Fifteen days ago, Author: Zhu Xin Xia Ren
Chapter 22: The Silent Celestial Slaughters the Yellow Dragon
In the dead of night, the old waterman patrolled the water house and spotted a yellow dragon crouching at the wellhead, which frightened him into fleeing in haste.
The matter was as simple as that, devoid of much enmity or vendetta, as is often the case in the world.
Gu Wen gave ten taels of silver to the old waterman, instructing him to keep silent.
As for whether the old waterman would truly keep the secret, Gu Wen was unconcerned.
A mere waterman would find it difficult to even converse with the palace guards, let alone have the means to communicate with the Wang Mansion, where he had never set foot.
Moreover, the hierarchy in Da Gan was strict; a waterman reporting a prominent merchant like himself would not be believed by anyone.
Da Gan was rife with mystical occurrences, and even if news of this incident reached Zhao Feng's ears, it wouldn't matter much.
The tree on the Phoenix Grand Path hadn't been felled by Zhao Feng either; at most, there would be a delayed report.
However, the presence of a yellow dragon in the well sparked a different thought in Gu Wen's mind.
It was normal for spiritual springs to birth exotic beasts; perhaps there were treasures to be found?
In the following days, Gu Wen continued to visit the water house at sunset as usual, but he couldn't find the spiritual beast.
As the sun set, a faint rainbow light reappeared.
Gu Wen ordered someone to retrieve the bucket.
Suddenly, a huge splash erupted from the water below, causing the rope holding the bucket to tighten, nearly causing the waterman turning the drum to lose his balance.
A person ran to the edge of the well, glanced inside, and then somewhat anxiously said, "Master Wen! Something is pulling the bucket!"
"Bring it up, one silver for each person, ten for those who exerted effort."
A thought crossed Gu Wen's mind, but he silently took a few steps back to create a safe distance.
The bucket could hold up to five hundred catties of water at once and could contend with lifting equipment, indicating that it was no ordinary creature.
At the mention of silver, the waterman, who had been struggling, suddenly became energetic, and others joined the pulling team.
With coordinated efforts of "one, two, three," the bucket was slowly raised.
First to emerge was the wooden bucket, followed by a pale yellow giant creature with mottled spots.
It resembled a snake in length, with a large head and small eyes, a mouth wider than its eyes, and densely packed fine teeth biting into the wooden bucket, completely engulfed as if stuck in the crevices of the wood.
The wooden bucket was made of ironwood, usually used on city gates.
Yet this snake-like creature managed to bite through the large water bucket, with a head width equivalent to that of a person's embrace.
Is this an eel?
Everyone's mouths gaped in astonishment, including the palace guards summoned by Gu Wen.
Some even found their legs giving way, leaning against the wall in a show of Da Gan's formidable military might.
Suddenly, the eel thrashed from side to side, splashing water and mucus everywhere.
The four beams supporting the bucket creaked under the strain, as the equipment structure hadn't accounted for such violent shaking.
Gu Wen was the first to regain his composure and ordered his guards, "Kill this beast."
With its densely packed teeth, massive size, and frantic struggles, it was clear that communication was impossible.
The once mighty leader of the palace guards, who had stood guard for Gu Wen day and night, Qin Mian Rong Leng, exchanged a glance.
Drawing their swords, they stepped forward, each aiming a strike at the struggling giant eel.
True to their reputation as battle-hardened soldiers, they showed no signs of hesitation or sluggishness due to the shock.
One strike aimed at the body, the other at the eye.
The former was deflected by the eel's tough scales and slippery mucus, while the latter drew blood.
The eel thrashed even more violently, causing the stones around the well to dislodge and shatter, sending debris flying.
Seeing this, Gu Wen no longer distanced himself but instead observed the eel.
If it could be wounded by a mortal's blade, there was no cause for concern.
With over a dozen adult "Upright Apes" and a dozen steel swords present, even a tiger would have to yield.
"Monster... there's a monster!"
The leader of the palace guards shouted in terror, giving the final push to the already unstable morale, prompting everyone to flee.
Gu Wen covered his face, thinking he had already acknowledged the quality of Da Gan's military strength, but he didn't expect there were still experts among them.
Upon reflection, this was normal.
Being not a pure native, he probably couldn't comprehend the ancient superstitions of the people.
Only those who had come down from the battlefield could truly dispel such superstitions.
Gu Wen was about to order a retreat, deeming it unnecessary to fight to the death, leaving the rest to the Wang Mansion.
Suddenly, his fate pattern trembled, and the Emperor's Essence surged like a raging river!
The Emperor's Essence, whose purpose was unknown, was unexpectedly excited.
He halted his retreat and instead stepped forward, instructing the two men in the distance, "Step back."
As if by instinct, the soldiers charged forward at the command, showing no hesitation.
Qin Mian also ceased his struggle, intending to carry the unconscious Rong Leng and flee.
As he took a few steps, a figure flashed past him, creating a gust of wind.
Clang!
The iron blade sparked against the stone, a glint of cold light followed by a splash of blood, staining half of the wooden bucket red.
The eel's mouth was sliced open three inches down, and large amounts of blood gushed out.
Gu Wen casually flicked off the blood from the blade.
Though he only knew marksmanship, mastery of one form of mortal martial arts naturally led to proficiency in others.
At least the technique of exerting force was universal.
As for the costly Jade Clear Sword Scripture, true to its name, it was not a sword technique but a sword intent, focusing solely on the essence of the sword.
Though he rarely engaged in combat, he understood that flesh and blood were no match for cold metal.
Qin Mian was splattered with sticky, foul-smelling blood.
He struggled to keep his eyes half-open and saw a man in plain white clothes approach him, deftly sheathing the blade at his waist.
The sound of the blade sliding into the scabbard was accompanied by a calm voice.
"If you can't hold the blade steady, you won't be able to keep your life."
Qin Mian was completely stunned, as if he had seen the Grand General, who commanded eighty thousand border troops, guarding the borders of Da Gan.
The illusion passed in a flash, followed by confusion.
Wasn't Lord Wen in poor health? Why was a merchant more ruthless in wielding a blade than seasoned soldiers like them?
Gu Wen said, "I will surely be ennobled in the future. This merit is of no use to me, but you two have no roots in Bianjing and need it more than I do."
Qin Mian's breath hitched, and his blood-stained face gradually lit up with joy, nodding repeatedly. "Thank you, Master Wen, thank you, Master Wen!"
Unconcerned about how Gu Wen wielded the blade, this was an opportunity for advancement! After facing countless dangers on the battlefield, wasn't it all for the sake of wealth and nobility?
Gu Wen nodded in satisfaction.
Jiang Fugui had been plying the palace guards with alcohol and extracting information, thoroughly investigating everyone.
Qin Mian and Rong Leng were newcomers from the border, having only entered the Wang Mansion two months ago.
Zhao Feng probably didn't even know they had been recently reassigned.
He instructed them to report back first, promising rewards that they couldn't refuse.
People's hearts were fickle, but only self-interest remained constant.
With turbulent times approaching, the demands of fate were great.
He needed to strengthen his power to the fullest extent, not by hiding but by enhancing his strength.
"How are your injuries?"
The two men stood up and replied respectfully, "No major issues for now."
Gu Wen said, "Find a physician later. I'll cover the diagnosis, gold, and medicine costs."
Upon hearing this, Qin Mian and Rong Leng were not only touched but also excited.
Following Gu Wen's order to slay the eel wasn't just about a few taels of silver; it was about securing a promising future.
The other palace guards were all descendants of the historic military households in Bianjing, with varying degrees of connections.
Therefore, they were eager to please Gu Wen.
Suddenly, footsteps approached from outside, and even before seeing anyone, Gu Wen could tell there were at least twenty people.
"Master Wen! I've come to save you!"
Jiang Fugui led a group of strong men with an aggressive air, wielding an assortment of weapons ranging from farming tools to wooden sticks and chairs.
Due to Da Gan's strict control over the populace, especially in the Qianjing Prefecture, starting from the previous emperor's era with the 'ten households, one kitchen knife' policy, it was difficult for ordinary people to even find a kitchen knife at home.
This led to the Da Gan's ragtag army, apart from the border troops, achieving victories in quelling rebellions everywhere.
The court knew their army was subpar, but as long as others were worse, it sufficed.
Upon entering the courtyard, they were startled to see the huge yellow eel hanging there.
However, the sight of Gu Wen and his entourage calmed them down, as they realized their Master was present.
He was the one who provided them with food!
This was also why, when a general rebelled, his subordinates often supported him.
Seeing the bleeding wound on the eel and Gu Wen standing nearby with two others, Jiang Fugui breathed a sigh of relief and nearly crawled over, "Master! Are you alright? If anything happens to you, how can I enjoy wealth and prosperity with you?"
Gu Wen pushed him away with disdain and asked, "What about those palace guards?"
"They ran off, saying they were going to the Wang Mansion to fetch reinforcements! Those bastards actually abandoned you and ran away. And those few lowly ones, they eat under your roof but don't know how to protect their master."
Jiang Fugui cursed and grumbled, his face as red as a braised shrimp.
His thoughts were simple.
His Master was about to be ennobled, and he could bask in the glory that followed.
Having followed Gu Wen for four years, he knew that being with this Master meant more than just soup; it meant feasting at the table.
"You are the Marquis's precious heir. If anything happens to you, what will we do?"
Gu Wen narrowed his eyes and immediately ordered everyone, "Bring out this eel."
He paid no mind to those who had fled; it was expected.
But their return to the Wang Mansion meant that Zhao Feng's men would soon arrive, not as reinforcements but as opportunists.
Time was of the essence.