It was a bright and beautiful day. At the hot springs on the back of Mount Donghua, Leng Jing was focused on sharpening his claws. Leng Qingqing sat on the bank eating steamed buns, with the White Marten nearby, scrounging for scraps. It seemed like another idle day—leisurely and carefree.
"Oh, son, just a little sharpening is enough. Look at your father; I never sharpen my claws," Leng Qingqing said with a yawn.
Leng Jing gave him a disdainful look. He then manipulated a small nimbus cloud to produce a patch of rain—only about the size of his head—creating a makeshift shower. Ever the stickler for cleanliness, Leng Jing began to wash himself under his self-produced spray.
Only when every single dragon scale on his body was shimmering brilliantly did Leng Jing swim up from the spring. He transformed back into his human form and dressed, switching places with Leng Qingqing. While Leng Jing had a picnic on the shore, Leng Qingqing transformed into a massive white snake and entered the spring to bathe.
Thus, the concern that the two of them might burst the hot spring by crowding it was unfounded; the Leng father and son were quite adept at logistical arrangements.
The great white snake squinted his eyes, soaking comfortably in the spring. Occasionally, he slapped the surface of the water with his tail and called out, "Son, give me a shower!"
Leaning against a rock and eating fruit, Leng Jing snapped his fingers. The rain cloud drifted over the white snake’s head and began to drizzle. These two certainly knew how to enjoy themselves.
By dusk, having eaten their fill and washed themselves clean, the two perked up. They were planning to head down the mountain to the town to buy supplies. There was a temple fair tonight, and the streets would be lively; they intended to have a good time, stay at an inn, and return the next day.
Just as the trio was about to depart, the Black Wolf, having finished his dinner, arrived late. He happened to run into them and couldn't help but grab Leng Jing’s sleeve. "Big brother, want to soak in the spring together?"
"We’re done. We’re leaving. Don't block the way." Leng Jing pushed him aside and brushed off his sleeve as he walked away. This left the Black Wolf feeling quite dejected, and he could only howl twice at the full moon in protest.
Since they kept a small donkey at the cottage, the Leng father and son drove a donkey cart down the mountain. Along the way, Leng Qingqing happily hummed a little tune he had composed himself. The White Marten joined in with an off-key accompaniment. In this relaxed and pleasant atmosphere, they arrived at the city gates.
At that moment, Leng Jing suddenly felt something was off. Leng Qingqing felt it too. They looked at each other, confirming that neither showed signs of reverting to their true forms, and continued on their way. Finally, a sigh drifted from the cart. "Is this old servant’s presence really that faint?"
"Naturally." Leng Jing didn't even look at the White Marten, flicking the whip to drive the cart. Only after a long while did he turn his head, and he was instantly taken aback.
Leng Qingqing’s mouth had long since fallen open, rendered speechless.
A beauty dressed in white silk and a veil sat on the donkey cart with a sorrowful expression. With exquisite features and skin as fair as snow, this person was a rare masterpiece of the world. The little snake couldn't help but ask, "Who are you?"
The white-clad beauty said with a bitter face, "Young Master, have you forgotten? You’re the one who gave me the name White Marten." The voice was exactly the same as the one they were used to hearing from the marten.
"I thought you were an old man..." Leng Qingqing said, his mouth twitching.
"I thought so too..." Leng Jing stared at the white-clad beauty for a good while before commanding, "Change back."
"Young Master! I beg of you... it wasn't easy for this old servant to dress up as..." The beauty’s face turned pale as they pleaded.
"Change back. You’re an eyesore." Leng Jing’s gaze turned cold. The beauty shuddered, feeling a sudden loss of control in their lower abdomen—a result of long-term psychological torment from Leng Jing. With tears in their eyes, the beauty reverted into the small beast form of the White Marten and scurried off the cart to find a place to relieve itself.
"Jing-er, you’re so overbearing..." Leng Qingqing said, watching the dejected silhouette of the White Marten.
Leng Jing said nothing and continued driving. The streets were indeed incredibly lively, brightly lit and crowded with people, overflowing with a festive atmosphere. Leng Jing took Leng Qingqing to eat snacks, buy lanterns, and watch acrobatics... Leng Qingqing was so happy his smile never left his face. Even the depressed White Marten threw its troubles to the wind upon seeing the snacks Leng Jing bought, joining Leng Qingqing in a gluttonous feast.
While they were happily slurping down hot and sour rice noodles, a somewhat familiar figure passed before them. Leng Jing’s heart stirred. He told Leng Qingqing and the White Marten to wait for him while he went to investigate. Ahead, a man in green robes was holding a child’s hand, buying a toy drum.
Leng Jing couldn't help but step forward. "Are you... Han Xinglu? The leader of the Demonic Cult from years ago, Han Xinglu?"
The man let out a gasp of surprise and turned around. Half of his face was covered in burn scars, with only the left side remaining intact. He said with a trembling voice, "You are Leng Jing! You are the Leng Jing who defeated me back then! Why are you here?"
At that moment, the child tugged on the man’s hem and called out, "Father, who is this person?"
The man patted the child’s head. "An old acquaintance of your father’s. Leng Jing, this is my son, Xiao Qing. If you seek revenge, please spare him. He is innocent."
Leng Jing shook his head. "I am not here for revenge. I simply saw an old acquaintance and came to say hello. It seems you have suffered much over these years."
The man sighed. "It is a long story. Leng Jing, since we have met again, do you have time to share a drink with me?"
"No need. I have important matters to attend to." Leng Jing looked at him. The battle from when he first entered the mortal realm was still vivid in his mind, but in the blink of an eye, things had changed. Unknowingly, ten years had passed. He himself was still a young dragon, but for a human, it was a lifetime of vicissitudes, as if from another world.
"Since you are busy, I shall not trouble you. Alas, the changes in life are truly unpredictable. I know not when we shall meet again after today’s parting. Farewell." Han Xinglu cupped his hands and disappeared into the vast crowd with his son.
Leng Jing was left feeling sentimental. His lifespan was hundreds of times that of a human; he wondered what great upheavals he would witness in the future. Yet, compared to the eternal heaven and earth, was he himself not also a mere drop in the ocean? What awaited him in the vastness of fate? How much could he truly hold in his own two hands? Should he start cultivating properly now, just in case?
"Jing-er, come have some hot and sour noodles! It’s delicious!" Leng Qingqing waved and shouted from not far away, the White Marten jumping up and down on his shoulder. Leng Jing’s sudden profound mood instantly collapsed. *Why think so much? It’s not like I’m going to mend the heavens. As long as I eat and drink well, it’s fine. Let the world do what it will.*
If the adult Leng Jing were to look back on these words, he would surely feel a bit frustrated. How did he manage to predict his own future so accurately?
Just as Leng Jing was about to go eat his noodles, a "shooting star" streaked across the sky and landed right in the hot spring on Mount Donghua, severely injuring the Black Wolf. This shooting star would also become one of the key objects driving the fate of the Leng father and son.
***
"Aaaaah! That star fell right over there!" The little snake cried out in an uncharacteristic panic. What if that star turned into a giant monster? The villages, the city, and Mount Donghua would all be doomed!
Leng Qingqing, chewing on a candied hawthorn, said blankly, "What’s wrong? It’s just a shooting star. Oh, that’s right, Jing-er hasn't seen a meteor shower since he was little! Shall Daddy take you to see it?" He reached out to pat Leng Jing’s head.
"I’m going to see that meteor! You two wait here!" Leng Jing grabbed the White Marten and threatened, "Watch my father, or else..."
"I know, I know... Young Master, don't worry..." the White Marten said, exhausted.
"Good. I’ll be right back." With a powerful surge of energy, Leng Jing transformed into a white dragon. He did this right in the middle of the busy market; though he took to the sky quickly, the commotion he caused was predictable.
In moments, the white dragon soared over the hot spring. He saw that the spring had been smashed into a giant crater. The poor Black Wolf lay slumped to one side, and in the center of the crater sat a shimmering, round, white boulder. The little snake roared at the boulder to test its reaction. Seeing that the stone had not yet begun to change, he immediately snatched up the dying Black Wolf and flew away.
Landing instantly at the Donghua Cottage, the white dragon roared toward the building, "Ling Suyan, come out!"
Ling Suyan, who was organizing medicinal formulas, felt his ears ring from the vibration. He hurriedly threw on a coat and ran out. Seeing Leng Jing in his dragon form, he stammered, "Leng Jing, you... you... wait a moment!" After saying that, he turned to run back inside.
Leng Jing hooked Ling Suyan’s collar with a single claw. "Where are you going? Forget your money! Come with me, quickly!"
"I was going to find the book to help you change back! Your spiritual power must be out of control!" Ling Suyan said with concern.
The white dragon ground his teeth. Without another word, he snatched Ling Suyan up and took to the sky once more.
Meanwhile, in the town where the chaos had started, the commoners had just managed to calm down and were discussing the event when a flash of white light appeared. That majestic white dragon had returned. Now the people realized it wasn't an illusion; some screamed in terror, while others knelt and kowtowed to the dragon.
The white dragon dropped the dizzy Ling Suyan and the Black Wolf beside Leng Qingqing. With a voice like rolling thunder, he declared, "Without my permission, no one is allowed to leave the town tonight! Whoever dares to take a single step out, I will tear them to shreds!"
After saying this, he circled three times in mid-air to ensure all the citizens had seen him before departing again to stop the mysterious giant stone that was about to turn into a monster.
***
The stone that fell from the sky was still glowing. Leng Jing (in dragon form) crawled cautiously toward it, approaching bit by bit. Suddenly, a crack appeared on the stone, and the head of a strange creature poked out. It looked somewhat like a dragon, but it had only a single horn in the middle of its forehead. It looked neither like a dragon nor a jiao-dragon.
*A monster...* Leng Jing tightened his claws and lay motionless on the ground, observing the other’s movements.
At that moment, a voice came from inside the round stone. "Xuyu, what’s the situation outside?"
The head of the strange creature replied, "Nothing much, except... it seems we knocked a white dragon unconscious. He’s lying on the ground, not moving!"
"Whoa! He couldn't have been crushed to death, could he? Go out and check!" the voice inside said.
Then, the crack in the stone gradually widened, and two strange creatures emerged. To be precise, they were two Qilin.
Clearly, the little snake had rarely seen a Qilin. He remained highly alert, waiting for the two Qilin to approach. If they showed any abnormal changes, he would use his sharp claws to tear them apart. He closed his eyes, feigning death to deceive them.
The Qilin walked up to Leng Jing. Seeing the white dragon motionless with eyes tightly shut, the Qilin named Xuyu boldly raised a front hoof and nudged the dragon’s body. The other, a cyan Qilin, walked to the dragon’s head and nudged the horns with its hoof, saying, "Xuyu, look, this is a little dragon. His horns haven't even fully grown yet."
"It’s a hatchling. How rare. Huanyu, why don't we adopt him? He can be a pet to pull the Celestial Carriage later!" Xuyu chirped excitedly.
Huanyu thought about it and agreed. He said, "I’ll go see if there’s any food for hatchlings left in the Floating Pavilion. You check where he’s injured. We’ll heal him first, then adopt him."
A moment later, Huanyu transformed into a beautiful, ethereal youth, appearing about fourteen or fifteen years old, dressed in magnificent, bright clothing. He held a large basin of mushy food that looked like something fed to infants. He brought it to Leng Jing’s face, scooped up a large spoonful, and prepared to stuff it into Leng Jing’s mouth.
At that exact moment, Leng Jing’s eyes snapped open. He opened his great maw and bit down on half of Huanyu’s body, while his claws simultaneously pinned Xuyu to the ground. He snarled fiercely, "What kind of monsters are you two? State your names at once!"
| Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 寒星露 | Han Xinglu | Former leader of the Demonic Cult. |
| 小青 | Xiao Qing | Han Xinglu's son. |
| 虚玉 | Xuyu | A Qilin/Kirin character. |
| 幻玉 | Huanyu | A Qilin/Kirin character. |
| 麒麟 | Qilin | A mythical hooved chimerical creature (often translated as Kirin). |
| 浮空阁 | Floating Pavilion | The vessel or structure the Qilin arrived in. |
| 天车 | Celestial Carriage | A vehicle pulled by mythical beasts in the heavens. |
Enjoying the story? Rate this novel:
The Ugly Little Snake: My Dragon Son | Chapter 22 | The Fallen Star | Novela.app | Novela.app
