Chapter 480: Before the Match

“Mr. Huang, you must have misspoken.” Jiang Ke’er chuckled. “Gu Yuyue and Dong Jun are clearly two people. How could you say three?”

When Jiang Ke’er finished asking, Huang Bozhong was taken aback: “That’s right… But why do I remember leaving with three people…”

“Maybe you misremembered. I suppose you can bring him over when you remember.”

“Perhaps. Anyway, let’s register Gu Yuyue and Mr. Dong Jun first. Sign them up for both the fishing competition and the dragon boat race.”

“Alright.”

This was one of the conditions for Huang Bozhong to serve as commentator, so even though the venue was already completely over capacity, Jiang Ke’er had no choice but to grit her teeth and accept it, then expand the grounds overnight.

For the sake of the festival atmosphere, a little exhaustion was worth it.

Besides, she would be competing herself when the time came. After all, the antagonist ancient god system’s mission was to make one contestant fall into the water.

This was a dragon boat race, and Jiang Ke’er had put a great deal of thought into it.

Having boats forcibly capsized by underhanded tricks and ultimately affecting the Novice Village’s tourism wouldn’t do. She needed tourists to be able to fall into the water happily, rather than…

Clang-clang, clang-clang.

Hidden inside the system’s Accelerated Space, Jiang Ke’er hammered away for over a hundred days straight.

Fortunately, during that time, the Nine-tailed Dharma Aspect Su Ya would occasionally pop out to watch her craft, exchange a few words, and show some concern for her goddaughter.

Otherwise, Jiang Ke’er might have forgotten what a human voice sounded like. She was practically a soulless crafting machine.

Still, she finally managed to get everything set up before the competition began.

Jiang Ke’er felt utterly refreshed and couldn’t help recalling the days of cramming homework during early morning study in school.

The feeling of successfully making up for missed homework was as satisfying as clearing a level as Mary Cat.

Now then, it was time to enjoy the fruits of her labor.

This dragon boat festival might not be the liveliest in Shenzhou’s history, but it would certainly be a rare spectacle.

After the war ended, cultivators desperately needed entertainment to shake off that oppressive mood. Wars happened every day in Shenzhou—friction between sects, friction between Chambers of Commerce, and life-and-death struggles within Secret Realms.

They had long grown accustomed to life, death, and loss. Though the war had brought much pain, the Two Immortals had attained the Dao, and ten thousand cultivators had flourished. That was the Cultivator Realm.

So they emerged from the shadows quickly.

By the festival eve, quite a few cultivators had already begun strolling through the Novice Village, soaking in the festival atmosphere.

The villagers, of course, were overjoyed. Every household’s gift and specialty stalls blazed with light, staying open through the night.

Goods priced ten times higher than usual sold out with ease. Cultivators immersed in festive cheer couldn’t care less about the price difference.

Jiang Ke’er also took the lazy route, purchasing a batch of ordinary fishing rods from Qingjin Peak of the Taiming Sect and placing them directly in her shop for sale.

If customers looked carefully, they would notice that most items in this store bore a label reading “From the Taiming Sect,” used to distinguish these goods from Jiang Ke’er’s self-made products.

After all, Jiang Ke’er had limited energy. She couldn’t possibly craft that many fishing rods herself.

“You’re really not participating?” Jiang Ke’er looked at Qiao Xiaoxian with regret.

“Mm.” Qiao Xiaoxian nodded. “I’m not interested.”

Qiao Xiaoxian had a cold and proud disposition and never took part in these kinds of group activities.

Jiang Ke’er only then realized that Qiao Xiaoxian, who seemed all-knowing and omnipotent, was actually someone others would consider “not fitting in.”

It was just that years of experience posing as a Killer allowed her to appear proper and outstanding at all times. But when faced with non-essential situations, she would quietly slack off and let herself rest in peace.

Jiang Ke’er could understand that feeling. In her previous life, she would get headaches in crowded places and feel like she was having a nervous breakdown.

But if there was a close acquaintance around, things got much better.

Though she hadn’t had one in her previous life… in this life, Qiao Xiaoxian did!

Jiang Ke’er felt certain she was a devoted and caring Husband.

“Come on, come on. Let me knock you into the water.” Jiang Ke’er tried to persuade her. “Mainly, it’s to keep the kid company. Come on, I—”

“Forget the dragon boat race… Besides, don’t you have a mission to handle? Both people in a family can’t end up notorious.”

“Who’s notorious? Though you do have a point. Me competing myself is because of the mission.”

“I’m genuinely not interested in the dragon boat race. The fishing competition, though—you can call me for that.”

“Do you think a dragon would be afraid of water?”

Qiao Xiaoxian rolled her eyes. “But the fishing competition is fine.”

“Then you have to come to the fishing competition tomorrow! Pinky promise!”

“Fine, fine, whatever you say.” Qiao Xiaoxian helplessly extended her pinky and hooked it with Jiang Ke’er’s.

Jiang Ke’er was thoroughly satisfied. She changed into her self-made life jacket and trotted over to the dragon boat race Arena.

In earlier times, dragon boats had no fixed specifications or standards, which gave Jiang Ke’er plenty of room for creativity.

Legend said the dragon boat race existed as a commemoration of great figures. The most widespread account was that it honored Qu Yuan, though some said it commemorated Wu Zixu and various other great men as well.

After Qu Yuan threw himself into the river, his body drifted along the current. People rowed out to Chase after him, and the sight of them racing one another eventually evolved into the dragon boat race.

Commentator Huang Bozhong read through the competition rules, and the corner of his mouth twitched violently.

Perhaps when this race was over, Qu Yuan would be furious enough to crawl back out of the river.

But as a professional commentator, Huang Bozhong prepared to faithfully begin his commentary and hosting duties.

However, before he could make a move, the entire Arena suddenly fell into extreme silence.

High in the air, a magnificent procession of chariots came rushing toward them.

An elaborate ceremonial guard surrounded a sedan chair in the center like stars around the moon—this was the royal formation.

It seemed that Lord Li, after ascending the throne, had started adopting the airs of imperial authority.

Lord Li arrived without an unannounced visit ever being announced. He stopped midair above the dragon boat race Arena, stepped out of his sedan chair, and hovered in the air.

Without him needing to speak, a Herald beside him announced in a clear voice: “His Majesty, observing the condition of his people…”

Blah blah blah, a whole heap of words followed. In short, it all boiled down to one message—your Novice Village celebration is well done. We hereby designate you as an exemplary Model Unit.

After speaking, he also pulled out an imperial banner from a case behind him.

The Village Chief accepted it with tears of gratitude, kneeling in thanks, and repeatedly sighed that the New Emperor was truly the best.

Only Jiang Ke’er noticed that the banner case still held a great many more. Clearly, the Novice Village wasn’t the only place Lord Li planned to visit.

It seemed Lord Li placed great importance on the entertainment industry, knowing it was a necessary condition for political stability.

That whole host of royal attendants came in a rush and left in a rush.

Though it had delayed quite a bit of time, it successfully elevated the atmosphere of the festive competition, saving the host Huang Bozhong a great deal of effort.

“Will all contestants please enter in an orderly fashion and carefully read the competition rules.”

“This dragon boat race features three people per boat. The winning condition is to be the first to finish by any means necessary. Please operate within the rules—”