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

Chapter 130 Tactical Deception
Dusk was falling.

Zhao Guanghui's face was ashen as he rode his horse back to his residence.

Upon reaching the gate of the mansion, he abruptly pulled on the reins, dismounted, and casually tossed the reins to the servants who came to greet him, his actions carrying an barely suppressed ferocity.

Zhao Guanghui said coldly, "This horse is running too fast, kill it."

The man was puzzled. Wasn't the horse killed only if it was slow? Why kill the fast one?
But as a servant, he dared not ask his master any more questions. He quickly led the fine jade-topped horse, which was still oblivious and snorting, to the backyard.

"master."

"Welcome back home, Master."

The maids and servants along the way knelt down, touching their foreheads to the ground, speaking humbly and not daring to look at each other.

Just then, a mournful and desperate neighing of a horse came from the direction of the backyard, piercing the dark night before abruptly ending.

The bodies of everyone prostrate on the ground trembled almost imperceptibly, and they lowered their heads even further.

Zhao Guanghui didn't even glance at these people, and went straight back to his study.

Before long, a beautiful woman carrying a teacup approached gracefully, her voice soft and gentle: "Master..."

Zhao Guanghui glanced at her indifferently and said, "Madam, please bring me my stringed instrument. I would like to play a couple of tunes."

Upon hearing the name 'Xianzi', the beautiful young woman seemed to realize something, her face paled slightly, and her delicate body trembled.

"Yes, sir."

The entire Zhao family knew that Zhao Guanghui, a native of the capital region, was extremely skilled in all sorts of children's games. He was proficient in both literary and martial arts, and could even pick up a drum, clapper, and stringed instrument.

Playing the piano is one of them.

However, the fingernails he used to play the piano were not made of wood or jade.

Instead, it should be made from a little girl's forearm, preferably by someone who practices martial arts, the higher the cultivation level the better, and if it is at the Jade Tree Realm, that would be even better.

Whenever it is played, the sound of the piano and the sound of its bones are so beautiful.

This stringed instrument cannot be stored in a dark box under normal circumstances. Instead, a group of carefully selected maids keep it close to their bodies with their body heat, so that it can be kept moist and nourished at all times.

The reason they were a group of maids was because there were quite a few of them playing the stringed instrument.

Girls aged eight to eighteen were selected from the best of the best, and their hand bones were carefully chosen to make up the eleven strings.

Whenever Zhao Guanghui was in a bad mood, he would play a few tunes.

In the study, the sound of the zither lingered, melodious and ever-changing, demonstrating Zhao Guanghui's remarkable skill.

The entire Zhao residence fell silent. Many people were pale-faced and trembling, not daring to approach the study.

"call……"

After a long while, the music suddenly stopped.

Zhao Guanghui let out a long sigh, smoothed the strings, and the icy coldness on his face seemed to dissipate somewhat.

However, as soon as I close my eyes, Zhao Guangxi's smug face and the meaningful looks from the other owners appear before me.

A heavy gloom couldn't help but sweep over him again.

His good younger brother not only gained a fierce general with a triple-refinement martial body, but also earned a reputation for repaying evil with good.

The fact that the brothers were fighting amongst themselves was something that almost everyone in Wuqing County with any standing knew about.

If the two were to fight to the death and harm each other, that would be one thing; people would at most shake their heads and sigh, it's nothing to talk about when family members kill each other.

But surprisingly, Chen Shunan saved Zhao Guanghui's man, Hong Junxian, from the fire.

This would attract even more attention than directly killing Hong Junxian and cutting off Zhao Guanghui's right and left arms.

Prestige is what people desire. Not to mention these county magistrates, even the emperor would not dare to underestimate it.

It involves the mysterious forces of fate and destiny!
And that's not all...

Nie Zheng is dead?

Even now, Zhao Guanghui still finds it hard to believe.

When Nie Zheng first arrived in Wuqing County, his foundation was unstable, and he lacked money and manpower. He urgently needed a local force to support him, so he hit it off with Zhao Guanghui.

Taking advantage of his position, Nie Zheng stole the bodies of death row inmates and notorious bandits who had no one to collect them and sold them to Zhao Guanghui.

He was instructed to secretly train the Dingjia Warrior.

Especially the corpse of the Master of the Xinzi Hall, with its bones as smooth as jade, joints shining brightly, and no decay after death, and especially since it was only recently, with some residual will still remaining, it was simply the best material to forge the Dingjia Warrior!

But now, it's gone!
The body is gone.

Nie Zheng is gone too!
Zhao Guanghui later obtained the source of the best martial artist's corpse, and then slashed it!

"Summon Hong Junxian to see me!"

Zhao Guanghui suppressed his turbulent emotions, summoned his trusted aide, and whispered a few instructions.

About an incense stick later, Hong Junxian arrived in a hurry.

The plaster on his temples was still on, indicating that he had just struggled to get up from his sickbed.

Upon meeting, before Zhao Guanghui could even speak, Hong Junxian knelt down with a thud, tears streaming down his face, and sobbed, "..."

"I am utterly incompetent! I have disgraced my master! I humbly beg my master to allow me to retire and relinquish my position as a retainer of the money shop..."

Zhao Guanghui was taken aback. He hadn't expected Hong Junxian to preemptively strike, so he couldn't very well reprimand him. Zhao Guanghui quickly stood up, his face full of concern, and took Hong Junxian's hand, leading him to sit down at the table.

"What are you saying, Elder Hong? The rebels of the Guolu Society are beyond even the help of Lu Jing and his men; they could only watch helplessly as the other side escaped. For you to have done this much is already commendable. You've brought honor to Zhao Guanghui, not disgrace."

"Thank you for not abandoning me, sir, and for not minding my old age and infirmity..."

Hong Junxian wiped away his tears, looking extremely grateful.

The two then had a long private conversation about the importance of a benevolent ruler and a loyal subject.

Zhao Guanghui then said,
"I wonder what Elder Hong thinks of Chen Shunan?"

Hong Junxian paused for a moment, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes, and slowly said,
"This man saved me today, seemingly out of righteousness, but in reality, he has ulterior motives. He is nothing more than seeking fame and profit... In my opinion, this young man comes from humble origins and has a narrow vision."
Even with the best of luck and favorable circumstances, it's difficult to achieve great things! Reaching the first-rate level and defeating one or two villains is already the limit!

"Oh? This person saved Elder Hong's life, yet Elder Hong's opinion of him is so low?"

Zhao Guanghui squinted and tapped his fingers lightly on the table.

He had naturally investigated Chen Shunan's life, and it did indeed match Hong Junxian's assessment.

Zhao Guanghui hesitated for a moment, then said, "Fine, I'll give you face, Elder Hong, and let bygones be bygones. I'll also write off the money you borrowed before... so that others won't say I'm stingy!"

"No! Master, absolutely not!"

To everyone's surprise, Hong Junxian resolutely objected upon hearing this.

"Master is mistaken! Chen Shun'an is in dire need of money right now. We should instead increase our efforts to let him accumulate more debt and take on more loans... That is the 'Chonghe Martial Tendon Body'! Once he grows up and breaks through to the first-class level, we can take his martial tendons and even use them to build the whole business for the master. That would be a blessing for Chen Shun'an!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Guanghui gasped, staring at Hong Junxian in disbelief.
"Old Hong, that's your savior!"

Hong Junxian also vaguely knew that Zhao Guanghui was collecting all kinds of martial arts corpses and seemed to be doing some kind of corpse refining business.

However, Zhao Guanghui was always cautious about this. Hong Junxian had only been with Guanghui Money Shop for a short time and had not yet completely won Zhao Guanghui's trust. Therefore, Zhao Guanghui did not usually let Hong Junxian get involved in this matter.

Hong Junxian said loudly, "What does it matter if I'm a savior? How can that compare to the kindness of your patron, Master Zhao? You didn't mind my advanced age and visited me three times to allow me to contribute my remaining energy. This kindness is heavier than Mount Tai! For the sake of your great cause, my personal kindness is nothing!"

Zhao Guanghui could never have guessed that Hong Junxian had already become Chen Shunan's man, and his life and death were no longer in his own hands.

At this moment, Hong Junxian kept using tactics to deceive Zhao Guanghui.

"Having Elder Hong is like adding wings to a tiger; I, Zhao, am truly fortunate beyond measure!"

"Having a boss is like meeting a discerning patron; it is my good fortune!"

The two held hands and looked at each other, displaying a harmonious relationship like that of a wise ruler and a virtuous minister.

……

The next day, he fed the fish and teased the birds, sacrificing his charm, and went out to work.

Good morning, Mr. Chen!

"Brother Chen has arrived?"

Upon arriving at Weiheng Street, Shui San'er greeted them warmly, showing a greater sense of awe and closeness than in the previous days.

Clearly, these seasoned veterans were aware of what had happened yesterday, and they had silently increased their regard for Chen Shunan, this 'quasi-True Meaning' master.

San Dezi quickly approached, his eyes scanning Chen Shunan up and down. Seeing that Chen Shunan's steps were steady and his expression was normal, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief, lightly punched him on the shoulder, and chuckled and scolded.
"You old Chen, you've probably already changed it to 'Chonghe Martial Body' and you're still keeping it from the brothers?"

Liu Daoba, standing to the side, had a dark complexion and his blood was surging so violently it was almost overflowing from his body.

Clearly, hard work pays off, and I have made considerable progress in my cultivation during this period.

Liu the Scarface was silent for a moment, then asked in a deep voice:
"I heard you're injured, Lao Chen. How badly are you hurt?"

Chen Shunan remained calm and joked with the two of them.

"It's just a minor injury, a spit will fix it. As for this so-called 'troublesome martial arts body,' I, Chen, truly have no idea. It's the first time I've ever encountered such a thing..."

I told you something was wrong with my body, like I'd suddenly become more alert, and I felt lighter every day, but you didn't believe me..."

Chen Shunan's tone was somewhat helpless.

Upon hearing this, the two looked at each other, speechless for a moment.

It seems that Old Chen really did say that?

Time flows by like water.

Chen Shunan pushed a cart to deliver water during the day and often took a nap, while at night he would practice the "Flying Immortal Force" and "Golden Snake Entwining Silk Hand" diligently.

Three days have passed in the blink of an eye.

The Wuqing Sticky Rod Office has completely suppressed the impact of the Guolu Society's attempt to seize the corpse that day, and is now comforting the wounded, sorting out the strength of the internal martial artists, and smoothing out various connections.

Guolu's ability to seize corpses also made the top-tier martial artists inside realize the huge flaws in this thatched-roof group.

That is, the Wuqing Sticky Rod Office has a very typical nepotistic relationship, divided into countless 'small gangs', making it difficult to achieve unity between superiors and subordinates.

There was no other way; the Wuqing Sticky Rod Office had an illegitimate origin and was forcibly established by the Liangjiang Military Academy.

This drawback can only be corrected gradually.

Good news also came during these three days.

For example, "He Qiqiang is going into seclusion to break through to the first-class realm!"

This news caused quite a stir among the group of Shui San'er, no less than the news that Chen Shun'an possessed the 'Chonghe Martial Body'.

(End of this chapter)