But I'm a proper river god, you know! - Chapter 48

The crisp morning breeze swept past the wind chimes, their pleasant tinkling flowing like a babbling spring stream.

“Yuánjí, really, no?” Ātǒng pointed pitifully at the ruins in the courtyard. “Look, that spot would be perfect for a lighthouse!”

Yuánjí followed its finger and saw Wū Bóshān deep in thought, clearly scheming how to construct some grand, imposing building while Luò Qiūshuǐ and the others buzzed around him, offering suggestions.

As Yuánjí listened to their heated debate over whether to use “spirit stones” or “pure gold” for construction, her head began to throb faintly.

She pressed her fingers to her temples and coldly refused, idly flicking a spirit stone on the table to pass the time.

The next moment, a butterfly formed from condensed spirit stones fluttered lightly through the branches and landed on Qí Yǎn’s wooden hairpin as he approached gracefully—as if trying to add a touch of color to it.

Ātǒng felt like it was about to explode. It flitted around frantically, its mind no longer on the lighthouse.

I knew it! That Qí Yǎn was up to no good last night! And now, my host has fallen for it!

It shot Yuánjí a reproachful look, its eyes full of resentment.

Yuánjí, utterly baffled: …?

Why did my spirit stone just fly away?! Can I have it back?

Qí Yǎn paused mid-step, a flicker of surprise crossing his eyes before his expression smoothed over, and he continued toward Yuánjí.

But Xuān Chángshēng knew—this man was probably overjoyed inside. Gritting his teeth, he glared fixedly at Qí Yǎn, his chest burning with frustration.

Suddenly, a crisp voice sounded beside him. “Ah, are you jealous too?”

Xuān Chángshēng stiffened like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. He jerked back, eyeing Luò Qiūshuǐ warily.

“That butterfly is so pretty,” Luò Qiūshuǐ sighed, mistaking his glare at Qí Yǎn for admiration of the butterfly.

She drifted closer to Xuān Chángshēng, her willow-leaf brows tinged with melancholy. “The River God really does treat the Eldest Senior Brother differently.”

What a shame. If only she had known the River God earlier, perhaps that butterfly would have landed on her instead. With this thought, she gazed wistfully at Qí Yǎn, her eyes brimming with envy.

“Senior Brother’s luck is truly something.”

Xuān Chángshēng: Hah?

For a moment, Xuān Chángshēng’s expression twisted into something complicated as he stared at Luò Qiūshuǐ.

Meanwhile, as soon as Qí Yǎn took a seat beside Yuánjí, the others’ gazes began drifting subtly toward them, their eyes shimmering with an emotion Yuánjí couldn’t quite decipher.

She frowned slightly, sensing something off but unable to pinpoint it.

Qí Yǎn, however, paid no mind to the stares. He stretched out a hand, revealing a plate of exquisite white jade cakes in his slender fingers, and offered them to Yuánjí with a soft murmur:

“They’re here.”

Yuánjí nodded and deftly picked up a cake. The sweet fragrance lingered on her fingertips, and somehow, her headache seemed to ease.

Half an incense stick earlier, the map had shown twenty green dots appearing around the River God Temple.

Twenty people—double the last group. Yet for some reason, they kept a cautious distance and refused to approach any closer.

…..

As they spoke, a group of people crouched in the bushes not far away, peering at the temple before exchanging uneasy glances and gulping.

“See that?” One of them pointed a trembling finger at the figures hanging mid-air—Dù Xiūyuǎn and his team. “Isn’t that the captain of the Jiǎ-Xū squad?”

In Fènyuè Valley, squads were ranked by the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches. The earlier the designation, the stronger the squad.

Though Dù Xiūyuǎn was only the last of the Jiǎ-ranked captains, his strength was nothing to scoff at. Yet now, he dangled from the wall like a prisoner, lifeless.

This was clearly a warning—if they advanced, they’d end up the same way.

The group shuddered in unison.

What a brutal tactic!

“This was supposed to be a simple mission to capture some girl, and even the Jiǎ-Xū squad got wiped out. Should we… still go?”

The speaker glanced hesitantly at Wú Qiānsì, his heart pounding.

As the captain of the Jiǎ-Chén squad, Wú Qiānsì naturally recognized Dù Xiūyuǎn, another Jiǎ-ranked captain.

A dark glint flashed in his eyes as he suppressed his disdain and scowled. “Fènyuè Valley always completes its bounties.”

Gripping his weapon tighter, he coldly reminded them, “Keep your stealth talismans active. Don’t expose yourselves. If anyone holds us back, don’t blame me for being ruthless.”

His icy gaze swept over them, and they immediately hunched lower, hiding themselves deeper in the foliage.

“Yes, sir!”

The next moment, twenty figures shot toward the temple like arrows.

…..

“They’re here.”

Yuánjí took a leisurely sip of tea, as if the approaching group were nothing more than harmless little critters. With a flick of her finger, a streak of white light flashed past and landed atop the wall.

The obedient man-eating grass, which had been idly snapping at insects for fun, suddenly perked up as something whizzed by. Its snapping leaves clamped shut—on empty air.

It swayed its leaves in confusion. Huh? Where’d the bug go?

The rustling of the grass roused Dù Xiūyuǎn, who hung bound nearby. He lifted his bruised and swollen face, barely managing to crack open an eye.

An earthquake?!

Before he could process anything, a thorny leaf nearly poked him in the face, making him choke on his breath and nearly pass out again.

“Pathetic.”

The familiar, scornful voice made Dù Xiūyuǎn jolt awake.

You’re the pathetic one!

But the silence curse rendered him mute. Soon, however, he realized something was off.

That infuriating tone… it was him!

Wú Qiānsì’s face immediately surfaced in his mind. For a moment, Dù Xiūyuǎn wished he had fainted—anything was better than being seen like this by Wú Qiānsì.

The two had entered the valley around the same time as children. Similar in age and recruitment period, they were constantly compared.

Over time, their rivalry grew fierce. But Wú Qiānsì, with his superior talent, always overshadowed him, much to Dù Xiūyuǎn’s frustration.

Today, though, it seemed even this guy was about to take a fall.

The thought made Dù Xiūyuǎn almost laugh out loud as he watched Wú Qiānsì’s figure appear—still blissfully unaware.

Never thought you’d have a day like this too. He couldn’t help but gloat inwardly, already imagining if Wú Qiānsì’s fate would be even worse than his.

…..

Wú Qiānsì, having just scaled the wall, eyed the snapping, thorn-lined leaves warily and exhaled in relief.

Good thing he’d spotted this weird plant earlier and activated a special stealth talisman—otherwise, he wouldn’t have made it past the wall.

“Find the target first. Don’t alert anyone,” Wú Qiānsì signaled to his team. But as soon as he lowered his hand, he felt multiple gazes land on him.

He turned—and saw several people staring right at him.

Wú Qiānsì: !

His heart skipped a beat, but he quickly steadied himself. With the stealth talisman active, only his teammates should be able to see him.

Frowning, he scanned the area, searching for their bounty.

Yàn Kū watched as these uniformed men dropped from the sky and began skulking around the courtyard like they owned the place, rummaging for something. He was baffled.

Are thieves… this bold nowadays?

He walked over to Yuánjí, but seeing the River God tilting her head with amused interest, he swallowed his words.

If the River God is allowing this, she must have her reasons.

After a while, Yuánjí watched as one man tried prying up a crystal tile from the ground and couldn’t help but ask:

“Ātǒng, do normal people think a living person would be hiding underground?”

Ātǒng pondered. “Maybe he thinks normal people wouldn’t pave the ground with crystals.”

Yuánjí: …?

Seeing the man strain until his face turned red without budging the tile an inch, Yuánjí’s lips twitched in disdain.

She cleared her throat. “There’s no one underground.”

“Oh.” The man paused, scratching his head awkwardly. “I just wanted to check if these were real—”

Before he could finish, his body locked up. Slowly, he turned his head.

Thwack!

A washing bat came flying at his face. For a split second, he thought he sensed a trace of demonic energy—but before he could dwell on it, blinding pain erupted, and darkness swallowed his vision.

Fāng Míngzhū flexed her wrist, eyeing his crumpled form like he was already dead. “How dare you trespass in the River God Temple!”

The sound made Wú Qiānsì freeze. His pupils shrank as realization struck.

The stealth talismans—they failed!

“Retreat!”

At his command, his subordinates dropped the bricks, planks, and moss they’d been pilfering.

Twenty figures shot into the air like lightning—

Only to be slammed back to the ground by an overwhelming pressure.

Ugh.

Wú Qiānsì grunted, the metallic tang of blood flooding his mouth. A flash of regret crossed his eyes.

I can’t move. This pressure… this place is unnatural!

Dù Xiūyuǎn, still dangling from the wall, nearly burst out laughing—if not for the pain that shot through his face the moment he twitched.

Yuánjí propped her chin on her hand, eyeing the bloodstains with distaste. “Tch.”

Wú Qiānsì’s gaze snapped to her. For some reason, this person—who radiated no cultivation whatsoever—made his spine crawl.

His voice was low. “May I ask your name?”

Yuánjí arched a brow, studying him silently before turning to Wū Bóshān. “Clean up that trash.”

“Yes.” Wū Bóshān nodded, then hesitated. “River God… which trash are you referring to?”

Yuánjí: …?

Wú Qiānsì, who had mentally classified himself as the trash in question, darkened. Gritting his teeth, he mustered every ounce of spiritual energy to break free of the pressure and staggered to his feet.

His sharp eyes locked onto Yuánjí, his blade gleaming ominously.

The murderous intent radiating from him made the others tense. This man was no pushover.

“Wow, he stood up!” Ātǒng gasped.

Yuánjí was mildly impressed. She’d deliberately lightened the pressure to avoid crushing them outright, yet this one still managed to rise.

But before her admiring look could linger, a flash of green streaked through the air.

Thud.

The murderous intent shattered.

Everyone: …?

Yuánjí’s eyes lit up as she watched the little green sword hover proudly mid-air. Instantly, the men on the ground were forgotten.

The sword, sensing her attention, zipped over and circled her excitedly like a puppy begging for pets—a far cry from its earlier ferocity.

Qí Yǎn took a slow sip of tea, his lashes lowering as his gaze flicked toward Yàn Kū, signaling him to deal with the intruders.

Yàn Kū, heeding the order, promptly resumed his role. Learning from past mistakes, he made sure to wrap them up extra tightly this time—no chance of escape.

Soon, Dù Xiūyuǎn found himself staring at Wú Qiānsì, now strung up beside him. His emotions were a tangled mess—he didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

Meanwhile, the temple’s occupants remained oblivious to the new group now hesitating outside its walls, staring at the row of hanging figures.

“The River God Temple…”

“Surely it’s a proper River God, right?”