Capítulo 135: Chapter 135: On the Dam

Despite the dam's grandeur, Lin Xiao couldn't shake the feeling that it was on the verge of collapse. The structure seemed to be straining under the increasing force of the Moon River's waters, and he feared that it might soon give way.

When that happened, not only the laborers toiling on the dam but also their families waiting in the city for their safe return would be swallowed by the surging floodwaters.

Initially, Lin Xiao planned to wait until nightfall, when the workers would be resting, to place the reinforcement formations. However, he soon realized that the laborers were working in shifts. The government had clearly planned meticulously, ensuring that each position was continuously manned while allowing workers appropriate rest.

Meanwhile, in the provincial capital of Liaoju Prefecture, the governor, Tong Zhifu, had been working tirelessly. With no significant connections in the court, Tong Zhifu had spent years diligently serving in various counties and prefectures before being appointed to Liaoju Prefecture at the end of the previous year. Initially, he was thrilled, believing that his talents had finally been recognized. However, upon taking office, he quickly realized the challenges of his new position.

The governor-general of Hufang Province was a scion of a powerful noble family who had come to the region primarily to gain experience. He was hands-off, leaving most responsibilities to Tong Zhifu. Though Tong was unwilling to resist, fearing for his career, he knew that opposing a well-connected superior could cost him his position and prevent him from realizing his lifelong ambitions.

After years in the bureaucracy, Tong Zhifu knew that dealing with such situations was inevitable. He consoled himself with the thought that having free rein was better than constant interference.

Despite being the governor of Liaoju Prefecture, Tong Zhifu often found himself handling provincial matters, such as the recent repairs to the Moon River Dam. The one saving grace was that the noble-born governor-general, uninterested in lining his pockets, didn't obstruct Tong's efforts to secure funding for crucial projects like the dam repair.

However, Tong Zhifu wasn't content to rely solely on funding. He had also requested assistance from the Xuyang Sect, knowing that their help could be invaluable. Yet, the sect's response time was often slow, as their responsibilities spanned multiple provinces, not just Hufang.

With the sun's last rays fading from the sky, Tong Zhifu continued working late into the evening in his tent near the dam, unaware that a young cultivator was stealthily making his way through the laborers toward the dam itself. Using a concealment technique, Lin Xiao slipped unnoticed through the ranks of weary workers.

Avoiding the crowds, Lin Xiao reached the dam. While most workers were suspended on the side where the water flowed, Lin Xiao used his air-walking technique to move to the opposite side. Here, the river roared ferociously, its thunderous sound filling his ears. But he paid it no mind, focusing on his task. Every hundred meters, he placed one of the large reinforcement formations he had brought.

On the dam's downstream side, a laborer named Wei Dagui was trembling as he worked to repair the wall. His face was pale, lips blue with cold, and his entire body shivered uncontrollably. The river's spray had drenched him, leaving him freezing and terrified.

Wei Dagui could clearly see the cracks spreading across the dam wall, thanks to his sharp eyesight honed from years of butchering pigs. The sight of the large and small cracks around the outflow area filled him with dread. He feared that the wall could collapse at any moment, sweeping him away in the torrent. All he wanted was to finish his task and be pulled back to safety.

Just recently, a fellow villager had fallen into the river and disappeared in the raging waters, without so much as a final scream. Wei Dagui clung tightly to the rope that tethered him to the dam, praying fervently for his shift to end.

Suddenly, Wei Dagui noticed something strange—the cracks in the wall seemed to be shrinking. The dam, which had looked like it might crumble at any moment, no longer appeared so precarious. The intense sense of danger that had haunted him since he arrived began to fade.

Looking up at the dark sky, obscured by mist, Wei Dagui could only see the dim light of torches held by his fellow workers. He thought, perhaps the heavens were watching over them, ensuring that they wouldn't perish here.

However, in his moment of relief, Wei Dagui failed to notice that the torchbearer above him, exhausted from hours of labor, had accidentally let a spark from the torch land on the rope securing him. The flame quickly caught, unnoticed by the sleepy worker until it was too late. In a panic, the worker tried to grab the burning rope, but it slipped through his grasp, leaving his palm bloodied.

The next moment, Wei Dagui felt a sudden loss of balance as he plummeted downward. He barely had time to register what was happening before he was free-falling, the terrified faces of his comrades above growing smaller by the second.

He thought his life was over—he would be swallowed by the river, just like his unfortunate villager. But then, in an instant, Wei Dagui felt himself being caught, his fall arrested by a firm but gentle grip.

Looking up, he saw that he had been saved by a young man with a refined and elegant appearance, his demeanor calm and composed.