Chapter 58: Ao Fangling

He cupped his hands once more and said.

"I think the Dragon Lord has misunderstood. Su did not come for your esteemed daughter, but for the common folk of Tushan Xian. Tushan Xian has had a long drought...."

Hearing that Su Yuanshan had not come for his daughter's marriage but for the drought in Tushan Xian, his heart was filled with joy, worry, and surprise, and even a touch of displeasure. What pleased him was that Su Yuanshan, as a local magistrate of the Underworld, was wholeheartedly devoted to the people — truly commendable.

What worried him was that the drought in Tushan Xian was a thorny problem, and he did not wish to get involved.

What surprised him was that, given his own vast wealth and his daughter's beauty enough to topple a city or a kingdom, this young man actually did not fancy her — he had not come to propose marriage.

What displeased him was, 'This young fellow puts on such airs — could it be he looks down on my little girl?'

This left his heart a tangle of five flavors, and he secretly guessed at Su Yuanshan's true background.

Anyone who could win the favor of Guangwang Shenjun and be recommended to me as a son-in-law — how could such a person be ordinary?

He must come from a family of deep heritage, with a startling background!

It's just not convenient to reveal it face to face.

It seems I must personally ask Guangwang Shenjun about it another day.

Thinking this, he found Su Yuanshan pleasing to the eye once more.

Yet Su Yuanshan grew rather restless under the Dongting Longjun's gaze, fearing the old dragon would act high-handedly and decide their marriage on his own. After all, he had only met the dragon maiden twice and was not at all familiar with her, so he cleared his throat twice, cupped his hands, and said.

"Now Tushan Xian has been placed under Su's jurisdiction, yet it has suffered a long drought without rain. Because I cannot find the Dragon God in charge of rainfall over Tushan, Su has taken the liberty of troubling the Dragon Lord. I hope the Lord will inform me of that Rain-Dragon God's whereabouts."

The Dongting Longjun fell silent at this, then said thoughtfully.

"If I were to say he is already dead, would you believe it?"

"The Rain-Dragon God is dead?" Su Yuanshan was greatly surprised at this, and was about to ask for details, but the Dongting Longjun waved his hand and changed the subject, saying.

"I imagine this is the Xielian's first visit to my Dongting Shuifu. Let me show you around the beautiful scenery of this Baili Dongting, shall we?

Come, come."

He was beckoning Su Yuanshan and about to head out when a voice suddenly rang out.

"Wait!"

As the bead curtain swayed, a middle-aged beauty and that white-clad young lady were seen supporting a white-haired old woman as they walked in, one on each side. The old woman had a kindly face and an air of nobility; though her waist and back were slightly stooped, her steps were remarkably steady.

Seeing the old woman, the Dongting Longjun hurriedly rose to his feet.

"Mother, how did you get here!"

The old woman glanced at Su Yuanshan and secretly nodded to herself.

Though this young man looks on the surface like an ordinary person, his eyes are brimming with spiritual essence, and a great red light shines on his hall of fortune — he is like a dust-covered bright pearl.

The old woman withdrew her gaze and said to the Dongting Longjun.

"I heard you were here choosing a husband for Ling'er, so this old woman was curious and came to have a look. I happened to overhear your discussion. I also heard Ling'er mention that Tushan Xian has suffered a drought and many people have died — is this true?"

The Dongting Longjun nodded helplessly.

"Yes, Mother!"

The old woman asked.

"But why?"

The Dongting Longjun replied helplessly.

"The Rain-Dragon God in charge of Tushan Xian, Xianghe Xiaolong, died an unnatural death — that may be one of the reasons, but there are probably other causes as well."

The old woman seemed somewhat startled at this.

"Who could be so bold as to dare slay a god?"

The Dongting Longjun hesitated a moment, then said.

"Your son also does not know the detailed origins of this demon, only that people commonly call him Huo Jun!"

The old woman's face was full of puzzlement at this.

"Huo Jun?..... Huo Jun.... Could it be....?"

As if recalling something, her expression turned somewhat ugly, and gazing beyond the door she murmured.

"That calamity has appeared again..... Could this be fate?"

The Dongting Longjun seemed rather at a loss and asked in confusion.

"Mother? What calamity?"

The old woman sighed.

"The moment you mentioned Huo Jun, it reminded me of a yaoshen. This demon is named Huodou!"

The Dongting Longjun was taken aback.

"Huodou? You mean that yaoshen Huodou who is skilled in wielding flames?"

The old woman tapped her dragon-head walking stick and said.

"Besides him, who else could it be? If it truly was the work of that Huodou, then the death of Xianghe Xiaolong is explained. Even if a Heavenly Soldier came, he would be no match for him! If it really is him, not only the common folk of Tushan Xian, but even we of Dongting will likely not escape this calamity."

Yet the Dongting Longjun waved his hand and said.

"Mother, you worry too much. How could it possibly be him? Five hundred years ago he was ravaging the countryside, devouring people — wasn't he slain by my father and the Qiantang Longjun?"

Yet the old woman sighed and said.

"That is precisely why I find it strange! By the way, Ling'er..... Hmm?"

The old woman glanced at the white-clad young lady and suddenly froze, for the girl was staring at Su Yuanshan with a strange look on her face.

This made the old woman feel a touch of displeasure, feeling her granddaughter was being terribly rude. She was about to remind her, when unexpectedly the white-clad young lady, gazing at Su Yuanshan with a peculiar expression, suddenly spoke.

"Young master.... could you actually be that carefree wanderer?"

Su Yuanshan's heart gave a jolt, thinking, Damn, I've been recognized!

Not wanting any complications, he flatly denied it.

"The young lady must have mistaken me for someone else?"

Yet the middle-aged beauty and the Dongting Longjun were both utterly baffled, and asked in unison.

"What? You two know each other?"

The Dongting Longjun even showed a look of delight, thinking to himself, this truly is a match made by heaven!

The girl in white hesitated for a moment before recounting the earlier attack by the red-haired brute, and added.

"It was this young master who saved me in my moment of peril, but I was afraid you would worry, so... I didn't mention it."

Only then did the Dongting Longjun and his wife breathe a sigh of relief, their faces darkening with anger!

The Dongting Longjun smacked the crystal pillar with a *slap*, and barked resentfully.

"This sovereign had no wish to be drawn into this matter, but that scoundrel has gone far too far—daring to lay hands on this sovereign's beloved daughter, how dare he? Guards!"

At his sharp command, a crab general in green armor immediately stepped forward and cupped his fist.

"What are Your Majesty's orders!"

The Dongting Longjun said with a dark face.

"Quickly muster thirty thousand aquatic troops, this sovereign shall...."

"Wait!" The old woman was seen waving her hand.

"My son, just like your father, far too impetuous! Have you even asked clearly who it was that bullied our girl? And you want to send troops blindly?"

"This....!"

The Dongting Longjun's whiskers swayed nonstop, and finally he waved his hand in frustration, dismissing the crab general.

He cupped his fist toward Su Yuanshan and said.

"Since Xielian saved my little girl's life, you are naturally a benefactor of my Dongting Shuifu!"

Saying so, he turned to the girl in white and said.

"Ling'er, come over at once and pay your respects to the benefactor!"

The girl in white took light lotus steps, stepped forward, and bowed gracefully to Su Yuanshan.

"This girl, Ao Fangling, thanks the benefactor!"

Since things had already come to this, Su Yuanshan could no longer deny it, so he could only reply with a wry smile.

"The princess truly has a keen eye, to recognize Su even here. Please, rise quickly!"

He bent and reached out to help her up, only to feel a faint fragrance drifting before his nose—a graceful beauty, arms like soft jade, waist like slender willow.

Their eyes met, but at the same instant both looked away without prior arrangement, then each stepped back, truly achieving the ideal of treating each other with respect as guests.