CHAPTER 495: CHAPTER 495: BUYING SOFTSHELL TURTLE IN FISHING TOWN

Leng Jueming died, Bei Huang was taken away by Chu Jin after his cultivation was sealed, and Master Shouyi and Daoist Mingzhang both flew away afterward.

Only Fan Boyu stayed behind, and after sitting with everyone at Huangfu Manor, he left with Du Yueyao and Wang Xiaowan.

Lu Zheng and Liu Qingyan stayed for a night and spent another day with the old lady.

"Another three hundred plus Light of Fortune in the account."

The deceased Leng Jueming contributed the most, and although Bei Huang didn’t die, he contributed slightly less. However, according to Chu Jin, with Bei Huang in hand, the Anomaly Suppression Bureau might launch a demon hunting operation against Du Yu Mountain.

Du Yu Mountain isn’t particularly strong and pales in comparison to the Primordial Saint Sect. The truly formidable one is the Black Wolf King, Leng Li; the others are not much of a concern.

In fact, the Great Jing Dynasty initially never intended to bother with Du Yu Mountain, especially since Du Yu Mountain didn’t have a great reputation even within Mengtian. Letting them continue killing and eating people might even lead to internal conflict.

However, since Du Yu Mountain had sent people into the Central Plains to wreak havoc and repeatedly plundered the Great Jing, now that they have Bei Huang for intelligence, the Anomaly Suppression Bureau doesn’t mind slaying a few more Great Demons. Whether to craft some Magical Treasure or simply for the meat, it works out well either way.

...

"Jade Seal, enhance!"

"Buzz!"

On the morning of the third day, Lu Zheng and Liu Qingyan bid farewell and then flew back on a cloud.

Between Yizhou and Yaozhou, there’s a Wanyuan River. Although not as grand as the Lu River and other large rivers, it still sustains countless people along its banks in the two states.

Well, naturally, it also sustains quite a few demons. Last time, Lu Zheng even eliminated an Evil Flood Dragon on one of its tributaries, the Lanshui River.

As they flew over the Wanyuan River, Liu Qingyan felt a sense of nostalgia, remembering their boating scene in a small town last year.

"Lu Lang, I want to go on a boat ride." Liu Qingyan playfully entwined her arm with Lu Zheng’s.

Liu Qingyan rarely made requests, so Lu Zheng naturally had no objection. Conveniently, they were in the south, and by heading upstream along the Wanyuan River, they could approach Tonglin County.

Looking downward, Lu Zheng noticed a town near the bank of the Wanyuan River.

Descending from the cloud, they materialized in the town, choosing a secluded spot to make their presence known, and strolled idly towards the pier.

"This fishing town is indeed quite different from the county seat," Liu Qingyan remarked.

Nearly every household had drying salted fish, which seemed excessive, but children played with crabs and turtle shells, vendors hawked fresh fish and shrimp, and fishermen wore straw raincoats, while restaurateurs from surrounding towns came to procure goods.

This town was the center of over a dozen small fishing villages in the area, where fishermen sold their catch aside from keeping some for their own use.

Thus, the town’s core was as bustling as an average county seat.

"Let’s see if there’s any fresh catch. If they have turtles, we can buy a few to make turtle soup," Lu Zheng suggested.

Liu Qingyan smiled slightly, nodding as she continued, "When we return, let’s first visit Renxin Hall to get some goji berries, cinnamon, antler, and Immortal Spirit to stew with the turtle for half a day."

Lu Zheng: ⚆_⚆?

Liu Qingyan chuckled, giving Lu Zheng a playful glance, her jade face enchanting and full of charm.

Glaring at Liu Qingyan, Lu Zheng said seriously, "Alright! Let’s do that. Come to my room tonight, there’s no need to call Shen Ying."

Liu Qingyan froze, her face pale, "Not call Sister Shen?"

How could she handle it alone! Especially now that he developed a liking for her tail!

Liu Qingyan instantly deflated, her teasing demeanor vanishing, "Uh, Qingyan has to go on a house call tomorrow."

"No worries! I’ll cover for you!"

"Huh!?" Liu Qingyan’s mouth opened slightly, ready to concoct another excuse, when a loud voice interrupted her.

"Fish for sale! Fish for sale!"

"Freshly caught fish today, all lively and plump!"

"And today we even caught a koi fish, take it home to make soup and bring good fortune, or keep it for display for smooth sailing in everything!"

At this point, the two had reached the pier at the edge of the small town, where fishing boats lined the shore, their fish holds opened to reveal various fish swimming inside.

The fishermen touted their goods from the boats, while merchants and locals walked along the pier, sometimes pointing at the fish to pick the best ones.

If locals wanted fresh fish, they brought their own buckets, while merchants had carts modified with square wooden tubs, five to six feet in size, large enough to transport fish alive back to the county seat or state capital.

Lu Zheng and Liu Qingyan mingled among the merchants and locals, chatting while browsing the fish at the pier.

The hawker was a burly fellow, who just found an empty spot by the shore, steadied his boat, and began shouting even before opening the fish hold.

Being interrupted like that, Liu Qingyan shifted her attention, pulling Lu Zheng along to the boat, "Boatman, I’d like to pick out two fresh river fish."

Liu Qingyan might have appeared simply dressed, but her radiant beauty caused the man’s face to redden, as he hurriedly replied, "They’re all fresh! They’re all fresh!"

Stepping aside, he opened the fish hold, revealing dozens of fish inside.

"Have a look, Miss, they’re fat and big, lively and spirited!"

The man pointed at the hold, "All big Wanyuan River carp, some crucian carp and silver carp, oh, and a net full of crabs and turtles too."

Two other men emerged from the cabin, carrying a large basin filled with dozens of big crabs and five or six large turtles.

"The little ones were released; only kept the big ones!"

"Boatman, weigh me two turtles!" Lu Zheng quickly said, "And three more fish."

"Alright!" The man reached in and scooped up two turtles, tying them securely with a grass rope, then fished up three carp, threading grass rope through their gills to string them up.

"That’ll be one hundred and twenty coins," the man said as he handed the turtles and carp to Lu Zheng.

After paying and taking the fish, just as Lu Zheng was about to leave, Liu Qingyan stopped in her tracks with a "Huh?"

"What is it?" Lu Zheng turned back.

"Such a beautiful koi fish."

It wasn’t Liu Qingyan who replied, but a scholarly-looking man in a blue robe, tall and handsome.

Lu Zheng exchanged a glance with the scholar, who cupped his hands politely, "I am Li Yong, greetings to my learned brother."

Lu Zheng returned the gesture, "Lu Zheng."

After exchanging greetings, the man pointed to the three-colored koi fish that had just swum out from the depths of the fish hold, "Beautiful, isn’t it!"

The koi wasn’t large, only about one and a half hand lengths, neither fat nor thin, well-proportioned, and looked smaller than other fish. However, wherever it went, the other fish kept their distance from it.

"Beautiful." Li Yong nodded, "How much for this fish?"

The man’s eyes shifted, "This koi is a good luck charm, three thousand coins, no bargaining."

"Alright, I’ll take it."

It wasn’t Li Yong who replied, but Liu Qingyan.