But I'm a proper river god, you know! - Chapter 17

“Lord River God, what are you saying? I don’t quite understand.”

Ye Wenshu wore an awkward expression, shrinking his neck slightly as he scrambled for a suitable excuse in his mind.

Yuan Ji simply watched him, neither approving nor disapproving of his feigned ignorance. In her hand, she idly tossed a spirit stone—sometimes throwing it into the air, sometimes catching it in her palm. “Oh?”

Ye Wenshu’s eyes followed the stone, but a chill ran down his spine. It felt as though Yuan Ji wasn’t playing with a mere spirit stone but his own fragile heart.

His heart pounded like a drum. Forcing a nervous laugh, he swallowed hard. “Lord River God, you’ve truly wronged me. I really don’t know anything.”

Yuan Ji chuckled softly and averted her gaze. Just as Ye Wenshu thought she had dropped the matter, she suddenly called out toward the backyard, “Luan Xuan!”

“I’m here, Lord River God!” Luan Xuan, now freshly washed, came running over. Fang Mingzhu had skillfully styled her previously disheveled hair into twin spiral buns, adorned with crimson butterflies, making her look especially lively and adorable.

Luan Xuan’s eyes quickly swept over the group. She had heard the commotion from the backyard, but Yuan Ji had forbidden them from coming forward, leaving her to wait anxiously.

Her brother had told her to obey the River God’s words before leaving, so she dared not delay when summoned.

“Lord River God.” Luan Xuan bowed, her eyes bright.

Beside her, Ye Wenshu relaxed slightly upon seeing that it was just a little girl. What could a child possibly do? It seemed he had successfully dodged the issue. He exhaled in relief, carefully wiping the fine beads of sweat from his forehead.

Yuan Ji glanced at Ye Wenshu, a faint smile playing on her lips. She crooked a finger, signaling Luan Xuan to lean in. “Luan Xuan, here’s what you’ll do…”

“Understood.” Suppressing her confusion, Luan Xuan nodded and glanced at Ye Wenshu, a trace of pity flashing in her eyes.

“!” Ye Wenshu, ever perceptive, immediately noticed the shift in her expression. His guard shot up as he took a step back, still unable to fathom what threat this little girl posed.

His suspicious gaze flicked toward Qi Yan, only to find the man’s expression complicated. His heart pounded even harder. “This doesn’t bode well…”

Just as he considered divining his fortune, a blue butterfly fluttered toward him.

A butterfly in a place like this?

Before he could ponder further, a loud “thud” echoed—Ye Wenshu collapsed to the ground, ensnared in an illusion Yuan Ji had woven just for him.

Yuan Ji shook her head, storing the spirit stone back into her storage bracelet. I overestimated him. I thought he’d at least put up a fight.

“Esteemed one.” A hoarse, aged voice sounded beside her. Xuan Chengren slowly rose to his feet, his movements stiff from years of disuse. He bowed clumsily. “This one is Xuan Chengren. I thank you.”

“No need.” Yuan Ji nodded slightly, her fingers lightly tapping the copper swastika token. “I only wanted this.”

Xuan Chengren trembled at the sight of the token, as if recalling something painful. His face aged further, and a strained smile stretched his sagging skin into deep wrinkles.

“Still, I must thank you for freeing me. If not for your help, I would still be a mindless puppet controlled by this token.”

The system, A-Tong, blinked stupidly between Xuan Chengren and Yuan Ji before blurting out, “Yuan Ji, you already knew about this thing?”

Yuan Ji replied airily, “No. It was just a guess.”

“…” A-Tong choked, its mechanical face flushing with embarrassment. Shouldn’t I, the system, know more than my host? But then again, it had chosen Yuan Ji—proof of its excellent judgment.

Its mood shifted from gloom to pride. “Yuan Ji, this man clearly has many stories. Let’s hear them!”

This was the perfect chance to uncover his secrets and impress Yuan Ji with its investigative skills.

“Very well.” Yuan Ji agreed. She gestured for Xuan Chengren to sit at the stone table. “Please.”

Xuan Chengren glanced at the unconscious Ye Wenshu, hesitating. “Esteemed one, what about Young Master Ye…?”

“He’ll be fine.” Yuan Ji said calmly. “He’s merely dreaming.”

Only then did Xuan Chengren relax and take a seat, his demeanor now more human than before. “Thank you.”

“Hm?” A teacup suddenly appeared before him. Following the elegant hand that held it, Xuan Chengren’s heart skipped a beat. “And you are…?”

“Qi Yan, head disciple of the Tianji Sect. Greetings, Elder Xuan.” Qi Yan inclined his head. Though his aura was aloof, his manners were impeccable. “Elder Xuan has been away from home for so long—you must have missed Xuan City’s green tea. Please, enjoy it today.”

“My thanks.”

“Tianji Sect… Qi Yan… A promising youth.” Xuan Chengren murmured. He had been so lost in his thoughts that he’d nearly mistaken the man for him—the Demon Realm’s sovereign. With a self-deprecating smile, he accepted the tea.

The clear liquid shimmered, its fragrance rising like mist. Xuan Chengren’s eyes grew moist. “How fares the Xuan family now?”

During his years under the token’s control, he had struggled to break free and return, but preserving his consciousness had been struggle enough.

Qi Yan paused. “After Elder Xuan disappeared, the Xuan family was besieged by the other great clans of Xuan City. Blood stained the manor. Now…”

He left the sentence unfinished, but Xuan Chengren understood. The revelation struck him like lightning. His hands trembled violently, his breath coming in ragged gasps. His eyes reddened, and dark mist seemed to swirl within them.

Yuan Ji cast him a sidelong glance and tapped the stone table.

“Calm yourself.”

Her quiet voice was like cold water, snapping Xuan Chengren back to reality. Overcome with guilt, he fell into heavy silence. “If only I hadn’t…”

“Fate is fate.” He laughed bitterly, gathering the last of his spiritual energy into his fingertips and driving them toward his own forehead. As a revenant, only destroying his head would grant him true release.

Without the token, he was nothing but an immobile corpse, sustained only by the “River God’s” flame within him. His former cultivation had long since dissipated.

Qi Yan’s expression darkened as he swiftly intercepted. “Elder Xuan?”

“Let me go. I’m a useless man now—better to beg forgiveness from my ancestors in the afterlife.” Xuan Chengren’s face was ashen, devoid of hope.

Yuan Ji set down her teacup.

“You wish to die? Have you asked me?”

Her cool tone sent a jolt through Xuan Chengren. “What do you mean?”

Then it dawned on him. Flushing with shame, he clasped his hands in apology. “Forgive my thoughtlessness. I shall find a quiet place elsewhere—I won’t trouble you further.”

Dying in someone else’s home was terribly rude.

Yuan Ji smiled faintly. “A-Tong, exchange for a memory projector.” She had seen it in the system shop earlier—a device that could record sights, sounds, and sensations.

“Yuan Ji, what for?” A-Tong asked, puzzled, but it reluctantly exchanged five divine points for a one-time-use projector.

The device whirred to life, projecting a familiar scene:

“Not much—just 100,000 high-grade spirit stones.”

“Fine! I’ll pay!”

Yuan Ji spread her hands. “See? You agreed.”

She glanced around at the broken walls still piled nearby. “My wall is damaged.”

Xuan Chengren’s grief evaporated into stunned disbelief. He gaped at Yuan Ji, then at the projection.

“Huh?” He was dumbfounded.

*How am I supposed to have 100,000 high-grade spirit stones now?!*

His vision darkened. Was this retribution for his past deeds?

Yuan Ji, ever reasonable, studied the disheveled man and said coolly, “If you can’t pay, you’ll compensate by becoming the River God Temple’s wall.”

Xuan Chengren’s face twitched. Is… is that a threat?!

A-Tong’s jaw dropped. Since when was my sweet, obedient host like this?!

Just then, Ye Wenshu—still trapped in Luan Xuan’s illusion—let out a pained groan. “Help…”

Xuan Chengren paled. She said he was only dreaming, so why is he in such agony?

After a moment of contemplation, he understood.

So her meaning was…

If I can’t repay, she’ll… embed me into the wall?!

HELP—!!!