Protect Our Patriarch

……

Outside Dingpu Ferry.

This section of the An River is relatively open, with a backwater bay in front, making the water flow less rapid compared to the turbulent section behind Broken Dragon Gorge.

Thanks to this advantageous terrain, Ancestor Zhouxuan established Dingpu Ferry when he was developing Ping'an Town, using a few old ferries to connect Ping'an Town with Changning Garrison, thus setting the stage.

Later, as the Wang's Clan rose to prominence, Dingpu Ferry was continuously expanded and deepened, gradually forming a very prosperous large inland port.

The Flood Dragon Gang and the Changning Wang's Clan were known as the "Flood Dragon Crossing the River" and the "Tiger Sitting on the Land," respectively.

Fifty years ago, a fierce conflict between the two sides at Dingpu Ferry is still widely talked about in Changning Garrison, with people reminiscing about it with great interest.

Back then, Miss Liyao of the Wang's Clan, at a young age, stood against many heroes, and with one move, "Tianhe Traverses the Sky," she intimidated many strong members of the Flood Dragon Gang, showcasing the extraordinary demeanor of a young great prodigy.

Now, fifty years have passed in the blink of an eye.

Miss Liyao, the great prodigy of the Wang's Clan, has already made a name for herself in Guilong City, her fame reaching its peak and gradually spreading across the nation. Especially among the various families in Longzuo Commandery, besides feelings of envy and jealousy, there is more pride in Miss Liyao.

Therefore, this fifty-year appointment has attracted much attention.

As soon as Long Wuji's fleet arrived at the ferry, various forces and families, having heard the news, rushed to Dingpu Port to watch the spectacle. The tea houses, taverns, and even the balconies of waterfront inns and the docks were already crowded with people.

In the An River, the densely packed riverboats and warships of the Flood Dragon Gang almost occupied the entire river surface, looking like huge moving fortresses from a distance, cold and terrifying.

On the decks, large crossbows gleamed coldly in the sunlight, and the fierce-looking crew members of the Flood Dragon Gang, armed and ready, stared menacingly at the ferry.

The shadows of the riverboats loomed over the ferry, the flags of the Flood Dragon Gang fluttering in the wind, creating an invisible pressure that enveloped the entire Dingpu Ferry, making the air feel oppressively heavy.

On the flagship's deck, there was a large dragon-head grandmaster chair.

The wide chair was entirely made of spiritual wood, dark and heavy, with a rough and ancient dragon pattern carved on it, looking extremely imposing.

On the grandmaster chair, Long Wuji, dressed in simple clothes and with a face full of stubble, sat casually, holding a small Qian Kun wine pot, sipping leisurely.

The small Qian Kun wine pot in his hand, with a metallic sheen, was obviously a spatial item, containing a vast space, as he had been drinking for a long time without it running dry.

Behind the grandmaster chair stood Zhao Wuqing, with a shaved head and a ferocious scar on his face, his arms crossed, looking stern and cold, like an iron gate god.

Behind Long Wuji, a dozen leaders of the Flood Dragon Gang stood in a fan shape.

Each of these leaders was a Celestial Realm expert, and at this moment, they did not conceal their strength, their overwhelming aura rising, fierce and murderous, even the wind over the river seemed to carry a hint of killing intent.

As the master of Ping'an Town, how could Wang Shouzhe not come out to greet such distinguished guests?

At this moment, Wang Shouzhe, surrounded by his clansmen and family guards, arrived at Dingpu Ferry.

After becoming a great prodigy, Wang Shouzhe's cultivation speed soared, successfully advancing to the Celestial Realm at the age of fifty-one. Now, nearly forty years later, his cultivation had reached an unfathomable level.

The once naive boy who had to rely on Ancestor Long Yan's name to intimidate others and support his family with great effort had now become the pillar of the family, capable of protecting generations of his clan.

At ninety years old, he still looked like a young man, but his figure was no longer thin, instead, he had a solid and mountain-like presence.

Because on his shoulders rested the future of the Wang's Clan.

In the fierce river wind, his white clothes fluttered, his demeanor calm and composed, showing no fear even when facing a Purple Mansion Realm expert.

If not for his cultivation level, just by his aura, he was not much inferior to Long Wuji.

The clansmen and family guards behind him were all profound energy cultivators with extraordinary temperaments, not inferior to the direct descendants of a fifth-grade Purple Mansion Clan.

Among them, three stood out the most.

One of them looked quite old, with some white hair and a weathered face, but his body was still strong and vigorous, full of vitality, not looking like an old man at all.

This "old man" was naturally Ancestor Xiaohan, the oldest member of the Wang's Clan besides Wang Long Yan.

Although he advanced to the Lingtai Realm at over sixty years old, which was considered quite late, his cultivation speed increased significantly after improving his qualifications, successfully advancing to the Celestial Realm at the age of 133.

Now, at 137 years old, he was not considered old among Celestial Realm experts, but his late advancement to the Lingtai Realm made him look older, giving him a complex temperament, appearing peaceful and wise.

Standing beside Ancestor Xiaohan were Wang Shoulian and Wang Shouye, the two brothers.

Wang Shoulian, ranked sixth among the "Shou" generation, was 86 years old. His qualifications were not particularly outstanding among his brothers, but with the help of Xisui Dan and a Marrying Blood Gu, he barely made it into the ranks of prodigies, still far behind his sister Wang Luo Qiu.

Even so, he successfully broke through to the Celestial Realm two years ago. With years of military training, he lacked the gentleness of Wang Shouzhe, instead having a sharp and bloody aura, his temperament like a sheathed long sword, not weak at all.

Compared to him, Wang Shouye's temperament was much gentler and he looked much younger.

His qualifications were slightly better than Wang Shoulian's, and with ample elixirs, his cultivation speed was slightly faster, successfully advancing to the Celestial Realm five years ago.

At 82 years old, he was no longer the reclusive young man who avoided girls, but a mature, steady, and reliable alchemist.

Perhaps due to years of alchemy, his temperament was more refined, elegant, with a scholarly aura, his eyes calm and determined, like green pines and cypresses, making people admire him.

The Wang's Clan had more Celestial Realm experts than just these three, but with Wang Shouzhe deliberately hiding his strength, the most well-known Celestial Realm experts of the Wang's Clan, besides Ancestor Long Yan, were these three.

Outside, they represented the foundation and face of the Wang's Clan.

Wang Shouzhe's aura was already strong, and with these three Celestial Realm experts of different temperaments behind him, it added to his imposing presence.

"Great Leader Long, your grand arrival is an honor. I apologize for not greeting you from afar."

Wang Shouzhe's voice was not loud, but it carried steadily across several miles, reaching the ears of the Flood Dragon Gang's core members on the flagship.

His voice was clear and steady, as if he were speaking to them on the ship.

Apart from Long Wuji, the other core members of the Flood Dragon Gang all showed slight changes in their expressions, revealing a look of caution and apprehension.

It was said that Wang Shouzhe was less than a hundred years old, yet his profound energy was so thick and pure, and his control so precise.

Using profound energy to gather one's voice was not particularly difficult, just a basic application of profound energy, but if they were to use this technique, they would not be able to do it as effortlessly and naturally as Wang Shouzhe.

From this alone, it could be judged that Wang Shouzhe's strength was likely above theirs.

On the flagship, only Long Wuji remained calm, his narrow eyes slightly squinting, a glint of light flashing in his eyes.

He took a sip from his small Qian Kun wine pot and laughed loudly, "Shouzhe, whether we are guests or enemies is yet to be determined. It depends on whether you, Master Wang Shouzhe, can see the big picture and not be blinded by temporary interests, making mistakes."

Long Wuji's profound energy was naturally stronger than Wang Shouzhe's.

At this moment, his profound energy enveloped Dingpu Ferry, his voice booming like thunder, shaking people's spirits and instilling awe.

"Ping'an Town is the territory of the Wang's Clan, where my ancestors have lived for generations." Wang Shouzhe's voice was gentle and jade-like, with an indescribable steadiness and depth, "Our Wang's Clan's ancestral teachings state that those who come with goodwill are guests, and we will treat them with fine wine. Those who come with malice are enemies, and we will serve them with the Divine Might Cannon. Whether friend or foe, it is not for me to decide."

Ancestral teachings?

The young clan leader Wang Shizhao was puzzled.

When did our Wang's Clan have such an ancestral teaching in the family rules?

Well... it does make sense. Besides, since Grandpa is already an elder, his words are naturally ancestral teachings.

We should discuss it with the elders and add it to the "Family Rules and Precepts."

"Since the distinction between friend and foe is unclear, I cannot easily disembark." Long Wuji's voice rang out, "Why don't you, Master Wang Shouzhe, come aboard my 'Flood Dragon,' and we can have a drink and talk about the beautiful future. If we reach an agreement, we will be brothers. If not, I will send you back to Dingpu Port, and we will have a real fight to see who wins."

Long Wuji's voice was full of strong confidence. This confidence came not only from his own Purple Mansion Realm cultivation but also from the overall combat strength of the Flood Dragon Gang.

The Flood Dragon Gang had more than a dozen Celestial Realm generals, a hundred or so Lingtai Realm elite leaders, and thousands of Qi Refining Realm soldiers, all trained to the standards of elite water forces, skilled in coordinated combat and battle formations.

Especially in water battles, the Flood Dragon Gang was full of confidence.

As for the Divine Might Cannons, their power was indeed formidable. But even so, how could they withstand the onslaught of the Flood Dragon Gang's army?

Facing Long Wuji's blatant threat, the Wang's Clan members all looked grim. That guy was too arrogant, blatantly trying to force them into submission.

"Hehe~ Great Leader Long, are you planning to trample on Daqian law?" Wang Shouzhe remained calm, smiling as he responded, "Our Changning Wang's Clan is a sixth-grade family personally conferred by His Majesty, with the responsibility of protecting the land and the people. If you dare to attack a local family, regardless of victory or defeat, you won't come out unscathed, will you?"

"I don't care." Long Wuji's voice, full of arrogance and wildness, rang out, "With your wisdom, Shouzhe, you must have already figured out my background. Do you not understand my ways? Even if I attack, so what? At worst, I'll be demoted to the outer region battlefield as a death squad. Do you think I'm afraid of that? So, will you come aboard or not?"

Wang Shouzhe chuckled. Indeed, with Long Wuji's personality, he would do such a thing.

He coughed and said, "Great Leader Long, as a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator, are you afraid that we will poison your wine? Why not come ashore as a guest, renew old friendships, and whether we reach an agreement or not, we can part amicably."

"You come aboard."

"No, as the host, I must show some hospitality. Great Leader Long, please come ashore."

"You come aboard."

"You come ashore."

The two went back and forth, dragging the conversation for half a cup of tea, without reaching a conclusion.

The Basalt cultivators watching at the ferry were all speechless.

They thought they were about to witness a fierce battle.

But this?

A confrontation between two great forces turned into a farce.

Long Wuji and Wang Shouzhe both refused to give up the initiative, but some private matters had to be discussed face-to-face, and shouting across the distance was not a solution.

"Yusong, what do you think?" Long Wuji, less patient than Wang Shouzhe, couldn't hold on any longer and turned to ask.

Over the decades, Jiang Yusong's cultivation had also improved significantly. Although he still had a refined appearance, his aura had become even more profound and unfathomable.

He stood respectfully behind Long Wuji and replied, "Great Leader, according to the intelligence, Wang Shouzhe is cautious and would not venture into danger without great assurance. It would be difficult to get him aboard. However, the Changning Wang's Clan values its reputation and would not likely commit an unjust act in such a public setting."

"That's true." Long Wuji laughed, "Shouzhe is cautious but principled, which is one of the reasons I admire him. It's a pity he won't fall for the trap. Otherwise, I could capture him first and then persuade him, saving a lot of trouble."

Zhao Wuqing, wiping cold sweat, said, "Foster father, tricking Master Wang Shouzhe aboard to capture him seems too unjust."

"Hmph, what do you know about justice? Capturing him to persuade him is for his own good. Wu Mingyuan is too rigid and rule-bound, no match for Wu Chengsi. Wu Chengsi is a hundred times better in terms of ruling. To save Shouzhe from disaster, I must use some means, which is the greater justice."

Zhao Wuqing's mouth twitched, not daring to argue, but he couldn't help but think to himself.

Foster father, you said earlier that Shouzhe insulted you and must suffer, but now...

Forget it, foster father is always right.

"However, one must always be cautious. Yusong, you are meticulous, accompany me this time. If Shouzhe has any ill intentions, we can detect it early."

"Yes, Great Leader."

After a brief internal discussion, Long Wuji looked at Wang Shouzhe again and laughed heartily, "Since Shouzhe sincerely invites, I will give you face."

With that, he waved his hand, and a brilliant light flew out, forming a grand rainbow bridge between the large riverboat and the ferry.

He and Jiang Yusong stepped onto the rainbow bridge, walking leisurely, covering dozens of feet in a few steps, and landed on Dingpu Ferry.

The brilliant light dissipated behind them.

Under the shimmering light, Long Wuji's simple white clothes seemed to be coated with a layer of light, adding to his extraordinary presence.

"Great Leader Long is indeed bold and heroic, I admire you." Wang Shouzhe cupped his hands and greeted Jiang Yusong, "Brother Yusong, long time no see."

"Long time no see, Shouzhe, you are more impressive than before." Long Wuji also looked at Wang Shouzhe, his narrow eyes squinting, slightly dissatisfied, "I never expected that the once insignificant Wang's Clan would grow so rapidly in fifty years, now capable of stirring up the entire Great Qian."

Jiang Yusong, standing beside him, saluted Wang Shouzhe without saying much.

"Great Leader Long, you flatter me." Wang Shouzhe smiled and changed the subject, pointing to the riverbank, "By the riverbank of Dingpu Port, there is a waterside platform where we can drink and enjoy the river view. I have ordered a welcoming banquet, please join us, Great Leader Long and Brother Yusong."

Long Wuji looked in the direction and saw a waterside platform built along the riverbank, surrounded by aquatic plants in full bloom, very pleasing to the eye.

Most importantly, drinking and chatting there allowed him to see the Flood Dragon Gang's fleet, and the fleet could protect him.

If Wang Shouzhe made any move, the Flood Dragon Gang's fleet could immediately strike back.

"Shouzhe, you are indeed meticulous, drinking here is open and honest." Long Wuji relaxed his guard, feeling pleased.

At least Shouzhe had no intention of harming him during the drink.

Soon, they were seated at the waterside platform, with Jiang Yusong and Wang Shizhao standing behind them.

The wine was spirit wine brewed by Wang Shouzhe using a spiritual treasure wine gourd, and the dishes were fresh steamed spirit fish, braised red-blood spirit eel segments, and a bowl of boiled green-shell spirit shrimp from the An River.

These green-shell spirit shrimp were rare, each only the length of chopsticks, and it took over a year to gather enough for a bowl. Their meat was firm, delicious, and highly nourishing, usually reserved for children under ten in the Wang's Clan, now served to Long Wuji, showing Wang Shouzhe's importance to this meeting.

"Great Leader Long, please."

"Shouzhe, please."

Without much formality, they drank several cups.

After a while, Long Wuji put down his cup, smiling faintly, "I've had the welcoming drink. Now, let's talk about why you betrayed me, Shouzhe."

"Betrayed? Great Leader Long, that's too harsh." Wang Shouzhe shook his head and smiled, "The fifty-year appointment was the deadline for my final answer, but it didn't mean I couldn't decide earlier."

"But you made such a poor decision?" Long Wuji, no longer pretending, said angrily, "I already considered you a brother."

"I didn't want to disappoint you, Great Leader Long." Wang Shouzhe sighed, "But my decision was made after careful consideration. If you don't mind the different stances, we can still be brothers."

"How can we be brothers with different stances?" Long Wuji's face darkened, "Shouzhe, following Wu Mingyuan has little chance of success. Why not stop now and turn back? I'll speak to Wu Chengsi for you, he won't hold a grudge and will use you well."

"What if I refuse?" Wang Shouzhe smiled faintly.

"Then don't blame me for being forceful." Long Wuji's face turned cold, "In front of my thousands of Flood Dragon soldiers, what can your Wang's Clan do? I'll bind you to my ship today."

Wang Shouzhe laughed, shaking his head, "They say Great Leader Long is wild and unrestrained, today I see it's true. Since that's the case, let's rely on our own means. But before the battle, Great Leader Long, look at the riverbank I built."

Riverbank?

Long Wuji was puzzled.

I'm talking about your betrayal, and you're talking about the riverbank?

He glanced casually and praised, "Wide and solid, well-built for flood control."

"Great Leader Long, now look at the An River's water flow," Wang Shouzhe continued.

Long Wuji's face showed impatience, but he suppressed it and said, "Shouzhe, with my army pressing down, you can't just keep changing the subject... Huh? The water flow seems much slower and shallower."

Long Wuji's expression changed slightly.

Having spent many years on the An River, he was extremely familiar with the water conditions. The current situation was clearly abnormal.

At the same time, the crew on the Flood Dragon Gang's warships also noticed something was wrong.

Zhao Wuqing soared into the sky, hovering a hundred feet above, using a telescope to look upstream. His face turned pale with shock.

He hurriedly flew towards Long Wuji, shouting anxiously, "Foster father, foster father, something terrible has happened upstream..."

"Upstream?"

Long Wuji's heart sank, a sense of foreboding rising. He glared at Wang Shouzhe and demanded, "Wang Shouzhe, what have you done?"

"Great Leader Long, don't be anxious," Wang Shouzhe replied calmly, "Let's go and see for ourselves. Shizhao, pack up the food and drinks. We'll move to another location."

"Yes, Grandpa."

Wang Shizhao, always steady and reliable, quickly packed up the dishes and wine.

Long Wuji, feeling uneasy, took the lead and flew into the air.

Jiang Yusong and Wang Shouzhe followed closely, heading upstream together with Long Wuji.

……

Meanwhile, upstream on the An River, at Broken Dragon Gorge, a massive sluice gate had been closed.

Over the past decades, the Changning Wang's Clan had systematically modified the An River section flowing through Ping'an Town to prevent flooding, and Broken Dragon Gorge was no exception.

Concrete mixed with steel and stones replaced the original riverbanks, and a high sluice gate was built at Broken Dragon Gorge.

At this moment, the heavy Broken Dragon Stone had completely sealed the sluice gate, blocking the river flow. The surging water could not pass through Broken Dragon Gorge and was accumulating upstream.

As time passed, the water level upstream of Broken Dragon Gorge had risen significantly.

At the top of the sluice gate, Liu Ruolan stood with her hands behind her back, quietly observing.

The cool spring breeze gently swayed her light blue dress, and her beautiful face seemed to glow in the sunlight, with a faint aura of spiritual light and water vapor surrounding her. From a distance, she looked like a divine maiden, graceful and dignified.

Suddenly, several powerful auras rapidly approached from the sky.

Liu Ruolan remained calm, glancing up to see Long Wuji approaching swiftly, followed by Wang Shouzhe and Jiang Yusong.

Wang Shouzhe's speed was not much slower than Long Wuji's, and he flew with ease.

In the blink of an eye, the three of them arrived.

Facing Long Wuji, Liu Ruolan showed no fear. She gracefully saluted, "Liu Ruolan, wife of Wang Shouzhe, greets Great Leader Long."

Long Wuji glanced at her, then at the sluice gate below, his expression darkening.

This newly built sluice gate had completely blocked the upstream water flow, causing the water to accumulate.

If this sluice gate were to break, the accumulated water would rush down like a flood. The riverboats, though large, had shallow drafts and could not withstand such a torrent.

This was a trap, a plan to "cut off the dragon"!

Long Wuji looked at the ethereal Liu Ruolan, his fingers twitching, but he dared not act rashly, fearing she might destroy the sluice gate.

"Shouzhe, what is the meaning of this?" Long Wuji turned, barely containing his anger, "What is this sluice gate for?"

"Great Leader Long, please don't be angry," Wang Shouzhe said calmly, "This name was passed down from our ancestors. This place is called 'Broken Dragon Gorge,' so the sluice gate is naturally called 'Broken Dragon Gate.' It's just a coincidence, not aimed at you."

Broken Dragon Gorge, Broken Dragon Gate!

Long Wuji almost fainted from anger.

Was this meant to cut him off? How was this not aimed at him?

He trembled with rage, laughing bitterly, "Shouzhe, I treated you as a brother, but you treat me like this? I never thought you were this kind of person!"

"Great Leader Long, you were planning to attack with your army and capture me to force me to change sides," Wang Shouzhe replied calmly, smiling, "We're even."

"I was doing it for your own good," Long Wuji's eyebrows twitched.

"Honestly, I'm doing this for your own good too," Wang Shouzhe smiled sincerely.

Long Wuji's eyelids twitched, feeling helpless against Wang Shouzhe.

Feeling agitated, he quickly changed tactics, "Shouzhe, my brother, why must we be at odds?"

"Isn't it because your great-grandson is engaged to Yi Luo, forcing you onto Wu Mingyuan's ship? Don't worry, I'll help you break off the engagement with Wu Mingyuan."

"As for your great-grandson's marriage, don't worry. You can choose any girl from Prince Dexin's line. How about Wu Xue'ning? She's my legitimate niece. Although she's three years older than your great-grandson, she's a true great prodigy, ranked second among Guilong City's Top Ten Outstanding Youths!"

Long Wuji patted his chest, determined to secure the alliance through marriage.

He was determined to dig up the foundation of the Wang's Clan.

……