whether it has been recognized?"

Dongting Longjun stroked his beard and said.

"It is very simple. As long as you place your hand on the jade slip and do not sense any repulsive force, you are qualified. You may try."

Su Yuanshan nodded and placed his hand on the jade slip. The pale cyan jade slip not only did not release any repulsive force, but instead, its light flared brilliantly, enveloping Su Yuanshan's entire right hand in radiance. Dongting Longjun was greatly shocked at the sight and exclaimed.

"Natural affinity? This... this....."

He stared at Su Yuanshan as if looking at a freak, which made Su Yuanshan feel somewhat uneasy, and he couldn't help but ask.

"Longjun, what does this phenomenon mean? Does it mean I haven't been recognized by the jade slip?"

However, Dongting Longjun stared at him, unable to hide his excitement, his dragon whiskers twitching, and he laughed aloud.

"No, no, no, quite the contrary. This shows that you are very suitable for practicing this water-controlling technique. Perhaps...."

Su Yuanshan raised his thick eyebrows.

"Perhaps what?"

Dongting Longjun waved his hand.

"Nothing, you will naturally know in the future."

"Let us go back. I presume those subordinates of yours have already grown impatient waiting."

It is said that the Jing River Water God accompanied the water puppet Mei Silang as he finally fulfilled a series of his wishes, including returning to the imperial examination hall, seeing his old mother, wife, and children, and bidding them farewell. He also walked through almost every place he had lived in since childhood,

including the small grove where he caught cicadas as a child, the rapeseed field where he caught beetles and chased butterflies, the small pond at the entrance of the village where he once fished and caught loaches, and those childhood friends from the same village with whom he grew up.

Standing at the door of a childhood friend's house, Mei Silang did not go inside. He just watched from afar as his friend, who had already started a family, sat around the table eating. Hearing the intermittent laughter coming from inside, he couldn't help but close his eyes, revealing a look of peace and a smile.

Beside him, the Jing River Water God lightly gathered his sleeves and stood to the side, saying indifferently.

"Sometimes I really don't understand you humans. Are these fleeting moments really worth lingering over? What is the meaning? The affection in the human world is nothing but passing smoke, gone in the blink of an eye. Only lonely silence is eternal."

Mei Silang just smiled upon hearing this and did not refute, only saying.

"Because they were good to me, I remembered it. Because I can never see them again, I feel a sense of loss.

I also know that there is nothing eternal in this world, but the people I have experienced in this life and the things I have experienced have remained in my mind, and I will never, ever forget them!

I don't know why either!

When everything is lost, at least there is one thing that is still accompanying me, and that is memory. The memories others have of me—this is the only thing I have left, so....."

At this moment, his childhood friend walked out of the door holding a bowl, the rice and vegetables in the bowl not yet finished. He heard someone inside call out.

"Master of the house, why are you going out?"

The man replied, "Has Silang not eaten yet?"

Mei Silang was stunned.

"Silang?"

The man walked toward him, and just as he reached out to greet him, Mei Silang saw the man pass right through his body and walk straight toward a doghouse, where a small yellow dog was.

The man fed the thin porridge to the dog's mouth bit by bit, gently stroked its head, and whispered.

"Eat, eat!"

His expression seemed somewhat sorrowful, as if he were looking at an old friend.

"He still remembers me, he actually named the dog after me, this guy!"

Mei Silang scolded with a smile, but in the end, he couldn't help but cry.

"Bid him a final farewell. You can possess the small dog!"

After receiving permission, Mei Silang expressed his thanks and transformed into the dog. It swallowed hard, unable to stop its tears from flowing. It felt the final warmth of its childhood friend's hands and felt incomparably happy.

"Father, look, the little dog is crying!" A childish voice suddenly rang out; it was clearly the friend's child.

The friend seemed to smile, his face full of surprise.

"It really is. Perhaps it is just too hungry!"

"Come, follow Father back into the house!"

Floating out from the small dog, Mei Silang bowed deeply to the Jing River Water God and said.

"Thank you, Water God, for accompanying me all this way. My wishes are fulfilled, and I have no more burdens! Please convey my gratitude to the Chenghuangfu Lord, I beg you."

As he spoke, two figures, one black and one white, appeared beside Mei Silang. They bowed slightly to the Jing River Water God, then put on shackles and led Mei Silang away. Mei Silang looked back with every step, gazing at the homeland that gave birth to him and raised him, and softly chanted.

"Twenty years in a flash, life is like a floating dream.

Parting forever in this world, the moon is brightest in one's hometown."

The chanting voice gradually faded and finally disappeared into nothingness. The Jing River Water God stood dazed for a long while before letting out a sigh, lightly gathering his sleeves, and looking up at the bright full moon, he said indifferently.

"The time has come; I should go and report back to the Prefecture Lord!"

He rode the mist and departed, heading straight for the Huangliang County Chenghuang Temple, where he saw the puppet guards at the gate and cupped his hands in greeting.

"I must trouble you two to announce to the Prefecture Lord that the minor deity of the Jing River has come to report back!"

One of the puppet guards returned the salute and said.

"The Water God has arrived late; the Prefecture Lord has already gone to Tushan Xian!"

As he spoke, he explained the reason for the situation, and the Jing River Water God nodded slightly upon hearing it.

"I understand, thank you for informing me!"

He once again rode the mist and headed toward Tushan Xian, but unexpectedly, just after leaving the borders of Huangliang Xian and while flying amidst a vast mountain range, his path was suddenly blocked by a towering figure.

The Jing River Water God was startled, only then noticing that the one blocking him was a burly man, whose head of messy, crimson-red hair was extremely eye-catching.

The red-haired man looked the Jing River Water God up and down, crossed his arms over his chest, and with a look of complete self-confidence, asked.

"What water god are you? Are you from Huangliang Xian?"

A demon? And a very formidable Great Demon at that? It seems to be... mid-stage Linglong; this is not someone I can deal with at all. Since when did such a powerful fellow pop up in this Tushan Xian?

At this moment, the Jing River Water God felt immense pressure and shouted in a deep voice.

"What if I am? And what if I am not?"

The red-haired man laughed, a very arrogant laugh.

"If you are, then please come back with me for a cup of tea; if you are not, you will have to come back and drink with me regardless!"

The Jing River Water God could guess that the other party was clearly not saying anything kind; this fellow was definitely like a weasel paying respects to a chicken—harboring no good intentions.