Dao Qi Wu Zang Guan Guan: I became a Daoist Master in the 1990s

Chapter 194 The Waters of the Han River, Amidst the Storms
As dawn broke, the torrential rain of the night gradually subsided, transforming into a lingering mist that enveloped the vast Han River.

The reeds on the bank hung drooping wetly, and the river water grew increasingly turbid and turbulent, swirling and carrying broken branches and leaves as it rushed eastward like thunder.

The three stepped out of the dilapidated Dragon King Temple. The air was filled with the freshness of rain and earth, but the faint fishy smell brought by the river breeze could not be dispelled.

Upon reaching the riverbank, they indeed saw a small boat moored under a crooked willow tree, bobbing with the waves; it was the very boat left by the ferryman from the Thieves' Guild.

The boat was long and narrow, old but sturdy, with a shallow layer of rainwater at the bottom of the hold.

Qin Xiao was the first to leap onto the small boat, his body as steady as a rock. His feet sank slightly, creating ripples.

He picked up the smooth bamboo pole from the boat, tested its weight, and said to the two men on the shore, "Daoist Master, Fellow Daoist Zhang, please board the boat. I will take care of punting."

Qi Yun and Zhang Daoyun nodded and floated onto the boat one after the other, their movements swift and agile, causing the small boat to sway only slightly.

After untying the mooring rope, Qin Xiao tapped the shore rock with his bamboo pole, and the small boat nimbly swung away from the bank and glided into the surging river.

Qin Xiao stood at the stern, his arms slightly bulging with muscles, maneuvering the bamboo pole.

The long pole darted left and right, precisely piercing the swift current, or piercing the hidden reefs and dead trees in the water. Under his control, the small boat sailed quite steadily in the heart of the turbulent river, breaking through the muddy waves and heading straight for the opposite bank.

Qi Yun stood at the bow of the boat, his dark blue Taoist robe fluttering slightly in the damp river breeze.

He looked out and saw the river wide open, its waters vast and boundless, stretching to the sky.

The distant mountains are hidden behind the rain and mist, leaving only a hazy, undulating dark outline.

The river flows ceaselessly, crashing against both banks and producing a deep, continuous roar.

Just as the small boat reached the middle of the river, where the current was most turbulent, Qi Yun suddenly frowned, sensing something.

He suddenly turned to the left side of the river, a faint golden light flashing in the depths of his eyes, his Dharma Eye had been opened.

In an instant, the scene before my eyes changed drastically!

Beneath the muddy yellow river water, an enormous, thick, inky black cloud was breaking through the current at an astonishing speed, silently rushing towards the small boat!

Its shape was indistinct, yet it exuded a chilling aura that sent shivers down one's spine!
"There's something underwater!" Qi Yun's deep voice instantly shattered the relative calm on the river.

Upon hearing this, Qin Xiao and Zhang Daoyun's expressions suddenly tightened.

Qin Xiao's hands, gripping the pole, bulged with veins, and his sharp gaze swept across the water's surface; Zhang Daoyun, on the other hand, swiftly formed hand seals, his body radiating a barely perceptible clear light as he vigilantly sensed his surroundings.

Qi Yun's right hand was already on the hilt of Chengyun Sword, his five fingers were clenched, his eyes were slightly narrowed, and he was locked on the huge black shadow that was rapidly approaching underwater. The cold light in his eyes gradually intensified, making the surrounding temperature seem to drop a few degrees.

The black mist arrived extremely quickly, and in the blink of an eye, it had already approached within five zhang of the ship!

At that moment, Qin Xiao and Zhang Daoyun both felt a sharp pang in their hearts!
The surrounding river water seemed to be stirred by an invisible force, suddenly becoming more violent and turbulent. Unnatural whirlpools appeared out of nowhere, pulling the small boat and rocking it violently, almost capsizing it.

At the same time, a strong, nauseating stench suddenly appeared out of nowhere. It was not the ordinary smell of fish, but a mixture of the stench of countless rotting aquatic creatures and decaying corpses. It swept over everything, making people dizzy and lightheaded.

"Hold on!" Qin Xiao shouted, focusing his energy in his dantian, his feet firmly planted on the boat's planks, trying his best to maintain the boat's balance.

And it was amidst this raging wind and stench that Qi Yun made his move!
"Qiang!"

The Chengyun Sword was suddenly drawn, its clear and melodious sound drowning out the sound of the wind and waves!
The crimson-gold sword energy surged and slashed down fiercely towards a certain spot underwater on the port side without hesitation!

"Breaking evil!"

Where the sword energy passed, the surging river was forcibly split, creating a brief vacuum crack! Through the crack, a corner of the giant creature's body could be vaguely seen underwater.

It has a thick, dark blue body, its skin covered with heavy scales the size of a bowl, densely covered with dark patterns.

"clang!"

The crimson-gold sword energy struck the scales with unparalleled precision!

The hard scales were pierced by Qi Yun's sword, leaving a huge wound more than ten feet long!
Thick, dark green blood gushed from the wound like a spring, quickly staining the surrounding river water green, and the stench became a hundred times stronger!
The underwater behemoth was severely damaged and became utterly enraged!
"Woo-buzz-"

A deep roar, neither quite a bull nor quite a whale, came from the depths of the water, shaking the entire river surface!

The next moment, a fierce wind arose, whipping up towering waves several meters high, like towering mountains, carrying a destructive force, crashing down on the small boat from all directions!
Before the waves even arrived, the terrifying pressure was already almost enough to push the small boat to the bottom of the water!
"Watch out!" Zhang Daoyun exclaimed in alarm, his face turning pale.

Qin Xiao's eyes were also bloodshot as he tried his best to maneuver the small boat to avoid it, but he knew that in the face of the power of heaven and earth, mortal strength was so insignificant!

Only Qi Yun remained steadfast at the bow of the ship, his face as cold as ice as he faced the surging waves.

With a flick of his wrist, Chengyun Sword transformed into streaks of crimson-gold light, fiercely slashing out against the towering waves!
"Shh! Shh! Shh!"

Sword light crisscrossed, and the massive wave that surged forward was actually shattered in mid-air by this incomparably sharp sword energy!

The waves burst into a cloud of white foam and water vapor, like a downpour, but not a single drop landed on the small boat!

Qi Yun's sword momentum continued unabated, his true qi surging like the sea within his body. Suddenly, he changed from slashing to sweeping, unleashing a massive, extremely condensed, crimson-gold sword arc!

"Certainly!"

A low shout, as if words had become law!
Where the sword arc passed, the surging, roaring, boiling river surface was forcibly leveled by the sword energy!
The surging waves subsided instantly, and the turbulent whirlpools vanished in an instant. With the sword arc as the boundary, it was as if there were two different worlds before and after.

Behind us, the turbulent waves still surged, but ahead, the water was as calm as a mirror, with only tiny ripples on the surface!

One sword can settle the storm!

However, the calm lasted only a moment.

The creature underwater was clearly startled by the sword and immediately tried to flee.

Without hesitation, Qi Yun unleashed his Wildfire Sword Intent, and a sword beam, condensed to the point of being tangible and burning with raging crimson hunting fire, pierced into the waters where the giant creature had just been, like a falling fiery meteor!

"Swoosh—Boom!"

The river water boiled violently and evaporated, sending white steam billowing into the sky! From the bottom of the water came an even more shrill and agonizing wail, shaking the very soul!

Immediately afterwards, with a loud "splash," a huge, bluish-black dorsal fin covered in bumps suddenly broke through the water's surface, twisting and rolling wildly, sending up a spray of water, before plunging back into the deep water in an attempt to escape!

"Where to go!"

Qi Yun let out a cold shout, and his figure shot out from the bow of the ship like an arrow, riding the waves and chasing the shadow that was rapidly fleeing underwater!

At the highest point in the sky, he merged with his sword, transforming into a streak of crimson-gold light that tore through the sky. Man and sword became one, and he swiftly thrust down toward the hiding place of the giant creature!

The behemoth was extremely sensitive to killing intent, and just as the sword tip was about to touch its body, it suddenly plunged downwards with all its might.

"Boom!!!"

Qi Yun's sword pierced the river surface, instantly creating a thick column of water several meters in diameter that shot into the sky, as if a giant cannonball had exploded in the middle of the river!
The water column rose to its highest point and then crashed down.

Just as Qi Yun was about to fall into the river after his downward force was exhausted, he used a mysterious stepping technique to step on the surging water with his toes!
With a "thump," the water surface dipped slightly, creating a ripple. Qi Yun's figure, however, used the force of this step to leave an almost tangible afterimage in the air, like a weightless feather. His true form had already silently and gracefully returned to the small boat, his Taoist robe fluttering, undisturbed by a speck of dust.

Only then did the towering column of water transform into a torrential downpour, cascading down with a splash.

Qi Yun stood quietly at the bow of the boat, with an invisible aura flowing around him, and a faint glow emanating from him, keeping all the rainwater at a distance of more than a foot, so that not a drop of water would get on him.

His gaze was sharp as lightning, still fixed on the river water that was gradually becoming murky again, as if confirming something.

Qin Xiao at the stern and Zhang Daoyun in the middle of the boat only seemed to have come back to their senses from a thrilling dream at this moment. Looking at Qi Yun's straight back, their faces were full of indescribable shock.

Qin Xiao's eyes widened, his palms sweating as he gripped the bamboo pole, his mind reeling with shock: "What...what kind of supernatural power is this?! To cut through the waves and walk on water!"

Just what is the cultivation level of this Daoist Qi Yun?!

Zhang Daoyun was even more excited. As a disciple of the Daoist sect, he could better appreciate the power of the Daoist True Fire that Qi Yun had just unleashed with his every move.

His lips moved slightly as he murmured to himself, "When did such a figure appear among the rogue cultivators?!"

After a long while, the "rainstorm" formed by the water column gradually subsided.

The river resumed its flow, but the dark green bloodstains continued to spread slowly.

"Dao... Daoist Master," Qin Xiao finally found his voice, asking with a slight hoarseness, "What... what kind of monster was that just now? It was so terrifying!"

Zhang Daoyun also stared intently, still feeling lingering fear.

Qi Yun withdrew his gaze. Under his divine eye, the enormous black mist had vanished without a trace, disappearing into the depths of the river.

Upon hearing this, a half-smile appeared on his lips as he slowly said, "Stirring up storms, with thick scales and armor, hiding in the great river, violent and ruthless... Gentlemen, it seems we are quite lucky today. We have probably really encountered the so-called 'Dragon King of the Han River' that the people talk about."

His tone was calm, yet it sent a chill down the spines of Qin Xiao and Zhang Daoyun.

The Dragon King of the Han River? He really exists!
……

In the afternoon, a light drizzle began again, like smoke and mist, enveloping the ancient city of Xiangyang.

As dusk fell, the rain soaked the gray city walls, the towering city towers, and the rows of rooftops within the city, making them all glisten with a dim, yellowish light.

Pedestrians hurried along the street, their oil-paper umbrellas moving slowly like flowers blooming in the rain.

The shouts coming from the direction of the canal wharf sounded somewhat muffled through the rain.

The air was filled with the smells of soil, damp wood, and the warm aroma of food from roadside food stalls.

Following the flow of people entering the city, Qi Yun and his two companions walked along the bluestone path, which had been washed clean by the rain, and entered this ancient city that had stood majestically on the banks of the Han River for centuries.

Upon entering the city, Qin Xiao clasped his hands in thanks and said, "Thank you both for your help today!"

Qin was required to immediately go to the prefectural government office to report to the prefect on the events at the Han River and the execution of the evil cultivator.

Please allow me to extend my hospitality to you both. I have already arranged for two superior rooms to be prepared at the 'Yunlai Inn' over there. You may rest for a while.

"After I report back, I will come to find you two again and host a banquet to welcome you back. How about that?" He pointed to a rather elegant three-story wooden building not far away.

Qi Yun and Zhang Daoyun exchanged a glance and nodded. Qi Yun said, "Brother Qin has important business to attend to, please make yourself at home."

"In that case, I shall take my leave for now!" Qin Xiao cupped his hands in greeting again, then turned around and strode towards the western government office, his figure quickly disappearing into the misty rain and crowds.

Inside the study of the Xiangyang Prefectural Government Office.

The candlelight illuminated the bookshelves on the walls and the piles of documents on the desk.

A middle-aged man dressed in casual clothes, with a refined yet somewhat weary and dignified appearance, was listening to Qin Xiao's detailed report.

When he heard that the ferryman was actually an evil cultivator in disguise and had been killed, he nodded slightly.

As Qin Xiao described in detail Qi Yun's unpredictable methods, especially the brief confrontation between Jiang Xin and the giant creature that resembled the "Dragon King," and how it cleaved through the waves, the prefect's brows furrowed tightly, his fingers unconsciously tapping the table, and his eyes flashing with astonishment and deep thought.

"My lord, that Daoist Qi Yun's cultivation is unfathomable; he is no ordinary person."

And there's also that Daoist Zhang Daoyun, a highly respected disciple of the Qingwei Temple on Nanping Mountain, a man of impeccable integrity. If it weren't for those two, I fear I would have met with certain death.”

Qin Xiao concluded with a tone full of admiration.

The prefect pondered for a moment, a glint of light flashing in his eyes, and said, "How can we let such an extraordinary person slip through our fingers?"

Qin Xiao, go immediately and invite—no, take my name card and hurry to the inn to respectfully invite the two Taoist priests to come over for a chat!
"I intend to hold a banquet at my residence to personally express my gratitude for your assistance, and also to inquire about the matter concerning the Han River!"

"Yes, sir!" Qin Xiao's spirits lifted, and he immediately accepted the order. He took the name card from the steward, turned around, and strode out, disappearing back into the drizzling rain.

He practically ran all the way back to Yunlai Inn.

The hem of their clothes, damp with rain, rose and fell in the twilight.

But when he stepped into the inn and asked the waiter behind the counter about the two Taoist priests' rooms, the waiter looked up with a blank expression and unconsciously wiped the counter with a rag in his hand.

"Sir, are you referring to two Taoist masters? I certainly didn't see them."

The younger ones stayed here all afternoon, but didn't see any of the Taoist priests.

I thought you had made other arrangements and had placed them elsewhere..."

"What? He didn't come?" Qin Xiao froze on the spot, as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over his head, and all his fervent hopes instantly turned to dust.

His fingers, holding the name card, stiffened slightly.

He turned to look out of the inn. Outside the window, the rain was fine and the twilight was falling. Pedestrians hurried along the street with umbrellas, their figures blurred into a gray patch in the rain and mist.

Those two Taoist priests... seemed to have melted into the rain, leaving no trace.

Why did they leave without saying goodbye? Was it because he had failed to entertain them properly? Or were the hermits in the mountains simply tired of the formalities and customs of officialdom?
Or perhaps... they simply don't want to get too involved with people in the imperial court?

A flood of speculations rushed into his mind, but he suppressed them all.

Qin Xiao took a deep breath. The damp air was filled with the scent of earth and rain, and the coolness went straight to his lungs.

He finally shook his head, a self-deprecating smile playing on his lips: "So be it. Since our fate has come to an end, why force it?"

He put the name card back into his pocket, turned around and strode towards the government office.

The hem of her dress brushed against the threshold, leaving tiny watermarks that quickly disappeared in the breeze.

(End of this chapter)