But I'm a proper river god, you know! - Chapter 89

“Master!”

Ruan Xuanxin wiped the river water from his face and looked at Yuanji with eager eyes, calling out softly.

As soon as the words left his mouth, he sensed a piercing gaze fall upon him. The chill in that stare was even colder than the midnight river water.

Ruan Xuanxin shrank his neck back, both startled and curious as he scrutinized the male cultivator who had suddenly appeared before him. Why did this person seem so familiar?

Qi Guanshang discreetly appraised Ruan Xuanxin from head to toe. Seeing his ordinary appearance, average height, mediocre talent, and what appeared to be less-than-stellar intelligence, he felt slightly relieved.

He inquired with concern, “When did Yuanji take on a disciple?”

Yuanji was silent for a moment. “I haven’t taken any disciples.”

As soon as these words fell, one pair of eyes lit up brilliantly while another pair dimmed with dejection. Yuanji felt a headache coming on.

Not wanting to dwell on the matter, Yuanji turned her attention back to the charred demon wolf. She examined it carefully and finally discovered a tiny hole behind its ear.

“Where did you encounter it?” Yuanji already had an idea, and the answer confirmed it.

Ruan Xuanxin scratched his head, trying hard to remember. “It seems like it was in the forest not far from here? I can’t recall clearly. I ran into it right after leaving the Tianji Sect.”

He had just had a falling out with his father and run away, only to immediately bump into a demon wolf. One had to admit, his luck was truly terrible.

“It’s strange though,” Ruan Xuanxin recalled, thinking back to his first encounter with the wolf. “When I first fought it, I felt it was somewhat disoriented, stumbling around.” As he reminisced, other unusual details began to surface.

“Later, it suddenly froze in place, and its fur started growing wildly all at once. At the time, I was relieved because its eyes were covered by the fur, so it couldn’t see me.”

Ruan Xuanxin gave an embarrassed smile. “Who knew it would later become so vicious, with its power surging violently?”

After listening, Yuanji turned to Qi Guanshang. “A-Shang, have you heard of such a secret technique?”

“Never,” Qi Guanshang also found it strange. “The Demon Realm has no such technique.”

“The Demon Realm! You’re the Demon Realm’s venerable, Qi Guanshang!” Ruan Xuanxin exclaimed in shock, taking half a step back before leaning forward again, staring at Qi Guanshang unblinkingly, full of astonishment and curiosity.

Heavens! He was actually seeing the Demon Realm Venerable in the flesh!

Seeing his reaction, Qi Guanshang’s expression turned complex, mingled with a trace of relief.

Yuanji silently turned her head away, secretly letting out a sigh of relief. She released her divine power to investigate and indeed found traces on the demon wolf’s wound that resembled the shell of some kind of beetle.

Brownish with a metallic dark blue hue.

“Is this… a gu worm?”

Yuanji immediately thought of one person who might know a great deal about such gu worms. Her heart stirred, and she immediately sent a sound transmission to Luan Xuan.

Ruan Xuanxin was still thinking of stepping forward to investigate when a heavy thump from A-Tong stopped him in his tracks.

“Let’s head back first. We might know more after the Dingxian Grand Ceremony concludes.”

With these words, Yuanji and Qi Guanshang transformed into two beams of white light and flew back toward the Tianji Sect. A-Tong couldn’t resist patting the young man’s head again—a crisp sound.

It sounded like a good, unpolluted brain, untouched by knowledge.

“Squeak squeak squeak!” Hurry up and follow!

“Eh?!” Ruan Xuanxin inwardly wailed. He had just run away from the Tianji Sect! If he went back now, his father would skewer him into a pincushion with his longsword!

But seeing that the other two were already out of sight, he could only hang his head dejectedly and follow.

The next day, the Dingxian Grand Ceremony commenced as scheduled. However, due to the previous night’s events, everyone present wore looks of exhaustion.

After everyone was seated, Guan Su arrived slowly, surrounded by a cluster of disciples. He glanced around the assembly, a smile of apology rising on his face. “My apologies to you all. Recently, the Sect Leader has been unwell and is in seclusion to recuperate. Today, this humble one will preside over the Dingxian Grand Ceremony. If there are any shortcomings, I hope you will not take offense.”

Guan Su drew out his tone, putting on an air of modesty and magnanimity. The crowd didn’t say much, merely urging him to start the ceremony.

Only after sufficiently building anticipation did Guan Su shake his head. “Please wait a moment, everyone. The River Deity has not yet arrived. It seems something has delayed her. How about we all enjoy some tea while we wait patiently?”

As his words fell, the crowd exchanged glances, their expressions immediately turning peculiar.

Seeing this, the smile on Guan Su’s face deepened considerably. Satisfied, he nodded and gestured for the sect disciples to pour tea for everyone. “This is the early spring tea from Guanxia Peak this year. Please, have a taste.”

A few cultivators with odd temperaments immediately snorted coldly, slamming their tea cups heavily on the table, spilling more than half of the clear tea.

“Calm down. Let’s just wait!” The person beside them quickly restrained them, refilling a cup of tea and handing it over. “That’s the River Deity!”

The person instantly sobered up.

For a time, the crowd raised cups in toast and exchanged pleasantries, creating a lively atmosphere.

When Yuanji arrived, she saw this scene. Glancing around, she immediately understood this was Guan Su’s “gift” to her.

With Yuanji’s arrival, the cheerful sounds of conversation were instantly muted, as if the entire crowd had simultaneously been struck dumb, their gazes fixed intently on Yuanji and her companions.

Their probing eyes drifted back and forth between Yuanji and Qi Guanshang. With just a few glances, everyone confirmed their suspicions from the previous day.

Look at the Demon Realm Venerable One, glowing with health! He must have been tangled up with the River Deity all night!

For a moment, the crowd’s expressions shifted complexly—pitiful, astonished, resentful.

This broadened Yuanji’s horizons; she hadn’t realized human expressions could be so varied. She observed everyone’s faces with amused interest, then her gaze fell upon the only empty seat in the entire venue. She raised a delicate eyebrow and walked straight over.

Yuanji ascended the steps gracefully, passing Guan Su without even a sidelong glance, completely ignoring the flicker of gloom in his eyes.

She placed one hand on her knee, the other resting on the carved dragon armrest beside her, sitting calmly and confidently in the highest position. From her vantage point, everyone present seemed like her subjects.

“Not bad, the view is quite good,” Yuanji chuckled lightly, casting a meaningful glance at the grim-faced Guan Su beside her.

Xiang Yizhi immediately chimed in from her side. “This is only appropriate. How could you possibly sit below with everyone else? Hall Master Guan is truly thoughtful.”

Seeing her usurp his seat, Guan Su secretly seethed. Gritting his teeth imperceptibly, he shot a meaningful look at a disciple nearby.

In the next instant, a young disciple suddenly stood up from the crowd. “How dare you sit in the highest seat! That position belongs to Hall Master Guan! He is presiding over this Dingxian Grand Ceremony!”

Guan Su immediately feigned shock, glancing at Yuanji and bowing in apology. “River Deity, please pay him no mind. You may sit in this seat.”

“Naturally,” Yuanji shot him a sidelong glance, seeming to let out a faint, disdainful laugh. “Your Tianji Sect was rebuilt rather quickly.”

Guan Su’s face darkened for an instant before returning to normal. Just as he was about to say something, he heard the crowd below chattering.

“This seat rightly belongs to the River Deity. Thank you for saving our lives yesterday, River Deity. The Danxin Sect is willing to serve you like loyal dogs and horses.”

“Yes, yes! Last night, it was all thanks to the River Deity, otherwise we would have been in dire straits!”

“Exactly! But how come the Hall Master didn’t reserve a seat for the River Deity? How strange. Did he forget?”

“Ah, you forget, this is the Hall Master’s first time presiding over the Dingxian Grand Ceremony. Naturally, he lacks experience.”

“So that’s it…”

Hearing these insulting words, Guan Su felt fury churning in his heart, surging up wave after wave. He forcefully suppressed the rage, struggling to change the subject.

“Since everyone is here, let the Dingxian Grand Ceremony officially begin.”

Guan Su sent a disciple forward to announce the rules.

Listening intently, Yuanji succinctly summarized them as: draw lots for duels, winners advance to the next round; five rounds total; final victors participate in the championship finals for ranking.

Everyone was familiar with the rules and had long since sent out their participating disciples.

Elder Teng Yao, seeing that no one behind Yuanji had stepped forward to draw lots, couldn’t help but ask curiously, “River Deity, may I ask which disciple you will be sending?”

Yuanji glanced sideways at the people beside her. Before she could speak, she heard a young man’s voice shout from the crowd, “I’ll go!”

As soon as the words fell, the disciples of the Ten Thousand Swords Sect dropped their tea cups in unison, staring dumbfounded as their Young Sect Master—the once-in-a-century genius of their sect—enthusiastically picked up his sword, ready to represent the River Deity in battle.

Huh?

“Ah!”

Ruan Xuanxin hadn’t even taken a step before his father’s massive palm slapped him back into his seat, leaving him truly seeing stars. Clutching his head, now swollen to twice its size, he protested angrily, “Dad!”

“Silence!” Sect Master Ruan glared at him, silently cursing his unfilial son.

Sect Master Ruan gestured for him to look up. Qi Guanshang, standing beside Yuanji, took a step forward—his intention clear without words.

Though his son had decent talent, his strength wasn’t even a tenth of Qi Guanshang’s. Best not to go out and embarrass themselves.

Unbeknownst to him, Ruan Xuanxin’s impulsive act started a trend. Several other sects immediately wanted to “offer” their most outstanding disciples to Yuanji, solely to help her win the first victory of the Dingxian Grand Ceremony, completely disregarding their own sect’s chances.

This act of “sacrificing their own” fell upon the others. Elders who had been a step slower suddenly realized their oversight and were filled with regret—why hadn’t they thought of it!

For a moment, Sect Master Ruan suddenly felt several accusatory gazes upon him.

Sect Master Ruan: …

“Thank you for your kind offers. The River Deity Temple already has its chosen contestants,” Yuanji raised her hand, indicating for everyone to look.

Under the watchful eyes of the multitude, A-Tong puffed out its chest proudly. “Squeak!”

Numerous tentacles waved wildly at that moment. Seeing the crowd’s astonished and bewildered gazes, A-Tong grew quite excited. “Yuanji! So many people are seeing me for the first time!”

“They must be awestruck by my majestic stature!” A-Tong let out two hearty laughs, seemingly unaware that its current form was no larger than a palm.

“This…” The crowd exchanged glances, secretly resolving something.

They absolutely must go easy on it in secret!

Who could have known that as soon as the competition began, this tiny octopus unleashed an irresistible power.

With a gentle sweep, opponents were flung off the arena, blown all the way to the opposite mountain peak. A pat on the ground summoned walls of water dozens of feet high, drenching a group of people into drowned rats…

Five matches in a row, each one a victory.

Everyone stared at this excited, childlike blue octopus-monster that could knock out a cultivator of no small strength with a single punch, then looked at Yuanji, who showed no surprise. Their hearts instantly surged with shock and awe.

If the River Deity’s little spiritual pet was this powerful, how formidable must her own strength be?

Facing this sudden octopus that disrupted all his plans, Guan Su’s eyes darkened, like the calm before a storm.

He glanced at the mostly empty tea cups before the crowd, and the corners of his mouth lifted into a barely perceptible smile.

Drink up, drink up quickly!