Why was Leng Qingqing so terrified whenever the Heavenly Realm was mentioned? Beyond the fear of his clan’s extinction, there seemed to be something else. Leng Jing rested his head on his hand, watching Leng Qingqing, who lay on the bed suffering from internal injuries caused by the excessive drain of casting the sealing technique. Leng Qingqing had coughed up blood several times along the way; three hours ago, he had even fainted. Now, he could only lie limply on the bed, groaning in pain.
"Young Master, the hot water is ready. I’ll take you to bathe." White Mink was now handling every chore, inside and out. Even though he was dizzy with exhaustion, he persevered—currently, of the Leng father and son, one had his spiritual power sealed and could not move, while the other had suffered internal injuries from forced spellcasting. All the work fell onto his shoulders alone.
"Very well." Despite his supposed inability to move the lower half of his body, Leng Jing still maintained a majestic aura, his speech steady and composed.
White Mink walked over, lifted Leng Jing from his wheelchair, and carried him toward the bathing room.
However, once White Mink carried Leng Jing out of the room, he did not head for the bath next door. Instead, he set Leng Jing down on the ground.
Leng Jing stood firmly on the floor. He and White Mink then tiptoed out of the second floor of the inn.
The two eventually arrived at a secluded, deserted grove. After checking that the environment was suitable, Leng Jing stripped off his clothes. His body erupted with a dazzling, heroic light as a spirited white dragon manifested once more.
White Mink dropped into an 'orz' position of despair. Leng Jing was simply too powerful; even with a thousand years of cultivation and the Snake Clan’s sacred relic, Leng Qingqing hadn't been able to seal him in the slightest.
"White Mink, bring out the mortar," Leng Jing commanded.
Confused, White Mink brought the mortar to his side. He watched as the white dragon mercilessly bit down, tearing a scale from its own waist. Blood immediately surged from the wound.
White Mink cried out in alarm, reaching forward to stop the bleeding. With blood still staining the corners of his maw, the white dragon said calmly, "No rush." He proceeded to bite off a second scale, then a third... the sound of flesh tearing from bone was clearly audible.
White Mink covered his eyes, not daring to look. Leng Jing was truly a ruthless individual—he didn't even spare himself!
"White Mink, catch my blood." Leng Jing was now drenched in blood, which flowed incessantly from his wounds. Trembling, White Mink did as he was told. Finally, Leng Jing shifted back into human form. He used his magic to grind the five dragon scales into powder, mixed them with the dragon blood, added the medicinal herbs he had prepared in advance, and fashioned several pills within the mortar.
"These are for the Old Master, aren't they?" White Mink was deeply moved. Leng Jing would go to such lengths for Leng Qingqing, not even hesitating to mutilate his own body.
Leng Jing stored the pills in a beautiful porcelain bottle before speaking. "White Mink, you can see the current situation. The events unfolding in the Heavenly Realm have already entangled many, and the pressure is mounting. As for why Father is so afraid, I have likely guessed the reason."
White Mink looked at him in confusion. "Young Master, why is the Old Master so afraid?"
"It is a curse. A curse he cannot speak of." Leng Jing turned his back. After a long silence, he finally said coldly, "I owe him for the grace of raising me. Therefore, I shall be the one to sever his nightmares!"
***
After White Mink fed the medicine to Leng Qingqing, the older man fell into a deep, heavy sleep. Leng Jing packed his things, preparing to meet Su Luo once more.
White Mink could tell he was going on a long journey and watched him silently. Having been with this white dragon for ten years, the sudden prospect of separation made his heart ache with sadness.
Leng Jing tied his necessities into a bundle, including a change of clothes, the coral bonsai Leng Qingqing had given him, and a longsword he had rarely ever used.
"I will be gone for a time. During this period, I leave Leng Qingqing in your care," Leng Jing told White Mink.
Tears welling in his eyes, White Mink nodded. He knew that what lay ahead for Leng Jing was an unprecedented and terrifying obstacle—that mutated, murky Heavenly Realm.
Though the sky was bright, White Mink’s heart felt heavy. He stood by the door, gazing for a long time at Leng Jing’s receding figure—even though Leng Jing had vanished from sight in a mere flash.
| Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 圣器 | Sacred Relic | A holy or powerful artifact belonging to a clan or sect. |
| 药臼 | Mortar | A vessel used with a pestle to grind herbs or ingredients. |
| 珊瑚盆栽 | Coral bonsai | A decorative miniature plant made of or featuring coral. |
| 龙鳞 | Dragon scale | Scales from a dragon, often possessing immense medicinal or magical properties. |
| 龙血 | Dragon blood | The blood of a dragon, highly potent in cultivation and healing. |
| 诅咒 | Curse | A supernatural affliction or hex. |
