Chapter 620

Five Hundred and Two, A White Jiao 【Happy New Year!】

Two things reign supreme under heaven.

Ancient swords and jiao dragons.

The Spring and Autumn and Warring States eras have long passed; the mythic age of antiquity is beyond verification.

The once foul, monster-infested lands of ancient Wu and Yue are now the refined Jiang Nan of Shenjing Luoyang literati, home to Yangzhou, the wealthiest region under heaven.

Ancient swords might still be unearthed from the tombs of pre-Qin nobles, but jiao dragons have long vanished; many now believe they were merely mythic totems fabricated by early ancestors, and the true creatures behind the legends might be something far more disappointing.

Do jiao dragons and dragon-slaying heroes truly exist?

Perhaps only the qi-refining factions inheriting the pre-Qin Daoist lineage still preserve ancient texts and retain some who believe.

Perhaps even the naive children of Wu and Yue, after being frightened by their elders' practiced tales, firmly believe that monstrous jiao dragons lurk in the water at night, devouring children.

But just as the mythic age of antiquity has faded, the truth is that, aside from a handful of undeniably real mythic cauldrons and swords, myths have long departed—jiao dragons, like many other mythic beasts, have vanished entirely; this colossal amphibious creature no longer walks the world.

In the third year of Tianyou of the Great Zhou, the Jiachen year, the fifteenth day of the seventh month: an age when myths are on the verge of extinction, and secular imperial power is exceptionally strong.

Rong Zhen, a female official of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau, Deputy Director Song Mama, Commander Yi Yi Qianqiu of the White Tiger Guard, along with his seventy-two female officials and one thousand eight hundred and eighty-one armored soldiers, witnessed on the northern bank of Xun River at Shuangfeng Peak a true jiao dragon, nearly as tall as a hundred-zhang Buddha.

On this day, myth descended once more.

While the crowd on the northern bank witnessed the myth.

On a cliff at Nanfeng on the southern bank, the assembled group who had used earth-transcendence had already turned their gazes away from the spot where the white jiao had surfaced on the north.

Yuan Yuan Huaimin stared, dumbfounded—he had seen such terrifying creatures only in illustrated books; who could have imagined they existed in reality?

Could mortal flesh and blood withstand this?

Yuan Yuan Huaimin suddenly understood why Master Wu had remained so calm and composed since first approaching him.

He also understood why only a handful—Xue Xue Zhongzhu, Wei Wei Shaoqi, and a few others—had come.

This opening move of the Lady Yunmeng Sword Marsh required no large force.

"Your sect has made a grand gesture today."

Beside him, Wu Wu Daozi clapped and laughed.

Xue Xue Zhongzhu's face remained expressionless.

Though the evil jiao had been deployed as planned, she still seemed in low spirits.

The great female lord gripped tightly the bronze longsword in her hand.

Wei Wei Shaoqi and Du Du Shuqing exchanged a glance.

Du Du Shuqing pulled a handkerchief from his sleeve and handed it to Wei Wei Shaoqi, then turned and walked to an open patch of ground, sitting cross-legged.

Wei Wei Shaoqi gently reminded: "Great Female Lord, it is time to begin—the hour has come."

Xue Xue Zhongzhu reluctantly tossed the bronze longsword toward Du Du Shuqing.

Du Du Shuqing dared not touch the sword; it hovered in midair before him, as if held by an invisible hand.

Du Du Shuqing slowly closed his eyes; a pale blue aura of spiritual energy flickered across his palms, as if channeling it into the bronze sword before him.

The spiritual energy he channeled was minimal—he was only of low-grade cultivation—but his act was more symbolic, for at the same moment, across the lakes and rivers of Tiannan, heroes in hidden or secure locations sat in meditation, pulled out their Lady Yunmeng Tokens, and began channeling spiritual energy; rivulets converged into rivers, and this vast, combined spiritual power far exceeded even Du Du Shuqing's or Great Female Lord Xue Xue Zhongzhu's; it flowed toward unknown destinations via the Lady Yunmeng Tokens, its purpose unknown.

At this very instant, nearly simultaneous with Du Du Shuqing closing his eyes, the white jiao that had abruptly emerged from the water on the northern bank below suddenly narrowed its icy gaze and surged toward the main grotto cliff. Wu Wu Daozi glanced at the floating bronze sword at the ritual's center and remarked:

"It truly requires watching—this thing is too powerful, too wild, prone to losing control."

Though the white jiao below had already moved, plunging the northern bank into chaos, the three atop the mountain showed no urgency, still leisurely conversing.

"Cough, cough." Wei Wei Shaoqi covered his mouth with his handkerchief and coughed violently—this was the critical moment for action.

Yet this middle-aged scholar glanced again at Xue Xue Zhongzhu's displeased face and suddenly asked:

"Great Female Lord, are you troubled? Since the Second Female Lord came and left, you've seemed distracted."

Wu Wu Daozi turned his head: "Where is the Second Female Lord?"

Xue Xue Zhongzhu waved her hand: "She has matters to attend to—returned to the Sword Marsh already. Today, we are enough."

"Her presence isn't needed, nor does her absence hinder our action."

Wu Wu Daozi pointed down the mountain: "That jiao doesn't seem to be yours, does it?"

"It belongs to my seventh junior sister."

Wu Wu Daozi was surprised:

"Lady Yue Yue Chu Zi's? Is she already at the upper-grade Dragon Maiden realm, despite her youth?"

Xue Xue Zhongzhu, lost in thought, stared at the bronze sword with an unpleasant expression.

Wei Wei Shaoqi then asked: "Is the matter the Second Female Lord went to handle connected to your sect's Lady Yue Yue Chu Zi?"

"That's why you're in such a foul mood?"

Xue Xue Zhongzhu fell silent, gazing down the mountain for a moment, then spoke coldly:

"That's one reason. Today, there's also a reckless youth shouting nonsense nearby—if not for my seventh junior sister's sake, I wouldn't tolerate him."

"Who is he?"

"A man named Magistrate Ouyang Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan."

At this, not only the obscure Yuan Yuan Huaimin's expression changed, but Wei Wei Shaoqi also looked startled.

Du Du Shuqing, seemingly meditating and controlling the jiao below, opened his eyes briefly and met Wei Wei Shaoqi's gaze.

Clearly, they both knew him.

Only Wu Wu Daozi's expression remained unchanged; he asked:

"Is he connected to Lady Yue Yue Chu Zi?"

Xue Xue Zhongzhu replied coolly: "There is a karmic entanglement—my seventh junior sister was once his family's child bride."

Wei Wei Shaoqi and others turned their heads in surprise; Yuan Yuan Huaimin frowned, thinking deeply, then suddenly understood—but no one paid him attention. Wei Wei Shaoqi asked:

"How did Magistrate Ouyang Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan offend the Great Female Lord? Was it about the Wang Fu?"

"No. Besides, I'm not angry—I merely find his nonsense tedious."

"Oh? What did he say?"

Xue Xue Zhongzhu said indifferently: "This youth, drunk, claimed he is the master of 'Butterfly in Love with Flower,' and told the Second Sister to deliver a message to me: to know my place."

The atmosphere fell abruptly silent.

Wei Wei Shaoqi and Du Du Shuqing, both familiar with Magistrate Ouyang Rong, exchanged a glance.

Wei Wei Shaoqi suddenly let out a hollow laugh and shook his head.

Du Du Shuqing sighed softly, surprised that the once outstanding peer had sunk into such a drunken, foolish state. The taciturn youth, skilled in Prince Xunyang's terrain, closed his eyes again.

Yuan Yuan Huaimin frowned slightly, recalling something, and suddenly stared at the forest below where a blue arc had just risen, lips parting but words unspoken.

Wu Wu Daozi suddenly waved his hand, halting his student.

The squint-eyed old man smiled at Xue Xue Zhongzhu:

"Indeed, who the master of 'Butterfly in Love with Flower' is—outsiders may not know, but you and your sect know better than anyone. He's mistaken his identity; a laughable pretender."

Xue Xue Zhongzhu instantly turned her head, seeing the familiar strange smile on Wu Wu Daozi's face; she frowned in displeasure, and white sword qi erupted from the sword on her back, slowly spreading, slicing off the tops of grass and trees.

Snow-Candle immediately turned her head and saw the familiar strange smile on Wu Wu Daozi's face; she frowned in displeasure, and a white sword qi rose from the sword at her back, slowly spreading around, slicing off the tops of grass and trees alike.

"I'll say it once more: the master of 'Butterfly in Love with Flower' has nothing to do with me or my sect. On the contrary, I intend to settle accounts with him."

Wu Wu Daozi, who had been teasing, immediately dropped his smile. This time, he spoke seriously:

"Truly no connection? Then something curious coincides."

"What is it?"

Xue Xue Zhongzhu asked coldly; the white sword qi around her showed no sign of receding, enveloping her tall frame.

The Great Female Lord seemed ready to use this momentum to build up some kind of aura!

Wu Wu Daozi pointed down the mountain: "This morning, the master of 'Butterfly in Love with Flower' appeared once—he drew a sword and struck the Great Buddha. Is he truly in Prince Xunyang?"

Xue Xue Zhongzhu frowned, staring at Wu Wu Daozi as he spoke slowly, lost in thought.

The next instant, the sword qi around her reached its peak, like an arrow drawn taut, ready to fly.

The snow-white longsword on her back shot skyward, piercing the clouds.

She whirled around, pushing the suspicion aside, and tossed a command to Wei Wei Shaoqi, Du Du Shuqing, and the others:

"The girl with the jade hairpin—destroy her cultivation, spare her life. All other fake Zhou hawks and dogs—crush them all."

The next instant, the golden-haired, towering female lord launched skyward like a springing grasshopper, faster even than the sword that had preceded her.

The white sword, which had been slowing at its zenith, just as it began to fall, merged with the charging golden-haired female lord.

In the next instant, a thousand zhang above, one woman and one sword plummeted together, white sword qi trailing like a comet's tail, streaking toward the Donglin Great Buddha.

"What are you standing there for? Catch the sword."

On the mountain peak, where the Great Female Lord had departed, Wu Wu Daozi suddenly spoke.

Wei Wei Shaoqi immediately grew solemn: "Master Wu, when shall I see you again?"

The squint-eyed old man said nothing, calmly unrolling a scroll.

Yuan Yuan Huaimin, sharp-eyed, recognized it as the newly painted landscape of Shuangfeng Peak.

The old man turned, casually handing Wei Wei Shaoqi another scroll: a Peach Blossom Spring painting.

The sickly middle-aged scholar's face turned solemn; he bowed deeply, performing a grand ritual:

"Thank you, Master, for granting me the sword."

The old man ignored him, turned, and walked into the painting, going to visit an old friend.

The white jiao seemed to have stepped straight out of the brushwork of the world's most masterful painter.

The old man ignored him, turned with his hands behind his back, and walked into the painting to visit an old friend.

The white dragon seemed as if it had stepped out of the most exquisite painter's scroll.

Pure white, lifelike, with alert vertical pupils.

Its writhing massive body radiated a primordial, wild aura.

When it emerged from the water, the geyser it raised approached a thousand zhang; white mist pierced through, rain poured from the river, and "fish" fell.

The "carps crossing the river" swept up with the current crashed down, some striking the shore, dents denting armor, scales splattering blood.

Yet the shock caused by this river rain on the northern bank of the Twin Peaks was far less than that of the white dragon itself.

The white dragon appeared suddenly, roaring in fury—the earth trembled, mountains shook.

It twisted its body and charged toward the colossal "benevolent-faced" Buddha carved into the cliffside cave ahead.

Its massive body crushed boats and ferry bridges alike; scattered unlucky female officials or armored soldiers were ground to paste.

Like mosquitoes slapped against a wall in summer, viewed from the height of a mosquito-like creature, they burst into tiny drops of blood.

Terms like "land-dragon" or "dragon-elephant strength" could not describe the destruction the white dragon unleashed.

It shattered the northern bank's defenses like dry grass and rotten wood, charging straight toward the main cave with its domed roof shielding from rain—

the very platform where Rong Zhen, Song Mama, Yi Yi Qianqiu, and others stood.

Clearly, this white dragon had been unleashed by the rebels of Tiannan's rivers and lakes, its target aimed squarely at the Donglin Buddha!

"Form ranks!"

Yi Yi Qianqiu was the first to snap back to sense; she tore off her faceplate, shouted loudly, leapt onto her horse, and rode to rally the troops.

This cry jolted the dazed crowd awake.

Wei Wu's throat was dry, his face grim; he turned to summon all hands to defend.

Below the platform, Song Mama, who had moments before sneered in disdain, now stared fixedly at the white dragon, her expression shifting as she assessed its power and true nature.

On the platform, Rong Zhen, clad in purple, small and delicate, lifted her chin coldly, lips pressed into a thin line.

At this moment, she seemed to grasp the meaning of the line on the Lady Yunmeng Order: "Too long entangled with the evil dragon, this body shall become the evil dragon."

Yet facing this monstrous creature she had never imagined, the palace-clad girl did not retreat a step; instead, she gripped her prayer beads tighter,

stepped forward, cheeks puffed, eyes blazing at the white dragon:

"Don't stand there stunned—help Commander Yi hold it back! So what if it's a dragon? Activate the great array—I shall slay this vile beast today!"

Her voice was cold as frost.

Instantly, everyone reacted, following the plan: surrounding the platform, guarding the central figure—Rong Zhen, whose body now glowed golden as she clutched her prayer beads.

Directly before the main cave, Yi Yi Qianqiu led the White Tiger Guard cavalry into a rough formation, ready to meet the evil dragon.

Even though the White Tiger Guard and the Bureau of Celestial Observations were elite, well-trained troops, the sight of the charging white dragon still stirred panic.

But Yi Yi Qianqiu led from the front, dampening some of that fear; seeing her back, the troops' morale surged.

Yet at the moment of collision, men and horses were thrown into chaos.

Yi Yi Qianqiu was flung backward; the white dragon swept through the armored ranks like a man swatting ants, carving a bloody path.

Song Mama's nostrils flared with rage; she screamed: "Wretched beast, you seek death!"

Immediately, purple qi erupted, surging toward the white dragon—but at the last moment, it veered sharply, the surrounding purple qi becoming a blade that sliced across the dragon's nape, then flew toward its upturned, aching belly, searching for vulnerable reverse scales.

The white dragon winced, reared its head high, and let out a roar.

Song Mama's form was tiny beside it, yet agile in flight, avoiding direct impact.

The white dragon, massive and slow to turn, could not easily swallow her—but the next instant, its eyes flashed purple, regaining a cold, clear gaze; it straightened its head, ignored Song Mama, and continued charging toward the Buddha and the platform beneath it.

Song Mama's expression changed slightly; she pressed forward, intending to harass—when suddenly, a sharp, refined woman's laugh echoed across the entire scene.

"Old dog, your dog's head belongs to me—don't go tossing it around."

From the southern peak, a brilliant white rainbow rose, piercing the clouds, then plummeted like a comet toward the main cave's platform.

Song Mama's face turned pale; she instantly reversed direction, ascending to meet it head-on.

The white comet and the purple aura collided violently.

The next instant, blinding light exploded outward.

The entire scene plunged into brief blindness.