[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-roaring-dragon":3,"chapter-the-roaring-dragon-the-roaring-dragon-chapter-68":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},2281924,4463,"Chapter 68: Could Such a Talent Truly Exist in This World?","the-roaring-dragon-chapter-68",68,"\u003Cp>The autumn sun rose in the east.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dan Wang Zhao Xiao walked through the academy grounds with his attendants, his five-claw python robe gleaming under the autumn sun, his brow shadowed with sorrow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Zihu, the supervisor of the Dan Hospital, walked behind him, describing the general situation:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He was struck by an exotic poison that severely depleted his essence and blood; even a moment’s delay would have made salvation impossible. Yet we’ve rescued over three hundred lives from the grasp of the King of Hell—all thanks to Xie Jin’s solitary daring, breaking the Blood Sacrifice Curse…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind them, Zhu Wenyuan, Princess Changning, Master Hou, and others followed in procession.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because of the recent disaster, Princess Changning’s attire had grown far plainer; now, listening to the supervisor’s account, she sighed softly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If I had arrived first last night, even with the courage to face danger alone, I could not have slain Taishu Dan. And if it were merely bravery, that would be enough—but Xie Jinhuan’s character and intellect are beyond reproach; he is humble, unambitious, and uninterested in fame or gain. I wonder what kind of master could have trained such a disciple?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Hou, fanning himself as he walked, nodded in agreement:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This boy is a perfect mirror of my youth—heroes recognize heroes; I feel a deep kinship with him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The group stumbled to a halt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The outstanding students trailing behind wore strange expressions; had the setting permitted, they would have burst into laughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Dan Wang showed no anger; seeing the youths’ varied reactions, he interjected:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master Hou isn’t boasting. Twenty years ago, during the ‘Jian’an Uprising,’ Your Majesty and I were trapped in the Ten Wangfu . Had Master Hou and Cao Fuer not fought alone, carving a path for us to escape, today’s Great Gan would not exist.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alas, the enemy was too numerous. Master Hou lost half his soul to a demonic curse, his martial path severed forever. Otherwise, he might now be drinking wine and debating swordplay with Master Mu.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Princess Changning had never known Master Hou any other way; curious, she asked:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Was Master Hou as handsome as Xie Jinhuan in his youth?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Er…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dan Wang paused thoughtfully, speaking with great tact:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To judge heroes by appearance is too narrow-minded. But back then, when Master Hou and I attended the same banquet, the moment he appeared, the entire hall fell silent—even the most talented scholars and beauties refused to spare me a glance.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The group slowly nodded, understanding the implication.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, now that Master Hou stood beside Xie Jinhuan, most would be stunned by their shocking appearance and fail to notice the handsome young man beside him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The group collectively skipped the topic and soon reached a serene little lake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lakeside housed private recovery wards for high-level cultivators; no such masters were injured last night, so only Xie Jinhuan occupied one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outside, Liu Qingzhi and Yang Dabiao stood on guard, whispering quietly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“With Xie Brother’s talents, he could take two wives and still be short—but who’d be wife and who’d be concubine? Hard to decide…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lin the Physician’s father is the Left Deputy Director of the Taiyi Academy; he knew Jinhuan first…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lord Linghu’s lineage is no less distinguished—he’s the direct disciple of the Sect Master of Purple Banner Mountain…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nearby by the lake, Linghu Qingmo clasped her sword, gazing at the koi in the water. As a pure young Daoist nun, she was now quietly pondering Xie Jinhuan’s earlier impertinent act…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His medicinal effects hadn’t worn off; he couldn’t control his nature—she shouldn’t take it to heart…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if he did it on purpose, he saved so many lives—what harm was one kiss?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hundreds of lives—he’s saved more than most heroes do in a lifetime…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I shouldn’t have been so harsh just now…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as her thoughts grew chaotic, distant noise reached her:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your servant Yang Dabiao (Liu Qingzhi) bows before Your Majesty!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Rise.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Linghu Qingmo swiftly dismissed her distractions and hurried forward nervously:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I bow before Your Majesty!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dan Wang had always regarded Linghu Qingmo as a niece; he spoke kindly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Has Jinhuan awakened?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Linghu Qingmo gave a slight nod:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He’s awake. Lin the Physician is attending him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She hurried to the door and knocked:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Knock-knock~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before stepping onto the corridor, Dan Wang adjusted his python robe slightly, his demeanor like a royal uncle meeting Zhao Zilong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But after waiting a moment at the door, there was no response from within—only a voice called out:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh? Where’d he go?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Linghu Qingmo froze, then shoved the door open.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before them lay a rope on the floor, and Lin Wanyi sitting on the bed, searching left and right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Wanyi was slightly nearsighted; at first she couldn’t make out the crowd. Only after picking up her gold-threaded spectacles and putting them on did she realize dozens stood outside the door—Lin Zisu was even standing on tiptoe behind them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This scene was no less shocking than waking from excessive self-indulgence to find an entire street peering through the doorway…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh? Your servant bows before Your Majesty!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Wanyi was dazed; she checked both sides, then scrambled off the bed and crouched to peer under it:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Xie Jinhuan?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dan Wang looked bewildered and bent down to look too—finding no one beneath the bed, he asked in confusion:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Where is Jinhuan?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Dabiao and Liu Qingzhi turned pale with terror.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Linghu Qingmo’s face went ashen; she had no energy to scold the foolish girl who’d lost her boyfriend, and hurried to the window to search.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Zisu rushed into the room: “Auntie, what were you just doing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Wanyi had fainted in Xie Jinhuan’s arms and now awoke to this—she could only stammer:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I… I accidentally fell asleep…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Princess Changning scanned the room and spotted paper on the table, bearing writing. She stepped forward to pick it up:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Phantom shadows stain the sky, blood still wet; demonic traces vanish, the world’s path hard. Heroic souls fear no evil wind—sword points to heaven, banner of righteous qi. Do not worry, I shall return shortly… Where did he go?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silence fell over the room and corridor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this “Poem of Aspiration,” Linghu Qingmo was overwhelmed with emotion; she stamped her foot in frustration:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This reckless fool—he heard the government office was searching for the source of demonic energy on Purple Banner Mountain, and rushed off this morning to help them! I told you not to let him go—why did you let him leave?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Wanyi’s eyes were full of innocence, like a concubine who’d distracted the emperor from court affairs and accidentally caused a catastrophe—she trembled, too timid to speak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dan Wang, upon hearing the destination, his eyes reddened; he stepped forward quickly to take the paper, studying the bold, iron-wrought characters:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This… could such a talent truly exist in this world?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Dabiao and Liu Qingzhi, who had known Xie Jinhuan longest, dropped to their knees.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Dabiao pounded his palm in anguish:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Jinhuan—no, Brother Xie is truly loyal, righteous, fearless, and valiant! My father was a Company Commander; if I had even half his drive, I wouldn’t still be a Lieutenant!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Qingzhi’s eyes burned with shame:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Compared to Young Master Xie, I’m unworthy of this uniform! This… ah! I’m utterly humiliated!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the ever-humble Master Hou couldn’t help but praise:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This boy’s tenacity—I must admit, I’m half a step behind him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jinhuan was likely the first person ever to make Master Hou yield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dan Wang stared at the poem, unsure what to say.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In his mind, Xie Jinhuan’s image was already this: son of a martyr, humble and unambitious, peerless in martial skill, lofty and upright in ambition, willing to sacrifice his life for the people, tireless in duty, strikingly handsome, gifted in literature…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Any one of these traits promised greatness—yet Xie Jinhuan possessed them all!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If one must nitpick, his only flaw was his humble origins—he wasn’t Dan Wang’s own son!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otherwise, he’d be laughing in his sleep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the way, his daughter…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this thought, the doting father suddenly remembered he still had an unmarried daughter; he turned to Princess Changning:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ling’er, what do you think of Xie Jinhuan?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh? Me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Princess Changning knew more than Dan Wang—she knew Xie Jinhuan was erudite, witty, could drink, sing, play music, dance, and was devastatingly good at games.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such a perfect man—dignified in public, enchanting in private—made her feel a little pressured just speaking of him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But greater pressure came from her best friend.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Facing her father’s intense gaze, Princess Changning subtly gestured to the two young ladies beside her:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Since Xie Jinhuan is absent, Your Majesty should return to the Wang Fu to rest. I’ll send people to search for him—lest he be injured and come to harm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then did Dan Wang remember the two beauties standing nearby; he realized proposing marriage on the spot would be inappropriate, so he asked no more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this son-in-law—he would have him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Night fell, deep within Purple Banner Mountain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Distant animal howls echoed now and then; Meiqiu, her fur pitch-black, circled beneath the starry sky, watching for movement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the utterly pathless primeval forest, Xie Jinhuan tugged a living ancestor of a horse, trudging forward, sweat pouring down his face as he swung the Zhenglun Sword to cut through dead wood and tangled vines.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Last time I came out, it didn’t seem far—why haven’t we reached yet?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The red-clad ghost circled beside him, her gaze helpless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Last time you were afraid I’d drain your yang energy, you practically flew. Now you’re crawling—how can it be the same? At this pace, it’ll take you three or four days to get there.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jinhuan could endure walking slowly, but he feared the search officers would find the place first. Facing the endless Chongshanjunling, he now regretted not bringing Lin Da the beauty along.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“With your level of cultivation, can’t you just figure out a spell to shrink distance or ride a sword through the air?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ye Hongshang shrugged slightly: “I could. But any divine technique requires mastering as much celestial power as the impact it has on heaven and earth. You can’t even make yourself fly a few hundred li—how can you fly that far out of thin air?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jinhuan thought it over and realized it made sense. As he bent his head and trudged on, he suddenly sensed something wrong, halted his steps, and frowned ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The horse, which had refused to take a single step behind him, now trembled with fear and began backing away...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clip-clop...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1762,"2026-06-20T01:38:11.747Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","12cd749e5fad58a8010329517060047bcd49baf84f8902b8884c6ca7ca1aff81","the-roaring-dragon-chapter-69","the-roaring-dragon-chapter-67",252,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-roaring-dragon-cover.jpg"]