Leng Qingqing huffed and puffed as he distributed the medicinal pills to every household, collecting supplements for his son from each one in return until he had a massive bundle. Shouldering the heavy load, he huffed and puffed his way back to the small lakeside cottage.
To his surprise, upon entering, he saw Leng Jing—who usually couldn't be bothered to even sweep the floor—actually washing clothes. Leng Qingqing’s eyes welled with tears of emotion; his son was truly so filial.
Leng Qingqing rushed over and snatched the washboard from his son’s hands. "Xiao Jing, go lie down on the bed. Daddy will wash them."
Leng Jing promptly dumped the work on him, saying, "I’ll be wearing those clothes when I leave the valley tomorrow. Wash them thoroughly."
"Xiao Jing, the world outside is actually very chaotic. It’s better to stay in the valley," Leng Qingqing urged.
"No." Leng Jing was dead set on leaving this backwater hole.
Seeing his son’s resolve, Leng Qingqing could only scrub the clothes with all his might, tears fluttering from his eyes. "Xiao Jing, will you come back to see Daddy?" he asked tentatively.
Leng Jing looked at him, his icy expression seemingly softening with a flicker of warmth. He tilted Leng Qingqing’s chin up and said, "Once I’ve made a name for myself, I’ll come back for you."
The simple-minded Leng Qingqing didn't realize how ambiguous the gesture was. He shook his head piteously. "I don't want that!"
"Huh?" Leng Jing hadn't expected a rejection.
Leng Qingqing grabbed his arm and said earnestly, "I want to go with you! I’ll go wherever you go! I won't be separated from my son!"
A smile played on Leng Jing’s lips. "Fine." He suddenly leaned down and pressed a kiss against Leng Qingqing’s snowy-white neck.
Leng Qingqing stood dazed for a long time, unable to make sense of it, while Leng Jing returned to the bed to sleep.
Another relatively peaceful day passed.
***
The next day, the Leng father and son set out fully prepared.
Leng Qingqing had packed food, clothing, and supplies into three large trunks. Before leaving, he bid farewell to every monster neighbor in the valley. Then, driving an ox cart with his son in tow, they departed.
Because of the constant drizzling rain, Leng Qingqing had rigged a canopy over the ox cart. The father and son sat inside as they headed toward the valley entrance, leisurely and content.
Despite the gloomy and oppressive sky, Leng Qingqing was in high spirits, humming a self-composed tune as he drove the cart.
They traveled from morning until dusk, but when they reached the valley entrance, they were stunned by the sight. At the once-lush entrance, a massive crowd of monsters stood in a long queue. Some were chatting, some were dozing, and others were eating... they were doing just about everything.
Leng Qingqing went to the end of the line and asked an old mountain goat what was happening.
The old goat stroked his beard and said, "The Heavenly Realm sent gatekeepers to guard the valley entrance. They claim there is a lingering miasma of demonic energy within, so they’ve sealed the entire valley. No one is allowed in or out. Sigh, we all want to leave, so we have no choice but to wait here for clearance."
Beside them, Leng Jing let out a cold snort. "The strange occurrences in this valley were all caused by that Cloud-Painting Immortal sent by the Heavenly Realm. How have they turned around and blamed the common folk?"
The old goat sighed. "Alas, it is the will of those above. Even if it’s black, if they say it’s white, then it’s white. We are but ordinary minor demons; what can we do?"
Leng Qingqing sighed along with him and said to Leng Jing, "Son, it looks like we can't get out." As he spoke, he prepared to strike up a longer chat with the old goat.
Leng Jing frowned. "Dad, I tore off a scale yesterday. It’s hurting quite badly now."
Hearing this, Leng Qingqing immediately grew anxious. Supporting Leng Jing by the arm, he helped him back into the ox cart and asked with concern, "Xiao Jing! Where does it hurt? Shall Daddy apply some medicine for you?"
Leng Jing grabbed his arm firmly. "Dad, none of us are going to survive!"
"Xiao Jing, don't worry, the scale will grow back. Do you remember when you were little and naughty, darting around the jagged rocks at the bottom of the pool? You scraped off a huge patch of scales, but didn't you become lively as ever after lying in my arms for a month? It’s fine, don't be afraid," Leng Qingqing said, patting his back comfortingly.
"I’m not talking about that. I’m talking about every monster in this valley." Leng Jing lifted the cart’s curtain and pointed toward the valley entrance. "Don't you see? The Heavenly Soldiers and Generals have laid out a 'Demon-Slaying Array' outside. It’s a lethal formation meant to refine monsters into pills. Anyone who leaves this valley will lose their life. Furthermore, I believe they won't stop there—their goal is clearly to silence everyone. Since they want to leave no witnesses, they won't just linger at the entrance. They are surely waiting for the array to be completed before they storm the valley to slaughter everyone, ensuring no one escapes the net."
"Wah!!!" Leng Qingqing had never imagined it was so serious. He hugged his son, trembling. "My son! Then what should we do? Right, right! Daddy will hide you in the stalactite cave. You must not come out!"
"If I hide, what about you? What about the others?" Leng Jing asked, looking at him.
"I don't care! I don't care! I only want you to be safe, my son!" Leng Qingqing sobbed, wiping his tears.
Leng Jing said, "Your heart is far too small. I have a foolproof plan for this. Go back into the valley quickly and gather the monsters in the clearing for a meeting. Tell them I have something to say."
Leng Qingqing asked curiously, "Son, what if they won't listen to you?"
Leng Jing gritted his teeth. "I’ll eat anyone who doesn't show up."
Leng Qingqing tilted his head, thought about his son’s terrifying true form, and decided that made a lot of sense. He hurriedly turned the cart around and drove back.
***
To be honest, the monsters of Bihai Valley were exceptionally stubborn. Even with disaster looming, they each continued with their usual business—eating, sleeping, or flirting.
Despite Leng Qingqing knocking on every door to relay Leng Jing’s message, no one paid him any mind. He ran around for an entire day and achieved nothing.
When Leng Jing, who was waiting in the clearing, learned of this, he flew into a rage. With a *whoosh*, he transformed into his dragon form. Although he couldn't fly high within the valley, he could gallop through the air by riding the wind. Once the White Dragon revealed his true form, he first tore the roof off the Black Bear Spirit’s den. Following that, he commanded wind, thunder, lightning, and fire, turning the valley upside down in a matter of moments.
Finally, all the monsters were forced to gather in the clearing. Leng Jing refused to return to his human form, instead circling majestically in mid-air, leaving every monster trembling in fear.
Among them was a fox demon whose newly built den had been unroofed by Leng Jing. Utterly dissatisfied, he grumbled under his breath, "Young Master Leng just loves streaking! And he insists on making us watch. What a pervert!"
The White Dragon let out a roar. Before the fox demon could react, his body was snatched up by a powerful suction and pinned under a dragon claw. The White Dragon contemptuously pressed down on the furry fox, who had reverted to his original form out of fear. Opening his maw full of fangs, the dragon said, "Whoever chirps again, I’ll eat them."
The fox demon shrieked and fainted.
"Now, listen to my orders! Everyone, start digging a tunnel beneath the Icefall Pool! Head southeast! It must be finished in three days!!" the White Dragon commanded.
And so, a massive monster engineering project began.
***
The Demon-Slaying Array outside the valley was complex and required three days to complete. Although the formation was incredibly powerful and airtight, there was a flaw in the southeast corner. Leng Jing’s order to dig in that direction was because he had seen through the array’s weakness, choosing to counter it with earth-tunneling techniques.
The Heavenly Soldiers and Generals didn't take these "country bumpkin" monsters seriously at all. They were busy setting up the array and didn't even notice the monsters' small movements.
After digging for two and a half days, the tunnel was finally complete. In the dead of night, the monsters began to set out with their elders, children, and luggage.
Just like that, they were leaving the paradise of Bihai Cangtao Valley. Many monsters couldn't help but steal one last look at their homeland through the waterfall, tears streaming down their faces.
The mandate of Heaven is hard to defy; one can only toil and wander.
Many old monsters remembered that a thousand years ago, they had hidden in this valley specifically to escape the conflicts of the Three Realms and enjoy peace. They never expected that, in the end, they still couldn't escape.
This day would mark the end of Bihai Cangtao—the day their paradise collapsed.
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The Ugly Little Snake: My Dragon Son | Chapter 3 | The End of the Paradise | Novela.app | Novela.app
