Chapter 118: The Shrimp Soldiers of the Water Palace

Page 1 of 3

The two shrimp soldiers outside had actually heard Prime Minister Turtle calling them long ago, but both pretended not to notice, continuing to drink on their own. They knew that when the Prime Minister called once, it usually meant there was some minor task to attend to.

But now came a second call. They both knew what it meant when Prime Minister Turtle called twice. The two shrimp soldiers exchanged a glance, each realizing that something important had happened. Yet when they looked at the fine wine before them, neither could bear to leave it.

Shrimp Soldier A lowered his voice. “Why don’t we go in and take a look? The old tortoise has called twice this time. It might actually be something important.”

As he spoke, he kept glancing at the wine before him. It was part of the Dragon Lord’s private collection, and he truly hated to waste it.

Shrimp Soldier B lifted his bowl and took a sip before saying, “It’s fine. When has anything the old tortoise wanted ever actually been accomplished? All he does is report things to the Dragon Lord. But have you ever seen the Dragon Lord pay him any attention?”

Shrimp Soldier A nodded when he heard this. “Exactly. The Dragon Lord can’t even be bothered with him, yet he still shamelessly clings to the position of prime minister.”

“Who could disagree? There are plenty of people in the Water Palace suited to be prime minister. Many of them can’t stand him. His hide is even thicker than his shell,” Shrimp Soldier B agreed.

“Haha, well said.” Shrimp Soldier A seemed delighted by the remark. He took another drink and savored it carefully.

Prime Minister Turtle heard every word from inside the room, but his expression remained unchanged. He had listened to such remarks for more than a century. Perhaps it was simply his calm nature, or perhaps he possessed an unusually steady mind. In any case, he did not appear particularly angry.

Even so, he patiently called out once more, “Someone come here.”

When Shrimp Soldier A heard this, irritation overcame him. He slammed the bowl in his hand onto the table and shouted angrily, “Is this ever going to end? Can’t a man even drink in peace?”

“Brother, wait.” Shrimp Soldier B poked the furious Shrimp Soldier A and whispered, “That was the third call. It might really be something important.”

Shrimp Soldier A kicked a stone beside him and said impatiently, “What could it possibly be? What sort of trivial matter has to be reported to the Dragon Lord? Once the Dragon Lord takes control of the entire waterway of Lake Dongting, will any of these petty affairs even matter?”

“That’s true.” After hearing this, Shrimp Soldier B thought about it and felt that his companion had a point. As long as the offerings of incense remained plentiful, the Dragon Lord would forever be the master of Lake Dongting.

Page 2 of 3

Shrimp Soldier B considered the matter again and felt uneasy. “But what if the old tortoise goes and reports us? Won’t we be in trouble?”

Shrimp Soldier A also felt that it was unwise. Prime Minister Turtle might have the lowest standing in the Dongting Water Palace, but the two of them were hardly important either. If the Dragon Lord learned of this, they would suffer for it. He said, “Then we’ll just humor the old tortoise a little.”

“Fine. I’ll go now.” Shrimp Soldier B rose to his feet, intending to head over, but Shrimp Soldier A grabbed him by the arm. Shrimp Soldier B gave him a puzzled look. “What is it, brother?”

Shrimp Soldier A pointed at the wine—of which more than half remained—and the assortment of food piled on the table. In a low voice, he said, “The Dragon Lord is dealing with something major today. If you go, you probably won’t even make it onto Divine Dragon Island.”

“Then what are we supposed to do?”

Divine Dragon Island had been placed under full lockdown that day, and Shrimp Soldier B knew it. Even if he managed to get inside, he certainly would not be able to see the Dragon Lord in person. At best, he could have someone else deliver the message.

Shrimp Soldier A’s eyes shifted twice. Then he suddenly thought of a good idea.

“Let me handle it. I’ll go. As for whether it actually reaches the Dragon Lord, only Heaven knows.”

Shrimp Soldier B nodded. “Then I’ll leave it to you, brother. Come back quickly. I’ll save the wine for you.”

Shrimp Soldier A nodded, picked up the pair of water-dividing spikes beside him, fastened them around his waist, and turned toward Prime Minister Turtle’s room.

Although Prime Minister Turtle appeared not to move much, his skills in cultivating qi and nourishing the spirit were far from ordinary. The Art of Tortoise Breath had been learned from tortoises themselves. Even an ordinary person who practiced it could prolong their life, sharpen their senses, and improve the strength of their limbs.

And Prime Minister Turtle was an ancient tortoise who had cultivated for an unknown number of years. He had seen every movement made by the two shrimp soldiers outside with perfect clarity. Yet he made no response, remaining as wooden and expressionless as ever. His mastery of inner cultivation was clearly extraordinary.

Bang!

The stone door was kicked open. A little demon entered, wearing armor made from shrimp shell, with half a shrimp’s head protruding above the collar and a pair of water-dividing spikes hanging from his waist. He looked utterly careless and insolent.

This was one of the two shrimp soldiers assigned to remain at Prime Minister Turtle’s side and await orders—the very Shrimp Soldier A who had volunteered to come.

The moment he entered, Shrimp Soldier A saw Prime Minister Turtle sitting there with his eyes closed, calmly resting his mind. Anger immediately rose within him. The two of them had been forced to interrupt their drinking because of this, yet the old tortoise was still sitting here leisurely cultivating himself.

Pointing at Prime Minister Turtle, he shouted, “Hey, you old tortoise! Why have you stopped making such a fuss? If you have something to say, spit it out.”

Prime Minister Turtle opened his eyes. A faint light flickered within them twice. He let out a soft sigh, rose, and picked up a court tablet.

“These are reports of major affairs recently submitted by the various waters. Every one of them concerns matters of great importance. You must deliver them into the Dragon Lord’s hands.”

Page 3 of 3

“When has anything not been a matter of great importance? They all end up being thrown into the latrine anyway.” Shrimp Soldier A snatched the court tablet from Prime Minister Turtle without the slightest courtesy. Then he turned and walked out without another word.

As he left, he deliberately stomped twice on the threshold of Prime Minister Turtle’s room. The act made him feel considerably better, and he even hummed twice under his breath.

Anyone who practiced cultivation knew that a threshold served as a barrier within a house, blocking baleful influences. Among ordinary people, there was a saying that one should not step on a threshold when entering or leaving. A dwelling could nurture its occupants, but it could also protect them.

Houses and cultivation grounds followed the same principle. The threshold acted as a barrier against foul and baleful energies. Over time, it formed a natural field. Anyone capable of observing the flow of qi could see it. Even people of poor fortune would often find themselves unconsciously held back when they encountered such a field.

That was the origin of the saying that someone’s threshold was too high to cross.

In the homes of wealthy families and at the gates of temples, stepping on the threshold was considered taboo—an act of insult.

Prime Minister Turtle watched as Shrimp Soldier A snatched away his court tablet, stomped on his threshold, and swaggered off. A trace of coldness flashed through his eyes, but he soon shook his head and suppressed it.

He sighed and looked around the room. Documents filled every corner, while the tables, chairs, and various furnishings had stood there for hundreds of years. He knew them all so well that, even with his eyes closed, he could identify every pattern carved into the furniture.

Prime Minister Turtle stared for a while, his expression wavering with uncertainty. After a long time, it seemed as though he had finally made a decision, and his gaze grew somewhat firmer. Yet moments later, his expression once again became as still as an undisturbed well.

He stepped forward and packed a few simple belongings into a bundle: a knife and brush, bamboo slips, jade slips, court tablets, books, and other items.

He slung the bundle over his arm, hung a seal from the stone beam, and walked out. Then he gently closed the door, glanced once at the room, and left without looking back.

As he passed through the Water Palace, the shrimp soldiers and crab generals saw Prime Minister Turtle carrying his bundle, but none of them paid him any attention. They simply allowed him to leave on his own.

Save data usage for free on WeChat. To follow this site’s official account, search for “New Writing Pavilion,” and be sure to verify that it is the correct one.