Chapter 84: Divine Might In Full Display, New Changes In Grass Head God Divinity!
Chen Shun’an’s voice was calm, masked by the wind in the night, hard to hear clearly.
But at this moment, for some reason, falling into the Golden Scaled Perch’s ears, it was like an ancient call from the Yunmeng Great Marsh in Chu land of Yuan and Xiang, that vague and unknowable mysterious past.
That was the will of the god, the voice of the god.
Even the water in the water vat seemed to come alive, possessing will, vibrating slightly in response.
The Golden Scaled Perch shuddered and immediately woke up.
An unprecedented fear and awe surged in its heart, its mind went blank, nearly scaring it into flipping belly up.
But its body was extremely obedient; the moment the words “change back” were uttered, a flash of golden light appeared, and the grass carp in the water vat was gone, replaced by a Golden Scaled Perch with a golden flower on its head.
Chen Shun’an extended his finger and dipped it into the water.
The Golden Scaled Perch immediately swam over, with awe, even like making a pilgrimage, swimming and circling beside Chen Shun’an’s finger.
The Golden Scaled Perch didn’t understand what had happened; it only knew that the current Chen Shun’an seemed to have truly become a High God.
It had no courage to resist or refuse Chen Shun’an’s command.
“Change back.”
Whoosh!
The grass carp swam.
“Change back again.”
Whoosh!
Golden light flashed.
“Change again.”
Grass carp.
“Change again!”
Golden fish.
Finally, the Golden Scaled Perch couldn’t change anymore; after spitting out a string of bubbles, it was exhausted into unconsciousness, its scales wrinkled and disheveled, eyes full of weariness.
Only then did Chen Shun’an satisfiedly withdraw his finger.
The trait “Closeness to Water Spirits” not only enhanced range and perception, leaping from an initial ten zhang to over twenty zhang.
It also brought the majesty of the Grass Head God, able to make water flows respond and water spirits revere.
Divine Might was majestic!
Chen Shun’an nodded in satisfaction.
“That silver fish probably can’t hide anymore… Moreover, with this divinity, I can take on the great task of the Banye Ferry Crossing!”
“Although it can’t be called ruling the water marsh, the ability to hold breath in water will likely see a qualitative leap, and I can also urge divinity underwater. Any spirit fish or precious fish… as long as I discover them, they won’t escape!”
“When Chen Mou makes a move, I absolutely won’t return empty-handed!”
Digesting the wish, familiarizing with the divinity, suppressing the surging emotions.
Chen Shun’an sat on the wooden stump and smoked two rolls of Guanzhong Tobacco.
Only then did he swallow a drop of Five-wheel Water, entering day after day of cultivation.
The Five-wheel Water melted in his mouth like drinking sweet dew, turning into a cool sensation that surged into Chen Shun’an’s mind.
Immediately, the temples that had been faintly aching were relieved.
As the Six Sceneries Circulation Diagram visualization proceeded, the cool sensation spread, filling and elevating the void in intent left after Chen Shun’an severed the body thief.
Quality refining, quantity expanding.
Chen Shun’an’s intent, or mental strength, was rapidly strengthening.
“One drop of Five-wheel Water can sustain about three days of cultivation.”
Chen Shun’an silently estimated the consumption of Five-wheel Water.
And on Chen Shun’an’s body, there were fully over twenty drops, all accumulated bit by bit through his hard work!
“With these provisions, it’s enough to support two months of cultivation. Although lacking Spirit Disrupting Great Medicine, spirit disrupting pills are somewhat more common compared to spirit nurturing great medicine.
The treasure shops or black market in the county can be bought with a large sum of silver, and the old lady also gave a few portions.”
In other words, for the next two months, Chen Shun’an could proceed steadily into a stable period of rapidly rising strength.
The wish gained daily from pushing the cart to deliver water was scarce compared to manifesting divine power in public.
But it was stable and safe, step by step, clear and visible, and required time.
Plus, his plan offered to Zhao Guangxi to contend for the wellhead position—Landlord Zhao was probably acting on it, needing time to ferment.
Stability was now most important for Chen Shun’an.
So…
“I have never liked fighting in my life, only resolving fights… If the fight can’t be resolved, then kill Zheng Shicheng.”
A fierce glint flashed in Chen Shun’an’s eyes.
With Zheng Shicheng dead, the Hibiscus Paste Fire would lose its leading eldest brother for connections, and the Guo Lu Society would have achieved its goal.
The rest would be minor disturbances, nothing serious.
Wuqing County would return to its former peace.
…
Banye Ferry Crossing, black market.
At the hour of Yin, the banks of the two-forked river were lit with bean-like reed wick lamps, dimly flickering, illuminating stalls displaying all sorts of strange goods.
In a dilapidated broken door panel room, a hunched, sneaky figure removed the already crooked door panel to use as a stall for displaying goods.
With a wave of the hand, various bottles and jars of wild medicine appeared on the door panel.
This person had two square medicinal plasters on his forehead, a waxy yellow face—one look and it was clear he was wearing a human skin mask.
“Yin Qian Cui, do you still have the goods? I’ve been off for two days, and it’s driving me crazy…”
A sudden gust of wind.
A tall, burly man with his face wrapped tightly hurried into the broken door panel room.
Seeing the arrival, a greedy glint flashed in Yin Qian Cui’s eyes, saying,
“Of course, top-quality sharp goods! But the price, it has to rise by fifty percent!”
“Up again? I just sold two houses; any more and I’ll be homeless!”
“Supply is short, the upstream goods are delayed, having some to smoke is already good… Buy or not? Don’t you still have wife and kids?”
“Don’t eye my wife and kids; how could I sell my wife and children—that’s not human?! Fine, here’s the house deed; give me the stuff quick! I need to practice martial arts right now; I can’t hold out!”
The burly man handed over the house deed with his left hand and grabbed two tin boxes with his right.
Trembling, he tore open the packaging, took a smoke pick, scooped a bit of Hibiscus Paste Fire, and was about to burn it right there.
Snap!
Suddenly, footsteps sounded outside the door.
The two whipped around, looking together.
Outside, there was a bright solitary moon, casting large swaths of soft white light.
Then, two figures, one ahead and one behind, like two cold sharp blades tearing through the moonlit gauze, slowly walked in.
The front one had sword-like eyebrows and star-like eyes, a young man.
The latter looked sorrowful, face bitter, an old man.
The young man said: “Yin Qian Cui, your deeds are exposed!”
Yin Qian Cui quickly stood, thinking they were officials, fawningly saying,
“Are you two lords from the county yamen? You seem unfamiliar. I’ve greased all the palms I should; uh… this silver is respect for you two.”
“County yamen?”
Hearing this, the young man was expressionless, saying,
“You’ve misunderstood. We are from the Guo Lu Society. The reason for all this talk… is that you unfaithful and unrighteous short-sighted fools peddling paste fire, poisoning the people’s pouches, must die knowing why!”
Oh no!
Hearing the words “paste fire,” Yin Qian Cui was scared out of his wits and immediately fled for his life.
However, Bai Manlou had already drawn his sword, sword light like waves, dreamlike and illusory, sweeping up fallen leaves, rippling the hanging curtain, making one feel as if the whole room’s dim yellow was flooded with moonlight pouring from the sky.
“So beautiful…”
Yin Qian Cui’s consciousness blurred for an instant.
Then, endless sword light fell, brushing cheeks, slashing arms, landing on the body…
Flesh flew in slices; in the blink of an eye, Yin Qian Cui was left with only a pile of bones.
And from start to finish, Yin Qian Cui’s consciousness remained clear, fully experiencing this lingering death-like agony.
Even because he had seen the world’s most dreamlike beautiful sight, the pain was intensified threefold.
Thud!
The headless corpse fell, blood gushing, knocking over and soaking the wild medicines on the door panel.
Bai Manlou’s gaze turned to the stiffened burly man, whose smoke pick had rolled to the ground.
The burly man shuddered violently, shrilly saying,
“I’m General San Cha Da Jiang under West County huo leader Song Zhai Zhu! I just, just went astray, deceived by this guy…”
Bai Manlou said nothing, moving with his sword.
The burly man panicked and crashed through the wall out.
Xiao Qingchou sighed, flicked his wrist, and an iron pellet suddenly arrived, piercing the burly man’s throat, leaving only a spot of blood there.
The burly man opened his mouth, blood flowing out like it cost nothing.
He instantly lost all strength, collapsed to the ground, twitched a few times, and stopped moving.
Bai Manlou was somewhat surprised: “Old Xiao, aren’t you always compassionate, unwilling to kill indiscriminately?”
Xiao Qingchou bitterly said: “If I don’t kill him, you will. He’s just one tainted by paste fire; no need for torture and dismemberment—a quick end is fine.”
This San Cha Da Jiang had climbed to the position of huo general through bullying men and women, disregard for life, deceiving superiors and subordinates.
Being killed in one strike was mercy.
Bai Manlou chuckled lightly, using his sword like a brush, dipping blood from the corpse, writing iron-hook silver strokes on the wall, murderous big characters—
Killer: Guo Lu Society Punishment Hall, Bai Manlou too…
“Don’t write me.” Xiao Qingchou called out.
Bai Manlou stopped his sword tip.
Walking out of the broken door panel room, the surrounding stalls had emptied a large area; many people rolled up bedding, wrapped goods, jumped into the water or fled down paths.
Movements practiced, startled but not panicked, as if rehearsed countless times.
Bai Manlou ignored them.
He stood with sword lowered, looking up at the sky, suddenly thinking,
“Tonight’s moonlight so bright and beautiful, adding luster to me, Bai Mou? The heavens are favoring me…”
Xiao Qingchou sighed, saying: “Moonlight falling on this filthy ground—truly a pity and sorrow.”
Same scene, different states of mind, yet such vastly different comments.
The two departed together.
Racing through the night, killing countless.
Those setting traps to swindle wealth, forcing people to burn paste fire, kill!
Those mixing tobacco to sell fakes, tricking others into burning paste fire, kill!
Those colluding with shops to transport and hoard paste fire, kill!
All involved in transport, selling, taking kickbacks, or even the ‘innocents’ deceived and unwittingly burning paste fire.
Regardless of right or wrong, no matter identity, Bai Manlou followed the list in his mind, this death warrant, visiting each door one by one.
Kill!!!
Heads rolling.
One night, corpses everywhere, cock crows and dog barks silenced.
The air faintly reeked of blood.
It must be said, even an over-the-river dragon can suppress the local tyrant.
The water station had sent Lin Shou Zhuo and others to raid the black market to catch Yin Qian Cui, but multiple failures, always tipped off in advance and escaped.
For the outsider Guo Lu Society, there were fewer constraints, no worry of leaks.
All walks of life, various demons and gods, even outsider martial world greenwood were their eyes and ears.
From tonight, the Guo Lu Society’s name would resound through Wuqing County and even the entire Capital City, the northern martial world!
Making people tremble in fear, hearts pounding!
Shaking blood from his sword, Bai Manlou stepped over the corpse at his feet, suddenly pausing to say,
“Heard there’s a great hero at the water station, who plucked chestnuts from the fire with three hundred five wonderful sounds, breaking Huang Tao’s Hundred Refinements Strength spider silk, and made you return empty-handed. Seems called… He Qiang?”
“Absurd, nonsense!”
For some reason, hearing this, Xiao Qingchou flushed red, veins bulging on his forehead, immediately anxious,
“He’s just a second-rate novice, a water-carrying burden-bearer—how could he have such skill! That day it was someone else—no, probably gods and ghosts watching in secret! That Zhao Guangxi deliberately cast doubts, pulling someone to divert attention…”
Then came incomprehensible words like ‘warfare is deception,’ ‘severing body thief,’ making even Bai Manlou chuckle.
“Enough, true or false… Heard Wanlong Pounding House and water station are still searching everywhere for us.”
Bai Manlou smiled, striding and leaping into the brilliant moonlight,
“In that case, let’s go to them proactively. Next batch to kill is Wanlong Pounding House’s—oh, water station has a few too. Perfect.”
“Pity Zheng Shicheng’s whereabouts unknown, protected by that Saint. Otherwise, how could he live to today?!”
