Almost ten days later, the boat carrying Ji Yuan, Wang Li, and Zhang Rui was sailing down a small river, gradually approaching the Tongtian River.

The boat sailed smoothly and hardly shook. On the small table in the cabin were brushes, paper, and an inkstone. Wang Li was writing something on the table, while Zhang Rui sat next to him, watching.

After a long time, Wang Li finally wrote the last word, heaved a sigh of relief, and put the brush on the brush stand.

Looking at Zhang Rui next to him, Wang Li remembered his previous mistake and quickly asked Ji Yuan.

“Mr. Ji, with regards to the people in your story, do you mind if I adapt some of the plots appropriately? Some things are still very inconvenient to write into the book. It would be more appropriate to change it to the previous dynasty, or make up a dynasty.”

Ji Yuan had just finished telling the story of the Old Turtle of the Chunmu River. Since this was Mr. Ji’s story, it most likely all actually happened.

No matter how ignorant Wang Li was, he knew that this kind of story could not be published without modification.

The things he experienced during this period were quite a shock to Wang Li’s heart, but when it came to his work as a storyteller, he could still maintain a relatively calm mind.

“Hahahaha… As long as you don’t change it too much, the old turtle won’t mind.”

“Hmm…”

Wang Li responded. He thought for a while, but hesitantly continued to speak.

“Mr. Ji, I actually think the ending of this story is a bit inappropriate.”

Ji Yuan gave a stroke of the oar and replied casually.

“Mr. Wang, what do you think is wrong? Tell me.”

By now, Wang Li had roughly understood Ji Yuan’s temper, so he spoke with confidence.

“Mr. Ji, this story has twists and turns. It has miracles, the vicissitudes of life, and a lot of depth, but I still feel that this ending is not quite right. Think about, it whether its the emperor of this dynasty or the Xiao family, they may have to bear some repercussions. You are an god, and naturally understand the outcome, but it’s not so obvious to me.”

Wang Li considered his words and continued.

“I believes that storytelling, in addition to bringing a little joy to the public, also plays a role in alerting the world. It is indeed difficult to balance the retribution of good and evil in this world, but at least in the a story, it can and should be done. If not even a storyteller’s tale can allow people to happily overcome evil, how boring would that be…”

“Clap clap clap clap…”

Ji Yuan put down the oar and applauded Wang Li.

“Well said, well said! Change it as your heart desires.”

“Haha, then I will… just change it?”

Wang Li asked again to confirm. Ji Yuan rowed again, nodding and emphasizing.

“Change it!”

That being the case, Wang Li was no longer polite. He took the pen, dipped it in ink, turned to a blank page and began to write again.

What he had now was only the first draft. He had simply written down what Mr. Ji said before his memory faded. He would then refine it and gradually perfect the story.

To form a good story that could be deeply remembered, the core plot was of course indispensable, but the storyteller’s polish was also crucial. Wang Li had worked hard on this process. After all, compared to relating some rumors he had heard or copying other famous stories, this kind of true supernatural story could make him even more excited.

Zhang Rui looked at Wang Li with some surprise. This man was like an entirely different person from who he had been in the brothel when he was writing and telling stories. This question and answer exchange with Mr. Ji just now surprised her even more.

Just due to the fact Wang Li was able to express what he had just now, which evoked Mr. Ji’s applause, Zhang Rui looked at Wang Li with new eyes.

Thinking carefully, the original adaptation of “The White Deer’s Fate” actually had a similar impact. She felt disgusted at hearing it only because she happened to be the “victim” of the adaptation. And although Bai Lu and Zhou Lang’s ending had a tragic core, in the end they were reunited in the underworld, and were still a couple. This deepened the tragedy even further, but the strictness of the City God’s law was also impressive.

However, it was just that Wang Li didn’t know how heavy the whipping of the underworld was at the time, so the story was over-interpreted by those who had some true knowledge.

Wang Li was still scribbling and revising, and would stop from time to time to grind ink. Apart from occasionally looking at what he had written, Zhang Rui spent most her time with her eyes closed to cultivate. She could not access incense power and faith for the time being, but she could slowly absorb the Yin energy that came up from the water.

About half a day after the boat followed the small stream and merged into the Tongtian River, some odd bubbles began to appear beside the boat.

“Mr. Ji?”

Zhang Rui opened her eyes and asked after discovering the abnormality, but found that Ji Yuan just shook his head.

“Not a problem.”

Sure enough, everything returned to its original state after a while, and nothing strange happened in the water. Wang Lize had no idea that Zhang Rui had been on guard, and was still immersed in his own story world.

When they arrived at the Tongtian River, there were more hills and woodlands along the bank. About a quarter of an hour later, Ji Yuan maneuvered the boat around a winding curve, and Zhang Rui suddenly found two people standing on the shore near the hill.

The two were dressed in gorgeous clothes. One was a man, and the other was a woman, and they were both very beautiful. Even Hongxiu’s face was eclipsed by the woman’s appearance. But how could there be two people standing on the shore in such a remote and desolate place, with no carriages or boats nearby?

“Hey, Wang Li, there’s a beautiful girl over there.”

“Oh.”

Wang Li responded without looking up. After writing a few words, he seemed to come back to his senses. He hurriedly looked in the direction Zhang Rui was pointing and saw those two people with outstanding appearances.

Zhang Rui and Wang Li then realized that, in addition to the two people who had been looking at the boat, the boat was also approaching the shore.

“Ying Feng…”

“Ying Ruoli…”

“… greets Uncle Ji!”

The Dragon Son and Dragon Daughter solemnly bowed to greet them when the boat was still seven or eight zhang away.

Ji Yuan put down the oars at the bow of the boat and bowed in return.

“Hello, my two nephews!”

Normally, Ji Yuan would address them as “His Royal Highness Ying” and “Lady River Goddess.”

But Wang Li was currently on the boat now, and if he called them that directly, he would probably be shocked again, so he simply called them “nephews” this time.

In fact, after seeing Wang Li’s reaction to the shock he received a few days ago, Ji Yuan didn’t want Wang Li to be exposed to too many supernatural incidents. After he had finished telling this story, it would be better for him to be a pure storyteller.

The boat had just docked, and the Dragon Son and Dragon Daughter stepped on the bow together, then the boat continued to sail along the river towards the capital.

Ever since the two of them had gotten on the boat, although there was no power and divine light, Zhang Rui subconsciously didn’t dare to speak. Even Wang Li only dared to take a peek at the two of them, mainly writing with his brush.

“Uncle Ji, are you going to the capital? My father is sleeping, do you want to wake him up?”

Judging from Ji Yuan’s posture, he definitely didn’t come to the Tongtian River in particular, and he still had some respect for the Old Dragon.

“No, it’s fine.”

“Uncle Ji, who are these two?”

The Dragon Daughter walked to front of the cabin, bowed to the two people inside, and asked.

Zhang Rui and Wang Li quickly returned the greeting.

“My name is Zhang Rui, I’m from… Yan Province. His name is Wang Li, a storyteller.”

Wang Li looked at Zhang Rui and twitched his mouth.

“Uh, I’m Wang Li, a storyteller.”

“Well, I am Ying Ruoli, that one is my elder brother Ying Feng. Both of us are Mr. Ji’s juniors.”

After Ying Ruoli entered the cabin to find out what Wang Li was doing, she quickly went out to chat with Ji Yuan.

The two extra people on the boat stayed for half a day. Ji Yuan did not dock the boat until the next pier.

Zhang Rui and Wang Li knew it was time to part, and the two of them went ashore, while Ji Yuan and the other two stayed on the boat.

“If you take a boat from this dock and go southeast along the Tongtian River, you can quickly reach Yan Province.”

They had agreed on this long ago: Zhang Rui would naturally not go to the capital. Wang Li wanted to complete his story and follow these gods, but Ji Yuan did not intend to bring him along all the time. He had taken him away from Chengsu Prefecture because he had been afraid that he would be liquidated by the brothel. He also wanted to keep him away from that land of flowers.¹

At this time, Zhang Rui had already vanished from sight and stood by Wang Li’s side, bowing and saying goodbye to the people on the boat. Wang Li was even more excited.

“Mr. Ji, when will I see you again? Do you think I have a chance to… to become a person like you…”

Wang Li on the shore looked at the people around the docks and asked a veiled and expectant question, which made Zhang Rui, the Dragon Son, and Dragon Daughter laugh.

Ji Yuan understood what Wang Li meant. Everyone wanted to be a god, and indeed, it was quite a good position.

“Hahahaha… Mr. Wang, be a good storyteller, and we can meet again.”

Ji Yuan smiled and used the bamboo pole on the boat to push off of the dock and into the river. Wang Li watched the boat sail away from the shore, feeling a little lost.

When the boat was more than ten zhang away from the dock, Ji Yuan suddenly turned around and shouted.

“Mr. Wang, what you said on the boat the other day, will your feelings always stay the same?”

Ji Yuan asked this question without any reason. The Dragon Son and Dragon Daughter didn’t understand, and even Zhang Rui didn’t respond for a while, but Wang Li immediately understood what Mr. Ji was asking in an instant. His mind flashed back to what he had said the day before — that he wanted to change the ending of the story, and Mr. Ji’s applause at that time.

“Mr. Ji! I will always be like this!”

Wang Li shouted his response to the river.

Ji Yuan nodded and bowed solemnly towards the shore again.

Seeing this, Wang Li did not dare to be negligent, and hurriedly returned the greeting. Then he watched the boat go farther and farther, before it soon became blurred in his sight.

“Let’s go, Mr. Wang, don’t even think about sneaking to the capital!”

“Hey, Miss Zhang, you… Okay, okay… But don’t you think Miss Ying’s name sounds familiar?”

“Familiar? You must be out of your mind!”

“I’m not really…”

Wang Li gave a wry smile and went to find a boat. From an outsider’s perspective, this guy might indeed be a little out of his mind for talking to himself.

On the Tongtian River, Ji Yuan rowed the oar with one hand, and his right hand extended into a sword finger position. An illusory chess piece flashed.

“May you always be like this…”

“Uncle Ji?”

“It’s nothing.”

Ji Yuan rowed the boat, this time much faster than before.

T/n: and we got our next chess piece! 😀

1. i.e. brothel

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay Read