Being the Martial Arts Alliance Leader was a thankless task. Anyone in the pugilistic world with a modicum of sense was unwilling to occupy that seat. Generally, those who became the Alliance Leader would step down within three years, yet Leng Jing had toiled away in that position for ten years without complaint. However, in those ten years, aside from a good reputation, his actual gains were pitifully few. Because Leng Jing disdained using his power for personal gain and resolutely upheld justice, after a decade as the Alliance Leader, his personal finery was actually inferior to that of a sect leader from a minor school.
Then there was the management of the Leng Family Manor. Leng Jing’s occasional business ventures were merely a hobby, and the income barely covered expenses. Because monsters and spirits frequently moved in and out of the manor, there weren't many servants; currently, there was only an elderly gatekeeping butler still working there, and the White Sable served as a long-term domestic worker.
Thus, standing at the main gate of the Prince’s Mansion, Leng Jing still felt somewhat unaccustomed. This mansion was countless times more luxurious than his Leng Family Manor, which consisted of only five or six main halls and three small courtyards. The main gate alone was the height of opulence, and a large crowd of servants had long been waiting at the entrance to welcome him.
The Ugly Little Snake’s mansion featured a sizeable rear garden, a pond filled with lotus flowers, and many more exquisite pavilions and rooms. The servants treated him with great respect, addressing him honorably as "Your Highness." There was even a private kitchen and chef, with a menu that never repeated a dish. Leng Jing brought his father and the White Sable to live with him, and the three "country bumpkins" spent an entire day touring the mansion. When Leng Jing introduced Leng Qingqing to the servants, he identified him as his foster father; though the crowd was surprised, they reluctantly accepted it. After all, he was a Prince, and he had the privilege to do as he pleased.
As one of the High Priests of the Kingdom of Lu, Mei Xin came specifically to congratulate Leng Jing. Leng Qingqing had just intended to contact the local "bumpkin" monsters to start a hobby club when he was sternly barked at by Leng Jing. He could only hide pitifully in his dedicated luxury kitchen, researching new ways to cook noodles.
Since the White Dragon Clan could intermarry with mortals, Mei Xin took the opportunity to act as a matchmaker for Leng Jing. She hoped the Ugly Little Snake’s powerful bloodline would endure in the world and remain loyal to the Kingdom of Lu for generations. Furthermore, Mei Xin and the other priests hoped that, compared to the chronically ill Protector Prince, the young and healthy White Dragon Leng Jing was more suitable to be the Queen’s future consort. Thus, they had been secretly plotting for a long time to bring the two together, creating as many opportunities as possible for them to spend time together.
To that end, Mei Xin thrust an invitation into Leng Jing’s hand. It was for a grand banquet at the palace the day after tomorrow to celebrate the Queen’s nineteenth birthday, and she told Leng Jing to prepare a gift to please Her Majesty.
This was Leng Jing’s first time participating in high-society social activities. The entire mansion was highly proactive, exerting immense enthusiasm to prepare Leng Jing for the celebration. However, they fretted over the congratulatory gift. Prince Jing had only just taken office and his salary had not yet been issued; where would he find the money to prepare a gift?
The White Sable offered a suggestion: "Young Master, the thing women dislike most is a mink coat. You must never give such a hated item, otherwise, the Empress will be incensed, and the consequences will be unimaginable."
Leng Jing glanced at it and merely said, "Your fur is quite nice."
After that, the White Sable suffered such extreme shock that it had diarrhea for three days before it stopped.
Leng Qingqing suggested sending longevity noodles, which was immediately rejected by the Ugly Little Snake. This was the second time he had been rebuffed by his son since entering the mansion. Leng Qingqing felt a bit resentful; he had once possessed supreme paternal authority!
"Why not give her the privilege of riding a dragon once!" Leng Qingqing proposed again.
Leng Jing glared.
"Then how about an admission ticket to the Monster Hobby Club?" Leng Qingqing continued to ask expectantly, oblivious to the danger.
Leng Jing ignored him, picked up a rope, and walked out.
"Master! The Young Master must have been so angry at you that he went to hang himself!" The White Sable, having recovered its strength, clutched its stomach as it emerged from the latrine.
"Xiao Jing wouldn't hang himself. Hmph... to think he actually ignored me..." Leng Qingqing grumbled dissatisfiedly.
Fifteen minutes later, Leng Jing returned, carrying a ten-foot-tall, golden-red coral tree with the rope. The coral was still dripping wet and shaped like the character for "Longevity." It appeared Leng Jing had just dug it up from some remote corner of the world.
The night of the palace banquet arrived. The vast palace was brilliantly lit, appearing like a dreamscape under the night sky. Leng Jing wore a court robe of pure white cloud-brocade and a crown of white jade and bright pearls as he arrived to attend the highest-level feast in the Kingdom of Lu.
Accompanying him were the White Sable and Leng Qingqing, who had insisted on coming along. Leng Qingqing followed behind his son, clutching Leng Jing’s sleeve as they passed through layer upon layer of palace gates, finally arriving at the banquet in the Great Hall. Leng Jing’s seat was below the throne, but beside the throne within the beaded curtains, there was actually another special seat. Seated there was a young man in white with a cold temperament and elegant features. His face was pale, and he seemed to be in poor health, coughing low from time to time. The faint dragon qi emanating from him indicated that he was the legendary Protector Prince, Ling Hanbing.
When the Queen arrived, all the court officials rose to pay their respects. Only the Protector Prince merely smiled at her. She walked up quickly, took his hand, and chided, "Your health is poor, I told you not to come!"
Prince Ling shook his head and said, "It is your birthday; how could I not come?" The two were so affectionate that it was truly moving.
Mei Xin sat to Leng Jing’s right, nearly biting her handkerchief to shreds. Leng Jing heard her mutter quietly, "Hmph! What’s so good about that woman! Sigh... if only the Prince would look at me like that just once..."
"..." Leng Jing and Leng Qingqing were speechless. It seemed that by sitting in the middle, they had been caught in an emotional whirlpool.
The banquet featured a rich array of dishes and splendid song and dance performances. However, the neglected Leng father and son clearly didn't lose out; although no one toasted them, the three of them were busy burying their heads in their food.
While Leng Jing and Leng Qingqing were gnawing on large crabs, the Protector Prince took advantage of a moment when the Queen had left her seat. He rose slowly, picked up a cup of wine, and walked toward Leng Jing to personally toast his kinsman.
The Ugly Little Snake raised his wine cup in return. Prince Ling said gently, "Speaking of which, I only have a quarter of the White Dragon bloodline and cannot fully transform. In the future, the heavy responsibilities of the Kingdom of Lu and the safety of Her Majesty will rely much on Prince Jing."
Leng Jing bowed slightly and replied, "It is my duty. Please rest assured."
But the Prince said, as mild as a spring breeze, "But I do not rest assured."
Leng Jing looked up, meeting his amber eyes. "You wish to test me."
"Correct." Prince Ling withdrew his smile. "I must ensure you are the best choice for the Kingdom of Lu and Lin Lang."
"The method?" Leng Jing did not panic. His calm and unruffled bearing earned the Prince’s secret admiration.
"A duel to the death. If you defeat my original form, I shall hand all my power over to you." The Prince’s gaze was resolute.
"There are an unexpectedly high number of people eager to sacrifice themselves these days." Leng Jing smiled faintly and instead sat back down.
Prince Ling frowned slightly. "Do you disagree? Do you not wish to obtain the powerful strength of the White Dragon lineage that can rival a Dragon Emperor?"
Leng Jing extended his arm and pointed behind him—at the banquet hall.
Prince Ling turned his head in confusion. With just one look, he was stunned, and the wine cup in his hand slipped from his grasp.
Yet, there was no sound of a cup hitting the floor.
Because the entire hall had, at some unknown point, been pulled into a barrier created by Leng Jing. Even time had been frozen; all the scenery had turned a dull, dark gray. Before Prince Ling’s wine cup could hit the ground, it had already frozen in mid-air. The seductive dancers in the center of the hall had also changed; their skin had turned blue, they had grown six arms, and they held swords and blades, taking on the forms of Ashuras. The guests who had been clinking glasses slowly turned into mist and vanished. The entire hall became eerie and silent, while the world outside the windows was a void of absolute darkness.
"Ah! You!" Prince Ling was almost unable to speak. It was the first time he had seen such terrifying barrier power.
"This is a nightmare of my creation. Do you need me to further prove my strength? If we duel to the death, I need only slightly alter the laws of the world within this barrier, and you would turn to ash on the spot." Leng Jing pointed to his own heart. "As long as I turn my thoughts."
"This is the divine power of creation! You... why do you possess such terrifying power!?" Prince Ling collapsed to the floor. He suddenly realized that the one the Kingdom of Lu had summoned was no ordinary grass dragon, but a calamity that could bring disaster to the Three Realms!
"In your heart, you are underestimating my character," Leng Jing said.
Prince Ling broke into a cold sweat and gritted his teeth. "I know who you are. You are the one from the Primordial Era who was sealed... How did you come to the human realm? What... what do you want? Why did you choose this place?"
Leng Jing gave a faint, enigmatic smile. At his smile, Prince Ling became deathly nervous. After a struggle, he finally knelt before Leng Jing. "Primordial Dragon God, please spare the Kingdom of Lu..."
"You seem to know quite a lot about me. I am curious how you learned of my situation," Leng Jing interrogated.
"The secret records passed down through the generations of the White Dragon Clan contain accounts of you," the Prince said. Having finished, he was overcome with grief. "The seal of heaven and earth has crumbled, and the Primordial Dragon God has broken free to descend upon the mortal world. Ah... Lin Lang... how can I protect the common people and you..."
"Hand the secret records over to me, and I will not make things difficult for you." Leng Jing began to blackmail him. He hadn't expected the title of Primordial Dragon God to carry such deterrent power among gods and demons.
"Then will you leave the Kingdom of Lu?" the Prince asked expectantly.
"No," Leng Jing refused.
"I will do my best to satisfy any of your wishes, just please, do not stay here." The Prince was intent on driving him away.
Leng Jing shook his head. "You dare to command me?"
The Prince was instantly choked up. After a long while, he said, "I dare not..."
"I intend to settle here. You need say no more. Withdraw, or do not blame me for being heartless." Leng Jing’s cold gaze swept over him, and Prince Ling immediately fell silent.
With a flick of his wide sleeve, Leng Jing dispelled the barrier. The hall returned to normal, and only then was the sound of the wine cup hitting the floor heard. It turned out that everything that had just happened had occupied only a brief instant in reality. Prince Ling was drenched in cold sweat. He looked at Leng Qingqing, who was still burying his head in his food beside Leng Jing, and suddenly understood something—the Primordial Dragon God, who possessed the power to destroy the world, was lingering in the human realm because he was bound by something. Could that bond be this beautiful young man in white before his eyes?
Had the Primordial Dragon God also been moved by emotion? Prince Ling suddenly felt there was a turn for the better.
Halfway through the banquet, Leng Qingqing, having drunk a lot of fruit nectar, needed to relieve himself. He whispered to Leng Jing and quietly left his seat to find the latrine. The worried Prince Ling also used the excuse of the latrine to leave his seat. The Queen frowned slightly, her gaze sweeping toward Leng Jing. Leng Jing’s thoughts were as fast as lightning; he guessed what the Prince intended to do. However, he believed that Prince Ling would be no match for his father, so he continued to eat with a clear conscience. The White Sable kept eating, oblivious to everything.
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At the entrance of the latrine, Prince Ling intercepted Leng Qingqing and asked politely, "Sir, what is your relationship with Prince Jing?"
"My relationship with him is extraordinary, hehe," Leng Qingqing said proudly.
"To what extent is it extraordinary?"
"We eat together, sleep together, bathe together, and sometimes we even intertwine our tails," Leng Qingqing said with a wink.
Prince Ling’s face instantly turned red. He said shamefully, "Then... do you have a way to persuade him to leave the Kingdom of Lu? Sir, if you succeed, this Prince will surely reward you handsomely. Whatever conditions you set, I will fulfill them for you."
"Leave the Kingdom of Lu? Impossible." Leng Qingqing shook his head. "He’s not a child anymore; I can't control him. He won't listen to what I say."
The Prince sighed. "Then I must apologize for the offense."
As soon as he spoke, several shadow guards attacked from the darkness, intending to seize Leng Qingqing. However, just as the shadow guards were about to knock Leng Qingqing unconscious, a massive white snake suddenly appeared before their eyes. Moreover, this was a smiling big white snake. A smiling big white snake in the middle of the night—how terrifying!
"Mama!!!!" the shadow guards screamed. Many dropped their swords and fled for their lives.
Leng Qingqing flicked his tongue. It turned out these people were just as afraid of him as Xiao Jing was.
"So you are of the Snake God Clan." Prince Ling began to chant an incantation, intending to subdue Leng Qingqing. He formed a seal with his jade-like fingers and pointed at Leng Qingqing, shouting, "Heavenly Pivot, Wind, Fire, Metal, and Thunder! By Divine Decree, Seal! Falling Thunder!"
Leng Qingqing shouted, "Mung bean ramen, loved by all, hated by my son, alas!"
And so, nothing happened.
Naturally, this was because the current palace was under a barrier set by Leng Jing that nullified all magical arts.
Thus, Prince Ling returned very dejectedly. He looked at the secondary seats; Leng Qingqing and Leng Jing were still burying their heads in their food. A sense of despair began to spread in his heart.
"Father, what did you say to that Prince just now?" Leng Jing asked him.
"Children shouldn't meddle in adult business." Leng Qingqing put on his parental airs, all while tightly clutching the imperial assorted noodles in front of him.
"...I figured nothing good would come out of your mouth anyway," Leng Jing said.
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The Ugly Little Snake: My Dragon Son | Chapter 34 | A Display of Primordial Power | Novela.app | Novela.app
