Is the River God a Great Demon Beast?

There were not many people in Bluestone Village, perhaps three or four hundred in total. Despite its small population, the villagers were known for their fierce customs; every few days, they held boat races on the river. On this particular day, a race was underway—it seemed to be the semifinals. Four large boats were anchored at the dock, ready to set sail. Upon the dock, a group of elderly women were jumping rope, as though performing a ritual for the river god. A grand platform had been erected, atop which numerous tables were laden with delicacies.

Chicken, duck, fish, and meat were all present, accompanied by fruit platters and stir-fried dishes. Xie Wuyi found it peculiar: even the river god required a balanced diet? Such extravagance for offerings.

Suddenly, several burly men from the village gathered and began tossing the food into the river. Xie Wuyi was baffled. After the food was thrown in, it quickly disappeared beneath the surface. Meat sinking was expected, but surely some fruit should float? Yet the river remained eerily calm, with not a single ripple.

There was something lurking beneath the water.

This thought crossed Xie Wuyi's mind.

At that moment, drums and gongs sounded, firecrackers exploded, and the scene grew lively—people danced and celebrated as if it were New Year's. The boatmen took their positions; each boat held eighteen robust men, all broad-shouldered and muscular, their bare backs glistening in the sun, their muscles sharply defined.

The drummers, especially, had arms like iron, gripping their drumsticks with such force that they creaked audibly.

But these were not dragon boats; they were fish boats, each carved from a single block of wood into the shape of a fierce fish head with gaping jaws and a long, slender body—so lifelike that the men seemed to ride an actual beast. The crews were already poised, ready to begin.

Nearby, a beautiful young woman stood at the dock, holding an embroidered red silk handkerchief. With a flourish, she tossed it skyward, and the boats shot forward like arrows loosed from a bow.

The villagers cheered, and Xie Wuyi thought the scene reminiscent of Jiaxing.

Just as he was absorbed in the spectacle, a sudden cry rang out—a middle-aged woman shouted from afar, “Someone save my son, please save him!”

The crowd rushed over, and Xie Wuyi joined them, discovering a child of about five or six struggling in the water, sinking and resurfacing, clearly choking.

Xie Wuyi realized danger was imminent. Yet none of the villagers moved to help. He clenched his teeth and shouted, “Move aside!”

His command parted the crowd, but an elderly man warned, “Young man, do not act rashly! Today is the river god’s ritual—no one may enter the water. If you do, you won’t come back!”

“What do you mean, ‘won’t come back’? Are you just going to watch that child drown?” Xie Wuyi cursed.

The old man sighed, “It’s fate, it’s fate!”

Xie Wuyi sensed something was wrong. The boats had already drifted far. He gritted his teeth and cried, “Out of the way!”

Without hesitation, he leapt into the water, grabbed the child’s hand, and swam toward the shore.

At first, all went well, but after a short distance, Xie Wuyi felt a sudden weight pulling at his leg—something had bitten him!

He twisted, flung the child upward, and the crowd safely caught the boy.

“Hurry, grab this pole!” a villager thrust a bamboo stick into the water, but as Xie Wuyi reached for it, he was dragged downward—whatever was beneath pulled him deep into the river!

Xie Wuyi flailed, squinting into the water, and was stunned: a monstrous creature had clamped onto his shoe, dragging him below!

Xie Wuyi was not a strong swimmer; a few hundred meters would exhaust him. The water pressure made breathing impossible.

The beast resembled an enormous carp, or perhaps a man-eating fish; its body was flat, its eyes huge and glowing red like lanterns, its teeth sharp as it tore into Xie Wuyi’s leg, drawing blood.

Sensing human blood, the creature became even more excited, thrashing its tail and hauling Xie Wuyi deeper.

With a sudden jerk, Xie Wuyi’s shoe was wrenched off. At that precise moment, the monster shuddered, and the water around him darkened. Sensing danger, the beast fled.

Xie Wuyi seized the opportunity, resurfacing to gulp air, only to find the river strewn with dead fish and shrimp.

“You’ve angered the river god! You’re going to destroy Bluestone Village!” an old woman dressed in ritual garb trembled as she pointed at Xie Wuyi.

The crowd surrounded him, blocking any escape.

Confused, Xie Wuyi asked, “I just saved your child—what are you all doing? Are you going to turn on me?”

“The river god is enraged. Today’s boat race and the ritual were meant to appease it. Your defiance threatens our livelihood!” the old woman cried.

“What river god? Look carefully—it’s nothing but a monstrous beast, a man-eating demon!” Xie Wuyi shouted.

But the villagers refused to listen. They seized his hands, and though Xie Wuyi wanted to resist, he feared harming them.

Faced with such ignorance, Xie Wuyi was speechless.

Just then, a Taoist priest approached, followed by two young acolytes. “Madam Xu, release this young man,” he said.

“Ah, Taoist, why aren’t you in the mountains? What are you doing here?” the old woman asked.

The priest gave his religious name, “Last night, I foresaw trouble at today’s ritual, so I came down early. I did not expect to witness this scene.”

“This boy angered the river god. If we can’t fish in the river, how will we eat? He’s cut off our village’s lifeline!” the old woman protested.

“But that is truly a demon!” Xie Wuyi insisted. “If it were a god, why would it harm the innocent? A god doesn’t need food, yet it covets your offerings and even attacks children. What kind of god is that?”

“Mind your tongue! You’re an outsider—you know nothing of our ways. How dare you say it’s not the river god?” the old woman cursed.

Xie Wuyi laughed, “Have you ever seen it?”

“What?”

“I mean, have you ever seen the river god? When it dragged me under, I saw it was merely a giant fish. Believe it or not, it’s up to you!”

“What if it’s not a fish?” The old woman glanced at a nearby wooden statue of the river god, depicted as a white-haired elder.

Xie Wuyi replied, “If it’s not, then let me be the offering. How about that?”

“Is that your word? If the river god is not as you say, you’ll be its food and make amends!” the old woman declared.

Xie Wuyi sighed helplessly. The fish was ferocious; its demon spirit might fetch a good price. This beast was formidable, but Xie Wuyi had never fought underwater before.

“There’s a strange foot odor in the water,” a villager remarked, holding a ladle.

Xie Wuyi blushed, saying nothing.

The Taoist priest turned to Xie Wuyi, “Young man, may I take a look at your backside?”

Suddenly, silence fell upon the dock. Everyone stared at the priest in astonishment.