Chapter Twenty-Seven: Hou Shui Departs, A Secret Revealed

Dragon Clan
Underwater—Mirror Bright Palace

"How are you feeling? Is there any discomfort?" Long Kong asked, looking at the woman before him with concern.

The woman lay on the bed, her breath shallow and her face etched with exhaustion. She wore a soft, powder-colored, strapless gauze dress, layered with a long, white, feather-like, wide-sleeved robe. Her dark hair was neatly swept up, revealing a fair, delicate complexion, though her soft lips lacked even a hint of color.

"Long... Long Kong," she clutched his arm, her chest aching intensely, her body devoid of strength. "I... I think I am..."

"What is it?" Long Kong gripped her hand tightly, terrified that she might not be able to withstand the immense spiritual power of the Longevity Pearl Flower, which could lead to sudden aging or frailty. This was the outcome he feared most and hoped never to see.

She leaned against him weakly, gasping, "I feel—I feel a terrible pain in my chest, as if... as if I am dying."

"How can that be?" Long Kong quickly helped her sit upright, his hands weaving a spell. "I will heal you at once."

"No—" Changsun Lucha tried to stop him, but she was far too slow compared to his magic.

"Boom." A powerful, warm, blue-violet light surged into her body, rushing toward her heart and chest, bringing waves of warmth and a comforting sense of healing. Her body instantly felt as if the wounds had been soothed; the suffocating discomfort from moments ago vanished.

Long Kong slowly lowered his hands and steadied her, asking, "Do you feel better now?"

"Much better," Changsun Lucha nodded, but the thought of him exhausting more of his cultivation for her filled her with endless worry. "But your injuries..."

"My injuries will heal in a few days. The important thing is whether you can fully absorb the spiritual energy of the Longevity Pearl Flower."

Changsun Lucha shook her head gently and offered a pale smile. "I am fine. Do not worry."

"Third Royal Brother—"
"Third Royal Brother—!!"

Someone was shouting for him frantically outside the palace. Moments later, his figure appeared before them.

"Third Royal Brother, it is a disaster!"

Long Kong and Changsun Lucha exchanged a look. They both stepped off the bed. "Sixth Brother, what has happened?"

The Sixth Prince of the Dragon Clan, Long Xian, said hurriedly, "The Ghost Clan... His Highness the King of Hell has arrived! He insists that you hand over the Royal Sister-in-law!"

"Who did you say?" Long Kong’s expression darkened instantly. What were they thinking? Once or twice was one thing, but a third time? And for the King of Hell himself to come?

Long Xian was so anxious he was practically dancing with agitation. "Oh, Brother! Hurry and take the Sister-in-law away! Father is currently stalling him in the main hall, but none of us are his match!"

In this world, only His Highness Yuheng could contend with the King of Hell. They could handle others, but against the King of Hell, failure was certain.

"Shall we... leave?" Changsun Lucha met his gaze, her eyes rimmed with red, tearful light. She truly did not want him to suffer any more harm on her account. She knew that he had been severely injured while retrieving the Longevity Pearl Flower for her, and it was likely his very life force had been damaged.

She dared not imagine what would happen if he had to face the rumored iron-fisted, cold-blooded, and heartless King of Hell.

Long Xian nodded repeatedly, echoing, "Yes, Brother, please, take her and go."

Long Kong considered his own injuries; he was indeed in no state to face the King of Hell of the Ghost Clan. "Very well. I will take you away."

"Yes, hurry." Long Xian glanced behind him, and seeing no movement, he felt a sense of relief. He turned back to them, speaking earnestly, "Leave through the Immersed Heart Waters. It will lead you directly to the Spirit Pool Abyss in the depths of the Demon Realm. The King of Hell should not be able to find you there."

"Understood. If there is any movement from the Dragon Clan, remember to communicate with me via the Spirit Sound Shell."

"Yes, rest assured, Brother."

Long Kong nodded, grasped Changsun Lucha’s hand, and turned to leave through the rear waters of Mirror Bright Palace.

The bedchamber fell silent. Long Xian clenched his hands, watching the direction they had departed, his heart filled with worry. *Brother, you and the Sister-in-law must stay safe.*

...

Front Main Hall
Main Hall of the Pure Water Palace

"What is the meaning of this, Dragon King?" Yan Yi looked at the old Dragon King blocking his path, his expression darkening.

The Dragon King glanced behind him, and seeing that the person had slipped away silently, he raised his eyes to the man before him. "That the King of Hell has come here is our Dragon Clan's failure to welcome you properly. Why not let Your Highness rest a while? I shall have fine wine, delicacies, music, and dance prepared to welcome your arrival."

Yan Yi knew he was stalling, but he decided to grant him some face. "The Dragon King's invitation is generous, and I should comply, but I have urgent business from the Underworld to attend to. I hope the old Dragon King will be accommodating."

"What urgent business could bring the King of Hell to the Dragon Clan?"

"The Dragon Clan recently brought back a princess of the Human Clan. Her lifespan has ended. I trust the old Dragon King is aware of this?"

"Oh?" The old Dragon King looked at him with feigned confusion and smiled slowly. "I truly know nothing of this."

"Is that so?" Yan Yi clearly did not believe him, but he did not expose the lie.

Behind him, Bai Chang nearly laughed out loud. How could the dignified King of the Dragon Clan not know what his own son had done? He was simply trying to protect him. What a difficult old fox.

The old Dragon King turned, his majesty fully displayed, and shouted angrily, "Where is Kong'er? Tell him to come out at once and face the King of Hell!"

"Dragon King, please calm your anger," a Dragon Clan elder pleaded quickly. "The Third Prince must have been bewitched by that human enchantress, which led to this great mistake."

"Yes, Dragon King, please do not blame the Third Prince."
"That’s right, Father, Third Brother hasn't done anything wrong."
"Exactly, what does this have to do with Third Brother? He only wanted a Longevity Pearl Flower."

Most of the Dragon Clan members were pleading for the Third Prince, Long Kong, including the Fourth, Fifth, Seventh, and Eighth Princes. Only the Second Prince, Long Zhen, remained silent, watching it all with a calm, unmoved heart.

Bai Chang muttered softly behind them, "They are certainly good at shifting the blame."

"Bai Chang?!" Hei Chang warned her in a low, sharp voice. Whatever these Dragon Clan members were like, it was not her place to judge them. Did she not realize they were in the Dragon Clan, not the Underworld?

Second Prince Long Zhen heard her words and glanced toward the source of the sound. He saw Bai Chang lower her head, aggrieved, and whisper, "I know, Brother."

*Bai Chang, Hei Chang...* Rumor had it they were the right and left arms of the King of Hell. Either one of them was not to be trifled with. For the King of Hell to bring both of them along meant that Long Kong’s tribulation would likely be inescapable.

Long Zhen lowered his head, deep in thought. If that were the case, the Dragon Clan might soon be at odds with the Ghost Clan. He wondered just how much of Long Kong’s heart for that woman was true, and how much was false.

If his heart were truly full of her...

"Second Brother," a small, chubby child scurried out from behind a golden dragon-carved pillar.

Long Zhen turned, watching the little one crouch low and move gingerly like a cat.

"I have a secret to tell you."

"What secret?" Long Zhen leaned down, shielding the child from view. From behind him, one could not spot the adorable, sprite-like little fellow.

The child raised his head, covering his mouth with both small hands, and whispered as loudly as he could, "Third Royal Brother and that woman left through the clan's rear waters—mmph!!"

Long Zhen quickly grabbed the child's arm and covered his mouth, blocking the rest of his words. "Shut up." The little one truly had no concept of time or place, blurting out secrets right here.

Yan Yi suddenly turned, his gaze cutting through the crowd and locking onto the child. His eyes narrowed, brimming with danger. His cultivation was higher than everyone present; he could hear even the quietest words whispered in any corner of the palace.

The crowd saw him turn and followed his gaze, crying out in shock, "Ninth Highness?"

The little one struggled and hummed, not understanding why his Second Brother was covering his mouth. Had he said something wrong?

Long Zhen released the child with a headache and spoke in a low voice, "If Father punishes you, take it."

The little one: "?!" *Why punish me? What did I do?*