“Young Master!” When the White Marten saw Leng Jing returning to the back door of the inn with his bundle, he rushed forward in excitement and clung to Leng Jing’s leg.
However, the marten quickly realized that it had only been half a day since Leng Jing left; the sun hadn't even set yet!
Leng Jing tossed the bundle onto the White Marten’s head for him to carry. As he pulled off his dust-covered outer robe, he felt a dull ache in his side—the spot where he had torn off his dragon scale.
“I need to recuperate. Go tidy my bed and bring me something good to eat,” Leng Jing commanded. He was certainly not one to endure hardship if he could help it.
***
By the time Leng Qingqing woke up, three days had already passed.
Leng Jing had set up a large bed for himself in the outer parlor. He spent those three days in leisure: eating meals, snacking, reading idle books, and sleeping in. To Su Luo, who was currently in a semi-ghostly state, this was utterly inconceivable.
He had originally thought that the White Dragon capable of saving the Heaven Realm would be a solemn, proud, and unapproachable powerhouse. But looking at him now, this White Dragon was nothing more than a hedonist!
Not only that, whenever Su Luo tried to offer a word of advice, the White Dragon would glare at him with a terrifying gaze.
A feeling bordering on despair began to spread through Su Luo’s heart. He couldn't believe that after he, the Dragon Emperor, and Hua Yun had struggled for so many years and suffered so much, the White Dragon they finally found turned out to be such a person... He couldn't accept it! He had to fulfill the wishes of the three of them! Even if his soul were to scatter, he would make Leng Jing save the Heaven Realm!
Thus, Su Luo bit his lower lip and knelt before Leng Jing. “White Dragon, I beg you—” Just then—
“Xiao Jing-aaaaah!” Leng Qingqing’s energetic cry rang out from the inner chamber. A figure flew out at lightning speed, knocking Su Luo clean aside.
“Xiao Jing! The White Marten told me everything! How could you be so foolish? How could you hurt yourself?!” Leng Qingqing stayed by his side, his eyes brimming with tears.
“I’m relieved as long as you’re alright.” Leng Jing spat out a melon seed shell and tossed his book aside, his face remaining as calm as ever.
Leng Qingqing wept, “Daddy won't allow you to do that ever again! As long as you’re fine, nothing else matters to Daddy... I only want you to grow up safely... just stay safe... *waaaaah*... To hell with the Heaven Realm! To hell with the Legend of the White Dragon! You are just Xiao Jing, my dear, precious son, my family’s Ugly Little Snake! We just need to live our lives happily!”
This didn't sit right with Su Luo. He stood up and said, “You... how can you say such things to him? If the catastrophe in the Heaven Realm isn't stopped, all living beings in the world will—”
“Get lost! You villain! My Xiao Jing isn't a tool! He’s my son, and he’s going to grow up happily! Get out of here! What do you immortals even eat for? Solve your own problems!” Leng Qingqing blew his top and began a shouting match with Su Luo.
“Both of you, shut up.” Leng Jing interrupted their quarrel, then turned to Su Luo. “The matters of the Heaven Realm can wait. I need to recuperate now. You should also find a vessel to inhabit quickly, or your soul really will dissipate. Once these things are settled, it won't be too late to discuss the Heaven Realm.”
“Fine.” Su Luo nodded gloomily and walked out the door.
“Xiao Jing, Daddy is going to make you something nourishing...” Leng Qingqing hugged Leng Jing’s face, nuzzling him affectionately.
Half an hour later, Leng Qingqing laid out a table full of noodles—shredded chicken noodles, abalone noodles, ginseng noodles, lingzhi noodles... it was all noodles.
Leng Jing yawned and gradually slid under his covers.
***
Leng Jing’s days of recuperation were far too comfortable. With a doting father who obeyed his every whim, he didn't have to worry about food or drink. With just a flick of his finger, Leng Qingqing would come running eagerly. It was truly convenient. Leng Jing lounged on the bed in the inner room with his legs crossed, using the fox as a pillow, enjoying his leisure time.
Lately, Leng Qingqing had been going out quite often, though no one knew what he was up to. Once again, Leng Qingqing rushed out the door in a hurry.
“Xiao Jing, I have a gift for you tonight!” Leng Qingqing said mysteriously.
“Mm.” Leng Jing was distracted, popping a piece of Dragon Beard Candy into his mouth. He didn't have high expectations for whatever "good thing" Leng Qingqing might bring.
When night fell and the moon rose, Leng Qingqing returned. He pulled Leng Jing onto the balcony. Below, the area was packed with monsters and demons of all sizes, everyone holding fresh flowers. At Leng Qingqing’s command, the group of yokel monsters began a grand chorus:
“Our Little Jing is truly great! Hey-ho, hey-ho, truly great!
Demons and ghosts, he does not fear! Hey-ho, hey-ho, does not fear!
If anyone dares to cause a mess! Hey-ho, hey-ho, cause a mess!
Qingqing will knock out all their teeth! Hey-ho, hey-ho, all their teeth!”
Leng Jing: “...” He was speechless.
He suddenly felt incredibly embarrassed.
At that moment, a dissatisfied voice drifted from inside the room: “Who is it? Why is it so noisy? What are you all doing...”
Leng Jing, Leng Qingqing, and all the monsters fell silent, pricking up their ears to listen.
“Why am I here... how strange...” The voice sounded like someone who had just woken up.
Leng Jing and Leng Qingqing finally realized—the “fox pillow” had woken up.
***
The yokels had dispersed. Leng Jing lay on the large bed in the outer parlor, facing the wall and covering himself completely with the quilt.
Leng Qingqing had hidden in the kitchen to make noodles, and the White Marten was nowhere to be found.
Having transformed into his human form, the Black Fox sat at the table in the parlor, his hair flowing and his bangs neatly trimmed. He stared coldly at the Ugly Little Snake, who was pretending to sleep. “How was my barrier broken?”
The Ugly Little Snake looked up at the ceiling. “I’m not sure. Your barrier vanished on its own seven days ago. We were being pursued by enemies, so we brought you along.”
The Black Fox huffed coldly, surprisingly not mentioning the issue of his peculiar hairstyle.
The Black Fox had a strange feeling, but for the sake of his pride, he didn't show it in front of the snake spirit and the grass dragon spirit. Ever since he was wounded by that blind man named Su Luo, his mind had been in turmoil. During his long dream over the past few months, the content had mostly been related to that blind man, which was truly bizarre.
With a deep frown, the Black Fox walked out of the inn where the dragons and snakes resided. Immediately after, Leng Qingqing and the White Marten cheered.
Leng Jing stretched and said, “I haven't looked into the affairs of the *jianghu* for many days.”
Leng Qingqing took his arm and said, “Daddy will help you handle the *jianghu* affairs. You’re injured, so it’s inconvenient for you to do things.”
Leng Jing looked him up and down. “Daddy, you’ve actually been playing dumb this whole time, haven't you?”
“Playing dumb? What do you mean?” Leng Qingqing asked, blinking.
“You actually know a lot of things, but you never say anything, letting people think you’re just a silly white snake,” Leng Jing said, deciding to be blunt. “You clearly know what I am, yet you tell me to be an ordinary monster like you. I don't understand your intentions.”
A look of sorrow appeared on Leng Qingqing’s face. He said dejectedly, “I was once a prince of the Snake God Clan. My status was so exalted that you, Xiao Jing, have never seen anything like it. Daddy used to have magnificent clothes, countless attendants following me everywhere, and a grand palace to live in. But I wasn't happy. I wasn't even allowed to laugh loudly. The only person I liked, Brother Jing, was killed by a conspiracy. Later, when the Snake God Clan met with disaster, I was lucky enough to escape and reach the Azure Sea Billowing Valley.
“At that time, my only wish was to survive. I didn't have powerful magic, I didn't have extraordinary wisdom, and I didn't even have the ambition to seek revenge. I just wanted to live... So, I became an ordinary monster. I know there are many dangers in the world, and being able to spend every day happily is such a beautiful thing... Moreover, I had a son... When I first saw the dragon egg, I was so happy! I told myself that was my own child! I wanted to live a happy life with my son and never get involved in anything bloody again... But I know I’m selfish, because Xiao Jing is different from others. One day, you will fly away... you will leave Daddy... Just thinking about it makes me...” Leng Qingqing leaned on Leng Jing, his voice choking with sobs. “I don't want to let go! I don't want you to get involved in the Heaven Realm’s business! I don't want to lose anyone else!!”
Leng Jing stroked his hair and asked, “Daddy, when you escaped the massacre and came to the Azure Sea Valley, how old were you?”
Leng Qingqing shook his head. “Forty? Fifty? I can't remember clearly. I was just a little snake then. No monsters wanted to talk to me. I settled in a cave by the lake and spent night after lonely night. Then I learned that wild fruits could fill my stomach just like celestial peaches, and spring water was as sweet as nectar. I could survive on my own...”
Leng Jing sighed. “Can't I protect you? You have to believe in me.”
“I’ve always believed in Xiao Jing.” Leng Qingqing looked up.
Leng Jing lowered his head and kissed Leng Qingqing’s forehead. “Daddy, I will protect you for the rest of my life.”
“Then are you still going to the Heaven Realm?” Leng Qingqing asked expectantly.
“Yes,” Leng Jing answered curtly. “If the mortal realm becomes like the Heaven Realm one day, that would be bad. Running away isn't a solution. As the Martial Arts Alliance Leader, I must give an account to all living beings.”
“What does that have to do with being the Martial Arts Alliance Leader...” The White Marten stood aside, feeling exasperated. This little White Dragon was truly addicted to playing the part of a *jianghu* hero!
Leng Qingqing’s head drooped. He could no longer restrain his son. His son was no longer the Ugly Little Snake that followed him around; he was a divine dragon destined to soar through the nine heavens.
*But really, what does the Heaven Realm have to do with the Martial Arts Alliance Leader?* Leng Qingqing also felt exasperated in his heart.
*Right? Right!* The White Marten and Leng Qingqing exchanged a look. In all its years, it had never heard of a god or demon who intervened in the mortal *jianghu* so seriously. The Ugly Little Snake was truly abnormal!
*That’s because he hasn't seen the world. He hasn't witnessed the grand scenes of the Immortal and Demon Realms,* Leng Qingqing shot back a look at the marten. The two of them communicated through their eyes.
“Young Master, if the plague in the Heaven Realm is eliminated and the world is at peace, what do you plan to do after that?” the White Marten asked softly.
Leng Jing pinched his chin. “Have you heard the legends of the State-Protecting Divine Dragon in the Northern Kingdom? Rumor has it there has always been a Dragon-kin tribe in the north, protecting the nation’s foundation for generations. In times of crisis, they can even transform into divine dragons to protect the state.”
“So the Young Master plans to be a State-Protecting Divine Dragon in the future?! Wouldn't it be more impressive to be a Heaven-Protecting Divine Dragon? Even the Heavenly Emperor would treat you with great respect!” the White Marten said.
“I have no interest in the Heaven Realm. To devote myself to the country and the people is my pursuit.” The Ugly Little Snake spoke with a sense of gravity and tragic heroism.
Leng Qingqing and the White Marten fell silent, deciding not to talk to the Ugly Little Snake anymore.
Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation
--- | --- | ---
蛇神族 | Snake God Clan | The clan Leng Qingqing originally belonged to.
碧海苍涛谷 | Azure Sea Billowing Valley | The place where Leng Qingqing fled to.
龙须酥 | Dragon Beard Candy | A traditional Chinese sweet.
武林盟主 | Martial Arts Alliance Leader | Leng Jing's self-proclaimed title in the mortal world.
护国神龙 | State-Protecting Divine Dragon | A legendary dragon that protects a kingdom.
江湖 | Jianghu | The martial arts world/underworld.
