Immersed in Buddhist Dharma

The camp was bustling with activity.

Blacksmiths and craftsmen mass-produced stone slabs. Boats carried the stones from the Black Water River and continuously delivered them to the camp. When they came out again, the stones had been transformed into neatly stacked stone slabs.

Liang Qu sighed as he walked through the stone material area.

The Vortex Aperture into the Vortex Palace requires three Spirit Fish, such a huge expense that we simply cannot afford it.

With so much Marsh Essence, why not evolve into Water King Ape sooner and roam freely across the Great Marsh? Who knows, that might lead to something big.

Liang Qu cast aside his troubled thoughts and glanced back at the Black Water River.

The construction of Lord Qiu's Dyke proceeded in an orderly manner.

With the help of the soldiers, the two brand-new Right Water Level Stele were lifted by supports and slowly inserted into the riverbed, transforming into unyielding river reefs that withstood the erosion of the water flow.

The waves surged, leaving dark tide marks, and the dark lines were already three feet lower than the warning water level on the Water Standard Tablet.

Everything is progressing steadily and positively.

Perhaps the tide will completely recede in Hua Zhu County before it gets cold.

Evening, Ping Yang County Prefectural Office.

Jian Zhongyi looked through the Water Calamity report that had been delivered, his face showing a sigh.

"First we were struck by the Ghost Mother, then we were hit by a flood. I really don't know when Hua Zhu County will be able to recover. It has truly been a year of great disasters."

The constable brought over a candlestick and, upon hearing this, hurriedly said, "Sir, your concern for the people is truly a blessing for them."

Jian Zhongyi shook his head. "Go down."

The constable was stunned, unsure of what he had said wrong. He put down the candlestick and left dejectedly.

"Not just him, all of you get down."

The officers on duty were completely baffled and left.

Inside the Prefectural Office, Jian Zhongyi handled official business alone.

As night falls, candlelight replaces the natural light.

The Prefectural Office was quiet, so quiet that you could hear the faint sound of the wind rustling through the grass.

At midnight, Jian Zhongyi closed the documents, took the candlestick and returned to the mansion. He moved the bookshelves in the study, took a long detour, and then pushed open the door to enter.

The candlelight was lowered by the draft, casting flickering shadows on the dark red wall. Once the candlelight stabilized, it reflected the images of several lotus flowers.

The strong smell of lamp oil filled the enclosed room.

In this small underground room, there were hundreds of candles burning.

Countless drops of wax melted and dripped from the candlestick into the iron bucket, where they solidified into a thick layer of white grease.

The monk, draped in red silk, sat upright on a lotus platform with his eyes closed, chanting scriptures. Pale yellow sweat dripped from his temples and stuck to his rosary, but his long earlobes, adorned with gold pendants, remained completely still.

Before the lotus seat, a palm-sized bone bowl, made of translucent white jade, became even more lustrous as the monks chanted scriptures.

Jian Zhongyi sat down at the long table next to the monk, took out books, and began to study the esoteric scriptures.

a long time.

The chanting of the scriptures ceases.

"Did you cause the massive flooding in Hua Zhu County?"

Jian Zhongyi put down the document. "Master, you are mistaken. How could it be me? Someone stood on the edge of a cliff by himself. Should we blame the mountain wind in the valley for blowing him off?"

The monks remained silent.

"How did you do that..."

"I can't do it." Jian Zhongyi closed the book. "Many people stand on the cliff, but there's a mountain wind in the valley, and it's hard to stand steadily. No wonder others are like that."

The candlelight flickered dimly.

The monk opened his eyes, his pupils filled with resentment from the deepest recesses of his soul.

"Of all the ruthless and vicious monks I've ever met, you are number one!"

Jian Zhongyi leaned back in his chair. "Didn't my guru say himself that I am a good seed for practicing Buddhism?"

The monk closed his eyes and said nothing more.

Jian Zhongyi pulled a picture book out of the drawer, flipped through a few pages, and portraits and information appeared one by one.

Liang Qu, with the Dragon Tendons Tiger Bones, studied under the Great Martial Master Yang Dongxiong. He was appointed as the Eighth Rank River Earl the River Conservancy Office (promoted to the seventh-rank Dushui Official), and was granted Da Zao Marquis. He was also bestowed with the fifth-rank Dragon Blood Horse by the emperor (promoted to the fourth rank).

Qi Hongyuan, with Glass Bone, is a disciple of the Great Martial Master Fei Baosu and Subordinate Sixth Rank Demon Subduing Division in the Demon Suppression Division...

Guan Congjian, with his Four Symbols Sinew Bone, studied under...

After quickly flipping through the book, Jian Zhongyi closed it and placed it over the flickering candlelight.

Flames licked at the corners of the pages, and large patches of black ash were reflected in the orange light, gradually spreading upwards. In the blink of an eye, the entire picture book was completely ignited and burned fiercely.

As the paper burned to ashes and the flames faded, Jian Zhongyi released his fingers, and a few wisps of ashes drifted away. He stood before the monk, looking down at him from his elevated position.

"It's good to have Innate Martial Bone talent, but how can that compare to a master who has been immersed in Buddhism for many years?"

The monks remained motionless.

However, the exposed scarlet brain, now devoid of its skull, throbbed even more violently.

The surface was crisscrossed with ravines and covered with fine blood vessels.

The bone bowl in front of the lotus platform is as clear as crystal.

Jian Zhongyi respectfully picked up the Dharma bowl.

"Thank you for crafting the magical Law Artifact, Master. However, I am still missing one thing, therefore..."

"May I borrow the master's leg bone?"

The monk suddenly opened his eyes, his cloudy whites covered with blood vessels.

Ten days after the breach, the floodwaters in Hua Zhu County receded slightly.

Huaiyin Prefecture sent reinforcements, including some supplies and personnel.

In addition, Jian Zhongyi, the County Magistrate of Ping Yang County, arrived with his County Government Office staff to participate in the Disaster Relief, indicating that he would fully obey Yu Dayi's orders.

Yu Dayi expressed his deepest gratitude and hosted a banquet for everyone that day. During the meal, he was extremely grateful for the eight thousand taels of silver donated by Jian Zhongyi.

Jian Zhongyi Chung-yi repeatedly declined, indicating that in the face of natural disasters, everyone should do their part.

As a result, during the gathering, some unscrupulous person took the lead and said that everyone should follow Jian Zhongyi's example and donate money together, and a large number of people responded.

Liang Qu had no choice but to donate three hundred taels as well.

The eighteenth day after the dam broke.

It was late September, and the weather was getting cooler.

Five hundred Galloping Horse Martial Master, a large number of craftsmen, blacksmiths, and supplies arrived from Southern Zhili as reinforcements. A number of court officials also came with the ships.

Wei Lin withdrew from the front line of rescue efforts in Hua Zhu County and joined Xu Yuelong in welcoming the team.

The officials of Southern Zhili lived up to expectations and brought great news: after careful consideration, the imperial court decided to exempt Hua Zhu County from taxes for three years!

This was undoubtedly a powerful boost to the fight against flooding, and thanks to Yu Dayi's efforts, the news spread throughout Hua Zhu County within a day.

The people praised his benevolence.

The dam broke on the twenty-fifth day.

Disaster victim resettlement and evacuation, dike construction, rice salvage, medical facility renovation... everything proceeded in an orderly manner.

That evening, at the invitation of several high-ranking officials in Southern Zhili, all officials of the seventh rank and above gathered for dinner to recount their experiences and discuss what to do next.

Liang Qu was qualified enough to sit in the back row and hear a lot of inside information and gossip.

The officials are most concerned about the fact that the Black Water River Riverbed has deepened for no apparent reason, causing the water level to drop.

Several old men were discussing it animatedly.

"I've never heard of such a thing. I only know that the more silt there is, the more there is. For example, the Yellow Sand River is almost entirely a suspended river in its lower reaches. I've never heard of a riverbed sinking on its own."

"It is indeed peculiar that the nearby riverbed has deepened by more than ten feet, causing the water level to drop by three feet."

"Fortunately, the elevation difference between Hua Zhu County and Jiangling County is large, and the Black Water River branch is within Huaiyin County; otherwise, this effect would not have been achieved."

Liang Qu, who was seated at the end of the table, couldn't help but nod.

Indeed, the large drop in elevation in the lower reaches of the Black Water River, coupled with the fast flow in the straight section, is what enabled it to exert its remarkable effect in Command Water.

Inside the tent, a high-ranking official stroked his beard and smiled, "Gentlemen, is this Auspicious Omen sign? Did Heaven not want the people of my Da Shun to suffer, so it sent this stream? It seems that even a great plague has not occurred?"

"Auspicious Omen! On my journey here, I've heard from the people that Red Dragon Fish has appeared in the world. I wonder which hero obtained it?"