Chapter 129: Retribution In This Life
Deep within his mind, the once rough and dull Grass Talisman seal seemed to have become a bit more refined, subtly circled by mysterious flowing light that flickered.
Chen Shun’an’s internal Qi quietly circulated, producing some subtle changes.
At his glabella, a faint, almost imperceptible water ripple mark flickered momentarily before vanishing.
“How come the High God seems to have become even more divine?”
The Golden Scaled Perch’s vocabulary was limited. It widened its pair of confused, round eyes, floating on the surface and gazing perplexedly at Chen Shun’an in the courtyard.
“Idiot! What are you talking about? That’s the High God’s cultivation growing day by day, bringing him a step closer to the esteemed position of ruling the Great Marsh and dominating the four seas!”
The Silver Scholar glanced sideways at the Golden Scaled Perch, deliberately raising his voice to ensure his words clearly reached Chen Shun’an’s ears.
Hearing this, the corners of Chen Shun’an’s mouth couldn’t be suppressed from turning upward. He was clearly very pleased with this flattery and felt extremely comfortable and satisfied deep down.
He then flipped his hand over and opened it, an invisible intent emanating from his palm, like a miniature Five Finger Mountain, firmly enveloping the area around his palm.
A plump, mouthless ‘Qi Eating Insect’, its entire body as smooth as solidified fat, writhed restlessly in his palm, appearing both strange and fragile.
“Is this the thing that just bumped into my Niwan Acupoint? It seems a bit like a special Gu Worm from the Miao Territory.”
Chen Shun’an observed it closely, pondering in his mind.
Chen Shun’an naturally wouldn’t forget to search the body. This worm was obtained from Nie Zheng.
The Miao Territory is full of high mountains and treacherous peaks, shrouded in miasma. Its customs and traditions are vastly different from the Central Plains.
Even the martial artists of the Miao Territory have formed their own unique lineages of inheritance, distinct from those in the Central Plains.
Gu Worms are one such example.
The method of making Gu often involves placing various poisonous insects like snakes, scorpions, and centipedes into a sealed container, forcing them to devour each other. The one that survives in the end is the ‘Gu’.
Based on their form and characteristics, they can be divided into many types, such as snake Gu, centipede Gu, and golden silkworm Gu.
Chen Shun’an is considered an Old Veteran and has come into contact with them to some extent.
In reality, this technique is not overly mystical, and it is far from the legendary methods of Immortals.
Most Gu Worms have weak effects. They are merely anomalies among insects. Some martial artists’ Qi and Blood can even scare them to death.
However, the Gu Worm in Chen Shun’an’s hand seemed to possess a peculiar ability.
It could actually burrow into a person’s brain, gnawing at the Niwan Acupoint, and it was related to the Divine Essence and Qi Essence that could not be directly touched in the darkness.
It’s quite a precious worm.
“The Wuqing Stick Bureau should have an illustrated guide to Miao Territory Gu Worms. If I can find related information, it might be worth paying attention to.”
Chen Shun’an secretly noted this down in his heart.
This thing’s origin was unknown, so Chen Shun’an naturally wouldn’t rashly place it in his Niwan Acupoint like Nie Zheng did.
Moreover, Chen Shun’an strongly suspected that with his Niwan Acupoint now opened, Innate Qi was accumulating within him like a vast ocean.
Although Chen Shun’an couldn’t actively summon it, if this worm were to enter, it would likely be instantly crushed into powder by that majestic Qi.
“Ah? What is that smell, it smells so good…”
“It’s coming from the High God. How did the High God become so fragrant…”
Just then, two faint but clear thoughts successively entered Chen Shun’an’s mind.
He looked over and saw, in the tile basin fish tank, a Silver Scholar gnawing on a fish head and a Golden Scaled Perch trembling at the bottom of the tank. Both seemed attracted by something invisible.
They excitedly swam to the surface, their fish lips parting, appearing restless.
With a thought, Chen Shun’an pinched the still slightly wriggling Qi Eating Insect between two fingers and slowly walked to the fish tank.
Inside the tank, the two fish mouths were already wide open, like young birds waiting to be fed, looking eagerly at the plump white worm on his fingertips.
The Qi Eating Insect, as if sensing the threat of its predator, struggled and wriggled frantically.
Plop!
Plop!
Several drops of clear, crystalline ‘excrement’ slid from the tail of the Qi Eating Insect.
The two Precious Fish immediately darted forward, greedily swallowing those drops of liquid into their bellies.
A moment later, Chen Shun’an was surprised to find that the spirituality of these two Precious Fish seemed to have become even more potent than before.
Even their scales appeared more dense and lustrous, clearly having benefited significantly.
In contrast, the Gu Worm became increasingly listless, lying still in Chen Shun’an’s hand, appearing to be dead.
Wish +3
Wish +4
Two messages appeared consecutively.
“Well, it’s turned into a sustainable ecosystem…”
Chen Shun’an couldn’t help but laugh and cry.
However, as the High Yuan Water God, the future Lord of Mountains and Rivers, wasn’t his domain about the symbiosis of all spirits and natural balance, and endless cycles?
“Brother, you’re back? I heard something big happened at the county yamen, are you alright?”
Just then, the courtyard gate creaked open.
Wan Niang, carrying a small bamboo basket, bustled in. Seeing Chen Shun’an standing safely in the courtyard, her face immediately relaxed, and she let out a sigh of relief.
As she spoke, she skillfully took out some newly bought *Wu Zhu Yu* leaves from the basket and spread them on the stone platform in the courtyard to dry.
Chen Shun’an quietly put away the Gu Worm in his palm and smiled to reassure her.
“Don’t worry, I just watched the excitement from afar. What could possibly happen?”
Hearing this, Wan Niang finally felt at ease and began preparing the medicinal herbs.
Chen Shun’an took out the *Three Fates Compendium* and began to read it.
“I wonder what treasures I can exchange for with Third-class Great Merit in the treasury of the Wuqing Stick Bureau?”
This thought quietly circled in his mind, carrying a hint of anticipation.
…
The sun had lost its radiance, yet had not fully set. The sky was filled with lingering clouds.
Fifty li west of Wuqing County, Ding Fu Village.
This was the stronghold of Ding Zhang, the wellhead of Wuqing County’s water station. It had a hundred mu of fertile land, stables, pastures, and threshing grounds, complete in every way, truly a self-contained small world.
Most of the residents here were Ding Zhang’s blood relatives.
And at this moment, deep within Ding Fu Village, in a two-story building with dark tiles and white walls.
“Alright, today’s insect fighting ends here. If you’d like, please stay in the fort and have a bite of what I’ve grown myself…”
Ding Zhang’s face showed a hint of unfinished contentment as he carefully placed his victorious pet grasshopper into a sandalwood gourd.
On the table before him, the winnings from this insect fight were scattered.
Banknotes, gold ingots, and even a few pages of ancient martial arts fragments, all in all, were of considerable value.
Before Ding Zhang could finish speaking, many of the Water Station Landlords immediately stood up, cupping their hands in polite refusal.
“Farewell!”
“Your hospitality is appreciated, Ding Wellhead, but I have some mundane matters at home…”
“We’ll arrange another time!”
Zhao Guangxi cursed Ding Old Dog in his heart, calling him a miser who clings to money even in his coffin. A flicker of anxiety crossed his eyes, and he quickly stood up with the others, striding towards the hall exit.
It so happened that Ding Zhang chose this very day to invite all the Water Station Landlords of Wuqing County to this manor far from the county seat.
He claimed it had been months since they last met and proposed an insect-fighting gathering.
Zhao Guangxi suspected that his repeated secret communications with the Guo Lu Society might have been vaguely noticed by those above.
This was why Ding Zhang used this pretext to get the Water Station Landlords of Wuqing County away, so they wouldn’t interfere in the grudges between the imperial court and the Guo Lu Society.
During this time, Ding Zhang even dismissed his attendants, strictly forbidding anyone from disturbing them, cutting off all contact between the landlords and the outside world.
Especially Zhao Guangxi, who already had a guilty conscience, felt like he was sitting on pins and needles all day.
Now that the insect fighting was over, he felt even more uneasy and anxious.
The Wuqing Stick Bureau had set up a net, with not only Lu Jing overseeing but also ferocious individuals like the Iron Buddha Nie Zheng charging into battle.
He had funded the Guo Lu Society with twenty thousand taels of silver, and the debt was not yet fully repaid. If these people were gone, wouldn’t that be a huge loss!
Moreover, if people were gone, it might be simpler.
If any members of the Guo Lu Society were captured alive by the imperial court and interrogated, even a man forged of iron and cast in bronze could not endure repeated torture.
What if his collusion with the Guo Lu Society and their exchange of interests were revealed…
Thinking of this, Zhao Guangxi’s pace quickened, almost jogging directly towards the stables.
“Alas, I don’t know how things are in the city. I don’t care if the Wuqing Stick Bureau and the Guo Lu Society are fighting to the death, but my stupid subordinates below must be smart enough not to be used as pawns…”
“Indeed. However, the people from the Guo Lu Society have likely suffered heavy casualties. Lu Jing and Nie Zheng working together, plus a group of first-rate experts supporting them… recovering bodies? Difficult, difficult, difficult.”
“Let’s just hope it doesn’t get too big and affect innocent bystanders.”
A few landlords walking behind them murmured in low voices, full of worry.
At the stables, servants had already prepared the saddles and bridles.
Zhao Guangxi, consumed by anxiety, grabbed the reins and was about to mount his horse when he heard a sinister voice from behind.
“My dear brother, you’re just a little late returning to Wuqing County, why are you in such a hurry?”
Zhao Guangxi turned around and saw a man standing with his hands behind his back, not far away in the twilight.
His facial features bore a six or seven-tenths resemblance to Zhao Guangxi, but his eyes were shrouded in an unresolvable gloom and coldness. It was his elder brother, Zhao Guanghui.
“Zhao Guanghui, we severed ties long ago. Stop calling me brother and get out of my way.”
Zhao Guangxi coldly uttered these words and mounted his horse.
“Alas, brother, we are born of the same mother and our flesh and blood are connected. How can we say we are severed just because we wish it?”
Zhao Guanghui said, unhurriedly stepping back a few paces, clearing the path.
He perceived the anxiety in Zhao Guangxi’s expression and showed a hint of smug satisfaction at his scheme succeeding.
The Zhao family had fallen apart. The eldest son, Zhao Guanghui, inherited the family property, but Zhao Guangxi had won the hearts of the people and was favored by several elder statesmen with old ties to the Zhao family.
He had, in essence, inherited the Zhao family’s connections.
Especially a certain principal who held a position second only to the President in the North Grand Canal Branch, having received favor from the Zhao family in the past, now held Zhao Guangxi in high regard.
That was Zhao Guangxi’s greatest support.
“Why do those old fellows value such a soft-hearted person so highly! I revitalized the Zhao family and built this foundation, yet they pay no attention to me… It’s unfair!!”
The jealousy and unwillingness in Zhao Guanghui’s heart burned like poisonous flames, almost distorting his face.
Then, he thought of the arrangements in the city today, and a twisted sense of pleasure quickly suppressed his anger.
Chaos in the county, the Guo Lu Society seizing bodies.
He assumed Hong Junxian had already ‘pressured’ that old man surnamed Chen according to his instructions.
This way, it would also curb the spirit of my good brother.
In the long run, we’ll play slowly.
He watched Zhao Guangxi’s retreating back as he rode away, a cold glint in his eyes.
Zhao Guangxi rode out of Ding Fu Village and just crossed the drawbridge when he saw Zhou Qing also on a Dark Red Horse, as if he had been waiting for a long time.
Not only Zhou Qing, but also many trusted subordinates of other landlords were anxiously waiting for their respective masters outside the bridge.
A moment later, after hearing what Zhou Qing had to say, Zhao Guangxi was lost in thought for a long time.
Old Chen, turns out to have the Chong He Martial Tendon Body?
And he saved Hong Junxian?
Zhao Guangxi suddenly took a deep breath, forcefully suppressing his churning emotions. He yanked hard on the reins, turned his horse’s head, and no longer hurried back to the county town. Instead, he stopped beside an old tree by the roadside, gazing with deep eyes towards the exit of Ding Fu Village.
“East owner, what’s wrong?” Zhou Qing asked.
A complex and meaningful smile slowly appeared on Zhao Guangxi’s face as he said,
“No rush. I’m waiting for someone. Waiting for my good brother to come out.”
