Chapter 61: The Land Endures Dreams at Night, and the Malevolent Demons Dare to Restrain the Divine

    The tent flap was lifted, revealing a disheveled man with plump cheeks and large ears emerging. His face showed excessive eagerness mixed with nervousness.

    This was Liu Hong - the audacious impostor who had beaten Scholar Chen Guangrui to death with a staff, then stolen his name, identity, and official position.

    "Mr. Li, what brings you here so late at night?"

    Liu Hong fidgeted anxiously while ushering his guest: "The night wind chills. Please come inside quickly. The tent has a warm stove."

    The carp demon entered, smiling: "Your Excellency forgets. My surname isn't Li. It's Liyu, with Ru being my given name. A compound surname."

    Startled, Liu Hong slapped his forehead: "My foolish mistake! My apologies!"

    The carp demon stated: "I came to inform you. A capable outsider has arrived in Jiangzhou City. This 'river-crossing dragon' killed a 200-year-old dog demon in our territory. Such blatant disregard for our rules demands attention."

    Liu Hong hesitated: "The dog demon who performed with hounds?"

    The carp demon nodded: "You know him?"

    Blushing, Liu Hong admitted: "He bribed me ten strings of cash monthly to let him feed on human essence. We had... dealings."

    The carp demon chuckled: "Then you'll lose that income stream."

    Liu Hong calculated unsuccessfully.

    "120 strings annually. Substantial loss."

    "What? That much?" Liu Hong exclaimed, grinding his teeth: "Destroying my livelihood is like murdering my parents! That dog-killer deserves death!"

    The carp demon demanded: "Give me an edict to command prefecture officers. We'll eliminate him through official and covert means."

    "Agreed!" Liu Hong complied.

    But his terrible handwriting forced the carp demon to draft the edict. After sealing it with his stamp, Liu Hong called out: "Mr. Liyu, please grace my wedding banquet in ten days!"

    The carp demon replied: "I'll attend with generous gifts."

    ......

    Perhaps exhausted from cultivation, Jiangliuer slept soundly.

    But Shou Qing, whose essence was drained by the dog demon yesterday...

    ...tossed restlessly all night.

    Waking drenched in cold sweat, the young priest threw on his robe barefoot and pounded on Jiangliuer's door.

    Hu Yuyu yawned while opening: "What's wrong?"

    "I received a dream from the Earth God!" Shou Qing cried.

    Jiangliuer, now awake, asked curiously: "Earth God's dream?"

    Shou Qing recounted his vision: After hearing cries for help in his sleep, he opened a door to find an underground prison containing an Earth God statue bound by iron chains.

    The deity pleaded: "I tried contacting the sword-wielding youth who slew the demon, but his defenses were too strong. Thus I beseech you, young priest - tell your master I'm Jiangzhou's Earth God imprisoned here. Beg him to save me! As city guardian, I can petition the Jade Emperor himself to recognize his merits!"

    Jiangliuer frowned: "They dare imprison an Earth God? These demons grow bolder!"

    Shou Qing shuddered: "How could demons challenge a city guardian's authority?"

    Suspecting trickery, Jiangliuer performed a deity-summoning seal. When no Earth God appeared, he confirmed the dream's truth.

    "Where's this prison?"

    Since the deity sought his help, Jiangliuer couldn't ignore it. Moreover, if the Earth God could petition heaven...

    ...might heavenly troops descend to purge these demons? With celestial armies...

    ...even powerful demons would fall!

    "The Earth God didn't say," Shou Qing shook his head. "But I heard rushing water. Probably near a river."

    Jiangliuer concluded: "The most turbulent river here is Xiu River!"

    After breakfast, the trio departed. Jiangliuer detoured to visit his mother at Liu Hong's compound before heading to Xiu River.

    Xiu River, also called Xiu Jiang, roared northeast for 660 li before joining Poyang Lake. Along its bustling banks, villages dotted the landscape while cargo ships docked at wharves.

    "This river should have a god. I'll summon him."

    But Jiangliuer's summoning seal failed. His expression darkened: "The River God's imprisoned too?"

    Shou Qing gulped: "These demons dare imprison deities? What about mountain gods?"

    At a mountain's base, Jiangliuer tried summoning again. No response.

    Taking deep breath, he gravely concluded: "We face formidable foes."

    [Jiangliuer]: "Seniors, I've discovered Liu Hong's protected by demons who imprisoned Jiangzhou's Earth God, River God, and Mountain God."

    [Muscular Tang Sanzang]: "What? When I avenged my father years ago, I killed Liu Hong too quickly for his demon allies to react."

    [Jiangliuer]: "This demon mastermind..."

    [Zhen Tan Emissary]: "Deity-imprisoning demons? Lad, these aren't ordinary monsters! Such acts require powerful backing!"

    [Jiangliuer]: "Backing from celestials or buddhas?"

    [Muscular Tang Sanzang]: "Likely. Remember - demons serve higher powers. Some deities turn blind eyes to their mounts' mischief."

    [Zhen Tan Emissary]: "Exactly! Most heaven-born beings care little for mortals. Karma barely touches them."

    [Jiangliuer]: "But this demon aids evil! My heart says kill him."

    [Muscular Tang Sanzang]: "Then kill! If celestial bullies intervene, I'll help."

    [Huang Mei Ancestor]: "Count me in."

    [Monkey King]: "Don't forget me!"

    [Zhen Tan Emissary]: "And me!"

    Jiangliuer's eyes shone with realization!

    Indeed - all group members supported him. Though each could only manifest briefly, their combined might...

    ...could create significant impact!

    ......