The Dao Sovereign of Shennong

"Zi Yu, Qian Dong, are you going to the Fisherman's Wharf tonight to watch the river lanterns?" Zhao Xing asked his two young colleagues as they finished their shift.

"No, not interested," Qian Dong shook his head. "The River Lantern Festival really isn't that fun. There aren't many young ladies around, and it's kind of eerie. What's the point? It's nothing compared to the Grass Battle Festival or the Spring Sacrifice."

"You're only interested in watching the girls," Zhao Xing laughed, giving him a light slap before turning to Chen Ziyu. "What about you?"

"I'm going, but I probably won't be able to join you, brother," Chen Ziyu replied. "I'll be helping my father sell river lanterns."

The lanterns used during the River Lantern Festival, also known as He lanterns, are made from lotus leaves, clay, water paint, cloth, paper, and needlework.

Once crafted, the outer layer of the lantern bears the name of a deceased relative, and a candle is placed in the center.

Of course, some lanterns are meant to bring blessings to the living and are not all meant to honor the dead.

Though the festival draws a crowd, the atmosphere is solemn and respectful. There's little in the way of entertainment, mostly just food and scenery to enjoy.

Seeing that his two friends weren't going, Zhao Xing didn't push the matter. After all, he wasn't going to have fun either.

He was hoping to make some 'ghostly wealth.'

In the Fortune Dynasty system, the theory of the Five Elements and fortune is highly popular, giving rise to professions like diviners, fortune-tellers, and feng shui masters.

However, after the Taizu Emperor 'consolidated the fortunes of the world,' he strengthened the control of the imperial dynasty's fate, effectively curtailing the influence of those professions by incorporating them into the 'temple system,' where the Yin gods would manage fortune, blessings, and wealth.

In his past life, Zhao Xing considered these professions to be 'subsidiary roles,' as Taizu's changes directly cut off their 'lifeblood.'

Under the Fortune Dynasty, these professions were relegated to the background, becoming akin to 'charlatans,' only barely surviving until the collapse of the Fortune Dynasty, when they regained prominence.

But that didn't stop Zhao Xing from making a small fortune.

"Heavenly Stems suggest Seven Killings, but the Nayin (Hidden Sound) suggests wealth."

"For example, if Dingmao has a Nayin of fire, its true element is wood. If one of the four Heavenly Stems meets Yigeng, it signifies the ghost element of metal. Dingmao's Nayin of fire can overcome Yigeng's metal, hence the term 'ghostly wealth.'"

"Collecting 'ghostly wealth' may not yield great rewards, but there's little risk either. The Zhou Dynasty is in its prime; no wandering spirits can cause chaos." Zhao Xing glanced at his almanac for auspicious and inauspicious dates, then leisurely made his way toward Fisherman's Wharf.

His first stop was at an inn near the wharf, where numerous vendors had set up stalls selling river lanterns and incense.

Zhao Xing casually bought a lantern—just a basic item with no special qualities. He then approached a group of people resting nearby.

This group, made up of shirtless men drinking tea together, had hooks, scissors, and other tools lying beside them.

They were "river dredgers."

What exactly is a river dredger?

They are people skilled in water, specializing in retrieving valuable items from rivers, usually former fishermen.

The Thirteen Canals of Pinghu connect to the Canglan River, and the Eastern Lake, rich in vital energy after years of accumulation, often gives rise to water treasures.

First- and second-tier water treasures are not uncommon. Finding just one can feed someone for half a year. If they were to find a third-tier treasure? They could go ashore, buy a house, and live comfortably as landlords!

Additionally, the constant flow of passengers and merchants on boats often leads to valuable items being lost in the water. People hire dredgers to retrieve them, which has led to the growth of this profession.

Though they might appear dirty and unrefined, these dredgers earn far more than a minor Shennong officer like Zhao Xing.

Zhao Xing walked up to one of the stalls and cupped his hands in greeting. "Brothers, are you available for work?"

The middle-aged man who appeared to be the leader nodded, saying, "We don't work for free. We only take jobs involving treasure retrieval. If you're just looking for luck, we have long-term, short-term, and one-off deals."

Experienced river dredgers don't retrieve bodies or bones—anything inauspicious. They're not interested in making money from such tasks.

Zhao Xing nodded and explained his request, "I need to hire an experienced hand for a short-term job, starting at the end of the hour of You and finishing before midnight. It will take roughly three hours, with an unlimited number of dives. I'll pay two taels and five qian, and I'll cover the tea and snacks. However, whatever you find belongs entirely to me—no profit-sharing."

Three hours would be more than enough time. Beyond that, the fortune associated with 'ghostly wealth' would fade, making it difficult to retrieve anything of value. In reality, the only time they might actually find treasure would be during the 'Dingmao moment' within those three hours.

The leader saw that Zhao Xing clearly knew the rules and offered a generous price, so he nodded and called out, "Xu Lao Ba!"

"Hey, coming!" A well-built man, who had been flirting with a woman selling goods, flexing his muscles and making her laugh, immediately slapped her hand playfully and ran over.

"Boss?"

"This young master here wants to try his luck with a short-term job for three hours. The pay is two taels and five qian. Think you can handle it?" the leader asked.

"No problem!" Xu Lao Ba grinned, thumping his chest. "Young Master, just look at me—you can tell I'll bring you luck!"

Zhao Xing used his Five Elements Sight to examine the man. His lungs were strong, and his qi flow was two to three times that of the average person—a skilled hand, indeed. Zhao Xing nodded, "He'll do."

The leader took out a bamboo token and explained, "Payment is upfront, plus an additional tael as a deposit. If he returns safely, the deposit will be refunded with this token. If anything happens to him, you won't be held responsible, and the deposit will be considered charity."

"That's fair," Zhao Xing nodded. The money was exchanged, and Xu Lao Ba was now under Zhao Xing's employment.

Holding the token, Xu Lao Ba gathered his equipment and followed Zhao Xing.

"Young Master, do you need to rent a boat? I know someone who can give you a 10% discount. If you're bringing friends, you can even get 20% off for a group of five."

"I'm going alone, so just a small boat will do—no need for anything big," Zhao Xing replied.

Xu Lao Ba wasn't disappointed. Even for a small boat, he could earn a referral fee. "Which part of the lake do you want to go to, Young Master? North, south, east, or west? Or one of the thirteen bays? Yesterday, someone dredged up a luminous pearl from the West Lake. Maybe we should try our luck there."

Zhao Xing smiled. "No need to rush. Let's wander around first."

Seeing that, Xu Lao Ba didn't press further. It seemed the young master had a plan. Xu Lao Ba was fine with that—less time in the water meant an easier job for him.

At the End of Heat, darkness fell later, so it wasn't until the end of the hour of You that the sky fully darkened.

From the high point at Fisherman's Wharf, the river was dotted with floating lotus lanterns, twinkling like stars, forming a vast, illuminated expanse.

The commercial street still had some activity, but most of the stalls were selling food or river lanterns. There weren't many entertainment options compared to other festivals.

"Hmm?" Zhao Xing's attention was suddenly drawn to a familiar figure. "Isn't that the temple's ceremonial officer from Caoxi Zhenjun Temple? And the people around him seem to be officials from the temple as well. I wonder what their examination involves?"

Since it wasn't yet time for his task and he was here to observe anyway, Zhao Xing moved closer and began eavesdropping.

Infusing his ears with vital energy, the busy street sounds faded, leaving only the conversation near the ceremonial officer audible.