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

Chapter 113 You can call me by the name of God, Shangyuan Shuiyuan

"You only slept for half an hour?"

The pale moonlight seeped in like water through the leaks in the rice granary.

Chen Shunan slowly woke up, opened his eyes, his gaze bright and clear. He felt refreshed and invigorated, as if he had slept well.

His surging blood and qi almost burst forth, his consciousness grew stronger, and the mental energy depleted from slaying the ear thief was completely replenished, even further enhanced.

"The reason I only slept for half an hour is that I only need half an hour of sleep to recover from fatigue and feel refreshed!"

Chen Shunan suddenly stood up, feeling the body that seemed even younger, and was overjoyed.

"Moreover, if I drink calming water for a long time, it seems I can fall asleep instantly? Even in the short span of a dozen breaths while walking, eating, or even while waiting in line to get water, I can steal a moment to fall into a deep sleep?"

Chen Shunan muttered something to himself, his expression somewhat strange.

This is so curly!
Do you think I'm old and senile?
I am a fairy in a dream!
Sleeping only half an hour a day is enough to nourish the mind and strengthen the body, restore the state, and continue to practice martial arts vigorously!

Chen Shunan further realized that the Ran Yi'an Divine Water had an almost abnormally terrifying value for the other martial artists.

"No, it needs to be diluted. The effects of the intact Ran Yi Water are too terrifying..."

"The remaining four-fold Fushi Mother is enough for two more cultivation sessions. Each cultivation session is equivalent to burning fifty taels of silver. After about seven or eight more sessions, spending another two hundred taels of silver, I can completely eliminate the Ear Thief and reach the realm of Slaying Four Thieves."

"Heh, other martial artists, even those with exceptional talent, would need several months to recuperate and recover after slaying the Six Thieves. But as long as I have enough resources, I can climb to the peak again and again in a very short time."

"Chen is the true prodigy!"

Chen Shunan nodded in satisfaction, feeling that his future was promising.

He cultivated for a while longer, and when it was slightly brighter, he quickly left the rice warehouse and returned to Chaodou Hutong.

……

After breakfast, once everything was tidied up, Chen Shunan told Wan Niang that a craftsman would be coming to plaster and repair the walls that day before heading out to his shift.

It was early autumn; the north wind swept across the land, and yellow leaves fluttered against the eaves.

As Chen Shunan passed through the vegetable market, he saw a large crowd of people gathered in layers.

The stench of sand and dust mingled with a metallic smell, carrying the lingering aura of a top-tier master.

Chen Shunan frowned and, like the others, squeezed into the crowd to look inside.

Then there were several constables dressed in their uniforms, holding large knives, their eyes cold, standing in front of a makeshift wooden frame.

Several corpses, their ankles bound with straw ropes, were hanging upside down on a wooden frame, covered in blood and barely recognizable as human.

Chen Shunan's gaze swept across the scene, and he suddenly noticed the headless mutilated corpse in the middle. His pupils contracted sharply, and a storm of shock surged in his heart!
That is……

Yesterday at the Fried Bean Martial Arts School, I met that Guoru Huixinzi Hall Master?

how come?
died? !
Bai Manlou and his group joined forces to break into the prison, but they actually failed?

Chen Shunan was somewhat taken aback.

On the notice board next to the wooden frame, there was a fishing permit posted—

The Ministry of Justice is offering a reward for the capture of the criminals who attempted to break into prison: On the fifth day of the eighth month of this year, some ruthless bandits, armed with weapons, launched a surprise attack on the prison of the Patrol Inspectorate, plotting to kidnap the wanted criminal Jin Liwu.

After a fierce battle, the officers and soldiers killed several bandits, but the ringleader Bai Manlou led the remaining members of his gang to escape.

The offender is from Sichuan, Zhili Province… A reward of two thousand taels of silver will be given for the execution of the ringleader, along with a ninth-rank military merit certificate… A reward of one thousand taels of silver will be given for the execution of any accomplice… A reward will also be given for reporting any hideouts or outposts of the Kuomintang.
"Master Jin died a tragic death. He was such a kind man, but he was implicated by a group of thugs and ended up with his body exposed in the middle of the city!"

"Bah! A bunch of lawless, fatherless, and motherless traitors!"

"Alas, these people from the Radish Association! Before they came, our Wuqing County was peaceful and prosperous, but after they came, everyone is filled with fear and panic. What a disaster!"

"Don't say that. The Guolu Society consists of top-notch heroes who save people from suffering and rescue them from dire straits. Haven't you heard of Furong Ointment? Without them, the world would have been in a terrible state long ago."

"What bullshit about tuition fees? I didn't see it, and I can't afford it, so what does it have to do with me? All I know is that they ruined my shop, forcing it to close for a few days and causing me to lose a lot of money!"

"He died without a complete body, and died far from home. Alas, how tragic."

The people were whispering and talking among themselves.

Chen Shunan stood there blankly.

His eyesight is exceptional; he can clearly see the patterns on a fly's wings even from dozens of feet away.

At this moment, he could see that at the severed neck of the decapitated corpse, there were still purplish-black blood clots. The skin, tendons, and bones were not cleanly severed, and there was even some shriveled skin hanging down on it.

It seemed as if his head had been forcibly torn off by a tremendous force.

Chen Shunan sensed a faint, extremely cold energy emanating from the corpse.

The head of the Master of Xinzi Hall was placed in a willow basket, his eyes still open, gazing at the bleak autumn sky.

He was a chivalrous hero in life, but after death he was like meat on the market.

"Judging from his appearance, he should be a master who has killed three thieves and is proficient in fist and claw techniques. He made a fierce move and killed them with one blow... But I haven't heard of any chief constable being stationed in the patrol office recently. Could it be the commander from the infantry camp or Tongzhou City?"

Chen Shunan quickly analyzed the cause of death of the Master of Xinzi Hall.

He could vaguely sense that there was a lot of lurking, yet unleashed, energy near the market, carrying a deep-seated killing intent.

The government had probably been secretly lying in wait, using the corpse of the leader of the Xinzi Hall as bait to lure the remaining Guolu Society heroes into making a move...

Take the corpse!

Upon seeing this, a hint of coldness flashed in Chen Shunan's eyes.

He remained expressionless, followed the flow of people, left Caishikou, and headed to the gravel well for his shift.

Chen Shunan could only hope that Bai Manlou and the others would be rational and not do something as foolish as moths to a flame for the sake of their companion's corpse.

only……

Liver and gallbladder bulge, hair stands on end. In a single conversation, life and death are shared, a promise is worth a thousand pieces of gold.

The so-called chivalrous heroes are unrestrained and have different hobbies, but they all have a sincere heart.

The answer seems to have already been decided.

……

Master Li is dying.

As Chen Shunan carried the murky water on his shoulder and entered the Li residence, he immediately sensed the oppressive and suffocating atmosphere permeating the air.

The two gatekeepers, Ah Da and Ah Er, had red and swollen eyes and looked sad.

The maids who came and went kept their eyes downcast, held their breath, and lowered their heads, not daring to speak loudly.

Steward Zhao forced a smile at Chen Shunan and led him to the water vat in the courtyard.

Upon passing through the main hall, Chen Shunan saw Master Li, dressed in his most respectable sable robe, leaning against a century-old rosewood armchair, sitting like a withered mountain.

His eyes were slightly closed, and his breathing was heavy and labored, like a broken bellows. Each inhale seemed to be a struggle to lift himself up from the bottom of a deep pool, and each exhale carried a faint smell of decaying wood.

The merchant ship, which they had painstakingly scraped together to build, was betrayed by a childhood friend after being entrusted with the wrong task.

Master Li's spirits were completely destroyed by the thunder and fire two months ago.

He hasn't slept for almost half a month.

Once you close your eyes, you can almost see Qian Longtou's disgusting yet enthusiastic face, and the merchant ship that perished in the flames.

It was almost a nightmare, keeping him tossing and turning, waking him up in terror.

He is now almost completely exhausted, his mind is collapsing.

There was complete silence under the eaves and on the steps.

The main room, however, was packed with people.

The eldest son of Master Li, along with Second Master, Fourth Master, several aunts, and other members of the Li family scattered in various places.

During these days, like swallows returning to their nests, they gather in this lifeless main hall with sorrow, fear, or hidden expectations.

At this moment, they all stared at the body that was about to cool down with complicated expressions.

They kept glancing warily and suspiciously at each other's faces.

Everyone is waiting.

It was both a tragedy and a celebration. Chen Shunan asked, "Even Golden Needle Li couldn't do anything about it?"

Butler Zhao's eyes dimmed, and he sighed, "Medicine is ineffective. Doctor Li said that the pulse is like a sparrow pecking at a leaky roof, and the spirit is scattered; it is beyond the help of ordinary people."

Chen Shunan squinted and slowly said, "Aren't there still two merchant ships left?"

Butler Zhao said, half-crying and half-laughing, "After that incident, even the eldest young master of the Lu family of the Twelve Trades of the South China Sea died tragically in Bewildering Bay... Who would dare to do business with my Li family? The merchant ships are all docked at the ferry crossing, abandoned, and the crew has all been disbanded."

As he spoke, Butler Zhao looked at the faces in the main room, choked with sobs yet unable to conceal the wild ambition in their eyes, and said...
"They're all waiting for the old man to breathe his last so they can read his will and divide his inheritance, especially that 'Golden Snake Entwining Silk Hand' manual, the 'Mysterious Snake Shedding Form' manual..."

Chen Shunan remained silent.

With the Xuan Snake Shedding Form Diagram, one has a hen that lays golden eggs. Every now and then, one can sell the family's secret techniques and earn several hundred taels of silver.

This profit is enough to make many people envious.

"but……"

Steward Zhao smirked and said sarcastically, "Master has decided to secretly pass on the Xuan Snake Shedding Form Diagram to Yi Yan. This child is mature beyond his years and has a good heart. In addition, he has outstanding talent. Passing on the true skills of my Li family to him is not a waste."

At this point, Butler Zhao glanced at Chen Shunan's aged face, then hesitated to speak.

If Chen Shunan were thirty years younger, Master Li might have passed on his mantle to him.

Steward Zhao took out a somewhat mottled and yellowed scroll from his pocket.

"This is……"

"The Mysterious Serpent Shedding Its Form Diagram. The master instructed that you should contemplate it, and he will not charge you any money."

Butler Zhao smiled and said, "Consider it repayment for the blessing water you gave me."

Chen Shunan clasped his hands in a fist salute and accepted the scroll, then suddenly spoke,

"Brother Zhao, do you know how many martial artists from your family have practiced the Golden Serpent Entwining Silk Hand over the past few decades? And how many times have they been sold? Do you have a list?"

"This……"

Butler Zhao frowned and said:

"From Master Li's generation down, including the direct descendants and the branches that went out into the family, there are quite a few. If you add those who learned from masters, there are even more. I'm afraid you can only ask Master Li. But now Master Li's mind is unclear, and he is rarely lucid. I guess he is willing but unable to continue..."

Chen Shunan nodded, said no more, found a step to sit down, and began to contemplate the Xuan Snake Shedding Form Diagram in his hand.

Butler Zhao stood to one side.

A moment later, Chen Shunan returned the Xuan Snake Shedding Form Diagram and drifted away.

Although Steward Zhao was somewhat puzzled as to why Chen Shunan gave up after only a short while of meditation, he had no time to ask further questions at this critical juncture.

"Old Chen is self-aware and knows when to stop, so as not to suffer mentally, which is a good thing."

As Steward Zhao pondered this, he looked towards the main hall, a profound sense of sorrow and helplessness welling up within him.

This is the epitome of a hero's decline.

……

The night was as dark as ink, completely swallowing up the last ray of light in Wuqing County.

Like a clay sculpture, Master Li, sitting upright at the head of the main room, seemed to awaken from a dream, leaning on his cane as he slowly stood up.

"Father, let me help you..."

"Get out! My blood is still hot, why would I need your help, you unfilial son?"

Li Shicheng resembled a sick tiger, his eyes gleaming with a cold light, as if he were burning all his energy in his eye sockets.

None of the people below dared to meet his gaze.

Li Shicheng's steps were unsteady, each landing feeling like stepping on clouds, heavy yet without any support, as he slowly made his way to the bedroom.

Butler Zhao followed silently behind him.

Back in that familiar bedroom, Li Shicheng seemed to have used up his last bit of strength as he struggled to climb onto the bed.

The incense burner held precious benzoin, attempting to dispel the lingering scent of death, but it only blended into a cloying, dull, and suffocating aroma.

"Oh, Xiao Zhao..."

Upon seeing Butler Zhao, Li Shicheng was momentarily dazed, then vaguely remembered something, and his voice suddenly became full of energy.

"Has that kid Chen Shunan seen the metamorphosis diagram?"

Li Shicheng was over eighty years old, two full cycles older than Chen Shunan, so calling Chen Shunan "boy" was perfectly acceptable.

Butler Zhao said gently, "I saw it. It took about half an incense stick's time."

"Ha ha ha ha……"

Li Shicheng burst into laughter and said, "I knew it! That kid was only after my family's true skills. Even if we gave them to him, would he understand?!"

"Back then, he insisted that I teach him the Silk-Entangling Hand technique, but two whole months have passed, and I've only been practicing sporadically, without any progress!"

"Fine, I'll let him take a look when he comes tomorrow or the day after, so he won't say I, Li Shicheng, am stingy!"

Butler Zhao replied, "Understood."

"Alright, you can leave now. I'm not going to die! No matter what, we have to buy some more time for that kid Yi Yan."

If Yi Yan were to pass on the family mantle to an outsider, and Li Shicheng were to die and the matter were exposed, he would definitely become the target of public criticism.

After all, he was just the illegitimate son of a military officer.

Butler Zhao slowly left.

Inside the room, only a single lamp flickered on the lampstand at the corner of the bed.

The world was dead silent.

Li Shicheng could even clearly feel the life force flowing rapidly within his body.

Aging and death are natural laws.

No one is immune.

Li Shicheng's cloudy, almost closed eyes struggled to move, scanning the intricate carvings on the ceiling.

He was not reconciled.

With his death, the vast Li family was left without any top-tier experts, and the remaining rebellious sons each harbored their own ambitions, but none of them were of any use.

How could the family business be ruined in his hands?
Countless images from his youth flashed through his mind.

With youthful vigor and the spirit of war, he inherited the family headship, surrounded by children and grandchildren, and extended the Li family's lifespan for several more decades.

He received a timely reminder from Chen Shunan, mustered his last bit of courage, and risked his life in a desperate gamble, but in the end, he entrusted himself to the wrong person, and all his hopes were in vain.

A profound sense of helplessness, like ice water, extinguished the embers of Li Shicheng's resentment.

Perhaps this is how my life will be?

Li Shicheng's cloudy gaze gradually blurred, and he could no longer see the exquisite objects that represented the glory of the Li family.

He was unwilling, but helplessly stepped into the eternal night.

Suddenly, time seemed to freeze.

The flickering flames were frozen in mid-air.

The wind seeping in from outside the window, and even the sound of Master Li's blood flowing, which was about to congeal, all froze.

An indescribable voice, vast as the starry sea and boundless as the abyss, coldly echoed in Li Shicheng's mind—

Do you want to live?

The mere numbers, however, were like a resounding bell, instantly clearing Li Shicheng's scattered consciousness!
Li Shicheng was somewhat bewildered, his faint consciousness instinctively trembling and crawling, like a speck of dust looking up at the sky.

"you are?"

The voice paused for a moment, then said,

"You can call me by my god's name, Shangyuan Shuiyuan."

(End of this chapter)