Chapter 85: The Treasure of a Nation and the Treasure of a Nation

Tang Miaofu clutched her body and let out a piercing scream.

The reinforcements rushing through the alley next door heard her cry and immediately quickened their pace, only to be stopped by her sharp command:

“All of you, stop right there. Come over only when I call for you.”

She then turned to pick up her scattered clothes and equipment.

On the other side, Wang Cheng showed no intention of seizing the advantage. Grabbing A Xiao, he summoned a fierce gust of wind and dashed toward the ancient well nearby.

For he realized that this West Lake boatwoman, who had likely seen countless battles, seemed not at all dismayed—on the contrary, after a fleeting moment of shock, she appeared even more excited!

Not a trace of the usual feminine shyness or sense of propriety.

Retrieving a small purse-like universe pouch from her scattered things, she carelessly slipped on a simple overskirt and, with each stride covering several yards, chased after them. The wind caught her garments, revealing a breathtaking sight. As she ran, she laughed coquettishly:

“Wealthy little brother, if you really want to look, why bother doing it yourself? Miaofu will show you willingly.

With your status, looks, and talents, if you entered Miaofu’s pleasure house, countless lovely beauties would clamor to share your bed for free.

Just hand over that young lady beside you to me for training, and I’ll let you taste pleasure beyond mortal imagining.”

The rare goods she traded in were thus laid bare.

[Obsession: Fickle as Water]

As a third-rank boatwoman, her affections were as fleeting as water, as light as willow catkins, never entrusting her heart to any one person.

Today she might love one man to death, tomorrow she would be flirting with another. What never changed was her utter disinterest in lowly followers—her passion was reserved for conquering the strong and talented, using her conquests as proof of her own allure.

She was especially hostile toward other beauties, determined to make them all become just like her.

She had no wish to let the reinforcements she deemed beneath her get a glimpse, but didn’t mind at all if the young talent “Wang Fugui” saw everything. Aside from his rather rustic name, he was, after all, the personal disciple of a Hall Official of the Direct Years Hall, a promising seventh-tier Whitewater Gentleman.

She didn’t mind at all doing something pleasurable before killing him.

Wang Cheng, upon seeing her deep-seated obsession, couldn’t help but curse under his breath, realizing he’d made another error in judgment.

“Just how many oddities has this obsession-based ‘Offering Law’ created?

This world is truly insane.”

Yet, to his surprise, he didn’t see any reaction at all on A Xiao’s face.

In truth, for a flood dragon, whose kind had no reproductive barriers with any creature, wasn’t it natural for the young and vigorous of their clan to lift a demoness’s skirt from time to time?

Before they were tamed by Lady Tianfei, the Yan clan had been notorious dragon bandits on the East Sea, pillaging and plundering as a matter of course.

As for Tang Miaofu’s attempt to make Wang Cheng betray her—A Xiao didn’t care in the least.

The dragon maiden’s mind was simple and direct: was there even a moment’s hesitation in choosing between herself and a fickle woman like that? Even a fool knew the right answer.

Don’t you dare try to snare my naïve little brother! Well… more or less naïve?

The two of them skirted the split peach tree, leapt into the ancient well, and vanished in an instant into the surging black tide.

But the title on Wang Cheng, [Heaven’s Appointed Inspector, Prince Wang], activated its “Debt Collector” ability ahead of time. His entire shadow detached from his body and melted into the darkness, disappearing in the direction where the “debtors” were most numerous.

Soon after, Tang Miaofu and Wei Zhong, the sword-wielding enforcer who had finally caught up, also jumped in.

“We go down first! When yin and yang reverse, the dregs of history will rise to the surface and take the place of reality.

Moon Harbor, the surrounding waters, and the entire naval battlefield—all will be drawn in.

If we can be the first to find the flood dragon’s carcass, we’ll be the greatest heroes in the eyes of the nobles.”

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“Understood.”

As the second wave was swallowed up, thunder exploded among the clouds and a bolt of lightning split the sky, provoking a chorus of startled cries in the city below.

“Look at the sky!”

Though the blazing octagonal pavilion had collapsed, above the well-mouth, the shadow of a towering iron tower was becoming real, bit by bit, descending into the world.

Ding! Ding! Ding!

Bells hanging from the cast-iron eaves swung eerily, along with countless drifting corpses, sending chills down the spine.

At this moment, the two realms of yin and yang began to invert, and the once-suppressed “Historical Dregs: Stone Drum Dragon Fishing” returned to activity from its dormant state.

The Nine Rivers, the estuary, and all nearby waters instantly turned pitch-black.

The historical dregs transformed into a phantom tide of blackness, splitting into nine torrents, each like a ferocious flood dragon, surging in all directions.

Meanwhile, in the deep pool beneath the iron tower, a divine radiance shot straight to the heavens. Even ordinary mortals could sense the supreme and noble majesty of the flood dragon.

Yet it was mechanical and rigid, utterly lacking in vitality, still struggling to suppress the historical dregs.

“Help—!”

“I don’t want to be fished to death! Lady Yan, Lady Tianfei, save me!”

…

At that very moment, Moon Harbor had only just purged eight hundred Japanese pirates, with no time to celebrate before disaster struck.

However, unlike the unpredictable “Feigning Repairs, Secret Passage through Chencang,” the outbreak of historical dregs was part of the plan—they had prepared for this.

Commanding from the central Baoshan beacon tower, Hall Official Shen Yuting watched as, even under the divine protection of Lady Yan herself, Moon Harbor grew ever darker.

Sighing deeply, his expression complicated, he murmured:

“Alas! I speak with a heavy tongue, but my word is my bond. What I have promised Lady Tianfei, I must fulfill.

Even if it means risking exposure by wielding this national treasure, I must stand firm.

I only hope that this time my daughter and disciples won’t be dragged down with me.”

He drew from his sleeve a small [Gold-Inlaid Lacquer Box with Fish and Algae Motif], setting it respectfully before the statue of Lady Tianfei.

Barely opening a thin crack, an iridescent glow transformed into infinite treasures of gold and silver, coral and agate, glass and amber.

Without using its full power, it had already become an immovable “stone,” standing firm in the black tide of historical dregs, shielding Moon Harbor behind it.

The flood dragon born of historical dregs charged at it several times in vain, forced instead to veer toward the open sea.

At sea, two naval squadrons faced off: one, downwind, advanced close-hauled with double-reefed sails; the other, upwind, ran before the wind at a slightly faster pace.

After an hour’s sail, when the civilian faction’s navy and the Japanese pirate fleet met, they were less than a dozen miles from Moon Harbor.

Moon Harbor’s main force comprised three fleets, each led by a shipmaster:

The “Tower Mirage General” Huang Yuanzhou, “River-Turning Rat” Han Zechang, and “Divine Eye” Pu Shouying.

The other two shipmasters of the gentry faction had appeared among the Japanese pirates.

Above their heads, a sheet of golden light formed a document infused with incense—the official recognition of a high authority supervising the province’s maritime defenses, protected by sea and mountain prohibitions and royal qi, warding off all gods!

Ironically, by the current standards of the Dazhao government, these licensed Japanese pirates were considered “officials,” while the locals who had gone to sea on their own were “bandits.”

While the main warships—equipped with heavy-caliber cannons—remained in standoff, the vanguard skirmished on the outskirts.

The small warships closed to within a hundred meters, sometimes just a few dozen, then dropped anchor to open fire, unleashing volleys from bee-hive rockets, divine fire crows, fire dragons, and other incendiary weapons.

Whoever broke first would burn, sink, or retreat from the battlefield.

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In essence, this was a siege battle fought at sea: both sides with their own “city walls”—wooden bulwarks—battering each other from behind them.

Once the fighting reached a fever pitch and the crews grew frustrated with the slow reload of muzzle-loading cannons and weak firepower, many simply hurled grappling hooks, lashing the ships together to force brutal boarding actions.

“Kill! Kill! Kill!”

“Gunners, fire!”

Smoke and blood filled the sea, battle cries thundered, limbs and bodies flew.

Wang Cheng’s flagship, the “Azure Garments,” remained in the main formation, hidden from the fray by a thick mist exhaled by a giant mirage clam.

Aside from the Tower Mirage General Huang Yuanzhou, no one knew Moon Harbor had a secret superweapon in reserve.

Once his shadow body separated from his physical self, he quietly linked with the shadow of his family’s Guardian Spirit General, A Ji, merging effortlessly.

Standing atop the mainmast’s yardarm, he gazed at Pu Shouying, who was still smiling, feigning innocence.

In truth, if it hadn’t been for the wild card “Universal Treasure of the Four Seas,” there’d have been no chance of his cover being blown—no wonder Pu seemed so calm, still hoping to profit as a bystander.

A plain, square wooden post lay at his feet—so nondescript it was easy to overlook, any carpenter’s common timber for repairs.

Even when Wang Cheng examined it with his “Rare Goods for Sale” ability, it seemed utterly ordinary, revealing nothing.

Before, he’d had no way in, but now with the “Debt Collector” ability, those who owed him would have to pay, one way or another.

Pu Shouying, as strategist to the honored “Dragon Heir,” had ruined the Wang family. Was it too much to quietly extract a little intelligence from him while his guard was down?

Wang Cheng’s pupils turned into the square holes of ancient coins, and at last, he saw the secret of the warding talisman:

[Rare Item: Feigning Repairs, Secret Passage through Chencang (National Treasure)

Origin: When the Han High Ancestor was still King of Han, he resolved to seize the throne. He sent a token force to repair the plank roads, while his elite troops slipped over the treacherous Chencang route, catching the enemy off guard for a decisive victory.

Its influence is not the highest, but by virtue of the “kingly spirit” of the High Ancestor—the Han’s First Emperor—it became a rare national treasure in the history of China.

Effect: By dividing your forces into overt and covert units, you can hide up to thirty thousand troops, passing undetected even under the enemy’s nose.

Additional Effect: After completing one strategic surprise attack with this treasure, no matter what shameful acts you committed during that period, everyone will forget them.

Only by touching this wooden post can memories be restored.

Prerequisite: You must win—history is written by the victors!

The Pu clan has survived three dynasties, committed treason twice, and this makes a third, all thanks to this treasure, which has kept their reputation spotless till now.]

Wang Cheng was suddenly enlightened:

“So that’s how it is.

No wonder there wasn’t a hint in advance. Its ability may be simple, but it’s powerful—most perverse of all is ‘history written by the victor,’ erasing every misdeed.

Now here’s a thought: With this treasure, could I deliberately leak my identity, test the loyalty and character of those in the Five Peaks Banner, and try to recover my father’s legacy?

After all, I could keep resetting the targets.”

Just then, the black tide of historical dregs surged past Moon Harbor, engulfing both navies at sea.

Both sides now beheld the distant, sinuous shadow of a dragon projected across the waves.

The shipmasters of the gentry faction, seeing themselves swallowed by the tide, were not afraid but elated:

“Trim the sails—today, we slay the dragon!”

Yet they failed to realize that the moment they broke Moon Harbor’s formation and unleashed the historical dregs, a heavy burden of karmic debt had already settled over their heads.

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