Becoming a God from a Water Monkey

Chapter 1217 Two Worlds, Is This Still Da Shun? (Two-in-One)

"Hey, can you hurry up? You're all dawdling. I have a competition to go to later!"

"I'm coming, I'll be quick. If someone's treating and you're not enthusiastic, you're out of your mind."

"Very good, everyone's in place... Junxuan, why are you acting like a woman? Can't you even get things done?"

The boys leaped down from the air, trampling the reeds beneath their shoes, and stood on the shore, laughing and urging each other on.

"What woman? What nonsense! I am a scholar, a scholarly seed of the Wen family. I must have manners. Do you understand manners?"

"Ugh, that's disgusting."

"The Yangtze and Huai rivers flow mightily, reeds grow in abundance, the waters are vast and misty, and fishing boats race across the water... In such a scene, scholar, wouldn't you be inspired to compose a poem on the spot and show it to us?"

"My stomach hurts today, and I'm dizzy from walking through the waterway. I'll do it later. How come that thing's legs are so high? Shi Yun, you should write a letter to Prince Huai, suggesting that the water spider automatically lie down after we get ashore to improve its service level." Wen Junxuan grabbed the side rope, swung his calves, and lightly stepped on it a couple of times before finally finding the rope's wooden stick and slowly climbing down from the water spider's back. "By the way, you just said you were participating in a competition. What competition?"

"Yeah, there's still a competition?"

The young men recalled what had been said earlier.

"Ha!" Wen Shiyun stepped on a stone, tossed her hair in the wind, rubbed her thumb together, and produced ten red tickets in her hand. "Of course, it's for participating in the first Hero Fighting Tournament. I'm a 'starting member,' I have insider tickets! What did you think we'd invite you for? A bath and back scrub at the Pingyang Mountain Volcano Museum?"

"What?!" Wen Junxuan lunged forward, grabbing a stack of paper tickets, his face flushed with excitement. "Could it be the Heroic Fighting Tournament hosted by the Prince of Huai? The East Sea Hunting Tournament preliminary rounds, with many princes and demon kings participating?"

"That's right, it's this competition!"

The crowd was in an uproar.

During my school days, I had already heard about all sorts of novel things in Yixing County: shadow puppetry, hot pot buffets, volcanic algae hot springs, transparent boardwalks that blend water and sky... These are a million times more interesting than things like pitch-pot, archery, or beanbag throwing, especially the recent grand "Hero Fighting Tournament".

Wen Junxuan questioned, "You say you're participating? You've never practiced martial arts, how can you participate?"

"Hmph, you know the 'what' but not the 'why.' The titles of King, Demon King, and the preliminary rounds of the Great Hunt are all just gimmicks put out by my master. Anyone who's alive and breathing can actually participate. Alright, alright, let's hurry up and go. The River God Festival is coming up soon, and the main event will start right after that!"

With a cheer, the boy swung his stick, cut down the reeds, and rushed out of the reed marsh.

"Wait, Stone, there are only eight of us, how come you have ten tickets?"

"Oh, it's He Hanyu. She saw that I was pregnant that day and insisted on asking me for a ticket, and she also wanted to get one for her friend... that Fang Yanling, otherwise she would tell my mom. I had no choice but to get one for her."

"Women are trouble."

“That’s right, that’s right.” Wen Shiyun nodded. “But you shouldn’t say anything out of turn, otherwise she’ll get angry and tell my mom, and I’ll be the one who suffers in the end.”

"Don't worry, we're all brothers, we'll get things done once we've got the money."

"Go, go, go!"

"Hanyu." Fang Yanling stood on tiptoe and looked around the wharf. "Where is Wen Shiyun? Didn't he say he would invite us to watch the Hero Fighting Tournament and give us tickets? He hasn't shown up for ages. Is he playing us for a fool?"

He Hanyu pointed to the reeds to the south: "He should have taken the waterway from home, which doesn't lead directly to the dock. It's in the reeds over there. Shall we go and wait there?"

Fang Yanling asked suspiciously, "The plumbing in the house? How do you know so much about it?"

"Hmm..." He Hanyu thought for a moment, then suddenly pointed ahead, "Look, people are coming!"

Fang Yanling turned around and saw a group of teenagers. She immediately forgot her confusion and waved high.

"Hey, over here, hey, there are too many people, they can't hear us, let's go get our tickets, oh dear, it's so crowded, make way, make way."

Wow, so many people!

"This is so lively! It feels even more lively than Southern Zhili and the capital!"

The boy jumped up and peered out, his eyes dazzled by the sight of people shoulder to shoulder. Regardless of how ornately decorated the place was or how fluttering the banners were, it was an extreme display of crowds and liveliness.

From all corners of the country, various accents.

"Wow, look at the ground, it's paved with bluestone slabs, not slabs. The road is ten zhang wide. Is the Prince of Huai really that rich?"

The ten-zhang-wide bluestone road was wide enough for more than ten carriages to run side by side, and there was a trimmed shrub in the middle, so that people and vehicles could clearly move forward along the left side.

Can only be described in one word.

luxury!

Even in the two capitals of the Great Shun Dynasty, it was rare to see such wide roads with such enormous costs!
Wen Junxuan couldn't resist reaching out to touch it. His fingertips touched it, and he looked surprised: "The stone is ice?"

"It must have been my teacher's wife who did it. Didn't you notice? It's a sunny day today, not hot at all?"

"Oh, it seems so."

Everyone squatted down to touch the stones; they were as cold as ice, and the stone slabs were frozen together.

In northern winters, homes have fireplaces, so walking on them isn't cold at all; now we're doing the opposite.

"Fresh grilled ribbonfish, fresh grilled ribbonfish."

"French fries, delicious and healthy, juicy and flavorful, as well as crispy potato chips, all made with fresh rapeseed oil."

"Look! A beaver! A beaver is buying fries on the street!"

One of the boys' group was shocked by the sight of his finger.

Everyone looked at it.

Two beavers, each carrying a large iron hammer and a large saw, each half a person's height, took the hot, golden-brown fries that were fried, mixed, and steaming from the stall owner's hands. They glanced sideways at the shouting boy, took out a coin, picked one out and threw it into their mouths, then turned around without looking back.

Wen Shiyun sighed helplessly, "Don't make a fuss, okay? This is normal. My master's palace is being built by beavers. Let me tell you a secret: anyone who can carry such a large tool is a master craftsman in the beaver clan. They can train spirit weapons! You should show more respect and call them Master when you see them."

"Master...Master..." The boy grinned.

"Is this normal?"

“What’s wrong with that? Look, there are otters over there too, see them?” Wen Shiyun pointed to the grilled fish stall next to her. “Hey, everyone gets a share!”

Two baby otters, holding wooden skewers, ate as they walked. When they heard Wen Shiyun greet them, they immediately protected the grilled fish in their paws, pretending not to hear or recognize her, and quickly left.

"What a cheapskate," Wen Shiyun muttered, then turned her head. "Oh, there are monkeys too!"

"Ho ho ha!"

Two golden monkeys grabbed the wine flag in mid-air, swung it around on the tree branch, and swung it out one after another, shouting and yelling.

“Everyone came out; Master must have given them a day off,” Wen Shiyun was certain.

"what?"

“This is nothing. You’ll see how amazing it is when you get to Jiangchuan County. Have you ever seen an octopus shop owner? One octopus shop owner can serve seven guests at the same time, as well as mermaids, turtles, giant frogs, salamanders, crab trains…” Wen Shiyun said with great pride, “My master is skilled in both land and water transport and has a wide network of connections.”

Although both were granted the title of king, Ningjiang Prefecture, where the King of Yue resided, and Yixing County, where the King of Huai resided, felt like two completely different worlds.

Not only Wen Shiyun's classmates, but also tourists who had never been to Yixing before, found everything on the street novel and amazing, and were overwhelmed with wonder.

Even if you don't get to do anything fun or eat anything, the moment you step onto this road, the trip will have been worthwhile!
"Dear tourists, merchants, and fellow villagers, good morning! Welcome to Yixing County, this beautiful and prosperous small county in the south..."

The sound that seemed to come from high above startled everyone, and they looked around.

Fang Yanling and He Hanyu, who were squeezing towards Wen Shiyun, stopped and caught the source of the sound.

A tree that blooms eternally in spring!
The entire Eternal Spring Tree stands tall against the sky, its crown wrapped in a circle of dragon spirit silk, at least several bolts in length, like a headscarf unfurled to form a ring. A large white fish riding on blue waves swims around it, and it seems as if "it" was speaking just now.

"It is now the beginning of the Si hour, and there is still an hour before the River God Festival begins. Before that, please allow me, Yixing's representative fish, to introduce this long-standing festival tradition to all the guests who are experiencing the atmosphere of the River God Festival."

The vast Jianghuai Marshland stretches for thousands of miles across the river, the most expansive marshland on the Huai River, without equal… The Dragon King… has nurtured countless creatures, outstanding people, and exceptional fish and lakes…

The tradition of the River God Festival on the sixth day of the sixth lunar month in Yixing County has been passed down from generation to generation, with a history of thousands of years. The King of Huai grew up in Yixing City, grew up in Yixing Town, and was enfeoffed as a king in Yixing County..."

"Thousands of years?" Chen Tongmin asked curiously. "Grandpa, have we lived that long?"

"You bastard!" Chen Zhaoan cursed. "Just listen to you. Do you think you have as much knowledge as the Prince of Huai?"

"Amazing."

On the bluestone road, people, horses, and carriages all stopped in their tracks. People looked on in amazement.

The fiefdom where the Prince of Huai resides is a completely different world from other places!
Everywhere I looked, I heard, and I tasted new things I had never seen, heard, or tasted before.

Is the young martial saint's mind really that sharp?
"Before I go on to say more, please allow me, 'Benboerba,' to represent the Prince of Huai and all the people of Yixing County to express our gratitude to the Holy Emperor and His Majesty. It is the Holy Emperor and His Majesty who, with their busy schedules and coordination of all directions, have brought peace to the world and given us the opportunity to gather together in joy."

This statement came out.

The crowd surged on the ground, bowing in unison.

"Thank you, Holy Emperor!"

"Long live the Holy Emperor! Long live the Holy Emperor!"

"Secondly, I would like to thank the soldiers on the border. It is the soldiers on the border who guard Da Shun, enabling everyone to live and work in peace and contentment, and allowing you and me to travel together with our children today."

"Thank you, soldiers at the border!"

"Then, I would like to thank Lord Su Guishan of Pingyang Prefecture and all the officials of Pingyang Prefecture for their strong support of this River God Festival and their willingness to assist Yixing County in maintaining order."

Inside the river and lake area, Su Guishan stroked his beard and chuckled.

"Finally, thank you to the three thousand disciples of Huaiyin Martial Arts Hall. They are energetic, lovely, and brave. They once repelled the invasion and thwarted the Ghost Mother Cult's conspiracy. Now, they have once again become volunteers of Yixing to maintain order and security! Passing on the torch, they are the future of Da Shun!"

Along both sides of the bluestone street.

The young teenagers and youths stood tall, displaying the volunteer badges on their arms, and received admiring glances from the crowd, their fatigue completely disappearing.

"There are always words of gratitude to express, so let's keep quiet."

Today's event schedule: At noon, the River God Festival will commence on time, presided over by the Prince of Huai, appointed by His Majesty, to express gratitude to Heaven and Earth for nurturing all things in the Jianghuai region; at 3 PM, the first 5v5 tournament of the Heroes' Assembly will begin on time, so please look forward to it; at 7 PM, as night falls, a fireworks display will take place…

There are many attractions in Yixing. If you have plenty of time and nothing else to do, you can walk along the bluestone path to Pingyang Mountain and visit the Pingyang Mountain Temple, which has been blessed by the Hanging Temple Arhats and Vajra Kings. Praying for blessings and peace for your family and friends is a wonderful choice.

If you feel tired from hiking and breaking branches, and are sweating profusely, there is a volcano pavilion on the mountain that integrates hot springs, meditation, and dining, and does not require you to purchase anything. The mutton soup hot pot inside is a specialty of the Jianghuai region, and it is also a wonderful place to watch the fireworks display tonight.

Turning west, you'll find the peach tree corridor of Huaiyin Martial Hall. The peach tree, nurtured by the growth energy of the Yi wood element, is the birthplace of the new Dharma, the route taken by the Prince of Huai. It's also the lecture hall of Master Zhaowu, where limited-time activities are held to experience the joy of youthful cultivation...

Head east along the Water-Sky Corridor, where the water and sky blend seamlessly, and the sunset paints the sky with golden hues. In the sweltering summer heat, enjoy the cool breeze by taking a jade-crystal boat to Jiangchuan County, where you can see the unique features of the Shui ethnic group, local specialties of the Jianghuai region, and the newly established film studio.

Heading north, the Tianbo Chamber of Commerce auctions rare and precious items, quality guaranteed.

To the south, the rooftop of the Eternal Spring Tree stands, where the Phoenix Fish, one of the Eight Beauties of the Jianghuai region, boasts a uniquely beautiful landscape.

Parents, please take good care of your children. In case of any emergency, please seek help from the nearest martial arts hall disciple. Tourists and carriages entering and exiting the waterway, please keep to the left in an orderly manner…”

There's no end to the sightseeing.

There's simply no way to see everything!
The sheer variety of goods was dazzling. After hearing the introductions, Fang Yanling and He Hanyu wanted to visit every single place, but they were also worried that they wouldn't have enough time and might miss some important events.

Merchants from the southern border and northern regions were utterly astonished.

Is this still Da Shun?

Has Da Shun developed to this extent?

A territory granted the title of king, after only a year of development, actually...

The crowd surged and dispersed, while vendors on both sides shouted their wares with all their might, determined to make a fortune today.

More people landed in water spiders and capsules.

Some impatient people even abandoned the water spiders and capsules and went directly through the cargo channel, only to be caught by finless porpoises and lie on the ground vomiting water.

"Ah Shui is fucking awesome!"

Ran Zhongshi, Xiang Fangsu, and others exclaimed in surprise when they saw the giant fish atop the Wan Gu Ying Chun tree.

Xu Yuelong even slammed his fist on the table in admiration.

This was absolutely the greatest operation he had ever seen, using a local festival to attract such a large number of tourists.

At the beginning of the year, preparations were underway, and Mingming had already arranged as many rooms and contents as Liang Qu had suggested. However, before noon, the volcano pavilion was in dire need of food, as the food stored in the cellar was simply not enough. People had already been urgently dispatched to procure more.

Revenue exceeded ten thousand taels in three hours!
The next hill.

"what……"

A golden tiger, wearing half a kasaya and with two children hanging from its whiskers, yawns and taps a wooden fish, acting as a lucky cat at the temple entrance.

The monks from the Hanging Temple led the pilgrims in devout prayers.

Bats flap their wings, introducing local customs and traditions; wild boars carry large boxes, going up and down the stairs.

"Charge! Charge! Charge! Charge! Three or two people per person, honest and fair, once full we're ready to go, Pingyang Temple, let's go!"

"Rumble..."

Dust billowed as the wild boar galloped away, leaving everyone else in its dust.

A 30-li-long, 10-zhang-wide bluestone road served as a guide, and on both sides of the road, all kinds of merchants and servants offered food, drink, and entertainment.

Although there are no brothels in Yixing County, this makes it even more suitable for families to travel and for young men and women to date without worrying about any awkwardness.

"Wow."

Her chubby toes curled up in the water as she rolled up her trousers and splashed around on the transparent boardwalk, watching the fish swim below. A boy behind her watched her.

"Whoosh whoosh."

The transparent glass boat cuts through the waves, splashing water everywhere.

Barefoot people on the water-sky horizon raised their hands to block the view.

Great effect!

Liang Qu put away his speech and let A Fei take over, continuing to reiterate the various scenic spots and legends of Yixing County.

"Is everything debugged?"

The clam opens and closes its shell, and the white flesh inside is folded ninety degrees like the corner of a blanket.

Liang Qu opened his mouth, but didn't say anything.

I really don't know who started this trend. They've only been in power for a few days, and they've already learned it all.

"It's a pity we can't screen them at the same time."

He had originally intended to try and see if he could use the limits of the Kashin-Bei-Bai-Li-Die-Meng to make a nearby fiefdom broadcast the game live, but the attempt failed.

If "one" and "two" overlap, and "two" and "three" overlap, but if the distance between "one" and "three" exceeds one hundred miles, they cannot be successfully overlapped; this is a local area network within a local area network.

I don't know if further growth can solve this problem.

"There's plenty of time in the future; this is enough for now."

Liang Qu hurriedly jumped off the Eternal Spring Tree, instructing the martial arts students to disperse the crowd on the dock and make room for the ceremony.

Wen Shiyun successfully rode the black dragon, met up with He Hanyu, and headed to the old grandstand in Yixing County.

Noon.

The sun shone brightly, a gentle breeze blew across the river, and banners fluttered on both sides of the bluestone street.

Tourists from all directions flocked to the area, their arrival as surging and extravagant as the undulating tides in the vast Jianghuai region.

At the crossroads, inside the Drum Tower, a shirtless, burly man with his legs spread wide, red strips tied around his arms, his blood surging, brandished a large hammer and pounded a large drum.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

"River God Festival, begin!"

(End of this chapter)