Pre-Qin Mythology: Starting with the River God

Xiangjun and Xiangfuren smiled and vanished into the clouds, leaving only a deity above the Quan River.

Quan Ming!

The crowd on the shore awoke from their shock at the realization that "Quan Chu is all Chinese"—

The powerful people of the old country are weeping.

Welcome back, Quanming!

The people of this country know best what kind of character this young master Ming is, after more than a decade of experience.

Moreover, when the ruler wanted to use the prince as a human sacrifice, imitating the Shang Dynasty's rituals, to awaken the sleeping Shang ancestors and repel the Chu army, this prince, facing the former ruler's coercion, left only nine words, "May there be no war in the world, and no disasters for the people," before resolutely jumping into the Quan River to drown himself. This moved the people of Quan, and even the Chu army besieging the city... all of them, and they were astonished by the prince's virtue!

"Welcome the Water Fairy!"

The officials in charge of etiquette took the lead in bowing in the Chu style, followed by the Chu soldiers. The powerful figures of the former state looked at each other and finally... imitated the Chu people's behavior and began to implement the Chu etiquette to welcome Quan Ming.

"..." King Chu watched this scene, nodded and smiled at Quan Ming: "Welcome, Immortal Quan Shui!"

Seeing the joy on the King of Chu's face, the scholars and officials also respectfully welcomed this newly born water spirit, who was only at the first level of the Dao Heaven Realm.

Chu Di’s Will +400

Chu Di’s Will +623

The will of Chu is the source of the power of the gods of Chu!

Quan Ming's expression shifted slightly. He temporarily put aside what Xiang Jun had said about the hostile Zhi Xian. At this moment, the more important thing was to sense the existence of the Dao Heaven above, communicate with the Dao Heaven, and obtain the will of Chu.

The will of Chu is the recognition of Quan Ming's existence by the Dao Heaven of Chu!

This is different from so-called faith.

Rather, it is a need.

The gods of Chu, and even among different pantheons in various states, are all the same: gods survive by relying on the needs of the people, and the people pray to the gods for blessings and protection.

He is needed... as long as the world needs him.

Just like the mighty Yellow River, the River God within it does not need to be worshipped by the world. As long as the river is connected with people's livelihoods—irrigation, navigation, and flood control—the will of Heaven will continuously bestow its will upon it!

Even when floods occur, people hate the mercilessness of the floods yet are compelled to pray and plead with the God of the River!

All of this proves the necessity of this deity's existence.

……

"The King of Chu is very kind to you."

Quan Ming knew that the previous four hundred Chu wills were because the King of Chu needed him for political purposes.

The latter was because the powerful needed his presence to protect them, and Chu was blessed by Heaven.

He accepted the will of Chu.

However, it was not used to enhance its strength at this time.

Instead, he first struck up a conversation with the King of Chu.

The two people, one standing under the banner of summoning souls on the shore and the other standing in a bamboo-awning wooden boat, gaze at each other across the water.

The King of Chu frowned slightly.

Gods do not approach humans, lest they be tainted by the calamities of human desires!

He raised his hand and said to the scholars and officials behind him, "Qu Xia, you may all step back. I will discuss the matter of Quan Ren's residence with Quan Xian."

Qu Xia, a young man in his early thirties.

Because of his talent and learning, he is now the Chu State's Mo Ao, second only to the emperor.

"Your Majesty, you mustn't!"

King Xiong Tong of Chu froze, then coldly snorted, "Why?"

Quan Ming and Qu Xia exchanged a glance.

He was acquainted with Qu Xia, but they had been rivals for many years. Qu Xia never believed that he would surrender to Chu. In Qu Xia's eyes, his years of close ties with Chu were merely a delaying tactic. Therefore, after Qu Xia assumed the highest position of Mo'ao in Chu, he repeatedly advised King Xiong Tong of Chu to cease correspondence with him and to be wary of him, lest his reputation affect Chu's future actions.

It can be said that in Quan Ming's journey from death to life, becoming a part of Shui Xian's life, this was the person he was most worried about.

However, Quan Ming did not see the smugness in Qu Xia's eyes at this moment.

Instead, it's for their own mourning?

Quan Ming was taken aback. How could Qu Xia have two faces towards him...? But then he saw Qu Xia close his eyes, having already suppressed his emotions. After taking a deep breath, he bowed to the King of Chu and said, "Your Majesty, how can you speak to Prince Ming alone when Quan is here?"

What does this mean? Are you afraid that Quan Ming is plotting against Xiong Tong?

Quan Ming chuckled and cupped his hands in return: "King of Chu, although I am a prince of the former state of Quan, I am also a deity of Chu. Quan has been destroyed and cannot be returned to. The settlement of the Quan people is entirely up to the King of Chu's order. I reside by the Quan River, but what can I do? I can only protect the area around the Quan River, irrigate farmland, assist merchant ships in their navigation, and protect ships that have fallen into the water. In this position, I will fulfill my duties in exchange for the King of Chu's good treatment of the Quan people. After a hundred years, the Quan people will be completely integrated into the Chu people and will no longer need my care."

"Therefore... let's be frank!"

Xiong Tong calmed down and clutched the letter in his sleeve.

He then handed it to Qu Xia...

Then, he hummed and said, "I intend to designate Quan State as Quan County, and send a county magistrate to govern it. I will also send a Chu general to lead troops to train outside the city to guard against the Yong and Luo states that border Quan State... At the same time, Quan State will rely on Jing Mountain and, under the guise of lacquer trees and silkworms, settle the people of Quan State in Quan State to engage in production. They will transport lacquer by ship down the Quan River to supply the Chu royal family."

"Your Majesty?" Qu Xia looked at the sincere words in the letter, and then listened to Xiong Tong's decision.

...stunned!

Behind Qu Xia, a minister exclaimed in surprise, "Your Majesty, didn't we just discuss in the palace the plan to relocate Quanren to the south of Yunmeng to open up the wilderness and marshes for Chu?"

Qu Xia glanced silently at the minister, then looked at Quan Ming on the opposite boat, who seemed detached from the world, his robes barely stirred by the wind and waves... He understood that Quan Ming's death was a scheme.

He had taken advantage of his relationship with Xiong Tong.

They also outmaneuvered Xiong Tong's ambitions!

If the State of Chu wants to expand rapidly, it must not slaughter those who have defeated the state. Instead, it should absorb people from other states to become Chu people and fight for Chu!

Just like when the Chu royal family first arrived in Yunmeng, they took the local savages as their people.

And Quan Ming is the key to this opportunity!

He told Xiong Tong how to settle these people who had lost their country—to appoint the people who were popular in the defeated country as gods of Chu, to govern the people with gods, and to appease their hearts!

The saying "spending a fortune to buy a horse's bones" aptly describes Quan Ming's existence, setting a precedent for Chu's future expansion.

"Your Majesty...this matter can be accomplished!"

Chu Di’s Will +250

Clutching the letter, he silently glanced at it one last time: "The world's affairs are ever-changing..."

Qu Xia understood that this matter could only be resolved by granting Quan Ming's wish.

On the opposite bank, Quan Ming smiled, looking at the astonished and excited Quan people, and bowed to the King of Chu: "Thank you, King of Chu. The Quan people only wish for a peaceful and prosperous life and do not wish for further war!"

"Thank you, King Chu!" The powerful figures also bowed in gratitude.

Chu Di’s Will +623

Although the etiquette was not uniform, no one was negligent.

When their country was defeated, they were filled with fear, dreading being slaughtered or enslaved... but now they can go home!

"Hahaha!"

Xiong Tong laughed a few times, patting Qu Xia on the shoulder: "See? I told you Quan Ming wasn't a hypocrite... It's just a pity he had to die. If he hadn't, he should have been the county magistrate!"

Qu Xia couldn't laugh.

A county magistrate?

...Quan Ming probably wouldn't be interested in this.

With that thought, Qu Xia looked at Quan Ming with a serious expression, as if to say: You won this time, but I will be watching you!

Quan Ming raised his eyebrows and looked back: Thank you for your care, Mo Ao.

"Rumble..."

At this moment, a soldier on horseback galloped in, dismounted, and kowtowed to Xiong Tong: "Your Majesty, the Zhou emperor has angrily denounced our Chu as barbarians and is preparing his army for a meeting in Shen to discuss attacking Chu. Now, the states of Yong, Luo, and Sui have already responded!"

"What?!"

Xiong Tong, who had been smiling, turned grim, clenching his fists tightly: "Barbarians...barbarians!"

"Heh heh, I had already foreseen this. Qu Xia, hasten the conscription of troops!"

Enraged, he pulled up the enormous soul banner beside him, waving it through the air, and shouted passionately: "If the Zhou emperor dares to invade, I will make him suffer the same fate as King Zhao of Zhou, who marched south to conquer Chu and never returned, drowning in the Han River!"

"Die at the hands of this 'barbarian'!"

boom!

Behind Xiong Tong, a huge, furious fire appeared, towering and upright, like the ancient Yan Emperor beside the Quanshui River, its power causing the waters to steam with every wave of its hand!

"Let's go! I, the king, will confront this emperor!"

boom!

The heavens roared, responding to the King of Chu's command!

……

The King of Chu and Quan Ming exchanged a final glance, then withdrew their supernatural powers and hurriedly departed with their armored soldiers, leaving only Dou Bo to settle the Quan men who were stunned by the King of Chu's imposing presence.

Dou Bo was an elder with sharp eyes, and he remained noncommittal about Quan Ming's appearance.

"Immortal Quan, let me first lead Quan back to Quan."

"You may choose a place to build a water palace in the next few days, so that the creatures in the water will know that a new god has taken over. I will wait for you outside Quan City to come and discuss the details of settling the people of Quan."

"……Can."