Chapter 129 - Plague
Aquatic creatures of all varieties swam outside the golden dragon palace in the East Sea. Even several freshwater creatures who had cultivated into spirits could be sighted outside the golden dragon palace. Under all the yao’s effort, the golden dragon palace that had been worn down by many years of disrepair once again became a dazzling sight to behold, br.i.m.m.i.n.g with majesty.
From time to time, yao cultivators would inquire whether the Dragon Emperor had reached and whether the Dragon Emperor would be bringing his Dao Companion.
When the main doors of the golden dragon palace opened, the former subjects of the golden dragon clan were standing at the main entrance and welcoming guests. The scene was lively but not raucous. The elders of the dragon clans were all seated in the main hall. The azure dragon clan who was usually extremely arrogant was particularly lowkey this time, something which the other clans weren’t quite accustomed to.
The purple, red, and white clans at the side weren’t much more high-profile than the azure dragon clan either. When the clan heads were selecting their seats, none of them had the nerve to pick the seat right in the center.
The blue dragon clan and black dragon clan had always been on good terms, so their seats were beside each other as well. The young juniors of these two clans couldn’t help launching into discussion upon seeing the rare scene of the azure dragons’ obedient behavior.
A blue dragon: “I’m still not very used to the azure dragon clan’s well-behaved look.”
A black dragon: “Do they have any other choice? Do you still remember the disaster the azure dragon clan stirred up two thousand years ago? I heard that quite a few relatives of Fu Li daojun, the Dragon Emperor’s partner, were killed. Qing Yan even played dirty tricks on Fu Li daojun last year, provoking Fu Li daojun till he flew into a big rage and directly attacked them. The events that followed are unknown, but even heavenly lightning was triggered and Qing Yan was struck silly by it. For a good time, he didn’t even have the nerve to show his face.”
The blue dragon glanced behind the azure dragon clan at Qing Yan, who was clothed in a long, azure-colored robe and sitting on a wheelchair in silence. “He doesn’t seem as high-spirited as in the past. But it’s quite a surprise that the azure dragon clan was able to set aside their old grudges and extend aid with the azure dragon seal during the Dragon Emperor’s transformation.”
The black dragon quietened upon hearing these words. He watched as yao came and went, and countless fishes shuttled throughout the main hall. He said in a slightly downcast tone, “This is the dragon race’s final chance at survival. The azure dragon clan can’t afford to risk it, no one can.” The azure dragon clan was naturally aware that Zhuang Qing disliked them. They, as well as the purple, red, and white clans who had once humiliated Zhuang Qing, faced Zhuang Qing with guilt in their hearts. But till this day, no one among the entire dragon race except for Zhuang Qing had cultivated the great Dao, much less stimulate such huge fluctuations during their transformations.
Though the yao cultivators of the dragon race were arrogant, they were not impulsive or brainless. Dignity and arrogance would have to make way for the continued reproduction and survival of their race.
Therefore, no matter how n.o.ble one’s ident.i.ty or how powerful one was, it was a good idea to ensure a route out for oneself. Behaving like the azure, purple, red, and white clans would be digging one’s own grave, something which was too late for regret now. Fortunately, despite Zhuang Qing’s cold personality, he wasn’t a yao who would exploit public office to avenge personal wrongs. Otherwise, even if these four clans managed to hold on by their teeth, they wouldn’t be able to lead peaceful everyday lives. At the moment, the entirety of their dragon race had no choice but to support Zhuang Qing. Even if they felt a bit vexed, they could only endure it.
The dragon race had started dying off in droves thousands of years ago, yet the number of births were on the decline. The various clans put all their heart into nurturing the later generations, but none of them was able to transform into the Dragon Emperor and obtain the acknowledgement of the nation. If this continued, the dragon race’s eventual ending in this world would be extinction.
Zhuang Qing’s successful transformation was the dragon race’s last saving grace. Even if this saving grace hated them, they still had to cling to him with a death grip. Even if they didn’t do so for themselves, they still had to think for their juniors who hadn’t yet grown up.
The black dragon glanced back at the few remaining dragons of his race, his eyes clouded with worry.
“The Dragon Emperor has arrived.”
“Warm respects to His Majesty, the Dragon Emperor.”
The dragon clans stood up in succession. Even Qing Yan, who was seated on his wheelchair and unable to move, also sat up straight and hung his head, his posture respectful. The black dragon watched the man wearing a dark-colored suit in the distance walk over while escorted by little yao. The man donned a grave, stern expression, and didn’t seem very easy to get along with. However, the tiny, fluffy, and plump animal in his arms that resembled both a dog and a rabbit lessened the cold aura surrounding him by a good bit. At least, the little yao wouldn’t be terrified at first glance.
“There’s no need for everyone to stand on courtesy. It’s a new era now, there’s no need to be particular about past practices.”
Though Zhuang Qing said as such, for some reasons unknown to the black dragon, he could hear a hint of candidness in these two simple statements. It seemed like Zhuang Qing really didn’t regard the empty courtesies that had been pa.s.sed down as important.
“Please take a seat.”
The front palace of the golden dragon palace was very large, but even then, it wasn’t enough to fit all the aquatic races. Therefore, in order to save s.p.a.ce, some little yao with low cultivation simply turned into their original forms and squeezed together in a dense pack to watch the show.
“Who pressed against my tail?”
“My fins, my pretty fish fins, don’t squeeze!”
“Scram eel, I hate eels.”
Hearing the whispers outside the palace hall, Zhuang Qing glanced up. The entire main hall instantly quietened till even a pin could be heard. Fu Li, who was lying in Zhuang Qing’s arms, stretched out his claws, picked out a few golden tangerines from the fruit platter, and placed them in Zhuang Qing’s hands.
Zhuang Qing knew that Fu Li disliked the strong smell of tangerines, which was why he deliberately maintained his original form and left the task of peeling the skin to him. Zhuang Qing took his time peeling the skin, and just as Fu Li opened his mouth, he stuffed the tangerine into his own mouth.
Fu Li: …
Pinching his soft ears, Zhuang Qing held the remaining half out to Fu Li’s mouth. Fu Li turned his head away and refused to open his mouth.
Fu ge also had a temper, as well as his own sense of dignity.
“I’ve tasted it. It’s sweet, that’s why I’m giving it to you.”
Only then did Fu Li ‘stiffly’ open his mouth and swallow the tangerine.
The black dragon who bore witness to this entire event felt like he was watching two kindergarteners play house. Was this how the Dragon Emperor and his future Dao Companion usually interacted?
It was Zhuang Qing’s first time returning to the East Sea after his successful transformation, so there was a lot of meaning to this event. From the dragon clans to the ordinary aquatic yao cultivators, everyone was afraid that Zhuang Qing wouldn’t want to return to the sea, so every one of them were on tenterhooks. Some yao even thought of sending Fu Li gifts so that Fu Li would sway Zhuang Qing through pillow talk. Unfortunately, Fu Li was a well-known wealthy and powerful individual in the yao world. Fearful that Fu Li would disdain anything they sent to him, they quashed this intention.
Now that Zhuang Qing had finally appeared and didn’t exhibit any negative att.i.tudes towards the aquatic races present, everyone’s state of mind stabilized a bit, full of hope for the future.
The large numbers of aquatic races that had come were beyond Fu Li’s expectations. He asked Zhuang Qing through sound transmission, “Did these aquatic races come over to watch the excitement or to freeload a meal?”
Zhuang Qing was stunned. All of a sudden, he recalled that Fu Li had never really been in contact with imperial power. His childhood was spent on Reflecting Mist Mountain and the yao cultivators there had been more natural in their interactions. Even Kang Gu, who was addressed as King Ganglie, did not take on the stance of a higher ranking yao in front of all the yao on the mountain. When Fu Li came to the human world, there was already more equality among the humans and there was no longer any strict differentiation in status like the feudalistic periods. Hence, in Fu Li’s eyes, these aquatic yao cultivators were merely here to join in the fun or freeload a meal.
Zhuang Qing slowly caressed the fur on his back as he replied through sound transmission.
“They’re not here to freeload a meal, they’re here to pay their respects.”
“Pay their respects?” Fu Li’s ears twitched. “Like the feudalistic emperors in television dramas?”
Zhuang Qing didn’t reply or deny it. His gaze landed on all the yao, seeing the few dragons who had previously bullied him frantically lower their heads, not daring to meet his gaze. He saw the sea turtle who had once mocked him hide behind a coral stone, shivering and wanting to shrink its head into its turtle sh.e.l.l yet not daring to.
He even saw the octopus yao who had secretly applied herbal medicine to his wounds after noticing that he was being bullied, as well as the sea crab who had stuffed him food when he was ravenous.
“It’s almost noon. Everyone has come from afar, let’s talk after lunch.”
All the yao heaved a sigh of relief simultaneously. The head of the black dragon clan said, “Your Majesty has no need to worry, I have already prepared lunch.”
“It’s surprising how conscientious these dragon clans are, they even brought their own food when visiting,” Fu Li finished nibbling on a fruit and then held his claws out to Zhuang Qing, who fished out a handkerchief and wiped his claws. “You’ve been lazing on me for half the day, do you want to get up and eat?”
Fu Li silently buried his head into the crook of Zhuang Qing’s arm.
“There are many fresh marine products in the dragon palace. Eating will be very inconvenient if you’re not in your human form,” Zhuang Qing patted Fu Li’s fat b.u.t.tocks. “You don’t want to eat?”
With a shake of his tail, Fu Li jumped down Zhuang Qing’s knee and landed on the ground in human form. He sat on the vacant seat beside Zhuang Qing.
“Your Majesty, daojun, please sit in the inner palace,” The black dragon got up to show Fu Li and Zhuang Qing the way. The other dragon clans instantly followed. Knowing that they wouldn’t be able to enter the inner palace, the other aquatic races simply set up tables and chairs outside, and waited for the lunch banquet to commence. They really did give off a subtle air of a freeloader.
Before entering, Zhuang Qing glanced back at the tens of dragons following behind him. He didn’t speak. Unable to clearly grasp Zhuang Qing’s thoughts, the black dragon said, “If Your Majesty prefers the quiet, I will get the juniors to withdraw outside.”
“No need,” Zhuang Qing saw the cautious ways of these dragons. Even those still in infant state – seven to eight hundred year old little dragons who couldn’t retract their dragon horns – were looking at him pitifully. “Come in, all of you.”
The azure, purple, red, and white dragon clans obediently followed after him, not daring to say even a single extra word.
Five large tables were arranged in the inner hall. The dishes on the main table were particularly sumptuous. Perhaps these dragon clans had specially made discreet inquiries on Zhuang Qing and Fu Li’s tastes, because much of the food on the table were dishes they were fond of.
“Your Majesty, please sit,” The black dragon led Zhuang Qing to the main seat. Zhuang Qing stared at the seat and continued standing. The hearts of the clan heads tensed once again.
“This Zhuang is a junior, how can I take the main seat in everyone’s presence…”
“This seat is fitting for Your Honorable Majesty.”
“There is no one apart from Your Majesty who is more suitable for this seat.”
Amidst all sorts of entreaties and everyone talking at the same time, Zhuang Qing finally dragged Fu Li over to the seat. The elders of the black and blue clans sat beside the two of them and the elders of the other four clans obediently sat themselves down, not daring to say or do anything more.
After finishing their meal, the four clan heads offered their apologies to Zhuang Qing. Beside Zhuang Qing, Fu Li watched the head of the red dragon clan with snow-white hair bend over and bow deeply to Zhuang Qing. He inched to the side.
“Clan head, there is no need for this,” Zhuang Qing got up and helped the head of the red dragon clan up. His expression was still flat and without ripples. “As the chief of the management bureau, this Zhuang will seriously deal with any trouble, no matter the race that encounters it.”
“In the past…” The cheeks of the red dragon clan’s head were flushed. “We let Your Majesty down.”
“Let bygones be bygones. Clan head, there is no need for you to bring it up again,” Zhuang Qing turned to look at Fu Li. If the dragon clans had treated him well at that time, he might have remained at the bottom of the sea, became an ordinary yao cultivator of the dragon race, taken control of a sea territory after reaching adulthood, and peacefully stayed there till his life reached its end. In such a life, he would be doomed to never cross paths with Fu Li. Throughout his entire life, perhaps he would never have known about the existence of the yao named Fu Li.
No one could say for certain whether happiness bred misfortune or misfortune bred happiness.
“Many thanks for Your Majesty’s tolerance,” The head of the red dragon clan retreated with a lowered head. The few remaining clans also went forward and apologized. Zhuang Qing’s att.i.tude continued to remain even. There was no resentment or dissatisfaction, and of course, there was also no excessive intimacy.
In all likelihood, he really had gotten over it, just like how he said he had.
At a certain location in the depths of the sea, the yao addressed as king was roaring at its subject in fury, “Aren’t you capable of spreading plagues? Why did you leave for several months, and yet there still isn’t any news from the human world?”
The subject being scolded didn’t dare to reply. Only after the king’s anger had more or less dissipated did they say in a small voice, “King, this subject doesn’t know what happened either. I clearly added poison to the humans’ drinking water, but their bodies had no reaction at all. Later on, I tried to spread the plague through the air, but these humans still had no reaction. It’s simply too strange.”
“How can weak creatures like humans be able to escape terrifying plagues? That’s impossible, something must have gone wrong,” The king was infuriated. The king turned in a circle on the spot and then transformed into a plump pufferfish. “You change into an ordinary sea creature too, don’t let the other aquatic yao realize that there’s something fishy.”
The single-eyed strange ox obediently transformed as well. Perhaps it was because he had few eyes, but he specially transformed into a four-eyed flounder to make up for the loneliness of having one eye.
Master and servant swam out of the deep sea and just so happened to chance upon the aquatic yao leaving the golden dragon palace. Freshwater and seawater fish were mixing with one another; if human biologists were to discover this sight, it would definitely be termed a miracle to be researched for many years.
The fake pufferfish seized the opportunity to mix into the group of yao and started making discreet inquiries about the human world. The aquatic yao had just received the support of the Aquatic Emperor and was in a good mood, so they very nicely answered this country b.u.mpkin fish who asked all sorts of questions on human general knowledge..
“Why aren’t they scared of plagues?” A tiny ugly fish burst into laughter. “Humans are now made to take all sorts of immunization injections from birth. Human medicine has long overcome those fatal plagues from ancient times.”
The pufferfish: …