"What an auspicious creature!"
Zhang Jian glanced at it and was immediately surprised.
Zhang Jian could tell a turtle from a tortoise, one has a hard shell, the other a soft shell.
The tortoise is also known as ’wang ba’.
Before him was a rare large turtle, especially as its entire body was a white jade color. In folk belief, such creatures are considered auspicious and are highly regarded, whether as a gift of longevity or as an offering to the court.
This particular White Jade Turtle was even more extraordinary, with threads of spiritual mechanism visibly flowing around its body. It could be considered a kind of minor spirit monster.
In the depths of Zhang Jian’s mind, he could hear the crying sound of a child inside the Ten Thousand Realms Spiritual Consciousness Ball, tinged with fear and worry.
"A White Jade Spirit Turtle?"
A number of passersby were already bidding on it, and the price had risen from a few coins to dozens.
Zhang Jian took another look at the spirit turtle, thought for a moment, and then spoke directly.
"Three hundred copper coins!"
He spoke out, and the surrounding people immediately turned their eyes toward him, all showing discontent.
The old fisherman, hearing this, brightened up.
"This young master bids three hundred copper coins, is there any higher offer? If not, then this great white turtle belongs to the young master!"
Although many of the bystanders wanted to compete, some from the mansions of the powerful and wealthy, sent to procure ingredients, none had the authority to spend such a large amount of money.
Some people tried to step forward to reveal their background and negotiate with Zhang Jian, but he refused directly.
At the same time, Zhang Jian took out a card from the Qi Mansion and handed it to the old fisherman, saying, "This is the name card from the Qi Family on Changling Street, with my name on it. You can use it to collect three hundred copper coins from the Qi Mansion!"
"Of course, if you don’t trust me, you can come with me to the nearby money shop to withdraw the funds!"
Hearing it was the Qi Family from Changling Street, the old fisherman’s expression became serious, and he said hastily, "I trust you, the old General Qi has always been trustworthy!"
The stewards from other wealthy families who were about to argue heard it was the Third-Class General Wei Yuan’s Qi Family and immediately gave up, unable to compete, and watched enviously.
Although bound by power and knowledge, they knew this White Jade Spirit Turtle was extremely valuable. If they could bring it back, they would certainly be highly appreciated.
The old fisherman carefully accepted the extravagant card, stepping forward eagerly, "Young Master, would you need me to help take it back to Qi Mansion?"
Zhang Jian lifted the flaxen fishnet with a smile and said, "That won’t be necessary; a creature so fair shouldn’t be wasted by being eaten. Let it go free!"
"Heaven has the virtue of cherishing life!"
The bystanders all found it a pity, and the old fisherman likewise felt regret, but since it had been sold, its use was no longer his concern; he simply remarked with a smile.
"Young Master truly has a merciful heart, like a bodhisattva!"
The White Jade Spirit Turtle in the net seemed to understand it had been spared, slowly extending its head and looking at Zhang Jian with watery eyes, and Zhang Jian heard a babbling sound of thanks at his ear.
Then he got up and went to the nearby riverbank, casually tearing open the fiber net and tossing the White Jade Turtle into the surging Bai Shui River.
Zhang Jian watched the White Jade Turtle disappear into the water and smiled slightly.
Actually, given the Zhang Family’s current status, if he kept the turtle and passed it to his Sixth Uncle Zhang Duan to present to the court, some benefit wouldn’t be out of the question.
But that would be too troublesome, and might easily attract covetous eyes.
Zhang Jian simply released it, satisfying his own peace of mind.
Seeking a clear conscience.
Then Zhang Jian turned back into the crowd.
After Zhang Jian left, the riverbank suddenly erupted with exclamations, as a tempestuous wave burst forth from the depths of the Bai Shui River.
All exclaimed that such waves only arise with the presence of monsters.
The fish market and people by the riverbank dispersed quickly.
Sharp-eyed individuals seemed to see a silhouette, resembling a hill, moving in the depths of the wide Bai Shui River, striking awe in their hearts.
The incident spread rapidly.
When Zhang Jian returned to Qi Mansion after handling Hu Shan and others’ purchases of gold and silver, he heard people discussing it.
Shortly afterwards, Qi Yi and Tianxu Daoist came together, concerned about the conflict near Qi Mansion last night.
Zhang Jian did not conceal anything.
"Did the governor’s subordinates really hire so many strange and extraordinary people?"
Qi Yi felt a headache upon hearing this. These extraordinary people are not very useful in direct confrontations, possibly inferior to hundreds of soldiers charging at them with a Nine-Bead Crossbow or even a vermillion armor-piercing crossbow sweeping over, but in assassinations, they are exceptionally fierce.
"There’s no need for external interventions. The Qi Family is still the Third-Class General Wei Yuan’s Mansion, protected by the Imperial Cauldron. Evil people dare not easily offend, and as long as my uncles, who hold official positions, are careful and send more guards, there will be no problem!"
"For now, that’s all we can do!"
Qi Yi nodded in agreement.
Qi Yi sighed; currently, all the powerful families in the Commandery City are busy vying for power and balance with the governor, and this situation is really stressful.
Zhang Jian had an idea, casting his gaze upon Tianxu Daoist, and asked.
"Elder Tianxu, how much do you know about the divine power in Fengyang County?"
Tianxu Daoist’s expression changed at his words: "Divine power?"
He looked at Zhang Jian in surprise, then said, "I only know there is a County City God Temple in the Commandery City, and there used to be a Bai Shui Divine Department in the Bai Shui River. The divine power is bound by strict rules and rarely interferes with worldly affairs unless it involves matters of the Yin and Yang Realms!"
Zhang Jian nodded, his eyes reflecting subtle thoughts.
"Elder Tianxu, do you know how to restrain a deity’s nature?"
Upon hearing this, Tianxu Daoist was stunned, looking at the young man in front of him with amazement, and couldn’t help but ask.
"Brother Zhang, what prompts this question?"
Zhang Jian shook his head, "I recently witnessed divine power, and it left a deep impression on me!"
Hearing this, Tianxu Daoist nodded; he vaguely knew about the City God’s recent intervention, shaking his head in response.
"Regarding the mysteries of the divine power, I am not very knowledgeable, but perhaps there are some sparse records in ancient texts at the Iron Immortal Temple!"
Tianxu Daoist wore a slightly embarrassed expression, "Ultimately, I cannot compare to the ancestors of Iron Immortal Temple; my understanding is limited!"
Upon hearing this, Zhang Jian smiled, "Elder Tianxu is too modest. Mastery lies in specializing—regarding medical and herbal understanding, Elder Tianxu surpasses the predecessors; who in Fengyang County does not know Elder Tianxu’s profound expertise in these areas?"
Hearing this, Tianxu Daoist blushed slightly but could not help smiling; everyone likes hearing compliments, especially from a young and distinguished talent in cultivation and practice.
Tianxu Daoist, his face beaming, patted his chest and said.
"Rest assured, Brother Zhang, I will check for you when I return. If I can’t find anything, I will ask a few old friends; maybe they have answers!"
"Thank you very much, Elder Tianxu. This matter is significant for me!"
Zhang Jian smiled gently.
He had a premonition that he might soon be dealing directly with the Dragon Monarch, so he naturally needed to make preparations and know how to restrain that Dragon Monarch for effective measures.
Qi Yi and Tianxu Daoist stayed in the small courtyard for a while, talking before leaving in a hurry once they gathered the information they sought. Qi Yi had also asked Tianxu Daoist to come for other matters, to identify a guest daoist invited by Qi Yuanjia from the fourth branch, to avoid being deceived.
...
Zhang Jian waited in the courtyard for feedback from the ’ancestor’ after the ancestral rites in the morning.
He was quite looking forward to it.