NOVGO.NET Chapter 2334 - The River Child Who Counts the Waves
Chapter 2334 – The River Child Who Counts the Waves
Outside of Sundial City.
“I plan to head to Reverse Flow River immediately. If you have anything to say, please speak openly,” said Su Yi, getting straight to the point.
Master Cloud Refiner and the others exchanged glances. The joyous atmosphere instantly quieted down considerably.
Master Cloud Refiner coughed dryly. “To tell the truth, we’ve been trapped here since the Age of Supreme Emergence, and we know nothing of the outside world, especially how the God Domain has changed over the past thousand years…”
Su Yi patiently listened as he went on.
When Master Cloud Refiner finished setting the stage, he finally explained his intentions. “Thus, we’d like to seize this opportunity to establish a positive karmic connection with you, Fellow Daoist!”
“A positive karmic connection?” Su Yi laughed. “Aren’t you afraid I’ll implicate you?”
Master Cloud Refiner said solemnly, “All of us are firmly convinced that the risks of a connection with you are nothing compared to the benefits!”
The other old monsters nodded their agreement.
They’d discussed the advantages and disadvantages of befriending Su Yi on their way to Sundial City. They wouldn’t hesitate now.
Su Yi inclined his head. “I’ve always believed that actions speak louder than words. You need a storm to test the strength of the grass, and a cold winter to test the tenacity of the pines. If you want to establish a karmic connection, prove it to me with your actions.”
Master Cloud Refiner smiled. “Just hearing that is enough to satisfy us, Fellow Daoist!”
The other old monsters smiled, too.
“Junior Apprentice Sister, why do I feel like these old-timers are totally shameless?” said Qing Niu. He didn’t hide it, either; the old monsters heard every word, and their expressions stiffened slightly.
Hong Li said with exasperation, “Senior Apprentice Brother, with a personality like that, it’s no wonder Fellow Daoist Su had to suppress you twice. You brought it onto yourself.”
Qing Niu instantly felt awkward.
The old monsters, meanwhile, laughed derisively. Who among them could have forgotten how arrogant the young man had been before fighting Su Yi, or how badly he’d been suppressed in the end?
“But I’m not like them! The slightest beating, and their bones went soft!” argued Qing Niu.
Hong Li sighed. “Senior Apprentice Brother, you’d best mind your tongue. Haven’t you noticed that even Master now treats Fellow Daoist Su with the utmost respect? Surely you aren’t trying to say that… Master’s bones went soft, are you?”
Qing Niu instantly felt uncomfortable. He clamped his jaw shut and said no more.
It was then that Celestial Venerate Zhou Ye’s voice emanated from inside Sundial City. “Fellow Daoist Su and I were like old friends from the moment we first met, like-minded in our pursuit of the Grand Dao. Qing Niu, Hong Li, you are to respect him as your senior going forward, and you are not to be remiss in your manners!”
Master Cloud Refiner and the others were all visibly stunned. Celestial Venerate Zhou Ye sees him as an equal? And a member of the same generation?
Doesn’t that mean that Su Yi did more than just win Celestial Venerate Zhou Ye’s disapproval? He even somehow proved that he was worthy of being addressed as the celestial venerate’s ‘fellow Daoist!’
Hong Li and Qing Niu were stunned. Our… senior?
Hong Li lowered her head and said, “As you say, Master.”
She could roughly guess what had happened, and she knew that something extraordinary must have happened for their master to issue such an order so solemnly.
Qing Niu’s face flushed red, and he stood there in silence. He obviously wasn’t convinced, but he also didn’t dare to talk back to his master.
Su Yi naturally wasn’t concerned about any of that. He just laughed it off.
He could roughly guess what was going on.
Master Cloud Refiner and the others’ so-called “positive karmic tie” was simply them deciding to help whoever emerged victorious. Had he lost in Sundial City, there’s no way they’d have suggested such a thing.
Celestial Venerate Zhou Ye had obviously commanded his disciples to address him as their senior for their own good. He wanted to pave their paths ahead, and he hoped that if they ran into trouble, Su Yi, their senior, would intervene on their behalf. How could a senior just stand back and watch as his juniors were in trouble?
Su Yi understood completely. When a father loved their child, he planned for their future.
The same was true of a master’s love for his disciple.
As for Master Cloud Refiner and the others’ “positive karma?” They’d still have to prove themselves through their actions.
……
Reverse Flow River.
One of the most taboo places in the Ruins of Supreme Emergence.
The giant, Xiao Bi, had been trapped near Reverse Flow River until not long ago.
It was also Xiao Bi who served as Su Yi and Wan Zitian’s guide this time.
“Fellow Daoist, that’s Reverse Flow River up ahead.” The giant Xiao Bi had shrunk down to just about ten feet tall. Even so, he had a thoroughly oppressive presence.
Su Yi gazed into the distance and saw a boundless, coursing river in the distance. It was just that this river flowed backward out of a giant abyss in the ground, then up and into the cloudy dome of heaven.
The river water was turbid and black, and it emanated a dense, mysterious aura. Wherever it passed, the sky shattered, forming channels. Space itself split along these channels, and the cracks spread outward like spiderwebs.
“The river water is full of an utterly corrosive and terrifying aura. It can easily shatter even the bodies of Undying Realm experts and grind their souls down to nothing,” said the giant, his eyes full of deep-seated dread. “They say that the power of the mysterious Mark of Supreme Emergence flows through the river. Over the years, no small number of people have tried to gather the river water, but all of them failed.
“No small number of Master Gods fell into the river without so much as creating a splash. Their bodies and souls were instantly eradicated.”
Xiao Bi paused, then gazed into the dome of heaven before continuing. “Strangest of all, the source of Reverse Flow River—that is, the depths of that massive abyss—is home to a mysterious character known as the River Child.
“He looks like a little boy, and he seldom appears, but his strength is unfathomably deep.
“Throughout the Ruins of Supreme Emergence, only the Mountain Guardian and Celestial Venerate Zhou Ye are capable of fighting him.
Su Yi nodded. “You stay here. I’ll go have a look.”
With that, he headed toward the abyss in the distance.
Reverse Flow River originated from the depths of the abyss.
But before Su Yi drew near, a startling, earth-shaking rumbling emanated from the depths of the abyss.
The waters of Reverse Flow River churned, and waves assailed the heavens.
A child-like figure emerged from the current. Countless streams of water surged around him, yet he was entirely unharmed and unaffected.
He had the clear, soft face of a child, but his face was deathly pale, and he was dressed in thick red Daoist robes. Both his appearance and his attire were eerie and unsettling.
The River Child!
Off in the distance, the giant Xiao Bi was stunned. He would never have guessed that this mysterious, terrifying existence would emerge from the water of his own accord as soon as they arrived.
Wan Zitian readied himself for battle. He could sense an impending lethal threat emanating from the River Child.
Su Yi couldn’t help but feel stunned, too.
Just like the Mountain Guardian, the River Child wasn’t a real person, but rather, a spiritual entity!
The difference was that the Mountain Guardian was born of the Divine Dao Fortune Stele, while the River Child was born of Reverse Flow River!
“A battle took place near Sundial City not long ago. Were you perhaps one of the combatants?” The River Child’s eyes were cold and black, like twin abysses focused on Su Yi.
“That’s right.” Su Yi nodded.
The River Child pushed, “Earlier, someone broke through in Sundial City, inviting a mysterious and taboo tribulation. Was that perhaps you, too?”
“It was,” said Su Yi, admitting it directly. As he spoke, he took out the secret letter Celestial Venerate Zhou Ye had given him, then handed it over. “Read this. Then you’ll understand.”
The River Child stretched out his fingers, and.. Bang!
The secret message exploded.
His pallid, childlike face was utterly cold, cruel, and indifferent. “There’s no need to read that. I know what you’re here for.”
Su Yi’s brow furrowed. Earlier, Celestial Venerate Zhou Ye had said with complete confidence that with this secret message in hand, he’d be able to acquire the Mark of Supreme Emergence with ease.
But now, it seemed obvious that things had gone awry.
The River Child… wasn’t acting as he should!
“If you want to acquire the Mark of Supreme Emergence, you’ll have to get through me,” the River Child said coldly. “Otherwise, you’ll never get your hands on it, not even with the Whip and Flame of Supreme Emergence.”
The atmosphere was stifled. Even Wan Zitian and Xiao Bi realized that something was wrong.
“Oh?” said Su Yi. “Go ahead and state your terms, then.”
“Get me out of the Ruins of Supreme Emergence!” said the River Child.
Su Yi was stunned. He’d expected something difficult or extreme; he’d in no way anticipated that the River Child’s demands would be so simple.
“Aren’t you afraid to die?” asked Su Yi. Experts of the Age of Supreme Emergence would be destroyed by the Laws of the modern-day God Domain as soon as they left the ruins.
“I’m not afraid!” said the River Child, a hint of ferocity on his brow. “I’ve had enough of these tedious days. I can’t wait until the Dark Days of Legend arrive!
“You can help me leave right now! So long as you agree, I’ll take you to see the Mark of Supreme Emergence immediately!”
Su Yi said, “Bringing you out of the ruins wouldn’t be difficult for me. It’s just…”
Before he could finish, the River Child suddenly did something entirely unexpected.
His knees thudded to the ground, and he said in a voice choked with sobs, “Please, I’m begging you!”
“…” Su Yi didn’t know what to say.
The giant, Xiao Bi, and Wan Zitian gasped. Their jaws practically fell off for sheer shock. This is the River Child famed for his mysteriousness and strength?
He was so cold and cruel before, so why did he fall to his knees in the blink of an eye? Isn’t he changing his tune a bit too quickly?
Su Yi was caught off guard too, and he felt a bit dazed.
“Quick, get up,” said Su Yi. “It’s not like me helping you isn’t up for discussion.”
“No! If you don’t agree, I’ll just keep kneeling here!” the River Child said pitifully, his face wet with tears. “I’ve had enough of the boredom. I’ve spent all these years resorting to counting the waves to pass the time and stave off madness!”
“Counting the waves?” asked Su Yi, a bit confused.
“That’s right. Counting the waves!” said the River Child through eyes brimming with tears. “Every day between now and the end of the Age of Supreme Emergence, Reverse Flow River has given rise to thirty-nine thousand waves big and small. Some days it’s more, sometimes it’s less…”
He went on and on, looking pained and aggrieved, as if venting countless years of pent-up frustration at once.
The crowd exchanged glances. How bored must the River Child have been to count the waves day in and day out?
“If not for the outsiders coming in once every thousand years, bringing a little novelty and excitement, the boredom would have driven me to madness a long time ago!
“The worst part is, I can’t even kill myself! I have no choice but to live on like this…”
When Su Yi saw that the River Child was about to continue, he hurriedly interrupted him. “Enough! I agree!”
The River Child was stunned; it seemed he found this hard to believe. “Really?”
Su Yi nodded. “One hundred percent.”
The River Child was so excited that he burst into tears of joy and danced about, laughing and crying as if he’d gone insane.
No one else understood. Living countless years in complete boredom was one of the cruelest torments imaginable, especially when you couldn’t die. No matter how long he endured, there was no escape from the tedium.