Mountain Patrol Military Officer

The shop assistant was nearly in tears!

Didn't he see everyone was desperately fleeing for their lives!

In times of great peril, everyone flies on their own. The shopkeeper disassembled the shop's carriage, mounted a horse, and galloped away. Just when he didn't know what to do, the gentleman earlier invited him onto the carriage, making him feel both shocked and delighted.

As a result, at this pace, he might as well use his own legs to pedal faster; they fell behind the others.

The carriage driver, Gongsun Yang, was holding the reins with both hands, turned his head, saw the shop assistant looking distressed, and smiled broadly, teasingly saying,

"Little brother, relax and sit tight. Some small fry and shrimp, my master doesn't give them a second glance, they're just road snacks!"

The shop assistant looked at Gongsun Yang's smiling face and inexplicably felt a bit intimidated by the driver's smile. But at that moment, his face was filled with panic and unease, his mind unable to function,

"I've observed the talk among you noblemen; you must have some skills. Although, I see you're outsiders, and probably don't know how formidable the Bailong River beneath our feet is. Ever since I was a child, I've heard one saying: better to pass through nine hazards than to cross the Bailong River."

"On Chencang Road, Heavenly Barriers are numerous, with Mountain Spirits and Wild Demons, countless tigers, leopards, and wolves. Each year, countless people perish on this road. But have you noticed below, on the Bailong River, boats are rarely seen? First, because the waters surge violently, with towering mountains and steep waters. Second, there's a rumor a massive Old Flood Dragon resides here."

"My knowledge is shallow; I've never seen what a Jiao Long looks like, only heard local tales. However, I've personally witnessed a Jiao's wrath once. That was truly a scene where the mountains collapsed, wiping out a town of over ten thousand people, killing many."

"Just because someone in that town toppled the Old Flood Dragon's temple!"

As he spoke, the shop assistant seemed to recall the scene from then, his pupils filled with fear, mixed with a hint of resentment, which was drowned out by fear.

The whole person seemed like a turtle with its head tucked in.

He was merely a commoner, afraid of touching matters far beyond his capacity to resist, feeling a spiritual unease.

"Doesn't the Government intervene?"

At this moment, a voice laced with dark anger sounded from nearby.

Beside the carriage, Gou Yue rode over with tightened reins, his face darkened.

After all, nominally, he was the Vice Inspector of Three Roads, and their division was responsible for inspecting Qin, Beiliang, and Shu.

Though his position was merely a titular one below the Three Dao Patrol Angels, there were two other Deputy Inspectors like him without much real power, but strictly according to regulations, this area was within his inspection jurisdiction.

For such a thing to happen in his inspection area, it was a blow to his face.

Especially in front of Chen Longhu!

"Government?" The shop assistant, upon hearing this, found the outlet for his suppressed fear,

"Ha, if the Government truly intended to act, the Bailong River wouldn't wreak havoc year after year, and we commoners wouldn't be fleeing for our lives like this."

"I reckon the Government officials don't care about our lives. They might even be in cahoots with those snakes and rats." Saying this, he was particularly indignant.

Gou Yue, listening to the shop assistant, his face fell further. It felt like a slap in the face. He wanted to say something but couldn't lose his composure. Ultimately, he could only huff coldly,

"Matters of the Government are not for you to speak recklessly of. Watch your words!"

These words made the shop assistant shrink his neck, unaware of how he offended this gentleman. Feeling stifled inside, wasn't it you who brought up the topic?

But as a small character, he was used to humbling himself, quickly made amends, and grinned,

"Look at my mouth, speaking without restraint. Please don't be angry, sir."

Speaking, he even lightly slapped his own face.

At this time, from the other side of the carriage, Xu Shaoqing spoke mildly, "Enough. What's the point of getting angry at him."

"It seems this land has been suffering from the Flood Dragon's harm for a long time, to make these little fellows like this."

"When passing by this government area someday, we can go to the local government office, urging them to take it seriously, to take action, and prevent this Flood Dragon from causing further chaos in the mountains, making the people's lives miserable!"

Saying this, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites looked towards the carriage side, glanced downwards with a consultative tone,

"What does Chen Longhu think?"

Regarding where to go now, it was up to Longhu to decide; they needed to consult with him.

If he disagreed, there was nothing they could do.

"An Evil Flood Dragon is no concern of mine; you can decide for yourselves!" In the swaying carriage, Chen Yuan remained unmoved like a mountain, showing neither happiness nor anger.

Their conversation left the shop assistant's brain buzzing, unable to process.

What's this about going to the government office urging them to act?

Just an Evil Flood Dragon?

He recognized all the words, but combined, why couldn't he understand them?

Why did he feel the matters these noblemen discussed had nothing to do with what he spoke?

His eyes widened, shocked. He wanted to say something but felt his throat clogged, not knowing what to say.

Next, silence enveloped the air; no one continued speaking, only the sound of hooves trotting on the mountain path and the crisp sound of the bell under the carriage roof, swaying in the mist.

Thus, the carriage traveled through the mist, continuing until the fog cleared, and the sun emerged, hanging in the sky.

Trees on Flying Cliff rooted in the rock cracks, showing a tenacious vitality, and dense dots of light cascaded down.

Thus the journey advanced for fifty miles. Upon arriving at a gorge stream, with rushing waters on one side and a dense forest on the other, the sun was blocked by lush leaves, and the air felt chilling.