Chapter 53: The Great Serpent Arrives, and It Will Always Be Here

Outside the dungeon exit.

Lu Qing glanced at the sky where the rosy clouds had dispersed and the blazing sun hung high. He hurriedly stood up, his expression looking quite bad as he said, "Oh no, three hours have passed."

It was time for the patrols.

"What should we do then?" The little bun looked as though she were about to cry with anxiety. "If this keeps up, my Father Lord will definitely find out that we came out of prison today."

She had no idea how they would be punished when that time came.

"He won't come."

A cold, deep voice suddenly came from behind them, causing the two of them to turn around in shock.

"B-Big Snake?" The little bun looked at the sudden figure before her in disbelief.

He stood beneath the peach grove, tall, slender, noble, and elegant. He was dressed in a dark-colored cloud-patterned long robe with wide sleeves, his waist bound with a peacock-blue gold-threaded spider-patterned belt. His black hair was tied up and secured with a jade-inlaid peachwood hairpin, revealing a perfectly sculpted face as flawless as white porcelain.

It truly fit the description: a noble gentleman, lustrous like gold or tin, polished like a scepter of jade. Now that she saw him, she would truly never forget him.

Matched with this grove of tender and vibrant peach blossoms, it was a breathtakingly celestial sight.

Lu Qing snapped back to his senses and asked in astonishment, "What big snake? Little imp, you know him?"

The little bun nodded happily. Her body moved faster than her mouth as she ran toward him. "He is the Han Mo I told you about, the big snake."

"He is Han Mo?" Lu Qing looked over with a scrutinizing gaze. Was this the newly ascended King of the Snake Clan, Han Mo?

It was his first time seeing him.

Before Lu Qing could make anything of it, he saw the little bun beaming with joy.

"Why are you here, Big Snake? Did you come to play with me?"

The person before her gave a cold, indifferent shake of his head. "No, I am here to cultivate."

His injuries had not yet fully healed, and coupled with the abundant spiritual energy of the Peachwood Source, he had come here to cultivate and strengthen his heart-source power.

"Cultivate?" Seeing that he hadn't come for her, the little bun showed no disappointment. Instead, she asked him with an eager face, "Cultivate what? Spells?"

"Heart-source."

"Heart-source?" The little bun scratched her head in confusion. "Is your heart-source power injured? Why do you need to cultivate?"

Han Mo nodded, then asked, "Are you two not going back?"

"Um—no." The little bun flicked her flowing long hair, shook her head, and replied, "White Radish hasn't come back yet. We can't leave him behind."

"He cannot come back."

The little bun was startled and bewildered. "C-Cannot come back?"

Lu Qing also walked over. "What does that mean? Why can't he come back?"

"He is trapped in the Dragon Palace dungeon and cannot get out for now. You two should go back first."

Just as the little bun was about to speak, Lu Qing said vigilantly, "Why would he be trapped in the Dragon Palace dungeon? And how do you know?"

"There is no need to tell you." Han Mo turned and left, looking utterly indifferent.

"Hey, Big Snake!" The little bun hurried forward and grabbed the hem of his robe. "Is White Radish in trouble now? Do we need to go rescue him?"

Han Mo shook his head. "No need. I am already finding ways to rescue him. For now, his life is not in danger. Rest assured."

***

Lu Qing: "?!"

Did this guy practice personal discrimination?

He wouldn't say a thing when Lu Qing asked, but he answered the little imp?

"What about you?" The little bun hurriedly asked about his condition, looking worried. "You haven't told me why you need to cultivate your heart-source power. Is your heart-source injured?"

"No." He pulled his robe hem back from her grip, his expression somewhat unnatural, and urged her to leave. "Hurry and go, or else it will become a crime for three people."

If the two of them went back now and managed to avoid detection, they would at least be safe.

Otherwise, missing the hour meant both of them would face punishment.

"But you..." The little bun wanted to say more, but Lu Qing at her side quickly crouched down and scooped her up into his arms.

"Aiyo, what are you chatting with him for? We should hurry back to the dungeon. Your little uncle here does not want to be scolded by your Father Lord."

"No—"

"Hurry, hurry, maybe they've already noticed we're missing."

The little bun anxiously kicked her little legs, clinging to Lu Qing's arm, and shouted toward Han Mo behind them, "Big Snake, will you stay here all the time? When I come out next time, will I still be able to see you?"

Lu Qing ran at full speed while holding her, mocking her, "You haven't even gone back yet, and you're already thinking about coming out again?"

"Big Snake..." Seeing that he didn't answer her, the little bun's voice sounded somewhat pitiful.

"Alright, little imp, we're almost at the exit."

"Big Snake..."

Lu Qing's figure holding her gradually vanished within the Peachwood Source.

Han Mo gently opened his mouth: "I will be here."

At least he would be here for this period of time.

Hearing this, the little bun curled the corners of her lips in joy and cheered, "Yay!"

Lu Qing carried her out of his sight and entered the dungeon.

Han Mo faintly twitched the corners of his mouth, finding it somewhat amusing.

However, when he lifted the hem of his robe to reveal the lower half of his body—a thick, patterned snake tail that had partially morphed back—the smile on his face vanished, instantly turning cold and gloomy.

Dragon Kong, if I do not avenge this, I am no gentleman.

If not for his gift, he would not have been reduced to this ugly, semi-morphed state nearing metamorphosis.

It was a pity that his heart-source power was damaged, leaving him unable to control his physical form, causing him to occasionally revert into a snake demon.

As for when he could return to human form, it would depend on his absorption of spiritual energy and the recovery of his heart-source power in the coming days.

As for the Dragon Palace side...

***

Dragon Palace

Underground Dungeon

A pearly-white seashell was kicked into the air, fiercely flying toward the guarding soldier.

"Aiyo, which bastard dares to throw things at your lord?" Su Li, the guard at the door, held his head in pain and cried out angrily.

The little person who had thrown it stood before him, exuding majesty, his gaze turning cold. "What did you say?"

Su Li rubbed his head, and upon seeing the small figure standing before him, his eyes widened as he gasped in shock, "N-Ninth Highness?"

Long Shu let out a cold snort and strode into the dungeon. "You still know I'm the Ninth Highness?"

"N-No, I wouldn't dare, your subordinate wouldn't dare."

"Take me to the place where the Fifth Brother locked up the member of the Demon Clan today."

Su Li rushed forward to block him. "Th-This, without the Fifth Highness's orders, Ninth Highness, I'm afraid you cannot enter."

"What, even this prince cannot?" The little one once again projected his unique dignity and the oppression of his status.

"No, H-Highness, forgive me. It's not that this subordinate won't let you in, it's—it's that the Fifth Highness forbade it."

Long Shu stared up at him, the corners of his small lips curving into a devilish smile. "You mean, because you're afraid of the Fifth Brother, you're not afraid of me going to complain to Father Lord about your crime of disrespect toward me just now?"

He had heard him cursing just now with both of his ears, very clearly!!

Su Li's expression turned bitter. "H-Highness?"

Long Shu reached out his little hand and shoved him hard. "Step aside! I want to see just how formidable this member of the Demon Clan is, to have toyed with my Fifth Brother like that?"

"Ninth Highness?"

"This prince is going in right now to teach him a lesson and avenge my Fifth Brother."

"Ninth Highness?!"

Su Li was frantic with worry, yet powerless to stop him, so he had no choice but to follow him into the dungeon.

When they reached the door of the cell where the demon was being held, there were no other guarding soldiers around at all.

They must have intended to throw this demon here, ignore him completely, and let him rot in captivity.

"Open it." The little one pointed at the large lock before him and commanded.

Su Li said bitterly, "Highness, r-really cannot enter..."

The little one raised his foot and kicked him. "Open it for this prince!"

"Yes, yes, yes, s-subordinate will open it for you right now."

Su Li feared that his backside would suffer next and his brain would stop working along with it, which would truly spell disaster.

Since his forehead had already taken a hit, he had better protect his backside while he still could.

"Clang—" The heavy cell lock was opened.

Just as Su Li was about to push the door open and enter with him, he saw the small figure behind him dash forward at lightning speed, slamming the cell door shut with a loud *bang*, leaving him holding the heavy iron chain outside, looking utterly dazed.

Inside the dungeon

As soon as Long Shu entered, he greeted cheerfully, "Hello there..."