Diligence System: From Servant to Martial King-Chapter 323 - 268: Knowing the Lover, Cai Shang Seeks Entry, Strange Encounter at the Riverbed, Mistakenly Boarding a Pirate Ship (Part 4)
"Who would have thought an eerie sand cave would appear inexplicably at the riverbed."
A chilling, ghostly sensation crept over his skin. Li Xian channeled his Qi to resist, yet still felt an icy numbness in his hands and feet. He activated his Heavy Pupils, concentrating on the depths of the cave. Suddenly, he felt a gaze looking back at him.
Soon after... the vertical cave shook violently. Li Xian struggled to stabilize himself, but the shifting sand loosened, causing him to gradually sink.
Li Xian understood this place was not safe to linger; there seemed to be something unusual at the bottom of the cave. With his Heavy Pupils, he vaguely perceived scales, tombstones, water plants... resembling a giant turtle bearing a large grave.
But the giant turtle was asleep.
Li Xian steadied himself and looked up. The distance to the top of the cave was a mere thirty feet. Climbing up would dispel the danger. However, the river path was vast and mysterious; whether there were other dangerous caves harboring great beasts, no one could tell.
The thirty-foot distance was trivial for other First Realm Martial Artists but was as challenging as scaling the heavens for Li Xian. He contemplated a strategy; although surrounded by miscellaneous items, none were of any use.
Li Xian, known for his quick wit, quickly devised a clever plan. He wielded the Sinking River Sword, burrowing into the sand wall. The gritty sand was not as gentle as water. Buried in the sand, he stopped sinking. Then, moving through the sand, he slowly "swam" upward.
After exerting immense effort, he finally emerged from the sand. Having resolved the danger, he dared not underestimate the situation, stepping cautiously with each footfall. Thanks to the powers of his Heavy Pupils, he clearly viewed the riverbed, preemptively avoiding many perils.
Yet some dangers were nearly impossible to evade. Having traveled several miles, he encountered a dangerous area rich in aquatic plants. His Heavy Pupils perceived it as a green oasis in water, lush and serene, teeming with fish and shrimp.
However, upon entering the aquatic area, he noticed numerous black spots affixed to the fish and shrimp. These were some kind of blood-sucking poisonous insects, extremely potent, capable of burrowing into flesh. This water zone was notorious for its peril.
The fine fibers of the aquatic plants entangled living creatures, their fuzz penetrating the body to absorb blood. Li Xian dared not push through and considered climbing ashore instead. However, he discovered that the mud of this water domain could repel the insects and toxic plants.
He then safely crossed over.
After traveling for about a day, Li Xian felt he’d distanced himself considerably. Even if Wen Caishang pursued relentlessly, it would be difficult to catch up immediately. As he continued his concealed river escape, the dangers at the riverbed were numerous, and whether he could safeguard himself was uncertain. Meeting his demise in the riverbed would indeed be suffocating, so he prepared to go ashore.
The river path was wide.
For Li Xian to reach the shore, he had to first locate the riverbank. By following the riverbank’s muddy and rocky surface, he could climb out of the river. Yet, with the river vast and while positioned at its center, darkness surrounded him on all sides, rendering compass points indistinguishable and extremely difficult to manage.
Equipped with his Heavy Pupils, his vision extended far beyond that of others. After clearly surveying his surroundings, he determined a course and moved sideways with the current, always able to find the shoreline.
He conducted himself methodically. By applying the simplest of principles to the utmost, he always managed to find a way.
Suddenly, he felt a snag at his feet, kicking a particularly heavy iron object. Looking down, he saw it was an anchor. Li Xian was delighted: "By following the anchor, I can climb onto the ship. Not only aiding my escape but also saving my strength."
He grasped the iron chain, climbing upward. The further he ascended, the clearer the water, and the warmer the river became. Having been submerged in the river for a day, cold energy accumulated within him. Fortunately, mastering the properties of "Heart Fire," he warmed himself internally, dispelling the cold and moisture.
Soon, he saw the bottom of the ship. Climbing along the vessel, he gradually emerged from the water, his entire body feeling abruptly lighter. Ecstatically relieved, he surveyed his surroundings, observing the sky as clear as a wash, not a cloud for miles, with gentle waves... endlessly beautiful. Following this event, should he encounter danger again, and once more choose the river for escape, he’d have to consider more thoroughly.
Diving into the river wasn’t challenging. But reaching the riverbed was significantly difficult. Li Xian climbed the long ship and lay on the deck, basking in the sunlight. Seeing it was a typical merchant vessel, he exhaled a sigh of relief, knowing that even if discovered, he would simply need to pay a fee to settle.
Soon, footsteps were heard, and more than ten people gradually emerged from the cabin. All looked at Li Xian with peculiar eyes, examining him up and down.
Someone shouted, "Where did this water thief come from? Aren’t you afraid of death, daring to board our ship!"
Li Xian activated "Heart Fire," dissipating the cold entirely, his body warmed, and with a smile, he said, "Everyone, I’m sorry. I’m a merchant traveler; the journey had fierce winds and heavy rain, and I accidentally fell into the water. Being swept by the current, I collided with this merchant ship and climbed up without permission."
"I am not a water thief. I’m just hitching a ride on this ship, and as for the fee, I will certainly compensate."
The crowd exchanged glances, suddenly bursting into laughter, surrounding him, forming some kind of formation that trapped Li Xian tightly. They jeered, "Interesting, very interesting. This fellow must be a Chief Constable, somehow discovering our tracks, exposed our whereabouts, and deliberately told lies to deceive."
"Indeed, how could such a coincidence occur in this world? However, this guy is formidable; our method of concealment is so adept, and yet he still found us."
"Just a stroke of luck. We’re..."
Among the noisy chatter, suddenly came two coughs. The crowd parted, allowing a middle-aged man to walk through.
His black hair was thick, though his temples were streaked with white. He was tall and quite handsome. He said, "What’s going on?"
A young disciple by his side whispered in his ear, informing him of the situation. The middle-aged man said, "I see... we’re currently being tracked, so let’s not bother with whether this fellow is genuine or not. Let’s kill and feed him to the fish."
The crowd immediately closed in, armed with knives, spears, and clubs, intent on rushing forward. Among them, several played a leading role, even beating drums upon their chests, exhibiting Food Spirit Cultivation!
Li Xian frowned, realizing this ship was anything but ordinary. The adversaries were many and built, and the middle-aged man’s strength was unfathomable. Surrounded by vast waters, the accompanying dangers were fathomable. Confronting them directly would certainly lead to loss, and escaping into the river offered no safe retreat.
Li Xian’s mind raced, attentively observing, seeking change. Suddenly he paused, recalling a crucial point, and loudly said, "Hold on! Truly, the flood has struck the Dragon King’s temple, for we are one and the same."
"Oh?" the middle-aged man said. "What do you mean by ’one and the same’? Go on, tell us... which group are you with?"
Li Xian replied, "I am also a disciple of the Flower Cage Sect."
