Chapter 1131: High One Moment, Low the Next

Tu Hu offered no defense. Truth be told, his methods were far from righteous.

Seeing his silence, Chen Changsheng did not leave, but instead took a seat.

He glanced back at the idol and said, "Truthfully, if you had just carried out your duties as a celestial official step by step, you could have lived a carefree life. But you had to meddle where you didn't belong."

Tu Hu paused, then said, "It's different. Think about it—I was once a prominent figure. Having me act as a captive slave now? Of course I wouldn't accept it."

Chen Changsheng said, "This Chen has no interest in wealth and status, so I don't quite understand your mindset. Hearing any more of it will only make me think you're rather foolish."

Tu Hu opened his mouth, but only let out a soft sigh.

"You're right."

Tu Hu shook his head. He was the defeated party now.

He simply couldn't accept the outcome. Looking at Chen Changsheng, he said, "If it weren't for you, they probably would have succeeded. Prince Jin wouldn't have lost, and it wouldn't be Prince Yu's turn to rise to power right now."

"What kind of benefit did Prince Jin promise you? Surely he wasn't going to let a demon handle state affairs?"

"You know this territory falls under my jurisdiction," Tu Hu said. "Back then, that Badger Demon went around lobbying and pulled the few of us together. We set rules to manage the demons in this region, forbidding them from attacking mortals directly. Prince Jin approached me. As long as I turned a blind eye, he promised to let me command all the celestial officials and demons in the Mortal World once he succeeded..."

Chen Changsheng paused, realization dawning on him. "No wonder..."

It was largely because Tu Hu turned a blind eye that Prince Jin could act with such unbridled arrogance. He must have made countless covert moves in the shadows to sweep aside Prince Xiao with such lightning speed and unify Jindi.

"The victor becomes king, the loser becomes bandit..."

Tu Hu exhaled and said, "Look at this. It hasn't even been that long, and my temple is already falling to ruin. The human dao qi fortune no longer favors me. As I am now, I can't even beat some ordinary Mortal World demons. Anyone can step on me."

He couldn't stand this fall from grace, but he had no choice but to accept his fate.

"Once Prince Yu issues new decrees and appoints other celestial officials, the human dao qi fortune will turn on me. Either way, I can't stay in the Mortal World anymore. I bear the mark of the spirit cage and am hated by the Heavenly Dao. That thunder tribulation from back then stripped away seventy percent of my Cultivation Base. Where could I even run? Find a hole to hide in?"

Tu Hu lowered his head and sighed heavily, feeling that his remaining days were numbered.

He rubbed his brow, his tone turning into a half-joke. "We have some history, and I've done a few things for you over the years. Why don't you do me a favor and find me a way out?"

Chen Changsheng paused at the remark. Rather than mocking him, he actually began to consider it.

"I actually might be able to arrange something for you."

Tu Hu froze, looking at Chen Changsheng in surprise.

He had only been joking; he never expected Chen Changsheng to agree.

Chen Changsheng said, "It will guarantee you a long life, though it'll be a bit tiring, and a bit boring."

"You're really going to save me?"

"It's not saving you. It's just that you happen to be useful."

Tu Hu opened his mouth in disbelief. "If you can overlook our past grievances, what else is there for me to say? If you can truly save my life this time, I wouldn't mind toiling as an ox and a horse for you."

Chen Changsheng turned to look at him. "Those are your own words."

Sensing Chen Changsheng's gaze, which held not a hint of a joke, Tu Hu hesitated. A sudden twinge of regret flared in his chest.

But what other choice did he have?

He just wanted to survive. Out of all the demons that had escaped the spirit cage, who didn't want to live?

Chen Changsheng thought for a moment. He picked up a stray piece of wood nearby, rubbed it, and turned it into a wooden token.

He raised his hand and tossed it over.

Tu Hu caught it.

Chen Changsheng said, "The token will guide you to where you need to go. For this period of time, go wherever you please. Once you arrive, someone will arrange tasks for you."

Tu Hu looked down at the wooden token.

There was nothing special about it; there was only a single word upon it: Nether.

He looked at Chen Changsheng in confusion and asked, "You're not going to tell me what I'll be doing?"

Chen Changsheng replied, "You will know when the time comes."

He waved his hand and added, "Enjoy your last moments of leisure."

Tu Hu's heart skipped a beat. A bad premonition crept over him.

He wanted to ask more, but Chen Changsheng was already walking away, seemingly unwilling to explain anything further.

Tu Hu knew in his heart that Chen Changsheng wasn't just scaring him. To stay alive, he would probably have to walk an incredibly arduous path, one that might make him regret his choice several times over.

After thinking it over carefully, he decided it was best not to consider it unless absolutely necessary. Still, he couldn't throw the wooden token away; it was his way out.

...

Chen Changsheng traveled north.

He arrived at the banks of the Tongtian River. He squinted into the distance, raising a hand to block the glaring sunlight.

Looking from afar, he didn't see the familiar riverside pavilion.

He froze, thinking he had come to the wrong place.

But then, turning his head, he spotted the riverside tavern in the distance.

What was going on?

Was the pavilion gone?

A fisherman was casting a net on the river, and Chen Changsheng called out to him.

They weren't far apart, so the fisherman heard him.

After rowing over, the fisherman smiled at Chen Changsheng. "Looking to cross the river? I'll give you a discount. How about ten wen?"

No wonder the fisherman hadn't minded the effort of rowing the boat over.

Chen Changsheng smiled. "How about eight wen? It sounds a bit nicer."

"That works."

The fisherman agreed readily. He didn't make a living ferrying people anyway; it was just a way to earn a little extra on the side.

Chen Changsheng boarded the boat. It rocked a little, but the fisherman was experienced enough to keep it steady.

It wasn't safe at all.

Chen Changsheng asked, "Are there no boatmen ferrying passengers across the river lately?"

"Haven't been for a long time."

The fisherman said, "A couple years back, there was war everywhere. Who would dare take passengers on the river? Anyone traveling far was either a jianghu ruffian, a bandit, or a soldier. With a knife to your neck, would you dare ask for money? They might just take your boat altogether."

"Some boatmen have come back out these past couple days, though. The world is a bit more peaceful now. You just came at a bad time; they've all packed up for the day."

"I see..."

Chen Changsheng then asked, "By the way, I remember there being a pavilion over there in the early years. What happened to it?"

The fisherman looked over, thought for a moment, and said, "Over there..."

"Oh, right, right, there used to be a pavilion. People always used to fish there. I think it was the year before last—no, last year—a massive flood washed it away."

"A flood?"

"That's right. The water rose so high it flooded half the tavern up there."

"Such a huge flood?!"

"Tell me about it."

The fisherman sighed. "I don't know what's been going on these past two years. The water level is just high one moment and low the next. It's incredibly strange."