Chapter 199: You Pass!
Chen Shun’an’s relocation house banquet ended just like that in a muddle.
Although the limelight was ultimately stolen by Zhang Xiangling.
But the entire Nine Great Families knew that the newly moved-in Chen family was extraordinary.
They could not view him as an ordinary water well shopkeeper.
Who knew how many people wanted to fawn over him, some sending fields and estates, some sending shops and houses, and some impoverished relatives of Wan Niang coming to seek employment as servants for protection.
These trivial matters did not require Chen Shun’an’s personal attention.
Wan Niang increasingly carried herself like a matron, arranging these affairs in perfect order, while Chen Shun’an only needed to worry about selling water and practicing martial arts.
And starting from the day of the house banquet, the garbage that the neighboring streets and alleys on both sides used to habitually pile up at the side gate of Mianyi Residence vanished without a trace and was never placed there again.
Spacious, neat, bright—even the ground tiles stained with the smell of foul water were replaced anew.
Jiang the Fool, who handled garbage disposal, came first every day to collect the Chen family’s garbage, refusing tips and never lingering, just grinning cheerfully.
Even the occasional candy wrappers blown in by the wind disappeared in moments, as if someone specially picked them up.
For a time, harmony reigned on both sides of the Nine Great Families, with a congenial atmosphere.
Chen Shun’an got along extremely amicably with these new neighbors.
……
“The Silver Scholar’s side is about ready too. General Huang has repeatedly urged the Silver Scholar to quickly lure and capture me. He’s probably lost patience and is blinded by stolen qi…”
“Red Scale? That great demon seen in the water that day—its strength is probably even greater than I anticipated. A demon immortal?”
Two days later, after arranging various county affairs properly.
Chen Shun’an set out himself, using the pretext of ‘going to the Three Forked Road to slay demons, accumulate merits, and worrying about his family having no one to care for them,’ leaving Wan Niang and Qingchen to temporarily reside at Zhao Guangxi’s residence.
Red Fifth Master was too full to move, sending Tian Xuan Saint down the mountain.
And from the looks of it, Tian Xuan Saint had already disguised herself for a low-key journey.
Tian Xuan Saint was perhaps searching for Chen Shun’an, whose identity had not yet been fully exposed.
And Chen Shun’an was also searching for her.
With Tian Xuan Saint not eliminated, he could not feel at ease.
And to guard against any contingencies like dramatic threats to his loved ones’ lives, Chen Shun’an decided that as long as he left Wuqing County, he would temporarily entrust Wan Niang and the others to Zhao Guangxi.
Or leave them at Crouching Tiger Well.
Zhao Guangxi commanded the Chengping Temple Well Sword and Crouching Tiger Well had Elder Feng guarding it—both were Slay Five Thieves Realm combatants.
Enough to deter Tian Xuan Saint and make her hesitate to act.
“Tian Xuan Saint, where are you?”
Leaving Wuqing County and arriving in the wilderness, looking at the endless carriages and horses on the official road, Chen Shun’an’s eyes revealed a profound glint.
Though martial artists had strong muscles and bones and vigorous qi and blood, they neither knew divination by finger-counting nor could summon spirits through the netherworld—at most they had instinctive warnings from sudden heart stirrings, which was indeed inconvenient.
Chen Shun’an instead focused his attention on the Precious Proclamation in his mind.
【Grass Talisman（80/100）】
【Wish: 183—>992】
【Remaining Ran Yi Fish Scales: 59/108】
After these four days of distributing water, sacrificing his looks, and seeking the dao from Qingchen, the daily gains in wishes were basically over two hundred, not far from Grass Talisman Perfection and the Divine Aspect · Ran Yi Fish upgrading again.
But Chen Shun’an did not go all-in, dumping all his wishes into the Grass Talisman at once.
He kept them stockpiled for now, in case of need when blessing guardian deities.
As for those Ran Yi Fish Scales…
A trace of gloom flashed in Chen Shun’an’s eyes.
If no more supplements came, would he really have to pluck that two-legged Ran Yi Fish bald?
Soon, Chen Shun’an arrived at the Three Forked Road.
But unlike the last time protecting the pearl gathering Tanka fishermen, the current Three Forked Road was heavily fortified with high gates and sturdy walls, vast grounds and deep pools, pitched with camp tents like a military barracks—even Wuguan Camp had dispatched a hundred-man army to garrison here together.
Standing at the roadside tavern, Chen Shun’an could still see under the central army’s large banner, a commander flag with a “Liu” character over a zhang square, flapping fiercely in the biting River Wind.
“Liu Qingyi, Lu Jing, and the others seem intent on settling this once and for all, getting serious?!”
Chen Shun’an sensed the pervasive killing intent in the air, his gaze sharpening.
Walking along the riverbank, people along the way occasionally greeted Chen Shun’an.
Far off, dozens of fishing boats were lined up at the dock, with martial artists gathered on the boats and the shore, occasionally accompanied by frog croaks and dog barks, along with human imitations of oral techniques.
“Amazing—Xiao Changping actually managed to teach frogs, make ants form arrays, and take on translating monster language. It has to be him.”
“Hard to say. Xiao Changping can handle some beasts and birds, but he’s hit-or-miss with water creatures. I think it still has to be Mo Long A Tai—haven’t you seen those fish jumping into his fish basket themselves?!”
“Sigh, Purple Iron Cattail Milk—if I got that treasure, I’d have slain the mind thief long ago, probably not much inferior to Leader Lu!”
“Such big talk—you go do it then?”
“Why can’t I?!”
Chen Shun’an glanced briefly—it turned out to be a group of experts fluent in birds and beasts language practicing their skills, drawing a crowd to watch.
Chen Shun’an did not want to get involved and turned to enter the public office.
“Brother Chen? How come you’re here? No need for your noble well to deliver Five Wheels Eight Treasures Water and other supplies recently?”
A warehouse keeper spotted him and immediately came over, his expression a bit odd.
“Brother Fang, I’m here to receive a mission.” Chen Shun’an smiled and cupped his hands.
This was the warehouse keeper who had also attended Chen Shun’an’s house banquet a couple days ago, originally from Longnan, who came to Wuqing as a child with his father to make a living and settled here.
Chen Shun’an had stayed at the Three Forked Road for several days last time, and since they were half-fellow villagers, they became acquainted after a few interactions.
Mission?
Warehouse Keeper Fang’s eyes widened abruptly upon hearing this, his expression strange: “Brother Chen really understands birds, beasts, and monster language?”
“Could it be fake?”
Chen Shun’an’s tone was firm.
Seeing this, Warehouse Keeper Fang was full of hesitation but could only shake his head helplessly, leading Chen Shun’an along while explaining.
“Brother Chen, you came at the perfect time. Leader Lu went into seclusion two days ago and successfully broke through to the Slay Five Thieves Realm, so in these couple days, he’ll set out personally, leading the way to the Grand Canal Porpoise’s location to test those skilled in birds and beasts.”
“When we get to the banner officer, there’ll be a monkey demon for the test. Brother Chen just needs to describe a few of its actions or the meaning of a few ape words to pass.”
Lu Jing had actually broken through to the Slay Five Thieves Realm?
Chen Shun’an was somewhat surprised to hear this.
Lu Jing was not old, around forty, and the year he broke with Zhao Guangxi, he had just turned thirty, but had only recently broken through to the True Intent Realm.
Though later he switched allegiances and gained a tremendous opportunity at Master Tie Yu’s tomb, allowing him in just ten short years to first slay the mind thief, then successively break through three passes to the Slay Four Thieves Realm.
But it had been less than a year since his last breakthrough.
Unexpectedly, he had achieved another milestone in such a short time.
Was slaying the mind thief really so effective?
In terms of aptitude now, Lu Jing was probably only slightly inferior to Chen Mou.
Yet Chen Shun’an had opened his mud pill, with intent as strong and divine essence as abundant as Lu Jing’s—not inferior at all.
He did not think slaying the mind thief had such a great effect.
Warehouse Keeper Fang was beaming with delight and brimming with joy—clearly, as a fellow Martial Arts Hall graduate, he took pride in Lu Jing’s breakthrough.
After all, the scene of Liu Qingyi, like a god or demon, nearly single-handedly suppressing Zhao Guanghui was still fresh in memory.
Now their side had another figure who could contend with Wuguan Camp, giving the Martial Arts Hall’s martial artists more confidence in slaying demons.
So although Chen Shun’an vaguely felt something off and guessed Lu Jing might have another opportunity.
Seeing Warehouse Keeper Fang like this, he did not say more.
And that ‘monkey demon for the test’ was not hard to understand.
That Grand Canal Porpoise was now the Wuqing Stick Bureau’s prized treasure, specially diverted into a river bend and served like an ancestor with fine food and drink—no ordinary person could get close.
Naturally, they could not let a bunch of martial world charlatans falsely claim the mission and approach the Grand Canal Porpoise.
They needed to screen a bit and test skills first.
But…
Monkey demon?
Chen Shun’an’s heart suddenly skipped a beat.
His divinity was closeness to water spirits, not closeness to all spirits!
He did not understand that monkey demon’s monster language!
“This Wuqing Stick Bureau is way too makeshift—since it’s translating porpoise language, why not find some shrimp soldiers or crab generals, or even sea-patrolling yakshas? Why a mountain runner?!”
Chen Shun’an grumbled inwardly.
Passing through the corridor, the bustle of the public office main hall hit them head-on.
Under the wall hanging the detailed river map, martial artists filed in one after another, some receiving missions, others handing over orders.
Several young men brimming with fierce valor took missions, gripped their sabers, and strode past Chen Shun’an and the others, their voices resounding,
“That loach demon from the last night raid on the Three Forked Road hasn’t been brought to justice yet. Us brothers will team up and use this chance to make our name in Wuqing County!”
“Be careful—that loach demon is slippery as hell. Even Wuguan Camp and seniors like Lin Shou Zhuo specially squatted for days and got nothing. We gotta stay sharp.”
“Afraid of him? He hurt my fellow villagers—I’ll squat him a month or a year and poke holes in him!”
Chen Shun’an paused briefly to let them pass, watching their receding backs before withdrawing his gaze.
Moments later, Chen Shun’an and Warehouse Keeper Fang reached a banner officer.
This banner officer had a swarthy face and a tiger-head saber at his waist. After Warehouse Keeper Fang explained the purpose, he just glanced at Chen Shun’an and barked toward the back,
“Bring the monkey demon over!”
“Yes, sir!”
The martial artist responded and ran toward the public office backyard.
Soon, the clanking of iron chains and some anxious sound came from the backyard.
Then the martial artist hurried back, sweat beading on his forehead, his face ashen as he said,
“Sir, the monkey demon is dead.”
“What? How did it die?”
The banner officer slammed the table, sending the documents on it jumping.
“The pharmacy physician examined it—the monkey demon worked nonstop for three days, either leaping high and kicking wildly to perform body language or howling monkey cries… it died of exhaustion!”
Hearing this, the banner officer’s face darkened instantly.
That beast was so useless, dying from just three days?
I worked five straight days without closing my eyes!
“Then hurry and fetch another monster!”
“Still searching everywhere… Sir, you know, ordinary demons are one thing, but ones with intelligence that can even communicate are rarer than three-legged frogs! Probably takes a few more days…”
“This…”
The banner officer turned back, looking at Chen Shun’an before him, suddenly at a loss.
This Chen Shun’an was not someone to trifle with.
He seemed like a nice guy.
Saved Hong Junxian and funded solatium for the orphanage.
But those who opposed him seemed to come to no good end.
And now he had Zhao Guangxi, the wellhead of Wuqing, backing him, on good terms with Qianning Envoy Ma Liangcai.
Truly eating both black and white, connections to the heavens.
Leader Lu would emerge from seclusion in these two days, taking the vetted experts to the Grand Canal Porpoise.
If Chen Shun’an had to wait a few more days, he’d miss it.
With Chen Shun’an’s temperament, wouldn’t he give me an earful?
Thinking of this, the banner officer gritted his teeth, took a bamboo token from under the table, and wrote Chen Shun’an’s name and record.
He had Chen Shun’an sign and seal it, went through the process, and finally handed him a set of clothes and a pair of shoes and socks.
The banner officer said: “Brother Chen, I won’t hide it from you—by procedure, this doesn’t follow the rules… But I’ve long heard of your good reputation, and since you dared come for this mission, you must be fully confident. So I’ll make the call: no assessment needed, you pass directly and can follow Leader Lu straight to the porpoise’s location.”
