"Indulging in pleasures! Wasting time!"

He Dingshan couldn't hold back anymore, so he played his trump card, "I've recently made great progress in cultivating the 'Profound Turtle Water Control True Spirit Secret Technique'. When I have time, let's spar in the Lu River!"

Yue Honghai blinked, waved his hand, and took out a small porcelain bottle, "Lady Liu often engages in alchemy, and her master can't consume it all, so whatever is leftover is given to me."

With a slight movement of his True Qi, the stopper of the porcelain bottle slightly lifted, revealing a small gap, releasing a light scent of medicine.

Even just a hint of it made the tea stall owner who was dozing off nearby feel lighter in spirit and more awake.

He Dingshan, of course, noticed the quality of this elixir that enhanced cultivation.

He Dingshan, "..."

Back then, weren't you supposed to be the main villain who acted against Lu Zheng and the Lu River God!?

Yue Honghai and He Dingshan bantered for most of the day until mid-3 PM when Madam Li brought Zhu Yushan and his wife out of Renxin Hall, while Lu Zheng, Liu Qingyan, and Du Yueyao escorted them out.

"We're leaving now; no need to see us off."

"We'll meet again in the middle of the year."

"If there's an emergency, feel free to come to the Water Mansion at any time."

"Alright, same goes for us."

The two sides bowed in farewell, and then Madam Li cast a blinding technique, concealing their figures from the citizens' view, and then proceeded quickly towards the west gate of Tonglin County.

...

"Actually, before the flooding occurred, the government had already received the news," Lu Zheng said. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

Liu Qingyan nodded, "That seems to be the case."

At this moment, the two noticed Chief Liu of the county government office leading a team hurriedly from the north, heading towards the east of the city.

"Young Master Lu!" Chief Liu brightened up at the sight of them.

Lu Zheng shrugged at Liu Qingyan, "Looks like there's work to be done."

Liu Qingyan smiled without saying a word.

At that moment, a figure walked from the street on the eastern side.

"Junior Brother, you're here too?"

"Senior Brother?"

Lu Zheng looked at Yuan Jing coming quickly and then looked at Chief Liu.

"I received a message from the county government, so I hurried over," Yuan Jing said.

As mentioned earlier, when something happens in the county, there are generally two options: report to the Anomaly Suppression Bureau or collaborate with local abnormal people.

Reporting to the Anomaly Suppression Bureau is relatively slow and neutral, and if the impact isn't significant, who knows when someone would come.

Collaborating with local sects or abnormal people is much more convenient and prompt. The government can solve the case early and gain a reputation, while the abnormal people also gain fame, becoming help later sought by citizens in need.

So, unless it's a major case or one ordered by higher authorities to investigate, Tonglin County typically turns to White Cloud Temple when facing demon disturbances.

Lu Zheng is an Outer Disciple of White Cloud Temple, so sometimes when Chief Liu sees him, he goes straight to Lu Zheng.

Generally, though, a formal invitation is still sent to White Cloud Temple.

Hearing Yuan Jing's words, Lu Zheng nodded and asked Chief Liu, "What's the matter?"

"In the past five days, three villages have had missing person cases," Chief Liu said.

Lu Zheng blinked, "Have you confirmed it's the work of the same person?"

Chief Liu nodded, "All along the Firefly River, there is an evil aura, and the Observation Talismans have reacted."

Lu Zheng squinted his eyes, "All along Firefly River?"

Chief Liu nodded, "I suspect it's a newly transformed Fish Demon, just like the Yellow Eel that transformed last time."

Chief Liu was referring to the case when Lu Zheng accompanied Ning Zhiqui upon his appointment and stumbled upon a Yellow Eel that had transformed and was harming the citizens.

He, of course, didn't know anything about the flooding incident.

Chief Liu didn't know about it, but Lu Zheng did, and he estimated Yuan Jing did too. After all, Daoist Mingzhang had improved significantly and could learn more things now.

Lu Zheng looked at Yuan Jing, who nodded and said, "It might not be just a newly transformed demon."

"I'll go with you," Lu Zheng said.

Yuan Jing smiled at his words, "With Junior Brother helping, it'll lighten my load."

Chief Liu grinned from ear to ear on the side, "With both of you helping, that newly transformed Fish Demon might just end up as a delicacy on our table!"

Lu Zheng turned to Liu Qingyan, "I'll be back soon."

"Will Lu Lang come back for dinner tonight?" Liu Qingyan asked.

"I will!" Lu Zheng nodded, "Might even bring some game back."

Nearby, Elder Liu shook his head speechlessly, while Du Yueyao laughed aloud.

"Let's go!" Lu Zheng said.

Then Chief Liu led the way, with a group of constables surrounding Lu Zheng and Yuan Jing as they exited the city heading for the direction of Firefly River.

During the journey, Lu Zheng couldn't help but sigh, "That demon is quite bold to cause trouble at Firefly River."

Firefly River is located southeast of Tonglin County and is formed by several streams from the Southeast Mountains flowing together, then meandering southwest to join the Lu River, making it a tributary of Lu River.

A rather inconspicuous tributary.

But the main point is its location, right between Shaotong Mountain and Peach Blossom Plain.

Truly chosen a good spot!

If it was slightly further north or south, maybe Chief Liu wouldn't have been the first to find it.

...

The group moved swiftly, quickly reaching the banks of Firefly River at the village of Li by the river, where the last missing person case occurred.

"The first case occurred at Cliff Village upstream, the second at Li Tian Village further downstream near Lu River," Chief Liu explained, "Meanwhile, this village, Li Village by the river, is around the midstream of Firefly River."

Lu Zheng nodded and went with Yuan Jing to the river's edge.

Yuan Jing pinched a Qi Observation Technique but found no clues.

"The aura has dissipated," Yuan Jing said.

Lu Zheng extended his Divine Sense, activating the 'Profound Turtle Water Control True Spirit Secret Technique' to sense both upstream and downstream of Firefly River, and also didn't detect the presence of any abnormality.

"It's already gone," Lu Zheng said.

This wasn't the same as the Yellow Eel last time. That eel had indeed just transformed, killing three people in the same village and hiding not far from the riverbed, practically giving Lu Zheng an easy target.

Chief Liu blinked, "Then did the anomaly go upstream or downstream?"

"Upstream!" Lu Zheng and Yuan Jing said in unison.

"Why?" Chief Liu asked, bewildered.

"Because it doesn't dare enter Lu River," Yuan Jing thought for a moment and added, "Or maybe it's not yet time for it to enter Lu River."

Chief Liu's eyes widened in understanding, "Lu River has the River God!"

Lu Zheng shrugged, then looked upstream at Firefly River and asked, "Firefly River is formed by many mountain streams; its source should be many spring lakes, right?"

Chief Liu nodded, "Exactly."

Lu Zheng and Yuan Jing exchanged a glance, "Let's go up and take a look."