Chapter 5: A River God Beside One's Bed

“Beneath Qingping Mountain lies Qingping Town; within Qingping Town, peace is hard to find.”

These were the words Jiang Sheng spoke yesterday.

As it turned out, Jiang Sheng’s words were entirely accurate.

Qingping Town was perfectly situated, backed by mountains and facing water. One could say that with the natural treasures of Qingping Mountain and the Taiping River, the townspeople should have lived lives free of worry.

However, a place of such scenic beauty, if left without the power to protect it, would inevitably invite covetous eyes.

That was the current situation in Qingping Town.

According to Tian Fugui, the greatest threat to Qingping Town was not, in fact, the fierce tigers in Qingping Mountain.

After all, Qingping Mountain stretched for twelve hundred miles. As long as the mortals did not enter the mountains, the tiger demons roaming and feeding within would pose little danger.

The Taiping River was different. It was the essential route from Qingping Town to the county seat and the most important hub for the entire county.

Whether it was merchants traveling north and south or the imperial court’s official documents and decrees, almost everything had to pass through this river.

The prosperity of Qingshan County was inseparable from the Taiping River, and the people of Qingping Town were even more dependent on it.

Grain, oil, salt, cloth, and other commercial goods were all transported via the Taiping River.

It could be said that this river was the lifeline for Qingping Town and the entire Qingshan County, as well as the only path to the outside world.

But right now, if they wanted the Taiping River to remain calm and the town—and indeed the whole county—to continue in peace, they had to hold a grand River God Sacrifice every year.

Listening to Tian Guofu, Jiang Sheng already had a rough idea: “The River God Sacrifice—what do you use to appease the River God? The three sacrificial animals?”

Tian Guofu said gloomily, “If it were only the three sacrificial animals, that would be fine. Every year, the River God Sacrifice requires living human beings, all of them children under the age of six.”

“Every year, six pairs of boys and girls must be sacrificed to the River God.”

Twelve children under the age of six sacrificed every year!

A sharp glint flashed in Jiang Sheng’s lowered eyes: “Can that River God truly guarantee you favorable weather and peace for the year?”

Tian Guofu nodded: “As long as six pairs of boys and girls are sacrificed each year, the River God will not stir up trouble, and the Taiping River will remain calm. It does indeed ensure favorable weather for the entire county.”

Jiang Sheng nodded slightly: “This Daoist understands.”

Tian Guofu looked at Jiang Sheng, who was walking ahead, with a hopeful expression: “Daoist Jiang, could you help Qingshan County remove this great scourge?”

Jiang Sheng laughed: “Town Mayor Tian, you really are…”

Seeing Tian Guofu’s confusion, Jiang Sheng shook his head and smiled: “Town Mayor Tian, you have misunderstood.”

“It is true that this is a major matter for your entire Qingshan County, but what does it have to do with me?”

“I am merely cultivating in these mountains. I have no past grievances or recent grudges with the River God in the Taiping River. Why should I go out of my way to invite trouble?”

“As for this matter, Town Mayor Tian, please do not mention it again.”

Seeing Jiang Sheng about to leave, Tian Guofu hurriedly said: “Daoist Jiang, Daoist Jiang! But this year, it is our Qingping Town’s turn to provide those six pairs of boys and girls!”

Jiang Sheng paused and turned to look at Tian Guofu: “But, what does this matter have to do with me?”

Tian Guofu stared at Jiang Sheng in a daze. This shouldn’t be; the Daoist was so young, shouldn’t he be at the age of righteous indignation?

Why, why was the gentle and refined Daoist Jiang so cold?

“Town Mayor Tian, I am grateful that you are building a Daoist temple for me. But if you expect that to be enough to make me risk my life for you, Town Mayor Tian, you have thought wrong.”

As Jiang Sheng spoke, he reached out and gestured. Spiritual energy shot from his fingertips, snapping a tree as thick as three men could embrace in half. “If I wished, I could establish a Daoist temple in these mountains in a single day. Do you understand, Town Mayor Tian?”

Tian Guofu looked somewhat dejected: “Yes, it was my rashness.”

Jiang Sheng nodded slightly: “Since Qingping Town is willing to build a temple for me, I shall wait for the day it is completed. It is difficult to host you in these wild mountains, so please forgive me for not seeing you off.”

With that, Jiang Sheng rose on the wind and headed straight for the mountain peak.

Tian Guofu remained dazed for a long time after Jiang Sheng left. When the wealthy families of Qingping Town hurried over, they only found Tian Guofu standing there in a trance, with a felled tree beside him.

“Mayor, how did it go? Did Daoist Jiang agree?” one person asked eagerly.

Tian Guofu shook his head, looking blank: “Daoist Jiang, Daoist Jiang said, what does this matter have to do with him?”

A wealthy merchant grew anxious: “This—we have already started building the temple for him! How could this be!”

Tian Guofu pointed to the felled tree and said: “Daoist Jiang just pointed his hand and knocked down this tree that three men could barely embrace. He also said that if he wanted to, he could build a temple in a single day.”

Hearing this, the wealthy men were stunned.

According to their plan, they would build the temple first, then have the mayor plead their case, and the young Daoist Jiang would surely agree readily. How could his attitude be so indifferent?

A wealthy gentleman surnamed Wang said irritably: “It seems this temple was built for nothing!”

A merchant surnamed Li also said angrily: “Hmph, we won’t build it anymore!”

Tian Guofu panicked upon hearing this and quickly said: “No, you cannot!”

Seeing the suspicious looks from the wealthy gentlemen, Tian Guofu quickly explained: “Daoist Jiang said he expects to see the temple completed. If we stop building now, wouldn’t we be offending him again? Don’t forget, he was the one who slew that fierce tiger demon with a single sword!”

Hearing this, the wealthy gentlemen finally came to their senses.

A mountain breeze blew, and the wealthy men felt drenched in sweat, their hands and feet turning cold!

That’s right!

That Daoist Jiang was the one who slew the fierce tiger demon in Qingping Mountain with a single sword!

Daoist Jiang was a cultivator with real ability!

The wealthy men looked at each other, finally letting out a sigh: “This temple must be built.”

“And it must be built well. If we cut corners, I fear that if Daoist Jiang gets angry, more trouble will arise.”

Another round of sighs followed, then silence.

At the peak of Qingping Mountain, Jiang Sheng stood with his hands behind his back, quietly watching the temple being built halfway up the mountain.

When Tian Guofu told him that the River God in the Taiping River ate six pairs of children under six every year, Jiang Sheng did indeed feel anger.

But anger would not cloud his reason. Even if the River God of the Taiping River could only control the section of the river within Qingshan County, its power was enough to warrant caution.

The Taiping River stretched for over a hundred miles within Qingshan County. To be able to control a hundred miles of river and stir up waves was not something a Foundation Establishment cultivator could do; it was at least the work of a cultivator who had opened their Purple Mansion.

If there really was a Purple Mansion-stage water demon in the Taiping River, it would be difficult for Jiang Sheng to live in peace.

Although humans and demons were not absolutely opposed, with a Purple Mansion-stage water demon nearby in the Taiping River, how could Jiang Sheng cultivate in peace?

“One cannot allow others to snore beside one’s bed.”

Today’s update is here. Now, the story truly begins. I ask for your continued reading, recommendations, and bookmarks.

(End of chapter)