The Ugly Little Snake: My Dragon Son | Chapter 55 | Siege of the Dragon Palace | Novela.app

Soon, Leng Jing, Leng Qingqing, and the others arrived above the sea. Sitting upon the dragon’s back, Leng Qingqing gazed out at the boundless ocean. Dark clouds hung heavy over the waters, rolling and churning in thick layers that signaled the restless demonic aura stirring in the distance. Driven by a fierce hurricane, the ink-blue surface was a chaos of surging waves and clamorous roars, as if venting a wild fury. Sky and sea merged into one; the billows of cloud and the crests of waves were dyed a deep, somber hue. Entering this frantic region, it was nearly impossible to distinguish heaven from water, creating the illusion that the world had been turned upside down. The white mink and Leng Qingqing stole a few glances downward, only to see waves rising hundreds of feet high, blotting out the horizon and rolling over like collapsing mountains. Had an ordinary fishing boat encountered such a tempest, it would have vanished instantly, smashed to pieces and dragged into the depths. This was a starkly different sight from the sea of the Heavenly Realm. Though vast, the Heavenly Sea was essentially a pool of clear water resting atop the clouds. Its cerulean waters were transparent to the bottom and not particularly deep. The sky above it was rarely overcast; it was always bathed in fair sunlight with drifting white clouds, a picture of serenity like a piece of blue jade. The sea breeze there carried the unique scent of the heavens—warm, soft, and gentle, with a hint of ethereal unreality. Rather than a sea, it was more of a celestial lake, for its area was truly not that large compared to the mortal realm. If the sea of the Heavenly Realm was a demure immortal maiden, the ocean of the mortal realm was a true, hot-blooded man—formidable and prone to sudden rage. Every time Leng Qingqing faced the great ocean, a sense of awe naturally arose within him. The profound depths were so mysterious; even if countless creatures were nurtured within, who could ever fully fathom its true secrets? The Dragon Palace claimed to rule the Seven Seas, yet there remained many hidden places in the deep that even the Dragon Clan could not reach. The secrets held by the ocean were still ten thousand-fold. As Leng Qingqing was lost in these reflections, the white dragon, Leng Jing, had already brought them near the waters directly above the Dragon Palace. This area was known as the Sea of Yearning, the place where winds and waves were most concentrated. Located at the center of the Seven Seas, the waves never ceased due to the intense draconic energy. Most ships that reached this point were destroyed, and fishermen or travelers who ventured here rarely returned; thus, it earned the name "Sea of Yearning." The closer they drew to the center of the Sea of Yearning, the more violent the hurricane became. Had Leng Qingqing and the white mink not gripped the dragon’s horns and mane with all their might, they would have been blown away by the gale, finding it difficult even to breathe. Only then did Leng Jing expand a barrier around his body, enveloping them in a faint, shimmering glow. Instantly, Leng Qingqing felt his breathing become smooth. Once Leng Jing opened the barrier, it signaled the arrival of "tea time." Because the interior of the barrier was so peaceful, the white mink and Leng Qingqing brought out the snacks they had prepared and the hot tea stored in bamboo tubes, leisurely savoring them while admiring the scenery outside. Nibbling on tea cakes, they began to observe the sights they had missed earlier due to the wind. A massive whirlpool had formed at the center of the dark, churning sea—a scar left by the demon army after they breached the Dragon Clan’s barrier and invaded in force. Leng Jing dove straight from the air into that vortex, nearly catching the two on his back off guard. Entering the seabed for the first time, the white mink shrieked in terror. He clung tightly to the dragon mane on Leng Jing’s back, eyes squeezed shut for fear of drowning. In truth, Leng Jing’s barrier was waterproof. When the mink finally dared to open his eyes, he realized he was unharmed. The surroundings had transformed into a deep blue underwater world. Seawater encased the entire barrier, and one could see blind fish occasionally bumping into the shield before swimming away erratically. Because the sky above was so dark, the mink’s field of vision was limited to the area illuminated by Leng Jing’s aura. Further away lay only profound, heavy darkness. "Have we passed through the whirlpool?" the white mink asked cautiously. Leng Jing turned his head, his dragon claw making a downward gesture. Suddenly, the vertigo caused by extreme speed made the mink and Leng Qingqing’s heads spin. Leng Jing had begun a high-speed descent toward the Dragon Palace, three thousand fathoms below. Soon, Leng Qingqing and the white mink finally felt solid ground beneath their feet. They stood in a corner of the Dragon Palace’s grand banquet hall. Leng Jing’s speed had been so great that even though he entered the hall in his dragon form in full view of everyone, no one noticed. This was likely what it meant to move at a speed the naked eye could not capture. The Dragon Palace was world-renowned for its opulence. Once the two had recovered from the dizziness of their high-speed travel, they were conquered by the glittering gold of the palace. The very pillar they leaned against was crafted from Crystal Smoke Jade, neatly inlaid with pearls in a spiral pattern, resting upon an exquisite base of Red Crystal Lotus. Under the light of the palace’s great night-pearl lamps, it shone brilliantly. This single pillar was enough to make these country bumpkins drool. Leng Jing, meanwhile, observed the figures in the hall. Because the Demon Realm had launched a sudden, massive invasion, the exterior of the Dragon Palace was now surrounded by their armies. It was only because of his speed that he hadn't been discovered upon arrival. Inside the palace, the main hall—fortified by the National Protection Pearl—was undoubtedly the best place to resist the continuous influx of demonic miasma. It had essentially become a sanctuary. Fortunately, the hall was vast enough to accommodate everyone without issue. By now, the western portion of the Dragon Palace had collapsed under the demonic assault. For safety, nearly all palace personnel had gathered in the main hall. People of all sorts paced about—some fretting, some sighing, some in pain, and some offering encouragement. However, the current Dragon Palace was virtually defenseless against the aggressive Demon Realm. The Dragon Clan warriors, usually of no small martial prowess, were utterly no match for the current demon generals. In less than half an hour, the dragon generals who had volunteered to go out and fight had returned one by one, heavily wounded and on the brink of death. It seemed only a matter of time before the hall was overrun. In the crowded hall, the sorrow of the masses almost condensed into a heavy cloud, enveloping everyone’s hearts. Low sobs, sighs, and groans made the oppressive atmosphere even more somber. This was supposed to be a joyous day—the Dragon Palace’s centennial banquet, a time for universal celebration. No one expected it to become a day of ruin. The condition of the dragon generals being carried in only intensified the atmosphere of terror. They had not been killed outright; their lives were intentionally spared, but their states were gruesome. Some had their claws hacked off, some had their eyes gouged out, and others had been stripped of all their scales and tendons before being tossed back in, bloodied. The scent of blood diffused through the hall. Leng Jing’s eyes widened. When he had left, the Demon Realm had only just surrounded the palace, declaring they would not kill if the Dragon Clan surrendered. Why had things changed so suddenly? Was the Demon Realm truly as treacherous, faithless, and cruel as people said? With the tragic fates of so many dragon generals before them, no one dared to venture out to challenge the enemy again. Even the few princes who were gnashing their teeth and eager to try were barked back by the Dragon King. The entire Sea of Yearning was under the control of the Demon Realm; even seeking aid from the Heavenly Realm was now impossible. Despair began to surface on the faces of those trapped within the palace. A figure with unsteady steps approached the hall, leaning against the pillars. His hair was disheveled, his lips pale, his face ashen, and his clothes in disarray. Yet, he still arrogantly tucked a stray lock of hair behind his ear, sneering hoarsely, "My Lord, have you not noticed something strange? Ever since the Fourteenth Prince was injured and brought to the Dragon Palace, calamity has struck! It must be his doing! That white dragon who brought the Fourteenth Prince here! He is a spy for the Demon Realm! He knocked me unconscious and left secretly! Immediately after, the demon army arrived!" Leng Jing stood by a pillar not far away. It was obvious the Physician Dragon was stirring up trouble. The Physician Dragon pointed a trembling finger and shrieked, "He is there! He is the spy!" Every eye instantly fell upon the elegantly dressed Leng Jing in his jade crown and white robes, filled with deep-seated hatred. Leng Jing had suddenly become the target of public criticism. The tension in the hall reached its peak. Hiding behind the pillar, the white mink and Leng Qingqing watched the development of events nervously. Although they knew Leng Jing would have the overwhelming upper hand, they were still infected by the tense atmosphere and couldn't help but feel apprehensive. Becoming the center of attention, Leng Jing said unhurriedly, "Everyone, I am not a spy. Once the Fourteenth Prince wakes, he can prove this." "But my fourteenth brother is still unconscious! You spy! I shall behead you right now as an example to all!" The furious Dragon Crown Prince lunged forward with his sword, intending to cleave Leng Jing down. Leng Jing neither dodged nor parried, allowing the longsword to pierce his body. Half the blade sank into Leng Jing’s torso. "Ah!!!" Leng Qingqing screamed, nearly running out, but the white mink held him back with all his might. "The Young Master is not that fragile!" Sure enough, when the Prince withdrew his longsword, he found that the blade had been melted by an invisible force from the midpoint down. The melt marks were fresh; the edges of the broken sword, forged from thousand-year profound iron, had liquefied due to the intense heat. The molten steel dripped onto the floor, hissing and emitting white smoke as it burned a deep hole, showing just how high the temperature was. "A demon! You are a demon!!" The Prince and the Dragon King both recoiled three steps in shock. Everyone was stunned. "I am not a demon, just an ordinary grass dragon," Leng Jing said expressionlessly. "If you do not trust me, I can help you repel the demon army. But in exchange, I want you to agree to my condition." The Dragon King gritted his teeth and stepped forward. "What condition?!" "I want this man to stay by my side for a period of time." Leng Jing pointed at the Physician Dragon. This was the perfect way to take the Physician Dragon to save Xie Ting. The Physician Dragon’s face stiffened. He wanted to protest, but Leng Jing simply traced a small circle in the air with his finger, and the man’s mouth could no longer open. To others, it merely looked as if Leng Jing was pointing at him while speaking. To rid the palace of this self-important Physician Dragon would be a great blessing! The Dragon King actually began to feel strangely relieved. One must know that the Physician Dragon, prideful of his origins from the Village of the Divine Healers, had walked with his nose in the air ever since he took his post at the Dragon Palace. Even the Dragon King had to be respectful to him, for he was the "Saintly Hand" who held the power of life and death. The man was also incredibly temperamental and prone to agonizing ramblings about "emotional topics." He was a headache-inducing fellow, and the Dragon King was more than happy to send him away. He nodded and said, "Very well. Since you have no objection, Physician Dragon, please consider the greater good. If the white dragon can truly help the palace escape this crisis, then you shall go with him! —Your silence means you agree!" Anyone could see that the Dragon King had agreed instantly without even looking at the Physician Dragon. Even the usually gentle Dragon King has his ways! everyone thought. Invisibly, through just a few words of confrontation, Leng Jing’s aura had silenced the entire room. The Dragon King looked at this calm, stern young man and thought: *Setting aside whether he is a spy, this youth truly possesses the extraordinary air of a leader. If he really is a spy, he will be a great scourge to the Three Realms in the future! I must find a way to eliminate him! Better to kill him by mistake than to leave a disaster behind!* The Dragon King pondered for a moment, and a scheme formed in his mind. Outside the Dragon Palace, there was a powerful barrier set up by the Dragon Lord of old during the salvation of the world, known as the "Heavenly Punishment Barrier" [In reality, these were just the remnants of the barrier Leng Jing had created when he went on a rampage at the Dragon Palace years ago]. However, the "Heavenly Punishment Barrier" required the soul of a vigorous dragon as a sacrifice to activate [this was a misconception]. Thus, it had remained dormant for a thousand years. The demon army’s tactic of torturing but not killing the dragon generals was surely because they feared the activation of this formation! Why not take this opportunity to send this youth into the formation to help activate the Heavenly Punishment, wiping out the demonic creatures in one fell swoop? His mind made up, the Dragon King took a jade pendant from his waist and handed it to Leng Jing. "This pendant is made of Myriad-Year Cold Ice. Inside is a Pill of Life Restoration. It can be taken in an emergency to increase one's cultivation or bring one back from the brink of death. I give this to you; perhaps it will be of use when you battle the demon army." Leng Jing took the pendant, the corners of his mouth curling slightly. He had seen this trick many times during his travels in the martial world. In truth, the pill inside was likely a lethal poison. Indeed, it was a deadly poison. The Dragon King hoped that Leng Jing would take the pill when he was heavily wounded by the demons. When he died, he would serve as the perfect sacrifice to trigger the Heavenly Punishment Barrier for a hundred miles around the Dragon Palace! Seeing Leng Jing accept the pendant without hesitation, the Dragon King bowed to him. "Brave warrior, please come with me to select a weapon!" Leng Jing shook his head. "No need." He glanced toward where Leng Qingqing and the white mink were hiding and performed the following actions: First, he swept his large sleeves and walked gallantly out of the hall, his silhouette appearing tragic and heroic. Then, the moment he exited the hall, he returned at a speed invisible to the naked eye, pulled Leng Qingqing and the white mink out, and left again. From beginning to end, no one noticed the presence of those two. Thus, Leng Jing exited the hall. The terrified Dragon Clan immediately slammed the heavy gates shut. Leng Qingqing and the others stood in the empty plaza. "Father, I made you worry just now," Leng Jing said softly, looking at Leng Qingqing, his arm already circling Leng Qingqing’s waist. He was not a completely heartless Dragon God. Making Leng Qingqing worry caused him a measure of regret. "It’s nothing," Leng Qingqing smiled blankly. Leng Jing felt that Leng Qingqing’s body was cool to the touch within his embrace—after all, he was a snake. Being held like that, Leng Qingqing was almost completely tucked into the chest of Leng Jing, who was a head taller than him. Leng Jing’s body temperature was different from his; it was warm and comfortable to lean against, which was why he liked to huddle against Leng Jing when they slept at night. This wasn't the first time he had been so close to Leng Jing, but being actively pulled into his arms made Leng Qingqing’s face flush involuntarily. His heart beat a little faster. He suddenly remembered the time before the time before last—he couldn't remember exactly when—when Xiao Jing had kissed him, his heart had raced just like this. How strange! Leng Qingqing lowered his head and followed silently behind Leng Jing toward the palace gates. The white mink let out a breath, pretending he hadn't seen a thing. Soon, they would face ten thousand horses and a thousand soldiers. As Leng Jing pushed open the heavy, mechanical gates of the Dragon Palace with both hands, he also opened the door to a new legend. *** **Glossary** Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation --- | --- | --- 相思海 | Sea of Yearning | Also "Sea of Lovesickness." A dangerous area at the center of the Seven Seas. 水晶烟玉 | Crystal Smoke Jade | A precious material used in the construction of the Dragon Palace. 赤晶莲花 | Red Crystal Lotus | Decorative bases for the pillars in the Dragon Palace. 天诛之界 | Heavenly Punishment Barrier | A legendary powerful formation surrounding the Dragon Palace. 起死丹药 | Pill of Life Restoration | A pill supposedly capable of reviving the dying, used as a ruse by the Dragon King. 万年寒冰 | Myriad-Year Cold Ice | A rare, extremely cold material used to make the jade pendant.