Chapter 177: I Have Not Failed the Mission

As time passed, more and more people silently shook their heads and chose to leave.

Occasional complaints could be heard from the crowd.

The riverbank, which had just been bustling with people, quickly grew deserted again.

The Governor of Jingzhou, Liang Yifan, sighed softly and said, "Lord Mo, my condolences."

Mo Tang remained silent.

Just then, about a hundred bare-armed, able-bodied men appeared on the other side, swarming around a slender middle-aged man as they walked along the riverbank.

The middle-aged man was around forty years old. His face was dark and rough from the river wind, and a sharp glint would occasionally flash in his eyes.

A Flood Dragon was embroidered on the clothes of these sturdy men.

It was the symbol of the Fujiao Gang!

The man in the lead was the Gang Leader of the Fujiao Gang, Luo Hengjiang, a True Master Martial Dao.

Legend had it that when he was young, he was hunted by a Flood Dragon in the Canglan River. He survived the ordeal against all odds, earning him the nickname "Overseas Dragon," and later founded the Fujiao Gang.

Among the men behind Luo Hengjiang, about ten were Innate Martial Artists, their temples bulging high.

The rest also had bright, fierce eyes, and carried all sorts of Exotic Weapons at their waists, like Water-Splitting Needles, Hand Axes, and Fish Spears.

At this moment, Luo Hengjiang led his men to the largest tea shed at the ferry crossing.

The tea shed was now empty.

Luo Hengjiang sat down imposingly on a long bench, glanced toward the Evil Extermination Bureau, then turned his gaze back to the calm surface of the river.

"Gang Leader, if we don’t work for a day, the brothers go hungry for a day. If this keeps up, when will it end?"

"Yeah, the brothers of our Fujiao Gang are loyal and disciplined. We can tighten our belts and hold out for a couple of days. But if this goes on any longer..."

The men from the Fujiao Gang seemed to be complaining to Luo Hengjiang, but their voices were so loud that they carried clearly over to the Evil Extermination Bureau’s side.

Liang Yifan frowned slightly and asked, "Lord Mo, do you have any other methods?"

Mo Tang still said nothing.

Liang Yifan pondered for a moment before saying, "If Lord Mo is truly at a loss, then I can only report this matter truthfully to the Court. I hope Lord Mo will understand."

"Do as you see fit, Your Excellency."

Mo Tang replied indifferently.

Liang Yifan shook his head slightly and turned to leave.

"My lord, should we head back as well?"

Tang Fei looked at Mo Tang and asked in a low voice.

Mo Tang didn’t speak, still standing on the bank and gazing at the surface of the Jingshui River.

’Lu Bai managed to escape with his life from a situation as perilous as a Red and White Collision Evil. Maybe he can climb out of the Jingshui River, too.’

"Let’s wait a little longer."

He Liangzhi said in a deep voice.

He refused to believe that Lu Bai had died in the Jingshui River just like that.

Even if there was only a sliver of hope.

True Master Dan Ding said softly, "Alas, another wronged soul for the Jingshui River. Let’s go."

"What a pity, what a pity."

Several Cultivators from Danding Temple shook their heads in regret.

Li Yue’er was reluctant to leave, looking lost and forlorn.

It was a rare chance to see Lu Bai in Jingzhou City. She had been hoping to talk with him and ask how he had been.

But she never expected...

’To think that their parting in Bluestone City would be the last time they ever saw each other.’

"Yue’er."

Seeing that Li Yue’er hadn’t followed, True Master Dan Ding turned and called out to her softly.

Li Yue’er hesitated for a moment, then said, "Observatory Master, I want to wait a bit longer. What if..."

"What are you thinking, child?"

True Master Dan Ding frowned. "It’s been almost the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. Even if that Lu Bai wasn’t killed by the Water Ghost, he would have already drowned."

"Yes, Observatory Master."

Li Yue’er gave the surface of the Jingshui River one last, lingering look before following the other Danding Temple disciples toward Jingzhou City.

Just then, a slight disturbance seemed to appear on the river’s surface far downstream.

It was as if something had suddenly broken the surface, only to disappear again in an instant.

Except for Mo Tang, He Liangzhi, and the very few others who had kept their eyes fixed on the river, almost no one noticed this anomaly.

"What was that just now?"

"I didn’t see. Maybe a fish jumped out of the water?"

Mo Tang and He Liangzhi couldn’t be sure.

After all, it was quite far away.

"Let’s go check it out!"

Mo Tang called out, leading the members of the Evil Extermination Bureau in a dash downstream along the Jingshui River.

Just as they arrived, they saw a tall, burly figure gradually emerge from the water. Treading on silt and sand, he walked out of the Jingshui River step by step!

The man’s face was pale, his body was soaking wet, and his clothes clung tightly to his skin, perfectly outlining his powerful, imposing physique. Strands of seaweed hung from his hair.

At his feet, the Black Dog also surfaced from the water.

The members of the Evil Extermination Bureau gaped, dumbfounded, their faces filled with shock as they watched the scene unfold.

It wasn’t until the man and the dog were completely on the bank that the crowd let out a collective gasp.

Even though Lu Bai looked a bit disheveled, he was at least alive!

"Wait!"

"What if it’s a Water Ghost’s trick and Brother Lu is already dead?"

Still uncertain, another Evil Exterminator Guard secretly took out his Heart Mirror and shone it on Lu Bai for a long time.

He then took out his Yin Soul Compass, but the Compass remained still.

Only then did everyone finally relax.

"CLUCK CLUCK!"

Ah Ming had just run up to greet them with a couple of clucks.

The Black Dog shook its body, splashing water everywhere, and instantly drenched Ah Ming, turning it into a sopping wet chicken.

Mo Tang heaved a sigh of relief. The weight on his heart finally lifted, and a smile appeared on his face.

No matter the outcome, as long as the person came back alive, nothing else mattered.

"Brother Lu!"

He Liangzhi shouted, a huge smile on his face, and rushed forward to embrace Lu Bai.

He flexed his arms, trying to lift Lu Bai, but unexpectedly, Lu Bai’s feet seemed rooted to the ground; he couldn’t budge him.

The cheers from their side also attracted countless gazes.

The people from Danding Temple glanced over just in time to see Lu Bai emerging from the water.

"This..."

True Master Dan Ding looked stunned and muttered, "This boy is truly fortunate. Could it be that the Chicken Taming Strange Man I saw that night was really him?"

’Although their figures look very similar, Lu Bai’s Cultivation is far too weak.’

’Normally, it would be impossible for him to control a Tier Three Demon Beast.’

’And an Exotic Beast at that.’

A Danding Temple Cultivator asked, "Observatory Master, should we go over and take a look?"

While True Master Dan Ding was hesitating, Li Yue’er had already started running in that direction.

True Master Dan Ding sounded a bit helpless. "Let’s go. We’ll go over together and see what this person managed to find out in the river. It’s best we know."

"Huh?"

Liang Yifan and the others from the State Mansion heard the commotion, turned to look, and couldn’t help but show their surprise.

One person clicked their tongue in amazement. "That Evil Exterminator Guard survived?"

Liang Yifan mused, "Let’s go see."

「By the Jingshui Riverbank.」

After coming ashore, Lu Bai looked at Mo Tang, cupped his fists, and said, "My lord, I have fortunately not failed my mission."

Mo Tang hadn’t yet had time to ponder the meaning of Lu Bai’s words. He was simply overjoyed and nodded. "Yes. It’s good that you came back alive."

Mo Tang took a porcelain bottle from his robes, tipped out an elixir, and handed it over. "You look pale. Take this Fire Cloud Pill first. It can expel the sinister yin energy from your body."

"A Fire Cloud Pill!"

Hearing this, the crowd of Evil Exterminator Guards was filled with envy.

It was a type of Tier Two Spiritual Pill, extremely precious and immensely helpful for cultivating the Fiery Sun Technique.

Even without the sun, with the aid of a Fire Cloud Pill, one could unblock at least one or two Meridians just by refining the Innate Essence within the elixir!

In reality, Lu Bai’s pale face had nothing to do with any sinister yin energy.

It was mainly because he had been frightened by the sudden appearance of that disembodied ghost hand a moment ago.

’But since there’s a benefit to be had, why wouldn’t I take it?’

Lu Bai smoothly accepted the Fire Cloud Pill and swallowed it in one gulp.