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

Chapter 48 Fate is wonderful
Zhuang Kun looked anxious, holding the altar wood, and paced around the room several times.

Wuqing County has thousands of streets and alleys, and countless harbors and ships, so finding Ahua in a short time would be like finding a needle in a haystack.

Zhuang Kun dared not sit idly by and wait for his death, so he stayed at Ahua's house, waiting for him to return.

After all, for Ahua to take his baby out is no different from a child carrying gold through a bustling city.

Zhuang Kun was terrified that something might happen to Ahua and he would lose his precious child again!

The only way is...

"Brother-in-law!"

Zhuang Kun slapped his forehead, suddenly remembering this matter.

His brother-in-law was the manager of Wanlong Mill, and he commanded nearly a hundred gang members, a motley crew of all sorts of people. With his brother-in-law's help in finding someone, he would definitely have a firm grip on the situation!

If we can find this divine opportunity, it should be enough to make up for the mistakes, right?

Thinking of this, Zhuang Kun quickly left the house, carefully closed the two loose wooden doors, and strode towards the Wanlong Mill.

The night is deep, and lights are on in every household.

The sound of rice pounding that had been echoing all day at Wanlong Rice Mill finally stopped. The shopkeepers finished their shifts, the mules and horses returned to their sheds, leaving only four or five people to clean up and check the accounts.

Zhuang Kun knew his brother-in-law quite well.

Knowing about all these upsetting things that have happened recently, my brother-in-law will definitely be living and eating in the mill, not going home, and he would never dare to go to his old flame, or fool around in some brothel.

When we arrived at Wanlong Mill, two stone Pixiu statues that could only enter and not exit were placed on both sides of the shop, which was incredibly impressive.

Zhuang Kun didn't go through the main gate. He first went around to the back street, sneaked into a roast duck restaurant, grabbed the fattest, slickest roast duck, and then crept to the backyard.

thump!
With his immense strength, bricks flew as he stepped on the eaves and walls, leaping onto the roof several meters high, and arriving at the mortar in just a few steps.

"Brother-in-law, brother-in-law..."

Lifting a tile, Zhuang Kun lay on the roof, calling out softly.

Inside the room, the shopkeeper lit a lamp and candles, and they reviewed the account books in the dark.

His once fair complexion has suddenly become thinner these days, and his face looks haggard.

To his right was a notebook that resembled a diary.

It contains records of 'Zheng Dongjia's Sayings'.

From the boss's orders and scolding to everyday trivialities.

He even meticulously recorded how long they tossed and turned on the bed when he went to the Eight Great Hutongs to tame the Yangzhou "slim horses," and how many times he cursed them as "stinking outsiders."

The manual is so worn it's almost covered in a patina, clearly indicating it's been wiped clean and updated frequently.

Zheng Dongjia is considered half a Baishan native, except for his mother, who is a Yu person.

Therefore, in Manager Xiang's eyes, what Master Zheng said was golden advice and what he wrote was worth a thousand pieces of gold.

It was worth pondering repeatedly, hoping to deduce some deeper meaning.

"Brother-in-law, brother-in-law..."

A faint voice drifted over, causing the shopkeeper to freeze in shock, close his ledger, and look up.

"Get off!"

Upon seeing the newcomer, the shopkeeper was momentarily stunned, but his eyes turned cold after he came to his senses.

With a 'bang,' Zhuang Kun jumped into the courtyard, tiptoed into the house, and put on a fawning expression.

As soon as Zhuang Kun entered the room, the shopkeeper, fearing he might run away, suddenly moved with incredible speed and agility, appearing before Zhuang Kun in the blink of an eye. He grabbed Zhuang Kun with a flick of his wrist, his aura filled with ferocity!

Startled, Zhuang Kun immediately knelt down, clasped his hands in prayer, and said urgently,
“Immortal Fate!!”

The shopkeeper's hand paused on Zhuang Kun's forehead.

Zhuang Kun: "Brother-in-law! I'm here to make amends. I've found a treasure...it might just be a destiny to immortality!"

Zhuang Kun quickly recounted everything that had happened that night, from escorting Furong Ointment to Micang Mountain to returning to the city today and going to Ahua's house.

He didn't even hide the fact that he had been lazy and derelict in his duties, going off to fight crickets, and then returning to find the rice granary burned down.

Zhuang Kun was shrewd enough to realize that since he had chosen to come back and seek refuge with his brother-in-law, these matters were no longer a problem.

If we keep it a secret, it will only harm ourselves and our brother-in-law!
Looking at the altar wood and... a large, fat roast duck that Zhuang Kun handed over.

Xiang hesitated for a moment, then grabbed the altar wood.

He carefully examined the altar wood, tapping and rubbing it from time to time, and even used his qi and blood to probe it.

After a moment, he nodded to the shopkeeper and said,

"It is indeed a predestined connection with the divine."

Since ancient times, immortals have always been elusive, either abandoning their scriptures with a smile and living in seclusion in the deep mountains and forests, or draped in rags, disguised as beggars and vagrants, wandering the mortal world.

There is no chance; even if a god were to appear before you, you would not be able to see him.

Therefore, items like Qinggang matches and Zhentan wood, which possess extraordinary abilities or auras, can be called "celestial connections."

A connection that brings one closer to immortality and transcendence.

Their gazes toward the shopkeeper also became intense.

"You did a good job, you didn't run away! I'll go find someone right now..."

After carefully storing the altar wood with the shopkeeper, he instructed Zhuang Kun to stay inside and not leave without permission. He then took a few steps and arrived at the courtyard.

"The shopkeeper's!"

Suddenly, a waiter rushed in.

"Someone outside is looking for you, saying it's important."

"Who?"

"I don't know, the person was wearing a mask and I couldn't recognize their voice."

This fellow had eyes downcast, a few taels of brand-new silver in his pocket, and was extremely well-behaved and endearing.

The shopkeeper gave the man a deep look and said,

"Please come in!"

Before long, the man led the way, followed by a figure wearing a large, round felt hat with the four corners folded down to cover most of his face, his head bowed in embarrassment.

Judging from his walking posture and build, he should be a young man.

"Your Excellency—hmm?!"

The shopkeeper looked suspicious and was about to speak when he saw the figure wipe his face, remove his felt hat, and reveal a face that the shopkeeper recognized very well.

Ahua?!
The shopkeeper was stunned.

How come they've come to us of their own accord?
Ahua stepped forward, clasped his hands in greeting, and said...
"Manager Xiang, I would like to ask you to help me kill someone!"

In return, I have an ancestral heirloom called the Li Tan Flag, a genuine celestial treasure capable of summoning yin winds and extinguishing yang fire… I wonder if you, shopkeeper, are interested?”

He winked at the shopkeeper and asked, "Kill whom?"

"Weiheng Street, Shique Shuisan, Chen Shunan!"

The shopkeeper instinctively opened his mouth wide, and didn't react for a long time.

These guys are really good at this!

They're fighting amongst themselves, and they're fighting so fiercely?
The shopkeeper was so curious that he couldn't help but press for more information.

What grudge do you have against Chen Shunan?

Ahua paused for a moment, then said, "There's no past grudge, no recent animosity. Please don't ask any further questions. Will you take this deal or not?"

Ahua had thought it through very clearly.

He couldn't wait any longer.

Chen Shunan was already a second-rate martial artist, and had even begun to suspect that he was investigating the incident of him accidentally falling into the well.

Ah Hua, he'll be exposed sooner or later.

Since that's the case, might as well go all the way and make the mistake to the very end!
Ahua only used this Litan flag twice.

One time, that night, he quietly crouched behind the gravel well shed, feeling uneasy and nervous, struggling with whether he should take such a risk.
Chen Shunan was simply unlucky; after returning the waterwheel, he still had to dutifully go under the shed to inspect the gravel well.

Ahua really wants to improve!
If we could get rid of the truly lacking Shui San, with his strength and reputation, he could definitely move up a position!

As the banner fluttered, ghostly wails and howls filled the air, and a chilling wind swept in, instantly blowing Chen Shun'an into the well.

However, an unexpected incident occurred. Chen Shunan was hard to kill, and his cousin Wan Niang arrived just in time.

Fortunately, perhaps it was divine intervention, because within a few days, news broke that people in various wells either died suddenly or drowned after falling into them.

This helped to deflect suspicion from Ahua.

The second time was when Chen Shunan, having just recovered from a serious illness, was harassed by a group of scoundrels.

To gain merit, demonstrate loyalty to the emperor, and get closer to Chen Shunan, Ah Hua resorted to underhanded tactics, once again urging Li Tanqi to act.

But there wasn't a third time.

Ahua dared not take any more risks, realizing that even with the help of Li Tanqi, he would likely find it difficult to kill Chen Shunan without any chance of success.

Therefore, the enemy of my enemy is my friend.

He found the Wanlong Mill.

"catch!"

The shopkeeper answered quite readily.

He was beaming with joy, even happier than if he had taken a sixth concubine; he was practically ready to hang paper money on the window.

"Brother Ahua, please come in. Your business is my business... Come on in! The freshly baked Lao Liu's roast duck, the crispy skin from the breast is only cut into one plate, dipped in white sugar and sandwiched in hollow sesame flatbread, it's absolutely delicious! You have to try it."

Oh, I forgot to tell you, Zhuang Kun was there too. By the way, I wanted to ask you something: what exactly happened that night when the warehouse burned down?

……

As night deepens and the dew grows heavy, the waning moon hangs like a hook.

Not far from the Wanlong Mill is an octagonal brick tower with upturned eaves, covered with Sanskrit characters and lotus petal reliefs. It is more than 20 zhang tall and can almost overlook the entire Wuqing County.

This pagoda is called Kui Xing Pagoda. Before going to the capital for the imperial examinations, candidates from Wuqing would kneel and worship in front of the pagoda.

When someone passed the imperial examination and returned home in glory, they would wear an official hat and a red robe, and ride a tall, fine horse to show off their official position under the Kui Xing Pagoda.

However, the imperial examination is held only once every three years, which results in few people visiting the Kui Xing Pagoda on weekdays, making it quite deserted and quiet.

At this time,
A dark figure silently stood atop the tower, its form as black as ink, its robes fluttering in the wind, for the heights were unbearably cold.

"Fate is truly wondrous. Tonight, it's so lively..."

Chen Shunan lowered his eyes and took in all the activity in Wanlong's mill.

(End of this chapter)