The sky had darkened, but Yi Shuyuan did not return directly to the prefectural city. Instead, he rode the wind south along the Kaiyang Grand Canal.
A distance that took boats several days to cover took little time at all when riding the wind. Soon, Yi Shuyuan reached roughly the stretch of river where the Water God's Water Palace lay, then descended straight from the sky.
The river's waters parted to either side, and Yi Shuyuan slipped directly beneath them, leaving only a few churning splashes behind.
This was Yi Shuyuan's first time traveling underwater through Water Control, and it felt rather novel. He did not need to swim; the current carried him along. In truth, it felt much like riding the wind.
Yi Shuyuan followed the current forward and looked toward the riverbed, but he could not see the Water Palace anywhere, only a faint, barely discernible layer of foam.
The Water Palace was actually easy to find. It was merely that its wards could not be entered at will. Still, Yi Shuyuan could be certain it was here.
"May I ask which divine general is present in the Water Palace? I am Yi Shuyuan, here to pay a visit!"
Yi Shuyuan did not break through the wards, but his voice easily traveled through the water and into the Water Palace.
The entire palace of the Kaiyang Water God now seemed terribly deserted. Although the Water God's death had not come with any decree implicating all his subordinates, it had still frightened away many of the Aquatic Folk.
If anyone with authority remained, it was General Crab. His sworn enemy had been destroyed by the Celestial Court's Five Thunders, yet he could not feel happy at all. He had spent this whole time on tenterhooks.
But having cultivated this