Chapter 28: Just as Expected

Stepping out of the house, I saw Xiao He pacing back and forth in the courtyard, looking very anxious.

Only when the door opened did I turn to see Yu Lin emerge from inside, a flash of astonishment appearing in his eyes, followed by delight:

"Mr. Yu, when did you return?"

He did not know what method the Dragon Lord had used, but he could not see the Dragon Lord's presence.

Yu Lin stepped forward: "Is there something urgent?"

"I went gathering herbs yesterday and just got back."

"I see," Xiao He, unsure whether to believe it or not, pointed toward the yamen and said:

"Mr. Zhang has been waiting at the yamen for a long time."

"Seeing you absent, he asked me to wait here for a while."

"Please go over there, lest Mr. Zhang become impatient and the matter be delayed."

"Hmm," Yu Lin nodded, his face showing no expression.

"Then I'll go ahead a step."

"Hey, take care."

Watching Yu Lin leave the courtyard, Xiao He finally wiped the sweat from his forehead and turned to Xiao Shi, saying:

"Madam, go fetch me some boiled water; my throat is very dry."

"Yes."

In front of the county yamen.

"Dragon Lord, please, like Emperor Qin, bite the rope and break it."

"Rest assured, I will act without hesitation."

The Dragon Lord slipped back into the Ding Pattern on Yu Lin's chest.

Yu Lin then marched toward the county yamen.

Their discussion naturally concerned the upcoming retrieval of the Cauldron, planning to stage a performance for Zhang Qing.

We can't let anyone make a pointless trip, can we?

Entering the county yamen.

"Yu Daoist, you finally arrived."

Zhang Qing, who had been waiting for a long time, quickly rose and hurried toward Yu Lin.

Behind him, on the ground, a long object wrapped in cloth lay, clearly prepared in advance.

Yu Lin clasped his hands and apologized: "Sorry, some matters delayed me."

"No problem, no problem," Zhang Qing said with a beaming smile, waving his hand:

"It's good that you, Yu Daoist, could come."

Speaking, he turned and lifted the cloth bundle on the ground, revealing a coil of rope glowing with a blue hue:

"This is the 'Azure Cloud Rope', which I obtained years ago in a cultivator's cave dwelling."

"In ancient times, Emperor Qin's rope was bitten and broken because it was a mortal object; this time..."

A hint of pride flashed in his eyes: "I don't believe it can still be bitten through!"

"Ridiculous!" the Dragon Lord's voice boomed beside Yu Lin's ear: "Even if you make it ten times stronger, I, the Dragon Lord, can still bite it apart!"

"Even the Binding Dragon Rope is useless, and now the Azure Cloud Rope? Do you really think Emperor Qin used a mortal thing?"

"After all, a man is the ruler of a nation!"

Yu Lin's face, however, lit up with surprise, praising:

"With Daoist Zhang's treasure assisting, this will surely succeed! Shall we go now?"

"Of course." Zhang Qing made a gesture of invitation:

"Please."

Soon after, the two arrived at the banks of the Si River.

Zhang Qing held a Bagua plate, his brows furrowed, pacing back and forth along the shore, occasionally counting on his fingers to calculate.

After a moment, he stopped at a spot, a spark flashing in his eyes: "This is the place!"

He turned his head toward Yu Lin, his tone solemn:

"Yu Daoist, I will trouble you to go down and investigate; if nothing is found here, there are three alternative locations."

Saying so, he took from his pocket a bead glowing with a faint blue light and handed it to Yu Lin:

"This is a Water-Avoiding Pearl; its effect is slightly weaker, but better than entering the water empty‑handed."

Yu Lin took the pearl; it was icy cold, and he vaguely sensed a breath of water spirit.

He nodded: "Alright, I'll go down now."

Reaching the bank, Yu Lin inhaled deeply and leapt forward—

Splash!

Water sprayed everywhere as his figure vanished instantly in the rapid current.

On the bank, Zhang Qing paced back and forth, occasionally glancing at the water, his eyes full of anxiety and anticipation.

Minutes ticked by, the surface remained calm.

Just as Zhang Qing was about to lose patience—

Whoosh!

Yu Lin's voice suddenly echoed from the water:

"Zhang Daoist, the Cauldron, the Cauldron! Quickly throw the rope over!"

Zhang Qing rejoiced at the words, a flash of wild joy crossing his eyes:

"Alright!"

He hurriedly threw the azure rope toward the direction of the voice, and the rope fell into Yu Lin's hand like a lithe serpent.

"Daoist Yu, please bind the rope to the Cauldron!"

"Alright."

Yu Lin sank again, vanishing from sight.

Zhang Qing clenched the azure rope with both hands.

Suddenly.

A massive force surged from the other end of the rope, snapping it taut in an instant and producing a crisp "clang"!

He was caught off guard, his whole body yanked into a stumble, nearly falling into the river!

"What a heavy Cauldron!" Zhang Qing whispered in alarm, quickly rooting his horse stance.

He inhaled deeply, his internal Qi circulating through his meridians as he muttered a mantra silently.

His whole body's muscles suddenly bulged, blue veins popped, and even his robe swelled taut.

He opened his eyes wide and shouted, "Rise!"

With that roar, the rope was pulled inch by inch out of the water.

First, Yu Lin's damp figure emerged onto the surface.

He, too, was pulling the rope.

Then,

the outline of a Bronze Cauldron gradually came into view.

Just as the Cauldron's body was about to break the surface—

Roar!

A majestic Golden Dragon thrust its head out of the Cauldron, opened its jaws, and snapped at the azure rope!

Snap!

A crisp breaking sound rang out as the azure rope snapped.

The Cauldron sank back into the river, disappearing again!

Zhang Qing was taken by surprise, the recoil thrust him back several steps, and he fell onto his backside.

"Th‑this..." he stared at the broken rope in his hand, his face full of resentment:

"How could this be possible?!"

"Was Qin Shi Huang like this from the start?!"

"Seeing it within reach... so unwilling, so unwilling."

"If the treasure cannot be obtained, then the treasure technique must be..."

He rose, walked to the riverbank, gazed at Yu Lin in the water, his resentment vanished, replaced by a false smile:

"Daoist Yu."

"Why haven't you come ashore yet?"

Seeing his demeanor, Yu Lin realized he was about to become some kind of monster.

"Daoist Zhang, you might as well speak plainly; there's no need for all this concealment."

"Daoist Yu truly is clever! Capture!"

Zhang Qing raised his hand and pointed; the water‑repelling pearl he had lent to Yu Lin instantly glowed with a dazzling blue light, transforming into a transparent water cage that firmly trapped Yu Lin inside.

Zhang Qing stood with his hands behind his back, a confident smile on his face: "Daoist Yu, this is the 'Water Prison Pearl' I specially borrowed, designed to counter the water‑control technique."

"Stop struggling; if you teach me the water‑control art, I'll release you."

Yu Lin, trapped in the water cage, showed no sign of panic, instead displaying a faint, "just as expected," composure.

He grinned, "Daoist Zhang, are you so sure you've got me?"

Zhang Qing frowned, then sneered:

"Otherwise? What else can you do?"

"Of course I have," Yu Lin nodded.

Before his words finished—

Boom!

A flash of Golden Light suddenly burst from Yu Lin's chest; the Dragon Lord's dragon shadow surged forth, its claw swiping, and the water cage was torn to pieces like paper!

Yu Lin's form flickered, leapt from the river onto the bank, and landed steadily.

He lifted his gaze at Zhang Qing, a cold glint flashing in his eyes: "Daoist Zhang, now what?"

Zhang Qing's complexion changed abruptly, stumbling back several steps: "This… this is impossible!"

"The Cauldron has already recognized you as its master? Then why still come with me to claim the Cauldron?"

"Did you do this on purpose?!"

Yu Lin gave no reply, merely flicked his hand.

The Long Sword he had taken from Jerusalem suddenly appeared in his hand.

"My sword will tell you the answer."

Seeing this, Zhang Qing let out a low growl:

"You may not be able to kill me!"