Pre-Qin Mythology: Starting with the River God

That night, Red Ball returned to the Water Palace, looking exhausted. He went back to the kitchen, where he was known as the Great Immortal Red Ball. But back in the Water Palace, he had to clean all the pots, pans, stoves, cups, and utensils thoroughly for use the next day. Otherwise… he would be punished by the Elder Quan, and his will would be restricted…

"Um!"

"My lord, peace be with you!"

In the backyard, Quan Ming was listening to Feng Hua's report. When he heard that Qu Xia had sent a message to Qu Wan, he smiled and didn't care. He had expected this long ago, which was why he took advantage of the last day to talk to Qu Wan about the business. At this time, Qu Wan was full of enthusiasm for the business... Could such an ambitious member of the Qu clan really give up cooperating with him because of his uncle Qu Xia, this Mo Ao?

Even if this matter were to fall on Qu Xia, Quan Ming believed that she would firmly stand by his side.

This is the kind of people he knew from the Qu family.

"Red ball?"

"Coming back so late... what's wrong? Covered in mud and looking so disheveled?"

Quan Ming was talking to Feng Hua when he was interrupted by the child Hongqiu. Quan Ming was not angry, but simply looked Hongqiu up and down under the bright night-shining pearl in the backyard.

Seeing the other person's tired look and the foul smell emanating from them, I couldn't help but chuckle: "So you went to dig holes with the fish again... You've cultivated into a spirit, your lifespan has been extended, and your mind has also matured a bit. You still have the nature of a child, but those fish will be mating and giving birth in a few months. If you play with them, you might accidentally catch the eye of one of the fish. I won't be able to refuse you then... After all, these fish have all done me a favor."

The fish smuggled Quan Guo's treasures for Quan Ming.

They also brought money to Quanming's nephew so that he could brew wine.

Quan Ming didn't want to disappoint the fish.

Of course, what I said just now was just joking with the red ball.

But the red ball turned red in the face.

He said urgently, "The red ball is still too small, too small, it can't be done like this."

Feng Hua, standing to one side, couldn't help but laugh out loud, while reminding Hong Qiu, "You know, I heard from Granny Quan that you've been hanging around outside for the past month or so. If you hadn't finished all the kitchen work every day so neatly and efficiently, you probably would have been picked out long ago. Now that you've been caught by the master, you're still unwilling to give up something and socialize with those fish outside..."

"Ha ha."

Quan Ming smiled and raised his hand to stop Feng Hua.

"Stop teasing him."

"It's a child's nature to be a little unrestrained... Go wash up and get clean."

"promise."

Red Ball glared at Feng Hua.

But before leaving, the red ball came to its senses and asked, "Master, you must be very busy lately?"

Upon hearing this, Quan Ming took a sip of the warm wine on the table beside him and nodded, saying, "Yes, Shao Siming has already gone to Quan to prepare for guarding the border, and I will soon be taking up my post as well... Of course, I must first arrange the shipping matters in the Quan River basin, as well as Qu Wan's policy proposal... However, in short, I'm afraid there won't be such a leisurely time during this period."

He sighed.

Quan Ming stood up and said to Feng Hua, "Let's play a few games of chess."

Feng Hua quickly followed.

Hongqiu scratched his head. Hearing Quanming's words, he also sighed. It seemed that the matter of having the master capture the previous Quanxian had to be put on hold, after all, the master's important matters were more important.

However, the previous immortal was cunning and has not revealed a single trace of himself so far.

"Perhaps I could ask the fish brothers to inquire for me while they're out patrolling... No, no, they're almost adults, they're busy... busy..."

He thought of the scene he saw when he passed by Yudong a few days ago.

The red ball couldn't help but shudder.

"I'll just keep looking with the green-haired turtle. A thousand-year-old tortoise or a ten-thousand-year-old turtle, this guy doesn't have such concerns."

……

……

"My lord, the red ball seems to be doing something?"

Inside the chess pavilion, Feng Hua spoke cautiously to Quan Ming, who picked up a black piece, pondering where to place it. After a moment, he chuckled and placed it in one spot, capturing many white pieces.

Feng Hua panicked upon seeing this.

Looking around at the chessboard, he finally conceded defeat, saying, "My lord, this game is beyond saving; Fenghua has lost."

After saying that, he cleaned up the mess and put the black and white chess pieces into jars.

Quan Ming leaned back on the cushion and said, "Hongqiu is sincere and honest. Even with the will of hundreds of Chu people in his body, he has no thought of redeeming his own rebellious nature... Trust people without doubt. Although this child has something on his mind, he will eventually speak out... I was testing him just now, and he didn't say anything. It can be seen that the time is not yet right, and his heart is not yet firm."

"I will consider whether to help him after he firmly explains his predicament."

"The Lord is right."

Feng Huashun once again emptied the chessboard.

Quan Ming picked up the black piece and placed it in one corner.

"Um……"

"However, to be honest, I've been quite busy lately."

As they were talking, Quan Ming raised his hand, and a divine decree appeared, reflecting an inscription in seal script: "Three days later, thirty grain ships from Yingdu will be transported via the Yangtze River into the Quan River, then into the Zhang River, and will dock at Jingze. Quan Xian will guard the Quan River, and then together with Zhang Xian, they will escort the grain ships into Jingze..."

Remember, do not be careless, otherwise you will be punished according to your crimes!

This merit can be exchanged for six thousand Paths of the Will of Chu.

……

This decree can only be seen by immortals and gods.

Quan Ming accepted the divine decree, his brows furrowing slightly. The decree stated that he would not only protect the Quanshui waters but also escort Zhang Xian into Jingze in the Zhangshui waters.

It was like a military order, and it even included words of reward and punishment.

interesting.

Considering that the high-ranking immortals and gods such as Shao Siming had already taken their positions yesterday, the immortals and gods on the other side must have also noticed the movements of the Chu Kingdom. Would they also make a commotion to indicate that war had begun?

The surrounding vassal states were mostly small states.

But this time, the Zhou emperor and some powerful states were backing him up.

With the amplification of the emperor's fortune and the cycle of heaven, these immortals and gods may well have considered taking the initiative to attack the Chu Kingdom.

after all……

The divine authority that arises in a region can nourish more than one god.

For example, Jing Mountain.

The part of Jing Mountain occupied by the State of Chu has a Lord of Jing Mountain belonging to the State of Chu, while the part of Jing Mountain occupied by the State of Luo also has a Lord of Jing Mountain belonging to the State of Luo.

According to reason.

The Han River stretches for thousands of miles, surrounded by dozens of vassal states. Each of these states, by virtue of their control over a portion of the Han River, gave birth to a Han River goddess belonging to their own realm.

If various countries were to annex each other, with the victorious state swallowing the defeated one, the divine authority of these Han River goddesses would also be united, strengthening their own divine authority.

Therefore, the cruelty of the struggle between gods among nations is no less than that among mortals.

Even worse...

It was almost a life-or-death struggle, with no room for maneuver!

"Theocracy..."

Quan Ming shook his head, put away the black pieces in his hand, and lost interest in playing any more. He thought to himself: If the Chu Kingdom occupies the Luo River of the Luo Kingdom, then he, Quan Ming, must also seize the waters upstream of the Quan River, swallow them up, and use them to establish divine authority... Even if someone tries to stop him, he will never give up...

Theocracy!

If he were to occupy the entire upper reaches of the Quan River, all the way to its source, then Quan Ming could become a high-ranking immortal god. Even Mo Ao would have to respectfully bow and offer sacrifices to him!

Ok……

Calm your mind.

Was he being a bit stubborn just now? Divine authority is a minor matter; whether or not one can fulfill one's own path is the major matter.

This... divine authority is indeed deceptive; even he almost fell for it.

Shaking his head, Quan Ming said to Feng Hua, "Give the order that there is an important matter tomorrow. Only Granny Quan and a few children will remain in the Water Mansion... You all come with me."

Upon hearing this, Feng Hua quickly replied, "Yes."

……

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