The God of Heavens

Chapter 245 Capturing a Wild Guide

Bailang River.

Ships laden with various goods and grains came from the Bailang River. Lin Yu stood on the deck of one of the ships, watching Zhao Hu practice martial arts at the bow.

With a swift movement, his waist bent like a bow, and his limbs stretched out, he resembled a tiger poised to pounce down the mountain.

The wind howled with his fist, and a series of crisp "crackling" sounds burst through the air—the vibrations from the shaking of his internal bones—his aura was extremely fierce.

His feet moved with a mysterious footwork, and with each punch, his entire body trembled violently, as if a dull knife was being repeatedly sharpened on a whetstone, gradually revealing its edge. The force of his punches contained a terrifying penetrating power.

Zhao Hu only stopped his attack when dawn broke.

At this moment, his Tiger Demon Bone Refining Fist had reached its peak, and his bones were tempered to be as hard as refined steel. He was only one step away from the Innate Realm. Ordinary martial artists would probably not be able to withstand even three moves from him.

"Zhao Hu, it seems you're just one step away from reaching the Innate Realm. Once you break through, I'll have another powerful general by my side," Lin Yu nodded in satisfaction.

Zhao Hu clasped his hands in a salute, his eyes filled with gratitude: "It is all thanks to Your Highness for bestowing this 'Tiger Demon Bone Refining Fist'. It truly lives up to its reputation as the bone refining masterpiece of the Great Zen Temple. I have benefited immensely from it."

"I have always been fair in my rewards and punishments, and these are the rewards you deserve." Before Lin Yu finished speaking, footsteps came from below the deck.

A man in official robes strode over; he was a trusted follower of the governor of Shuiyang. After bowing respectfully, the man reported, "Your Highness, Shuangliu Town of Huanghe County is just five li ahead."

Lin Yu looked into the distance, his gaze deep and thoughtful.

Tianyin Province is located at the junction of five provinces in Yinzhou and seven provinces in Nanzhou, and Huanghe County is named after the 1,500-li (approximately 650 km) Huanghe Mountain and its surrounding waters. The key to this bandit suppression campaign lies in this body of water.

The morning mist had not yet dissipated at Shuangliu Town Wharf.

Lin Yu mounted his horse, and the red steed raised its head and neighed. He wore a white ox armor over a silver shark armor, with a blood-red steel spear hanging at his waist, and a tiger-dragon bow and eagle-feathered arrows hidden behind the saddle.

The hundred personal guards were also fully armed, their white ox armor reflecting the morning light, their crossbows and steel crossbows gleaming coldly, and their precious yellow steeds snorting loudly.

The iron cavalry, like dragons, trampled through the dust. Half an hour later, the rising sun dispelled the last wisp of mist, and Huanghe County came into view.

This county town, as far as the eye can see, is a continuous stretch of houses with tens of thousands of households. Cargo ships come and go on the river, like a piece of pale blue crystal, with the scenery clearly discernible.

Hundreds of small bridges dot the city, making it one of the most prosperous places within a radius of hundreds of miles.

At the gate of Huanghe County, Magistrate Yan Zhen had been waiting for a long time. He was dressed in a black robe, with a jade hairpin in his hair. His chiseled face was resolute, his shoulders were as broad as mountains, and he exuded an aura of profound and imposing presence.

"His Highness the Fourth Prince has come in person; I have failed to greet you properly." Yan Zhen bowed respectfully, his voice deep and powerful.

Lin Yu understood immediately; this was none other than the son of Yan Youzhi, the Junior Guardian of the current dynasty. Yan Youzhi was a veteran of four reigns, and although he was over seventy years old, he was still serving in the cabinet. Even the Qian Emperor respectfully addressed him as "Junior Guardian Yan" and offered him a seat for a chat.

After exchanging pleasantries, Yan Zhen insisted on hosting a welcome banquet. Lin Yu waved his hand and said, "Let's skip the official banquet. I still have several hundred personal guards to settle down."

Yan Zhen laughed loudly, "Does Your Highness think that I can't even afford to feed a few hundred people? Today, there's no need for such formalities as an official banquet. I'll personally pay for a private feast and make sure the soldiers are well-fed and watered."

A shed had already been erected in the backyard of the county government office, and the steward was directing the servants to arrange for the personal guards to have their meal. Lin Yu followed Yan Zhen through the corridor to a pavilion overlooking the water. The pavilion was simply furnished with only two seats, and bamboo curtains were half-rolled up around it, allowing a cool breeze to waft through.

This private banquet was indeed unique; there were no other officials accompanying them, and no formalities were observed. A few seasonal dishes and a small pot of wine were served, yet everything was exquisite and delicious.

After breakfast, Lin Yu and Yan Zhen moved to the back hall of the county government office to discuss matters. The hall was simply furnished, with a map of Huanghe Mountain and its surroundings hanging in the center, densely marked with dangerous shoals and strategic passages.

Yan Zhen took a bamboo cane and pointed to a spot on the map: "Your Highness, please look. This Yellow Crane Mountain and its surrounding waters cover an area of ​​1,500 li and are truly a natural barrier."

This place is full of dangerous shoals and hidden currents, and numerous small islands are scattered like stars, appearing and disappearing with the rise and fall of the tide, making them countless.

Among them are twelve large islands, where, in recent years, pirates have formed an alliance, known as the "Twelve Linked Docks."

He lowered his wrist and tapped the largest island in the center with his bamboo cane: "The chief of the Great Dock, 'Overturning River Dragon' Hong Tao, is stationed in Dragon King Dock. His eleven chiefs each occupy a territory, and each village keeps three to five hundred outlaws."

These river bandits were swift as the wind, possessing an unparalleled knowledge of the waterways. When government troops came to suppress them, they would disappear into the depths of the reeds; when the troops retreated, they would emerge again to plunder. The imperial court's several military expeditions all ended in failure.

"In the past, they only robbed merchant ships, nothing serious. Who would have thought they would be so audacious as to dare to rob even tribute goods from the imperial court!"

Yan Zhen sighed heavily, "I have only been in office for half a year, and I have already encountered such a major case. It is truly..."

He suddenly straightened up and clasped his hands in a fist salute: "But please rest assured, Your Highness, I will do my utmost to ensure that there is absolutely no shortage of food and military supplies."

Lin Yu nodded slightly, having already made up his mind. War is a matter of great importance to the state, and must be planned carefully before action, allowing no room for error.

As night fell, the military camp gradually fell silent. Lin Yu closed his eyes and concentrated, his Yin Spirit detaching from his body and flying straight towards Huanghe Mountain and Lake, disappearing in an instant.
The vast expanse of water stretches for thousands of miles, its blue surface meeting the sky.

In the shallow waters, one can still see duckweed swaying on the riverbed, but the deeper one goes, the darker it becomes. Ordinary people here are like blind people, relying only on their senses to grope their way.

However, Lin Yu possessed the body of the Yin God, so darkness not only did not hinder him, but actually made his eyesight even stronger. The deeper the darkness, the more he could see through it.

Silver-scaled fish dart and play in the surrounding lake, dark green water plants sway with the current, palm-sized snails cling to the dark green rocks, and occasionally a mandarin fish with a fan-shaped tail swims by.

The underwater scenery, with its dappled light and shadows, is serene and enigmatic, surpassing any other viewpoint on the lakeside.

They traveled about ten miles into the lake. They were now far from the shore, and the scenery became increasingly beautiful. Various treasures and spiritual plants began to appear. Under the light of his bare body, Lin Yu discovered numerous medicinal herbs and rare species.

However, these things cannot be captured or collected by humans when they come in. But it would be much more convenient if one could travel with their spirit!
Suddenly, the underwater currents surged, and amidst the swirling dark green water plants, a black shadow slowly emerged. Upon closer inspection, it was a gigantic black python!
The python's body was three zhang long and as thick as a palace pillar. Every time it coiled and swam, it stirred up ripples on the bottom of the lake.

Its body is covered in black scales, as shiny as black jade, with scales gleaming with a cold metallic luster, and shimmering with a dark light under the deep blue water.

The scales are tightly interlocked, with a smooth, silky feel, exuding a mysterious yet elegant charm.

Lin Yu recognized at a glance that this black-scaled python was an excellent material for crafting precious armor.

The snake scale armor, made from python skin using a secret method, is several times more valuable than white ox armor. This armor is impervious to swords and spears, and immune to water and fire; it is truly a priceless treasure.

Suddenly, the giant python stood upright, its head held high, its gaping maw facing the bright moon reflected in the water, and it opened wide.

A streak of silvery moonlight, like a bolt of lightning, was absorbed into its belly. In an instant, the eerie blue light between its scales intensified.

This is clearly a spirit that has come to life, absorbing the essence of the sun and moon!
As he was pondering, the giant python seemed to sense something, and suddenly turned its head, its cold vertical pupils piercing straight at the location of Lin Yu's Yin spirit.

The moment their eyes met, the giant python's scales suddenly bristled, producing a crisp sound like metal clashing. The next moment, it swiftly disappeared into the lake.

"Ran?"

Lin Yu frowned; he still wanted to ask this giant python for directions.

Wow!

With a roar, the calm lake surface suddenly exploded, creating a huge wave.

A water column as thick as a bucket shot into the sky. The giant black-scaled python suddenly attacked from the bottom of the water, its tail sweeping out like a steel whip, carrying immense force, aiming straight for Lin Yu's Yin Spirit!
"What a wicked beast!" Lin Yu laughed instead of getting angry, his Yin spirit radiating moonlight.

His figure suddenly swelled, and the three-zhang-tall Dharma Image of the Precious Moon King appeared, its entire body crystal clear, as if cast from glass: "Get out here!"

The moonlight condensed into a giant hand, which grabbed at the air, causing the water column to explode and turn into a shower of water droplets.

"rise!"

The giant hand of moonlight plunged into the lake and precisely seized the python's tail. A deafening "splash" erupted! The entire python was pulled out of the water.

Its jet-black scales gleamed coldly, and its body writhed wildly, creating towering waves.

"It seems you've gained sentience. I don't want to commit any more killings. Just obediently serve me as laborers and help me wipe out the river bandits... and I'll spare your life, how about it?"

Lin Yu strolled forward, watching the black-scaled creature struggle, and said with a smile.

"hiss--"

The giant python suddenly flew into a rage, its scales standing on end. It opened its blood-red maw wide, and a beam of dark light shot out from its throat, transforming into a ten-zhang-long black dragon in mid-air!

The dragon's shadow, with its scales and claws flying and its fangs menacing, charged straight at you, carrying an overwhelming aura of malevolence.

"You're courting death! Your soul is hidden within your body, protected by your powerful blood and energy, making it difficult for me to attack you. Now you dare to come out and manifest, aren't you just asking for your own demise?"

Having said that, Lin Yu reached out his hand. In an instant, a ball of lake water burst forth, forming a crystal-clear water curtain. The water curtain quickly surrounded the black dragon, enveloping it completely, like a large crystal sphere.

Inside the sphere, a black dragon bared its fangs and brandished its claws; illuminated by the moonlight, the scene revealed the wondrous creation of heaven and earth.

What followed was a rather brutal period of discipline.

The lake returned to calm.

Under the moonlight, Lin Yu held a deep blue pearl in his palm. Inside the pearl, golden threads flowed and shimmered as if they were alive.

A black dragon, about an inch long, obediently coiled around his wrist, its previous ferocity gone.

This dragon pearl, though not a true dragon's inner core, contains the essence of water accumulated over a hundred years. It was originally left by the ancestors of the Black-Scaled Python, but now, to save its life, it has no choice but to offer it up.

Lin Yu played with the pearl; it felt warm and smooth to the touch, and he could faintly hear the sound of tides, clearly indicating that it was a rare water-based treasure.

“You have been entrenched here for many years and should know the ins and outs of the Twelve Linked Docks like the back of your hand. Lead the way for me.”

Lin Yu lightly touched the black dragon coiled around his wrist with his fingertip, and the dragon immediately raised its head and spat out its tongue, its eyes flashing with a ghostly light.

The black dragon's spirit nodded, swam over and circled him once, then wagged its tail and flew forward.

He even stopped midway, glanced back at Lin Yu, and emitted a faint mental fluctuation, as if signaling him to hurry up and catch up.

"You got into the zone so quickly?"

When Lin Yu looked up at it again, he seemed to hear a solicitous call in his ear:
“Master, the bandits are working over here.”

(End of this chapter)