"......"
Everyone was dumbfounded.
No one had expected that Lin Xingchu, who had been missing for a long time, would return to Xi Jian Jiang. After all, she had faced a full-strength Water and Fire Tribulation back then, a joint attack from the thirteen-realm demon kings Man Yuan and Liu Bai! Even under such circumstances, Lin Xingchu could still reshape her golden body and return to Xi Jian Jiang. How incredible was this?
"Aunt!"
Lin Zhao stood on the flying sword Hong Ye, a sunny smile on his face from afar. Only at this moment did he truly relax.
"En, Xiao Zhao."
Lin Xingchu smiled and nodded at him, saying, "Let's settle some other matters first."
"Alright."
Lin Zhao nodded and smiled. Beside him, Xu Zhi, Gu Lingyu, Chu Yu, and Mu Zha also smiled. The next part would likely be a show. After all, with Lin Xingchu's return to Xi Jian Jiang as a thirteen-realm cultivator, she was a genuine fourteen-realm River God here, a being with immense power. Coupled with the seemingly "docile and obedient" Flood Dragon beneath her feet, it was no exaggeration to say that all the cultivators of the Great Shang Dynasty currently in Xi Jian Jiang combined were no match for her.
If the Great Shang Dynasty truly wanted to fight, they would need to summon all the mountain cultivators within their borders, such as the Lord of Dongting Lake, Shang Xuli, the reborn realm martial artist Long Dongjun, and the twelve-realm Sword Immortal Xie Yiying, along with cultivators from all provinces. Only then would they represent the Great Shang Dynasty's strongest force. However, this was impossible. Too many cultivators in the upper five realms acted on their own whims. If not for the Northern Four Tribes' southward advance, they would not have obeyed the imperial court's summons.
...
"I heard."
Lin Xingchu leaned on a dragon horn, her feet resting on Xiao Ke's long, coiling body as it gradually ascended from the river. Looking at Zhao Qiyang, Lin Yan, Zhao Shutong, and the Human Emperor Zhao Jingheng, Lin Xingchu's eyes were devoid of any emotion. She said calmly, "After I was struck into the depths of the earth by the Water and Fire Tribulation, some people wanted to depose my position as the River God of Xi Jian Jiang and enfeoff a new one?"
"......"
Zhao Qiyang and Lin Yan's expressions were extremely unpleasant.
In the end, Lin Yan, being thick-skinned, cupped his fists and said, "Your Majesty, please calm your anger... This matter is a long story. After all, Your Majesty has been missing for several months. Without a River God in Xi Jian Jiang, it's like the Northern border of the human world losing a barrier. We were truly in a predicament and decided to enfeoff a new River God. Since Your Majesty has returned safe and sound, the enfeoffment ceremony will naturally be called off. The position of River God of Xi Jian Jiang remains yours; no one else has the right to usurp it."
"Is that so?"
Lin Xingchu narrowed her eyes and looked at Lin Yan, smiling. "Old Master Lin, you've lived so many years, have they all been wasted? When I was absent, the Great Sword Immortal Lin Wanhua of Fusu Great Wall was still guarding the north. Did the human race suddenly lose its northern gateway? You enfeoffed your own teacher, Chu Jun, as the River God. It was simply because you wanted to place your own people in charge of Xi Jian Jiang. Why didn't you just say so, Old Master? Were you too ashamed or embarrassed to admit it? Or perhaps, Old Master, you also knew that this was an incredibly shameless act?"
"......"
Lin Yan's body trembled slightly.
Lin Xingchu frowned and said, "Lin Yan, I won't make things difficult for you. After all, mountain and river deities do not concern themselves with court matters, and I have no right to question the Great Shang court. You are merely a mediocre official who plays with schemes. I believe that Lord Juyang will eventually be dismissed. As for our Lin clan, it will either be Lin Ruo or my Xiao Zhao who will revitalize it in the future. Only these two can do so. What do you think?"
Lin Yan gritted his teeth. "Your Majesty... Your Majesty is correct..."
Lin Xingchu smiled and then looked at Zhao Qiyang not far away. She then lightly stepped on the dragon's head and said, "What? Did you want to eat the twelve-realm demon immortal I consumed, and even covet its demon core?"
"Oh my..."
The Flood Dragon's mouth opened and closed, speaking in a human voice, and said with a chuckle, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for the kick! This kick has awakened Xiao Ke's primordial ignorance. This twelve-realm demon core naturally belongs to Your Majesty. How could Xiao Ke be so foolish as to covet it?!"
Saying this, Xiao Ke opened its mouth and spat out a radiant twelve-realm Sword Cultivator demon core. In an instant, it was held in Lin Xingchu's hand. She glanced at the demon core, then at Zhao Qiyang, and asked, "Why could a twelve-realm demon race Sword Cultivator hide within the human army? If it weren't for the help of insiders, it would be impossible."
Zhao Qiyang frowned. "Your Majesty... What do you mean by that?"
"Prince Jinan knows very well, doesn't he?"
Lin Xingchu smiled faintly. "I just lack proof. Otherwise, do you, Zhao Qiyang, think you would still be alive to speak to me now? To plant a demon spy and try to kill Lin Zhao under the guise of a chaotic situation is a vicious and despicable plot. However, there won't be a next time. Otherwise, you won't be Prince Jinan anymore."
Saying this, Lin Xingchu raised her hand and threw the twelve-realm demon race Sword Immortal's demon core to Lin Zhao. "Xiao Zhao, give this to your people to forge swords."
"Alright."
After Lin Zhao received it, he immediately handed it over to Xu Zhi. Xu Zhi immediately condensed a golden Dharma arm with his sword intent, cupped his fists towards Lin Xingchu, and said with a smile, "Thank you, Your Majesty, I am deeply grateful!"
Lin Xingchu smiled and nodded.
Then, this fourteen-realm River God moved her gaze to Zhao Shutong and the Human Emperor Zhao Jingheng. She lightly raised her eyebrows and said, "Zhao Jingheng, you are the ruler of the Great Shang Dynasty. Do you know that the Great Shang Dynasty has internal traitors? A twelve-realm demon race Sword Cultivator was hidden among your personal Imperial Guards. If it weren't for the actions of insiders, how could this have gone unnoticed?"
"Your Majesty speaks wisely!"
Zhao Jingheng cupped his fists lightly, a heroic young spirit in his brows. "I will thoroughly investigate this matter."
"En."
Lin Xingchu nodded and said, "You are the Human Emperor. Don't feel constrained everywhere. After all, there are not a few mountain cultivators in this human world who stand on the side of righteousness. If you, Zhao Jingheng, want to eliminate corrupt officials in the court and purge some sinister factions, will my Xi Jian Jiang not offer its assistance? Will Lin Zhao's Xueyu Heavenly Pool stand by idly? Even Lin Wanhua of Fusu Great Wall will lend you a hand. In this world, you, as the Human Emperor, should understand what is in line with the hearts of the people."
She paused and continued, "I saw everything clearly from the bottom of the river. From the moment Lin Zhao led the people from the Mountain Peak Villa to arrive, you, Zhao Jingheng, as the Human Emperor, didn't even have a chance to speak. Is this acceptable? How many of those who act on behalf of the Son of Heaven and carry out heavenly decrees are not considered treacherous officials? This is not good. You should consider it carefully."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Zhao Jingheng cupped his fists and nodded. When he looked up, there was a flicker of brilliance in the eyes of this young Human Emperor.
"Disperse."
Lin Xingchu waved her hand gently and said, "The affairs of Xi Jian Jiang do not require the Great Shang Dynasty's excessive interference. They will all be decided by me, Lin Xingchu. As for other mountain and river deities in the north, if you wish to enfeoff them, you may do so. I will not interfere."
"Thank you!"
Zhao Shutong stood on the spirit boat, cupped his fists lightly towards Lin Xingchu, and then looked at Lin Zhao, nodding with a smile. Lin Zhao returned the smile.
The Great Shang began to withdraw everyone.
"Chu Jun."
Lin Xingchu suddenly called out to the shadowy figure on the enfeoffment platform. For a moment, not only Chu Jun but also Lin Yan was slightly startled. Many people stopped. They wondered what Lin Xingchu wanted with the former Minister of War, who had almost replaced her. Was she going to take revenge? It was understandable. The moment Chu Jun agreed to become the River God of Xi Jian Jiang, he had already greatly offended Lin Xingchu.
"Your Majesty..."
Chu Jun's shadowy soul trembled and knelt on the enfeoffment platform. "What are Your Majesty's orders?"
Lin Xingchu said, "You should not have agreed to the River God enfeoffment. However, when you recognized Xiao Zhao's identity, you showed no sign of presumptuousness, proving that you do not wish to associate with those petty individuals. Therefore, there is still hope. Now, I offer you the enfeoffment of a tributary river god of Xi Jian Jiang. Are you willing to accept it? If you are willing, stay, and from now on, bring blessings to the local mountains and rivers. It is also a form of merit."
"Ah!?"
Chu Jun was on the verge of tears and kowtowed repeatedly. "Chu Jun is willing! Chu Jun is a thousand times willing!"
Lin Xingchu smiled and nodded. "Then stay."
"Yes!"
Lin Yan finally relaxed and left with the spirit boat, his mind in a mess. This trip to the north to enfeoff a new River God had been a complete failure. Furthermore, Lin Xingchu's words were like a warning shot, especially when Lin Xingchu said that those acting on Zhao Jingheng's behalf might be treacherous officials. Lin Yan felt even more uneasy. Clearly, this enfeoffment ceremony had not only failed to consolidate the Lin clan's position in the Great Shang court, but it had backfired. It had given Zhao Shutong many reasons to strengthen imperial power and had given Zhao Jingheng an opportunity to gradually reclaim his authority. After all, Zhao Jingheng had now gained the support of three influential forces outside the court: Xi Jian Jiang, Xueyu Heavenly Pool, and Fusu Great Wall.
...
Late at night, Lin Xingchu hosted a banquet in her River God's mansion to entertain the members of the Mountain Peak Villa. Miss Fu Ping was also present, as were many of the original deities of the River God's mansion. Everyone's faces were beaming. A table full of delicacies and river delicacies was prepared. Before the banquet began, Lin Xingchu and Lin Zhao chatted in the corridor outside, discussing everything that had happened in the human world after Lin Xingchu was trapped in the depths of the earth.
Lin Zhao recounted the events earnestly, starting from the severe injury of the thirteen-realm military strategist Sage Huo, followed by the fierce battle where the fourteen-realm Great Sword Immortal Yan Beichen sworded his way to the Nichang Realm. Then he spoke of Wang Yue's possession and his own descent into inner demons. At this point, Lin Xingchu's expression was quite worried, as Lin Zhao was a disciple of Qin Suihan and half a scholar. Scholars, once afflicted with inner demons, tend to get stuck in their ways, making it more difficult to sever them than for ordinary cultivators. It was only when Lin Zhao mentioned seeing the words of a sage that Lin Xingchu finally relaxed. He then spoke of Lin Zhao taking Wang Yue south.
Along the way, they encountered the passionate young Taoist Xu Mingan, the lonely and kind old man of the mountains, Old Man Qin, and his wife. Then they spoke of the Lord of Dongting Lake, Shang Xuli, the Sect Master of Tie Fu Mountain, Long Dongjun, the Sect Master of Lingyan Sword Sect of Wangxin Lake, Xie Yiying, and her female disciple Chen Mengjun. Lin Xingchu listened with great interest, as if she had traveled through the martial world with Xiao Zhao.
At this moment, a voice came from behind, "Your Majesty, the banquet can begin."
Behind them was a young man in a green robe with a single horn on his forehead. It was the thirteen-realm Flood Dragon in its human form.
"You are?"
Lin Zhao couldn't recognize him immediately.
The other party immediately knelt down with a "plop," his eyes watery. "Finally, the touching moment of recognition has arrived. Your Majesty's most loyal servant, Xiao Ke, greets Young Master Lin Zhao!"
Lin Zhao: "???"