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

Chapter 168: Dark Moon and High Wind, Killing Night
Dusk was falling.

Da da da……

The sound of horse hooves sounded.

A blue-canopied carriage drove out of the back gate of the Zhao residence, its wheels rolling over the bluestone slabs with a dull thud.

He passed by Cheng Bin.

The carriage, its contents unknown, was covered by a white cloth, its outline undulating, and with each bump, faint human-shaped shadows could be seen peeking out.

A gust of wind blew by, wrinkling the white cloth.

An arm, deathly pale, suddenly drooped down from the carriage.

Cheng Bin recognized the owner of the arm at a glance.

Those slender, delicate fingers and silky smooth wrists once hung around his neck, tenderly calling him "Cheng Lang."

Xiao Man.

died.

Cheng Bin slowly lowered his head, the dimming light casting shadows over his entire face, making it impossible to discern his expression.

Huo Ning, who was driving the carriage, trotted down and put his drooping arm back into the white cloth, his movements as practiced as if he were cleaning up a pile of pork.

He took out a rusty iron hook, plunged it into the corpse to secure it, then whipped the chariot and sped off towards the mass grave outside the city.

“Benefactor Cheng.”

Suddenly, a Zen-like sound rang out from behind Cheng Bin.

He turned around in a daze and saw Jiu Chan Hui, dressed in a purple-red kasaya, standing quietly behind him from who-knows-where.

"This master is..."

"I have been entrusted by Master Zhao to ask Benefactor Cheng for a favor."

Cheng Bin forced a smile that looked more like a grimace: "I'm neither human nor ghost now, how can I possibly help my master? Please leave, Master."

Jiu Chanhui looked at Cheng Bin with deep eyes and said softly,

"You can help. You will help too."

After a while.

Cheng Bin walked out of the alley in a daze, stumbling and staggering all the way out of the county gate, through the muddy official road, and arrived at the mass grave outside Bajiazhuang.

On the undulating barren hills, withered grass whistles in the wind.

Everywhere were unclaimed mounds of earth. Several wild dogs with green eyes, who were digging open coffins and eating human flesh, raised their heads and looked coldly at Cheng Bin.

After searching for a while, Cheng Bin finally found Xiao Man at a newly renovated mound of earth, which was covered in red rust.

Like foxtail grass, it takes root shallowly, goes unnoticed, and drifts away in the wind.

"That idiot really did follow us."

"Huo's method of running away is brilliant; he lured the snake out of its hole."

Several sinister voices, like venomous snakes, echoed from all around.

Then Huo Ning and his men jumped down from the tree, pulled out their wrist knives, and quickly knocked Cheng Bin to the ground. They then took ropes and tied him up.

"Huo Paojie, this guy's a cripple. Should we take him to work in the mines or in the sewers?"

"Mining first, then diving, paying off the debts first... Hmm? Wait, why is this guy's pulse weak, his qi and blood are failing, he looks like he's about to die?!"

Huo Ning looked at Cheng Bin, who was barely breathing in front of him, and was both angry and annoyed. He cursed loudly.
"These days, there are actually still devoted lovers. I, Huo, have learned something new! Don't worry about the rest, I'll handle it!"

As for how to handle it, it's naturally simple.

Take it to fill the blood pool!
……

Late that night.

Chen Shunan was the last to finish his shift.

Being a shopkeeper isn't easy.

Managing the overall situation, handling interpersonal relationships, managing accounts, and also having to play mind games with these scoundrels.

Fortunately, as the manager, he no longer needed to do many things himself and could delegate them to the other employees.

For example, Chen Shunan would naturally not abandon the previous beneficiaries.

Instead, they entrusted the task to Shui San'er, whom they knew well and trusted implicitly, and then slowly sought out suitable recipients of the blessing.

Back to Chaodou Hutong.

Outside the alley entrance, sedan chairs and horse-drawn carriages were parked, almost blocking the road.

The visitors were either shopkeepers or stewards of Wuqing gentry, each carrying gifts, all hoping to establish a relationship with Chen Shunan and discuss business.

If he were just the manager of a freshwater well, these people wouldn't be so eager to curry favor with him.

But Zhao Guangxi is the head of the Wuqing Lulu!
Although Zhao Guangxi has not yet taken office, the appointment notice has been issued.

However, the fact that he slapped Zhao Guanghui, and especially that he constantly carried the "Chengping Guanjing Sword" around showing off, made it known to every influential person in Wuqing County.

As Zhao Guangxi's favorite and number one lackey, Chen Shunan's value naturally soared.

Many people invited Chen Shunan to go out for drinks and entertainment, watch plays and visit prostitutes, and some even offered to host family banquets, but Chen Shunan politely declined them all.

This is not the time for him to indulge in debauchery.

Moreover, although Chen Shunan had a smile on his face, his eyes remained cold.

These are all shrewd people.

He didn't come on his first day in his new position, but waited until he was settled in before the well, which was said to have sent forth colorful rain, before finally paying him a visit.

They were probably keeping a low profile on Chen Shunan, lest all the previous efforts to win him over go to waste.

Half an hour later.

With Chen Shunan's smooth excuses, the sedan chair was lifted and the carriage was whipped, and the once noisy Chaodou Hutong returned to its quiet state.

Inside the Chen residence, Wan Niang remained remarkably composed. Faced with so many congratulatory gifts, she silently categorized them, marking each one to indicate which family sent them. She understood a simple and profound truth.

Favors given will always be repaid.

When she gave birth to Chunhong in her early years, a neighbor gave her two eggs and brown sugar during her postpartum confinement, which she later returned.

"Wan Niang, please compile a list and give it to me. Return anything that is too valuable, and keep anything that is ordinary and not worth much."

Chen Shunan gave an instruction.

Chen Shunan might not remember who gave him the gift.

But Chen Shunan would definitely remember who didn't send it.

Even something as small as giving gifts allowed Chen Shunan to gain a clearer understanding of the situation in Wuqing County.

……

It was getting late, with thick clouds covering the sky and no moonlight; the daytime wind had already begun to blow.

The night wind grew stronger.

Chen Shunan quietly got up, covered Wan Niang with the quilt, and left Chaodou Hutong.

Although Chen Shunan is now powerful, there is no one in the entire Wuqing County who is stronger than him on the surface.

But as soon as he left Chaodou Hutong, Chen Shunan's blood and qi suddenly changed. With a thought, he seemed to merge into the darkness and fall into a state of invisibility.

The python-tooth boots on his feet made him even more agile.

Stealth power activated.

The best course of action is to be cautious. Chen Shunan could not be too careful in his treatment of the Holy Dynasty.

A damp river breeze swept over me, carrying a biting chill.

The night boat, like a tiny spark, glides along the riverbank.

Along the way, as they got closer to the gathering place of the fish pot gang, they saw more and more people lying dead from freezing and starvation.

Almost all of them were emaciated, pale, and thin as sticks, with a faint, pleasant fragrance emanating from them.

Some people, despite having no roof over their heads to shield them from the wind and no clothes to keep them warm, still can't forget the delicious and refreshing balm.

With trembling hands, he stuffed a snuff bottle into his nose, took a deep drag, seemingly forgetting the cold and hunger, and lay down in the snow with a happy tilt of his head.

These days, human life is the least valuable thing, so if money can be extracted from human lives, many people are willing to take the risk.

And clearly, the fish pot gang led by Third Master Owl is the best of the best, able to squeeze even a toad out of its skin.

Chen Shunan quickly found a fish restaurant.

Judging from the size of the fish restaurant, it must be an abandoned large restaurant that has been taken over by the fish restaurant owners and become their own residence.

Although it was late at night, the entire fish restaurant was filled with smoke and shadowy figures.

Interspersed among them were the woman's shrill screams.

Given the reckless nature of this group of scoundrels, there's no way they can form an orderly night watch team; they're all crooked and calling on their friends.

Chen Shunan had already scouted the location beforehand.

To be precise, he had scouted out almost all the gang outposts, including the four major cooking pots, the four major rice mills, and even the other well-dwelling areas.

I browse it every now and then to update the latest map.

He did a quick search and then easily made his way to a shrine, where he slipped behind a haystack filled with miscellaneous items.

This is a good ambush location, offering excellent visibility and flexibility for both advancing and retreating.

"Sigh, it's prawns, sea cucumbers, and all kinds of fish again. I'm so tired of it. Lu Shaozi, do you have any other special ingredients?"

A few complaints could be heard from inside the incense hall.

"Brother Owl, don't get angry with the people below. We live off the land and the water. The only fish that can catch your eye are these precious fish. I don't mind them. We'll eat whatever we have."

"Alright! Brother, you've come all this way today, so indulge yourself. Lu Shaozi, bring out my most treasured ingredients and make something delicious!"

It seems that Third Master Owl is hosting a dinner party for his friends tonight.

Chen Shunan waited patiently outside the incense hall, when he saw the cook called "Lu Shaozi" hurriedly push open the door and go to the kitchen.

Immediately, the main stove was lit, firewood was added to the second stove, and the bellows were pulled with a whooshing sound.

Lu Shaozi kept working non-stop, with the help of the cook, stir-frying all sorts of shredded and sliced ​​meats, working up a sweat.

Then the cooks took turns serving soup and dishes, and before long, another table of delicious food was laid out in the incense hall.

Lu Shaozi said cautiously, "Then, gentlemen, please enjoy your meal. These cooks will stay and keep you company."

"I've long been tired of women... By the way, Lu Shaozi, I haven't seen your son in years. I heard he's grown quite handsome. Go and call him over to keep me company?"

"Ah? Master, the brothel girl is still young...you can have me!"

"Get lost! I wouldn't even eat your muscular body if you were chopped up and served to me! Hurry up and go, or if you're late and make me unhappy, you and your son can be thrown into the river!"

Third Master Owl cursed angrily.

Lu Shaozi walked out in a daze, his eyes lifeless, on the verge of tears.

Third Master Owl then looked at the group of cooks waiting behind the door and said,
"You may leave. I'm going to play for a while. If you hear any noise later, unless it's a code, don't come near! Don't disturb my enjoyment!"

Upon hearing this, the crew members wore strange smiles, bowed and scraped, and immediately left.

A moment later, Lu Shaozi was seen carrying a bowl of fragrant chicken soup, with a young man with red lips, white teeth, thick eyebrows, and big eyes beside him.

The two walked into the incense hall together.

Outside the incense hall, Chen Shunan shook his head upon hearing this.

The third owl looks respectable and is even a true master, yet he has a taste for this kind of thing.

He quickly discerned the strength of the two people inside the room.

Owl No. 3 only killed two traitors, and back then, Lu Jing cut off his ear, damaging his ear canal and tendons, and probably also scattering his spirit.

(End of this chapter)