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Chapter 57: The River God
Chapter 57: The River God
In Linjiang County, there lies a small fishing village called Shuiyun. True to their surroundings, the villagers relied on the river for their livelihood, and the fish market along the riverfront bustled with activity.
The horse carriage came to a slow stop, and Li Xiaodi hopped off to tend to the horse while making his way toward the local government office.
Shen Yi stood amidst rows of fish baskets, inhaling the pungent, damp air. Fishermen with their pants rolled up stood nearby, chatting casually as if the presence of the officers from the Demon Suppression Squad meant nothing to them.
Perhaps it was just his imagination, but occasionally, he sensed a hint of hostility in the casual glances thrown their way.
"In places like this, there's no need for disguises," Liu Xiujie remarked with a smile. "Elsewhere, when people encounter demons, their first instinct is to seek help from the government. But here, they turn to the River God without hesitation."
"Worshipping a god?" Shen Yi couldn't help but recall the dilapidated statue in Liulimiao Village.
Yawning, Li Mujin jested, "Demons and monsters that don't want to end up on the government's wanted list but are unwilling to hide in the remote mountains will naturally give themselves a lofty title."
"Four hundred years ago, when Shuiyun was just a small fishing village, the River God was already their source of sustenance."
Liu Xiujie sighed in exasperation. "There's a small sacrifice in June and a larger one every three years. It's become a long-standing tradition. For the minor sacrifices, they offer livestock, fish, and rice, while for the major ones, they present male and female children. This has never changed."
Upon hearing this, Shen Yi clenched his fists slightly and asked in a low voice, "No one stops them?"
Although his expression remained calm, he felt a sense of unease stir within him.
"How can we stop them?" Liu Xiujie shrugged. "If you dare to speak ill of their practices, these villagers will dare to attack Qingzhou City with their fishing spears tonight. Can you kill them all?"
"So, all we can do is send a few officers to keep an eye on things during their major sacrifices, to show the River God that the Demon Suppression Squad is still watching and to prevent it from getting too bold."
"And even then, they treat us like thieves, guarding against us."
Led by Li Xinhan, the group left the fish market and soon arrived at the riverside village.
Surprisingly, this remote place was even more bustling than the town they had just left. Expensive silk fabrics hung in segments from poles, and every household had a river god statue made of bamboo hanging from their eaves. Occasionally, the sound of firecrackers could be heard, creating a festive atmosphere akin to the Lunar New Year celebrations.
As they approached the village, an old man in a white robe leaned on his staff, a fake smile on his face. "Are you gentlemen here to observe the ceremony?"
"He's the village head in charge of the major sacrifices," Ma Tao whispered. "Even the local government office in Shuiyun treats him with caution."
Li Xinhan scanned the village and then slowly withdrew his gaze. "Where are the officers from the Demon Suppression Squad who came before us?"
The village head turned in surprise. "Aren't you the ones observing the ceremony this year? I was wondering why you were so late."
At his reaction, a cold glint flashed in Li Mujin's eyes.
She took a step forward and said with a smile, "Let me remind you that these people may worship whatever they like, but if they dare to lay a hand on the officers of the Demon Suppression Squad, you know what the consequences will be."
"You jest," the village head said, bowing his head and leaning on his staff. "We wouldn't dare. Besides, what could we do with just a few broken fishing spears?"
Li Mujin did not respond but continued walking into the village.
On both sides, young men holding fishing spears eyed her voluptuous figure with cold, indifferent expressions, licking their lips.
"... "
Shen Yi observed the scene before him with a blank expression.
It was hard to believe that these people were cut from the same cloth as the numb and hopeless villagers he had encountered in the outskirts of Boyun County.
In Liulimiao Village, those people had been devoid of hope, huddling together in fear, too cowed even to consider escaping.
But here, these ordinary folk boldly displayed their greed when looking at the officers of the Demon Suppression Squad.
Such an absurd contrast, all because of the "god" that gave them courage.
For a moment, Shen Yi's heart wavered.
Could it be that, to these common folk, demons were preferable to the Demon Suppression Squad?
...
The Temple of the River God stood at the very center of the village.
Inside the spacious hall was a gilded statue of a woman in her thirties or forties. She had a kind face and wore a long skirt adorned with waves. Her palms were pressed together over her heart.
Withdrawing his gaze, Li Xinhan remarked, "Don't treat those people out there as fools. They know better than you that there's something to gain from this."
Li Mujin sat with her legs crossed, her eyes closed as if she were dozing off.
Soon, the waiter returned from the government office, his face grim. "No news. They all said they hadn't seen them, and the waist plates weren't delivered by them to Linjiang County. Could it be that those few school officers were really intercepted by demons along the way?"
"The people of Linjiang County said that the waist plates were placed at the government office at dawn. It's unlikely that demons would send them as a provocation," Li Xinhan frowned.
Li Mujin opened her eyes and glanced at the silent Shen Yi standing in front of the statue. "If you could gather the fish together under the Yangchun River and cast your net, you would return with a full load, and they would also respect you as a god."
"There are some things that are best left alone."
She keenly sensed the faint discontent beneath the young man's seemingly indifferent exterior.
She was just curious because he had grown up in poverty and should be used to such things. Why would he feel uncomfortable about this?
Time passed quickly, and dusk fell.
Everyone fell silent, as it was customary for the Demon Suppression Squad to observe the ceremony, and the River God would usually make an appearance.
But until now, there was still no sign of the River God.
"Could it be that it was killed by another demon?" Li Xinhan wondered aloud.
Usually, each demon had a strong sense of territoriality. With the River God here, as long as it didn't want to be put on the Wanted Demon List, it wouldn't dare to cause trouble easily, and it could also deter passing demons.
"If that's the case, then it should have left as well." Li Mujin smiled. "Otherwise, how could we still be here?"
According to records, three hundred years ago, the River God was already a Jade Liquid Realm initial stage demon. Now that so much time had passed, even if the demon's cultivation speed was much slower than that of a martial artist, it should at least be in the late Jade Liquid Realm stage.
Moreover, being a water demon, with the vastness of the Yangchun River, the demon could easily hide in the river. Even if there were other demons with higher realms, they wouldn't be able to do anything to it.
"Gentlemen."
The village head hobbled to the door with his staff. "We've been busy preparing for the grand sacrifice these days, and we don't have any spare rooms. Why don't you pick a house that suits you and make do for the night?"
Liu Xiujie rolled his eyes.
Only in a place like this would they dare to ask the officers of the Demon Suppression Squad to squeeze in with the villagers for a place to sleep.
Fortunately, none of them paid much attention to such trivial matters, and they all got up and walked outside, pairing up and entering the villagers' houses.
Li Xiaodi had been Li Xinhan's personal attendant since they were young, and Liu and Ma were also longtime partners.
Li Mujin was also invited in by a villager, and she waved her hand. "Don't stand on ceremony when we're out here. Come on in."
"I'll just wander around."
Shen Yi deliberately lingered at the back, strolling through the village.
He wasn't particularly tired; he just felt a slight restlessness in his heart.
He wasn't exactly furious, as it was just a few casual words mentioned in passing, and he had heard far worse stories in his previous life.
During the years of famine, there were even rumors of parents resorting to cannibalism. In these chaotic times filled with demons, survival was already difficult, and expecting high moral standards from ordinary people was just asking for trouble.
Just then, a faint sound of argument caught his attention.
"Where the hell are you touching, you motherfcker? If you dare to lay a claw on me again, I'll cut your damn hands off!"
Shen Yi looked up, feeling a bit curious.
(End of Chapter)
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