Holy body, start with the Five Animal Exercises

53: Shishi River God, Shishi King StatueXu Yanran looked towards the center of the lake and said with a smile, ”This is the Stone Lion King Statue. According to records, there was a great flood here during the Guangyu era, so this Stone Lion King Statue was erected. Since then, there have been no more floods here.”

”It has been over three hundred years. That offering table is spontaneously set up by the villagers from nearby.”

”This Stone Lion King Statue can almost be called the River God of Stone Lion River. Every year on the summer solstice, a sacrifice is held here.”

”Three hundred years?”

Qin Jiang murmured to himself, then stepped forward, directly treading on the water. Evil Qi surged beneath his feet, yet it caused no ripples.

This was the benefit of cultivating the Earth Dragon Body; his control over his Physical Body had reached a very high level.

He arrived at the stone platform, walked to the Stone Lion King Statue, and could clearly see that the statue was covered in grooves, with heavy signs of erosion and weathering from rainwater.

His fingertip lightly touched and caressed the rough, uneven statue, and a cool aura flowed into his body.

”Potential points absorbing... 0.20... 50.60... 5”

”Potential points: 10.5”

It increased his potential points by a full 5.2! It truly deserved to be an existence that had stood for three hundred years and was revered as a River God.

However, he looked around, but there was no accumulation of Yin Qi here, so that strange entity might not be here.

Thump, thump, thump! Thump, thump, thump!

Just as he was wondering, urgent, heavy hoofbeats came, and a black horse, much larger than an ordinary horse, galloped at high speed.

Qin Jiang looked over and recognized it as a warhorse belonging to the County Soldiers, and the figure riding on it was very conspicuous. That tower-like physique was precisely Magistrate Long Yuesheng.

Whoa—!

Long Yuesheng reined in his horse, holding the Blood Flame Golden Spear in his hand, his eyes scanning all directions.

After seeing Xu Yanran, he let out a sigh of relief and nodded slightly in greeting.

Then he turned to look at Qin Jiang and was immediately somewhat surprised. When he clearly saw the fox fur cloak Qin Jiang was wearing, his expression changed from surprise to shock.

Qin Jiang walked from the center of the lake to the shore. Long Yuesheng sat on his horse, looking at Qin Jiang with a complex gaze.

”Lord Long,” Qin Jiang called out.

Long Yuesheng reacted, dismounted, casually stuck the Blood Flame Golden Spear into the ground, his expression showing a mix of relief and sigh.

”I originally thought you were a commoner with no significant background. After you became a County Soldier, when I was transferred back to the Commandery City in the future, I would have you accompany me as a personal guard, which would have been a good future.

However, I never expected that you are now wearing the Red Tiger Gang’s fox fur cloak. I’m afraid it won’t be long before the Red Tiger Gang gains another Hall Master.

If I had known this earlier, I wouldn’t have let you go to that banquet. Please don’t hold a grudge against me.”

Qin Jiang smiled, ”Lord Long is joking. How could I hold a grudge because of this?”

Long Yuesheng also laughed, ”It seems I worried too much.”

”May I ask why Lord Long has come here?” Qin Jiang asked.

Recently, strange entities have been appearing frequently, and the Red Tiger Gang has dispatched many people for this, even the Gang Leader rarely stays in the gang. Lord Long should also be busy eliminating strange entities.

”Oh, right, I’ll take care of things here. I imagine you’ve probably guessed that this incident was caused by a strange entity.”

”I received news that the strange entity here is powerful. Besides me, only Gang Leader Lu in Black Mountain City is confident in dealing with it; even the County Magistrate cannot. ”

”Speaking of which, I have you to thank for bringing back the blood metal. The Blood Flame Golden Spear has a restraining effect on strange entities, which has made things much easier for me,” Long Yuesheng said with a smile.

As he spoke, he looked at Xu Yanran, ”Furthermore, the Xu Family has strongly supported me, so I naturally cannot be ungrateful, haha.”

”Lord Long is too kind. You have contributed greatly to Black Mountain City, and my Xu Family should naturally do its part,” Xu Yanran said with a smile.

”Hahaha, Young Miss Xu is a good person. I know a bit about your Xu Family’s affairs. Although I can’t help much, if there’s an opportunity in the Commandery City in the future, we can interact more,” Long Yuesheng said with a laugh.

Xu Yanran was delighted to hear this, ”Then I thank Lord Long very much.”

Thump, thump, thump! Thump, thump, thump!

Hoofbeats came, and Tian Shangfei quickly approached. At this time, Tian Shangfei was not only riding one horse but also leading another with his right hand, looking a bit comical.

Whoa~~

Coming closer, Tian Shangfei reined in his horse, ”Boss... Boss, these two horses together... Lord Long?!”

Before he could finish speaking, he clearly saw Long Yuesheng standing beside Qin Jiang.

When he saw the black warhorse from afar just now, he felt it looked familiar, but he didn’t expect it to be Long Yuesheng.

”You are?” Long Yuesheng asked.

Tian Shangfei quickly dismounted, ”I am a small leader of the Red Tiger Gang’s Sixth Hall, oh no, no, I’m already a Big Leader now, working under Boss Qin.”

Long Yuesheng nodded, ”So you’re Qin-brother’s person. I’ll remember you.”

Tian Shangfei, hearing this, shrank his neck, feeling a bit overwhelmed by the favor. He knew that this was Magistrate Long giving Face to his boss.

Thump, thump, thump!

Another round of hoofbeats, but this time they were unhurried and orderly.

After a few breaths, Steward Xu rode his horse through the woods. He paused slightly upon seeing Long Yuesheng, then quickly adjusted and reined in his horse.

”Lord Long,” he greeted softly.

”Steward Xu, long time no see. How is Master Xu doing lately?” Long Yuesheng said with a smile.

He knew a bit about the Xu Family’s background and also knew that although this Steward Xu seemed to have no presence, he was actually a master of the Divine Intent Realm.

His Golden Flame Blade had already been cultivated to the fourth level, not far from the Grandmaster Realm of Divine Intent Peak.

In terms of strength, he was enough to rank among the top five in Black Mountain City; even Long Yuesheng himself wasn’t confident in suppressing him.

”Master is well, thank you for your concern, Lord Long,” Steward Xu slightly cupped his hands.

”You’ve arrived just in time. Come and do something with me,” Long Yuesheng said, as if asking, but not in an inquiring tone.

Steward Xu looked at Xu Yanran, who pondered for a moment before nodding slightly.

Long Yuesheng smiled at the sight, ”Qin-brother, you and Young Miss Xu should go back first. Steward Xu and I will search for this strange entity.”

Qin Jiang nodded, ”Then we will take our leave first. I wish Lord Long a triumphant return.”

On the way back to the city, Tian Shangfei excused himself and left, leaving only Qin Jiang and Xu Yanran slowly riding their horses forward.

”Does Young Master Qin still have family at home?” Xu Yanran asked.

”Only my Elder sister,” Qin Jiang said.

Xu Yanran nodded slightly, her eyes a little melancholic, ”Among my generation in the Xu Family, only I, Yanran, remain.”

If not for this, such a large Xu Family would not have needed her to bear the burden.

The journey was silent until they reached the West City Gate of the Inner City to part ways, when Xu Yanran suddenly called out to Qin Jiang.

Qin Jiang turned his head, his Face showing inquiry.

Xu Yanran tilted her head down slightly, with a hint of undetectable blush, ”Young Master Qin, don’t forget the Lantern Festival on the fifteenth of next month. You promised, didn’t you?”

Qin Jiang smiled upon hearing this, ”Haha, naturally.”

It was almost noon when he returned to Anxin Villa. Several Red Tiger Gang Disciples were standing at the entrance of the villa.

Upon seeing Qin Jiang, one of them quickly walked over to lead his horse, ”Steward Qin, I am Liang Wei, under Elder Chen. Elder Chen is currently waiting for you inside the courtyard.”

Qin Jiang slightly raised his eyes, ”What does Elder Chen want with me?”

”It seems to be about the Hall Master position,” Liang Wei said.

After dismounting and walking into the courtyard, Elder Chen was comfortably lying on a seat in the pavilion, holding a bunch of grapes in his hand.

Seeing Qin Jiang enter, he waved repeatedly, pointing to the table in the center of the pavilion, ”Come and try quickly! These are excellent Purple Jade Grapes, very delicious!”

Qin Jiang sat down, picked a grape, and tasted it. It was chilled, with a crispy, refreshing, and cool taste.

”Elder Chen, you were looking for me?”

Elder Chen sat up, ”It’s nothing major. The matter of the Hall Master has been decided. Five days later, on the first day of the seventh month, you will fight another steward from the Fourth Hall who has mastered the Red Tiger Fist.

Whoever wins will be the new Fourth Master after the merger of the Fourth Hall and the Sixth Hall.”