"Sister Jiao, what do you usually do all day alone in the Black Water River?"

Bai Qi suddenly asked with concern.

"Hmm..."

The Big Flood Dragon lowered her head, contemplating for a moment, expressing her thoughts through a few low hums.

"Sleeping, cultivating some 'plants and flowers', then daydreaming and absorbing water qi? That's quite disciplined.

In the future, if I have time, I'll visit you more often. Staying at home too much can make one reclusive."

Bai Qi rubbed his hands together, thinking that if he had known that Sister Jiao was this wealthy, he wouldn't have bothered opening a fish stall to earn silver.

He could just call out, "Rich lady, I'm hungry," and wait to be fed!

The Black Water River is only eight hundred miles around, and the Big Flood Dragon had carved out over a hundred miles for herself as her own territory.

All sorts of valuable plants and fish with different functions were her private property!

Roughly calculating, it was enough to support the foundations of a business in Yihai Prefecture.

"Hmm hmm!"

The Big Flood Dragon's cold golden vertical pupils flickered with surprise and delight, and she couldn't help but want to nuzzle Bai Qi with her head affectionately.

"When I'm free, I might as well dig a big pool at home, directly connected to the Black Water River, so it'll be easier for us to visit each other."

Bai Qi secretly planned, knowing that Purple-Backed Bamboo could gather clear qi and lift spirits, Flowing Color Vine could calm anger and block harmful winds.

Consuming Life and Death Ling Jiao regularly could be as beneficial as months of bitter cultivation, purifying the flesh and even hastening the nurturing of martial bones.

"It's getting late today. I'll hand over this strand of Mysterious Marsh Strange Red Qi to Brother Qi Yan and Brother Lv Nan first, and once business is done, I'll come back and play with you."

Bai Qi gently rubbed the Big Flood Dragon's slender neck, thinking that although his master said the Jiao Python's Horn shouldn't be touched easily, this should be fine, right?

With a childlike heart, the Big Flood Dragon nodded vigorously, obediently carrying her big brother, and rose upward towards the Black Water River.

…

…

"Senior brother, there's quite a commotion below, did you hear it?"

Lv Nan, standing at the prow of the black canopy boat, frowned slightly, speaking with concern:

"Brother Bai's been underwater for quite a while, why hasn't he surfaced for air yet?"

Qi Yan, after calming his breath, finally dispelled the chill from his Divine Soul Thoughts:

"Given Brother Bai's demonstrated...ability in water, there shouldn't be any problems."

Lv Nan, feeling apprehensive, looked at the Black Water River veiled by the vast night, like thick ink:

"The place is so vast, eight hundred miles around, who knows what kind of creatures might be lurking, having matured."

Qi Yan pondered for a moment, also feeling there was reason in Lv Nan's words. Due to Dragon Court's management, distributing spiritual energies evenly among the prefectures, mountains and swamps had become barren, with sparse human habitation, actually allowing the creatures and demons to grow even more robust.

"Let's wait a little longer. If Brother Bai remains silent for another quarter of an hour, I'll perform a Divine Soul Emergence..."

Before the words of this Wild Grass Mountain successor were finished, a high-pitched song thundered like muffled drums, water columns springing into their ears.

"It's a dragon!"

Qi Yan and Lv Nan exchanged a glance, both feeling sudden astonishment.

"Damn!"

Lv Nan shook out two pieces of Water-Repelling Talisman Paper from his sleeve, then stomped his foot, saying:

"Senior brother, these talismans aren't very high grade; they'd only let us go three or four fathoms deep!"

Qi Yan carried the Peach Wood Sword, which wobbled slightly, then flew into the air circling, gritting his teeth:

"There is a saying from the elders, 'If you have mastered the swordsmanship, go and slay the Flood Dragon wherever it may be!' I'll have no choice but to emulate the Daoist masters today...Oh my goodness!"

Just as he was delivering a grand speech to bolster his courage, he suddenly saw a huge head rise from the churning river surface, golden vertical pupils blazing like fire—two bright lanterns illuminating him.

The immense pressure surged, intimidating the Divine Soul, suppressing his thoughts, causing the buzzing Peach Wood Flying Sword to suddenly wilt and fall powerlessly.

"Senior brother, don't panic! It's Brother Bai!"

Lv Nan was initially startled as well, but he forcibly calmed his mind, and looked closely.

He found the majestic Big Flood Dragon quite familiar, with a tall figure standing upon it.

"So it's Brother Bai...Junior, what nonsense are you spouting? I wasn't panicked at all! I just misjudged my strength for a moment!"

Qi Yan hurriedly picked up his cherished Peach Wood Sword, with a stern face he chided. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

"Senior brother, your legs were practically trembling..."

Lv Nan silently mocked.

"Brother Qi, mission accomplished! Here's the Mysterious Marsh Strange Red Qi you wanted!"

Bai Qi smiled freely, jumped onto the black canopy boat, and tossed a stone box with a wave.

"Thanks to Brother Bai's hard work, I'm deeply grateful! Consider it a favor I owe to Brother Bai! In the future, if you need help, I'll brave through fire and water without hesitation!"

Once Qi Yan confirmed it, he displayed an expression of excitement.

"There are two strands inside, one is for Brother Lv."

Bai Qi smiled slightly.

He always aimed to be thorough, knowing that Qi and Lv, as fellow disciples, cultivated techniques not too different from each other.

One strand of Mysterious Marsh Strange Red Qi might not be enough, so he asked Sister Jiao to help find another.

"This..."

For the first time, Qi Yan felt embarrassed by his own poverty, receiving someone's kindness undeservedly felt like debt, which was uncomfortable.

"Brother Qi, no need to take it to heart. My younger brother is also a disciple of Dao; we'll need your guidance in many places in the future."

Bai Qi spoke straightforwardly, resolving Qi Yan's embarrassment just right.

Making friends with honorable and upright people like Qi and Lv, genuine disciples of Wild Grass Mountain, was worthwhile.

Unlike his master who, on a journey, ended up making numerous enemies, and wherever he went, he dared not reveal his identity, always having "Qiu Changtian" take the fall.

"Brother Bai is truly an upright and open-minded person! In the future, if there's a chance to visit Wanning Prefecture, feel free to come to Yuanfu Mountain! Let me show some hospitality as a local!"

Qi Yan felt a deep connection with Bai Qilang, and sincerely invited him.

His Qi family was somewhat famous in Wanning Prefecture, not to mention he also bore the name of Wild Grass Mountain, which wasn't inferior to Yihai Prefecture's thirteen businesses.