Guarding the River of Time-Chapter 288 - 279: Reciting True Names on the Path to the Underworld, Weaving Karma on the Tree of Reincarnation

Chapter 288: Chapter 279: Reciting True Names on the Path to the Underworld, Weaving Karma on the Tree of Reincarnation

After several seconds of silence, the skinny old man finally squeezed out a few words: "I swear it was an accident, do you believe me?"

He was about to mentally explode; he’d been repairing here for over a year and never had such an accident.

Now it happened twice in a minute, leaving him really devastated.

The déjà vu felt like he was dropping it on purpose.

Su Mu was also stunned for one or two seconds, didn’t say much, and waved his hand, causing the large iron hammer that fell to the river bottom to fly out of the water again.

But this time, it didn’t fly back to the old man, instead, it landed in Su Mu’s hand.

With the hammer in hand, Su Mu walked step by step onto the stone bridge, approaching the skinny old man.

Seeing this, the skinny old man instinctively took a step back, a flash of fear in his eyes.

.....

Once near, Su Mu held the hammer, bent down, and began repairing the damaged section of the stone bridge.

Seeing this, the skinny old man finally breathed a sigh of relief. He thought... Su Mu was about to use the hammer to smash him. Turns out, he was being narrow-minded.

Indeed, given the other’s level, there was no reason to hit him.

....

"Move aside."

"You’re blocking me."

After speaking, the skinny old man wisely retreated a few steps, making room, then quietly observed Su Mu’s actions.

After only a few minutes of watching, he was amazed and quietly exclaimed: "You are truly skilled in the art of repair!"

Hearing this, Su Mu replied: "It’s become a habit to repair. Over the years, there have been all sorts of situations on the river—dams, landslides—much more complicated than your case."

"Incredible!"

The skinny old man had many flattering words, but in the end, could only squeeze out these three words, best capturing his feelings at the moment.

"No wonder, with you here all these years, we’ve felt very secure."

"It’s done."

"I... What? It’s done?!"

In conversation, when the skinny old man snapped back to reality, he focused and realized it had been repaired!

How long did that take???

Just during this conversation?

Su Mu handed the large iron hammer back to the confused skinny old man, dusting off his hands and clothes.

.....

"It’s done."

"I have to get busy now."

After speaking, Su Mu turned to leave the stone bridge.

"Senior, wait!"

At this point, the skinny old man’s form of address for Su Mu changed to a respectful one.

"What’s up?" Su Mu turned around, looking puzzled.

"Senior, you’ve helped me so much, how about... you name a condition, otherwise my heart won’t be at peace," said the skinny old man.

.....

"Didn’t I say at the start?"

"No charge, it’s free. If anything, it’s still within my job responsibilities."

Su Mu was principled; if there was a river crossing fee, it would definitely be charged, but these fees, once he said they wouldn’t be charged, they definitely wouldn’t be.

That’s how it was—money that should be taken wouldn’t be missed for a penny, money that shouldn’t be taken wouldn’t be accepted even for a penny.

If Su Mu were to travel back in time as an official, he’d certainly be an honest one! (Confident face)

...

"Well..."

The skinny old man didn’t know what to say.

This significant favor, it looks like he owes it.

What’s the hardest to repay? Of course, it’s a favor; it can be big or small, easy to repay when simple, tremendously hard when not....

"Senior, there are no superb treasures I can offer you, nor would you be interested."

"This little gift, you must accept it, otherwise, I’ll be uneasy."

Saying this, the skinny old man took out a crumpled yellow paper from his sleeve and handed it to Su Mu.

Su Mu received the yellow paper, carefully examined it, and found nothing extraordinary about it. But thinking.... since the other said so, even if it isn’t a treasure, he might as well accept it. After all, for him, it was just a small gesture.

"Senior, if you have an important friend who died, just silently recite their true name and then ignite this yellow paper."

"They will be reincarnated."

"It can only be used on one person, the success rate... as long as the subject’s karma isn’t too complicated, the success rate is basically ninety-nine percent." 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

Hearing these words, Su Mu was stunned too, holding the crumpled yellow paper, with a face full of surprise: "Really?"

"Of course." The skinny old man nodded very seriously.

....

Su Mu understood then, it seems this crumpled yellow paper is a Resurrection Scroll??

Why was he finding it hard to believe?

Immediately after, he joked with a smile: "If I die, can someone use this for me to reincarnate?"

Upon hearing this, the skinny man waved his hand and laughed, replying: "Senior, don’t make fun of this old man."

"There’s no way a senior like you could die, it’s impossible."

.....

"Everyone has to die eventually. Someday, I will die too. Who can live forever?"

Su Mu accepted the yellow paper. Regardless of whether it’s real or fake, since it’s the other’s goodwill, he might as well keep it.

"Everyone else, including myself, I believe will all die."

"But as for you, senior... you won’t die."

Saying this, the skinny old man smiled, showing his blackened teeth, appearing very honest.

Seeing this, Su Mu also laughed: "Well, I’ll take your auspicious words then."

....

"Where do you live?"

"Want me to take you back?"

Seeing the skinny old man walking with a limp, he kindly asked, for some reason, he inexplicably admired this old man who seemed severely weak.

"No need."

"I have to go to the next place, several tributary stone bridges have damage too, I need to repair them."

Upon hearing this, Su Mu was also taken aback but didn’t ask more.

Helping once was enough, he couldn’t keep helping, he still had to patrol.

At this moment, the system notification echoed in his mind:

"Congratulations, host, for maintaining river order, Favor Points +80000."

Seeing the 80,000 Favor Points credited to his account, Su Mu was stunned.

He thought repairing such a stone bridge wouldn’t earn any Favor Points, yet... unexpectedly got 80,000 at once!

He immediately turned around and shouted to the departing old man: "Wait a minute!"

"Senior, what’s wrong?"

The skinny old man also stared bewildered, did he do something wrong?

"Did you just say you’re going to the next place to repair bridges?"

"Yes, I have to go to the next place."

"Let’s go, I’ll go with you, I’ll help you."

"Huh??? Senior, that’s really unnecessary, you’ve already helped me so much, I can’t trouble you more!"

"Stop wasting words, lead the way!"

So, under the "coercion and temptation" of the enthusiastic citizen Su Mu, the skinny old man headed to a tributary.