Gu Daoist Master

Chapter 117: Bitter shell wine and River Swallowing Toad

Translator: Skyfarrow Editor: Skyfarrow

A solemn and serious atmosphere filled the conference hall.

A group of elders silently sat on their seats; their faces were either indifferent, gloomy or serious.

Clan head Gu Yue Bo was sitting on the main seat, his gaze also filled with unconcealed worry, “Three days ago, a River Swallowing Toad appeared near the village by the foot of the mountain. This toad flowed along with the Huang Long River(1) and accidentally reached here. Right now, it is blocking up a river channel and sleeping there. If we ignore it, the village will constantly be in danger. So I would like to ask the elders if you have any good ideas to drive this toad away?”

The elders looked at each other; for a moment, no one spoke.

River Swallowing Toad was a Rank five Gu; it had an enormous might and could spit out a river. If this was not handled properly and it was provoked, over half of the Qing Mao mountain could be submerged with water and the whole village would be destroyed.

After a long silence, Gu Yue Chi Lian spoke, “The situation is grave, and we need to resolve this as quickly as possible. If this news gets leaked, we can’t say for sure if those with evil intentions might not secretly go and intentionally provoke this River Swallowing Toad to entrap our Gu Yue clan.”

“Elder Chi Lian is right.” Gu Yue Mo Chen nodded in agreement. Although he and Gu Yue Chi Lian were political enemies, but at such a critical time for the village, he let go of his past prejudices.

He continued speaking after a moment, “There is another more serious problem. If the River Swallowing Toad floods the Qing Mao mountain, the wolf lairs will be submerged and for their survival, the wolf hordes will move up the mountain. At that time, the wolf tide will break out before its time. And we will have to fight with countless wild beasts to fight for the space at the top.”

The elders’ complexion turned pale when they heard this.

Gu Yue Bo spoke with heavy tone, “Everyone, don’t forget the foundation of our village. The first generation ancestor set up the village in this place because of the underground spirit spring. If Qing Mao mountain gets flooded, this spirit spring might also be destroyed.”

“What should we do?”

“Sigh….even if we withstand the beast tides and survive at the mountaintop. After the flood subsides, the spirit spring will have disappeared, many beasts will have died, our surroundings will turn to a wasteland and we will be lacking cultivation resources.”

“If we are to die, then why not ask help from Xiong and Bai villages? We are three boats tied with one rope, I don’t believe they won’t help!”

The elders whispered to one another with panic hidden inside. Some had already started thinking of asking for reinforcements.

“It is too premature to ask for help now,” Gu Yue Bo shook his head and denied this idea immediately. “It is not the most challenging period now. When the first generation ancestor had just established the village, a Rank five Blood River Python attacked the village, but the first generation clan head killed it. Compared to the Blood River Python, the River Swallowing Toad is just so much more adorable.”

“It has a warm temperament and is harmless to ordinary people. Only if it senses the aura of other Gu will it be alert. If it receives serious injuries, it will be angered and spit out a river. By chance, I heard the previous clan head talk of a rumor about the River Swallowing Toad….”

Gu Yue Bo’s composed and calm voice resounded within the conference hall.

The group of elders listened attentively; their nervous and panicked expressions eased up.

“He is really worthy of being the clan head. He calmed their hearts with just his words.” Gu Yue Yao Ji sensed the change in the atmosphere. She gave a profound look at Gu Yue Bo and praised him inwardly.

said just now, chasing away the River Swallowing Toad wouldn’t be a difficult thing,” An elder

“These are only rumors, I haven’t personally seen it or even put it to use. The important thing

All the elders agreed.

Yue Chi Lian spoke, “Then how about I send a member of my Chi family. If he can’t do it, then no one among our clan might be able

knew who Chi Lian was speaking of, and they approved of it one

smiled, “Since it is so, then we shall just assign it to

was early autumn, the weather was gradually turning

table by the window of the tavern, Fang Yuan was sitting alone, calmly tasting

standing beside him, bowing

progress on the matter regarding bitter shell wine that I asked you to

a bitter wine for

had been focusing on him. Wherever he went, people would point him

only recently, and maybe because extreme sorrow turns into joy, Fang Yuan had accidentally

lines on its shell resembling a tree’s growth rings. We call it a bitter shell. Normal conches can form pearls. The bitter shell swallows the sands and stones in the water, dissolving them and forming bitter water instead. Someone pried open its shell and obtained this bitter water, using it to brew wine, making the bitter shell wine. Its taste is very unique;

brows upon hearing this, “Does that mean

guarantee it, I have only heard people talking about it occasionally. However, the truth is Bai village is famous for its white grain liquid. This wine along with our clan’s green bamboo wine and Xiong village’s bear gall wine are called the three wines of Qing Mao. Bitter

is little, I have to find it,”

had been gradually showing signs of coming to emergence these years, starting to shake the Gu Yue village’s position

Bai village without permission, the patrolling Bai village’s Gu Masters might kill him before he even

After all, getting this bitter shell wine was more reasonable that the green Ai wine that

Yuan found that the old shopkeeper was still standing beside him. He waved his hand, “Alright, you

face revealed hesitation, not speaking

work for you. You don’t know that when the old landlord came back, he deducted most of our wages. With such little primeval stones each month, it is really difficult for us to support our

take it back according to the contract. Moreover, I don’t

landlord…..” The old man

in annoyance, “Remember, I

to arouse their passion for their work. It was all for himself. However, these people

selling the vitality leaves, he could only fulfill his own needs. On top of that, he was feeling vexed due to the bitter wine. So why would he take back the

young landlord, we really can’t keep on living like this! Please show mercy and have pity on us.”

attracted the

a wine jar from the

Kachak.

jar shattered; the wine splashed all around and

tactless fool, get lost.” Cold

this killing intent; he

charity from the strong. As if helping them was the manner of the strong and not helping them was

manners of the weak; they should either resign to their fate and act like slaves or