The Importance of Nurture

Although the Imperial Guards understood, they still found it hard to accept.

River God or not, that was beside the point.

Why could a five- or six-meter-long carp make such an adorable voice?

Li Yu spoke in a little girl's voice. "My lord is here because of that pack of wild wolves, isn't he?"

Shen Qing nodded.

"I saw those wild wolves too. They're merely a pack of beasts that haven't developed intelligence. I reckon they escaped from Bailu Marsh again."

"Oh, right. Yesterday, I also heard a tiger's roar."

Lin Zikai suddenly spoke. "From the sound of it, you seem to look down on those wild wolves. Why don't you go ashore and smack them to death yourself?"

Li Yu rolled her eyes at Lin Zikai. Everyone clearly sensed the disdain behind it.

"Ah, saying it that way does make this humble one seem rather insensible."

"Unfortunately, this humble one is a carp. Within Red Date River, I can barely be called the Carp King. But what could this humble one do after going ashore? At most, I could flop about twice."

"In the end, I have been disliked by you honored lords. Unlike other River Gods, I was not born with hands and feet."

Li Yu's tone was pitiful and delicate, yet somehow it carried a peculiar undertone.

Shen Qing could not hold it in any longer. "Who taught you to speak like that?"

"Born in these remote mountains and barren lands, where would there be anyone to teach me? It is merely that wherever the river flows, there are storytellers. This humble one loves listening to Dream of the Red Chamber and has a great fondness for Sister Daiyu."

Shen Qing fell silent for a while. At that moment, his recognition of the importance of nurture reached its peak. All that talk about human nature being inborn was utter nonsense.

Look at this—an otherwise fine carp had listened to Dream of the Red Chamber until she became a master of speaking in veiled barbs.

Shen Qing continued, "Do you know where that pack of wild wolves went after crossing the river?"

"Though I cannot go ashore, this humble one can make a guess or two. Whenever those wolves cross the river, they leave behind a scent of osmanthus. Ten li northwest after crossing the river, there is an osmanthus grove. I reckon the wolves are somewhere in that area."

Shen Qing nodded. With that, the target was clear, saving them a great deal of trouble.

Seeing Shen Qing remain silent, Li Yu spoke. "Does my lord wish to cross the river? My lord may ride this humble one across."

Shen Qing waved a hand and stepped onto the river's surface. True qi gathered beneath his foot, allowing him to stand firmly atop the water.

A gleam flashed through Li Yu's large eyes. It was perfectly normal for someone in the Xiantian Realm to tread water while crossing a river, but Shen Qing standing steadily upon its surface was another matter entirely. She had never seen such control among those of the Xiantian Realm.

As a koi, her intuition in certain matters far surpassed that of other ferocious beasts. She could instinctively sense Shen Qing's strength.

But now, it seemed she had still underestimated just how powerful Shen Qing was.

And listening to Dream of the Red Chamber had not only taught her veiled sarcasm. She had also picked up a little about schemes and power struggles.

Ordinary officials generally knew nothing of River Gods. Unless one held an office of the fifth rank or above, one would not know of them.

Yet Shen Qing knew, and he had remained exceptionally composed upon seeing her. She deduced that Shen Qing must be descended from the powerful and influential.

Strong, and backed by powerful connections.

She wanted to forge a good bond with him as well.

Who said a carp could not make progress? She wanted to make progress too!

Shen Qing slowly walked toward the opposite bank over the churning river, as if walking on level ground.

"Figure out how to cross the river yourselves. I'll wait for you at the osmanthus grove."

After the time it took to drink a cup of tea.

Three figures appeared outside the osmanthus grove: one man and two women, all dressed in identical white robes.

The man held a wine flask in his hand and walked along laughing. The two women carried various pastries. The three looked more like they had come sightseeing.

The man, Liu Wen, turned back and smiled at the two women.

"Well, Junior Sister Hui, Junior Sister Lian'er? Isn't the outside world far more entertaining than Qingshan Sect?"

Liu Hui took a bite of osmanthus cake. "It certainly is more interesting than the sect, but we should return early. Once we cross Red Date River, we'll be very close to Bailu Marsh."

Beside her, Lin Lian'er, who stood less than 1.6 meters tall, swung Liu Hui's arm and spoke sweetly. "Senior Sister Liu, it wasn't easy for me to get out even once. Don't make us go back so quickly."

"There won't be any danger. Besides, Senior Brother Liu is with us. He'll definitely protect us well. Isn't that right, Senior Brother Liu?"

Upon hearing that, Liu Wen practically floated with delight and thumped his chest.

"Of course."

Lin Lian'er smiled charmingly. "Senior Brother, where exactly are those wild wolves you mentioned? Do you think I could catch a wolf cub and bring it back? The others would definitely die of envy."

Liu Wen lifted his chin and nodded toward the osmanthus grove ahead. "They're there. Those wolves have been in this grove for several days. Junior Sister Lin, don't worry. If there are wolf cubs, I'll definitely get you one."

"Stop." Liu Hui suddenly spoke and halted.

"What is it? What is it? Did you spot the wolves?" A trace of excitement seeped into Lin Lian'er's voice.

Liu Hui shook her head. "There seem to be people ahead."

"They're Imperial Guards!"

Upon hearing Imperial Guards, Liu Hui craned her neck, her eyes full of curiosity. "Imperial Guards? Let me see."

"So they're Imperial Guards? They don't look like anything special. They don't have three heads and six arms like Father said."

Liu Hui had no intention of continuing forward. "Let's step back a little and wait for them to leave first."

"Are they really that frightening?" Lin Lian'er's eyes were full of defiance. "Aren't they all people? Are Imperial Guards somehow better than everyone else?"

"Junior Sister, you have rarely gone down the mountain, so you haven't heard of their reputation." Liu Hui's eyes were filled with apprehension. "Armored riders pass by Vermilion Bird Alley at night; the Imperial Prison locks tight the Big Dipper railing. That is speaking of them."

"Moreover, a new Hundred-Household Officer recently arrived in Luoshui City. He carved his way out from Baiyun County. In less than a month, no fewer than five lineages and sects had been exterminated by his hand. He slaughtered his way into the title of World-Crossing Yama."

"A few days ago, I saw Shen Qing from afar in Luoshui City. His killing intent soared into the heavens. He is certainly no ordinary man."

Liu Wen chuckled from the side. "Junior Sister Liu, I think you're boosting others' prestige while dampening your own spirit. Vermilion Bird Alley, World-Crossing Yama—those are nothing but rumors."

"Besides, even if Shen Qing truly is that frightening, he isn't among these Imperial Guards before us. The leader of this squad is merely a Lieutenant Official."

Lin Lian'er hurriedly nodded. "Exactly, exactly. Our senior brother has a name in the martial world of Yongning Commandery too—Stone Crusher Hand."

Liu Wen could not help straightening his chest. Then his eyes rolled, and he spoke to Lin Lian'er with a wicked grin.

"Junior Sister, on such a fine night, wouldn't it be too boring to only watch wild wolves? Want to do something exciting?"

Lin Lian'er immediately became interested. "How?"

Liu Wen took three sets of nightwear from the bag he carried with him.

Liu Hui immediately understood what the two intended to do, and her voice rose in alarm. "Have you gone mad? You want to ambush and kill Imperial Guards?"

Liu Wen put on a mask and smiled. "These Imperial Guards are far too arrogant. I'm only going to teach them a lesson. I won't kill anyone."

Liu Hui wanted to say more, but Liu Wen spoke directly. "Junior Sister Liu, if you're joining us, change into the clothes. If not, don't say another word."

Scholar and the others arrived outside the osmanthus grove, drenched from head to toe.

"That carp has no sense at all. She left without even asking whether we wanted to cross the river." Lin Zikai patted his ear, shaking out the water inside, his tone full of complaint.

Scholar laughed. "You wanted her to carry you? My lord already said that any ferocious beast capable of serving as a River God has at least reached the Xiantian Realm. And she is a court-appointed official of the seventh rank."

"Do you want a seventh-rank official to carry you, or someone in the Xiantian Realm to carry you?"

"Who do you think you are?"

Laughter immediately broke out among the crowd.

Suddenly, a gust of wind passed through, and faint cracking sounds rang out from the woods. Pang Xiyuan abruptly turned around.

"Who's there? Come out!"

Scholar and the others immediately wiped the smiles off their faces and drew the hand crossbows at their waists, aiming them into the darkness between the trees.

Liu Wen and Lin Lian'er, their faces masked, stepped out from behind the trees.

"Court lackeys. You do have some vigilance."

Pang Xiyuan's expression turned grim. With a light flick of his fingers, the hand crossbows of Black Dog and the others immediately fired.

As the bolts shot out, Pang Xiyuan drew the blade at his waist and charged toward Liu Wen.

After Black Dog and the others fired three volleys of bolts, they too drew their weapons and charged forward.

Lin Lian'er suddenly opened an iron fan, blocking the crossbow bolts.

"Court lackeys, huh? You attacked with killing moves the moment we met. It seems I must teach you a proper lesson today and let you know that there are always greater people beyond people, and higher heavens beyond heaven!"

After dodging aside, Liu Wen gave a cold snort. His fingers curled into claws as he lunged fiercely at Pang Xiyuan.

Blade and claw collided, bursting into fierce sparks. Liu Wen's nickname, Stone Crusher Hand, came from his hand techniques. His fingers could easily crush stone.

But Pang Xiyuan was, after all, an Imperial Guard. Though his realm was inferior, his combat experience was there for all to see. Despite being six minor realms behind, he forcibly slashed Liu Wen's leg.

Pain flashed through Liu Wen, and bloodshot veins surfaced in his eyes. He actually used his signature technique, swatting Pang Xiyuan's blade away with one claw before grabbing at Pang Xiyuan's head with another.

If that strike landed, Pang Xiyuan would be severely wounded even if he did not die.

At that moment, a palm struck out and knocked Liu Wen's hand aside.

Liu Hui, dressed in nightwear, stood in front of Pang Xiyuan.

Liu Wen's tone was deeply dissatisfied. "What are you doing?"

Liu Hui's tone was icy. "What are you doing?"

A vicious gleam appeared in Liu Wen's eyes. "Of course I'm killing them, so those Imperial Guards can learn that matters of the martial world aren't something they can meddle in whenever they..."

Gradually, the vicious gleam in Liu Wen's eyes faded, and his voice grew softer and softer. He seemed to sense a fierce beast appearing behind him. A chill ran straight up his spine, but he did not dare turn around.

"Senior Sister... behind me..."

Shen Qing slowly emerged from the darkness, the cold moonlight illuminating his face.

Liu Hui staggered back several steps and collapsed onto the ground, her voice trembling uncontrollably.

"World-Crossing... Yama..."

"Shen Qing!"