[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-roaring-dragon":3,"chapter-the-roaring-dragon-the-roaring-dragon-chapter-203":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Roaring Dragon",{"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},2282059,4463,"Chapter 203: Under Heaven","the-roaring-dragon-chapter-203",203,"\u003Cp>Not long after, on a riverbank riverboat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jinhuan sat on the chess couch, gazing out the window at the crowded arena ashore; he had changed into a new robe, his hand wounds treated, a small table before him laden with delicacies, while Meiqiu was devouring her meal with gusto.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After finishing the wheel battle, Xie Jinhuan returned his weapons and was pulled aside by Wei Lu to a nearby medical station, where a renowned martial healer tended to his injuries.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though his wounds weren’t severe, he was utterly exhausted, his dantian completely drained, needing urgent replenishment; he had planned to return with Bing Tuozi to claim the reward, but unexpectedly found Bing Tuozi had vanished somewhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unable to locate her, Xie Jinhuan returned to his quarters to rest, using the three-story boat’s elevation to observe the arena’s situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To his surprise, Sister Hua was no less formidable than Bing Tuozi—her power was immense, her movements quiet yet eerily spectral, like a blue butterfly flitting gracefully through swords, spears, and staves without once being touched, striking with ruthless precision the moment an opening appeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this tactic of constant maneuvering was slow; after watching for a long while, she’d only fought two matches—whether she’d catch up to him was uncertain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he observed, a figure emerged on the riverbank, strides powerful and commanding, appearing from afar like an emotionless black blade rushing toward the ferry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jinhuan’s eyes lit up; he leaned out the window and waved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Honghong?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ssshh—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No sooner had the words left his lips than the figure leapt onto the ferry’s railing, then soared through the third-floor window; a three-foot blade flashed out midair, and upon landing, she remained in the classic posture of a female sword immortal—one hand behind her back, blade slanted downward, the curtain still concealing her, yet the icy aura of lethal intent radiating unmistakably from her frostbitten face!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Gujii?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meiqiu, shaking her head, sensed something amiss; she dropped the meat she’d just bitten into and crept quietly into the inner room, peering from the corner of the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jinhuan was also startled; he briefly assessed the black-clad female martialist’s unshakable stance, then considered closing the window to avoid being seen and spreading rumors of “Xie Shaoxia is henpecked.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why are you angry?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nangong Ye’s face was as frost-laced snow, her voice cold:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What do you mean? You know I can’t stand her—why did you help her just now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jinhuan, seeing it was about this, spoke gently:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You and Sister Hua are competing for the estate lordship—that’s internal family business. You didn’t even fight. The three of us are still allies. No matter how deep our grudges, first get the item back, then fight to the death later. If we squabble before securing it and let another clan snatch it, won’t all our efforts be wasted?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nangong Ye knew the logic was sound, but Bu Yuehua wasn’t family—she was her mortal enemy. Giving the demoness any advantage was tantamount to handing her a death warrant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet she had brought this upon herself—and she couldn’t even explain why...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If she truly wins the championship, do you think you’ll still have a chance to take it back?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jinhuan spoke earnestly: “If it lands in Sister Hua’s hands, given our connection, isn’t it better than falling into Long Yun Valley or Fengshan Society’s grasp? Even if Sister Hua refuses to give it up, at least Qingming Sword Manor gains the benefit—better than letting outsiders take it...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nangong Ye couldn’t explain the full reason, had no rebuttal, and finally sheathed her sword with a flick of her wrist:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I watched her closely—her strength has surged dramatically over the past year; she’ll likely win this match. You can’t beat her.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If she gets the Tiger Bone Vine, we’re finished. I won’t take the antidote anymore. I’ll never surpass her again—what’s the point of the antidote then?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was genuine, legitimate male-induced anger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jinhuan rose, gently stroking her back:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Winning the championship is good—it means the item’s back. I’ll find a way later to ask Sister Hua for it...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ask?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nangong Ye turned her head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How? Are you going to treat her like you treated me—slay demons, cure poison, win her over with kindness, then get her to lend you the Tiger Bone Vine? She’s not like me. She only cares about cultivation, has no regard for righteousness, and hasn’t been poisoned by anything you can cure...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jinhuan shrugged slightly: “How can you say ‘treating you’? From start to finish, I’ve been sincere. If you’re truly angry, I’ll correct my mistake—tomorrow, I’ll risk my life to win and take back the Tiger Bone Vine. Even if I can’t get it, I’ll fight to a draw, just so Sister Hua doesn’t win...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nangong Ye felt this was truly inappropriate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Preventing the enemy from winning was essential, but she couldn’t let Xie Jinhuan deliberately injure her mortal enemy—both sides would suffer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With her half-step transcendent-level cultivation and the martial prowess she’d just displayed, Xie Jinhuan didn’t need to give her any favors—he’d still make the top three.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her goal was to prevent the worst outcome; the wisest move now was to help Xie Jinhuan win, not merely eliminate the enemy...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But his foundation was flawless—his only path to greater odds was to raise his cultivation...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In one day, how could cultivation be rapidly elevated...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dual cultivation...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pfft, absolutely not!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a long silence, Nangong Ye’s anger slowly turned to worry; she sat beside the tea couch, head tilted in silence. Xie Jinhuan sat before her, lifted the black veil of her hat, and gazed into her icy phoenix eyes. Seeing Bing Tuozi wouldn’t respond, he poured a cup of strong liquor and brought it close:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Come on, drink some to calm down. I won’t necessarily lose tomorrow—I’ve got seven wins, likely first place. Second and third must fight each other first, then face me—strong vs. strong, there’ll be damage. Advantage is mine!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nangong Ye’s mind was in turmoil; the wine’s aroma tempted her to drown her sorrows, but as she raised her hand to take the cup, she realized the rascal had already downed it in one gulp!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You... ugh~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jinhuan, liquor still in his mouth, kissed her alluring red lips, then pulled her onto his lap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nangong Ye’s face flushed crimson; she wanted to strike this heartless scoundrel, but seeing his frail limbs and wounded arms, she lowered her hand, closed her eyes, and became an ice lump—enduring his kisses and caresses...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ssshh~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though her chastity mark remained, Nangong Ye had already known carnal pleasure; the taste lingered, and Xie Jinhuan knew exactly how to exploit her weaknesses—kissing her ear, caressing her lower back—her body softened, even grew slightly damp...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nangong Ye sensed she was losing her composure; she turned her head slightly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Rest well, recover your strength quickly. I’ll keep watching the matches and analyze your opponent after they end.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jinhuan smiled and shook his head: “No need to analyze. If I can beat her, watching or not makes no difference—pure strength crushes all. No matter how I analyze, I can’t use underhanded tricks.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nangong Ye believed understanding the opponent’s style always improved chances.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And staying here to drink with Huang Mao... what might happen next needed no explanation—if she quietly moaned while the demoness finished her match and wandered over, she’d lose everything and be devoured for life...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Nangong Ye rose and straightened her robes:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Better safe than sorry. Rest well—tomorrow, you absolutely cannot lose!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saying this, she hurried out the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Click.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meiqiu, seeing the door shut, bounced out and resumed shaking her head, devouring her meal with gusto...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>——\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The great river flows east day and night; the sharp point between the two rivers, viewed from the clouds, resembles a withered leaf, blending into the autumn-hued mountains and rivers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the leaf, ants formed a large circle, with a small open space in the center; two stronger ants scurried about, wrestling, occasionally kicking up faint, almost imperceptible dust.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Extending the view along the winding river, eight hundred li away, in a valley, another ant colony marched along a rugged path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the head was a figure in a black robe, followed by dozens of attendants, herding captives chained together—like a swarm of black ants hauling a meaty worm toward their nest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, on the boundless plains to the southeast, a vast ant colony thrived; countless worker ants scurried through a thousand streets and ten thousand alleys.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the imperial palace, a young ant was about to become the “master” of this thirty-thousand-li land and rivers; at this moment, she discussed statecraft with several ant kings, speaking of the people’s welfare, of the nation’s stability—her words cautious, as if a single utterance might shatter heaven, collapse earth, and topple mountains and rivers!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But sadly, heaven had never cared for any of this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Above the heavens, another golden ant, as usual, flew across ten thousand li of boundless clouds toward her cave dwelling in the southern wastes; passing below a city, she glanced idly downward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three years ago, she’d passed here and noticed something odd on a hill outside the city—seemed a minor evil cultivator was hiding somewhere. She went down to investigate, found no one, but frightened the entire mountain into chaos, so she left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When she returned, she found a father and son from the mortal world brutally slaughtered, forming a karmic bond with her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That bold child had kept his promise, surviving the journey from the south to return alive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She sensed this child was “favored by heaven’s Dao,” like the Qixia True Person a century prior—his talent was merely average among peaks, yet profoundly uncanny!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the Corpse Ancestor, powerful enough to found a sect and be called a patriarch, had suffered many setbacks at Qixia True Person’s hands; later, wherever Qixia True Person appeared, the Corpse Ancestor simply turned and fled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not because the Corpse Ancestor couldn’t win—but because Qixia True Person always had sudden inspirations, appearing in absurd places or pulling out absurd objects, leaving everyone utterly baffled...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She didn’t understand Qixia True Person either, but now she could align a similar figure with herself—hence, that child’s father still held office in Yanjing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet the child himself was truly rebellious; upon returning, without a word, he defected to the enemy state and achieved remarkable feats, seemingly ignoring his father entirely...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This child had given his life-saving medicine to his father—he could never abandon him. She suspected he was guided by a master, playing a grand game, so she wasn’t in a hurry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, passing the city, she looked down and saw the Hou Mansion’s gates tightly shut, no one moving within.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the nearby Wang Fu was far livelier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A young man, seemingly the heir, climbed out of a locked study window, clutching a flower vase, crouching low as he crept away...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the gate, a narrow-faced, monkey-like steward spoke with a tall man—his grotesque appearance so rare, she even knew his name: “Hou Jun.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Twenty years ago, he’d been a notable rising martial talent of the Great Qian, but was rendered brain-dead by the son of Sikong Shitang’s men...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the western compound, a girl who looked peaceful and content wore mourning robes, sparring with a white-dressed girl, wielding twin blades.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The white-dressed girl was chased wildly through the garden—ah, clearly a Daoist fragile type...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The golden-armored figure gazed for a moment, then continued without pause, flying through endless clouds toward the southern frontier...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>———\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Writing later and later—today I’m taking a day off; tomorrow I’ll try to resume morning updates. The remaining chapter will be made up in a few days. Sorry or2\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1956,"2026-06-20T01:38:12.833Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","9b06e524e3b95e9d7cf59a303ff20da056dd462b3368346c7492a7186f813681","the-roaring-dragon-chapter-204","the-roaring-dragon-chapter-202",252,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-roaring-dragon-cover.jpg"]