But I'm a proper river god, you know! - Chapter 21

*[Ding! Time-limited mission issued: Rescue six female disciples of the Tianji Sect (0/6).*
Completion time: Four hours.
Reward: 50 divine power points.]

This mission was far more generous than the previous ones—completing it would yield the equivalent of five days’ worth of “trash collection.”

Yuan Ji followed the green dots on the map, sprinting forward. The closer she got, the more the surrounding vines grew wildly, twisting into a dense thicket.

The towering vines blocked her path, their tangled branches forming a massive trap, lying in wait for prey.

Yuan Ji’s expression darkened. These vines didn’t seem to be under anyone’s control—Dongfang Hua clearly lacked such ability—but rather as if they had developed a consciousness of their own.

As the vine cage threatened to ensnare her, Yuan Ji swiftly retreated two steps.

Boom!

A small crater formed where she landed.

Yuan Ji raised a finger, about to summon flames to clear the chaotic thicket, when suddenly, a cold light sliced through the vines. A chilling aura rushed toward her, frosting her long lashes with white ice crystals.

Her gaze grew complicated as she paused, looking up at the faintly glowing green sword hovering in the air.

It’s that sword!

“Eh? Qi Yan is nearby too.” A-Tong fiddled with the map and spotted Qi Yan’s green dot. “Yuan Ji, if we follow the sword, we might find them.”

“Mm.” Yuan Ji acknowledged but didn’t rush off. Instead, she bent down and picked up a severed vine. Dark red sap oozed from the cut.

“Strange.” Her expression grew graver. Could her suspicions be correct?

“Let’s go.”

She spoke to the sword, and as if receiving an order, it floated briefly before cleaving through the vines ahead, leading the way.

Inside the Cave

Hairpins scattered, her once-neat bun now disheveled, Luo Qiushui’s crimson robes were stained with the vines’ dark red sap. She spat out a mouthful of blood and staggered toward Huang Li, who lay pale on the ground.

“Junior Sister, are you alright?”

Huang Li weakly shook her head. “Senior Sister… I… I don’t think I’ll make it.”

“Run… while you can.” With great effort, she forced out the words, her fingers clutching her waist, where blood seeped relentlessly between them.

Luo Qiushui frowned and immediately cut her off. “Don’t talk nonsense. Someone will come for us.”

But her words lacked conviction. Earlier, Dongfang Hua had ambushed them. The junior disciples fought desperately, but just as they were exhausted, mutated vines had emerged from nowhere, dragging them away.

“Senior Sister, save us! I don’t want to die!” One of the girls, bound tightly by the vines, screamed in despair, clawing uselessly at the restraints.

The more she struggled, the tighter the vines coiled, gradually suffocating her.

Luo Qiushui’s expression twisted with helplessness. She wanted to help, but she couldn’t muster even a trace of spiritual energy—she was as powerless as a mortal now.

The girl’s struggles enraged the vines. The frenzied tendrils lashed out wildly, and even Luo Qiushui, the only one still conscious, was smashed against the cave wall, knocked out instantly.

Despair spread among the group. Silently, they prayed:

Someone… please save us.

As time passed, an unnatural coldness crept in, coating their bodies in frost.

This is it. We’re done for. A bleak resignation settled in their hearts as icy tears slid down their cheeks.

Then—

A warm light suddenly appeared.

Dazed, they turned toward it.

A small flame burned through the resilient vines, carving out a large hole. The remaining tendrils writhed in pain but were swiftly suppressed by the fire’s glow.

That tiny flame illuminated the entire cave, bright as day.

Their heartbeats steadied. Holding their breath, they stared.

A pair of slender, pale hands parted the hanging vines, and Yuan Ji stepped through.

At that moment, their hearts pounded violently.

Huang Li, roused by the noise, weakly opened her eyes. Meeting Yuan Ji’s indifferent gaze, she twitched her lips faintly before passing out again.

Our luck is terrible. Of all people, we had to run into someone we’ve offended. We’re finished.

Yuan Ji frowned slightly as she rubbed her fingers together—she had accidentally touched the vine’s sap, and the more she wiped, the stickier it became.

The green sword circled overhead before hovering protectively around Yuan Ji. Then, it darted deeper into the cave, emitting a soft hum.

“There?” Yuan Ji asked but didn’t follow. Instead, she crouched beside Luo Qiushui—the only one with a relatively stable pulse.

“A-Tong, check the system store for any healing items.”

A-Tong marveled at its host’s kindness. Truly, she’s so compassionate!

“Yuan Ji, you’re saving them? I’ll look right away!”

“Found one—a healing potion. No matter how severe the injury, one dose guarantees full recovery.” A-Tong paused. “But it’ll cost all our remaining divine power.”

“Exchange it.”

A small vial, no larger than her palm, materialized in her hand. Without hesitation, Yuan Ji uncorked Luo Qiushui’s waterskin, mixed the potion in, and fed her a sip.

Though diluted, the effects were still potent. Within moments, color returned to Luo Qiushui’s face. She slowly opened her eyes—only to freeze at the sight of Yuan Ji staring down at her.

With a jolt, she scrambled back. “Cultivator Yuan Ji?! Why are you—”

Wait. My injuries… they’re gone? Even my old aches have vanished!

How?

Her mind raced with questions, but before she could voice them, Yuan Ji handed her the waterskin.

“Give them this water. They’ll recover after drinking it.” Seeing Luo Qiushui’s stunned silence, Yuan Ji added patiently, “Follow the scorched vines back to the River God Temple and wait there.”

Without waiting for a response, Yuan Ji stood and followed the green sword deeper into the cave.

Watching her leave, Luo Qiushui clutched the waterskin before quickly distributing the water to her sisters.

In less than half an incense stick’s time, even Huang Li—who had been on death’s doorstep—was back on her feet, her gaping abdominal wound completely healed. If not for the bloodstains still drying on her robes, they might have thought it all a dream.

After a long silence, Luo Qiushui recounted what had happened. The others, who had vaguely glimpsed Yuan Ji earlier, didn’t doubt her words.

Suddenly, one disciple gasped. “Then… Yuan Ji must be the River God!”

“Probably,” Huang Li murmured weakly. “She saved us despite our past conflicts.”

“Back then, she could’ve easily taken all our spiritual tools without lifting a finger—but she didn’t.”

And now, she even healed us.

They stared at the waterskin. Whatever was inside had pulled them back from the brink of death. Swallowing hard, they realized: even the most skilled alchemist in their sect couldn’t produce such a miracle drug.

“This medicine… if word got out, the entire cultivation world would go mad for it. And yet, she used it on us.” As casually as handing out candy.

“She didn’t even demand anything in return.”

“She’s… unfathomable.”

A heavy silence fell. Yet, in that silence, they were deeply moved.

Without a word, they reached the same conclusion:

Perhaps only someone like Yuan Ji deserves the title of ‘god.’

Powerful beyond measure, yet harboring a heart of compassion.

We wronged the River God, and yet… she showed us mercy.

Tears welled in their eyes as they silently made a resolution. Supporting one another, they began their trek back to the River God Temple.

They retracted their earlier assumptions. If someone as formidable and inscrutable as Yuan Ji chose to reside in such a dilapidated shrine—there had to be a profound reason!

…

*[Ding! Time-limited mission completed: Rescue six female disciples of the Tianji Sect (6/6).*
Reward obtained: 50 divine power points.]

After completing the mission, Yuan Ji, now some distance away, shuddered inexplicably. An odd, prickling unease crept over her.

“Eh? Yuan Ji!” A-Tong’s voice brimmed with excitement. “I’m detecting strong faith values from those girls—we’ve got 1,000 faith points now!”

“If we go back and talk to them, it might increase even more!” Based on past data, once faith was established, simply interacting with believers could cause a sharp spike in faith points.

Like the villagers—every time they remembered Yuan Ji, their faith grew. By now, they were nearing 2,000 points.

The corners of Yuan Ji’s lips lifted slightly. Though pleased, she firmly rejected A-Tong’s suggestion.

“Let’s go.”

She quickened her pace, following the green sword deeper into the vines. She could sense something familiar ahead—perhaps a fragment of her lost memories, or something else entirely.

The cold intensified. Yuan Ji’s breath turned visible, her fingers stiffening. The chill gnawed at her discomfort.

Flexing her numb joints, she summoned a small flame. The fire flickered valiantly, radiating warmth—but having expended much energy earlier, it now struggled.

After a moment’s thought, Yuan Ji plucked a half-frozen vine and fed it to the flame.

Revitalized, the fire blazed brighter, casting a gentle glow!

Instantly, even the frozen vines recoiled, their scattered tendrils hastily clearing a path.

If it can’t fight, it’ll flee!

Yuan Ji’s eyes narrowed. She spared no further attention for the vines—her focus locked onto the figure ahead.

The man who had supposedly gone to rescue his sect’s disciples.

But now, clad in black robes, his icy gaze swept over her.

Murderous intent filled his eyes.