https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-826-The-Eight-Trigrams-Eight-Gates-Array/12587549/
Chapter 825: The Little River God
Chapter 825: The Little River God
"Uncle Gu, stop."
Mo Hua immediately called out.
Gu Changhuai brought the boat to a halt and turned his head in confusion. He saw Mo Hua leaning over the side of the boat, his head craned towards the water, as if examining something intently.
At the same time, Mo Hua lowered his voice and whispered, "Little Silverfish~"
The Yanshui River stretched out like a vast expanse of emerald green, its depths unseen.
After a while, a silvery flash darted across the water's surface, and a slender, almost imperceptible fish swam into view.
"Benefactor, I'm here..."
It wagged its tail happily.
It was indeed Little Silverfish!
Mo Hua's face lit up with joy, and then he asked curiously, "Weren't you at the fishing village? What brings you here?"
Little Silverfish replied, but its voice was so faint that it was difficult to make out what it was saying.
Mo Hua leaned closer to the water's surface and strained to listen to Little Silverfish's soft voice.
"...Thanks to your kindness, I have a shrine to dwell in, offerings to fill my belly, and incense to sustain me. I'm feeling much better now."
"My authority as a river god has also recovered somewhat, and I can merge with the Yanshui River, but my power is still weak, and my range of movement is limited..."
"This stretch of the river is near the fishing village."
"I sensed your presence while absorbing the spiritual energy from the incense offerings at the village, so I swam over to take a look..."
Little Silverfish swam back and forth in the water in front of Mo Hua, occasionally splashing a few droplets, looking much more lively than before.
Mo Hua nodded.
So that was it...
The nearby waters of the Yanshui River were intricate and complex, making it difficult to discern one's bearings. He hadn't realized that this place was actually quite close to the fishing village.
However, upon reflection, it did seem reasonable.
Shui Yanluo and his group of rogue cultivators had destroyed the Yu family's water fortress. They had also pursued Elder Yu near the fishing village.
So it stood to reason that their base might not be far from there either.
Xia Dianxi saw Mo Hua leaning over the side of the boat, his head close to the water's surface, muttering to himself. She couldn't help but wonder, "Mo Hua, who are you talking to?"
Her spiritual sense had not yet reached the Daoist level, so she couldn't perceive Little Silverfish's presence.
Mo Hua turned to her and raised a finger to his lips, gesturing for quiet. "Shh, Xia Sister, keep your voice down. I'm chatting with the little river god..."
Little Silverfish's voice was very soft, and any noise would make it difficult for him to hear.
Xia Dianxi: "..."
Her train of thought derailed momentarily as she tried to make sense of what Mo Hua was saying.
What little river god?
Xia Dianxi glanced at the water's surface but saw nothing.
She turned her gaze back to Mo Hua, her brow furrowed in confusion.
Such a sweet child, why was he suddenly acting so strangely...
On the other hand, Gu Changhuai had long since become accustomed to Mo Hua's peculiarities.
However...
Gu Changhuai's eyes narrowed slightly.
He couldn't tell if Mo Hua was telling the truth or simply making up an excuse to placate them.
Based on what he knew of Mo Hua, either scenario was possible.
It wouldn't surprise him if Mo Hua knew things that ordinary cultivators didn't or could see things that others couldn't.
And if Mo Hua was lying or making things up, well, that wouldn't surprise him either.
Of course, Mo Hua wasn't lying.
At that moment, he leaned over the side of the boat and asked in a low voice, "Little Silverfish, can you recognize the way?"
The little silverfish in the water nodded, "I know the nearby waters well."
"Then do you know if there are any river pirates in this area?"
"What are river pirates?" Little Silverfish asked curiously, twitching its tail. "Are they water demons?"
"No," Mo Hua thought for a moment before replying, "They're humans, and they're bad people. They carry the stench of blood and have committed heinous acts."
As soon as Mo Hua mentioned this, Little Silverfish became excited and nodded repeatedly.
"There are some people with very dirty auras. They smell foul and are covered in bloodlust... I stay away from them because they're dirty, and I don't want to get close."
Mo Hua's eyes lit up. "Can you lead me to them? I'll help cleanse them of their sins."
"Mm-hmm," Little Silverfish nodded vigorously. "I'll take you there right now."
Although it didn't know what cleansing sins entailed, it was more than happy to oblige since it was the benefactor's request.
It was a rare opportunity to repay the benefactor's kindness.
Little Silverfish was thrilled.
It wagged its tiny tail and swam forward, whispering, "Benefactor, follow me."
Mo Hua nodded and then pointed in the direction Little Silverfish was swimming. "Uncle Gu, head that way."
Gu Changhuai remained silent for a moment.
Mo Hua spoke up, "The little river god knows where the river pirates are, and it will guide us there."
Little river god...
Gu Changhuai turned his head and glanced at the empty water's surface, letting out a silent sigh.
"Alright then..."
He hoped the kid wasn't joking around.
Gu Changhuai steered the boat in the direction Mo Hua had indicated, a habitual action by now.
Xia Dianxi watched but didn't intervene.
However, the confusion in her heart deepened, and the look she gave Mo Hua became increasingly perplexed.
Little Silverfish wobbled its small body, leading the way through the water.
Mo Hua followed the faint silver glow, guiding Gu Changhuai along the path.
Gu Changhuai rowed the boat while Xia Dianxi remained silent, the only sound the gentle lapping of water against the boat.
Little Silverfish, despite having only regained a fraction of its authority as a river god, still possessed an intimate knowledge of the waters under its jurisdiction.
No one knew the Yanshui River better than it did.
Naturally, no one was better suited to guide them.
After some time, they entered a new stretch of water, and Gu Changhuai and Xia Dianxi suddenly sensed something. Their expressions changed as they exchanged a glance, both looking surprised.
They had actually found it...
On the other hand, Little Silverfish also stopped and turned to Mo Hua, saying, "Benefactor, we've arrived."
Mo Hua looked up and saw a large riverbank before him.
The riverbank was overgrown with wild grasses.
However, Mo Hua knew that this was no ordinary riverbank. It was more like a small island that had formed over time due to the accumulation of silt and sediment from the river's flow.
The surrounding mudflats were like a natural maze, isolating the island from the rest of the world.
Without Little Silverfish as their guide, outsider cultivators would never have discovered this hidden island.
Mo Hua scanned the island once more, taking in its appearance.
The outer perimeter of the island was overgrown with aquatic plants, giving it a desolate and uninhabited feel. However, Mo Hua could sense the presence of numerous cultivators within.
These auras, tainted with blood and an eerie aura, clearly did not belong to benevolent beings.
In addition, there were traces of array formations.
As expected, the area near the small island was also laced with numerous arrays, serving as early warning systems, traps, and water and earth defensive arrays.
"A group of river pirates unlikely to have the ability to create arrays. So, these arrays should be... set up by Guishui Gate for them?"
Mo Hua frowned, then turned and asked,
"Now that we've found the river pirates, what's the plan?"
Xia Dianxi pondered for a moment and glanced at Gu Changhuai before slowly saying,
"According to the intelligence, there are no Golden Core cultivators among this group of river pirates. The two of us can join forces to capture them, what do you think?"
Gu Changhuai thought for a moment and shook his head, "We can't capture them..."
"This is a second-rate state, a small place, unlike the higher-rated states where you can act without worrying about your cultivation level."
"When a Golden Core cultivator fights in a second-rate state, they must strictly suppress their cultivation. They can't afford to make any mistakes."
"Do you have any experience suppressing your cultivation and fighting?"
Gu Changhuai asked.
Xia Dianxi was taken aback, her eyebrows furrowing as she reluctantly replied, "No..."
"That's the problem," Gu Changhuai said, "When you suppress your cultivation, you're limited in your abilities, and you might only be able to exhibit a fraction of your true power. It's impossible to capture this group of river pirates, and if we're careless, we might even fall into their traps."
"Golden Core suppression of Foundation Establishment is only possible when there are no restrictions."
"In actual combat, you have to consider many factors, and the outcome becomes unpredictable."
"Moreover, Shui Yanluo is not as simple as you think."
"He's different from ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators; his abilities are enigmatic. If we don't have the advantage in cultivation, finding a way to restrain him and capture him won't be easy..."
After Gu Changhuai finished speaking, he pointed to the small island, "Also, this island is surrounded by water. If these river pirates are defeated, they can just dive into the water. Neither of us practices water-based cultivation techniques, so how are we supposed to capture them?"
"This is their lair, and if we plan carefully, it could be a good opportunity to wipe them all out in one fell swoop. On the other hand, if we act rashly and make a mistake, we will undoubtedly squander this great opportunity..."
"It's easy to squander an opportunity, but once it's gone, finding another one may be as difficult as climbing the heavens..."
Gu Changhuai's expression was indifferent, and his tone was unapologetically blunt.
Perhaps to irritate Xia Dianxi, the usually reticent Gu Changhuai had suddenly become quite talkative.
A frosty expression immediately appeared on Xia Dianxi's face.
She understood some of what he said.
However, due to her lack of experience in handling cases in lower-rated states, she hadn't considered certain factors, and Gu Changhuai had seized on this to criticize her implicitly and explicitly.
Xia Dianxi was indeed a little angry, and the look she gave Gu Changhuai was unfriendly, but she quickly calmed down and asked in a factual tone, "Then, according to Gu Dianxi, what should we do?"
Her tone was calm, devoid of any emotion, and she was genuinely seeking his opinion.
Gu Changhuai's eyes widened slightly, and his expression showed a hint of surprise. After a moment of silence, his tone also unconsciously softened,
"First, we should gather more information about the enemy, find out how many of them there are, and confirm if there are any Golden Core cultivators among them. We should also verify the terrain around this place and then go back to gather more manpower and make proper plans..."
"The more critical the moment, the more we can't afford to be greedy for temporary gains."
Xia Dianxi's eyes flickered as she glanced at Gu Changhuai and nodded slightly.
Mo Hua, who was beside them, looked at Gu Changhuai and then at Xia Dianxi, and nodded with relief.
After their discussion, it was time to start the investigation.
By now, it was evening, and dusk had fallen, gradually darkening the sky.
The three of them rode in a small boat, using the dense water grass for cover as they circled the small island.
Gu Changhuai and Xia Dianxi were Golden Core cultivators, so their spiritual sense was powerful.
Although Mo Hua was only at the Foundation Establishment stage, his spiritual sense was close to the peak of that level, just a hair's breadth away from reaching the Golden Core stage.
However, that last step seemed impossibly far away when compared to Golden Core cultivators.
But that was only in comparison to them.
When it came to these river pirates, Mo Hua's spiritual sense was undoubtedly "far superior."
Therefore, as long as they were careful, they didn't have to worry about being discovered.
There were also scattered sentry posts around the island, but due to the vast difference in spiritual sense, Mo Hua could detect them, while they remained oblivious to Mo Hua and his companions.
Moreover, they had Little Silverfish to guide them.
Mo Hua could identify the warning arrays in the water, so they didn't have to worry about setting them off.
Thus, more than an hour later, after the three of them had finished their reconnaissance, the river pirates on the island were still none the wiser.
By then, night had fallen.
The darkness of the night merged with the water, and everything was pitch-black except for the twinkling stars in the sky.
Suddenly, activity stirred on the previously silent little island.
A faint green fire was lit.
Then came the sounds of people—noisy, laughing, and shouting. The voices grew louder as they moved from the interior of the island toward the shore.
After that, there was the sound of a boat entering the water.
The voices and the water sounds mixed, creating a chaotic din.
"Damn, it's finally night..."
"I wonder what we'll get this time."
"Haven't killed anyone in a few days. My blade is getting rusty."
"I also haven't touched a woman in a month. I'm getting rusty, too..."
"Go to hell, you pervert..."
...
The group of river pirates chatted noisily as they boarded their boats and set off, their green ghost fires making them look like night demons hunting on the Yanshui River.
Gu Changhuai silently counted their numbers.
Once the river pirates had sailed away, the area returned to silence.
Gu Changhuai said, "There are about two hundred of them outside. According to the habits of river pirates, they usually send out half their force while leaving the other half to guard their lair. So, there should be about another two hundred river pirates left on the island."
"Altogether, there should be around four hundred of them."
"As of now, there don't seem to be any Golden Core cultivators, but it's also possible that they have a Golden Core cultivator who isn't on the island."
Meanwhile, Mo Hua had also finished sketching a rough map of the island, including the array formations.
"Should we head back now?"
Gu Changhuai pondered for a moment and then shook his head, "No need to rush. It's night, and this group of river pirates is roaming the Yanshui River. If we leave now, we might run into them."
"In that case, we can't kill them, and if we don't, they won't let this go."
So, the three of them waited in the small boat.
Gu Changhuai and Xia Dianxi took turns keeping watch.
Mo Hua took out a small blanket and wrapped himself up snugly before lying down to sleep in the cabin. He immersed his spiritual sense into his sea of consciousness, practicing array formations on the Dao stele.
The path of array formations emphasized perseverance and consistency, akin to the relentless dripping of water that eventually penetrates stone. Thus, diligence was of utmost importance.
Nothing should interrupt his daily routine of practicing array formations unless it was absolutely necessary.
As for safety, Mo Hua was reassured by the presence of two Golden Core realm officials acting as his bodyguards in this second-rate state.
Gu Changhuai and Xia Dianxi gazed at the Yanshui River, their expressions vigilant. Turning their heads, they spotted Mo Hua curled up in the bed cabin, sleeping peacefully like a kitten. They couldn't help but sigh.
This child truly has a big heart.
In such a situation, how could he sleep so soundly?
The two of them stared at Mo Hua for a moment, then simultaneously lifted their heads, their gazes locking for a brief moment. After a momentary pause, they silently averted their eyes.
And so, Mo Hua spent the entire night practicing array formations.
As dawn approached, Mo Hua opened his eyes, neatly folded the small blanket, and stored it away in his storage bag. He then took out a jar of fruit wine and some dried meat and began to eat.
While eating, he noticed two pairs of eyes watching him.
Mo Hua grabbed another handful of dried meat and offered it to them, "Uncle Gu, Sister Xia, would you like some?"
"You eat..."
The two of them had complicated expressions on their faces.
"Oh."
Mo Hua didn't press further.
After finishing his breakfast, the sky began to lighten, and distant noises could be heard as the water bandits returned.
Their faces were filled with excitement, and they were covered in blood, though it was unclear if it was human or water demon blood.
Dozens of boats returned, laden with their spoils.
Some boats carried the bloody corpses of water demons.
Others were weighed down by golden storage boxes, likely looted from merchant ships.
A few boats carried fresh corpses, male and female, stacked like dead fish, though their purpose was unclear.
Xia Dianxi's face turned pale, and her eyes turned cold, a murderous intent swirling within them.
Gu Changhuai glanced at her and quietly said, "Don't be impulsive."
Xia Dianxi didn't respond, but her fingers clenched tightly.
Thus, Mo Hua, along with Gu Changhuai and Xia Dianxi, hid among the water grasses and silently watched the water bandits return to the small island.
They seemed to be yearning for more.
"Damn, the sun is up again, and we're not done yet."
"I barely got to do anything..."
"Those damn lackeys of the Path Court, I hope they all die so we don't have to keep hiding like this."
"Or if there was no sun, that would be great too. If there were twelve periods of night in a day, we wouldn't have to worry about anything..."
"Damn sun, coming out again..."
Mo Hua's eyes turned cold as he watched the water bandits flaunt their prowess. In his heart, he silently said:
"Rest assured, very soon, you won't be seeing the morning sun anymore..."
...
After the water bandits returned to the island, Mo Hua and his companions waited a while longer before quietly rowing away from the island.
Little Silverfish led them all the way to the shore.
Stepping onto the shore and feeling the solid ground under his feet, Mo Hua felt a sense of relief.
He turned and waved to Little Silverfish by the riverbank, saying:
"Thank you for your help this time. Go back early, and next time I'll visit you and bring you some delicious treats."
Little Silverfish happily spun in the water, bidding farewell, "Goodbye, benefactor. See you next time." Then, it transformed into a silver light and swam into the depths of the Yanshui River, merging with the emerald waves and disappearing from sight.
Gu Changhuai followed Mo Hua's gaze but still saw nothing. He furrowed his brows and asked, "Are you talking to the river god? It seems like you're talking to a 'pet'."
Mo Hua replied, "I have a good relationship with the river god. Also, Uncle Gu, your words are disrespectful to the river god. Be careful next time you're on a boat, or the river god might capsize it."
Gu Changhuai shook his head, feeling helpless.
Afterward, the group returned to Qingzhou City and discussed their plans in a private room at Gu's Tea House.
Since returning, Xia Dianxi's face had been grim, and her eyes now held a chilling glint. In a low voice, she said, "Not a single one of these bandit cultivators should be let off!"
"And that Shui Yanluo, he deserves to die a thousand deaths!"
"I'll go and gather our forces. Within three days, we will wipe out these evil-doers!"
This time, Gu Changhuai didn't object. Instead, he reminded her, "Your Xia family is a prominent clan, but this is still the Qian Xue state realm. It might not be possible to gather enough forces within three days."
"Moreover, if we rush to gather people, some of them might not be reliable..."
Gu Changhuai's eyes narrowed slightly.
However, Xia Dianxi confidently said, "It's fine, leave the manpower to me."
Seeing her calm demeanor and apparent confidence, Gu Changhuai didn't say anything further.
"Also, there's the matter of the array formations..."
Gu Changhuai continued, "We need to secretly dismantle the array formations on the island without raising any alarms..."
"Additionally, it would be best to set up array formations around the island to trap these water bandits. That way, we can prevent them from escaping during the battle, ensuring that none of them slip through the net."
"If other water bandits escape, it's not a significant problem, but if Shui Yanluo gets away, then our efforts will have been in vain."
Xia Dianxi frowned and pondered for a moment before replying, "It might not be that simple..."
"I took a look at the island's terrain earlier. Although it appears desolate and crude, it actually contains the pattern of the Eight Trigrams. The array formations within are divided into eight gates."
"This eight-gate formation is less about defense and more about providing escape routes. As long as they aren't completely blocked off, these water bandits will always have a way out."
"How do you plan to break and seal the formations?" Xia Dianxi asked, looking at Gu Changhuai.
Gu Changhuai fell silent.
How would he know how to break and seal formations?
His knowledge of cultivation was almost entirely unrelated to array formations.
Well, not entirely unrelated. He could recognize some of the more common array formations used by cultivators, and he had a basic understanding of formation fundamentals.
In the past, he might have considered himself to have a "slight understanding" of array formations.
But that was in the past.
Gu Changhuai silently glanced at Mo Hua.
Mo Hua, having received Gu Changhuai's silent plea for help, nodded and said, "Sister Xia, rest assured, I'll handle the array formations!"
(End of Chapter)
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