Yun Ye’s gaze could not penetrate the misty waves above Dongting Lake. Since ancient times, the Yunmeng Marsh had been a place of vast, unknowable waters. Eight hundred li of rolling spring waters cut off the dust and clamor of the mundane world, and also blocked Yun Ye’s dream of planting tea trees on Junshan.
Liu Fang flapped the hem of his long robe, driving away the mosquitoes swarming around him. This lagoon on Junshan had become a breeding ground for mosquitoes and flies. He had long wanted to fill it in, but there were two very large alligators in the lagoon. These past days, they had already killed many water bandits. Everyone said to avoid walking around this small lake, so why didn’t they listen? Why did they insist on testing whether they themselves were destined heroes, wanting to slay a dragon to prove that they were truly chosen by heaven?
Liu Bang slew the White Snake and composed the Song of the Great Wind—what heroic grandeur! Why did these people, after hearing just one idle rumor, rush one after another to feed the dragons? The white-robed man beside him resembled Yun Ye, not in appearance, but because both gave Liu Fang a feeling that they were not quite human. Yun Ye was better—no matter what he did, there was a pattern one could follow. But this fellow called Han Zhe gave Liu Fang a very uneasy feeling.
His phoenix eyes were extremely distinctive—narrow eyelids slightly closed, corners of his mouth naturally curled upward, as if mocking everything in the world, whether living or dead.
Seeing Liu Fang observing his left hand, Han Zhe raised it and said with a smile to Liu Fang: “These two fingers were ruined by a very formidable person. Under what seemed like certain victory, the situation suddenly changed. The tide turned sharply, and not only did I lose two fingers, but if I had hesitated for even a moment longer then, I would have lost my life as well. Now I dare not underestimate anyone, including you, Great Master.”
“You flatter me too much, Young Master. This old man is merely a crude rustic from the mountains. Originally living a life with no assurance of tomorrow, relying on knowing a few characters, I was elevated by my brothers. I sit trembling in fear in the position of military advisor, unable to eat or sleep peacefully. How could I have the virtue or ability to compare with a distinguished gentleman and worthy like you? This old man only wishes for two meals each day and a room to shelter in at night—that would be enough.”
Liu Fang showed great courtesy toward this young man. Even now, he could still clearly recall how, forty days ago, the Water Dragon King had been sent alive into the dragon’s mouth to become its food.
“The Great King’s influence spreads across Yunmeng like a mighty dragon transforming. Now you lack only one obstruction. Once you dissolve this obstruction, the Great King will certainly be able to act as he pleases, with countless transformations, and the world will naturally be yours to traverse freely. Though I am dull and slow, I can still serve the Great King for a few years. Even through mountains of blades and seas of fire, I will not retreat.”
“Master Han, you are also a talented person who stands out among the water bandits. You need not flatter me with such words. Now the fortunes of the Li Tang dynasty are at their peak, having reached the zenith. Not to mention that the capital Chang’an is filled with strategists like rain and fierce generals like clouds—even a single young marquis has trapped us firmly in this lake, unable to move. What talk is there of traversing the world?”
“As long as I can use the eight hundred li of waters of Yunmeng Marsh to send Yun Ye into the Nine Nether Hells, I will have fulfilled my wish. What does it matter if I give you the position of supreme leader of the Twelve Linked Strongholds?”
Han Zhe allowed mosquitoes and flies to buzz around him, showing no concern. But very strangely, when those mosquitoes and flies flew near him, they would advance no further, as if there were an invisible curtain around him.
Another burly man in full heavy armor jumped out, wielding a huge Mo sword in his hands. He casually twisted off a leg from an emaciated mountain goat, and the creature was thrown into the lagoon with its pitiful bleating mixed with blood spatters. The burly man tossed the torn-off goat leg to his companions behind him, telling them to roast it on the spot. After killing the dragon, he would eat.
“This is the famous fierce Overlord Chu Niu of the Twelve Linked Strongholds. It’s said he was formerly a subordinate general of the Greenwood King Xiong Kuohai. After Xiong Kuohai died, he brought his troops to Dongting Lake. He’s regarded as Dongting Lake’s number one fierce general, capable of tearing apart tigers and leopards barehanded. Please show mercy to such a person, Young Master, so that in the future you’ll have someone to command.”
Han Zhe twitched the corner of his mouth and said: “What use is such a stupid donkey? Yesterday at the banquet, he dared to speak disrespectfully. In my eyes, one who slaughters cattle and sheep is worth not a penny. What my family lacks are wise and intelligent superiors like Master Han. As for a brute like Chu Niu, he amounts to nothing.”
“Young Master speaks wrongly. The sea becomes the sea by not refusing the streams that flow into it. No matter how many heroic strongmen you have, Young Master, one more is always good. This old man has heard that those who would accomplish great deeds must have broad hearts. Yesterday Chu Niu merely showed you slight disrespect—how can you place him in mortal danger because of this? This is not the heart of one who leads others.”
For the first time, Han Zhe began to look at Liu Fang properly. Seeing him bow respectfully, pleading for Chu Niu’s life, with mosquitoes crawling all over his hands and face without avoiding them, wholeheartedly considering things for him, Han Zhe couldn’t help but find it amusing. He helped Liu Fang up and took out a pearl from his bosom, handing it to Liu Fang, saying: “I am not an ordinary person, and my pursuits do not lie in worldly power. You don’t understand—perhaps the only person in this world who can understand us is Yun Ye. We are both the same, having entered the mortal world from outside it. What we pursue is eternity. Yun Ye merely fears becoming stone and repeatedly evades, abandoning the bright and proper path, clinging to the little bit of passion and prosperity of the mortal world. How laughable!”
“This time I must see him utterly defeated in reputation, returning to the correct path. Though he and I are not of the same school—he comes from the White Jade Capital, while I come from another place—I believe our goals are the same. Talent is rare; he must return.”
“I know you mean well, but our dignity cannot tolerate insult. There is only one way to wash away such insult, and that is to wash it with blood. You wear this pearl and observe from the side—say no more!”
Liu Fang bowed and accepted the pearl. Sure enough, in an instant the mosquitoes distanced themselves from him—not a single one remained. Yet there were still no mosquitoes around Han Zhe. It seemed this fellow had more than one such pearl.
Grateful to tears, Liu Fang stood at Han Zhe’s side, bowing slightly to show respect for his status and identity. The purpose of doing this was to make Han Zhe feel the beauty of power. It hadn’t worked on Yun Ye before; he wondered if it would work on Han Zhe. With this mindset, Liu Fang’s etiquette was performed impeccably.
Han Zhe looked at Liu Fang appreciatively and said: “Very well. After this incident ends, you shall be my steward. My last steward was shot dead by a young boy, but he was a direct disciple of the White Jade Capital, so it’s not appropriate to make an issue of it. When you become my steward, remember to stay far away from those nobles. They need no reason to kill you.”
Liu Fang loudly assented, and thereafter spoke not another word, truly resembling a very proper old steward.
The lake surface was broken by the mountain goat. The shrill sound echoed across the lake, and blood stained a large area of the water red. Chu Niu took a deep breath and lowered his face guard. Through the iron bars of the face guard, his eyes stared unblinkingly at the lake surface.
A section of dead wood drifted over. Chu Niu placed his Mo sword in an easily accessible position. As long as that dragon touched the goat, the Mo sword would strike like thunder. Perhaps smelling the blood, that piece of wood drifted faster and faster. Sure enough, it came straight toward the goat. The enormous mouth opened, and Chu Niu exhaled forcefully and roared. The Mo sword slashed across like lightning. In an instant, the violent Mo sword shattered all of the dragon’s front teeth and embedded itself deeply in the corner of the dragon’s mouth. The dragon thrashed in pain. Chu Niu unhurriedly released the Mo sword and drew the horizontal sword from his waist. When the dragon’s belly faced the sky, he stabbed one slash into the dragon’s belly, and following the dragon’s rolling force, cut around in a circle. This slash was deep and vicious—the dragon was nearly severed. Its internal organs spilled messily into the water. The dragon’s movements suddenly became slow. With a Mo sword embedded in its mouth, it weakly splashed once or twice in the shallow water.
Chu Niu was very careful. Many years of battlefield experience had taught him that caution was the only reliable way to preserve one’s life. So he stood in the shallow water area, motionless, waiting for the dragon to expire. At the same time, the corner of his eye never gave up monitoring the water surface. There were two dragons in the lake—who knew if the other one was nearby, preparing to ambush him.
His thick arms were wrapped with iron chains, and a meteor hammer the size of a human head bore sharp iron spikes. It was because of these weapons that he dared to jump out and make a name for himself after the dragons had devoured so many people. Why should that catamite-like young master come and take the position of supreme leader as soon as he arrived? I’ve worked hard for this position for so long. If you hadn’t killed the Water Dragon King, I would have killed him myself. You want to use the dragons to kill me? I’m not a fool like the Water Dragon King.
There were ripples in the water again. The meteor hammer wrapped around Chu Niu’s arm instantly flew out, striking hard with a whistling sound against the dragon’s head that had just emerged. The hammer head with countless barbed iron spikes embedded firmly into the dragon’s skull. Seeing that his strike hit true, Chu Niu was overjoyed. With a great shout, he wrapped the iron chain around himself and reversed his body position, wanting to drag the dragon onto the shore. Just as he turned around, he discovered his companions frantically shouting and pointing behind him.
He could already feel the icy lake water soaking his heavy armor. It wasn’t possible—even a real dragon couldn’t survive such a heavy blow. But after all those years of military training, he immediately dropped the iron chain in his hands, twisted his body and struck heavily behind him with a punch, using almost all his strength.
The iron hooks on his iron gauntlet scraped across the dragon’s gaping maw, knocking out two teeth. The dragon forcefully closed its mouth. Chu Niu could hear the sound of bones breaking in his arm. In shock and rage, he struck heavily with his left fist at the dragon’s eye. The dragon’s eye immediately became a mass of bloody gore, yet it refused to open its mouth. Instead, it twisted its body and spun wildly. Under this tremendous force, the heavy armor shattered piece by piece. Chu Niu’s eyes nearly burst from their sockets. Enduring the pain, he struggled fiercely. Suddenly his body felt light—the dragon fell into the water. Chu Niu grabbed with one hand the horizontal sword he had left in the body of the dead dragon, continuously stabbing at this dragon that had bitten him.
The calm lake surface raised waves. Having lost an arm, Chu Niu finally killed that dragon. With bloodshot eyes, he raised his horizontal sword and pointed it toward Han Zhe, who stood on the shore watching the spectacle. A furious roar burst from his blood-stained mouth. Standing in the shallow water, he was like a demon god incarnate.