abnabooks Chapter 429: Someone Has Fallen Into the Water Again
Chapter 429: Someone Has Fallen Into the Water Again
However, unlike the old turtle’s respectful demeanor towards Ji Yuan and Bai Qi, the big black carp, besides looking at Ji Yuan and the River God, couldn’t help but glance at Hu Yun from time to time.As for Hu Yun, he was quite familiar with Bai Qi and knew that both Mr. Ji and this River God were unconventional people. So, his fox face was already sticking out of the bow of the boat, almost touching the water’s surface. He even stretched out his claws and gently touched the forehead of the big black carp with the pads under his front paws.
Ji Yuan looked at the two aquatic creatures in the water below the boat, creatures with whom he had a close connection, and laughed.
“You all look quite energetic. How have you been these past few years? Has your cultivation been going smoothly?”
Wu Chong’s two turtle feet rose up in the water, trailing water droplets, as if making a gesture of clasping hands in respect.
“Replying to you, sir, I, this old turtle has benefited greatly from your teachings and the lectures given by that scholar Yin. They have cleansed my mind and have been of great benefit to my spiritual practice.”
Bai Qi chuckled and said to Ji Yuan.
“This old turtle has cultivated for so many years. What he lacks is not monstrous arts or spiritual power, but rather guidance to find the path forward and settle his state of mind. Mr. Ji has done the work for him; this could be considered a stroke of good fortune after hundreds of years of cultivation.”
Since the big black carp couldn’t speak, Bai Qi took the opportunity to speak for it.
“As for Qingqing, her cultivation has naturally progressed. I like her very much, which is how this nickname came about.”
Hearing this, Ji Yuan couldn’t help but smile knowingly, and even the old tortoise Wu Chong beside him joined in.
The great black carp was favored by both Mr. Ji and the River God. An older turtle might have felt envious or even jealous of the big black carp, but this turtle didn’t. Besides, aside from the big black carp’s own good fortune, who could claim that this outcome wasn’t something it earned through its own efforts?
“Is the big black carp male or female?”
Hu Yun splashed around in the water with his paws, then turned to Ji Yuan and Bai Qi to ask them a question. Ji Yuan looked at him with amusement.
“You can’t smell it this time?”
“Sir, what are you saying? How could I possibly smell a fish in the water, unless it transforms into a human…”
Ji Yuan stopped joking.
“This big black carp… hmm, Qingqing is a female fish. It’s true what they say, there are many more female fish in the aquatic cultivation world. Transforming into a human form is definitely difficult, but becoming half-human half-fish is much easier. Of course, this kind of shortcut to cultivation is inadvisable.”
The boatman had already moved a small table from the cabin to the bow of the ship, and selected three of the more delicate dishes from the cabin, along with a wine pot and two wine cups, which filled the small table perfectly.
“Mr. Ji, let’s sit down first. Being in the water is like lying in bed with a comfortable blanket for the two of them, much more comfortable than us standing.”
“Alright.”
Ji Yuan and Bai Qi sat down one after the other, with Ji Yuan at the bow and Bai Qi toward the stern.
Ji Yuan picked up the wine jar on the table and poured himself a cup of wine. Seeing the syrupy, clear liquid and smelling its mellow aroma, he knew that this was the famous Qianrichun wine of Chunhui Prefecture. He also remembered that the big black carp liked to drink wine, so he turned to her.
“When we first met, I only offered you some fisherman’s rice wine. Today, I’m taking this opportunity to offer you a cup of ‘Qianrichun’ wine.”
As they spoke, Ji Yuan raised his cup to the side of the boat, tilted it slightly, and the wine slid onto the water’s surface, where it was sucked into the mouth of the large black carp. In terms of taste alone, this Qianrichun wine was comparable to some divine or spiritual wines.
Although Ji Yuan had two Thousand-Dou Jugs, which contained divine wines like Ambergris, he currently used the Ambergris for healing. The lightning tribulation wounds were no small matter, and he could not afford to casually waste the Ambergris. Although it seemed plentiful, it might not actually be enough.
The wine in the other Thousand-Dou Jug was quite good, but it was merely more spiritually potent. It wasn’t particularly special to those present. Ji Yuan felt that Qianrichun was just as good, so he didn’t bring it out to avoid embarrassing Bai Qi.
“And you, have a drink too.”
Ji Yuan took back his wine glass and poured another cup for the old turtle, who quickly swam to the side of the boat and caught the falling wine.
Actually, it was the Old Turtle who had obtained this wine, but it was far more significant for Ji Yuan to bestow the wine upon him now than obtaining it was.
After toasting with those two cups of wine, Ji Yuan said nothing more for the time being. He and Bai Qi started eating and drinking together, enjoying the night view of the river. The painted boats and towering ships, with their red, white, and yellow lanterns, reflected on the shimmering water surface, making it look colorful and beautiful.
The starlight in the sky was reflected on the river. Ji Yuan felt a galaxy in his mind and saw a galaxy in his eyes. Looking at the beautiful scenery of Chunmu River, he couldn’t help but be a little mesmerized.
The people on the small boats and painted barges were enjoying the night view of the surrounding river. This painted boat was also part of the night view in other people’s eyes. While Ji Yuan was drinking and enjoying the scenery, the Old Turtle and the big black carp waited in the water. Hu Yun was talking quietly with the big black carp. Even Bai Qi couldn’t figure out Ji Yuan’s thoughts and didn’t dare to make a sound to disturb him.
After a long while, Ji Yuan withdrew his gaze from the distance, smiled, and spoke.
“Chunmu River is still the best. River God Bai really picked a good spot.”
Bai Qi drank the wine in his glass and spoke the truth.
“This is because the Dragon Lord is righteous. If he wanted, he could have taken over both major rivers of Dazhen. The Dragon Lord has no official divine position to assist him, but he has recognized me, Bai, as the River God. Although I am not under the Dragon Lord’s command, I admire him greatly.”
“Mr. Ying is indeed a man of great virtue.”
Ji Yuan echoed this sentiment, then looked at the Old Turtle and the big black carp again.
“The Chunmu River, especially this section of the river, is a rare place for cultivation for you. This hidden section of the river is separated from the hustle and bustle of the world, and the surface is exposed to the trivialities of the mortal world. By day, it welcomes the colorful clouds and morning dew, and by night, it reflects the starlight of lamps…”
The Chunmu River was peaceful and serene, and the Chunhui Prefecture was vibrant and colorful. These were Ji Yuan’s sincere impressions. He looked at the Old Turtle Wu Chong.
“Being too close to the mortal world makes learning convenient and colorful, but it can also be blinding. You sought shortcuts everywhere because of this, which ultimately harmed your spiritual practice.”
The Old Turtle nodded slowly.
“Mr. Ji is right. If I hadn’t suffered the backlash back then, I wouldn’t have lived such a miserable life for so many years.”
Ji Yuan knew the main reason for this, so he chuckled.
“Actually, besides wanting to visit River God Bai, since I hadn’t seen him in so long, and checking in on your culivation, there is another very important reason I came to Chunmu River at this time: to talk to you about this matter.”
Ji Yuan still vividly remembered the last time she met the young master of the Xiao family and the beautiful Red Lady, and how Hongxiu had attempted the classic “exchanging a civet cat for the crown prince”1 with the Dragon Princess and claimed herself to be the River Goddess.
“The Xiao family you helped back then may not be at the height of their power in the court and among the people, but they are still deeply rooted and hold high positions of influence. And that young master of the Xiao family has also provoked a demon…”
“Huh?”
The Old Turtle exclaimed in surprise. With such a disaster, the Xiao family should have been thoroughly wiped out, or at least ruined and fallen into decline. Then he realized the meaning of the second half of Ji Yuan’s sentence.
“They provoked a monster again?”
“Indeed, the demon they provoked this time was not as kind as you were. Similarly, its power is far greater than yours now, let alone yours back then. Let me tell you all about it…”
Ji Yuan, enjoying his wine and food, imitated the bearing of Storyteller Wang Li, and slowly recounted the events of that time in a style that was seven parts his own tone and three parts the storyteller’s flair.
Ji Yuan didn’t directly recount the story of Hongxiu and the young master of the Xiao family. Instead, he roughly began from when the old tortoise became acquainted with the scholar surnamed Xiao, and then vaguely traced events across more than a hundred years to the present Xiao family, telling the story of the louchuan pleasure barge, the small boat, and the young master of the Xiao family.
This storytelling style was undoubtedly very appealing, and the story itself was also outstanding. Even the big black carp and Hu Yun, who had been playing around and had completely mismatched opinions, were quickly drawn into Ji Yuan’s story.
After a long while, as Ji Yuan finished telling this still somewhat incomplete story, and everyone was lost in thought.
The first to speak was neither Old Turtle nor Hu Yun, but River God Bai Qi.
“Mr. Ji, that fox demon actually managed to deceive your discerning eyes, and even dared to impersonate Ying Ruoli on the Tongtian River. Clearly, her skills and audacity are not to be underestimated!”
“River God Bai is right. Moreover, the Jade Fox Cave is no ordinary demon cave, but a true holy land, with fox immortals and powerful demons, including the nine-tailed fox, guarding it.”
Hearing this, Bai Qi’s expression became even more serious.
“Hmph, even so, it’s still too arrogant.”
Although the Old Turtle Wu Chong’s expression did not change, his entire shell had submerged in the water, with only his head above the surface. His eyes were not fully open, and his breathing was also fluctuating.
Ji Yuan waited for a while, and seeing that the old turtle did not speak, he exchanged a glance with Bai Qi before speaking.
“If you harbor resentment, go to the Xiao family in person to resolve it yourself. Since you have embarked on this difficult path of righteous cultivation, it is best to remove this knot in your heart.”
Wu Chong nodded slightly as he swayed his neck in the water, replying with very complicated feelings.
“Understood!”
Hu Yun and the big black carp, on the other hand, treated it as if they had just heard a very impressive story. These tales of Dragon Lords, fox immortals, and holy land caverns were as incomprehensible as Heavenly Script to them, but that didn’t stop them from imagining the scenes. They just found it amazing.
“Ah… Help! Someone’s fallen into the water! Someone’s fallen into the water!”
A woman’s startled cry came from dozens of feet away. Ji Yuan and the others looked up.
Water churned at the bow of the small painted boat, and the big black carp swung its body around to part the waved, plunging into the water toward the sound.
“Haha, Qingqing has saved quite a few people on the Chunmu River over the years!”
Seeing this, Bai Qi smiled and stroked his beard, while Ji Yuan frowned, but not at the big black carp.
Dozens of feet away, on a medium-sized pleasure barge, a man was splashing around in the water. He was the one who had fallen into the water, but there was little sign of panic on his face.
“Shout again, shout louder, the louder the better, make them panic!”
The woman on the side of the boat looked around at the river, wondering with doubt whether the legendary river god would really come to her rescue. But when she heard the man’s words in the water, she didn’t dare to delay and quickly covered her face with her hands and shouted loudly at the top of her lungs.
“Help! Someone has fallen into the water!”
A tale from the Song Dynasty in which a consort switched the legitimate queen’s baby with a wild cat to implicate her. Being a “civet cat” has since become a metaphor for a pretender or deceitful fake.
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