Invigorated by a new lead, Zhang Yuelu stood up. “Let’s not worry about the various wells for now. There are three key water sources—the Yangtze River outside the city, Zhenwu Lake within the city, and the Qinhuai River running through the city.”0

Qi Xuansu followed Zhang Yuelu’s thinking and added, “Zhenwu Lake is impossible, as it’s located in the heart of Daoist territory. Even if they were trying to hide in plain sight, it’s not feasible, especially with so many people firefighting at the moment.0

“As for the Yangtze River, it’s currently the summer flood season. The water flow is at its peak, so it can self-purify with the surging currents. Moreover, this year’s heavy rainfall has even raised the risk of flooding, with various regions preparing for evacuation. The river’s flow is at its highest in a decade, making any tampering impossible in a short timeframe. That leaves the Qinhuai River their likeliest target.”0

Zhang Yuelu retrieved a map of Jinling Prefecture from her magical receptacle and spread it out. “For water supply, springs or wells would be ideal. However, as the second-largest city after...0