Chapter 77: Discussion

“Who is he?”
Duan Lingqi watched as the white-browed elder, his figure crowned with a dragon’s head and a human body, left the grand hall. He turned to the stooped, blue-robed old man beside him, whose back was burdened by a turtle shell.

“The King Guangli, Dragon King of the Southern Sea, Ao Li,” the hunched old man replied, his gaze lingering briefly on the inquisitive blue-armored shrimp soldier.

“He’s the Dragon King of the Southern Sea? ...But why does the Second Prince call him Uncle Li?” Duan Lingqi was startled and asked, bewildered.

“In ancient times, the Dragon Tribe of the Vast Sea and that of the Southern Sea were one and the same. Only after the Divine Emperor decreed the Vast Sea Dragon King did our line become independent. At their core, both lines descend from the scarlet dragons, masters of the true fire and lightning,” the old man explained patiently. He was not surprised by the shrimp soldier’s curiosity. Few in the Vast Sea Dragon Palace knew much of their clan’s ancient affairs, and he was content to play the role of wise guide, answering the stream of questions with equanimity.

As for whether this shrimp soldier might be an imposter from among the human cultivators, the old man found it unlikely. Who among them would dare such boldness—to steal the Pearl of the Tides and then infiltrate the dragon palace in disguise? Throughout the ages, many had stirred trouble in the dragon palaces, but only a rare few had escaped with their lives—those few eventually becoming immortals or Buddhas. As for the rest, they had long become nourishment for the fish in the sea.

“Silence,” the old man said, lifting his gaze to the throne where Ao Chi had returned. He gently admonished Duan Lingqi, who seemed eager to ask more.

“You two, go and halt the wind and rain. And summon the Fourth Brother back as well,” Ao Chi commanded from his throne, waving a hand to dismiss the two Vast Sea dragons from the hall. He pressed his brow, pondering the words his uncle had spoken just moments before.

“Lord Turtle, where is that shrimp soldier?” Ao Chi inquired, his eyes alighting on the old man.

The stooping elder nudged Duan Lingqi forward. Stepping from the shadowy corner of the hall into the center, Duan Lingqi bowed low, his shrimp-like silhouette reflected by the lantern light on the scarlet carpet.

“Go tell the little princess that the white-eyed wolf—Consort Su—has already been torn to pieces and ground to dust by the golden-scaled carp demon I sent. She should abandon her foolish hopes. You may go,” Ao Chi’s crimson, vertical pupils glinted coldly as he dismissed the shrimp soldier with a wave.

“Yes, Your Highness.” Relieved, Duan Lingqi turned and swiftly left the great hall.

Yet, upon exiting, Duan Lingqi realized he faced a serious problem—where was the little princess now? How was he to find her? Still, it shouldn’t be too difficult. He glanced up at the plaque hanging from the main beam of the hall. With such straightforward naming, he felt confident he could locate the princess.

Within the Second Prince’s Hall of the Vast Sea:

“What are your thoughts?” Ao Chi gazed at the empty hall, a trace of weariness flickering in his cold, red pupils.

From the golden pillars, scarlet dragons unfurled, weaving through the hall’s air, clouds billowing from their claws, and streaks of crimson lightning forming amid the mist.

“The writ that Daoist presented could be delivered by a talisman envoy directly to the Divine Emperor. If the Divine Emperor issues a decree, disturbing the Celestial Master of Thunder at the Jade Purity Palace, then the Daoist must have some powerful backing,” one of the scarlet dragons said, its head emerging from the swirling clouds.

“No matter his background, could it possibly surpass that of the Divine Emperor who gifted us the Pearl of the Tides? If you ask me, let our dragon sons and grandsons, sea demons and monsters devour this Daoist. Didn’t the Dragon King of the Southern Sea himself say it? As long as we halt the wind and rain, the rest is ours to decide,” another scarlet dragon, thick-horned, interjected, lightning snorting from its nostrils with every word.

“I advise caution,” another dragon’s voice echoed from the mist. “The Celestial Master of Thunder at the Jade Purity Palace has long remained silent. Why would he now add a divine command to the writ? And why would Ao Li, with all his magical power, come in person to ask you to stop the storms, suggesting instead that you use other means? Perhaps the old fox harbors his own agenda.”

“Lord Turtle, what is your counsel?” Ao Chi’s eyes darkened with fatigue. He had weighed all that the scarlet dragons discussed, and their words only made his choices more fraught. The Divine Emperor had not intervened in mortal affairs for untold years, nor had the Celestial Master of Thunder. Yet today, both had, in a way, shown their hand. And since his father’s ascent to the heavens, he had yet to return. Could it be that those above planned something for the Vast Sea Dragon Tribe? If so, the theft of the Pearl became all the more suspicious.

“Unless by decree of the Divine Emperor, or the mortal Emperor holding the Rainmaster’s ritual for the Dragon King, we must not summon storms on our own whim,” Lord Turtle walked from the corner into the center of the hall and spoke slowly to Ao Chi.

“This was but a moment’s anger after the theft of the Pearl,” Ao Chi sighed softly.

“The loss of the Pearl is not truly your fault, Second Prince. It was the Fourth Prince who was entrusted with its care. It was his negligence that let the pearl be stolen, so he should bear the responsibility,” Lord Turtle said gently.

“If it weren’t for the younger brother of the Fourth Prince’s wife—the three-clawed gray dragon—causing trouble outside the palace, stirring up storms, the Fourth Prince would never have been lured away. Had he stayed, that white-eyed wolf could not have colluded with the human cultivators to steal the pearl. Besides, our elder brother entrusted me with all the affairs of the palace. How could I let the Fourth Brother bear the blame?” Ao Chi sighed again.

“And what was that three-clawed dragon after?” Lord Turtle inquired.

“I hear his grandnephew was slain on Mulberry Island, his demon soul utterly scattered, and afterwards, his own son’s corpse was exposed and scorched, his soul likewise destroyed. So he came to the palace, seeking the Fourth Brother to demand justice from the humans on Mulberry Island,” Ao Chi replied, rubbing his temples.

“Whether for his grandnephew or his son, vengeance is his right. With justice on our side, whatever we do to Mulberry Island will be justified,” Lord Turtle said quietly.

“Go on,” Ao Chi urged, hands falling from his brow, gazing at the ancient turtle who had seen countless years.

“Once, a Dragon King of the Eastern Sea flooded Chentang Pass, forcing that sea-raging demon—who would become the Great Sage of Three Altars—to flay himself alive. Why should we not flood Mulberry Island and force them to surrender the culprit?” Lord Turtle replied.

“And if they do hand over the murderer?” Ao Chi asked.

“Our aim is to force them to expose those with the power to steal the Pearl. Whoever could slay the three-clawed gray dragon’s son surely has the means to steal it. But whether or not they produce the culprit is irrelevant. Mulberry Island is doomed to sink, and all its humans will be buried for the theft of the Pearl. Only with blood for blood will the humans learn that the majesty of the Vast Sea Dragons is not to be defied,” Lord Turtle said, his drooping eyelids betraying no emotion.

Ao Chi, seated on his throne, nodded faintly.