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

Chapter 68 Chicken Head Pearl

Chen Shunan didn't say much, but just looked at the grass carp's soft belly with a strange expression.

It's already the end of June, and the grass carp spawning season is long over.

Even if a baby is born while embracing an egg, it shouldn't be this bloated.

Chen Shunan had a vague guess, so he stretched out two fingers and pressed, squeezed, and pushed on the belly of the grass carp!
"No, don't touch there..."

A shy thought entered Chen Shunan's mind.

Chen Shunan kept moving.

Pfft!

The next moment, a bead about the size of a thumb, gray and white in color, was spat out of the grass carp's mouth and landed in Chen Shunan's hand.

This pearl has a radiant glow inside. As soon as it was born, a delicate fragrance wafted out, and water mist filled the surface of the pearl, then condensed into sweet water droplets that flowed down one by one.

But soon, the precious light faded, and the fragrance disappeared.

The rate at which water droplets condense also slows down considerably.

"Ah, that feels so good..."

A sigh of relief rang out. Overwhelmed with emotion, the grass carp could no longer maintain its magic trick, and after a flash of water, it revealed its true form.

It revealed its original skin and flesh, which was completely red and had a golden flower on its head.

"Oh no, oh no, I'm going to die! How did I reveal my true form? Father, Mother, your unfilial son... You'll have to beg for food yourselves."

The golden-scaled catfish had lifeless eyes and was dangling precariously from the fishing line. Its mouth opened and closed, and it looked utterly desperate.

"This is the golden-scaled catfish? It's truly remarkable."

They rowed ashore.

Ma Xiucai, having just finished a potsticker, couldn't resist joining in to curiously examine the golden-scaled catfish.

Then he looked at the beads in Chen Shunan's hand.

"Could this be the chicken head pearl?"

"Oh? Such a strange name?"

Scholar Ma, being well-informed, remembered an ancient book of mythological tales he had read before, and said...
"Actually, it's a type of fish venom. Only fish species like black carp and grass carp can produce it over a long period of time. It's not edible and can cause bloating and intestinal obstruction. It seems that this golden-scaled catfish was greedy and almost lost its life."

The indignant voice of the golden-scaled fish reached Chen Shunan's mind.
"Nonsense, you're lying! I'm not hungry anymore after eating it, it's a good pearl! Not a bad pearl!!"

Chen Shunan's lips twitched slightly, but he pretended not to hear.

Scholar Ma continued.
"If this bead is placed in a humid place, it will slowly condense water vapor in the air, and the resulting sweet water will have the effect of nourishing essence and replenishing qi."
However, if there are highly poisonous substances nearby, when this bead condenses water droplets, not only will it produce foul water, but the bead itself will also gradually turn red, resembling a congested rooster's comb, hence its name.

Gathering water vapor, distinguishing between sweet and toxic water, and identifying highly poisonous substances?!
Chen Shunan's eyes lit up; he hadn't expected such an unexpected gain.

Chen Shunan and Ma Xiucai both tried the sweet water.

Scholar Ma, on the other hand, seemed to be drinking ginseng tea, his wrinkled old face relaxing and his fatigue from translating official documents late into the night dissipating.

But for Chen Shunan, the sweet water had little effect; it was better to move his own qi and blood!

With the help of Ma Xiucai, they not only obtained the Guolu Association's card, but also got a prize from the fish. Even Chen Shunan, with his old face, blushed slightly and was somewhat excited.

He took out all the silver he had, intending it as payment for Ma Xiucai's trip.

To everyone's surprise, upon seeing this, Scholar Ma shook his head vigorously and resolutely refused.

"Brother Shun'an, why bother? I am fortunate to have the opportunity to visit the lotus pond and admire the precious fish today, and to enjoy the winding stream and the shade of the flowers. I would love to write a travelogue about it when I get back!"

Moreover……"

Scholar Ma shook the potstickers and plum juice in his hand and laughed.
"I have already received my payment."

Ma Xiucai only ate two steamed buns and didn't drink a drop of plum juice.

He packed both items up and urged them on.

"Please, Brother Shun'an, carry me back to the county as soon as possible. How can I, Ma, enjoy such delicious food alone? My fierce wife is still hungry..."

……

The mule cart was too slow.

The fifty-year-old Chen Shunan could only carry the sixty-year-old Ma Xiucai on his back, traversing mountains and valleys, and returned to Wuqing County in the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.

To avoid attracting attention, Ma Xiucai was dropped off outside the county gate beforehand.

The two then boarded the mule cart. Chen Shunan first went to Ma Xiucai's house to borrow the book "Sanming Tonghui". Before parting, he secretly transferred his qi and blood.

After confirming that Ma Xiucai had no hidden illness, but only some muscle strain from years of bending over and holding a pen, they left with peace of mind.

Having already secretly regarded Ma Xiucai as a future believer, Chen Shunan cherished this old treasure.

The more Chen Shunan got to know Ma Xiucai, the more he realized that this man was very talented.

Even the last vestige of the Changbai Holy Dynasty's integrity!
If Scholar Ma were to enter officialdom, become a great Confucian scholar, and take charge of the central government, he might actually be able to turn the tide... well, that's impossible.

Scholar Ma was too stubborn; he couldn't kneel down.

Chen Shunan shook his head and went to the rice market street on the way, where he bought an exquisite imitation willow woven fish basket bottle for storing fish.

Since it's meant to be given as a gift, the packaging has to be high-end.

Chen Shunan planned to strike while the iron was hot and go to the Zhang residence today to present the golden-scaled catfish as a birthday gift to the old lady.

Wang Lingguan's birthday is on the 24th of the sixth lunar month. In order to avoid suspicion and offend the gods, the Zhang family would celebrate his birthday a day earlier every year.

Chen Shunan's departure today is reasonable.

Since it had already been delayed for quite some time, Chen Shunan simply asked someone to ask for a day off.

Back in Chaodou Hutong, Wan Niang had already gone to work at the Er Hun Shop.

'Chirp chirp chirp...'

Perhaps it was the sound of familiar footsteps.

The Golden-Headed Tyrant, which had been sitting quietly in its earthenware cricket jar, immediately began to chirp rapidly, like a baby crying for milk.

This golden-headed tyrant is extremely intelligent. After recognizing Chen Shunan as its master (whoever feeds it is its mother), it never barks randomly when Chen Shunan is practicing martial arts, resting, or when no one is home.

It only makes a little noise when Chen Shunan comes home or when it's hungry.

Chen Shunan quickly changed the water and food, took out some rotten rice grains, and soaked the jar with a small amount of water to maintain a damp environment.

'Chirp chirp...'

The Golden-Headed Overlord emitted a slight tremor, seemingly extremely pleased with Chen Shunan's attentiveness.

It ignored Chen Shunan's teasing and lay down to sleep after eating and drinking its fill.

"Well, they really think they're the boss."

Chen Shunan pushed it back under the table.

Only then did they untie the fishing line off the golden-scaled catfish and temporarily place it in the water tank outside the kitchen.

"Huh? How did I get here? What a clean new home... Did Scholar Yin pay back the meals he owed me?"

The golden-scaled catfish seemed to have forgotten its experience of being lured into the cage, and swam around aimlessly and helplessly.

Does this golden-scaled catfish have a seven-second memory?
Chen Shunan chuckled and fed the fish some more mulberries as fish food.

"Huh, there's free food! This person is giving me food and a house, is he some kind of god?"

Consciousness returned.

[Wish +2]

"This……"

Chen Shunan looked surprised.

This was the first time Chen Shunan had encountered a spirit fish that could provide wishes.

In theory, all sentient beings, whether born from moisture, eggs, or wombs, can be considered believers and devoutly serve God.

However, this requires a certain level of spirituality.

Simply calling Chen Shunan "Grandpa, Grandpa" won't do.

Otherwise, Chen Shunan could simply charter a large ship, enter the river and scatter bait, even catching and releasing ordinary spirit fish repeatedly to accumulate their desires; he could ascend to godhood in a single day.

"This golden-scaled catfish seems to have a whole family of fish, including its parents and siblings. If we catch them all in one pot..."

Chen Shunan pondered something silently, quickly changed into a proper long gown, put the golden-scaled catfish into a woven fish basket bottle, bought some common small gifts such as dried fruit and tea, and then strode towards the Zhang residence.

Today, I have something important to do.

(End of this chapter)