Qu Buzhi was an old fox. He racked his brains and whispered, "The serpent demon is not strong, so he dares not say much... but the North Brocade River King is a demon highly regarded by the Dragon Son, with authority over the three streams. A few years ago, even cultivators of the Baiye Capital Immortal Dao personally paid him a visit..."
The old man’s hidden meaning was, Your family has a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator, his side also has a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator. Since when has the Dragon Clan ever feared anyone?
He spoke as if it were about favor and prestige, but in truth it was a cautious reminder not to let the Li Family’s ways offend such a being. His roundabout phrasing made Li Minggong chuckle inwardly.
Li Chenghui answered with a smile, "Honored guests, you may set your minds at ease."
As he spoke, heavenly light gathered, and several figures descended from the south and landed in the mountains. They were led by a man clad in Radiant Light armor, gripping a halberd as his golden eyes shone. He was accompanied by a stern-looking black-clad man with a sword at his waist.
Li Chenghui and the others rose at once to welcome them, "We greet the family head!"
Li Zhouwei helped him up, entered the newly repaired hall, and without sitting, asked, "How have matters here progressed?"
Li Chenghui recounted everything in detail. All had gone smoothly, except for the lingering issue of the serpent demon, which he deliberately asked Qu Buzhi to repeat. The old man dared not be careless and explained it clearly from start to finish.
Li Zhouwei frowned.
The reason was simple. Li Zhouwei had a good personal connection with Dingjiao, but the gap between their two sides was like heaven and earth. Such ties could not be cashed in lightly. Once used, it would mean settling all accounts with the Dragon Prince. Even a Purple Mansion Realm ancient spirit artifact had not been enough to sway him on such matters.
Dingjiao is the White Dragon Prince, but the faction behind this North Brocade River King may not be aligned with the White Dragon. It might be manageable if it were any other lineage, but if he belongs to the Black Dragon side... then we would be provoking a heap of trouble for no reason at all!
Li Zhouwei had long heard that the Dragon Clan was not a united front. He had personally seen how Dingjiao had made things difficult for Miao Ye at the Miao Family’s place in the Southern Sea. In the end, it always came down to the struggle between White Dragon and Black Dragon factions.
Although the Dragon Clan usually would not intervene, if the North Brocade River King chose to make things difficult by showing up now and then for a bite of blood food, it would be enough to disgust us with no place to voice our grievances...
Li Zhouwei pondered for a moment, then asked, "What exactly is the true form of this North Brocade River King?"
"This..." Qu Buzhi froze, unable to speak for a long while, before finally struggling to say, "I do not know for certain. I have only heard rumors... They say this North Brocade River King cultivates the Converging Water Dao, wielding a profound radiance of great power. Wherever he passes, not only does he plunge people into maddening illusions, he can also turn them into blood water."
Li Zhouwei grew thoughtful as understanding dawned in his heart. At that moment, his ear grew warm and a calm, ethereal voice drifted in, as though carried from the great void itself, "Minghuang, go at once to meet this serpent demon. Take men with you."
Recognizing it as Li Ximing’s voice, Li Zhouwei put away his weapon and immediately gave the order, "I will go meet this serpent demon."
He acted decisively. He immediately called upon Li Chenghui, Li Minggong, and a few others, leaving only An Siwei to guard the household. Riding a stream of light into the sky, he thought to himself, This serpent demon is no real figure of note. To trouble a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator... it must be related to the matter of Hidden Cloud Cave.
Having understood, he quickened his pace, and reached the White River Stream in less than seven minutes.
The waters of the White River Stream were clear with a faint azure hue. It was the purest and longest of the three streams. It even had a small attached lake, unlike the turbid White Ye Stream to the east.
Of course, this lake could not compare with Moongaze Lake. It spanned only twenty-five kilometers in circumference, but looked like a small gem of blue-green set among the rolling hills from afar. Beyond it, another twenty-five kilometers onward, a verdant mountain with striking peaks rose into view.
This mountain was far taller than the main mountain of Floating Cloud Cave and should have been the finest spirit mountain within its territory. But Fu Dou was inferior in background, inferior in strength, and had no qualifications to compete in means, so naturally it had been seized by the serpent demon.
Li Zhouwei hovered before the mountain, sending Qu Buzhi ahead to announce their arrival.
Li Chenghui stepped forward and used mana to transmit his voice, "Family head, I saw someone waiting at the foot of the mountain. I fear others have already come to meet this serpent demon."
"Without a doubt, it must be Hidden Cloud Cave," replied Li Zhouwei. His eyes narrowed slightly, dimming the glow around him.
After waiting a while, Qu Buzhi returned riding the wind, his face sooty and disheveled. He bowed as he reported, "Reporting to the family head, the demonic creature said he was entertaining guests and is not fit to be seen."
Seeing his wretched state, it was clear those demons had not been as polite as his words claimed.
Li Zhouwei nodded. "This serpent demon has long devoured men. Naturally, there is nothing left for us to discuss. He shall be slain today, lest future troubles arise."
He soared straight into the mountain on a stream of light, where lush growth surrounded him. Drawing his halberd, he descended with a cold expression, and sure enough, two demon soldiers stood at the cave entrance.
One was holding a blade and the other a spear. Seeing another arrival, their impatience flared, and the leopard-headed demon barked, "Where do you nobodies keep coming from?! I said my master does not receive visitors. Can’t you understand demon speech?"
Li Zhouwei stood tall, with halberd in hand and armor blazing with golden radiance, and said coldly, "Open those dog[1] eyes wide before you speak again."
" Yo! " The leopard-headed demon tossed his spear to the ground, rolled up his sleeves, and strode forward. When his gaze met Li Zhouwei’s golden eyes, he froze, then sniffed the air.
He hesitated. "So it turns out a great elder[2] has come... May I know which mountain or ridge you hail from, elder? This little leopard failed to recognize your exalted presence..."
Li Zhouwei had long seen how White Banyan dealt with such creatures. He glared. "Stupid slave, you fail to recognize a noble lineage? Tell your master to crawl out here and pay me homage."
The two demons were terrified out of their wits. After exchanging glances, one hurried into the cave. Barely twenty seconds later, a man emerged, surrounded by a crowd of lesser demons. Dressed in a gaudy python-embroidered robe, he was unspeakably ugly. He craned his neck out of the cave mouth and squinted.
Li Zhouwei met his eyes with a cold, unyielding gaze.
The serpent demon’s heart pounded with unease. It hurried down the mountain, craning its neck to look. But no matter how it looked, the figure before it was clearly the direct lineage of a great demonic beast, with bloodline beyond compare.
After weighing its words, it cautiously said, "I do not know which great lord of the mountains you may be? This little one is merely a steward under the North Brocade River King’s manor, scraping a living here... If you have commands to give, it would be best to request an audience with the North Brocade River King himself..."
Li Zhouwei did not move in the slightest. Planting his halberd firmly into the ground, his expression remained ice-cold as he said, "What kind of thing are you? Which Water Mansion does your master belong to?"
Demons happened to respond best to exactly this kind of bearing. The serpent demon’s doubts diminished by more than half. Forcing a grin, he hurried closer to the formation’s edge.
After hesitating for a while, he still did not dare step out, but flicked his tongue and answered, "This humble and wretched place somehow drew the exalted presence of a noble lineage. This little serpent is truly honored... My king[3] is not of the direct lineage of the Water Mansions, but was granted authority by the Dragon Son to temporarily oversee the territory of the three streams..."
"Not of the Water Mansion’s direct lineage?" Li Zhouwei laughed coldly, contempt curling on his face as he asked, "If that is the case, then how dare he not come out to greet me when I have arrived in his domain? Which lineage does he belong to?"
The serpent demon finally showed a trace of fear and wailed, "My lord... I am but a lowly steward in the manor, how could I possibly know such things? Please allow me to introduce you to the king..."
Li Zhouwei bared his teeth in a chilling smile and said icily, "Then why are you not quickly inviting me inside?"
" Yo! [4]" The serpent demon immediately leaped up from the ground, casting aside its gaudy robe. It darted out of the great formation, dropped to its knees, and put on its most obsequious expression. "Greetings, great lord!"
1. The author wrote this even though the demon is a leopard-headed demon. xD ☜
2. In the raw, the author wrote grandpa instead of great elder. ☜
3. Referring to the North Brocade River King. ☜
4. I’m not sure why the demonic creatures make this kind of sound when startled/surprised but it’s funny. xD ☜