But I'm a proper river god, you know! - Chapter 77

“How dare you!”

As soon as the words fell, Yuan Ji shot him a sidelong glance. A streak of white light flew from her fingertips.

“Boom!” With a deafening roar, everyone watched as a section of mountain peaks in the distance seemed to lose their support and began to slide downward slowly, birds scattering in fright. That entire section of peaks had been cleanly sliced in half by Yuan Ji’s single strike.

“Demoness! What are you doing?!”

Several elders in the hall felt their hearts lurch. They slammed their hands on the tables and rose to their feet. Although they were merely elders of the Tianji Sect, the Tianji Sect was the number one major sect, revered and respected by all. Even when they themselves went out, people attended to them meticulously, fearing any oversight.

But now, a mere young girl had stormed their gates, brazenly threatened to smash the Tianji Sect, and even sheared off several mountain peaks. This was nothing less than a slap to their faces.

Their faces turned from green to black, veins bulging at their temples, revealing their extreme fury.

“It seems you are truly old and hard of hearing,” Yuan Ji waved her hand dismissively. A tremendous pressure descended from above, forcing those several elders to bend their once-straight backs.

A few, caught off guard, were even forced to their knees, utterly unable to stand up. The ground was already covered in spiderweb-like cracks.

Everyone’s hearts trembled. This River God’s strength was truly unfathomable.

In that moment, countless thoughts raced through their minds. They couldn’t help but curse inwardly, wondering which blind fool had provoked this terrifying deity.

“River God Yuan Ji! We have no enmity with you! Why must you take your anger out on our Tianji Sect!”

Among the crowd, a middle-aged man with a refined appearance and two long, slender eyebrows, Guan Su, clenched his teeth and glared up at Yuan Ji with an expression of great indignation, as if he had suffered a grievous injustice.

“Tch.” Yuan Ji let out a scornful laugh, as if she had heard a joke.

She leaned back lazily against the carved pearwood official’s armchair behind her, one hand propping up her chin, the other leisurely pulling a jade vial from the cold stone body out of her storage ring.

Her lustrous fingertips hooked, and the remaining pills in the vial clinked together crisply.

The “Ding dang” sound echoed in the hall for a long time. Seeing that jade vial, everyone inwardly thought “Oh no.” They held their breath tight, listening to that clear sound. It felt less like she was holding a jade vial and more like a long sword suspended above their heads.

Hearing the faint sounds of a few swallowing hard, the curve of Yuan Ji’s lips lifted slightly higher. But the smile didn’t reach her eyes, which remained cold enough to make one’s heart tremble.

“You… what is the meaning of this!”

Guan Su’s narrow eyes suddenly flew open, locking onto Yuan Ji before him like snake pupils, his gaze venomous.

That useless fool Han Shi actually let such a treasure fall into someone else’s hands.

“Don’t be nervous, gentlemen,” Yuan Ji said lightly. “This deity merely happened to acquire these divine pills. I heard they can cause a sudden surge in cultivation and grant immortality. I just thought I’d appreciate them together with you all.”

Yuan Ji let out a light laugh, putting on an utterly harmless appearance. But the expression on her fair, clean face was chillingly cold.

“River God, you jest. We… we are unworthy of such divine pills,” a white-haired elder forced a strained smile, barely managing to curl the corners of his mouth. “Moreover, those who follow the path of cultivation must avoid seeking quick success. Taking such shortcuts is unacceptable.”

Seeing his righteous, sage-like demeanor, Yuan Ji raised an eyebrow but said nothing more, merely applying subtle pressure with her fingertips.

“River God, you are still young. You should calm your heart and… Cough! Cough!”

His earnest, admonishing words were cut short by a pill forced into his mouth. Realizing what he had swallowed, the white-haired elder’s expression changed dramatically. He immediately bent over, clawing at his throat, trying to vomit the pill out.

Sour, foul liquid dripped from the corner of his mouth. He coughed until his eyes were red, the whites streaked with crimson bloodshot veins, no longer bearing any trace of his previous immortal elder demeanor.

Seeing that the pill had already dissolved into liquid in his stomach and been absorbed, his expression shifted rapidly several times. Finally, his face twisted ferociously as he lunged at Guan Su, his eyes nearly bursting from their sockets as he grabbed his collar.

“Guan… Guan Su! Save me…”

Pressing down the impatience in his eyes, Guan Su grasped the white-haired elder’s hands, applying hidden force. The withered hands turned pale from being restrained.

“Elder, you jest. Since the River God says this is a divine pill, its benefits must be numerous,” Guan Su said, prying the elder’s hands away. “The Elder should go meditate and absorb the medicinal efficacy now.”

As soon as the words fell, the white-haired elder slackened his grip, hung his head in despair, turned, gave a bow to Yuan Ji, and went to the side to sit in meditation.

Yuan Ji took all of this in and couldn’t help but remark, “How very obedient.”

A Tong quickly nodded in agreement, “Absolutely. Even a string-puppet isn’t this… Yuan Ji, you mean he is…!”

Yuan Ji only smiled without answering, instead turning her head to survey the remaining few. Her tone was gentle, “Who would like to taste one next?”

The several elders exchanged glances, their faces filled with reluctance.

In an instant, Yuan Shanzi, standing to Guan Su’s left, was the first to rise. He let out a sinister laugh and summoned his life-bound spirit sword.

“Slay the Demon!”

“An ignorant junior who doesn’t know her place, daring to run rampant in the Tianji Sect! Today, this old man will teach you the rules of conduct!”

“Oh?” Yuan Ji, still leaning lazily against the carved pearwood armchair, casually tossed the jade vial aside. Propping her chin with one hand, she watched Yuan Shanzi’s long sword with interest, her mind stirring.

A familiar sword cry rang out within the great hall, a single stone whipping up a thousand waves.

“Zhi Jie!”

“It’s Zhi Jie!”

“Why is Zhi Jie here? Didn’t it follow Qi Yan…”

Qi Guan Shang’s eyes flickered for a moment. He quickly lowered his eyelids, avoiding looking at the visibly excited Zhi Jie, which was eagerly searching for him in the hall. He silently released some demonic energy to cover up his connection with Zhi Jie.

A faint, familiar fragrance lingered at the tip of her nose. Understanding dawned in Yuan Ji’s heart. The corners of her eyes lifted, carrying a trace of genuine amusement.

“Brat! Since you shared a bond with Qi Yan, and now Qi Yan is gone… if he knew you showed such disrespect to the Tianji Sect, do you not fear hurting his heart?!” Yuan Shanzi pointed his sword at Yuan Ji.

“Zhi Jie.”

At her soft call, Zhi Jie happily circled the hall once before flying back to hover before her, presenting a picture of obedient readiness.

Yuan Ji glanced sideways at the silent Qi Guan Shang beside her. Unconcerned, she gently stroked Zhi Jie, her fingertips gliding over it, eliciting a series of sword cries.

Qi Guan Shang felt his connection with Zhi Jie. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he forcefully suppressed the restless heat within him. A very soft laugh vibrated in his chest.

“What Qi Yan? That’s all in the past.” Qi Guan Shang stepped forward slowly to stand by Yuan Ji’s side. With an intimate manner, he tucked the stray hairs at her neck behind her ear. “The one by the River God’s side now is me.”

Seeing Yuan Ji look up at him, Qi Guan Shang quickly winked at her.

Yuan Ji watched those frost-and-snow-like eyes making such a playful expression, finding it surprisingly unjarring, even extremely pleasing. Like a Ga Sung flower on a snowy mountain peak; even dressed in the most flamboyant robes, it couldn’t cover its sacred purity.

Watching him spin tales about her without blushing or his heart racing, Yuan Ji found it inwardly amusing but didn’t expose him.

However, this scene, falling into the eyes of others, ultimately stirred up a stormy sea.

“You!” Yuan Shanzi’s eyes widened abruptly, filled with the shock of recognition.

This person was the Demon Realm’s Revered One—Qi Guan Shang!

How was he colluding with the River God?!

Instantly, Yuan Shanzi immediately thought of the recent restlessness of certain forces within the demon realm, which had destroyed several of their important secret realms. He narrowed his eyes. So that was it.

No wonder the demon realm had been succeeding frequently lately. It turned out this man had offered himself to the River God to extract information. And that information must have been obtained by the cunning River God deceiving their head disciple, Qi Yan.

Seeing that Qi Yan was now useless, she killed him and casually cast him aside.

“No wonder Qi Yan died, his path extinguished, after entering the Blooddrinker Glass with you back then! So you found a new lover and secretly struck the killing blow! Yuan Ji, how malicious your heart is!”

Yuan Ji: …?

A Tong was shocked.

A Tong cursed: Yuan Ji! This man is utterly shameless! Beat him up!

Before Yuan Ji could speak, Qi Guan Shang’s eyes narrowed. The Zhi Jie sword before him let out a “hum,” its sword cry releasing a wave of cold, sharp sword energy.

“Whoosh!” The sword energy skimmed past the top of Yuan Shanzi’s head.

With a rustling sound, his white jade crown tumbled from his head, and a large bundle of hair scattered across the floor.

Yuan Shanzi reached up with a trembling hand to feel the top of his head. The bald touch immediately shattered a part of his Daoist heart. His face turned from white to red, from red to green, and finally to black, as if dipped in ink.

“You… you… you…” Yuan Shanzi was so enraged he nearly fainted on the spot.

“Keep spouting nonsense like that, and it won’t just be your hair falling out.”

Yuan Ji tapped her fingers impatiently a few times. “Enough pointless talk. I’ll give you two choices.”

“One, deliver the items listed on this list to the River God Temple, and I will overlook the offense caused by the insects under your command.”

“Two, I smash this Tianji Sect to pieces.”

Guan Su took the bizarrely long list. His face changed color several times before he finally, disregarding the protests of others, stiffly forced out a smile and said, “River God, you jest. We choose option one.”

“Our disciples were ignorant and offended the River God. It is only right that we apologize.” Guan Su ignored the displeased looks from the other elders behind him. “In addition, my Hall of Myriad Affairs will separately offer fifty chests of rare treasures as compensation. We hope the River God will not take offense.”

A Tong curled his lip. “Yuan Ji, the Hall of Myriad Affairs! He’s the Hall Master of the Hall of Myriad Affairs. Be careful, he definitely has ill intentions.”

“Mmm, let’s see what else he has in store,” Yuan Ji pretended to look satisfied and nodded.

“Very well.”

“River God, please take your leave. I will send disciples with the compensation shortly,” Guan Su said, standing in the center of the crowd with a strained, insincere smile. Looking closely, he had already become their central pillar.

Yuan Ji rose gracefully, putting on an air of having “magnanimously spared them.” Her gaze slowly swept over everyone present, but she was surprised to find that all their expressions were eerily uniform.

For a moment, her gaze resting on Guan Su held a bit more scrutiny.

When had he made his move?

No matter. She would find out eventually.

Yuan Ji turned. The majestic, towering palace behind her collapsed with a thunderous roar, dust flying everywhere, its former grandeur gone. Even the plaque bearing the name “Tianji Sect” fell to the ground, shattered into pieces.

“You!” Yuan Shanzi glared furiously. “Didn’t you say there were two choices?!”

Yuan Ji wore a puzzled expression. “Yes, I did. But…”

“Wasn’t this palace destroyed by your life-bound sword—’Demon Slayer’?”

Yuan Shanzi turned his head in shock, only to find his own life-bound sword, its sword energy running rampant, plunged straight into the pile of ruins. The broad body of the sword cast a large shadow under the boundless moonlight, eerie and sinister, looking remarkably like—

A tombstone.

Yuan Ji flicked her sleeves and left.

Guan Su, who had been standing behind Yuan Shanzi, slowly walked to his side and placed a hand on Yuan Shanzi’s neck. The robust cultivator instantly went limp, like a puppet whose strings had been cut, and collapsed.

“Investigate where this River God came from,” Guan Su said to the darkness. “Also, tell the Mu family to produce more pills. The Tianji Sect still has many disciples waiting to enhance their cultivation.”

“Yes!” A shadowy figure twisted and vanished quickly.

Guan Su stared in the direction Yuan Ji had left for a long moment before slowly saying,

“Little sister, is this the helper you found?”