Chapter 201 - 124: [Fate Chart: Golden Seal Decree, Jade Scroll of Heaven]

Chapter 201: Chapter 124: [Fate Chart: Golden Seal Decree, Jade Scroll of Heaven]

The atmosphere on the threshing ground in Anyu Village was tense and grim.

At this moment, Pang Song’s expression was darker than the bottom of a pot.

After learning of the utterly depraved crime of child sacrifice, the rage in his heart had completely overwhelmed his reason.

As a member of the Human Race, this was a line that could not be crossed.

"Men! Take those head Temple Priests away and place them under strict guard! They will be sentenced after this matter is concluded!"

After dealing with these human traitors, Pang Song, unwilling to delay a single moment, turned to a trusted subordinate beside him. "Have you gotten the location of the Wild God’s Water Mansion out of them?"

"Reporting to the Captain, we’ve pried it out of them!"

The subordinate pointed to a backwater cove on the river’s surface in the distance. "According to the old Temple Priest’s confession, it’s at the bottom of the water in that area called Ghost Sorrow Bay. The water there is deep, the current is swift, and there are often whirlpools. There’s a natural grotto at the bottom, which is the Divine Mansion of the Sanmu Fairy."

"Good!"

A harsh glint flashed in Pang Song’s eyes as he drew his blade. "All men, listen up! Prepare your Water-Repelling Talismans and follow me into the water to slay the demon!"

"Captain Pang, wait a moment."

Chu Bai, who had been watching coldly from the sidelines, suddenly spoke up to stop him. "The Sanmu River is, after all, under the jurisdiction of the Water Department, and underwater combat is not the Evil Suppression Department’s forte. That Wild God has been entrenched here for years; it’s bound to have a few tricks. Why don’t we first report this to the Water Department and ask them to..."

"There’s no time!"

Pang Song cut Chu Bai off with a wave of his hand, his tone urgent. "Banner Inspector Chu, you heard him. That Wild God is still demanding children! That old bastard said they just sent a child over last night! If we wait for those bureaucrats in the Water Department to slowly go through their procedures, that child will have long been devoured by the demon!"

He looked at Chu Bai, his eyes flickering for a moment before he adopted a righteous expression. "Saving a life is as urgent as putting out a fire! I’ll take the elites to scout ahead. Banner Inspector Chu, you can hold the fort here at the post and prevent anyone from tipping them off.

Once I have results, I’ll return immediately. At that time, you can personally report to the Director, and we’ll split the credit for this!"

Chu Bai gave Pang Song a deep look, inwardly cursing him. ’What an idiot.’

’How could I not see what he’s thinking?’

’This whole "saving a life is as urgent as putting out a fire"—while there might be some truth to it, it’s mostly just a pretext.’

’Pang Song is just desperate for merit. He wants to snatch the credit for "Slaying the Evil God" before the Water Department has a chance to react.’

’And he doesn’t want the Water Department getting a piece of the pie. After all, this case involves his Team Two. If the Water Department gets involved, things could get complicated.’

But Chu Bai didn’t call him out on the spot.

"Since Captain Pang’s mind is made up, then we’ll do as you say."

Chu Bai nodded slightly, his expression calm. "I’ll hold the fort here. Captain Pang, do be careful."

"Excellent! You’re a straightforward man, Banner Inspector Chu!"

Overjoyed, Pang Song immediately gathered ten highly skilled experts, handed each of them a Water-Repelling Talisman, and one by one, they jumped into the surging Sanmu River like dumplings being dropped into a pot, vanishing in the blink of an eye.

Watching the surface of the water where Pang Song and his men had disappeared, the calm expression on Chu Bai’s face vanished instantly, replaced by a cold severity.

’Greed and recklessness are the path to one’s own demise.’

He shook his head. Instead of actually staying to guard the post, he turned and walked toward a patch of reeds by the riverbank.

As he walked, he pulled an Iron Token from his robes—one that had, at some point, become slightly warm—and infused it with a trace of Spiritual Power.

"Senior Brother, the men are in the water. Come quickly."

...

Deep within the reeds on the Sanmu Riverbank.

The autumn wind was bleak, and the withered yellow reeds swayed, making a rustling sound.

Chu Bai stood on the bank, his gaze fixed on the wide expanse of the river.

Although the Guardian Scripture had greatly enhanced his Divine Thought, the vast river water seemed to have some property that blocked Divine Sense. Even he could only probe the movements a few dozen feet beneath the surface.

Just then, the once-calm surface of the river in the distance suddenly parted. A wave several dozen feet high, like a white wall, came rushing toward him.

Atop the crest of that wave stood a young man dressed in a sky-blue official robe.

The man had a lean face and a tall, straight posture. Though it was just one man on one wave, he gave off an impression of mountain-like stability. The river water beneath his feet seemed to have a Spirituality of its own, docilely holding him aloft as he moved with incredible speed.

"Are you Junior Brother Chu Bai?"

The young man called out in a clear voice while still a hundred feet from the bank. His voice was as smooth as jade, yet it clearly pierced through the sound of the wind and waves.

Chu Bai performed a cupped-fist salute and smiled. "I am Chu Bai. Greetings, Senior Brother Han."

The newcomer was none other than Daoist Zhang’s eldest disciple, Han Xingmo, currently a Regular Ninth Grade River Patrol Warrior in the Anping County Water Department.

SPLASH!

The wave dissipated, and Han Xingmo landed steadily beside Chu Bai, not a single drop of water on him.

"What a fine young talent!"

Han Xingmo looked Chu Bai up and down, sensing the harmonious, unified aura of the Qi Cultivation Fourth Layer. His eyes filled with admiration. "Master often praised your exceptional gifts in his letters. Seeing you today, it’s clear your reputation is well-deserved. How long has it been, and you’ve already broken through to the Middle Stage of Qi Cultivation."

"You flatter me, Senior Brother."

After his modest reply, Chu Bai’s expression turned serious as he got straight to the point. "Senior Brother, the situation is urgent. We can exchange pleasantries later. The situation beneath the Sanmu River is worse than we anticipated."

He then concisely recounted the truth about the "child sacrifices" in Anyu Village, as well as the fact that Pang Song, in his greedy and reckless pursuit of merit, had already gone into the water.

"What?!"

After hearing Chu Bai’s account, Han Xingmo, who normally had a calm and steady temperament, saw his face turn ashen with fury.

"Child sacrifices?! An entire village left with no descendants?!"

A berserk wave of Spiritual Power erupted from his body, and the surrounding reeds were instantly flattened by the surging Water Qi. Although he only had the cultivation of the Qi Cultivation Sixth Layer, as a Court-decreed River Patrol Warrior, he could mobilize the Power of Water Veins on the banks of this great river. The might he displayed was no less than that of a Late-stage Qi Cultivation Great Cultivator!