by Dragon King
“I was wondering why you haven’t come yet!” Hurriedly, Grandma walked downstairs and opened the door for her.
“Where’s… Hao Ren?” Entering the house, Xie Yujia whispered shyly.
“Him! He’s still in bed! He told me that he was going to the beach for a jog, and he came back very late. He must be tired.” Grandma walked toward the stairs. “I’ll go and wake him up.”
“Don’t! Grandma!” Xie Yujia stopped Grandma immediately. “Let him sleep.”
“Ok, ok!” Grandma looked back at Xie Yujia’s flushed face. “Yujia, you are even prettier than a couple of days ago!”
“I wasn’t planning to come here, but I still wanted to see you.” Xie Yujia tiptoed onto the second floor.
“You must come every weekend!” Grandma held onto Xie Yujia’s hand and said warmly.
When Xie Yujia began to carry her heavy beddings to the balcony, she immediately said, “You are here to keep me company, not to do these chores!”
“The sunlight is great today; I’ll help you put the beddings in the sun!” With smooth movements, she spread the bedding out on a string in the balcony. “Hao Ren is a guy, so he doesn’t know how to do these things.”
“Just like his father, he cares for me but doesn’t know how to do these things properly. Neither does his mother; she doesn’t know how to do house chores too,” Grandma complained while shaking her head.
“They are busy,” Xie Yujia helped their defense before asking, “Is there any laundry that needs to be done?”
“I can’t let you do such things for me,” Grandma said.
“Grandma, don’t take me as an outsider. I will just do it while I’m here,” Xie Yujia said with a smile.
“I washed the laundry in the washing machine and planned to let Ren hang them to dry outside when he gets up,” Grandma yielded after a moment of consideration.
“Let me do it!” Xie Yujia walked into the laundry room, took out the damp laundry, and put them into a basin.
The damp clothes were heavy; no wonder Grandma had left them in there and waited for Hao Ren to get them out.
In Xie Yujia’s hands, such chores were a piece of cake. Although she had little talent in cultivation, she was a master in housekeeping.
Watching Xie Yujia hanging clothes on her tiptoes, Grandma watched her and murmured to herself, “The girl is going to be a great wife…”
On the balcony, Xie Yujia found a couple of Hao Ren’s washed underpants at the bottom of the basin.
She picked them up and secured them on the hangers while flushing.
When she carried the empty basin back to the house, it was already past ten o’clock.
Without a word, she rolled up her sleeves and went into the kitchen to prepare lunch.
Grandma was pleasantly surprised. She smiled in satisfaction while remembering the cute face of Little Carrot when she was little and played around her.
A little more than half an hour later, the aroma of dishes floated from the kitchen. The alluring smell of the stewed pork ribs she cooked was especially mouth-watering.
“Grandma! The lunch is ready!” With some sweat droplets on her nose, Xie Yujia walked out of the kitchen.
“Ok. I’ll call Ren downstairs for lunch! The lazy boy is sleeping in so late today!” Grandma ‘scolded’ her grandson with a smile.
“Well, if there’s nothing else you need me to do, I’ll head back!” Xie Yujia waved at Grandma and walked toward the door.
“What? Why are you leaving so early?” Grandma asked anxiously.
“I have some homework to finish this afternoon. I came here in the morning to see you.” Xie Yujia walked out of the door, declining Grandma’s invitation to stay a bit longer.
Meanwhile, Hao Ren sat in his room cross-legged facing the sea.
Gradually, he returned from the state of oblivion.
Last night, he tried the lightning cultivation again and unlocked two more openings.
The progress was extremely fast with lightning cultivation.
After reaching Zhen-level, the dragon cultivators would find the cultivation progress slower than before, and the unlocking of openings would get even more difficult.
The early stages were easy, but the later stages were challenging.
However, the lightning cultivation could not only temper his body but also unlock the openings in the dragon core. It almost broke all the cultivation rules for the dragon cultivators.
Since the newly unlocked openings were not stable, he had emerged himself in cultivation until noon.
The moment he regained his senses, he heard Grandma knocking loudly on his door.
“Ren! What are you doing in there?”
“What is it, Grandma?” Hao Ren immediately walked over and opened the door.
Seeing the bafflement on his face, Grandma said helplessly, “Lunch is ready.”
“It smells so good!” Hao Ren inhaled deeply, and his eyes lit up. “Haha, Grandma, you cooked today? They are all my favorites!”
Grandma glared at him, “Go down and eat!”
She didn’t plan to tell Hao Ren about Xie Yujia’s visit. To her, this boy was dull and oblivious to his peach blossom, and she didn’t want to change her grandson.
277 Tragedy…
In the East Ocean Dragon Palace, 60 elite soldiers were guarding the main gate with weapons.
Five meters from the gate stood a respectful man in his 60s. He was wearing a bright red robe with a belt and a pair of black boots.
Behind him was a luxurious carriage full of treasures.
With his bent hunched, Premier Xia strolled from the gate in the company of a young general of the Palace.
“Premier Xia, how are you doing?” The man in the bright red robe immediately stepped up to greet him,
Premier Xia looked at this man and said, “Premier Lu, the dragon king is not in the palace. Your unexpected visit to our East Ocean Dragon Palace with treasures put me in a difficult position.”
Premier Lu’s fawning smile turned to bitterness. “It has been three days, and you still can’t find the dragon king?”
“The dragon king is very busy. Could you wait a few more days? I can’t let you in without the dragon king’s permission.” Premier Xia seemed to be in a dilemma.
Premier Lu, who had traveled from the distant West Ocean Dragon Palace, felt like crying at this answer.
At Oldman Zeng’s order, he came to East Ocean with precious gifts as the extension of an olive branch. However, East Ocean only sent out Premier Xia to deal with him, and he received a cold treatment and wasn’t allowed into the East Ocean Dragon Palace.
He waited for three days outside the gate of the dragon palace, eating and sleeping in the open.
However, it was what West Ocean deserved. Since Oldman Zeng had rudely broken into East Ocean by force, East Ocean was just returning the favor.
With their Crown Prince still imprisoned in the East Ocean Dragon Palace, they had to keep their heads low despite East Ocean’s cold attitude.
“Sorry, but I have business to tend to. Premier Lu, I’m afraid that you will have to wait here a little longer.” Premier Xia cupped his hands and slightly bowed at Premier Lu before turning around and walking toward the palace.
Premier Lu gritted his teeth.
Giving up his dignity, he hurried over and stopped Premier Xia with a hand on his arm. “Brother Xia! Brother Xia!”
“We’ll offer five more pieces of West Ocean Mystic Ice. How about that?” He begged with a bitter expression on his face.
Premier Xia shook his head and lightly removed Premier Lu’s hand from his arm. “I’ll report it to the dragon king…”
Premier Lu gritted his teeth. “Eight pieces!”
They were offering 20 pieces of West Ocean Mystic Ice! When Premier Xia’s expression softened at this offer, Premier Lu immediately said, “We are offering these treasures as a thank-you for the excellent care the East Ocean Dragon Clan has given to our Crown Prince. Ho
wever, we’re afraid that we have troubled you guys for too long and hoped that he would return to West Ocean to recover from his injuries.”
He skipped the part about Oldman Zeng’s intrusion into the East Ocean Dragon Palace as if these unpleasantries had never happened.
20 pieces of West Ocean Mystic Ices were the bottom line that Oldman authorized to him in this negotiation. Including many other treasures, West Ocean was indeed offering a fortune to get Zeng Yitao back.
“Premier Lu, please wait here while I talk about it with the other elders. If they are just thank-you gifts, I think we might be able to accept them.” Premier Xia relented.
Zhao Guang had ordered him to make West Ocean’s envoy wait for three days before seeing them.
If West Ocean got more anxious and offered more gifts, then this whole thing wouldn’t be a trap.
When West Ocean offered 20 pieces of West Ocean Mystic Ice which were important strategic resources, it showed that they were at their limits.
Premier Xia returned to the dragon palace and reported West Ocean’s offer to Zhao Guang. He finally nodded. “Release him!”
“Yes, Your Majesty!” Premier Xia immediately walked out with Zhao Guang’s order and went to the rear of the palace.
Since West Ocean and East Ocean were not officially at war, it was troublesome for East Ocean to keep the Crown Prince of West Ocean captive. It was a good deal for them to trade off the burden for many treasures including 20 pieces of West Ocean Mystic Ice.
The only thing that Premier Xia didn’t understand was why Oldman Zeng suddenly submitted to them. Just a few days ago, he had broken into the East Ocean Dragon Palace and took away 16 elders by force.
He mulled over it and couldn’t think of anyone who could have changed the situation. In the entire East Ocean Dragon Clan, there was only one person he was not certain about, and that person was Hao Ren, the Fuma.
Because Zeng Yitao had been cussing Hao Ren all day long since he was imprisoned in the palace, Premier Xia knew that it was Hao Ren who had beat Zeng Yitao and threw him into the sea.
Obviously, the 16 elders who fell into the sea with Zeng Yitao were also the victims of Hao Ren.
Besides, Hao Ren had forced Qin Shaoyang back at Zhao Yanzi’s birthday party, got the trust of Inspector Su Han, and even absorbed the last lightning power in Zhao Kuo’s Heavenly Tribulation… In Premier Xia’s eyes, the Fuma had given them lots of surprises.
Even Zhao Kuo had told him this before leaving the dragon palace, “Keep an eye on Hao Ren. I’ll count on him when I charge at the Heavenly Dragon Realm next time!”
“Indeed, the dragon king has sharp eyes.” Premier Xia smiled while he walked to the back of the palace.
Zeng Yitao had been fed simple meals each day in the East Ocean Dragon Palace, and he was grumpy when he was released from the palace. He shouted immediately when he walked out.
“East Ocean Dragon Palace, you dared to imprison me?! One day, I’ll dismantle the whole place!”
“My grandpa will come with troops and trample you!”
“Yuck! What garbage did you feed me each day?!”
While he walked out, he cussed with the hatred that had been accumulating in his mind over the past few days.
The guards of the dragon palace were angry at his arrogance. However, they had to keep their anger in check since Premier Xia was with him.
“Who’s making such noises?!”
Little Daoist Zhen, who had been collecting herbs in the nearby Hundred-flower Palace, couldn’t bear the noises and jumped out.
He had been slapped in the face by Oldman Zeng a few days ago, and the handprint on his cheek had finally receded a bit. Today, he went to the Hundred-flower Palace, getting some herbs to heal the swelling. After that, he was planning to go to the West Ocean Dragon Palace and make trouble for that old *ss.
Now, he ran into the Crown Prince of the West Ocean Dragon Palace who was just released.
“Where did you come from, dirty urchin? How dare you block my way?” Zeng Yitao was burning with rage. Since he couldn’t defeat Premier Xia, he decided to vent his anger on Little Daoist Zhen. He immediately kicked Little Daoist Zhen.
Bang!
Unprepared, Little Daoist Zhen was kicked hard on the chest. He fell back and slid half a meter on the stone path; the herbs in his hands flew into the air.
Not expecting such viciousness from Zeng Yitao, Premier Xia wasn’t quick enough to block for Little Daoist Zhen. He gasped at the sight.
In the past 100 years, Little Daoist Zhen had been making fires for Qiu Niu, but his status as Qiu Niu’s only disciple was extraordinary.
He was a demon beast who had transformed into the human form 100 years ago. He restarted the cultivation since then, and he was now only at Li-level despite his arrogant attitude.
Qiu Niu had not taught him any cultivation techniques, ordering him to focus on the fields of making elixirs and dharma treasures since this ancestor of Dragon Tribe didn’t think that anyone would dare to mess with his disciple.
While Little Daoist Zhen tried to get up, Zeng Yitao walked over and gave him two more stomps. “These are what you get for your big mouth!”
278 Who Is More Powerful?
Instantly, the Taoist robe that Little Daoist Zhen was wearing was covered with footprints.
The guards rushed over to stop Zeng Yitao while Premier Xia pulled him back to prevent him from giving Little Daoist Zhen more kicks.
Bruised all over, Little Daoist Zhen struggled and finally got up from the ground.
Zeng Yitao snorted and said, “That’s what you get for messing with me!”
In his mind, his grandpa must have come with troops, and the East Ocean Dragon Clan was forced to release him due to the pressure.
When the guards kept Zeng Yitao in control, Premier Xia hurried and helped Little Daoist Zhen who was still dizzy. “Little Daoist Zhen…”
He reached out to Little Daoist Zhen
“Humph!” Little Daoist Zhen slapped away Premier Xia’s hand angrily.
Premier Xia was anxious. After all, it wouldn’t reflect well on East Ocean when Grandmaster Qiu Niu’s disciple got hit in the palace.
Now, he only hoped that Little Daoist Zhen would turn all his anger on the West Ocean Dragon Palace instead of the East Ocean Dragon Palace.
“You’ll get 100 times what you did to me today!” Glancing at the trampled herbs on the ground, he limped to the southeast corner of the palace.
Although his cultivation strength was weak, he had lots of ways to retaliate on the West Ocean Dragon Palace. He would make them cry!
“Come at me! Come at me!” Furious, Zeng Yitao provoked even more.
Premier Xia looked at Zeng Yitao with pity in his eyes and thought, “This kid is asking for death. The dharma treasures in Little Daoist Zhen’s room are more than enough to kill him.”
Looking at Little Daoist Zhen who was walking away, Zeng Yitao thought he was afraid of him.
After seeing that no guard dared to make a move against him, he got even more overbearing. He strode toward the main gate of the dragon palace.
To his surprise, there were no troops outside of the palace, and there wasn’t even an elder from West Ocean. Only Premier Lu, alone, was standing by the carriage in a bright red robe.
Seeing Zeng Yitao walk out, Premier Lu hurried over to him. “Crown Prince!”
“Where’s my grandpa?” Zeng Yitao asked in confusion.
“Old Dragon King, he…” Premier Lu was at a loss for words.
When Oldman Zeng returned to the West Ocean Dragon Palace a few days ago with half of a dragon horn, ragged clothes, and an ash-colored face, Premier Lu almost thought he was an imposter.
“I got it! East Ocean has surrendered, and Grandpa sent you to pick me up!” Zeng Yitao said immediately.
Speechless, Premier Lu bowed slightly. “Please get into the carriage, Crown Prince.”
After getting into the carriage, Zeng Yitao looked back
at Premier Xia. “I’ll never forget the whole incident! And I’ll never forget Hao Ren!”
Premier Xia shook his head slightly and turned to Premier Lu. “And…”
“Oh, yes!” Premier Lu beckoned, and a luxurious four-wheeled carriage moved to the main gate of the East Ocean Dragon Palace.
In it were shining treasures they had promised.
“These…” Zeng Yitao couldn’t believe his eyes, wondering why they had to give East Ocean gifts when they had forced East Ocean to release him.
More astonishingly, Premier Lu took out 20 pieces of high-quality West Ocean Mystic Ice from his Xumi Ring and handed them to Premier Xia carefully.
Then, Premier Lu sighed with relief, got onto the front seat of the carriage, and drove it out of the territory of the East Ocean Dragon Clan.
“Premier Lu, why did we give them gifts! They imprisoned me for five days!” In the carriage, Zeng Yitao shouted.
While driving the carriage, Premier Lu tried to placate him, “Crown Prince, things have changed. The Grand Dragon King has ordered us to give ways to the people from East Ocean when we meet them.”
“What?!” Zeng Yitao didn’t understand.
“Besides,” Premier Lu said in a placating tone, “We have finished the drop-out procedure in the school on land. Grand Dragon King has arranged six masters to teach you in the dragon palace.”
“I can’t continue my study in East Ocean City?” Zeng Yitao yelled, “We’ll just forgive Hao Ren and Zhao Yanzi? Where’s my grandpa? What’s he thinking?”
“Grand Dragon King has declared a seclusion cultivation period of 200 years. You can’t see him.”
“Didn’t he tell me to provoke East Ocean so that we could use that as an excuse and take all the territory of East Ocean? How come he is suddenly in seclusion cultivation?”
“Well…” Premier Lu didn’t know how to answer him. He whipped the demon horses that were pulling the carriage to make them run faster.
The two horses pulling the carriage were demon horses that could move fast in the ocean. At this speed, they would return to the territory of the West Ocean Dragon Palace in one day and one night.
