Chapter 218: Chapter 210: The Flood Dragon Traverses the Waters, Heaven and Earth Change Color!
An uneventful night passed.
The next day, at dawn.
Wen Caishang practiced inner martial arts to slow down any depletion. In between his training, Li Xian kept his mind at ease. He ran to the small river at the edge of town to watch the children playing in the water.
Picking up a stone from the riverbank, he gave it a strong toss. It skipped across the water dozens of times, a truly spectacular sight.
Suddenly, he saw the fish and shrimp in the river rushing toward the river’s main course.
Li Xian grabbed a big carp, golden all over, with two strands of golden whiskers by its mouth. He mused, "This fish is quite extraordinary too. Is it an advanced water scout, or is it simply fleeing in panic?"
The surge of the current was already brewing. The river water surged a bit more fiercely.
Suddenly, he noticed a man in a green robe leading a horse out of the town, followed by over ten other people.
"Elder Li." As soon as Li Xian saw someone he knew, he ran over immediately.
Li Bo Hou was startled and said, "Brother Li, you came too?"
"Where is Miss Haitang?" Li Xian asked.
Li Bo Hou replied solemnly, "The Dragon Appreciation Banquet is a significant event, so I brought her here to join in the fun. I just didn’t expect such matters... and that Wen Caishang would bring you along too."
Li Xian mused privately, "Madam once said that if I achieved a decent mastery of the Setting Sun Bloodsword, she would take me to see the world. I fear Madam might have a use for me."
He asked, "Is Elder Li leaving?"
Li Bo Hou patted his horse’s mane, fully equipped, and said, "Today is January 28th. As the Wave Sending Marquis, I must go ahead."
"Wave Sending Marquis?" Li Xian said in wonder.
Li Bo Hou explained, "The Dragon Appreciation Banquet has seats without dishes, including Dragon Guard Seat, Assist Wave Seat, Wave Sending Seat, Hundred Mile Seat, and Thousand Mile Seat... I am the primary position of the Wave Sending Seat. Before the water surge, I advance along the river to drive away the common folk and reduce casualties."
"I understand now!" Li Xian said respectfully, "This is indeed a big event, please proceed quickly, Elder Li."
"Alright!" Li Bo Hou said loudly, "Farewell." He mounted his horse, glanced back with words unspoken, sighed lightly, and galloped away.
Li Xian watched him leave and thought, Elder Li Bo Hou is knowledgeable and noble, far from worthless as Wen Caishang described. But comparing knowledge, grace, and underlying strength, Madam does indeed surpass him by several measures.
Suddenly, cries of alarm were heard.
A woman was shouting across the river, her cries piercing and sad. Upon looking closely, the river currents were swiftly surging, and the fish and beasts were frantically fleeing. This sudden change caught the children playing in the river, as they were gleefully catching fish, unaware of the growing danger.
When they finally realized the peril, it was too late. They were carried away by the river, with the fish and beasts charging, like a furious tide. No matter how adept their swimming skills, it was hopeless. The woman onshore saw her child in mortal danger, helpless and anxious, yet unable to do anything.
Li Xian ran along the river. Though he couldn’t perform Lightweight Skill, there were many fish and beasts in the river, which he could use as footholds. He immediately employed the "Vast Clear Wind" trait, rushing straight into the river.
The little boy was flailing in the water, waving his hands upwards.
Li Xian grabbed hold of him and tossed him onto the grassy bank. The little boy flew and landed solidly, having narrowly escaped death, dazed and bewildered. With his momentum spent, Li Xian’s body began to sink, about to fall into the water. Lightweight Skill emphasizes the element of ’light’. Using a bit of momentum, he floated effortlessly and landed lightly.
Once the light momentum fades, another wave of energy is needed. Suspended in mid-air, with nowhere to land, how to gather more light momentum? In the water, where the texture is soft, how to gather more light momentum?
Thus, for a master of Lightweight Skill, they can easily leap over a dozen-zhang high building, light as a bird. But to leap from the water and walk on it is exceedingly hard, requiring even greater skill. Like a wet bird or beast, how can it take flight again?
Li Xian unsheathed his Sinking River Sword. He stirred the river with its sharp edge, cutting through four carp. He slashed several times, using the trait of Playing with Water, causing the surface to ripple and the fish flesh to blur. With the sword’s trait, it was as if stepping on solid ground; even on the river, he found a place to stand. Gathering light momentum again, he landed on the opposite bank.
He sheathed his sword.
The woman, cradling her child, came to express her gratitude. Li Xian smiled and comforted her, and then walked away. Certainly, it was a good deed to save someone, but also a trial to test his gains.
"During the Layered Building Feast, I saw the prodigies of the Prefecture City lightly tiptoeing across water. Many could cross rivers with ease. I do not possess this skill. Although I still lack Lightweight Skill now, with the combination of ’Clear Wind Leg’ and ’Vast Leg’, I too can lightly tiptoe on water, rushing across the turbulent river for several zhang. The progress is significant."
With broadened horizons, Li Xian met various formidable figures of the Jianghu. Strange techniques emerged endlessly. However, his heart remained steadfast, not swaying, neither envious nor confused. He focused on his own gains, step by step perfecting them, accumulating progress.
"If I wanted to save that child earlier, I could have used Jade Palm’s Palm Force to strike the river surface and push him ashore."
Li Xian waved his palm through the air. A spiral of qi lingered for a long time. "Madam told me that the Jade Palm is far from perfect, concealing many flaws. That day, from a contest with a hunchbacked eccentric, I found inspiration, perhaps enough to bring some surprises to Jade Palm?"
Amidst the excitement of the heroes, as the surge approached, a banquet ensued, where friendships across the waters were forged, and personal tales narrated.
Li Xian remained calm, seeking out knowledge on his own.
[Skill Level
1]
[Skill Level
1]
The palm moved slowly, qi flowed naturally. With practice alone till dusk, the sun had set, dampness filled the air, like a brewing storm.
He returned to his lodging.
Zeng Taian, the Manor Master of Fulai Manor, had arrived two days prior. His strength wasn’t lacking; if he wished, he could secure a middle seat on the second floor, yet his eccentric nature kept him from visiting the Wangzhen Building.
It wasn’t until today that he entered through the side door to negotiate an exchange of seats with Madam.
Zeng Taian was originally in the "Dragon Guard Seat
Reviews
All reviews (0)