Guarding the River of Time-Chapter 250 - 244: Lantern Patrol at Night, An Old Friend Returns with Karma

Chapter 250: Chapter 244: Lantern Patrol at Night, An Old Friend Returns with Karma

When he fell to the ground, he happened to hit a very hard and sharp rock on the riverbank, bruising Su Mu’s knee.

Su Mu quickly stood up and looked at the ground in front of him, seeing something that seemed to be a smooth, glowing object buried in the sand....

After approaching, crouching down and carefully brushing away the sand on the surface, he could finally see what was inside.

"A shell?"

It was a very large shell, about a meter in diameter, shaped like an ordinary scallop, with a deep golden color and shimmering patterns on its surface.

Upon closer inspection, you could see silver fan-like patterns on the shell’s surface, strange designs that seemed more like they were painted on than part of the original shell.

Holding it in his hand, it was exceptionally heavy, and even for Su Mu, it required both hands to lift it without using any Spiritual Power.

After examining it from all sides, Su Mu felt not a trace of a Spiritual Power fluctuation from this scallop shell. It seemed like a completely ordinary shell, just larger in size and of an unusual color.

However, having patrolled the river for years, searching for treasures and robbing them, what had he interacted with the most?

Of course, he had the most interactions with "treasures." Thus, he had developed a keen eye, and no treasure could escape his discerning gaze.

With just one look, Su Mu determined that this scallop shell was definitely not simple!

Best to keep it for now and study it thoroughly at home. Don’t disrupt his work routine.

....

It was close to dark when Su Mu finally wrapped up for the day and headed home.

His luck had been great these past few days; the recent Cross River Men earned him a big haul of Favor Points!

Especially with that one guy, clueless as to where he came from, probably with a screw loose, causing trouble on the river.

The moment they met, he charged at Su Mu with a clenched fist.

Would Su Mu put up with that?

It had been ages since anyone this bold appeared, so he gave him a thorough beating. But that guy’s stubbornness was real; it took several rounds before he was beaten into submission, begging for mercy on his knees.

To punish such troublemakers, Su Mu stripped him of all his treasures.

This haul left Su Mu pleasantly shocked.

This guy... a walking treasure trove!

The treasures on him were almost as much as what Su Mu would loot in several months, and of a high level at that, a real goldmine.

After being looted, the guy got defiant again, resorting to punches and kicks against Su Mu.

Would Su Mu tolerate him?

Another round of beatings, like dealing with a pesky chick, thoroughly from head to toe, leaving him almost out of breath.

However, Su Mu spared his life, forcing him to sign a "hefty debt."

In the end, the guy ran off crying, tripping and stumbling, figuratively calling for his parents.

Though Su Mu is a principled person, he gives no leeway to those causing trouble on the river, beating them relentlessly!

All in all, Su Mu collected three hundred thousand Favor Points altogether!!

This instantly increased his River Affinity to 23%, bringing him one step closer to success.

Su Mu estimated that at his current rate of earning Favor Points, a conservative estimate was that it would take a maximum of ten, certainly no more than twenty years, to completely refine this wretched river.

Then he could leave this godforsaken place and spread his wings in broader horizons, rather than languishing in this small region.

......

Back home, he had a simple dinner.

Nannan’s cooking skills were getting better, with different dishes every day.

While maintaining the taste, the original Power of Spiritual Charm in the food was preserved.

For the dinner Su Mu ate was not just ordinary meals, but Supreme Treasures and Great Medicine, each bite a nourishing tonic, greatly beneficial for cultivation.

....

After a satisfying meal, Su Mu took out the golden big shell he had picked up during the day, placed it on the ground, and began to study it.

However, after trying various methods, he couldn’t pry open the shell.

Su Mu believed the true treasure must be hidden inside the shell.

Unable to open it, coupled with the exceptionally sturdy shell, most Attack Treasures couldn’t leave a mark on it.

However, if Su Mu wanted to, he could forcefully break it open with the Silver Dagger.

But doing so would shatter the shell entirely, and if there were no treasure inside, or if the items inside became useless due to the shattered shell, that would be a great loss.

So, prying the shell open was necessary.

He found a treasure shaped like a plier-scissors set from his collection to start prying.

After over an hour of prying, with his face flushed and covered in sweat, he hadn’t moved it a millimeter.

Then he persisted for two more hours.

Crack——

Finally, a sound was heard, and the shell’s opening...opened up...one millimeter!

After all that effort, it was just one millimeter!

This infuriated Su Mu greatly.

However, after it was pried open a tiny bit, a wisp of seven-colored misty light emanated from inside.

Upon sensing the aura of this misty light, Su Mu’s pupils shrank, revitalized with great interest, he rolled up his sleeves, activated his Cultivation Technique, and continued prying.

....

While Su Mu was busy prying open the shell.

Dong——

Dong——

A dull sound came from the pitch-black river.

Hearing this, Su Mu stopped his actions and turned to look downstream.

Dong——

The sound continued, resembling a drumbeat upon a closer listen.

Just like the city watchmen in the mortal world, striking their gongs during night patrols, but this sound was less sharp and more muffled.

Su Mu had guarded the river for so many years, encountering Cross River Men mostly during the day.

Who in their right mind would cross the river at night?

Either up to no good or attempting to smuggle!

Although encounters at night were rare, he had had one or two before, although they were incidents from a year or two ago.

One time, it was an odd, eccentric old woman attempting to smuggle through.

Su Mu found her and sent her packing immediately.

At night, people on the river are either disposing bodies or drugging it, with some night-fishing enthusiasts involved too.

...

Crossing the river at night, banging a broken gong?

What’s the intention here?

Drawing him out to provoke him?

Or is it another clueless troublemaker?

Originally, prying the shell was already making Su Mu irritable, and now, right in the middle of the night, someone’s banging a broken gong on the river, riling Su Mu up, prompting his furious march towards the river.

....

By this time, the old Cyan Ox, lying down and napping in the backyard, also abruptly raised its head upon hearing the gong sound, gazing towards the dark water surface.