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

Chapter 182 Confiscating Property!

"Clap!"

The dry firewood crackled and burned, radiating warmth.

Not far from the deep pit, along the main road, many thatched huts have been built.

Groups of martial artists, wrapped in cotton-padded clothes, waited in front of the fire, rubbing their hands to keep warm.

"Does that mean we're going to have to stay in this godforsaken place for two or three months?"

"Keep your voice down! What's wrong with you staying put? Even those True Intent Masters, including Chief Lu, are obediently staying here to guard against the dissipation of the Yin Sha Qi. Do you think you can run away?"

"I didn't want to run away. Everyone else is slaying demons and searching for treasures at the Three-Forked River. How did we brothers end up guarding this deep pit?"

"Why? Because I'm not strong enough, and my skills are inferior! Alright, that's enough. You go and rest first, and come back to relieve me later tonight."

A burly, seasoned veteran added firewood to the fire, took out his own strong liquor, took a small sip, held the spicy liquor in his mouth for a long time until he could no longer taste it, and then swallowed it in one gulp.

Although this place is far away from the deep pit.

But the faint, almost invisible Yin energy, which occasionally drifted over, caused these martial artists to suffer greatly, as if they were swallowing ice shards in the dead of winter, which was chilling to the bone.

Not to mention, the air was filled with the smell of rotting corpses and rust, making it feel like a mass grave.

That damned Zhao Guanghui did so many bad things, and even in death he still torments people like this!
I don't know how much time passed, but it was almost midnight.

Many of the martial artists on night watch, including this seasoned veteran, couldn't help but doze off.

Suddenly, a gust of river wind swept over him, and the old hand shivered, instantly losing all sleepiness.

He opened his eyes and saw that the Yin energy around him was swaying wildly, as if it had been blown away by the wind, and much of it had dissipated.

The seasoned veteran's nose suddenly twitched: "Huh? Why has that stench faded?"

The moment the words left his mouth, the martial artist beside him suddenly looked up, reached out a hand into the air, then quickly withdrew it, his face full of astonishment: "The Yin energy... is gone?!"

The crowd erupted in chaos and rushed outside the shed.

The dark, ominous aura that had been shrouding the cave was now drifting into the air, the black frost on the ground around them had melted into water, and even the chill in the air had completely disappeared.

"The Yin Sha... is it really gone?"

Someone rubbed their eyes, staggered forward two steps, and could vaguely see that the deep pit, which was originally bottomless and shrouded in yin energy, actually revealed a corner of the collapsed underground palace.

"Didn't they say it would take two or three months? How did it suddenly fall apart!"

thump!
A slow, deliberate footstep sounded.

Lu Jing's sleeves fluttered as he appeared at the edge of the deep pit.

He glanced at the bottom of the pit with some suspicion, then jumped in without hesitation.

The Yin energy had not completely dissipated, but he seemed to have greatly increased his strength. His clothes suddenly billowed in the wind, and under the flow of his power, they were like metal. There were only crackling sounds. Wherever he passed, the Yin energy could not get close, and all the trees and stones along the way were broken.

"Immortal Fate, gone? Did Zhao Guanghui escape, or... did someone beat him to it?"

Lu Jing's gaze was sharp as he surveyed the underground palace.

Then, he stood in front of a corner, slowly bent down, and reached out to touch the broken soil there. His fingertips touched not only the cold stone fragments, but also a lingering terrifying killing intent.

It seems a major battle has just broken out here.

A battle no less intense than the one they had just fought together to besiege and kill Zhao Guanghui.

However, the war began and ended very quickly.

The winner has been decided.

Even through the rubble and debris, Lu Jing could clearly sense from the lingering killing intent that the owner of that killing intent was far stronger than himself.

Zhao Guanghui is dead.

Her destiny as a celestial being was taken away by someone else.

Lu Jing suddenly understood.

Whoosh!
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
Not long after, Liu Qingyi, Zhao Guangxi, and Qiu Chen returned.

The three of them had just returned to the government office at Sancha River, and were about to rest and recuperate when they received news of this place.

Naturally, he was astonished and rushed back without stopping.

The three of them also used their own methods to search the collapsed underground palace for a while.

Then they reached a similar conclusion.

The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind; someone else has stolen the peaches!
Liu Qingyi's expression was uncertain. He held military power and had dominated Wuqing County for more than ten years. Even the county magistrate had to show him some respect.

Unexpectedly, I was also used as a pawn.

It's simply too much!

However, this person was able to withstand the malevolent energy and bravely explore the deep pit.

Whether it's due to having other rare items or relying on one's own strength and unique talents.

Even Liu Qingyi was secretly shocked by this method.

If a clown were to use schemes and tricks to steal one's chance at immortality.

Liu Qingyi naturally ordered the Wuguan Camp to conduct a thorough sweep, vowing not to rest until the man was captured.

but……

"This person's strength is no less than mine, at least at the level of slaying five thieves... he's just a bit shameless."

Although Liu Qingyi was extremely angry, she was able to calm herself down.

Zhao Guangxi's expression was complicated, and for some reason, he inexplicably thought of a certain person.

A person he had never met, yet who gave him a sense of extreme familiarity, as if he had met him before.

"Could it be him again...? Could this senior really be one of those old fogies from my watery hut?"

Zhao Guangxi was even speechless with emotion.

This old man, why does he keep haunting us?

Wherever I, Zhao, go, he follows.

Come again? !
Qiu Chen glanced at the three people with different expressions and thoughts, remained silent for a moment, and then seemed to think of something. His expression remained unchanged as he left with a helpless look.

But as soon as he left the deep pit, he moved with lightning speed. With a stretch of his arms, he flew like a wild goose across the grass and landed at the foot of the mountain. He then held his breath and headed towards Wuqing County.

The remaining three hesitated for a moment, then suddenly realized what was happening and quickly gave chase. Since they couldn't compete for the immortal destiny, Zhao Guanghui's remaining assets, banks, and shops would naturally be theirs to whoever acted first!

After all, it was a small, makeshift organization. How could it possibly have clear rules, define who belonged to whom, or have any system of rewarding merit?

Whoever's house is raided first, it belongs to them!

Among the four, Zhao Guangxi had the weakest martial arts skills.

Even with all her might, she was gradually pulled away by the three, and could only watch helplessly as they disappeared at the end of the rugged mountain path.

"Damn it, these corrupt officials of the imperial court are always the last to get things done, but the first to have their homes confiscated!"

Zhao Guangxi gritted his teeth.

……

"Old Chen, where did you go? I haven't seen you around."

Lin Shouzhou looked at Lin Shouzhou, who seemed to have appeared out of nowhere, carrying a shovel, with a suspicious look in his eyes.

Whether it was Lin Shouzhou's imagination or not, he always felt that Old Chen was mysterious.

The brothers are still the same brothers, neither their appearance nor their personalities have changed.

But occasionally, it would give Lin Shouzhou the illusion of seeing a vast abyss, making him uneasy and trembling in his heart.

You must know, he is a true master of the True Meaning!
He surpassed Chen Shunan by a whole level!

Even if Old Chen possesses the Three Refinements Martial Body and is a late bloomer, that only represents his future potential!

But, but why is this happening...?

Lin Shouzhou was somewhat bewildered.

The four leaders then departed.

The remaining warriors could only clean up the battlefield.

Especially the mountains of corpses and seas of blood in the underground palace, with their severed limbs and broken arms, were shocking even to these martial artists who had experienced life and death and were used to seeing corpses. Some of the young people even turned pale and vomited incessantly.

Lime was used for disinfection, and smoke was used to drive away the disease. Some weapons and tools that still had value were also collected.

As for the bodies, according to regulations, they are not returned to the deceased's family, but are instead cremated.

Chen Shunan glanced at Lin Shouzhou, said nothing, took a piece of wood, and with a swift motion, shaved it into blocks, nailing them together to make a simple coffin.

Then, Cheng Bin's curled-up remains, which were now just a mummified corpse, were placed in the coffin.

Lin Shouzhou fell silent immediately, instinctively reaching for the pipe at his waist, but grasped only air.

To avoid being bothered by trivial matters, he traveled light today, leaving his opium pipe at the crossroads.

"Bury it. Old Cheng is afraid of fire."

Lin Shouzhuo said listlessly.

In principle, one should not collect and bury corpses without authorization.

However, Chen Shunan and Lin Shouzhou, to a certain extent, have become able to replace principles.

After a while.

Bajiazhuang, a mass grave.

A relatively flat and open cemetery.

Another mound of earth has been erected.

There was no tombstone, nor a stone platform.

Chen Shunan and Lin Shouzhou stood in front of the earthen mound.

For those who live and die in the martial world, life and death are fleeting moments; extravagant celebrations are not appropriate.

Besides, Cheng Bin left no inheritance, and he's not a local; he only has his elderly parents living far away in his hometown.

The poor should not be buried in luxury, and the rich should not be buried in poverty.

To be able to rest in peace is already a rare and precious thing.

Moreover, after some hesitation, Chen Shunan still asked his underworld brothers to pry open Huo Ning's mouth and find out the location of Xiao Man's burial. He then retrieved her remains and had Cheng Bin and Huo Ning buried together in the same coffin.

As for Zhao Guanghui's former lackeys, such as Huo Ning, they were naturally also put in shackles and confined to their homes.

Report to the authorities when necessary, persuade them to surrender when necessary, but they just vanished without a trace.

Chen Shunan didn't need to worry about these trivial matters.

Lin Shouzhou just kept smoking one bag of cigarette after another in silence.

Lin Shouzhou had a craving for cigarettes tonight, and before leaving, he even borrowed a pipe and a few bags of tobacco from his colleagues.

But for some reason, no matter how I smoked it, it just didn't feel right.

After a long silence, Lin Shouzhou finally spoke in a deep, muffled voice.

"Old Cheng, in your next life, don't be a cripple who's always jumping around."

Chen Shunan poured a glass of fine wine in front of the earthen mound, then looked back at the surrounding environment.

"With pine forests behind you and a stream in front, you get the sunrise in summer and the snow in winter. You're so lucky."

Chen Shunan smiled and shook his head, then suddenly turned around, raised his chin at Lin Shouzhou, and said,
"Let's go."

"Where are you going?"

Chen Shunan said with a half-smile, "There's still a good show to be done!"

……

At midnight, at Guanghui Money Shop.

The red glow of the torches licked at the night sky, illuminating half of Liu Daoba's face in light and half in shadow.

He wore a coarse cloth short coat, with a gleaming ring-pommel sword at his waist. His fingers tapped the scabbard casually, each tap feeling like a blow to the heart.

Beside him, Jiu Chanhui, dressed in a kasaya, clasped his hands together and chanted sutras in a low voice.

Around the money shop, a group of thugs carrying knives and spears stood guard. The torches made the tips of their weapons gleam, and they blocked the front and back doors of the money shop completely. The firelight formed a red wall, preventing even a mouse from escaping.

Meanwhile, many locals watched the spectacle with great interest from behind the windows of nearby houses and inns.

(End of this chapter)