The Marsh Cauldron shone with a deep blue light.
[Cauldron Master: Liang Qu]
[Refined Marsh Spirit: Water Monkey (White) (Fusion: 70.6%)]
[Innate Skill: Water Leap]
[Essence of the Waters: None]
[River Favor: 0.0001 (Huai River)]
[Dominated Water Beasts: Taihua alligator, six-whisker catfish, Stone Pincer Crab, Tianshui centipede]
[Evaluation: The Water Monkey marsh spirit originates from the great Lord of the Huai and Guo Rivers; incompletely awakened, an insignificant nobody.]
River favor: 0.0001!
The microscopic precision of these decimals was practically on par with Pinduoduo's bargain slashes.
Yet staring at this tiny 0.0001, Liang Qu knew deep down how hard-won it truly was.
He couldn't tell whether it was because his fusion had jumped twenty percent or because of the river favor, but the final evaluation had changed. "Frail nature and meager fate" had become "an insignificant nobody." While it sounded hardly different, it had to count as a slight improvement... right?
He just didn't know which step in the sacrificial ceremony had earned this recognition. Being the chief celebrant? Sacrificing the mountain ghost? Leading over a thousand villagers?
Or was it no single step at all, but completing the entire ritual that had won the favor?
If he wanted to gain favor in the future, would he always have to organize a sacrificial rite and serve as the chief celebrant?
There were far too many questions, and the entire ritual had been too elaborate to easily replicate in a controlled test.
Unable to know for sure, Liang Qu could only make reasonable conjectures.
Today's ceremony had been called a sacrifice to the river god, but in reality, there had been no concrete entity.
Just as Lin Songbao had said, every year great demons revealed themselves to mortal eyes.
This year it was Brother Toad the spherical shadow, last year a great broad fish, and the year before that a water tiger fish. Sacrificial rites followed each sighting—traditions the villagers had formed out of sheer fear.
There were too many great demons and the Jianghuai River was vast; the chances of seeing the same demon in the same place twice were infinitesimally small.
Under these circumstances, the local folklore attributed to the Jianghuai River's river god the ability to change shape at will.
Folktales often featured the Jianghuai river god disguising himself as an elegant noble youth to romance mortal maidens, punish corrupt officials and unfilial descendants, or assist impoverished scholars struggling at their cold windows.
Without a specific target, calling it a sacrifice to the river god was more accurately a sacrifice to the Jianghuai River itself.
Everyone hoped that offering up livestock would prompt the Jianghuai River to remember their hardships, granting favorable weather, abundant harvests, lush vegetation, and plump fish in the coming year.
Therefore, the sacrifice was truly offered to the Jianghuai River.
If one hoped to obtain river favor through sacrifice, this was likely a necessary condition.
The scale of the ritual and his own position within it had to be another requirement.
As chief celebrant, leading over a thousand people to rise and prostrate en masse had been a grand, imposing spectacle—likely even more majestic than the old emperor's morning court audience.
Had he merely been one of that thousand-person crowd, he probably wouldn't have reaped such an effect.
The quality of the sacrificial offerings had to factor in as well. Even if it didn't require mountain spirits and monsters, it had to be at least the three sacrifices.
These three factors were presumably the vital keys to acquiring favor.
If he served as chief celebrant leading a hundred thousand followers, offering up three Attaining Elephant-level great demons, that favor would surely amount to at least 1, wouldn't it?
Liang Qu didn't believe for a second that setting up two rickety little tables, slaughtering two chickens, and sneaking into a corner to bow twice on his own would earn the Jianghuai River's favor. That would make it far too cheap.
Still, there was no harm in trying; an attempt cost nothing. Another day, he could get a couple of chickens, an incense burner, and splash chicken blood into the river.
Preferably old hens raised for two and a half years.
Liang Qu stroked his chin, lost in thought. He stepped out from under the boat's awning and stood at the bow, keen to see what differences this favor brought.
The vast wind gusted, and the scull struck the water, churning up swirling eddies.
Chen Jiechang felt odd. An adept fisherman himself, handling a boat was second nature, yet rowing today felt remarkably effortless. It was as if heaven and earth lent him their strength; with a gentle stroke, the vessel shot forward.
Was it because this wasn't his own boat and had a different weight, or had nearly two months at the martial hall without fishing made his hands clumsy?
Wait, why had the boat slowed down again?
Chen Jiechang worked the scull, finding the resistance stranger by the second, as though rowing through thick paste. Fortunately, before long, it returned to normal—neither effortless nor straining, just like any other day.
The current was so bizarre today, unlike anything he had ever encountered. Had they passed over an undercurrent?
He couldn't make heads or tails of it.
Crouching at the bow, Liang Qu relented on his water control. A favor of 0.0001 was far too little to evolve the innate skill Water Leap.
However, his water control had grown noticeably stronger, increasing from roughly eight hundred to one thousand jin!
Controlling water now expended less stamina and allowed for greater finesse.
Yet for some reason, blood control remained difficult. He couldn't even sense the flow of blood within Chen Jiechang's body. Up until now, he had only been able to manipulate the blood of ordinary people.
Once he got back, he would have to look through the two volumes of Reflections on Cultivating Nature and Life; the answer might lie within.
Over the past few days, Liang Qu had been reading Annotated Miscellaneous Records of Haomu Hall to broaden his knowledge and experience, neglecting the broader descriptions of the martial path.
It couldn't be helped: Reflections on Cultivating Nature and Life was dry as dust, nowhere near as lively and fascinating as Annotated Miscellaneous Records of Haomu Hall, whose accounts unfolded in story form with plenty of surprising twists, making for an entertaining read.
The black-awning boat navigated the winding waterway, brushing past several passenger vessels.
South Stone Bridge slid overhead. Liang Qu glanced up and caught sight of a pedestrian hurrying across.
Eh, Zheng Xiang!
Liang Qu stared a few moments longer until the Zhao residence steward turned a corner and vanished from sight.
Back when Zheng Xiang had come knocking to take him in as Squire Zhao's adopted son—the memory remained fresh in his mind.
Who would have thought he'd spot him again today? Oddly enough, even Lin Di knew that Liang Qu had become Master Yang's disciple. The Zhao household was vastly larger and wealthier than a small fishing yard, yet Zheng Xiang had never paid a visit to offer congratulations or say anything at all.
Were they giving him the cold shoulder to downplay the matter?
Liang Qu couldn't figure it out, but as the black-awning boat moved down the waterway and Yang Manor came into view in the distance, he dismissed the thought.
He no longer paid mind to minor figures like that; they were not worth his energy.
Stepping onto the riverbank rocks, Liang Qu climbed ashore while Chen Jiechang stayed behind to watch the boat. Liang Qu stepped forward and knocked on the bronze ring of the gate.
Seeing it was Liang Qu, the gatekeeper naturally recognized him. Calling him "Ninth Young Master," he swung the heavy doors open.
Guided by a servant across the courtyard, Liang Qu did not see Master Yang, only Master Yang's wife, Madam Xu, being supported by Nandi as she sat in an armchair.
Liang Qu hurriedly offered his respects. "Greetings, Mistress."
Madam Xu leaned lightly against the chair back and chuckled. "Xiao Jiu, how do you have time to visit me today? I rarely catch a glimpse of you on ordinary days. Whenever I want to share a meal with you, you're nowhere to be found. Out of those nine boys, you, Fourth, and Fifth are the only handsome ones. But Fourth has a cranky temper, and Fifth is so aloof. I hoped you might come keep me company, yet I never see you. Ah."
Turns out Mistress is a sucker for good looks.
Embarrassed, Liang Qu said, "There's really been a mountain of chores, and I couldn't spare a moment—between studying, practicing martial arts, and taking the boat out to fish. Once things quiet down in a few days, I'll definitely come by every day to pay my respects, Mistress."
"Fishing? Running low on silver, aren't you? I told that old Yang fellow he was being stingy. What good is ten taels? Going on about spoiling your temperament! You're a wonderful boy; how could a little silver spoil you? Nandi, go fetch a fine silver ingot from my chest."
Liang Qu felt sheepish at first, then started in shock.
A fine silver ingot!
That was fifty taels of silver!
Mistress was far too generous.
Yet he hadn't come asking for money.
Liang Qu rushed to explain his purpose in full, terrified that any delay would turn this into an awkward ritual of politely declining a relative's red envelope.
After hearing him out, Madam Xu waved her hand. "Xiao Jiu, come here."
Liang Qu obediently stood and crouched before Madam Xu.
Madam Xu leaned close and sniffed. "No wonder the room smelled of medicinal herbs the moment you stepped in. The scent of blood is still drifting off you. You're hurt?"
"Just minor scratches, nothing serious."
Madam Xu pulled open Liang Qu's collar, frowning at the thick white linen cloth beneath. "You call this a minor scratch? Nandi, forget the fine silver ingot. Go to my second chest and fetch a bottle of Flesh-Replenishing Pills."
"Mistress, there's really no need. I've rolled around in mud pits since childhood; it's just a flesh wound, nothing to fuss over. The villagers are all waiting, and it's quite urgent."
"Anxious or not, it won't help. Your master isn't in the manor at all."
Chapter 69