[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-dragon-lies-hidden":3,"chapter-the-dragon-lies-hidden-the-dragon-lies-hidden-chapter-89":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Dragon Lies Hidden",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2289387,4477,"Chapter 89: We Shall Drink Together One Day (Bonus Chapter 1)","the-dragon-lies-hidden-chapter-89",89,"\u003Cp>The war continues, but Wei Yuan’s grand examination is over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon returning to Shayang Village, a flying vessel pierced the sky and descended gently before Wei Yuan and his group.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cabin door opened, and several Daoists stepped out; their leader had a face like dark red dates, imposing without anger, and upon appearing, he caused a hundred-zhang radius of clear qi to rise while yellow qi receded—clearly a high cultivator even in his Dharma Form. His gaze, sharp as lightning, swept the surroundings; when he saw Zhang Sheng and Bao Yun, his expression softened slightly, and he nodded in greeting. When he saw Wei Yuan, his eyes instantly turned gentle, and a faint smile appeared on his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The True Person’s gaze had also passed over Li Zhi, but treated him as if he were air. Clearly, a son of a Duke had not yet reached the level worthy of a True Person’s notice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The True Person said: “I am True Person Hu Xing. The Immortal Lord has ordered me to summon Wei Yuan and Zhang Sheng back to Tai Chu Palace immediately—no delay allowed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But my brother’s funeral…” Wei Yuan hesitated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>True Person Hu Xing’s expression grew even gentler. “I am already aware of what transpired here. Very well—you may stay one more hour. One hour of heavenly fate—I, this old man, can still hold it back.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though True Person Hu Xing gave no specific reason, Wei Yuan knew the matter was grave—only a True Person of his caliber could suppress heavenly fate for an hour. Zhang Sheng, deep in thought, also said: “Since the Immortal Lord has summoned us, we should depart on schedule.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Yuan nodded and walked toward Shayang Village. At this moment, Sun Chaoen led hundreds of men as they carried corpses out of the village one by one, while others held up severed heads. Many who saw the scene inside the village collapsed to the ground, vomiting violently, then rose and resumed their work.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Yuan cradled Fang He’s head and said softly: “I have not disgraced your trust, Brother Fang. I’ve reclaimed your head, and all the enemies are dead.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Chaoen nodded blankly and led Wei Yuan to the village entrance. A coffin stood there; Fang He’s body lay still inside. Wei Yuan placed the head inside, carefully adjusted its position, then sealed the severed neck with Dao energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How will you handle Brother Fang’s funeral?” Wei Yuan asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Chaoen looked at Fang He’s body in the coffin and said: “I plan to return my younger brother’s remains to the Academy. He spent most of his life there, and he intended to spend his later years teaching there. Let him rest where he loved most. Buried in the Academy, his presence will teach the students there how to read—and what a true scholar should be. As for his family, the Academy will care for them. No need to worry.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Chaoen had arranged everything thoroughly; Wei Yuan felt at ease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Chaoen placed his hand on the coffin and suddenly said: “Allow me to presume on our bond and call you younger brother. In the future, I may commit many vile acts. If you find them unbearable, do not rush to kill me—let me finish what I must do, and I will give you an accounting.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why say this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Chaoen pointed upward and said: “The world is this way. The imperial court is this way. So I wish to go up and see why those people act as they do.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What he intended to do after ascending—he did not say, nor did he need to.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There is still some time left. Younger brother, if you have words to say to your brother, say them here. I will step aside.” With that, Sun Chaoen dragged his heavy body, step by step, away to a distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Yuan stared at Fang He’s body in the coffin, silent for a long while, then spoke: “Brother Fang, my Dao foundation may not be what you hoped for. In the future, I will do many things—if you knew them, you’d surely point your finger at my nose and curse me. But even if you curse me, I must do them. Forgive me. Rest well. When I’ve slain every foreign tribe until they dance and sing in peace, I’ll come back to drink with you!” With that, Wei Yuan pressed his hands firmly and slowly closed the coffin lid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The flying vessel rose slowly into the sky and flew toward Tai Chu Palace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the return journey, they rode not the massive vessel from before, but a light vessel like the one Wei Yuan had taken after the grand examination, further enhanced by True Person Hu Xing’s power. The seven-day journey now took only one day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Forming the Dao foundation had transformed his body, and with the boundless vitality from Bao Yun’s fruit, Wei Yuan’s injuries were now fully healed. Zhang Sheng, however, had to enter seclusion to heal—he locked himself in a quiet chamber the moment they boarded. Flesh could be repaired, but the Primordial Spirit was hard to mend. Zhang Sheng had lost a fragment of his Primordial Spirit; it would take months to restore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not long after departure, a middle-aged Daoist approached Wei Yuan and spread a jade tablet before him. “I have come to settle your merit credits and calculate your examination results.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But the examination isn’t over yet.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Daoist stroked his beard. “Deputy Palace Master Pei specifically ordered your immediate return to the Palace. You need not participate in the remaining trials. After you slew the Northern Liao heir, Kan Bidá, the A Gulá tribe has fallen into chaos. While Kan Bidá lived, he was the undisputed heir, so his brothers remained obedient. Now that he is dead, several brothers have ambitions for the throne, gathering their forces—no longer interested in marching south. In no time, the crisis in the two commanderies of Ganzhou will be resolved. This great merit is yours. Even if the war continues, with your current merit, you will be either top-ranked or among the top three.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Moreover, Kan Bidá was the favorite son of the Skyborne Snow Eagle Hulehachi. You killed him, endured several strikes from that old bird, and survived. The old bird must be furious beyond measure—he may do anything. If you remain here, you’d need a True Person constantly watching over you. And now that you’ve provoked the heavens of the Liao realm, heavenly wrath has been stirred; ordinary True Persons cannot withstand it. Thus, the Immortal Lord has decided to recall you immediately. The old bird can only rage uselessly—and may do something foolish, granting you even more merit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The logic was sound. If the Snow Eagle, disregarding his dignity, secretly infiltrated the human realm to ambush Wei Yuan, Wei Yuan would have little chance of survival. Though a human True Person’s retaliation would severely wound Hulehachi, Wei Yuan would still be dead. Tai Chu Palace would not allow such a thing to happen—it recalled Wei Yuan outright.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Daoist tapped his finger, and a dense array of merit credits appeared on the jade tablet. He meticulously verified each item with Wei Yuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Slaughtered 126 common cavalry—126 merit credits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>!.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Slaughtered four squad leaders—80 merit credits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Slaughtered one hundred-commander—200 merit credits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Slaughtered 90 common Snow Eagle cavalry—1,800 merit credits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Slaughtered nine Snow Eagle ten-commanders—2,700 merit credits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Slaughtered Kan Bidá—3,200 merit credits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Injured Skyborne Snow Eagle Hulehachi—1,000 merit credits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Caused internal chaos in the A Gulá tribe—2,000 merit credits.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The long string of numbers left Wei Yuan dizzy. Whether advancing north or retreating south, his mind had been blank—he never counted how many he’d killed. On the retreat, he encountered several ambushes and simply cut through them. The Northern Liao heir’s steed was already a divine mount; after being enhanced by the Heavenly Rogue, it moved like wind and lightning, nearly matching the speed of Snow Eagle Dharma Forms. And every time Wei Yuan endured a strike from Hulehachi, he used the force to pull away, enabling his thousand-li battle retreat and successful return south.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Yuan himself had never imagined he’d killed so many, achieved so much. Adding his prior combat merits, his total now exceeded 12,000—equivalent to tens of thousands of immortal silver taels!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1388,"2026-06-20T03:38:27.933Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","fdcedb940c501b041ed057742aea05b1c9f3113e7d447a451a632ec58cf8930d","the-dragon-lies-hidden-chapter-90","the-dragon-lies-hidden-chapter-88",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-dragon-lies-hidden-cover.jpg"]