Unsheathed

Chen Ping’an used his hiking pole to skillfully tap the ground, causing a wisp of astral energy to snake through the ground and strike the canal master on the back of her head, instantly waking her up. She pulled her head out from the ground and dazedly sat there with a blank expression on her face.

"Those two detestable maidservants... After accompanying you for so many years, are they just fools who are meandering about and waiting for death?!" Chen Ping'an scolded with a furious expression.

The canal master felt as if a huge weight had been lifted off her shoulders. She had always grumbled about her two maidservants being foolish and slow before, complaining that they weren't as efficient and capable as those seductive women serving the lake lord in his dragon palace. They were also unable to capture and imprison the hearts of men. Now, however, she felt like this was actually a good thing.

If Verdant Bamboo Lake were dragged into this mess, then not only would her two maidservants be transformed into water lamps, but she would very likely lose her position as canal master as well. The detestable canal master of Algae Stream loved to cause conflict with her words and secretly bring harm to other people, and she had already caused the water immortal shrine to suffer from few worshippers and little incense offerings for many years. Not only that, but the canal master of Algae Stream even wanted to take things one step further and get her killed. This had been going on for a long time already, and the entire Verdant Bamboo Lake was standing around and watching on with keen interest.

"Go and call the lake lord over," Chen Ping'an said. "Just tell him that I've helped him kill the Ghost Axe Palace's Du Yu, so he should personally come over here to thank me. Remember to remind the lake lord that I have pure wind in my two sleeves, and I'm most averse to the stench of copper. I only accept peculiar treasures of lakes and rivers that I take a fancy to."

"Is Esteemed Immortal asking me to go?" the canal master asked with a dumbfounded expression.

"Or else? Perhaps you want me to go?" Chen Ping'an retorted with a cold smile.

The canal master stood up and was just about to use her innate mystical ability to transform into mist and travel far away.

Chen Ping'an pointed at the two unconscious maidservants lying collapsed on the ground and said, "The two of them are far better looking than you, Canal Master. After I receive a thank you gift from the lake lord and go to Imperial Accompanying City to obtain the imminently appearing natural treasure, I'll definitely pay a visit to the dragon palace at the bottom of Verdant Bamboo Lake.

"I haven't traveled around the cultivation world much, but I've read many books and seen the many records by scholars and literati about dragon women being affectionate and their maidservants being seductively charming. I definitely have to witness this myself and see whether they're more impressive than the two maidservants who accompany you.

"If the dragon women and their maidservants are more beautiful, then there will naturally be no need for you to look for new maidservants. If they're equally as beautiful as your maidservants, however, then I'll ask for both of your maidservants at that time. They can fetch a high price if I sell them in the capital of the Silver Screen Nation."

"It will be a huge fortune for these two lowly maidservants to accompany and serve Esteemed Immortal..." the canal master hurriedly said in agreement.