Water elemental became a god, ultimately becoming the master of heaven, earth, mountains, and rivers

Chapter 217 The advantage is mine
Incompetent?

"After all, they are from Baishan, and we can't afford to offend them. Let's back down if we can."

Chen Shunan shook his head and said,
“We sell water in our water well, and we’re all about making money through harmony. As long as the well is there, we can keep doing business sooner or later. Alright, alright, you should go home and play with your grandson. Don’t wander around here anymore.”

Manager Li looked at Chen Shunan with a suspicious expression.

Can't afford to offend them?

When you raided Sukhachi's house last time, why didn't you seem afraid of the Baishan people?

That was utterly ruthless and outrageous, kicking someone when they're down.

Why are you backing down now?

Do you think I don't know what kind of person you, Lao Chen, are?

Has he truly reformed now?

A moment later, Manager Li left, filled with doubt and uncertainty.

Chen Shunan, however, strolled leisurely around the military academy.

Snow-laden gnarled branches, a narrow blue stone path, and the faint sounds of drills and shouts could still be heard in the distance.

Chen Shunan showed no sign of anxiety or panic, only a cold laugh in his heart: "Trying to lure me out?"

As for who it is, is there even a need to think about it?

It is undoubtedly the Holy Maiden Tianxuan!
So she panicked.

Urgent, urgent.

……

Fortunately, Chen Shunan had long ago set a divine policy: to sell water to the people and to develop water spirits, such as the Silver Scholar, the Golden Scale Girl, and the Pig Mengzi.

They prey on both humans and demons, seeking believers far and wide.

Therefore, even if the affairs of the well are temporarily left idle, the three demons of the Silver Scholar can still provide a considerable number of wishes every day.

Although if Chen Shunan does not 'manifest his divine power before the demons' or offer any benefits for a long time, the three demons' desire to repay him daily will gradually decrease.

But at worst, we can wait a few more days, which will be enough to gather the remaining amount needed for our wishes.

One word, steady!

The advantage is mine!

With his hands behind his back, Chen Shunan walked into the Iron Duke Temple with a group of young martial arts students.

This ancestral hall was built in a very grand manner, with an artificial hill behind it and a water bay in front. It was surrounded by horse-head walls, and there was a pair of drum-shaped stones in front of the gate. The roof ridge was carved with patterns such as a fierce tiger descending a mountain and warriors fighting against evil spirits.

Upon entering the ancestral hall, the first thing that catches the eye is a huge hanging coffin, with the memorial tablets and portraits of the past leaders of the Jiangwutang enshrined on both sides.

Chen Shunan glanced at the coffin again.

He vaguely sensed a dark and fierce aura sleeping in the coffin, which he assumed was the weapon that Master Tie Yu had possessed before his death: the three-pointed, double-edged, four-aperture, eight-ringed sword.

This knife has been in the coffin for many years, not because no one wanted to take it and refine it.

Rather, this blade is extremely fierce and ominous. Even a peerless master who has slain six thieves and whose true power is perfected would find it difficult to subdue and would inevitably be hacked to pieces.

Only the appearance of a martial arts master can suppress it.

Chen Shunan blended in unnoticed among a group of martial artists offering incense at the cenotaph of Tie Gong.

"Miss Zhang has arrived!"

"Quickly, go to the entrance to greet them. Several instructors and lecturers, hmm? Even Gou Dianye and the abbot are personally going to greet them!"

"I've heard that this Zhang Xiangling is known as a young master, and she's already made a name for herself in Tongzhou City... It's true what they say, only in old age do you realize that success isn't solely determined by effort; it's 30% human effort and 70% fate. She's just lucky to have a good family background! If only I had been born into the Zhang family..."

A constant stream of comments filled the air, interspersed with occasional sarcastic remarks.

The crowd surged out of the ancestral hall, and Chen Shunan stepped aside to make way and look out.

Surrounded by a large group of people, Zhang Xiangling strode in, followed by Xu Hong and Master Hongwu on her left and right.

Beside Zhang Xiangling, two other people followed closely, seemingly introducing something.

Gou Dianye had a somber face, and his eyes shone like cold stars; he never smiled.

The abbot was actually a woman, a descendant of Master Tie.

She wore a dark blue and green brocade skirt with gold thread, over which she wore a pomegranate red cloak. As she walked, she exuded a noble air, yet also made people feel close to her.

Fortunately, the Liangjiang Military Academy had produced martial arts masters and was considered a sacred place for martial arts. Therefore, Gou Dianye and the Iron Supervisor were not too eager to curry favor with the Zhang family.

They were simply fulfilling their duty as hosts.

So soon, the area around the three of them was crowded with people, including not only the martial artists from the Martial Arts Academy itself, but also many talented young men from Wuqing who had come after hearing the news.

Some were greedy for profit, others for lust, and so on; the atmosphere was extremely heated.

Fortunately, Zhang Xiangling had done her 'screening' that day, and beat up almost all the Wu Qingjunyans who dared to chase after her.

Therefore, those who come now are all extremely confident in their own abilities or family background.

Among them, Wang Zhicheng, the Duke of Xiaolian, naturally attracted the most attention.

Chen Shunan glanced at the man again.

Judging from his appearance, he did not look old, appearing to be around thirty. He wore Western-style glasses and held a book in his hand that others could not understand, written in the Qianning Mandarin. He exuded a scholarly air, with a refined and cultured demeanor, and his eyes were bright and clear.

Logically speaking, if it were someone else, after observing mourning for more than ten years and repeatedly missing out on high-ranking official positions and generous salaries, they should have long since become despondent, even resentful of fate and their mind twisted.

But Wang Zhicheng seemed unaffected.

However, Chen Shunan still keenly noticed that a few traces of lust and greed flashed in his eyes when he occasionally looked at Zhang Xiangling.

Truly, a beast in human clothing. Chen Shunan stood still, subconsciously observing (spying) Zhang Xiangling, somewhat curious about how this woman would handle so many social interactions.

After all, although her martial arts skills were high, she was not yet at the level of being able to suppress all heretics with one hand and make everyone fear her and dare not speak.

In such situations, one must be adept at social maneuvering.

Chen Shunan soon discovered that Zhang Xiangling had her own way of dealing with things.

When you talk to her about business or martial arts, she will show sincerity and nod her head from time to time to pretend to agree. But if you talk about private matters or even some inappropriate thoughts, she will be called away by someone else and chat happily with them.

Then, after a short while, this person will be pushed to the outermost edge by the others, making it difficult for them to get close.

It actually has a hint of strategic alliances and counter-alliances.

So after the conversation, everyone present felt that Zhang Xiangling was a simple and straightforward woman...

I couldn't help but feel a sense of closeness, and I realized that he was indeed a scion of a prominent family, with his extraordinary manners and speech.

And then they didn't gain anything from it.

They were completely fooled.

Among the people present, including Chen Shunan, probably only a handful, such as Gou Dianye and the Iron Supervisor, could see that Zhang Xiangling's methods were superb.

Come to think of it.

As a member of a prominent family, Zhang Xiangling was highly valued by the Zhang family. How could she possibly be a simple-minded, foolish, and martial arts fanatic?

Otherwise, they would have been devoured by a large group of older brothers and sisters long ago.

It's impossible that the Zhang family would specifically send her to Wuqing County and entrust her with such an important task, allowing her to attract the attention of those with ulterior motives.

"A group of pathetic spoiled brats, being manipulated by a young girl without even realizing it... Is this the Zhang family of Tongzhou? Indeed, quite to my liking."

Chen Shunan enjoys dealing with intelligent people the most.

Before long, Zhang Xiangling and her group headed towards the Tie Gong Temple.

Zhang Xiangling entered the ancestral hall, offered incense, paid her respects, and kowtowed to Tie Yu's portrait with utmost solemnity and piety.

The title of Martial Arts Grandmaster is the most brilliant and dazzling achievement in the path of martial arts, having transcended sectarian and regional barriers.

Therefore, even with Zhang Xiangling's status, no one dared to be careless and treated her with the utmost courtesy.

Then, Zhang Xiangling stood up and noticed Chen Shunan standing to the side.

Her eyes lit up, and she exclaimed, "Nephew Shun'an!"

Chen Shunan's face darkened instantly. Without uttering a word, he turned and left, quickly exiting the Iron Duke Temple.

"Stop running! Fight me now!"

Zhang Xiangling leaped forward like an eagle swooping down on a rabbit, instantly stopping Chen Shunan.

Gou Dianye glanced at Chen Shunan indifferently and said nothing more.

The Railway Supervisory Institute looked at Chen Shunan with a hint of curiosity.

After all, the Wan Gong Iron Essence and Purple Iron Calamus Milk that Chen Shunan obtained were, in a sense, the legacy and martial arts crystallization of her ancestor, Master Tie Yu.

Despite pressure from various parties, the legacy and tomb of Master Tie Yu were only partially made public, and even as descendants of the Tie family, they were powerless to monopolize the opportunity.

However, she also handled the "Wan Gong Iron Essence" that Lu Jing allocated to Chen Shun'an.

Naturally, they were very curious as to why Lu Jing valued Chen Shun'an so much, and even showed favoritism towards him.

It's a bit of a stretch to expect a mere envoy to translate swine language.

Looking at the girl in front of him, Chen Shunan showed a helpless expression and said,

"Mr. Chen has already admitted defeat, why should Ms. Zhang continue this entanglement?"

"Call her 'Little Aunt'," Zhang Xiangling promptly corrected Chen Shunan's mistake regarding generational address.

Seeing the mischievous glint in Zhang Xiangling's eyes, Chen Shunan's lips twitched, and he fell silent.

"You scoundrel! Miss Zhang kindly offered to teach you martial arts, yet you are so ungrateful! Quickly apologize to Miss Zhang!"

Suddenly, a young man with fair skin and an unsteady posture rebuked Chen Shunan with a somewhat gloomy expression.

As soon as he finished speaking, the group of people who had been standing next to him scattered in a flash, keeping their distance from him, as if they were afraid of being caught in the crossfire and having their blood splattered on them.

Just as this person was feeling confused, he heard Zhang Xiangling suddenly say in a cold voice,

"Xu Wuju, cut off this man's arm and throw him out! How dare outsiders interfere in the Zhang family's affairs?"

"Yes, miss!"

Xu Hong grinned maliciously and landed beside the man in the blink of an eye.

With his left hand, he grabbed the man's wrist and twisted it. With a crisp 'crack', the man's arm was bent at an odd angle.

Before he could even scream, he felt dizzy and the scenery on both sides rushed past him. When he came to his senses, he found himself tumbling down onto the street.

On the street, the steward who was serving the carriage saw this man's appearance, and without saying a word, he just sighed, knocked him unconscious, stuffed him into the carriage, and hurriedly left.

This spoiled brat has really embarrassed himself!
After clearing up the minor incident, Xu Hong walked back to Zhang Xiangling's side, then winked at Chen Shunan.

Throughout the entire process, Fifth Master Hong remained calm and did not glance at Chen Shunan.

Wearing shackles on its head, its presence is extremely minimal.

Seeing Chen Shunan's stubborn and unyielding attitude, Zhang Xiangling became somewhat exasperated. She racked her brains but couldn't come up with a solution, so she finally had no choice but to walk over to him and lower her voice, saying...

"Don't worry, if it really is you, it's a blessing, not a curse, and I won't harm you! Once you've thought it through, come find me. A tremendous opportunity awaits you."

(End of this chapter)