[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-roaring-dragon":3,"chapter-the-roaring-dragon-the-roaring-dragon-chapter-28":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},2281884,4463,"Chapter 28: Follow the Vine to Find the Gourd","the-roaring-dragon-chapter-28",28,"\u003Cp>The chaos at Sanhe Tower was serious, but ultimately did not threaten the survival of the entire province; the Wang Fu’s patrons still focused their efforts on the demonic aura of Ziwei Mountain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After leaving the county government office, Linghu Qingmo hurried to Danwang Pavilion, ascending the stairs; just as he reached the second floor, he heard voices coming from the hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Danzhou is vast; ordinary Wu Zu and clerks can’t distinguish major demons. With just our group, checking county by county and village by village would take a month or more…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Could it have gone north?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Impossible—the footprints came from the direction of Danzhou…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Those footprints might just be from hunters. Once you’re above-grade, do you even walk? Have you ever seen Master Mu ride out on ‘true qi-horse’?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm… that does make sense. Our realms are still too low—we can’t imagine the grandeur of the summit…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Wang Fu had seven guests of rank three and above; excluding the chief steward Zhu Wenyuan, there were the tutor Huangfu Qi, the commandant Tie Fengzhang, the guest sage Ji Shiqing, and others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Linghu Qingmo arrived at the door and saw that, aside from Commandant Tie Fengzhang, all the others were inside, along with several low-rank guests who, having found no trace of the great demon, were brainstorming around the central map of Danzhou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Wenyuan stood at the head, frowning at the fruitless search; seeing Linghu Qingmo at the door, he asked warmly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Qingmo, do you have something to report?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Greetings, all senior masters.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Linghu Qingmo bowed, then entered the hall:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I just examined the corpse. Xie Jinhuan said the unidentified floating bodies linked to the demon raiders died from corpse flies—they appear to be cultivating some kind of 'poison flower.' I don't understand the basics, so I've come to consult you all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Guhua?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this, all the patrons fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Wenyuan, fan in hand, frowned deeply, recalled for a moment, then spoke gravely:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The method of cultivating guhua is a secret of the Witch Cult sects; only those who’ve reached rank three or higher can master it. Are you certain Xie Jinhuan didn’t misidentify?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huangfu Qi, tutor to the heir and princess, second only to Zhu Wenyuan in status and having served in the Wang Fu for over twenty years, deeply respected by the Dan Wang, stroked his goatee and questioned:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ji Daochang also examined that corpse. It had rotted for days with no trace left; the coroner checked from head to toe and found no corpse flies. How did Xie Jinhuan spot them?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji Shiqing, from the renowned Daoist sect Xuanhu Guan, had once traveled for years in the southern wilderness, specializing in combating Witch Cult demons; though he didn’t rely on seniority to lord over others, he still nodded:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If the corpse had died recently, identifying guhua as the cause might be possible. But this one was devoured by maggots until unrecognizable—effectively destroyed evidence. I truly cannot imagine how Young Master Xie could have deduced the presence of guhua.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Linghu Qingmo didn’t know how Xie Jinhuan had figured it out either; after thinking, he replied:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Xie Jinhuan is learned and resourceful—perhaps he had a sudden insight.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This explanation sounded fantastical.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who among the Wang Fu’s guests wasn’t learned and well-traveled?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Wenyuan didn’t believe any of these seasoned guests had worse eyesight than a twenty-year-old boy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But since someone had offered evidence, even the most implausible possibility had to be considered; Zhu Wenyuan thought carefully:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There are six or seven types of guhua that use corpse flies as nourishment. Determining exactly which one caused the death is difficult.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji Shiqing, who truly understood the Witch Cult, replied:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The demon raiders are collecting ‘Dragon Whisker Grass.’ Only two types of guhua use both corpse flies and Dragon Whisker Grass.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Eliminating the impossible—Anhun Grass—leaves only the Mad Corpse Flower of Linglu Valley. Investigate that, and we might find a lead.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huangfu Qi, seeing his colleagues following the thread, added:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“According to the ‘Compendium of Plant Essences,’ Mad Corpse Flowers always grow amid piles of corpses. Danzhou has no known sites with massive accumulations of dead bodies—perhaps they’re using slaughterhouses or livestock pens to warm the flowers. Find the cultivation site, and we’ll prove the Li family was framed, and the real mastermind lies behind it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing these senior masters’ insights, Linghu Qingmo immediately found his direction; he bowed:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you, all senior masters. I’ll lead a team to search every livestock storage site in the city.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Wenyuan nodded. Since the threat of a super-grade demon far outweighed that of a mere rank-three witch, and since Linghu’s team could summon them instantly if the witch dared show his face in the city, they didn’t dwell on it, continuing their discussion on how to locate the demon…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outside Danyang City.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The carriage sped along the main road upstream, occasionally passing merchant caravans entering the pass; the horse bells rang intermittently:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ding ling ling~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jinhuan sat outside the carriage, holding a telescope bought in town, carefully scanning both banks of the Great River; the driving was left to his personal maid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meiqiu crouched beside him, paws gripping the reins, her amber eyes filled with bewilderment—clearly thinking: Isn’t driving my job? Why don’t you go get someone to pat your head?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the carriage, Lin Wanyi also peered out the window, searching for possible sites where Mad Corpse Flowers might be cultivated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though focused, she constantly felt a chill—like someone else was sitting in the carriage!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But she couldn’t see the red-robed ghost before her; aside from occasionally pulling her robe tighter, she made no other movement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After searching for a while, a scenic garden appeared along the riverbank, its waters crowded with colorful boats, its buildings exquisite beyond count, throngs of visitors wandering within.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jinhuan turned his telescope toward the garden and asked:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What place is that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mudan Pond. This year’s Mid-Autumn Festival will be held there. It’s not time yet, but on the day itself, tens of thousands will gather.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I see.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since it didn’t concern him, Xie Jinhuan paid it no further mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Wanyi scanned the riverbank for a moment, still feeling uneasy; she turned to the empty seat beside her and whispered:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Xie Jinhuan.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm?” Xie Jinhuan turned toward the carriage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do… do you feel something odd about this carriage? Like someone else is here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Gū jī?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meiqiu turned her head, her expression clearly saying: You just now noticed something’s wrong?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jinhuan immediately pressed his maid down, staring at the two exquisite women inside the carriage, puzzled:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Really? Did you still haven’t recovered from yesterday’s poison?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Wanyi thought that might be possible; she pulled her robe tighter and asked:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“By the way, when did you get back yesterday?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jinhuan had returned early and even bathed, but if Lin Wanyi found out, she'd surely cast a love curse on him and turn him into a Lin family son-in-law.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I got back late yesterday. Just as I entered, Miss Zisu came.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Wanyi couldn’t distinguish dream from reality; she assumed it was just a dream, dismissed the thought, and resumed scanning the riverbank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two humans, the ghost, and the bird continued along the road; after traveling about twenty li, the red-robed ghost in the carriage suddenly spoke:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yū~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jinhuan immediately pulled the reins, stopping the carriage by the roadside; he turned and saw a shaded footpath beside the overgrown road, clearly worn by footsteps, leading deep into the distant hills.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Wanyi, noticing the stop, leaned out to gaze at the distant wilderness:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s called Jiguan Ridge. A small stream flows from the hills into Huaijiang. Do you think it’s there?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jinhuan wasn’t sure; he got out and examined the path closely: muddy ground covered in fallen leaves and weeds, with scattered hoofprints and droppings—recent livestock passage, all heading into the hills, none returning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is suspicious. Let’s go in.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To avoid alerting the target, Xie Jinhuan pulled the carriage farther away, parking it beside an old bridge, then entered the path with the ghost and the maid. Soon they found a small stream blocking the way, its source pointing deep into the hills.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jinhuan ordered Meiqiu to fly high for reconnaissance; once he confirmed no living souls remained in the hills, he followed the stream upstream.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Wanyi followed closely, holding up her skirt, constantly feeling something was off, glancing left and right:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Could this place have something… unnatural? Shouldn’t we return and notify the government office, bring more people?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jinhuan glanced at the floating ghost searching the area and replied:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s broad daylight, clear sky—how could there be anything unnatural? Even if there is, I’m right here. What are you afraid of?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Wanyi was also worried he’d trick her into a secluded grove and turn her into a woman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But in this place, Xie Jinhuan couldn't easily overpower her as a direct disciple of the Witch Cult; she quickly dismissed the thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two humans and the ghost followed the winding stream for about half a quarter-hour, arriving at a pond.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pond was three zhang across, surrounded by tangled vines; part of the mountainside had collapsed, piling earth and rocks beside the pond, as if a natural landslide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jinhuan stood by the pond, noticing a faint stench of decay in the air, originating from beneath the landslide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ye Hongshang floated above the pond and nodded slightly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is it. The flower’s cultivation site lies behind the pond, buried. No living souls inside.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Lin Wanyi hadn’t heard the demon’s whisper, she carefully observed the surroundings and agreed:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This place is shaded and near water—strong yin energy. Perfect for cultivating Mad Corpse Flowers.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jinhuan confirmed the location; without hesitation, he checked the landslide for traps, then drew his Tiangang Club from his waist, stepped to the pond’s edge, and drew a deep breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Wanyi quickly retreated to the pond’s edge, covering her ears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>BOOM—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next instant, a thunderous roar echoed through the valley.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jinhuan swung his club with full force; the pond exploded, sending a geyser of water skyward!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The qi blast swept through the flying water, smashing into the collapsed earth and rock, instantly cracking open a gap—only to be buried again by rolling stones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>BOOM BOOM BOOM—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After three such strikes, the pile finally gave way, revealing a dark cave behind it, thick with the stench of corpses…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1747,"2026-06-20T01:38:11.747Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","0d44e5e5d0e351538663070696d257939e46956f1f251a09874f8f018e32841a","the-roaring-dragon-chapter-29","the-roaring-dragon-chapter-27",252,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-roaring-dragon-cover.jpg"]