"A Pleasant Surprise"

midnight.

Ran Zhongshi was in his cabin planning the supplies that would need to be allocated the next day when he heard the Dou Shou shouting outside the ship.

"Sir, there is a fleet of ships ahead!"

Ran Zhongshi put down his pen and went outside. Looking into the distance, he saw sparks of light appearing in the darkness.

Before long, the scout returned in a sampan to report.

"Lord Ran, I have inquired and confirmed that it is Lord Liang's fleet ahead!"

From another boat came Xiang Fangsu's loud laughter. "Finally we've met! It wasn't easy! Row over there quickly!"

At the command, the dozen or so boats remained motionless, steadily proceeding in their original directions.

Xiang Fangsu walked into the cabin, puzzled, and asked, "Why don't you go over there?"

The helmsman hurriedly said, "Lord Xiang, you may not know this, but our ship is large, carries a lot of supplies, and has a deep draft. The water ahead is shallow, and it is easy for the ship to hit the bottom."

The fleet is currently traveling along the river channel and will soon be able to circle around it, but to approach directly, they would first need to send small boats to measure the water depth, which would take a long time and be slower, so they haven't changed course.

Are we walking on the river?

Xiang Fangsu poked her head out and looked down at the bottom of the boat. It was a vast expanse of water, and there was no way to see the riverbed beneath the boat.

The helmsman wiped his sweat. "Yes, there is a small river, about three zhang wide, but it's submerged and you can't see it."

We had been moving along when one of our ships hit a broken bridge pier, flooding its second and third cabins, forcing it to stop for repairs.

Xiang Fangsu suddenly realized. "No wonder the boat stopped. I thought Zhong Shi had other plans."

"Alright, alright, I'll take a small boat. You all hurry up and follow." Xiang Fangsu left those words behind and shouted to the opposite boat, "Wen Bin! Zhong Shi! Want to take a small boat?"

"Then let's take a small boat!"

"Let's meet up first!"

Two responses came from the darkness, and three sampans were lowered from the Fang Zhou, moved closer together, and headed towards the starlight.

The scouts had given prior notice, and when the deckhands saw the three approaching, they promptly threw down the boat ropes.

The group went up to the deck and said they wanted to see Liang Qu, but were unexpectedly politely refused.

Chen Jiechang said apologetically, "Please, gentlemen, take a rest. Lord Liang is currently in seclusion, so it would be inconvenient to disturb him."

Xiang Fangsu asked in bewilderment, "Seclusion? What kind of seclusion are you going through?"

Worried that the others might misunderstand, Chen Jiechang took the initiative to tell them about Liang Qu catching the Red Dragon Fish that evening, and that he was currently swallowing and digesting the Treasure Fish.

"Red Dragon Fish?"

"Never heard of the Treasure Fish unique to Hua Zhu County?"

"I vaguely remember seeing it before."

Ran Zhongshi pulled out several books he carried with him, all of which contained information about Hua Zhu County.

He pulled out a book and flipped through it according to his memory, his index finger stopping at a certain spot.

"Found it! The Red Dragon Fish, a unique Treasure Fish of the Black Water River. It is entirely crimson with Long Whiskers on its lips. It is extremely rare and is suspected to contain dragon blood. It is believed to enhance physical strength and slightly prolong life. It is said that Galloping Horse can help open the mind and is of great value."

The last recorded appearance of this fish was on the day the Lord Qiu's Dyke was completed. It was obtained by Qiu Xianshi, the County Magistrate at the time. When he concentrated his inner energy, a wisp of Dragon Qi surrounded him, which may be related to consuming this fish. Hence the saying, "When a sage appears, a red fish appears."

Xiang Fangsu raised an eyebrow. "Quite a powerful figure, isn't he?"

Ke Wenbin asked curiously, "Where did you catch them?"

" In the Rice Paddy, Water Bro sent people to drain the water to protect the seedlings. Two strong young men found them. I guess they came all the way from the Black Water River."

As evening fell, the news about the Red Dragon Fish spread like wildfire.

Everyone says that Hua Zhu County was able to overcome this great disaster and avoid a major epidemic entirely because of the proper management of Liang Qu, which is reminiscent of the spirit of Qiu Xianshi Lord Qiu, who built the great dike in the past.

Chen Jiechang did not feel there was any need for secrecy.

Everyone knows this.

Ran Zhongshi and the other two stood on the deck, listening in stunned silence.

They sent people to drain the Rice Paddy and found a Red Dragon Fish.

Adding the matter of Lord Qiu, it truly has a touch of mystery.

Ran Zhongshi asked, "Did A Shui refine it at dusk?"

"They were caught in the evening, and after processing, it was a little later."

"It's been less than two hours... it won't be too long, let's wait a bit."

"I will go and make tea for you gentlemen."

Quiet Room.

Liang Qu's eyes were closed, and his once-red skin returned to normal.

After a while.

He exhaled a Long Qi.

Liang Qu opened his eyes, feeling the abundant physical strength and energy throughout his body, his eyes filled with disbelief.

"Another aperture has opened... and the physical body has also grown..."

He clenched his fist out of thin air, and a tearing sound rang out from his palm, with faint bursts of Gang Qi emanating from his fingertips.

With just this one move, he is probably stronger than many Martial Master who have learned inferior claw techniques at the Galloping Horse Initial Realm Lower Vehicle Horse realm!

Even steel will turn into iron sludge!

The Yin Aperture, Yang Aperture, and Central Palace are the last Three Apertures of the Galloping Horse, and also the Three Apertures most difficult to open.

The Yin Aperture, also known as the "sea bottom," is located between the two Yin points. It is the key to the unity of form and potential in "emptiness." Form belongs to Yin, and when the form is relaxed and the potential is expanded, "emptiness" is achieved.

When this opening closes, the form will be tight and the energy will be contracted, solid inside but not empty, creating a feeling of "outer wrapping and inner support", relaxed yet expansive, empty in form and energy.

In layman's terms, it will be more stable, the momentum will be more relaxed and controlled, and it will be less likely for others to see any flaws.

The Spinal Column Gate is the center of "momentum". Once it is opened, a person's energy and spirit will increase significantly, just like the difference between an ordinary person and a professional soldier.

The Yin Aperture can make the distinction between the two more harmonious, allowing for free control and, at a deeper level, a higher level of mastery over power.

What an amazing Red Dragon Fish! Its Marsh Essence is only two thousand more than that of the Golden Gong Fish, yet it has a miraculous effect of opening the mind, allowing Liang Qu, who has just opened his Jade Pillow Gate, to open another acupoint, thus bypassing the entire process of refining the Aperture Gate! It connects with the Ze Cauldron.

[Cauldron Master: Liang Qu]

[Refine Marsh Spirit: Marsh Ape (Azure) (Fusion Rate: 52.6%)]

[Command Water: In the midst of rushing rivers, the abilities of the Marsh Ape will be greatly enhanced. At certain key points, it may be able to cause minor river course changes, leading to Water Calamity.]

Liang Qu's prediction was correct! The Marsh Ape has integrated more than half of its power, resulting in a significant improvement! Its underwater perception range now exceeds two hundred meters in radius and is almost a kilometer in diameter!

The expanded scope means an indirect enhancement of Water Control capabilities.

With increased affinity to water, coupled with the growth of various talents and the enhancement of his own strength, Liang Qu roughly sensed that his Water Control capacity had reached 30,000 tons! A surge of 10,000 tons! "Command Water..."

How much can the so-called significant increase in the flow of rivers reach? If the increase is large enough, the Great Serpent Mouth of the Black Water River might actually be saved. All that's needed is to control the water flow to continuously scour the riverbed, deepen the riverbed, and move the river from above ground to underground, thus eliminating the need for dams.

I don't have time to think about it in detail right now.

There are people waiting on the deck.

"They've finally arrived."

Inside the cabin.

Ran Zhongshi and others gathered around a square table, pacing and studying the sand table model made by Liang Qu.

"Red and yellow should indicate the severity of the disaster."

"Blue represents our current location."

"Wonderful! A Shui always has ingenious ideas. I've seen sand tables before, but this is the first time I've seen one so realistic."

As the group was discussing this, the main door suddenly swung open.

"A Shui! Not bad, it's been three days..."

Before Xiang Fangsu could offer her congratulations, Liang Qu slipped behind the group and shoved them below the deck.

"What's the rush?"

"I haven't finished looking at the sand table yet."

"Don't rush with the sand table; the following matters are more important!"

More important? The three were puzzled, but they followed Liang Qu to the cabin below deck.

Liang Qu lit the candle.

The soft orange light dispelled the darkness.

Ran Zhongshi and the others were stunned.

The steel reflected the orange candlelight, revealing a corner of the enormous cage. Through the gaps in the cage, one could clearly see a disheveled man lying inside...

elder?

Ran Zhongshi asked in bewilderment, "Who is this person...?"

"Cheng Chong, the leader of the Shahe Gang, is basically confirmed to be responsible for the breach of the Qiugong Dike."