Water elemental became a god, ultimately becoming the master of heaven, earth, mountains, and rivers

Chapter 253 River Carrying the Moon

"Alas!"

Zhao Guangxi interrupted San Dezi and Liu Daoba with a smile, and said,
"Old Chen is hosting today, and I'm just here to freeload. Let's not talk about rank, let's just call each other brothers, please have a seat."

As he spoke, Zhao Guangxi patted San Dezi and Liu Daoba on the shoulders.

The two were somewhat flattered, but as the atmosphere gradually warmed up, they started eating fish and meat and began to chat.

The two gradually relaxed and started chatting with everyone.

However, the two men also knew in their hearts that Chen Shunan had specially invited them here today to share fish and meat, which was only one reason.

This probably gave the two men an opportunity to get closer to Zhao Guangxi and make him their confidant.

Forefathers planted trees for future generations to enjoy the shade.

For the two of them, Chen Shunan is now considered a 'predecessor'.

Lin Shouzhou glanced at the steaming dinner table, suddenly seemed a little dazed, and sighed.

There should have been one person here today.

Chen Shunan knew that Lin Shouzhou was expressing his feelings about He Qiqiang.

Over the years, the two have had a love-hate relationship, constantly competing and chasing each other.

Little did I know that everything would change in the blink of an eye.

He Qiqiang ultimately vanished without a trace, leaving no trace of his body.

Otherwise, this fish hotpot would be quite a spectacle today.

Lin Shouzhou had to say a few words to He Qiqiang!
"Enough talk, let's eat!"

Zhao Guangxi picked up a piece of snow fish with his chopsticks, dipped it in sesame sauce, and took a bite. It was both salty and fragrant, and he was sweating profusely as he ate it.

He said casually,
"Zhu Tao will successfully undergo the transformation the day after tomorrow. With his rivers spitting thunder and his blood and qi surging, he will obtain the 'River Carrying the Moon Body,' which allows him to breathe in and out, making his blood and qi long-lasting and invincible in battle... He is a formidable opponent in this Grandmaster's Manual."

Everyone nodded silently, without saying a word.

After all, apart from Chen Shunan, Zhou Qing, Lin Shouzhou, and Zhao Guangxi did not have any intention of competing with these outstanding talents who had "descended from the mortal world" from Tongzhou.

This is something that people like Shan Tongtian and Zhang Xiangling should worry about!

They are just there to accompany the team; all they need to do is lend a helping hand and serve them diligently within their duties.

If Zhao Guangxi, Lin Shouzhou, and the others were to actually fight Zhu Tao with guns and swords...

It doesn't matter, they'll be the first to run away!
"Liu Wenbin, the young leader of the Salt Gang, is dead. He died at home without any injuries. The Salt Gang is now searching everywhere for the murderer. Everyone should stay home and wait quietly until the day we participate in the Grandmaster's Record."

After these words were spoken, the dinner table became slightly quieter.

Lin Shouzhou nodded silently, his brows furrowed, and his expression was somewhat solemn.

Zhou Qing smiled as before, as if the dead were nothing more than small fry, not worth her even a slight frown.

San Dezi and Liu Daoba ate their food in silence. These things were too distant from their lives, and they couldn't join in the conversation.

A glint of shrewdness flashed in Chen Shunan's eyes.

Liu Wenbin, the young leader of the Salt Gang, was a local hero from Wuqing County. He was capable of killing three thieves. Chen Shunan had met him once on the pleasure boat that day when he delivered water to the Canal Gang.

Wang Zhicheng, a scholar of filial piety and integrity, made a special trip to introduce Chen Shunan.

In previous years, Liu Wenbin had been very close to Zhu Tao, the chief transport officer of the Grand Canal Gang.

They were even sworn brothers in their early years, but later Zhu Tao got involved with Wu Wudi of Fengchi Taoist Academy and became his disciple.

Then Liu Wenbin is not worthy of being Zhu Tao's brother.

However, Zhu Tao returned to Wuqing County this time hoping to accumulate the foundation to achieve the position of martial arts grandmaster by participating in the Grandmaster's Record, so that he could be valued by Fengchi Taoist Academy and even be accepted as an inner disciple by Wu Wudi.

We should make use of the connections of this former close friend and relative.

Thus, Liu Wenbin transformed into Zhu Tao's lackey, and also participated in the Grandmaster's Record, removing obstacles for him.

Therefore, Chen Shunan's heart stirred.

"So, he was ambushed and assassinated? Wait, Zhao Guangxi deliberately mentioned this person, could it be because Liu Wenbin was assassinated by the immortals of Aoshan Taoist Temple?!"

Chen Shunan suddenly realized.

The people from Fengchi Taoist Temple and Yueshan Taoist Temple resorted to underhanded tactics, ambushing and assassinating people; they were utterly inhuman.

And Aoshan Taoist Temple doesn't seem to be much better, does it?

In terms of methods, they are not necessarily more docile than the other two Taoist academies.

Chen Shunan was ambushed by the white ape and the strange fish that day, but he was neither the first nor the last to be ambushed.

During this period, Wuqing County was probably in the middle of a bloody battle, with people from the three major Taoist academies being beaten senseless.

The purpose is also very simple.

The purpose was to cultivate their own martial artists and obtain as many opportunities as possible from the Grandmaster's Manual.

They've built up a martial arts grandmaster!
What you do today will bear fruit tomorrow. Even if the probability is only 10%, it will still take decades for the results to come.

The three major academies also found it delightful and devoted themselves to it.

"Some of them are shameless, actually bullying the weak and sending immortals to assassinate martial artists... No wonder they are monsters of the Holy Dynasty!" Chen Shunan thought to himself.

Zhao Guangxi spat out a fish bone, glanced at everyone, and said,
"By the way, have you guys encountered anything lately? I'm worried that someone from Yue Shan Dao Academy might take a risk."

"No."

"Nothing was found."

Zhou Qing and Lin Shouzhu shook their heads.

Chen Shunan's expression remained unchanged as he said, "Everything is fine."

There are no gods watching over you from above.

The white ape and the strange fish were not killed by Chen Shunan.

He knows nothing.

"That's fine then... Sigh, the Grandmaster's Manual, the approaching New Year, these hurdles and obstacles, to be honest, I, Zhao, have never had any hope of reaching the Grandmaster level in martial arts."

Perhaps due to the effects of the alcohol, a faint melancholy appeared on Zhao Guangxi's face.
"I just hope that I can work hard to become 'more important' and gain the favor of some immortal, so that I can also become an immortal... My Zhao family has fallen apart since my generation, with brothers and sisters killing each other. But no matter what, if I really become an immortal, even if I die in the netherworld and meet my ancestors, I won't be burdened with the stigma of being a disgraceful family. I can sit at the same table with my damned father and even have him toast me!"

As Zhao Guangxi spoke, he laughed, his eyes brimming with longing and anticipation, as if he could already see the day he would become an immortal.

Only in this way could he prove that his choice to separate from the family and kill his brother was not wrong.

As long as he is there, the Zhao family will exist.

If he rises to prominence, he will transform into an immortal.

The Zhao family thus became a celestial clan!

Perhaps by building upon the legacy of ten generations and the accumulated efforts of a century, a martial arts grandmaster will truly emerge.

Given Zhao Guangxi's status, he also vaguely knew that martial arts masters seemed to be even rarer than ordinary immortals.

The importance that the four major academies place on martial arts masters is unimaginable.

However, Zhao Guangxi was quite self-aware and felt that he had little hope, and even his rebellious sons had little hope.

They can only hope that their ancestors' graves will emit auspicious smoke, and that a martial arts prodigy will emerge in some generation.

Chen Shunan was somewhat speechless.

It seems that Zhao Guangxi still harbors some resentment about his past, especially the murder of his brother, and has not completely let go of it.

Although the brothers Zhao Guanghui and Zhao Guangxi were ostensibly at odds due to the sudden death of their father and the ensuing struggle for the family property, they had become enemies.

But the specifics of their grievances are probably only known to the two of them.

No matter the dynasty, fratricide will always bring infamy.

"By the way, Lao Lin, I think your grandson has some talent. Where do you plan to send him to learn martial arts? Although Wuqing County is considered a prosperous place, it doesn't even have a master who can kill six traitors. It's far inferior to the capital and not a place for geniuses to stay for long."

Zhao Guangxi suddenly looked at Lin Shouzhou.

When talking about his grandson, Lin Shouzhou's triangular, toad-like face broke into a genuine smile.

“That panicked guy is better than me. He’s a natural-born martial arts prodigy. I plan to send him to Tongzhou City next year to study at the Fengtian Martial Arts Academy.”

"The headmaster of Fengtian Martial Arts Academy is a former martial arts graduate who has the skill to slay six thieves. It is said that he has the potential to become a martial arts grandmaster. If my child can be taken under his wing, he might really become a martial arts grandmaster in the future!"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Qing put down his wine cup, leaned back on the brocade cushion, and shook his head.
"I've heard of the Fengtian Martial Arts Academy you mentioned, but it has a rule that anyone who wants to enroll must provide a family history document detailing their land, place of origin, and the history of three generations... Although you are a true martial artist, your family background is probably a bit lacking, and your tuition fees each year will likely be several thousand taels!"

It's basically just a capital verification process!

Furthermore, there are martial arts realm requirements for the direct ancestors of the students who enroll in the martial arts program.

Even Lin Shouzhou now is almost there!

Lin Shouzhou smiled helplessly.
"There's no other way but to give it my all for my children and grandchildren. If Old Chen could achieve great things late in life and make rapid progress, how can I, Lin Shouzhou, lag behind?"

Lin Shouzhou could only grit his teeth.

"I'll work hard for a few more years and earn a few more years. If I suffer more, that wretched guy will suffer less... I don't expect him to repay me one day. When I can't work hard anymore and I'm too old to walk, I'll retire and go back to my hometown, find a piece of soil and bury myself!"

"So as not to burden future generations!"

Zhou Qing took a sip of wine, somewhat bored, his gaze shifting as he glanced at Chen Shunan, and then smiled.

"Luckily, neither Lao Chen nor I are married or have children, otherwise we would both be like you two, picking green plants all day long and never having a moment's rest... That would be worse than killing me."

Chen Shunan heated up the lotus root and poured wine for everyone in turn, before looking at Zhou Qing with some curiosity.
"Brother Zhou, what about you?"

Zhou Qing was an orphan who had wandered into Wuqing County. He was all alone and never married, even after he entered the water-dwelling trade.

At most, they would go to pleasure boats or the Eight Great Hutongs for entertainment, and they would have affairs with both men and women, surrounded by beautiful women.

It can be said that he passed through a sea of ​​flowers without a single petal clinging to him.

There are absolutely no weaknesses or emotional entanglements!
Zhou Qing downed the lotus-flavored white wine in one gulp, and her fair, jade-like face instantly turned rosy, as if colorful ink had been spread. She licked her lips, smiling dreamily, revealing boundless allure.
"I just want to meet more people, men and women..."

At this point, Zhou Qing suddenly glanced at Chen Shunan with eyes full of affection.
"Old Chen, would you be willing to let me see it?"

"If you don't want to, don't mention it again!"

Chen Shunan immediately became anxious.

(End of this chapter)