The Imperial Guards, like Yama, slaughtered until the Empress cried out for help.

Although the group of Imperial Guards understood, they still found it hard to accept.

It doesn't matter whether it's the River God or not.

Why can a five- or six-meter-long carp make such a cute sound?

The carp spoke in a childlike voice, "This sir has come for those wolves, hasn't he?"

Shen Qing nodded.

"I also saw that pack of wolves. They're just a bunch of unintelligent creatures. I reckon they came from Bailu Marsh."

"Oh, by the way, I also heard a tiger roar yesterday."

Lin Zikai suddenly spoke up: "Judging from your tone, you seem to look down on these wolves. Why don't you just go ashore and kill them?"

Li Yu rolled her eyes at Lin Zikai, and everyone could clearly sense a hint of contempt in her gaze.

"Oh, that makes me seem like I'm being unreasonable."

"It's a pity I'm just a carp. In this Red Date River, I can barely be called the king of carp. But what can I do once I'm on land? I can only thrash around a bit."

"In the end, he was disliked by all the lords, unlike the other river gods who were born with hands and feet."

Li Yu spoke, her tone pitiful, but there was a strange undertone to it.

Shen Qing couldn't hold back any longer: "Who taught you to talk like that?"

"Born in this poor, remote place, there was no one to teach me to speak. But there were storytellers wherever the river flowed. I love listening to Dream of the Red Chamber, and I have a great fondness for Daiyu."

Shen Qing remained silent for a while. At this moment, Shen Qing's acceptance of acquired education reached its peak. All talk of innate human nature was bullshit.

Look, even a perfectly normal carp can turn into a master of Yin-Yang philosophy by listening to Dream of the Red Chamber.

Shen Qing continued, "Do you know where those wolves went after they crossed the river?"

"Although we can't get ashore, I can guess a thing or two. When those wolves cross the river, they always leave behind a fragrance of osmanthus. After crossing the river, go about ten miles to the northwest. There is an osmanthus forest. I guess the wolves are in that area."

Shen Qing nodded. Now that the goal was clear, it would save a lot of effort.

Seeing that Shen Qing remained silent, Li Yu spoke up: "Does Your Excellency wish to cross the river? Your Excellency may ride me across."

Shen Qing waved his hand, stepped onto the river, and the gathering of true energy under his feet allowed him to stand steadily on the lake.

This caused a glint to flash in Li Yu's big eyes. It was normal for someone in the Innate Realm to walk on water and cross a river, but Shen Qing's ability to stand steadily on the river was different. She had never seen such control in the Innate Realm.

Because she was a koi fish, her intuition in certain aspects far surpassed that of other ferocious beasts; she could instinctively sense Shen Qing's power.

But now it seems she underestimated Shen Qing's strength.

Moreover, she didn't just learn about Yin and Yang from listening to Dream of the Red Chamber; she also learned a little about political intrigue.

Ordinary officials had no idea about the River God; those below the fifth rank were unaware of it.

Since Shen Qing knew this and was unusually composed when he met her, she deduced that Shen Qing must be from a powerful family.

It is powerful and has a strong backing.

She also wanted to forge a good connection.

Who says a carp can't improve? She wants to improve too!

Shen Qing walked slowly across the surging river, as if on flat ground.

"Find your own way across the river, I'll be waiting for you in the osmanthus grove."

......

After a cup of tea's time.

Three figures appeared outside the osmanthus grove: one man and two women, all dressed in white robes.

The man carried a wine jug, walking around laughing, while the two women carried various kinds of pastries. The three of them seemed more like tourists enjoying the scenery.

The man, Liu Wen, turned around and smiled at the two women.

"How is it, Junior Sister Hui, Junior Sister Lian? It's much more fun outside than inside the Green Mountain Sect, isn't it?"

Liu Hui took a bite of osmanthus cake: "It is indeed more interesting than the sect, but let's go back soon. Once we cross the Red Date River, we will be very close to White Egret Marsh."

Lin Lian'er, who was less than 1.6 meters tall, shook her arm and said in a coquettish tone, "Senior Sister Liu, I've finally managed to get out here once in a while, don't go back so soon."

"There won't be any danger. Besides, Senior Brother Liu is with us. He will definitely protect us. Don't you think so, Senior Brother Liu?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Wen felt even more elated and patted his chest vigorously.

"That's natural."

Lin Lian'er smiled sweetly: "Senior brother, where exactly is that pack of wolves you mentioned? Do you think I can catch a wolf cub and take it back? Senior sister and the others will be so envious."

Liu Wen raised his chin and pointed to the osmanthus grove in front of him: "It's right there. This pack of wolves has been in this osmanthus grove for several days. Don't worry, Junior Sister Lin, if there are any wolf cubs, I'll definitely get you one."

"Stop." Liu Hui suddenly spoke, stopping in her tracks.

"What's wrong? What's wrong? Did you see a wolf?" Lin Lian'er's voice revealed a hint of surprise.

Liu Hui shook her head: "There seems to be someone ahead."

"It's the Embroidered Uniform Guard!"

Upon hearing the name "Imperial Guards," Liu Hui craned her neck, her eyes brimming with curiosity: "Imperial Guards? Let me see."

"They're the Embroidered Uniform Guards? They don't look anything special, and they don't seem like the superhuman beings Father described."

Liu Hui had no intention of going any further: "Let's back up a bit and wait for them to leave first."

"Is it that scary?" Lin Lian'er asked, her eyes full of indignation. "Aren't we all human? Are the Embroidered Uniform Guards superior to everyone else?"

"Junior sister, you haven't been down the mountain much, so you haven't heard of their reputation." Liu Hui's eyes were full of apprehension: "The imperial guards pass through Zhuque Lane at night, and the imperial prison locks up the Big Dipper Gate. That's what they're talking about."

"What's more, a new centurion has recently arrived in Luoshui City. He came from Baiyun County and in less than a month, he has wiped out no fewer than five families and sects. He has earned the title of a 'world-saving Yama' through his own efforts."

"I saw Shen Qing from afar a few days ago in Luoshui City. He exuded a murderous aura and was no ordinary person."

Liu Wen chuckled lightly from the side: "Junior Sister Liu, I think you're just boosting others' morale while diminishing your own. What Vermilion Bird Alley, what Crossing Yama, it's all just rumors."

"Furthermore, even if Shen Qingzhen is that scary, she is not like these Imperial Guards in front of us. The leader of this group is just a minor officer."

Lin Lian'er quickly nodded: "That's right, that's right. Our senior brother is also famous in the martial arts world of Yongning County. He's known as the Stone-Breaking Hand."

Liu Wen straightened his chest, then suddenly his eyes darted around, and he said to Lin Lian'er with a mischievous grin.

"Junior sister, don't you think it's too boring to just watch wild wolves on such a nice night? How about we do something more exciting?"

Lin Lian'er immediately became interested: "How do we play?"

Liu Wen then took out three sets of night clothes from his bag.

Liu Hui immediately understood what the two were up to and exclaimed, "Are you crazy? You're going to attack the Imperial Guards?"

Liu Wen put on his mask and smiled, "These Imperial Guards are too arrogant. I'm just teaching them a lesson, not killing them."

Liu Hui wanted to say something more, but Liu Wen spoke up directly: "Junior Sister Liu, if you came up, change your clothes. If you didn't come, don't say anything."

The scholar and his companions arrived outside the osmanthus grove, soaking wet.

"This carp is so uncooperative. It didn't even ask if we wanted to cross the river before it left." Lin Zikai patted his ears to drain the water, his tone full of complaint.

The scholar chuckled: "You still want someone to carry you? The adults said that the ferocious beasts that can serve as River Gods are at least at the Innate Realm, and they are also seventh-rank officials appointed by the imperial court."

"Do you want a seventh-rank official to carry you, or do you want someone at the Innate Realm to carry you?"

"You have such a big face."

Laughter erupted from the crowd.

Suddenly, a gust of wind blew by, and a soft cracking sound echoed through the woods. Pang Xiyuan turned around abruptly.

"Who goes there! Come out!"

The scholar and his companions immediately stopped smiling, drew their crossbows, and aimed them into the darkness of the forest.

Liu Wen and Lin Lian'er emerged from behind the tree, their faces covered.

"The imperial court's henchmen are quite alert."

Pang Xiyuan's expression was cold and stern. With a light tap of his finger, Black Dog and the others immediately fired their crossbows.

As the crossbow bolts were fired, Pang Xiyuan drew his sword and charged at Liu Wen.

After firing three volleys of crossbow bolts, Black Dog and his men drew their weapons and charged forward.

Suddenly, Lin Lian'er opened an iron fan and blocked the crossbow bolt.

"So you're just a bunch of government lackeys? You resort to deadly attacks the moment you see me. Looks like I'll have to teach you a lesson today, show you that there are always people more powerful than you, and that there's always something beyond your understanding!"

After dodging, Liu Wen let out a cold snort and suddenly attacked Pang Xiyuan with his fingers forming claws.

The clash of the blade and claws produced a violent burst of sparks. Liu Wen, nicknamed "Stone Crusher," relied on his hand skills; his fingers could easily crush rocks.

However, Pang Xiyuan was, after all, a member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Although his cultivation level was lower, his combat experience was undeniable. He managed to deliver a fatal blow to Liu Wen's leg despite being six minor cultivation levels behind.

Liu Wen winced in pain, his eyes turning bloodshot. He used his innate skill, swatting away Pang Xiyuan's blade with one claw and then reaching for Pang Xiyuan's head with the other.

If they catch him, Pang Xiyuan will be seriously injured even if he doesn't die.

Just then, a palm struck out, knocking Liu Wen's hand away.

Liu Hui, dressed in night clothes, blocked Pang Xiyuan's path.

Liu Wen's tone was clearly displeased: "What are you doing?"

Liu Hui's tone was icy: "What are you doing now?"

A fierce glint appeared in Liu Wen's eyes: "Of course, we'll kill them, let those Imperial Guards know that the affairs of the martial world aren't something they can just meddle in..."

Gradually, the fierce glint in Liu Wen's eyes faded, and his voice grew softer and softer. He seemed to sense a ferocious beast behind him, and a chill ran down his spine, but he dared not turn around.

"Senior sister... I'm behind..."

Shen Qing slowly emerged from the darkness, the cool moonlight illuminating his face.

Liu Hui stumbled back several steps and fell to the ground, her voice trembling uncontrollably.

"Salvation from the world... Yama..."

"Shen Qing!"