Storm on Eight-Zhang River

The crescent moon shone brightly, reflected on the clear river, its shimmering surface disturbed by the gentle flow of the water.

Atop a massive rock in the middle of the river, Hu Shi sat cross-legged, holding a sheet of rice paper and slowly reciting from it.

Before him, a large red-tailed fish floated on the water's surface, occasionally releasing bubbles as if in response to Hu Shi's chanting of the text.

When Hu Shi reached the eighteenth recitation, the red-tailed fish suddenly felt an itch in its throat. It couldn't resist twisting its body, causing waves to ripple and splash onto the riverbanks.

Afraid of the water ruining the rice paper, Hu Shi quickly stood up, but the wet, slippery rock almost caused him to lose his balance and fall into the river.

"Wretched beast, cease your mischief!" A stern shout rang out.

Along the Eight-Zhang River, ten towering figures clad in official robes suddenly appeared.

Nine of them wore identical uniforms, but the one standing at the front—taller and more imposing—clearly wore garments of a higher rank.

As soon as the ten figures appeared, a heavy, sacred aura filled the air.

A beam of divine light shot from the leader's hand, streaking straight toward the red-tailed fish's abdomen!

Startled, the red-tailed fish quickly dove underwater. Hu Shi froze on the rock, terrified and motionless.

Slap!

Just as the divine light was about to pierce the water, City God Xu stepped in to intercept it. With a wave of his hand, he extinguished the light.

A muffled boom echoed as City God Xu staggered back a few steps before finally dissipating the remaining force.

"City God Xu, what are you doing?"

Seeing his subordinate block his attack, Marquis Lingyou refrained from striking again, but the remaining eight City Gods spread out, forming a circle to encircle the submerged red-tailed fish.

City God Xu cupped his hands and replied, "Marquis Lingyou, though this fish is a spirit, it has saved many lives and carries the power of virtue. I ask that you not slay it so casually."

Hearing this, Marquis Lingyou's stern face remained expressionless as he responded, "Earlier, it became aggressive and nearly caused that child to fall into the water. Even if it possesses virtue, there's no guarantee it won't harm people in the future."

"This... You may not believe it, Marquis Lingyou," City God Xu hesitated before gritting his teeth and explaining, "but this child and the red-tailed fish are friends. They play here almost every night, and this rock in the river—was carried here by the red-tailed fish itself to make it easier for them to play together."

Hearing such an explanation, the assembled City Gods couldn't help but find it absurd.

A human befriending a demon?

And that human being merely a child?

Feeling the skeptical gazes around him, City God Xu was at a loss for words and could only repeatedly insist, "Marquis Lingyou, I swear I am not speaking falsely."

Marquis Lingyou's eyes, shining with divine light, swept across the river bottom. After observing for a moment, he finally said, "Regardless, with its current cultivation and size, it is no longer suitable to remain in Eight-Zhang River."

"I won't kill it, but it must be relocated to a larger river."

As soon as these words were spoken, the surrounding City Gods summoned chains that gleamed with a cold light, as though they were ready to subdue the red-tailed fish the moment Marquis Lingyou gave the order.

"Stop!"

A sharp, ear-piercing shout burst from Hu Shi's mouth.

Everyone froze in astonishment and turned their gaze to Hu Shi.

These ten figures were all underworld deities—ordinary people shouldn't have been able to see them!

Yet this child stared directly at Marquis Lingyou and shouted, "Stop!"

"Can you see us?" Marquis Lingyou asked, looking at Hu Shi, testing the situation.

However, Hu Shi, with his round face flushed red from anger, was unable to respond. He stood there for a long time without reacting.

At this moment, City God Xu stepped in to explain: "This child's name is Hu Shi... He's called 'Hu the Fool' in the village..." [Hu Chi'er]

Upon hearing this, the other City Gods began to converse among themselves.

"Why didn't City God Xu mention this earlier? I thought this child truly saw us."

"Yes, if it's a fool who said 'stop,' it would make sense."

"Although that's true, there's something strange about the way he looked at us..."

Perhaps the term "fool" had provoked Hu Shi, as he suddenly spoke up again after being stunned for so long: "You're the fools! The teacher said, I just react slowly!"

Swish!

Hot gazes instantly locked onto Hu Shi, standing on the giant rock.

If there had been a misunderstanding before, now, they could all be sure—Hu Shi was able to see and hear them speak.

Ordinary people couldn't see or hear gods and spirits. If someone could, something unusual must be going on!

At that moment, Hu Shi, who had been the "victim," suddenly made the City Gods wary.

Among them, the city god with the highest cultivation and experience, Marquis Lingyou from Xiangzhou, noticed the piece of rice paper in Hu Shi's hands.

The paper, at first glance, appeared to be ordinary, but upon closer inspection, a faint glow emanated from it!

"Child, what is that paper you're holding?" Marquis Lingyou asked, and the attention of all the City Gods shifted to Hu Shi's rice paper.

Splash!

Hu Shi quickly stuffed the paper into his chest, as if afraid the City Gods would try to snatch it from him.

Seeing this, Marquis Lingyou couldn't help but laugh wryly. "Child, don't be afraid. We are all City Gods. Have you been to a City God Temple? The statues there are representations of us."

City God Xu then turned toward Hu Shi and spoke: "Hu Shi, you must have seen me before. Your grandfather used to take you to the temple to pray when you were still in swaddling clothes... Do you remember?"

Hu Shi first glanced around at the other City Gods and then looked at City God Xu, who stood on the water.

He felt much less hostility toward City God Xu, especially after seeing City God Xu save the red-tailed fish earlier.

Upon closer observation, Hu Shi indeed noticed that the tall man before him, dressed in official robes, resembled the statue of a city god he had seen in the temple.

"City God... But why do you want to hurt the red-tailed fish?" Hu Shi paused for a moment before continuing, "It's my friend, and you're not allowed to harm it!"

At these words, it seemed to confirm what City God Xu had said earlier.

So, this child really had become friends with the demon fish.

However, the words of a mere mortal child couldn't change Marquis Lingyou's thoughts.

What was right was right, and what was wrong was wrong. The fact remained that the red-tailed fish wasn't suitable to live in the Eight-Zhang River. Since it had to be taken away, there would be no mercy.

Seeing Marquis Lingyou's expression, City God Xu, who was familiar with his superior, realized that the red-tailed fish had some connection to the person they were about to visit, Mr. Gu!

Therefore, before Marquis Lingyou could speak, he quickly interjected: "Marquis Lingyou, I just remembered, when I spoke with Mr. Gu earlier, he mentioned the red-tailed fish."

"He even asked me for a cultivation manual for the demon beast, specifically for the red-tailed fish."