Chapter 237: Spilled Water Can Be Retrieved
Rumble!
Lightning flashed and thunder roared, with streaks of silver snakes filling the long sky.
Billions of icy rain arrows were hurled down from the ninth heaven, carrying shrill whistles as they smashed fiercely onto the turbid, surging river surface.
Waves raged like fury, wind rolled like peaks.
Amid this turbulent river surface, a painted boat glided steadily, unmoved no matter how the surrounding gale and waves battered it.
Near the painted boat, there were also sampan boats and boat canopies, large and small vessels numbering about thirty or forty, guarding the painted boat like stars cupping the moon.
“As expected of the Commander, making a rare trip back to the county, and so many people come specially to visit.”
“Who says otherwise? Even people from the water station are making trip after trip to deliver immortal water. I’d say Commander Zhu Tao is about to become an immortal!”
“Once Commander Zhu Tao becomes an immortal, can we also ride his coattails to heaven and become some kind of fan-holding tray-bearing attendant? Hahaha!!”
“He Hui and the others have delivered the water and gone back… With such big waves and strong winds, these water carriers might not be used to the river environment. Should we escort them partway?”
“Escort my ass! We’re the renowned Caobang. Back then, we were highly valued by His Majesty the Emperor. It’s only because people change like the tea that the water station rose to power. Otherwise, the Four Overlords of the Capital would be us Caobang, not the water station!”
Several Caobang gang members, wearing straw cloaks and bamboo hats, sat under the boat canopy playing pai gow.
Occasionally looking outside the window, one could see several small boats tossed and swaying in the wind and rain.
The group of water carriers rowing on them were utterly bedraggled, their bodies indistinguishable between sweat and rainwater.
The Caobang gang members’ gazes toward this group of water carriers were filled with indifference, hostility, and disregard.
Crack!
Blinding white lightning instantly tore through the pitch-black sky.
The distant river scenery was long invisible, only a vast expanse of white rain mist connecting heaven and water.
Suddenly, the Caobang gang members vaguely sensed a group of auras rapidly approaching, tearing through the white rain mist and outlining the shadows of three boats.
“Who comes…”
A True Intent Martial Artist in green clothes walked to the bow, casually wiping water droplets from his face, his voice carrying a slight warning suddenly cutting off.
Something’s wrong!
The newcomers’ strength is extremely high!
Despite the pouring rain and battering wind and waves, these three small boats remained steady, with no rain entering and even the decks dry and pristine.
They sailed smoothly into this river area, as leisurely as boating on a spring day.
Forming a stark contrast with the other water carriers who came to deliver water, and even these Caobang boats.
At the bow of one of the small boats stood a silent figure.
Of ordinary appearance with slightly white temples, his robe flapping, he looked like an ordinary old man, but his demeanor was calm and steady, like a sea-fixing needle nailing the three boats firm in the wind and rain.
Seeing this, the green-clothed martial artist tensed up, took a small step forward against the heavy rain, cupped his hands, and said,
“Which senior is the visitor?”
“Not quite a senior. Acting on orders from Zhao Lu Lu Tou, here to deliver water. This humble one is Chen Shun’an.”
Chen Shun’an?
Hearing this, a trace of doubt flashed in the green-clothed martial artist’s eyes. Among the named True Intent experts in Wuqing County, there seemed to be no such person, though the name felt somewhat familiar.
But in the next instant, he suddenly reacted, looking at Chen Shun’an with some surprise and uncertainty.
So this Chen Shun’an really did it, slaying the mind thief?!
Thinking of this, the green-clothed martial artist couldn’t help but show a bit of admiration.
Precisely because he was also a martial artist, a True Intent Martial Artist, he knew even better the difficulties of slaying the mind thief. Even with external resources and supplies, mindset, perseverance, and comprehension were indispensable.
Otherwise, Lu Jing wouldn’t have his current status.
So even though Chen Shun’an was an outsider, the green-clothed martial artist respected him as a real man.
The green-clothed martial artist cupped his hands in salute and said,
“So it’s Brother Chen on orders to escort this batch of immortal water. Please reduce your manpower, bring the immortal water, and follow me.”
With that, the green-clothed martial artist reached out and removed his straw cloak, his figure flickering a few times as he took a sampan boat and headed straight for the painted boat.
The boats along the way parted, making way.
Sensing the surrounding pairs of gazes with unclear intentions, full of scrutiny, spying, and indifference, Chen Shun’an simply called Lin Shou Zhuo to accompany him, leaving Shopkeeper Li, Xun Ye, Zhang Jinghe, and others temporarily on the other boats.
Then Chen Shun’an shook the oar, and the boat shot forward like an arrow from a string, arriving under the central painted boat in a few blinks.
The green-clothed martial artist turned back, pointed at the painted boat, and said,
“Brother Chen, it’s quite a coincidence today. Our Commander is hosting friends, including a big figure from Fengchi Daoist Academy. Don’t go to the main hall later; follow me and avoid offending any noble persons.”
“Understood.”
Chen Shun’an nodded calmly.
The painted boat had three decks, each covered with oiled cloth rain curtains embroidered with twining lotus patterns. Rainwater dripped along the edges into crystalline lines, without a drop seeping into the cabin.
Chen Shun’an and the others each carried water pouches on their backs, leaped aboard, landed on the deck, and under the green-clothed martial artist’s lead, entered the first deck, where warmth instantly enveloped them.
From afar came sounds of drinking and merrymaking.
Passing the main hall, the hall door was slightly ajar.
Inside the hall was utmost luxury, displaying Hotan jade ornaments, Ru kiln celadon, and Western glass cups.
In the center was a wine table, seated with quite a few ‘familiar faces’.
Transport Chief Zhu Tao wore tight-fitting clothes, with bulging temples and coiled muscles all over, a robust man like forged iron.
Xiao Lian Gong Wang Zhicheng, elegant like a handsome young lord, was also among them.
The others, five or six people, all had robust qi and blood, having stepped into the True Intent Realm, young and outstanding persons.
At this moment, these people occupied the lower seats. Including host Zhu Tao, they frequently toasted and looked at the person in the seat of honor with fawning expressions.
This person wore wide vermilion sleeves and brocade clothes, exuding nobility, dressed in a dragon-emblem jacket, clearly of significant background.
He lightly toyed with a green bamboo glass cup in his hand, casually responding with a pointer or two, which excited the group of young outstanding persons like they’d been injected with chicken blood.
It was just that one of his eye sockets was somewhat bruised and purple, as if punched by someone. Even with magic power constantly flowing to cleanse it, it couldn’t be concealed at all.
Of course, among those present, only Chen Shun’an could see this person’s sorry state; the others were completely unaware.
“This is that sea-raging silver dragon from Fengchi Daoist Academy, Wu Wudi?”
Chen Shun’an naturally glanced at the people in the hall, his gaze passing over Wu Wudi without lingering.
“Tian Xuan, Tian Xuan?”
At the same time, Chen Shun’an silently recited in his heart.
Above the Divine Palace, the Water Origin Great Emperor’s treasure form was solemn, with incense smoke rising, answering across space and time.
“I am here.”
Tian Xuan Saint’s pious voice came through.
“What is the background of the sea-raging silver dragon, Wu Wudi? How is his cultivation?”
“Wu Wudi is a Martial Dao Heavenly Pride who emerged from Wuqing County thirty years ago. Due to a thin bloodline of Bai Shan Ren in his ancestors, he entered Fengchi Daoist Academy, entering the Path by slaying four thieves, Meridian Opening in ten years, then Qi Absorption. Even among immortals, he’s not weak, hence the name Wu Wudi.”
“As for other details, what immortal method he cultivates, what his true form is, this little god does not know due to insufficient strength and status.”
To Chen Shun’an now, Tian Xuan Saint was simply a walking encyclopedia of the Immortal Path; any information gap could be asked of her.
Hearing this, Chen Shun’an understood.
Entering the Path by slaying four thieves?
Indeed, he has some skill.
Probably one of the lucky ones who passed the Four Great Daoist Academies’ year-end grand celebration back then.
But why doesn’t he seem invincible? He got beaten?
“Alright, I understand. You may withdraw.”
“As per the decree.”
Tian Xuan Saint’s voice no longer sounded.
Chen Shun’an muttered a couple things in his heart, then followed the green-clothed martial artist, preparing to go to the place to store the water.
“Eh? Chen Shun’an?”
At the table, Wang Zhicheng was slightly tipsy and inadvertently spotted a familiar figure passing outside the hall, immediately calling out lightly.
Chen Shun’an paused slightly, turned, cupped his hands, and said,
“Xiao Lian Gong.”
Wang Zhicheng fixed his gaze on Chen Shun’an, exclaiming in surprise, as if discovering something, the drunkenness fading from his face.
This aura— he really slayed the intent thief?
Wang Zhicheng stood up and walked toward Chen Shun’an.
He suddenly smelled a faint sweat odor from Lin Shou Zhuo and the others, along with a special fishy stench from deep-dug water wells.
He calmly stopped in his tracks, across the hall door, smiled at Chen Shun’an, and said,
“What a coincidence, running into Brother Chen here. Come, come, let me introduce you… This is Zhu Tao, Commander Zhu. You met last time at the Martial Arts Hall. This is Liu Wenbin, this is…”
At the table, the others had been somewhat putting on airs, but seeing Wang Zhicheng take the initiative to introduce, they each coughed a few times as a greeting.
“As for this one.”
Wang Zhicheng turned to the figure in the seat of honor, saw no anger or joy, and then carefully said,
“This is the senior from Fengchi Daoist Academy, the sea-raging silver dragon Wu Wudi.”
Wang Zhicheng was, after all, a juren scholar and had once been half a Hanlin Academy Scholar, so he had some contact with the status and existence of immortals in the Sacred Dynasty.
He also knew that the sea-raging silver dragon before him was an immortal blending light and dust, even with some ties to the imperial family, and couldn’t help but show a humble expression.
Wu Wudi glanced indifferently at Chen Shun’an, suddenly recalling something, a trace of wariness flashing in his eyes, and said,
“You’re from the Tongzhou Zhang Clan?”
Chen Shun’an cupped his hands and replied: “Not yet on the clan registry, just considered a branch of the Zhang Clan.”
“Hmph! Close enough. That Zhang Xuling is quite lucky, not only finding a grandmaster seed, but also you, a Three Refinements Martial Body, a late bloomer!”
Wu Wudi gave Chen Shun’an a deep look, his expression struggling slightly, as if pondering something. But thinking of Zhang Xuling’s figure, who disregarded immortal virtues—clearly agreed on fair Dao discussion and spell contest, yet used hidden weapons to sneak attack…
Wu Wudi snorted coldly, waved his hand, not wanting to say more to Chen Shun’an.
“Brother Chen, I forgot to ask, how did you end up on the boat?”
Wang Zhicheng turned and asked curiously.
“On orders to escort a batch of Five Wheels Eight Treasures Water…”
Chen Shun’an pointed to the water pouch on his back.
Wang Zhicheng suddenly understood, his gaze turning to Zhu Tao still seated at the table.
Zhu Tao hesitated, then feigned boldness and said,
“Who would’ve thought it was a case of family not recognizing family… Like this, Brother Chen, your water station doesn’t need to continue supplying Five Wheels Eight Treasures Immortal Water to me. I’ll waive your share. Take this batch of immortal water back…”
“But it concerns my cultivation, so the other eight water stations cannot be exempted. Business is business; please forgive us, Brother Chen.”
Spilled water can be recovered.
Deep wells can be refilled.
This immortal water drawn from well-digging, if promptly refilled and the excavated soil replaced, with the water-suppressing stone rhinoceros returned to position, could to some extent alleviate the water quality pollution.
Though unable to restore water quality 100%, it could achieve about seventy to eighty percent.
