Chapter Nineteen: Upon the River's Edge

After Yang Nan left, the Crab General was filled with resentment, but he knew the temper of the Jiao spirit was fierce and didn’t dare complain openly. He simply lowered his head in silence. Yet how could a Jiao spirit who had cultivated for a thousand years fail to understand his feelings? With a hearty laugh, he said, "My dear brother, what’s this? Are you harboring grievances against me?"

The Crab General forced a smile and replied, "How could I possibly blame you, elder brother? It’s just that with your great powers, you seem to show undue deference to those two unknown little Daoists. It’s a bit beneath the dignity of our Hun River aquatic clans."

He thought to himself, "This old Jiao’s cultivation far surpasses my own, and we’ve known each other for centuries. Even if we’re not sworn brothers, I can’t let myself become a turtle hiding in its shell..." Though he dared not voice his complaints, there was still a trace of melancholy in his tone. But with the Jiao spirit’s power so much greater than his, how could he truly dare to let slip even a single word of reproach?

The Jiao spirit chuckled darkly. "Ah, dear brother, you still don’t grasp the ways of the world. Not every problem is solved by fighting and killing."

The Crab General, hearing this hint in the Jiao’s words, asked in his slow, blunt way, "What do you mean, elder brother? I’m a bit slow-witted—please enlighten me."

The Jiao secretly despised him: "How could Deyang River Palace produce such a fool? Looks like I’ll soon take over those five hundred miles of river myself!" Though he plotted inwardly, his face wore a friendly smile. "Brother, have you not considered—once those Daoists are lured away, won’t the rest of the aquatic folk be at our mercy? That little Daoist might be boasting, but he has some background. It’s best not to provoke mortal Daoists. As for these two bold little fish..." His eyes swept over the brother and sister among the fishfolk, and finally a terrifying grin crept across his face.

The fish maiden, mingling among the shrimp and crab soldiers, heard the Jiao’s words and instantly understood—her face paled as she inwardly lamented her fate. By now, Yang Nan and Chi Yang had already reached the river surface, never suspecting the Jiao spirit was so cunning.

Seeing the Jiao’s expression, even the Crab General realized the truth. Overjoyed, he clasped his hands and bowed repeatedly. "So that’s your plan, elder brother! Brilliant! Thank you, elder brother, thank you!"

The Jiao spirit laughed heartily and pointed at the fish siblings. "Brother, these two fish spirits are yours to deal with as you please. Since you’ve come all the way to my Dejiang Palace, why not stay a few more days? We can discuss important matters together!"

"I’ll leave everything to your wise judgment, elder brother!" The Crab General could barely contain his delight as he strode over to the shrimp soldiers, seized the fish maiden by her hair, and dragged her toward the cave, all the while cursing, "You sly little fish spirit, it’s your fortune that I fancy you, yet you dared to run away? How dare you provoke those Daoists..."

Though the fish maiden’s powers were not inferior to the Crab General’s, with the Jiao spirit watching her like a hawk, she didn’t dare resist. Tears rolled down her cheeks like broken pearls. The Crab General vented all his rage over his lost claw on her, dragging her inside. As for the fish brother, seeing the Jiao’s change of face, he tried to run, but a band of shrimp and crab soldiers quickly surrounded him and bound him tightly...

Meanwhile, Yang Nan, Chi Yang, and the girl in white had reached the river’s surface. Looking out across the boundless Hun River, where mist and waves stretched to the horizon, they felt utterly refreshed and at peace. Amid the shifting mists and waters, countless fish and shrimp darted about. Yang Nan, with his newly acquired Daoist skills, could use the Water-Stepping Technique to tread the river and take in the scenery at his leisure.

He walked upon the waves, stood atop columns of water, surrounded by leaping fish and shrimp who showed no fear at all. Yang Nan felt a surge of wonder—this path of cultivation truly was marvelous. In his previous life, he could never have imagined moving so freely upon a great river.

The Water Daoist arts offered endless possibilities, and Yang Nan experimented with them in high spirits.

Chi Yang, seeing his youthful innocence, smiled and said, "If you enjoy it, Anan, go ahead and play on the water for a while."

Having spent much time together, Chi Yang, some twenty years his senior, always acted the part of an elder brother. Though Yang Nan’s own father had once shown him kindness, it was Chi Yang’s loyal and upright nature that truly won his respect. Embarrassed, Yang Nan replied, "Big brother, these water arts are incredible. With just a foundation, I can already move freely on the river. Who knows what might be possible with deeper cultivation?"

The wonders of Daoist magic—riding the green wind to the heavens, traveling ten thousand miles in an instant, mastering the earth and sky—left Yang Nan, a newcomer, full of longing.

Chi Yang’s gentle smile never faded. "Anan, the Martial Sect’s arts are no less than those of the Magic Sect. With a divine weapon to protect you, anything is possible—ascend to the heavens or delve into the earth, nothing is out of reach. Our sect is among the very best; if you enter Kunlun and train diligently, you may one day surpass all others and attain sainthood."

Yang Nan noticed a flicker of sadness in Chi Yang’s eyes and understood why. The Xuantian Sect simply couldn’t compare with Kunlun. For a Daoist, the most important things were methods and weapons, followed by one’s innate aptitude, and only then rare pills and magical materials. This was far different from what Yang Nan knew in his previous life—here, cultivation required grinding perseverance, and one’s abilities and techniques determined strength.

He remembered reading countless stories in his previous life about devouring a single pill and ascending to immortality, but Chi Yang had explained—the reality was quite different. Elixirs existed, but true immortal pills? Never. The so-called rare treasures were within the reach of mortals, and even the greatest alchemists might produce only a handful of supreme pills in a lifetime.

If immortal pills could be made so casually, what would be the point of arduous cultivation? Would those who trained a thousand years all be fools, and only the consumer of a single pill be wise?

Besides, where in the mortal realm could one find a true immortal pill? Only in the heavens did such ingredients grow...

Thus, the method came first, talent second, and all else was secondary. With Chi Yang born into the Xuantian Sect, his methods were lacking, and achieving the realm of master or saint in this life was sadly a near impossibility.

There is an old saying: repay kindness with kindness, and vengeance with vengeance. Yang Nan resolved privately that if he ever came across a superior cultivation method, he would give it to Chi Yang to repay his protection along the journey. As the ancients said, great kindness needs no thanks. Without Chi Yang’s shield, he would surely have been reborn already...

Seeing Yang Nan playing on the river, Chi Yang took the girl in white onto the boat. Yang Nan strolled across the waves, practicing the myriad arts found in the Mysterious Azure Water Manual, though most were not particularly powerful. Water arts, apart from conjuring waves and wind, could only freeze into icy spears or swords—their elementary forms held little real force. Yet Yang Nan found joy in the practice.

He silently assessed his abilities—against Chi Yang, any of his spells would be cut down with a single sword. Though water overcomes fire, Chi Yang’s natal sword was too powerful; a novice’s spell would mean certain death.

The Martial Sect focused on magical weapons. Since receiving the Fire Yuan Sword, Chi Yang had devoted his spare time to refining it, shrinking the blade from over a foot to less than three inches, and advancing to the fourth rank of Weapon Master. When he could refine the entire Fire Yuan Sword, he would reach the fifth rank!

At fifth rank, a Weapon Master could summon five mighty natal weapons, greatly enhancing both offense and defense.

Chi Yang had told Yang Nan much about the wonders of the Martial Sect. Now, recalling all this, Yang Nan’s excitement at treading the waves faded. As he turned to return to the boat, he suddenly saw a golden light streaking across the sky, pursued by two streaks of silver and multicolored light. The golden light flew swiftly, closely chasing the others, and vanished in a flash. Gathering his spirit, Yang Nan saw clearly: it was a golden dragon soaring through the clouds, and it seemed faintly familiar!

"Wait... wasn’t that the coiling dragon, the natal weapon of that Step-Void Fairy at the Hot Springs Pass?" Though it only flashed by, Yang Nan recognized the swaying golden dragon instantly.

Why was that cold and peerless Kunlun expert now locked in combat?

Yang Nan laughed at himself. He hadn’t even set foot in Kunlun, so what right had he to meddle in the affairs of their elite disciples?

When he returned to the boat, he found the two girls laughing merrily. "What’s so amusing?" he asked.

Butterfly Robe jumped up when she saw him, but the girl in white only made a mischievous face and said, "Master, Captain Wang has come to worship the immortals!"

"Immortals? What immortals do we have here?" Yang Nan asked in confusion. Then it struck him—could Captain Wang have mistaken Chi Yang for an immortal?

White Robe giggled and explained: many villagers on the shore had witnessed Chi Yang’s battle with the Crab General, and since Deyang was only a few hundred miles from Dejiang, everyone recognized the river lord. When Captain Wang saw Chi Yang defeat the river lord so easily, he was both delighted and terrified, and promptly came aboard to investigate.

Chi Yang handled it with ease. Captain Wang realized he had been blind not to recognize a master when he saw one, and immediately invited Chi Yang ashore for a feast. In his mind, befriending such high-flying immortals could only bring more good than harm.

Captain Wang’s subservient manner was quite a spectacle. Chi Yang, helpless, went along for the banquet, while the two girls hid and watched the fun.

"All right, help me change my clothes. You two only know how to cause trouble and watch people’s misfortune—my poor brother Chi Yang will be run ragged now." Yang Nan pictured Chi Yang surrounded by fawning gentry, smothered in praise, and couldn’t help but laugh. Still, it had its advantages—now that Master Yun knew an 'immortal' was aboard, he would keep his distance.

The two girls, seeing their master’s smile, began describing in detail the ridiculous flattery of the local gentry, giggling all the while. Yang Nan found their innocence and affection charming, and was pleased at their closeness.

Though he had the memories of two lifetimes and the mind of an adult, he harbored no impure thoughts toward Butterfly Robe and White Robe. Spirits who pledged themselves to a master lived or died at his whim. Both girls were lovely, but Yang Nan, not being a wicked man, could not bring himself to take advantage of them.

Besides, he was only twelve, while the girls appeared several years his senior—what could he possibly do?

And then there was the matter of his late, so-called father, Lord Yang Yuan, who had arranged a betrothal for him while he was still in the cradle! The other party was said to be from a marquis’ household.

With the soul of a modern man, Yang Nan saw no benefit in such a child marriage. Thankfully, he had faked his death and escaped. Had he stayed in the noble house, he might have been dragged to marry some shrew by the old man at any moment...

Thinking of the tragic fate of arranged marriages, Yang Nan shivered and comforted himself: "The young master of the noble house is dead—now only Daoist Yang Nan remains in this world! Boundless Heavenly Venerable!"

Butterfly Robe, noticing his odd expression, stopped laughing and asked softly, "Master, what’s wrong?"

Yang Nan shook his head and smiled. "Nothing. Go fetch supper. After we eat, I want to practice Daoist arts with White Robe."

White Robe, whose progress was slow, pulled a long face at the prospect of sparring with her master, while Butterfly Robe covered her mouth and giggled before going off to prepare the meal.