“First, let’s rescue Brother Zhu.”
Ignoring the great crocodile’s so-called misunderstanding, Lu Zheng turned to Li Hanyu.
The Lushui River God added, “I’ll go. That old turtle is no weakling. Better to be cautious.”
With one Silver Feather Azure Dawn Sword still lodged inside the crocodile, Lu Zheng had the demon fully under control, freeing the River God to fetch Zhu Yushan and guard against the turtle’s unknown motives.
“That makes sense,” Lu Zheng nodded.
He looked at the great crocodile, who was squirming restlessly, and smiled. “What, you still have something to say?”
The crocodile’s eyes shifted. His huge jaws opened and closed, somehow producing human speech. “That old turtle has an ancient black-turtle pearl. He stole it from me.”
“Nonsense! The black-turtle pearl clearly chose its own master. It chose me!”
At that moment, the River God returned to the cavern with Zhu Yushan at his side, accompanied by a three-zhang-long turtle.
The last remark had come from the turtle.
He was wounded, and now faced both a profoundly cultivated River God and a terrifyingly sharp young sword cultivator. He dared not let these two misunderstand his character.
“Rubbish!” the crocodile roared. “When the pearl emerged, its fluctuations spread for hundreds of li. Anyone who sensed it had the right to claim it!
I arrived first. Not a single demon was around. I was just about to take it when you barged in. If that’s not stealing it from me, what is?”
The old turtle refused to back down. “You said yourself you were closest and about to claim it. Yet because I carry black-turtle blood, a single gesture summoned it to me. Does that not prove the pearl chose its master?”
“Proves nothing! Just because you have black-turtle blood means you inherit an ancient black-turtle’s pearl? Plenty of demons have purer bloodlines than you. Would you hand the pearl over if you met them?” the crocodile retorted.
The turtle replied, “Of course not. I possess black-turtle blood and happened to be nearby. I share destiny with the pearl. Naturally, I am its rightful master.”
The crocodile snorted. “So in the end, you still snatched it from me.”
Lu Zheng blinked. He understood now. The same old story of two demons fighting over treasure. Except…
He could not help asking, “How exactly did Brother Zhu get involved?”
What followed, from several mouths, was another classic tale.
The crocodile chased the turtle. The turtle, weaker in magic power, fled from the Eastern Sea all the way into the Central Plains. Though he occasionally widened the distance, he had also sustained serious injuries.
By sheer coincidence, he encountered Zhu Yushan.
That morning, Zhu Yushan had set out alone. Remembering how something always delayed him on exam days, he thought: now that I have cultivation, why not travel by water this time?
Following the Lushui and its tributaries, he could reach a spot not far from Yizhou City, then simply walk ashore to the academy. No more risk of being held up.
Perfect!
He cast a water-avoidance spell and swam upstream, turning into a tributary. He had not gone far when he met the wounded turtle resting there.
Kind-hearted Zhu Yushan approached to ask after him. They had barely exchanged two sentences when the crocodile caught up.
Having already lost the treasure and chased the turtle fruitlessly for so long, the crocodile was in a foul mood. Seeing Zhu Yushan apparently helping the turtle, he attacked without a word, targeting both.
Fortunately, the old turtle was grateful for the assistance and protected Zhu Yushan while fleeing.
Passing this channel, the turtle, bearer of the black-turtle pearl, sensed the secret realm and dragged Zhu Yushan inside to hide.
Yet the crocodile still tracked them and forced his way in.
Luckily, the realm was crisscrossed with water channels and strange terrain that naturally formed a defensive array.
The old turtle was an array expert. Using the waterways and land features, plus Zhu Yushan’s help, they actually repelled several of the crocodile’s assaults.
They had already fought three rounds before Lu Zheng’s group arrived. The crocodile had never managed to reach their cavern. Had the rescuers not come, the fourth round would probably have just begun.
…
“Brother Zhu!” Lu Zheng could not resist clapping Zhu Yushan’s shoulder. “This year’s examinations are already over.”
Zhu Yushan, “…”
He was momentarily speechless, but after thinking about it, he was not especially disappointed. “There is always next year. At least Old Senior He is safe now.”
Lu Zheng’s eyes glinted. Zhu Yushan truly had an excellent temperament. No wonder his cultivation had advanced by leaps and bounds despite starting late. By now he probably had over a hundred years of progress.
After a brief chat with Zhu Yushan, it was time to deal with the turtle and the crocodile.
What to do?
Logically, the turtle had implicated Zhu Yushan, yet Zhu Yushan had intervened of his own accord, and the turtle had later saved him. It would be unfair to blame the turtle.
The crocodile’s attempt to kill Zhu Yushan along the way was understandable, but he had failed, and he was an Eastern Sea demon with no prior grudge against them and no record of wanton slaughter in Great Jing territory.
Killing him in the heat of battle would have been one thing. Now that he was subdued, executing him felt… wasteful?
Yet…
If they simply let both demons go, the crocodile would surely resume hunting the turtle. If the two fought without restraint, the common folk along the river might suffer.
If the Anomaly Control Department later traced the matter back to the River God Mansion or to Lu Zheng, they would be unjustly blamed.
Therefore…
Lu Zheng looked at the two demons, his eyes flickering.
The old turtle licked his lips. “Young Master Zhu’s righteousness soars to the heavens. This old turtle felt instant kinship with him. I am willing to join the Lushui River God Mansion and remain at Young Master Zhu’s side.”
After a pause, he continued, “Moreover, the black-turtle pearl contains a manual called the True Spirit Secret Art of Black-Turtle Water Control. This old turtle wishes to transmit it to Young Master Zhu, hoping it will broaden his understanding and lend him strength.”
The old turtle was shrewd. These two offers seemed like great sacrifices, joining a household and handing over a cultivation method, but in truth he lost nothing and gained much.
After a day of contact, he had grasped Zhu Yushan’s background: impeccable character, extraordinary talent. Unless he died young, he was guaranteed to become a future powerhouse, and as the River God’s son-in-law, dying young was unlikely.
Thus…
Having already shared a life-and-death bond with Zhu Yushan, bestowing the method and staying close was simply hugging a future thigh early while helping that thigh grow faster. Joining the River God Mansion cost him no face or status.
Why ever refuse?
Hum!
The old turtle’s fate was settled. A gleam of destiny light settled upon him.
