Chapter 28: Punishment of the Heavenly Dao, The Long Whip of Shuiheng

Within the grand hall of the Dragon Clan, every gaze was fixed upon the mischievous little one. However, the expressions of the gathered dragons were impossible to describe, for they, too, had heard what the child said.

The Old Dragon King, overcome with fury, spun around and pointed at the child, roaring, "Long Shu, you little scoundrel, get over here this instant!"

Sensing danger, the little one bolted. "No! Have mercy, Father!"

"Catch him! If I don't punish him tonight, I am unfit to be the King of the Dragon Clan!"

"Yes!" The assembly bowed in unison, then set about the task of capturing the boy.

"No, Father..." The little one darted here and there, ducking and weaving, but being a mere tot not even as tall as a side table, he stood no chance against the long-legged, magically gifted generals of the Dragon Clan. Within moments, he was seized by the collar and hauled before the Old Dragon King.

The child kicked his dangling legs, his fair, cherubic face twisted in a pathetic, aggrieved expression as he wailed, "Ah... ah, let me go! I was wrong, Father, please spare me... I’ll never do it again, please don’t punish me!"

He did not even know what crime he had committed; he only knew that apologizing was his best hope.

Yan Yi, watching the scene, spoke up. "Since the Dragon King must attend to family matters, I shall take my leave." He still had to confront the Dragon Clan’s Third Prince, Long Kong, and that princess of the human Heavenly Wind Kingdom, Zhangsun Lucha.

"Lord Yama!" The Old Dragon King turned hastily, his body intercepting Yan Yi before his words could finish. "I have already ordered the finest Qiongyao Jade Nectar wine to be prepared. It would not be too late to stay for a cup."

The Dragon Clan elders nodded in agreement. "Indeed, Lord Yama, it is rare for you to visit us. You must allow us to fulfill our duties as hosts."

Yan Yi looked coldly at those blocking his path and stated bluntly, "How much longer do you intend to delay me, Dragon King?"

The smile vanished from the King's face, his expression stiffening and darkening, all pretense of hospitality stripped away.

"It is an indisputable fact that your Third Prince, Long Kong, has shielded the human Zhangsun Lucha. It is also known across the Four Seas and Eight Desolations that for her sake, he raided the Snake Clan’s Eternal Pearl Flower and slaughtered many within their underground palace."

The crowd’s countenances turned grim. Although what the Lord of the Underworld said was true, and they had indeed heard of the "good deeds" their Third Prince had committed, he was still the Third Prince of their clan. How could anyone be so arrogant as to lecture the host in their own home, enumerating their faults one by one? This Lord Yama truly gave the Dragon Clan no face at all.

Yan Yi cared nothing for their thoughts. He turned to depart from the Dragon Clan waters, saying, "Humans have human lifespans. Since someone has chosen to defy the heavens to alter her fate, they must bear the consequences that follow. She herself must also face the judgment of the Heavenly Dao."

"Lord Yama?!" The dragons were shocked. As they were about to plead for leniency, they watched him manifest and depart the waters, followed by his two great generals, Black and White Impermanence.

"What, what are we to do now..." The Dragon Clan elder turned pale, looking helplessly at the Old Dragon King. The Third Prince’s situation was dire indeed.

The Old Dragon King’s hands trembled as he watched the direction of Yan Yi’s departure, his heart filled with profound exhaustion and helplessness. He had done all he could for Kong’er; the rest now depended on the boy himself. He had never wanted his son to engage in such heaven-defying, scandalous acts, but the deed was done. What could he do? His children had grown, and none of them would listen to his discipline or guidance. He was tired—truly, deeply tired.

"Father! Father, put me down! I was wrong, I’ll never do it again!" The little one’s voice pulled the Old Dragon King from his thoughts.

The King turned, gritted his teeth, and commanded, "Bring me the water whip."

If he could not discipline Kong’er, he would certainly discipline this ten-thousand-year-old child! If he had seen correctly, the direction Yan Yi had taken led straight to the back waters of their realm. Did he not understand the intent behind that?

The little one kicked his legs even harder, his face turning pale with terror. "Father, please, don't punish me! I was wrong, I truly was!"

The Dragon Clan elder, casting a sympathetic glance at the child, sighed heavily and went to retrieve the clan's supreme treasure: the Water-Heng Long Whip. *The Ninth Prince is in for it now,* he thought.

"Father—" Long Zhen stepped forward, but before he could plead, the Old Dragon King cut him off.

"Hold your tongue! Anyone who dares to plead for him shall be lashed alongside him!" The other princes instantly fell silent, casting pitying looks at the little one. It was not that they, as older brothers, lacked the heart to help; they simply dared not.

"Dragon King," the elder said, bowing his head and presenting a dragon-carved wooden box.

Long Zhen could not help himself. "Father! Ninth Brother is still a child, he cannot withstand such punishment."

"Get out of the way." The Old Dragon King pushed him aside, opened the box, and snatched out the Water-Heng whip. He lashed it against the floor, creating a deafening "crack."

The little one burst into tears. "Father, I was wrong, I really won't do it again..."

The person holding him set him down. The child's legs went weak, and he collapsed to his knees before the King, weeping. "I will never run to the main hall again. Please, Father, spare me this once."

"It seems you still don't realize where your fault lies?" The King was trembling with rage. This scoundrel of a child said things he shouldn't and kept silent when he should have spoken. Not only had they heard the boy’s words, but Yan Yi had surely heard them too—how else would he have headed toward the back waters?

"Wuu wuu wuu, Father..." The little one looked up, his eyes red and brimming with confusion. He truly didn't know what he had done.

What had he done? He had only said one thing—!

The little one’s eyes widened suddenly as he realized his mistake. Was it because the secret he had shared with his second brother had been overheard by his father? Was his father blaming him for not stopping the Third Brother and that woman, allowing them to escape?

"Tell me! Do you deserve this punishment?" The King raised the whip high. Seeing the child’s terror, he softened the blow slightly.

*Crack!* The whip struck the child’s small, white shoulders. The icy aura of the blade-like whip tore through his clothes and bit into his skin, unleashing a searing, exquisite agony.

"Ah!" The little one threw his head back, tears rolling like pearls from the corners of his eyes.

It hurt. It hurt so much. He felt as if his entire shoulder had been severed; the pain was deep in his marrow, unbearable. And he was but a child of only one hundred thousand years.

"Father?!"
"Little Nine?!"
"Ninth Brother?!"

Long Zhen was the first to rush forward, shielding the child. "If you must punish someone, Father, punish me. I will take it for my brother."

The other brothers rushed over as well, kneeling in unison. "Please, Father, show mercy. Forgive Little Nine."

"Wuu wuu wuu..." The little one, overwhelmed by pain and grievance, gave up. He slumped onto the floor, his legs stretched out straight, playing dead like a little rogue. He cried as he lay there, "Wuu wuu wuu... Shu-er hurts so much... Father doesn't like Shu-er anymore... Father actually hit Shu-er, Shu-er doesn't like Father anymore!"

"Father?!" The brothers looked up at him, pleading once more. "Please, punish us instead!"

The Old Dragon King’s rage remained, but he could no longer vent it. Seeing the child in such agony, he could not bring himself to strike again.

"I can no longer control you all..." The King threw the whip down and vanished from the hall.

The brothers rushed to check on the little one. "Little Nine?" "Ninth Brother!" "Ninth Prince!"

The little one said nothing, lying silently on the floor, wiping away his tears. It was heartbreaking to watch. He would never like his father again. He was going to run away from home.