Chapter 245: My Rules Are the Rules

The great array was set, and with the Three Officials' statutes in place, Heavenly Master Xu Jia presided over the altar and the scripture-chanting ceremony.

How could these four or five thousand Dragon Tiger Water Master ghosts and demons possibly stir up any waves?

The leading generals with dragon heads and tiger heads saw that the situation was dire and immediately channeled their arts, using the fog space to escape; the fog accompanying their ghost ships possessed a random teleportation function.

But the Golden Ship Salvation Array sealed the space; the Dharma Realm and You Ming were both locked by the golden ship, and these mists were of no use at all.

Instead, Xu Jia discovered that this ghost mist could actually be refined by the many Yin demons, Realm demons, and Heavenly demons within the Three Sovereigns Ten Thousand People Umbrella.

It turned out that this water division force had accidentally merged with the remnant soul of the Mirage Flood Dragon from among the many flood dragons Heavenly Master Xu had once beheaded, which was how they gained the ability to navigate through ghost mist; this Mirage Qi had the power of illusion and, even more, the power of Reversing Yin and Yang.

The various demons on the golden ship, transformed into heavenly soldiers and generals, greedily refined the ghost mist.

The mist grew thinner and thinner, and those ghost ships revealed their true forms; some looked like Captain Jack's Black Pearl, with pitch-black hulls covered in water weeds.

Without the cover of the mist, the daylight shone directly onto the ghost ships, rapidly evaporating the Water Qi; the pitch-black ghost ships actually began to burn with flames, just as they had suffered fire attacks while alive, and the water ghosts began to scream as they were scorched by the fire.

"Enter my Gold Altar, cross over on my golden ship!"

The paper person of Xu Jia spat out Fire Qi and chanted the Zhurong Fire Qi Incantation, summoning the Heavenly Li Fire; Li Fire is the fire of the sun, and the Yin Qi on the bodies of ghosts and demons is like lamp oil—it ignites upon contact.

The Dragon Tiger ghost general waved the Dragon Tiger Water Master flag and shouted, "Break through the blockade!"

But without the mist, they were like being placed into a furnace to be refined.

Yet, while they were being refined, they were also being converted by the Three Officials Scripture Curse.

Xu Jia's true self picked up a small bow—this was the Mulberry Wood Bow—and then picked up a small arrow—this was the Peach Wood Arrow. These items were very miniature, and the arrow was no bigger than a toothpick.

He aimed directly at the scene reflected in the water basin and shot an arrow.

In the Dharma Realm, the Dragon Tiger Water Master flag waved, and the ships of the various water ghosts charged toward the golden ship transformed from the Paper Boat, intending to break through the Golden Ship Salvation Array.

But the next moment, a giant arrow suddenly appeared in the sky, burning with flames and carrying an extremely heavy Yang energy.

The next instant, it landed on the ghost ships; immediately, there were many explosions and fires, and the ghost ships were destroyed outright, with the water ghosts falling into the water one after another.

After the fire burning came the water refining.

The next moment, Xu Jia personally operated the technique, though it was not the Lushan Cold Ice Hell Great Art, but the Snow Mountain Legal Decree.

"Snow Mountain Old Ancestor, heed my command!"

Ice shards gradually appeared in the water of the basin, and the water surface began to freeze.

The surface of the Xin River in the Dharma Realm was the same; the cold air froze the river surface, and those water division troops, having just been refined by fire, were immediately subjected to the punishment of cold ice.

One by one, they were frozen stiff, unable to move.

"Cross over on my golden ship, enter my Gold Altar; the sea of bitterness is boundless, turn back and find the shore."

The various heavenly beings and divine officials chanted the curse, and the Dragon Tiger ghost general could no longer manifest any of his abilities.

The next moment, Xu Jia chanted the fire curse again, and thus more solar Li Fire was invoked, and flames ignited on the bodies of the frozen ghosts...

One freezing and one refining stripped away much Resentment Qi and Evil Qi, and for a time, troops received the Dharma Treasure and were received by the golden ship.

The dragon-headed general and the tiger-headed general felt deeply annoyed, recalling the terms they had tried to negotiate with Xu Jia earlier, and felt as if they had been slapped in the face.

Unable to endure such freezing and refining any longer, they could not help but shout aloud, "We were blind and did not recognize a master; we are willing to surrender to the Heavenly Master!"

"Come aboard the ship." Xu Jia stopped the water refining and fire refining; this was not his own True Yin or True Yang, but refining them still had benefits—by borrowing the power of heaven and earth, he could truly freeze and scorch them, a real Huohai Diyu and Cold Ice Hell.

He pointed to the Paper Boat in the water basin.

The Dragon Tiger Water Master troops entered the large ship one after another; only then did Xu Jia pick up the Paper Boat, feeling it inexplicably heavy, and placed it into a jar, sealing the mouth of the jar.

Yuan Jiangjun had said there were ten thousand water ghosts, including three thousand ordinary ones; now that he had captured five or six thousand such troops, it was about complete.

Sure enough, the Evil Qi in the water dissipated, and there was no more demonic atmosphere or evil aura.

Just as he intended to close the altar, a voice suddenly called out: "Ao Jin of the Xin River Water Mansion has a grievance to report to the Heavenly Master, to report to the Dharma Official; I ask the Heavenly Master to issue an official decree to uphold justice for this minor deity!"

It was Ao Jin, who saw that the timing was right and began to crash against the Dharma Altar.

"Audacious!" Xu Jia did not move, but the various Protector Demon Gods had already moved.

They struck Ao Jin out from the altar.

"It's over!" Under the water, Yuan Jiangjun and Guiyu Po knew that things had gone wrong: "This Taoist priest is not playing fair; he is setting us up."

Guiyu Po had just witnessed Xu Jia's methods of refining water ghosts, and coupled with Xu Jia's handsome and dashing appearance, she had changed her attitude and thought secretly: Good birds choose their trees to perch in; I originally wanted to join the Dragon Lord, but had no way in, so I followed this bald man. Now that I see it, there is a ladder to climb. Although this bald man treats me well enough, if I stay with him for a hundred or two hundred years, I fear it will be hard to achieve any great success... It would be better to take this opportunity and join this Heavenly Master.

This Guiyu Po was vicious and two-faced; in this situation, she was about to use Yuan Jiangjun as a stepping stone.

Thus, she whispered, "General, do not fear. We have Merit on us; although not decreed by the Heavenly Court, we were appointed by the Rites Ministry of the Great Ning Dynasty's Dragon Court. When the time comes, we will insist that we did not seize the Water Mansion, but that the virtuous occupy it."

"What you say is very true, Madam." Yuan Jiangjun had also observed Xu Jia's methods and believed that this Golden Ship Salvation Array was sinister; even if he were truly the River Deity of the Xin River, carrying the water of the entire river, it would be difficult to escape.

Thus, he floated to the surface, manifesting his physical form.

"They've come out, they've come out!"

The people on both banks saw the Xin River bubbling, and then a male and a female appeared, bowing toward Xu Jia's Dharma Altar.

"What are these things?"

"That's the River Deity!"

"Fart! What kind of River Deity is he? He looks more like a giant turtle!"

Ignoring these atmosphere-setters, Yuan Jiangjun angrily rebuked Ao Jin: "You demonic child, you spout blood and slander! The Xin River Water Mansion is a Blessed Land of the Divine Path. As for who is the master of the Xin River and who manages the Blessed Land, you are a carp spirit who originally stole the Water Mansion and did not think to govern it, causing countless people to fall into the water and die. It was only this old man who, out of compassion and kindness, carried the drowning people up."

"That's right, that's right. I remember a few years ago, my child fell into the water, but ended up fine and paddled back to shore. Horse Six and Six said it was the River Deity's kindness."

"I remember too; a few months ago, I slipped while washing clothes, and it seemed like something lifted me up too."

Ao Jin's face turned red: "I saved people too; it wasn't just him who saved people when he arrived. It's just that I don't take saving people as a merit... and I don't like to appear in dreams or manifest."

Xu Jia knew the true background of Yuan Jiangjun and Guiyu Po, but he judged by their actions rather than their intentions; they indeed had many good deeds and had managed the area.

However, refining the Rao Pearl and overdrawing the creation was an act that disregarded the future of the people on both banks; the river's Evil Qi grew heavier, and without being combed, it would eventually become a dead river.

If they did not do these things, they would clearly be monsters causing trouble, just like how a drought occurs only when there is a Drought Demon in the fields. But because he did these good deeds and put on a layer of skin, and then went on to intercept the creation and cut off the welfare of future generations, ordinary people could not see it, and he could even maintain a good reputation. After a hundred years, when the reckoning came, he would have already relied on the intercepted creation to cultivate into a larger monster, move to a wealthier and larger river, drive away the River Deity there, steal their position, and plot for his own benefit.

According to the "Dragon-Slaying Book," this is "the enemy agent deep inside."

Therefore, demons performing divine deeds and demons wearing Buddha Robes are the same principle. However, Ao Jin truly lacked the talent to govern a Water Mansion; his personality was weak, and although he cultivated Water Virtue, it was merely a matter of blessed fortune. Holding a position of power that exceeded his abilities meant that "virtue does not match the position, thus there is disaster."

When it comes down to it, neither of them is suitable for this position.

One is a greedy official who just puts on a show, the other is a hard worker who is incompetent.

Xu Jia interrupted their bickering and said, "Yuan Jiangjun, this poor Daoist will not deceive you. This Ao Jin sought me out earlier, asking me to preside over this matter."

Yuan Jiangjun tensed up upon hearing this and stammered, "So, Heavenly Master, you are helping him?"

Xu Jia said, "I have already investigated. This Water Mansion was painstakingly built by him from nothing, over several hundred years. He follows the Innate Divine Dao and has a background from Shangjie; his father is a Water Virtue dragon of the God Immortal Realm, cultivating the Sea Eye overseas. You, however, cultivated in Poyang, built a small temple, and migrated here. Seeing this Water Mansion estate held by a mere child, you developed a desire to seize it. Is this true or not?"

"But... he lacks virtue and cannot serve as this Xinjiang Shuishin... Heavenly Master, do not be deceived by him. He is just a carp spirit; where would he get a background from Shangjie? Or is it that you, Heavenly Master, are protecting this well-connected person? Are you afraid to offend those in the upper echelons, so you are taking it out on me?"

"?"

"How bold!"

Chen Gongming shouted angrily, "Regardless of whether he has a background from Shangjie, even if he were just a small demon from the lower realm, can you just seize a Water Mansion at will?"

"Why not?" Yuan Jiangjun said, "Yours are the laws of the human race, not the laws of the Heavenly Dao, nor are they those of our water tribe. Our water tribe is always like this: those with ability and power become the king, and those without ability become shrimp soldiers and crab generals. Those willing to submit stay; those unwilling must either die or go far away."

Xu Jia nodded, "That is the logic, which is why I did not immediately uphold justice for him. You are not human, so I have no way to constrain you with human principles. However, the demon affairs of Jiangnan West Circuit are under my jurisdiction, so my rules are the rules. If you cannot beat me, you must listen to me. Is that not the logic?"

"Uh..."

"And I am a human, so my rules are basically human rules. Do you acknowledge them or not?"

This logic of Xu Jia's was truly overbearing, leaving Yuan Jiangjun so twisted up he didn't know what to say, so he could only look at his wife, Guiyu Po.

They had originally intended to use moral blackmail combined with some obfuscation, and simply refuse to admit anything.

But now they were in a position where it was difficult to get off the tiger's back.

"You cannot beat me, and you will not follow my rules. According to what you just said, you must either submit to me or go somewhere else. Is that true or not?"

"No... this..." Yuan Jiangjun did not know how he had ended up offending this Heavenly Master, saying things that left him unable to step down.

Guiyu Po's eyes flashed, and she said, "Just now the Heavenly Master said he would not deceive us, but isn't he deceiving us now?"

"I said I would not deceive, with the premise that you do not deceive me. This 'deceive' has two meanings: one is to cheat, the other is to bully."

"You cheated me, so I am bullying you; this is a very normal thing."

"Just tell me, is it as I said: you could not survive in Poyang, so you headed elsewhere, encountered this Water Mansion on the way, and developed a desire to seize it?"

"Yes." Yuan Jiangjun replied as if deflated, thinking to himself that this Heavenly Master had a sharp tongue that was just as formidable as his methods.

"That is correct, you have admitted to this matter."

Xu Jia then asked Ao Jin, "He says you lack virtue and are unworthy of the Water Mansion, leading to ten thousand water ghosts in the Xin River. Do you admit it?"

"Disciple... disciple indeed had some negligence, but it was not intentional... Disciple cultivates the Innate Divine Dao, not the Incense Divine Path; I follow the path of regulating Water Veins. The Innate Divine Dao believes in nature. I have restrained the water ghosts who wanted to harm people, but for those who actively wanted to die or whose fate had arrived, I could only leave it to the will of heaven."

"He cultivates the Incense Divine Path. If someone falls into the water and prays to the god in their heart, he has a reason to go and save them; that is a life not destined to end, crossing a hurdle... I do not understand the logic within this."

"So that means his claim that you were derelict in your duty is also correct?"

"But disciple regulates the Water Veins, making the local area an place of outstanding people and Earth Spirit... His merit from saving people is immediately visible, while what I do is visible in a hundred years... or a thousand years."

"That is another matter entirely."

Xu Jia said, "I have an idea now. Will you listen or not? If you listen, we will resolve this matter here. If you do not listen, that is not giving me face."

"Listen, we'll listen!" Yuan Jiangjun was a turtle spirit after all, and he knew that those who submit to circumstances are heroes.

Ao Jin considered himself Xu Jia's attendant already, and feeling that Xu Jia was on his side, he nodded frantically.

"In my view, the two of you complement each other perfectly: one manages human Incense Fire, the other manages the operation of the Water Veins."

"You manage the Incense Fire. When you save people who fall into the water, let the people who fell build you a temple and erect a statue, and this Heavenly Master will personally confer a title upon you. But you must yield the Water Mansion and return it to him."

"You manage the Water Veins and ignore the Incense Fire; just focus on regulating the Water Veins. At the same time, I will take you as my attendant. You will not set up a temple here, but I will allow you to have a position of salary on the Dao altar. How do you two feel about this?"

"Ah?"

Yuan Jiangjun had thought he was finished, but he did not expect there to be a turning point. He wasn't being driven away.

Ao Jin, however, was disappointed. Why not kill him? Even driving him away would have been fine; now they had to be neighbors.

Moreover, the commoners would worship this old turtle and not him, which he could not stand, as he believed he had done nothing wrong.

When Yuan Jiangjun heard that Xu Jia wanted to take Ao Jin as an attendant, he envied him for latching onto a powerful backer. He also felt that since he had a temple and received Incense Fire, and with the imperial court and this Heavenly Master Xu Jia both granting him titles, he was already a proper local deity. He had "come ashore" and was no longer a wild god. With such an estate, he would not need to run around everywhere. He said repeatedly, "This little god is willing to return the Water Mansion. This little god knows he was wrong. This little god is willing to follow the Heavenly Master's arrangements. The Heavenly Master is truly insightful and upright! This little god is convinced!"

Ao Jin, however, said, "But the treasure of the Water Mansion, the Rao Pearl, is in their hands, and they won't return it..."

Guiyu Po hurriedly took out the Rao Pearl. She had also thought Xu Jia was going to kill Yuan Jiangjun, and she had been ready to claim she was coerced after his death. She had not expected Xu Jia to judge the case this way, saving Yuan Jiangjun's life. She could not go back on her word now.

It was just that in her heart, she became increasingly infatuated with Xu Jia.

The Rao Pearl was retrieved, but Ao Jin was still indignant, so he followed what Xu Jia had taught him earlier: "According to what Yuan Jiangjun said, he is stronger than me, so he is more virtuous than me, which is why he seized the Water Mansion. Now that he is returning it, it is also because of you, Master. I still feel that he thinks I lack virtue, so I feel unconvinced. I request to engage in a battle of magic with him, using this Water Mansion as the stake. If I lose, I will wholeheartedly follow you, Master, to cultivate as an attendant and no longer concern myself with the Water Mansion. If I win, he must serve me as a subordinate, as a supporting god. I will be the orthodox one in the temple, and he will be on the side. I can do without the Incense Fire, but the prestige of the Divine Path cannot be lost."

Xu Jia listened, nodded, and turned to ask Yuan Jiangjun, "What do you think? I will not interfere in this matter; after all, you have already submitted to me, so this is your private affair."

Yuan Jiangjun looked at Ao Jin, who appeared wet behind the ears. Although he had cultivated for several hundred years, his power was not truly strong. Now there was a Dragon Scale on his forehead, but he had no terrifying aura.

He was only afraid that Xu Jia had passed on some magic or Divine Ability, but thinking carefully about Xu Jia's words just now, he felt that this Heavenly Master was upright and would not do such a thing.

So he agreed, only saying, "You are now the Heavenly Master's attendant and have gained good fortune, so I should not offend you."

"You offended me before you even knew not to."

"There is no help for it then. Let us fight. But a battle of magic is heartless; if you get hurt or injured, I cannot be held responsible."

The commoners on the shore had watched such a trial for nothing, and one by one they discussed it: "Great! The demons are also asking our little immortal to judge cases!"

"Are they going to fight! I want to see blood flow like a river!"

"I think the bald one will win. That bald one looks like he weighs two hundred pounds, holding those two bone-shaped melon hammers, just like a general."

"Where did this kid come from? Go play somewhere else!"

Although the commoners had a heart of fear toward ghosts and gods, they also had a desire to "be in the thick of it." Now they didn't feel anything about these two, just that it was a good show. They wished they could bring over stools, sell roasted melon seeds, drink a few more bowls of wine, and fry some peanuts.

(End of chapter)