A River God Beside the Bed

A River God Beside the Bed

"Below Qingping Mountain lies Qingping Town; within Qingping Town, peace is hard to find."

Jiang Sheng had said those words yesterday.

The facts proved that Jiang Sheng had been right.

Qingping Town occupied an excellent location, backed by mountains and bordering water. With Qingping Mountain and the Taiping River as two natural treasure troves, the townsfolk should have had no worries about making a living.

Yet where mountains were green and waters fair, without strength to protect it, covetous eyes were bound to gather.

That was precisely Qingping Town's current situation.

According to Tian Guofu, Qingping Town's greatest threat was not actually the fierce tiger in Qingping Mountain.

Qingping Mountain stretched twelve hundred li from end to end. The tiger demon could feast and roam freely within the mountains; so long as ordinary people did not enter them, there was generally no danger.

But the Taiping River was different. It was the only route Qingping Town could take to reach the county seat, and it was also the most vital hub in the entire county.

Whether merchants traveling north and south or official documents and decrees from the imperial court, nearly all had to pass through this river.

Qingshan County's prosperity was inseparable from the Taiping River, and the people of Qingping Town relied on this river all the more.

Whether grain, oil and salt, cloth, or other goods, they were all transported by way of the Taiping River.

It could be said that this Taiping River was the source of supplies for Qingping Town and even all of Qingshan County, as well as the necessary passage to the outside world.

Yet now, if they wanted the Taiping River to remain windless and wave-free, if they wanted the town and even Qingshan County to remain peaceful, they had to hold a grand river god sacrifice every year.

Listening to Tian Guofu, Jiang Sheng had already formed a general understanding. "For the river god sacrifice, what do you use to worship the river god? The three sacrificial animals and six domestic beasts?"

Tian Guofu said mournfully, "If it were merely the three sacrificial animals and six domestic beasts, that would be one thing. Every year's river god sacrifice uses living people—children under six years old."

"Every year, six pairs of boys and girls must be sacrificed to the river god."

Twelve children under the age of six had to be offered as sacrifices every year!

A sharp glint flashed through Jiang Sheng's lowered eyes. "Can that river god truly ensure favorable winds and rains for you all year?"

Tian Guofu nodded. "So long as six pairs of boys and girls are sacrificed each year, the river god will not stir up tempests, and the Taiping River will not see great winds or waves. It truly does ensure favorable winds and rains throughout the county."

Jiang Sheng nodded slightly. "This poor Daoist understands."

Tian Guofu looked hopefully at Jiang Sheng, who was walking ahead. "Daoist Jiang, can you help Qingshan County remove this great calamity?"

Jiang Sheng smiled. "Town Chief Tian, you truly are—"

Seeing Tian Guofu's confusion, Jiang Sheng shook his head with a smile. "Town Chief Tian, you have mistaken the matter."

"This may indeed be an important matter for all of Qingshan County, but what does it have to do with me?"

"This poor Daoist merely cultivates in these mountains. I have borne no grievance against the river god in the Taiping River, neither in the past nor recently, so why must I seek trouble for myself?"

"Town Chief Tian, do not mention this matter again."

Seeing Jiang Sheng about to leave, Tian Guofu hurriedly said, "Daoist Jiang, Daoist Jiang, but this year, it is Qingping Town's turn to provide those six pairs of boys and girls!"

Jiang Sheng halted and turned to look at Tian Guofu. "But what does this have to do with this poor Daoist?"

Tian Guofu stared blankly at Jiang Sheng. It should not be like this. This Daoist was so young—shouldn't this be the age when he was eager to uphold justice and aid the needy?

Why, why was Daoist Jiang, gentle as polished jade, so cold-hearted?!

"Town Chief Tian, I am grateful that you are building a Daoist temple for this poor Daoist. But if you think that alone will make this poor Daoist risk his life for you, then you are mistaken."

As Jiang Sheng spoke, he raised a hand. Spiritual power shot from his fingertips and severed a massive tree, thick enough for three men to wrap their arms around, at the waist. "If this poor Daoist wished it, I could erect a Daoist temple in these mountains within a single day. Town Chief Tian, do you understand?"

Tian Guofu looked somewhat dazed. "Yes... I was presumptuous."

Jiang Sheng nodded slightly. "Since Qingping Town is willing to build this poor Daoist a temple, then I shall wait for the day it is completed. These wild mountains are not fit for entertaining Town Chief Tian, so forgive me for not accompanying you."

With that, Jiang Sheng rode the wind and shot toward the mountaintop.

Tian Guofu stared in the direction Jiang Sheng had departed for a long while without coming back to his senses. When the wealthy families of Qingping Town hurried over, all they saw was Tian Guofu standing there in a daze beside a felled tree.

"Town Chief, how did it go? Did Daoist Jiang agree?" one man asked anxiously.

Tian Guofu shook his head, looking utterly lost. "Daoist Jiang... Daoist Jiang said, what does this matter have to do with him?"

A wealthy merchant panicked. "But... but we already built a Daoist temple for him. How could this happen?"

Tian Guofu pointed at the fallen tree. "Just now, Daoist Jiang merely pointed a finger and felled this tree, thick enough for three men to embrace. He also said that if he wished it, he could build a Daoist temple in a single day."

Hearing this, the wealthy men were all dumbfounded.

According to their expectations, they would first build Jiang Sheng a Daoist temple, then have the town chief pour out their woes and ask Jiang Sheng to lend a hand. That young Daoist Jiang should have readily agreed. Why had his attitude been so indifferent?

A wealthy gentleman surnamed Wang said irritably, "Looks like that Daoist temple was built for nothing!"

A merchant surnamed Li said angrily as well, "Hmph, then we won't build it anymore!"

Tian Guofu immediately grew anxious and hurriedly said, "No, no, we cannot!"

Seeing the puzzled looks the wealthy gentlemen gave him, Tian Guofu quickly explained, "Daoist Jiang said that he intends to see the Daoist temple completed. If we truly stop building it, would that not mean offending Daoist Jiang again? Do not forget—he killed that demon tiger with a single man and a single sword!"

Only then did the wealthy gentlemen come to their senses.

A mountain wind swept over them, and every one of those wealthy gentlemen felt drenched in sweat, their hands and feet turning cold!

That was right!

Daoist Jiang had slain the demon tiger in Qingping Mountain all by himself, with one sword!

Daoist Jiang was a cultivator with genuine ability!

The wealthy gentlemen looked at one another. In the end, only a sigh remained. "This Daoist temple must be built."

"And it must be built well. If we cut corners, then should Daoist Jiang become enraged, more trouble may arise."

Another wave of sighs followed, then silence.

At the summit of Qingping Mountain, Jiang Sheng stood with his hands behind his back, quietly watching the Daoist temple under construction halfway down the mountain.

When Tian Guofu had told him that the river god in the Taiping River devoured six pairs of boys and girls under six every year, anger had indeed risen in Jiang Sheng's heart.

But anger would not affect Jiang Sheng's reason. Even if the river god of the Taiping River could only control this stretch of water within Qingshan County, its magical power was still enough to make one wary.

The Taiping River's stretch through Qingshan County ran for over a hundred li. To control a river spanning over a hundred li and stir up wind and waves was not something a Foundation Establishment cultivator could accomplish. At the very least, it required a cultivator who had opened a Purple Mansion Realm.

But if there truly was a water demon of the Purple Mansion Realm in the Taiping River, then even if Jiang Sheng wanted peace and quiet, it would be difficult.

Though humans and demons were not absolutely opposed to one another, with a water demon of the Purple Mansion Realm beside him beneath Qingping Mountain and within the Taiping River, how could Jiang Sheng cultivate in peace?

"Beside one's bed, how can another be allowed to sleep soundly?"

Today's update is here. Only now does this story truly begin. Please continue reading, recommend it, and add it to your collection.

(End of chapter)