Chapter 321: Discovery of the Tracking Dog, Qi Yuan Is Actually...

Chapter 321 The Tracking Dog’s Discovery, Qi Yuan Actually Was…

Qi Yuan seemed not to see the mockery deep in their eyes.

“Lead the way, I need to learn well how to get married with proper ostentation.”

Hearing this, the swarthy man took Qi Yuan for a fool from the county seat with money to burn.

“Whose wedding ostentation can compare to our Sea God? Our Sea God is a deity who reaches heaven and earth!”

The swarthy man puffed out his chest with pride as he spoke of the Sea God’s greatness.

“How many wives has the Sea God taken?” Qi Yuan asked casually. “I’m here to learn from his example.”

“Well…” The swarthy man frowned. “I don’t remember. The Sea God has been here for three years, taking a young woman every two months.

Lately, I don’t know why—he just took one last month, and now he wants another this month. Sigh.”

The swarthy man grew a bit distressed at this.

He himself was already thirty years old and still hadn’t found a wife.

His old flame from the brothel had been tricked by him into marrying the Sea God.

“Three years?” Qi Yuan mused. “Is the Sea God connected to the water tribe in the county seat? Which is weaker and which is stronger?”

The demon leader in the county seat was Kun Laoda of the water tribe.

Here there was the Sea God.

The two might have some relationship.

“No.” The swarthy man shook his head, then puffed out his chest again. “Half a year ago, Kun Laoda from the county seat came to our Haishi Village to seek an audience with our Sea God.”

What this statement revealed was that the Sea God’s status was no less than Kun Laoda’s, perhaps even higher.

“I see.”

Many thoughts crossed Qi Yuan’s mind.

If that was the case, then this Sea God must also be a great demon of the Jade Blood Realm.

Now, all the monsters in Yunyan County had gathered at three strongholds.

Uncle Huang and Snake Woman had two strongholds outside, summoning all kinds of monsters there.

Thus, the locations of these strongholds were also exposed to Qi Yuan’s sight.

All those monsters had been slain by Qi Yuan.

Only Kun Laoda’s stronghold remained—Qi Yuan had no clue about it at all.

Logically, every named demon in Yunyan County should have gone to the three strongholds.

A great demon of the Jade Blood Realm like the Sea God should probably be with Kun Laoda, discussing the matter of the Spirit Blood Child.

But instead, the Sea God went his own way, still marrying wives here.

That was interesting.

What if he made a bold guess?

Kun Laoda was the Sea God’s wife?

Kun Laoda had vanished without telling the Sea God, and the Sea God, jealous, angrily took two wives.

Plausible—much more reliable than unofficial histories.

Qi Yuan looked deeper into Haishi Village, his interest growing.

Following the swarthy man, Qi Yuan entered Haishi Village.

In Haishi Village, most were able-bodied men, dressed in coarse linen, bare-chested.

As for young women, they were extremely rare.

As soon as he entered the village, Qi Yuan smelled a strong fishy odor. On the low thatched roofs, fish were drying in winnowing baskets.

Under some eaves, salted fish hung.

In the corners, red paper scraps seemed to have been washed by rain to the base of the walls.

In the small fishing village, there was a stifling yet festive atmosphere.

At that moment, a quarrel came from not far away.

“You may be from the yamen, but in our Haishi Village, the Sea God comes first; the yamen can only be second.

If you want to see the Sea God, no way!”

“Hmph, what damn laws? Aren’t laws just the ropes your yamen uses to tie us common folk around the neck?”

“Can the county magistrate fill our bellies? Can the emperor keep us safe while fishing?”

“Since they can’t, the Sea God is supreme.”

The village chief glared at the several government runners before him, his beard trembling. Even facing officials, he showed no courtesy.

Over these three years, Haishi Village had grown stronger and stronger.

It now had over a thousand able-bodied men.

Hundreds of fishing boats, large and small.

If at first Haishi Village had needed the government to defeat the neighboring village, now it didn’t give the government a second thought.

The fishermen here could be fishermen, or they could be pirates.

Moreover, they had the Sea God behind them—they feared no officials.

An Qiao, holding the tracking dog, frowned deeply at the village chief’s words. “These women married to the Sea God—how innocent they are!”

After all, she came from modern society; though she had seen much of this, she still could not accept it.

The old village chief looked at An Qiao with contempt. “A few women in exchange for a year’s harvest—that’s a good deal.

Anyway, people either become beasts of burden for the government and yamen, or servants for the Sea God.

Either way, why not choose the one where you can see the benefit?”

In the old village chief’s eyes, weren’t people just resources?

As long as they were resources, they could be bought, sold, and traded.

The other villagers eyed An Qiao and the runners beside her with ill intent.

They clearly agreed with the village chief.

In the old days, they had fished from dawn to dusk, and more than seventy percent of their catch had to be handed over to the imperial government, with petty clerks skimming off the top.

They had to bow and scrape at the sight of anyone in official robes.

Those days had no hope.

Not like now—eating well, drinking well, daring to curse the runners to their faces.

An Qiao was furious, mainly because she felt the village chief seemed to have a point. “If you were swapped with those women married to the Sea God, would you be willing?”

The old village chief looked at An Qiao and said contemptuously, "Young man, you must come from a very good background, to ask such a naive question at your age.

It is they who are marrying the Sea God, not me.

If I were them, naturally I would be unwilling, but... I am not.

As for that remark, why don't you go ask the Emperor himself if he would be willing to become a farmer, face to the soil with his back to the sky, paying heavy taxes to the Emperor?"

"You..." An Qiao was so angry she wanted to draw her blade, but was stopped by the man in black tight-fitting clothes beside her.

"If you sincerely come to observe the ceremony, we naturally welcome you.

But if you intend to disrupt it, heh heh... don't even think about leaving Haishi Village alive.

In this Haishi Village, the Sea God is the Emperor, and I, this old man, am the Crown Prince!"

The nearly seventy-year-old village chief spoke fiercely, his tone utterly domineering.

Just then, a slightly surprised voice came through.

"In this world, there is actually a seventy-year-old Crown Prince?"

Qi Yuan walked over, looking at the village chief with astonishment.

"Having been the Crown Prince for so many years, are you content?

Are you just like in the TV dramas, harboring resentment in your heart, always waiting for the Emperor to die?

Oh, and these young strong men beside you must be the death warriors you've secretly trained."

Qi Yuan stared at the old village chief, his eyes suddenly widening.

"My heavens, I observe that here the blood energy surges to the heavens, and a conflict of weapons is about to occur; the Emperor's star is dim.

Could it be that you, this Crown Prince, with discontent in your heart, have hidden death warriors, preparing to assassinate the Sea God at today's imperial wedding!"

Qi Yuan spoke quickly, like a machine gun.

With his exaggerated performance, he instantly heightened the atmosphere.

The old village chief's face changed repeatedly: "I have not, don't you talk nonsense, I am utterly loyal to the Sea God!"

"Alas, no wonder I had a dream last night, dreaming of a white snake that actually spoke human words. It said: 'Haishi prospers, the village chief becomes king.'

Originally, I did not understand the meaning of these words, but upon arriving here, I found the answer. Village chief, you are truly a ruthless man!"

With Qi Yuan's words, the young strong men beside the village chief involuntarily moved a little farther away from him.

The village chief's head was now buzzing.

To be honest, for some reason, upon hearing Qi Yuan's voice, his spirits were stirred, and he even felt like raising his arm and shouting, truly becoming king.

But soon, he came to his senses.

He had no sons; if he became Emperor, who would inherit the throne?

Wouldn't that benefit others?

Thinking this, he glared at Qi Yuan: "Who are you, spreading heresy here?"

"I am the Blood Taker of the Myriad Realms..." Qi Yuan replied seriously.

He had come here precisely to take the Sea God's blood.

The village chief was utterly bewildered; he couldn't quite understand Qi Yuan's words. At that moment, his head was still buzzing, and his blood was rushing. He said rudely, "So you're a madman."

Just then, An Qiao looked at Qi Yuan, a smile in her eyes: "Brother Qi, how did you end up here?"

Previously she had called Qi Yuan a newcomer, now she called him Brother Qi, which made Qi Yuan sigh—ah, women.

"My child bride is getting married today, and I've come to attend the wedding," Qi Yuan replied seriously.

"???" An Qiao was dumbfounded.

The village chief's look toward Qi Yuan also turned hostile.

Could it be that the woman they caught below was this madman's child bride?

He looked at Qi Yuan, his words laced with threat: "Anyone who dares to disrupt the Sea God's wedding today won't leave the village alive!"

These people were from the government, so he couldn't openly break ties.

After issuing his threat, the village chief left with the villagers.

Qi Yuan watched the village chief's retreating figure and shouted loudly, "Don't misunderstand, my child bride and I settled things long ago. Even if I were to steal a bride, it wouldn't be her. The Sea God... is my moonlight!"

But his words went unheard by the village chief and the others.

At this moment, An Qiao very much agreed with the village chief—this Qi Yuan might indeed be a bit mad.

"Brother Qi, remember that madman from yesterday? We followed him here.

Our captain is now lying low in hiding, while the two of us have come openly to Haishi Village to investigate and see if there are any clues." An Qiao told Qi Yuan the reason for their arrival.

Upon hearing this, Qi Yuan nodded: "Do as you please, just don't interfere with my bride-stealing."

"Ah?" An Qiao's expression turned serious. "Brother Qi, this Sea God... is suspected to be a great demon of the Jade Blood Realm. If you steal his wife, he certainly won't agree."

"Who said I'm stealing his wife?" Qi Yuan said nonchalantly. "Don't worry, I know my limits. Let's go observe the ceremony first. I also want to learn, to see... how a wedding is done."

The first time he got married, he had fallen asleep and had no memory of it, stumbling dazedly into the bridal chamber.

This time, he had to watch carefully.

Hearing this, An Qiao was speechless inside.

She wanted to say, big brother, the mission is the priority.

But recalling Qi Yuan's strength and his erratic, madcap behavior,

she feared being beaten to death, so she said nothing.

In the following time, the three of them and a dog took a stroll around the village.

Amid the sound of gongs and drums, the Sea God's wedding officially began.

A long, leisurely procession carried the bridal sedan chair, beating gongs and drums.

An Qiao watched all this, her gaze complex: "Putting everything else aside, this ancient wedding is quite interesting too."

Though there were no ten-mile red dowry, tall horses, phoenix coronet, or embroidered cape.

Qi Yuan, on the other hand, shook his head in disappointment: "It's not even as grand as my musical band, let alone my funeral wailing team."

"Ah?" An Qiao blinked. "What musical band, what funeral wailing team? Where?"

She suspected Qi Yuan was talking nonsense again.

"They are... in my heart." Qi Yuan's gaze grew somewhat heavy.

These villagers of the Mortal Heart Realm had all become his divine infants, part of him.

Now, he could not awaken them.

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but recall the actress Wu Qi.

An Qiao fell silent; she felt she couldn't get through to Qi Yuan.

At this moment, the village procession had already stretched to the sandy beach by the coast.

Eight villagers carried a large sedan chair, their faces beaming with joy.

The village chief stood on a high platform, burning incense, worshipping the sea, and kowtowing, his demeanor utterly devout.

"Great Sea God, omnipotent Sea God, grant us a season of bountiful harvest and peace in Haishi Village."

At the village chief's words, all the villagers present faced the sea, knelt in unison, prostrated themselves, their expressions reverent.

Only the onlookers and the villagers carrying the eight-man sedan chair remained standing.

The men bearing the sedan chair now stepped forward, treading on the sand, walking toward the sea.

An Qiao saw this and felt a pang of pity.

She was about to witness another innocent person die tragically.

Beside her, Qi Yuan pricked up his ears, looking perplexed: "Why doesn't the master of ceremonies ask if they are willing? If he doesn't ask, how can I steal the bride?"

That's how it always is in movies.

As soon as the master of ceremonies asks if they are willing, the camera zooms in on the groom or bride, and then the bride-stealing begins.

Qi Yuan also believed that was the best moment to steal the bride; otherwise, TV wouldn't show it that way.

Qi Yuan always followed the rules, acted according to protocol, and never broke the law.

After all, since TV shows it that way, it must be legal.

If it were illegal, it surely wouldn't be broadcast.

"Here... it seems there is no master of ceremonies," An Qiao said, reluctant to speak with Qi Yuan.

"Huh? No master of ceremonies? Then how do I steal the bride?" Qi Yuan was also baffled.

He stood frozen, a thousand thoughts racing through his mind.

At that moment, An Qiao's gaze turned toward the sea.

There, a wave suddenly surged in the ocean, its momentum overwhelming, reaching dozens of meters high, like a towering building.

The sound of waves rose and fell, and the villagers prostrated themselves even lower.

The other thoughts that the village chief had been stirred into by Qi Yuan vanished completely in the face of such heavenly power.

An Qiao saw this and her expression grew grave: "Indeed, it's the Jade Blood Realm. Even this single wave is beyond my ability to handle.

That... girl is doomed."

The Sea God had not yet appeared, but even this mere welcoming gesture was astonishing.

Qi Yuan, however, remained calm: "This spectacle is just average. The special effects aren't that great either."

An Qiao and the man in black automatically tuned out Qi Yuan's words.

At this moment, Qi Yuan fixed his gaze on the sea horizon.

With Qi Refining-level spells enhancing his eyes, his vision was sharper and could see farther.

Yet, across the vast sea, he did not spot the Sea God's true form.

Just then, the tracking dog suddenly sniffed: "Hey, this scent... it's familiar, very similar to the water tribe, no..."

The tracking dog suddenly looked at Qi Yuan, its face filled with terror.

"It smells exactly like you."

"You are the Sea God!"

"What?" An Qiao was startled.

The man in black also looked shocked.

Qi Yuan is the Sea God?

An Qiao suddenly recalled that Qi Yuan had never said he was one of them.

Moreover, how could a newcomer be so powerful?

Could it be that the Sea God had devoured that newcomer and disguised himself as Qi Yuan?

(End of chapter)