[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-roaring-dragon":3,"chapter-the-roaring-dragon-the-roaring-dragon-chapter-193":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Roaring Dragon",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2282049,4463,"Chapter 193: Sanjiangkou","the-roaring-dragon-chapter-193",193,"\u003Cp>Afternoon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A large ferry was moored at the suburban dock of the capital, its decks packed with martial artists from all directions, even the open deck crowded with all manner of rogues and wanderers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jinhuan, wearing a wide-brimmed hat and carrying a long spear, dressed as an ordinary martial traveler, entered the private cabin on the third deck and set down his belongings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though it was a martial ferry, the environment from the capital was far from poor: outside, chess tables passed the time; behind beaded curtains lay beds for the attendants and concubines who had come along; standing by the window, one could overlook the deck and the riverside scenery on both banks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Gukji…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meiqiu was still annoyed from having her snack shelf confiscated last night; upon entering, she flew straight to the bed, flopped down, and fell asleep—clearly signaling: you guard the watch yourself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jinhuan paid no mind, going to the window to wait; seeing the ice lump hadn’t arrived yet, he asked:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wife? Are there any experts around?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No. The strongest here is you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jinhuan turned toward the voice and saw, seated on the chair behind him, a woman dressed in a red gown—the Red Queen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Queen wore golden hair ornaments, propped her cheek with one hand, her voluminous red robe clinging to her flawless, pale figure, one leg crossed over the other, the slender tip of her foot ending in black high-heeled shoes, half-dangling and swaying…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What a huge car…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jinhuan thought only his ghost wife could fully command this queenly aura; he turned to study her closely:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Walk two steps for me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ye Hongshang didn’t hesitate; her gaze and bearing were like an ice queen, rising gracefully from the chair with a flawless catwalk:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tap. Tap. Tap~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crisp sound was hypnotic; her long, pale legs shimmered beneath the red gown, complemented by her tall frame and the rhythmic sway of her chest and hips—enough to stir the most primal instincts in any man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jinhuan stepped forward, then realized something was off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His ghost wife was already towering in height; now, in heels and deliberately amplifying her figure, she stood over two meters tall, close before him, one hand on her hip, leaning forward slightly, gently hooking his chin with a finger:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Little brat~ Want your sister to step on you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jinhuan was stunned, glancing left and right:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Can you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As long as you like it, what can’t your sister give you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ye Hongshang raised both hands, guiding Xie Jinhuan into the armchair, then lifted her long right leg, the high heel descending toward…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Eh?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jinhuan quickly pulled back:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not there—that’d kill me. Lift your leg higher, place it on my chest.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ye Hongshang, with her astonishing height, found the motion easy; she placed the red-soled heel on his chest, the silk hem of her gown sliding down like water over her knee and thigh, revealing her plump, jade-white right leg and the red fabric…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>?!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jinhuan slid lower in the chair, tilting his head to study her, then glanced at his ghost wife:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ghost, are you trying to get me to do something? Why are you so generous today?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ye Hongshang performed a “broad shoulder, slippery robe,” one shoulder strap sliding down, revealing the plump outline of Meiqiu:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Was I ever stingy before?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uh…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jinhuan couldn’t take it anymore; he wanted to act, but the ghost couldn’t truly harm him—he could only ask:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is there more?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There is~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ye Hongshang looked down with a gaze tinged with three parts world-weariness, her cold beauty flawless; her left hand lifted the hem, pinched the bow at her waist, and slowly untied the thin ribbon…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jinhuan stared, waiting—only to find the red ribbon stretched over a meter and still no end; his expression went slightly slack:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uh… wife, you’re torturing me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s denied is what stirs desire; if I let you see it too easily, what reward will you deserve later?” Ye Hongshang said, still hooking his chin with her heel…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jinhuan found the angle unbearable; he longed to dig out his ghost wife’s true form—yet even as he savored this moment, he suddenly noticed:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Squeak~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The door opened!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A little earlier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nan Gongye, wearing a veiled hat and carrying a long sword on her back, arrived at the ferry she’d booked, a small bundle slung over her shoulder—inside, a wooden box carved with “Zheng Zheng Zheng Xia,” along with daily necessities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She hadn’t traveled with Xie Jinhuan because Zihui Mountain also needed to monitor martial activity at Sanjiangkou; she’d sent her sword case and other gear back, entrusting Zhang Guan to transport them by ferry for emergencies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When she reached the third-floor cabin, Nan Gongye took a deep breath; her sharp, phoenix-eyed gaze revealed a hint of hesitation—after all, once inside, she’d be at this boy’s mercy for the next four or five days, forced into constant proximity…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this boy would be in seclusion on the journey; he wouldn’t cause trouble until they reached Sanjiangkou…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suppressing her thoughts slightly, Nan Gongye pushed open the door and looked inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Squeak~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And there, on the bed, lay Meiqiu—unconscious!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jinhuan, dressed as a martial traveler, sprawled in the armchair like Ge You, eyes vacant, hands moving aimlessly before him—as if possessed…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Xie Jinhuan?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nan Gongye’s face changed instantly; she flashed forward, checking his breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jinhuan sprang upright at once, adjusting his clothes, his gaze first blank, then turning awkward:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lady Mu, you’re here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Gukji?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meiqiu, unwilling to watch Xie Jinhuan go mad, rolled once on the bed and turned toward the side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nan Gongye, still carrying her bundle, bent to examine his pulse—his body was fine, but beneath his waist…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What are you doing?” Nan Gongye’s gaze turned icy; she straightened up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jinhuan was receiving his ghost wife’s reward; without seeing her, the posture looked bizarre—he scrambled for an excuse:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I was just idle, contemplating martial techniques… uh… Sleepy Arhat Fist!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nan Gongye knew it wasn’t a martial technique; had she stood before him and offered her leg, it would’ve fit perfectly—her expression grew slightly disgusted:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is that so?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Heh…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jinhuan couldn’t explain well; he rose and turned to the bed:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shall I begin my seclusion now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this boy had no intention of tormenting her, Nan Gongye exhaled softly, setting down her veiled hat and bundle:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sleep. I’ll guard you. I’ll wake you when we arrive.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jinhuan couldn’t detoxify during seclusion; he wasted no time, darting forward with lightning speed to peck a kiss on the ice lump’s cheek. Pop~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he leapt onto the bed, unsealing the medicinal properties locked in his meridians, and collapsed into sleep!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nan Gongye clenched her fists, her gaze as cold as frost—but seeing Xie Jinhuan asleep and still, she didn’t bother him further, sitting at the table, intending to clear her thoughts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Meiqiu, from the inner side of the bed, flapped her wings over and landed beside her, tilting her head to stare:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Gukji?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nan Gongye blinked, raising a hand to stroke her head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meiqiu found this black-clad female martial artist familiar, but couldn’t recall where she’d seen her; she shook her head, swayed her body, and opened her beak for food.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nan Gongye didn’t know Meiqiu’s diet, but spiritual energy-rich pills were harmless even to wild spirit birds; she fed Meiqiu a Grain Grain Bigu Pill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Gukji?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meiqiu tilted her head at the pale-green pill, found it fragrant, swallowed it whole, then began pondering the meaning of birdhood:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why am I not hungry?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nothing seems appetizing…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then what’s the point of being a bird…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nan Gongye, seeing Meiqiu now perfectly well-behaved, stroked her head again, and began her own cultivation…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the other side, a suburban inn near the capital.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Chu, dressed as a martial traveler, stood with a saber at his waist, pale-faced, staring at the black-cloaked figure by the window; beside him, He Can slumped in his chair, utterly defeated, hands spread in complaint:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Say your Ghost God Sect is powerful—yet you’re constantly wiped out; say you’re weak—yet when hunting your own, you’re eerily efficient. You even found us here…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The black-cloaked figure sat by the tea table, calmly explaining:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“All who join the sect bear a mark, so the Ghost Envoys can track and eliminate them. Blood Brother Three is dead; that’s why I’ve come to take over.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Slap~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Can clapped his hands: “Good riddance! Are you the second or first in charge of the Northwest Branch?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“First.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Can tilted his head to study the hood, only to find no black smoke obscuring the face—just a bald head—and quickly averted his gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What virtue or merit do I possess that an Altar Master must come find me personally?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You are the last grandson of the He family. Once a wastrel, but now that all the worthy talents are dead, even you, a wastrel, can rise to power. When the Corpse Ancestor emerges from his seal, he’ll need a vessel—your pure yin body, inherently half-demon, is currently the best vessel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You really don’t believe in fate, do you? How many of you has Xie Jin killed? Can’t you see?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The black-robed man spoke calmly: “We’ve already located the Corpse Ancestor’s tomb. Xie Jin accepted Wei Wuyi’s invitation; when we strike, he’ll be fighting at Sanjiangkou. We have a ninety percent chance of success.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Can had not expected Xie Jin to have left; he straightened up slightly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If Xie Jin isn’t here, you still think you have only a ten percent chance of failure?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Man proposes, Heaven disposes. But even if we fail, it doesn’t matter—the Corpse Ancestor’s tomb can’t be moved. This time, we’re merely testing its defenses, so our Lord and others may break in later.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Can frowned tightly: “Are all of you in the Mingshenjiao  death cultists? If you fail, you’ll be reduced to ashes—yet you say it doesn’t matter?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The black-robed man fell silent for a moment, then removed his hood, revealing his bald head:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Everyone walks their own Dao. I conspire with your demon Daoists out of personal grudge—I don’t want the Buddhist sect to live, and I’ll take a few pounds of flesh from the Daoist sect too. Whether I die or live, the outcome is the same.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Can stared at the monk before him, gentle-faced and benevolent; after a brief silence, he bowed in Buddhist fashion:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Buddha said: “Put down the butcher’s knife and immediately become a Buddha.” Master, you seem blinded by hatred. Why not “let go”? Or if you must act, do it yourself—don’t drag this innocent man into it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The black-robed man shook his head: “Zhang Chu is useless now—he can join another branch altar. But you’re still useful. You can’t leave.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Can quickly raised his hand: “If I can’t leave, how can he? I’ll live and die with him—we’ll never be parted!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Chu’s face twisted instantly!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, the black-robed man said nothing more, pulled his hood back on, and left the inn...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>——\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sanjiangkou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The great river surged down from upstream, splitting into two outside Dan Yun Pass: most of its flow entered the pass as the main branch of Huaijiang, while its tributary became Qingjiang, flowing into Daizhou until it emptied into the sea at Longgu Beach.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The angle where the rivers met was known in the martial world as Sanjiangkou, located in Jiangan County of Jingzhou. Whoever headed south into the Central Plains or north and westward had to pass through here; every generation’s great martial gathering was held here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two days remained before the Start of Winter, but eager souls had already arrived; ferries kept docking on the river, and martial heroes rode in on galloping horses one after another.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The small county, normally home to just over twenty thousand residents, suddenly swelled to over sixty thousand, and the number kept rising. Even though every street was lined with inns, they still couldn’t accommodate everyone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, Jiangan County had hosted grand gatherings before; upon hearing the news, merchants began pitching tents and setting up stalls in the wilderness. From above, the county was entirely surrounded by tents, the riverbanks crowded with guest boats, and a vast open area was cleared at the confluence of the three rivers for the organizers’ venue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At noon, the streets of Jiangan Town were packed with people; groups of riders in bright robes and fine horses galloped past, drawing shouts and commotion:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are those from Fengshan Society?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. The man behind them is Bao Xiaolin of Jinghua Manor—his son is called Bao Fei. They say he was beaten up by Xie Jin, who’s been making waves in the capital...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Probably because his name deserves a beating. Xie Jin is a rising orthodox talent; hearing such a ridiculous name, beating him is only natural...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside a guesthouse in town, Bu Yuehua had changed into a black-blue dress, wore a veiled hat, carried a three-foot sword on her back, and had removed her spectacles and vials. She sat gracefully by the window, watching the crowd pass by.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though her figure was alluring and the veil couldn’t hide her mature charm, the countless martial guests in the inn gave her no more than a glance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, Wei Wuyi had sent out Hero Invitations—every sect master of the Great Qian’s martial elite had come; first-, second-, and third-rank cultivators flooded in like fish crossing a river. Bu Yuehua was merely a second-tier expert here, hunting for treasures. Ordinary martial folk couldn’t tell how many masters sat in the same inn, so they kept quiet, lest some passing old man crush their martial path with a single finger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only upon arriving at Sanjiangkou did Bu Yuehua realize how deep the Great Qian’s martial roots ran. But her current attention wasn’t on the Qian martialists—she was watching a table of drinkers across the tavern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were four drinkers. The leader was a broad-shouldered, thick-backed man with a large saber beside him. Though dressed plainly and covered in facial hair, Bu Yuehua recognized him: Liang Yue, second-in-command of the Southern Frontier’s Hei Yan Gang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hei Yan Gang were southern smugglers, primarily trafficking goods by sea to the Great Qian and Bei Zhou, and also engaged in piracy. They were not under the jurisdiction of the Witch Alliance and held considerable power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But three years ago, they lost a major shipment: a fully loaded merchant vessel anchored at Phoenix Harbor was stolen by a mere child. Dozens of gang members chased the thief over a hundred miles by sea—and failed. They’ve been mocked by southern martial elites ever since...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to Bu Yuehua’s knowledge, Liang Yue should have been negotiating with Qian factions along the southeast coast. His sudden appearance at Sanjiangkou clearly meant he was after Tiger Bone Vine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liang Yue’s conversation was unusual. Bu Yuehua, hidden nearby, listened carefully through the street’s din and could barely make out:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Once this is done, return south immediately. The boss found a good spot in Huofeng Valley...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huofeng Valley was the core region of the Southern Frontier, rich in treasures, but hard to locate. The greatest opportunity there was the Phoenix Tomb.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Phoenix Tomb, like the Soldier Saint’s Mountain, was a top-tier opportunity that existed but was nearly impossible to find. Legend said that taking any artifact from it altered the surrounding terrain, making it vanish forever upon return.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among those who had obtained such opportunities, Wei Wuyi was insignificant. Bu Yuehua had accidentally discovered its entrance and naturally sought this great fortune; for nearly a year she’d investigated, learning that the Phoenix Tomb’s fire element was overwhelming—only in winter could one enter, and only with specialized magic treasures.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Hei Yan Gang had also found traces, this would become troublesome. Two tigers fighting would inevitably injure each other. Bu Yuehua frowned inwardly. After listening a while longer and finding no further clues, she rose and returned to her room...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2677,"2026-06-20T01:38:11.747Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","f1411dda42c666b06e0eb74beb596f8b7cf1472007675ed9b04c6b6b92400895","the-roaring-dragon-chapter-194","the-roaring-dragon-chapter-192",252,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-roaring-dragon-cover.jpg"]