"The match is over." Zhongli Yan sat there, feeling that he had something to say, yet not knowing what to say. He could only repeat, "It's over."
To earn his pay, he added dryly, "A good match!"
Before today, he had not felt much about the Aquatic Race. He could not say he particularly approved of them, nor could he say he was opposed to them.
The Aquatic Race within Chu Kingdom had little presence. Most hid in Cloud Dream Marsh or lurked beneath the Xiang River, with little impact on Chu Kingdom's social order. Moreover, the Aquatic Race in Chu Kingdom had a relatively clear path of advancement: "bestowment as gods."
The highest achievement on that path was "Lady Xiang."
In the old days, Xiong Yizhen raised his banner for Chu, bestowing godhood upon mountains, rivers, lakes, and waters, and enfeoffing ghosts and gods in great numbers. From then on, the Divine Path of Chu lands had a place for the Aquatic Race.
Naturally, the Aquatic Race could not enter the court. What had seen no progress in Xiong Yizhen's era found no continuation in later generations either.
Under the constraints of Zhanghua Terrace, participating in the governance of a particular waterway was the best outcome Chu's Aquatic Race could hope for. Yet rivers and lakes were limited after all. Even if every living stream were granted a water god, it would provide room for advancement to only a tiny number of aquatic people.
The overwhelming majority of aquatic people simply claimed a stretch of water, shut their doors, and lived their lives. An invisible barrier stood between them and Human Race society.
This was related to the policies from the founding of Chu Kingdom, and there had never been much to adjust. No one oppressed them, nor did