A Martial Saint Among Men: From Joining a Martial Arts School

Chapter 193 Heart-Eating Water Demon

The next morning, Chu Xuan first went to the Mission Hall to register for the Canglan Water Marsh mission and received the information and identity certificate.

This mission will require us to stay in the Canglan Marshland for at least three months.

There are still some things to take care of.

He first went to the blacksmith shop to get a scabbard.

The Zhanye Blade has changed drastically. Even those familiar with it would not associate it with the Qian family at first glance, so it no longer needs to be wrapped tightly in cloth as before.

Before leaving, he went to see Lu Xiaoshuang again, gave her all the pills he didn't need, and told her that if she encountered any difficulties, she could go to the Hundred Beast Garden to ask Tong Hao for help, as he had already spoken to Tong Hao.

Now that he has the Eight Treasures Returning to Origin Pill, other pills are no longer of much use to him, but they are of great use to Lu Xiaoshuang, who has not yet broken through to the Gang Jin level.

As for not giving out the Eight Treasures Returning to Origin Pill, it wasn't because Chu Xuan was stingy.

Based on the Qingyuan Fruit that Lu Xiaoshuang gave him, it wouldn't be excessive to give him a whole batch of Eight Treasures Returning to Origin Pills. The reason is that the medicinal properties of the Eight Treasures Returning to Origin Pills are too domineering, even a Gang Jin martial artist cannot withstand them, let alone Lu Xiaoshuang.

After finishing his business, Chu Xuan took his luggage and headed straight for the mountain gate.

Half an hour later, Chu Xuan appeared at Qingxi Ferry, next to which was an armored flying wheel.

This armored flying wheel was the one Chu Xuan had obtained from Shi Wanshan, which he had previously hidden away. He had intended to sell it, but hadn't found the opportunity; he never expected it would come in handy.

With this armored flywheel, the speed will be much faster.

Otherwise, traveling by land would probably take several days.

Chu Xuan piloted the armored flying wheel, sailing towards the distance.

After half a day, the view suddenly opened up.

A vast expanse of water stretched before me, with reeds reaching for the sky and lush vegetation, and crisscrossing waterways like a spider web covering the surface. Mist rose from the water, exuding an air of desolation and chill.

This is the Canglan Water Marsh.

After walking for a while, a simple wooden village by the water finally came into view.

The mudflats were slippery and overgrown with weeds. There were no pavilions or towers like those in the sect, only a simple wooden dock with several fishing boats and patrol boats moored there.

A simple wooden and stone fortress by the water, with low walls and wooden buildings, should be the main camp of this garrison.

In addition, there are several stilted wooden towers standing on the edge of the reed marshes.

The outermost edge of the stone village is a row of even simpler thatched huts, which can only be used to shelter from the wind and rain and are probably intended for fishermen to live in.

As soon as the armored flying wheel approached the dock, patrolling outer disciples came to greet it.

"Who goes there? This is the Canglan Marshland, property of my Xuanyang Sect. Entry is prohibited without permission!"

An outer disciple looked at Chu Xuan warily.

"I am Chu Xuan, a disciple of the Xuan Yang Sect, here to guard the Canglan Marsh—"

As Chu Xuan spoke, he took out his identification document.

"Chu Xuan? Greetings, Senior Brother Chu Xuan!"

The outer disciple was startled. After checking Chu Xuan's credentials and confirming that there were no problems, he quickly bowed respectfully.

Although Canglan Water Marsh is thousands of miles away from Xuan Yang Sect and the journey is treacherous, news is not isolated here. Disciples often come to deliver supplies and take away fish, and they can also bring the latest news from Xuan Yang Sect.

They had naturally heard of Chu Xuan, the prodigy ranked third on the popularity list.

Although he and Chu Xuan were both outer disciples, and he even entered the sect earlier than Chu Xuan, he had to address Chu Xuan as senior brother at this moment.

"Senior Brother Chu, I'll take you to see Steward Zhou right away," the disciple said respectfully.

Chu Xuan nodded.

The "Deacon Zhou" mentioned by the other party is Zhou Huai'an, the person in charge of Canglan Water Marsh.

This person used to be an inner disciple, and his situation was similar to Zhao Qianyang's. After he couldn't make it in the inner sect, he could only come to the outer sect to work as a steward.

However, unlike Zhao Qianyang, Zhou Huai'an possessed the cultivation of the Great Perfection of Gang Jin, making him far stronger than Zhao Qianyang; otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to obtain the lucrative position of managing the fishing grounds.

Chu Xuan came here not to be Zhou Huai'an's subordinate.

Although he was only an outer disciple, he ranked third on the popularity list, making him a higher-status disciple than even an ordinary inner disciple, and higher than Zhou Huai'an, an outer disciple steward whose potential had been exhausted.

In name, he is the highest authority in the Canglan Fishing Ground.

However, he was only responsible for guarding the area; the operation of the entire watershed was still handled by Zhou Huai'an, the outer sect steward.

Soon, Chu Xuan, led by the outer disciple Zhao Dacheng, met Steward Zhou in a warehouse in Shizhai.

Zhou Huai'an was a middle-aged fat man with a big belly, a fat head and big ears, and a pair of small green bead eyes. He didn't look like a martial artist, but more like a businessman, with the word "shrewd" almost written on his face.

"Haha, so it's Junior Brother Chu. I've heard so much about you. I thought it would be some inner disciple who came. I didn't expect the sect to send you. The conditions in Canglan Marsh are harsh, unlike those inside the sect. Junior Brother Chu, you should be prepared." Zhou Huai'an chuckled.

"Greetings, Senior Brother Zhou."

Chu Xuan greeted him with a cupped-hand salute.

"Let's go, Junior Brother Chu. I'll show you around first so you can get a general idea of ​​what this lake is like. The other two stewards have gone on patrol. They'll introduce them to you when we have our welcome dinner tonight," Zhou Huai'an said.

"Thank you for your trouble, Senior Brother Zhou." Chu Xuan nodded.

The two immediately headed towards the dock.

Upon seeing Chu Xuan's armored flying wheel, Zhou Huai'an's face showed surprise: "Oh, an armored flying wheel, this thing is not cheap, its value is no less than a half-spiritual weapon, I did not expect Junior Brother Chu to have such a treasure."

Chu Xuan said, "I bought it specifically before leaving. To be honest, Senior Brother Zhou, buying this Ironclad Flying Wheel cost me all my savings. I was hoping to hunt down a few more strange beasts while guarding the Canglan Marsh. Otherwise, I would have suffered a huge loss."

"Haha, Junior Brother Chu, don't worry. Our Canglan Marshland may not have much else, but it certainly has plenty of exotic beasts," Zhou Huai'an laughed.

After saying that, he didn't board the dilapidated boat at the fishing grounds, but instead boarded Chu Xuan's armored flying wheel to guide Chu Xuan and explain the situation.

Various situations.

An hour later, the two had roughly circled the area within several dozen miles of the water fortress, giving Chu Xuan a general understanding of the Canglan Water Marsh.

Afterwards, Zhou Huai'an asked Zhao Dacheng to take Chu Xuan to his room to rest and told him that he would host a welcome banquet for him that evening.

Chu Xuan did not refuse.

In this unfamiliar place, it's not a good thing to act too aloof and eccentric.

When in Rome, do as the Romans do.

His residence was on the top floor of the stone village. The room was simple, but it was kept very clean, making it the best in the village.

In the evening, Zhou Huai'an prepared a grand welcoming banquet for Chu Xuan, and all the disciples stationed at the fishing grounds and the fishermen were present.

Chu Xuan finally met the other two stewards of the fishing ground, Ma Chenglu and Zhao Jingshan.

The two were in a similar situation to Zhou Huai'an. They were both once outer disciples of the Xuan Yang Sect, but they were stuck at the Great Perfection of Gang Jin for many years and could not break through the True Yuan barrier. As their Qi and blood declined, they could only come to the outer sect to work as stewards.

In addition, there are more than twenty outer disciples responsible for patrolling the fishing grounds, all of whom are at the Transformation Realm cultivation level.

The remaining dozens of fishermen were mostly of the hidden strength type, with only a few of them being of the neutral strength type.

A martial artist with internal strength is considered a powerful figure in Green Mountain City, capable of owning a large mansion and keeping several beautiful wives and concubines. But in this Canglan Marshland, he is merely at the bottom of the social ladder, sleeping in one of the row of dilapidated thatched huts on the outskirts.

"Come on, everyone! Let's all raise a glass to Manager Chu!"

The stone village was brightly lit at night.

The animal legs on the fire grill were roasting until golden brown and oozing oil, with drops of grease dripping into the fire, sizzling and filling the air with a rich aroma.

There were only four people at the main table: Chu Xuan, Zhou Huai'an, and two other stewards.

The next table was for a dozen or so outer disciples, and then the fishermen sat at a separate long table.

Although there weren't many people, the hierarchy was very strict.

As Zhou Huai'an finished speaking, everyone stood up in unison to toast Chu Xuan.

Chu Xuan also raised his wine bowl and said, "Thank you all for your hospitality, fellow disciples. This is my first time taking up a post outside my home province, so please forgive me if I have done anything inappropriate!"

After saying that, he drank the wine in the bowl in one gulp.

He wasn't worried that the alcohol might be poisoned.

His current status is similar to that of an imperial envoy, so even if these people are bold, they wouldn't dare to poison him as soon as he arrived.

If anything happens to Chu Xuan, none of these people, including Zhou Huai'an, will escape.

Of course, most importantly, he had secretly taken an antidote before attending the banquet.

After all, when you're traveling, you can't be too careful.

"Haha, that's great! Junior Brother Chu is indeed a straightforward person."

Zhou Huai'an laughed loudly.

After a few rounds of drinks, everyone started chatting.

Looking at Chu Xuan, Ma Chenglu couldn't help but sigh, "We deacons seem to control resources in our region, and the profits are plentiful, but we can see the end of our lives before we know it. If we want to advance further, we need to break through to the True Essence realm. Unfortunately, our blood and energy have already declined, and unless we have a heaven-defying opportunity, it's impossible for us in this lifetime."

"Who can argue with that?"

Zhao Jingshan couldn't help but sigh, "True essence is so difficult to obtain! Unless you have the help of a benefactor, or you make great contributions to the sect and receive elixirs as a reward from the sect."

Zhou Huai'an chuckled and said, "Hehe, why are you all discouraged? If we're talking about benefactors, isn't there one right here? Junior Brother Chu is so young, yet he's already ranked third on the Wind and Cloud Ranking. In my opinion, given time, Junior Brother Chu might not only break through to True Essence, but he might even be able to condense his core. At that time, I hope Junior Brother Chu can give us old brothers a helping hand."

Upon hearing this, Ma Chenglu and Zhao Jingshan both looked at Chu Xuan.

"You're joking, fellow disciples."

Chu Xuan smiled faintly, "My success today is simply due to a bit more luck than my senior brothers. As for what the future holds, who can say for sure? I am still relatively inexperienced and need your guidance and support."

"Haha, let's all help each other out!"

After the banquet ended, Chu Xuan did not cultivate, but sat at the wooden table and lit an oil lamp.

The dim light flickered, illuminating his serene profile.

Chu Xuan took out a scroll of silk that the sect had given him before he left, as well as a notebook left by the previous garrison commander, from his bag. He spread them out on the table and began to carefully read them.

Alone in this desolate and treacherous land, surrounded by strange people and creatures, as well as lurking beasts and outsiders coveting this treasure trove, if one blindly focuses only on arduous cultivation, sooner or later one will fall victim to unsuspecting dangers.

The book records the distribution of waterways, hidden currents and dangerous shoals, and the extent of dense reed beds in the Canglan Marshland.

The areas with dangerous waters, areas prone to harboring dangerous creatures, and areas where fishing boats regularly conduct fishing operations are all clearly marked.

It also includes the fishery's historical catches, the waters where the Crimson Flame Spirit Fish appears, the quantity produced, the old rules of duty shifts in the village, and detailed lists of registered outer disciples and dependent fishermen.

Chu Xuan observed it very closely.

In particular, he memorized every word and carefully considered which waters were off-limits at night and which reed beds were most likely to harbor bandits and dangerous creatures.

In this vast and marshy land, the primary concern is naturally against strange beasts.

The vast expanse of water, crisscrossed by rivers and covered with endless reeds, harbors countless strange beasts. Especially in the deep pools, serpentine pythons, giant crocodiles, and poisonous toads live in groups, frequently attacking fishing boats or coming ashore to hunt for food.

Secondly, there are itinerant river pirates and some unruly knife-wielding thieves who would sneak in to poach and illegally mine.

Thirdly, there are the mud pits and whirlpools within the marshland. Especially during periods of heavy fog, they can even form a natural maze.

The fourth group to be wary of are the veteran fishermen, outer disciples, and even stewards of the fishing grounds.

The most poisonous creature in this world is never a strange beast!

Although there aren't many people in this Canglan marshland, it's a melting pot of all sorts of people. Enriching oneself is a minor matter; the real danger is that some might harbor ill intentions or secretly collude with river bandits.

If you trust the wrong person, you're likely to suffer a great loss.

After sorting things out, Chu Xuan recalled the behavior of Zhou Huai'an and the other two stewards at the welcoming banquet.

After thinking it over, he gave up.

Human nature is complex, and it's difficult to analyze a few people's words and actions after only the first meeting.

Let's take a step by step.

Just as he was about to turn off the light, a soft, faint cry of a baby drifted from the depths of the reeds, sometimes near, sometimes far.

Her cries were soft and plaintive, broken and intermittent, making one's heart clench.

Chu Xuan was taken aback.

Why would a child cry in the middle of the night in this desolate, uninhabited marshland?

"No, it's a strange beast!"

Chu Xuan quickly took out the booklet he had been reading and soon found an introduction to a strange beast.

Chu Xuan's pupils narrowed.

"ah----"

Just then, a piercing scream tore through the night, followed by a rapid banging of gongs.

"It's a water monkey! Everyone run! The water monkey is coming—"

Chu Xuan grabbed the Zhanye Blade, quickly jumped out of the window onto the roof, and looked down at the entire stone village.

The fishermen outside were in complete chaos, scattering in all directions in fear.

One of the fishermen, shirtless, was held in mid-air by a black claw, his head thrown back, blood flowing from his seven orifices, his eyes wide open in death.

The creature that caught the fisherman was a humanoid beast, about 15 or 16 feet tall, covered in wet, sticky, grayish-black coarse fur and entangled in algae and silt.

Its face resembled both an ape and a demon, with deep-set eyes and dark red pupils that glowed eerily in the night. Sharp teeth protruded from its lips, and saliva dripped constantly, exuding a menacing aura.

Its jet-black, curved claws, as hard as iron hooks, easily ripped open the fisherman's chest with a single slash.

Immediately afterwards, its entire head plunged into the fisherman's abdomen, and it began to devour the internal organs inside.

"A Heart-Eating Water Demon?!"

Chu Xuan's expression changed slightly; he hadn't expected to run into this guy on his very first day here.

The Heart-Eating Water Demon is a fourth-tier aquatic beast that lives in water. It resembles an ape but is not quite an ape, and it likes to eat the internal organs of humans and animals.

It is also naturally skilled in the art of sound mimicry, which can subtly entice people to follow the sound even when they know there is danger, ultimately leading them to become its food.

This is an extremely fierce and troublesome beast!

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