Chapter 383: Dragon King Grandfather

Chapter 383: Grandfather Dragon King

Li Huowang gently stroked the top of the steamed bun’s head with his hand, gazing through the semi-transparent black veil toward the direction the little girl had gone, a trace of envy flickering in his heart.

If only he could return to that time when he knew nothing at all—how wonderful that would be.

Just as he thought this, there came a dull *clunk*, and the ship’s cabin lurched violently to the left. The people fighting in the distance instantly clutched one another, tumbling like rolling gourds across the deck.

Li Huowang, who had just plunged his sword into the floor, stretched out his hand and grabbed the tail of the steamed bun.

“With such a huge wave, will the carriage down below be alright?”

Thinking of what might happen if Heitaizi broke free inside the cabin, Li Huowang grew anxious. He didn’t wait for the ship to settle again—he stumbled toward the horse’s tail.

When he saw the carriage he’d nailed down was undamaged, and the horse tied beside it, blindfolded and quietly chewing its feed, he finally exhaled.

After carefully inspecting the carriage’s base, Li Huowang felt reassured and turned back to rejoin the others.

But when he returned to the cabin, he was stunned to find that everyone who had been there moments before had vanished entirely, leaving only scattered long leaves.

*Bang!* Another dull impact shook the entire cabin, sending it tilting violently once more.

“What’s going on?” Li Huowang frowned, sensing something amiss. Gripping his sword hilt, he rushed toward the deck.

As soon as he stepped out, he was drenched by a torrential rain. The crew hadn’t disappeared—they were gathered on the deck, listening to the boat captain, jumping up and down in agitation.

“Get your sorry butts out here!! Who the hell reported a false name? Do you know that because of you, we’re all gonna become fish food!”

*Bang!* The ship tilted again, causing everyone aboard to panic and shout frantically.

Li Huowang also sensed something odd. Though it was pouring rain, the sea around them showed no waves at all. It was as though the ship’s tilt was caused by some external force.

He quickly moved to the edge of the ship and peered into the water. Perhaps due to the dark clouds overhead, the once deep blue sea had turned an eerie, pitch-black green.

*Bang!* The ship shuddered violently again. Li Huowang saw a vague black shape dart beneath the surface, followed by strands of black hair swaying from the depths, rising to the surface.

“There really is something in the water.” Thinking of something similar to the river god lurking beneath, Li Huowang’s mood soured considerably.

Nothing had happened on the journey, and now, just as they were almost there, trouble struck again.

As Li Huowang pondered how to proceed, he heard a series of knocks behind him.

The boat captain, blood streaming from his forehead, had already drawn a gleaming long blade from his waist, shouting in desperation:

“Who the hell is it?! Who lied about their name?! If you don’t come out, I’ll kill you all!”

Clearly terrified, the man with the bandaged forehead pointed to a pale-faced woman beside him.

“It’s her! I heard her call her daughter by her childhood name! Her daughter is named Chen!”

The boat captain, as if grasping a lifeline, rushed forward and seized the little girl from the woman’s arms—the same girl who had given Li Huowang candy earlier.

“Ah, so you’re from the family of Chen! You dare board my ship! You should’ve known the Grandfather Dragon King wouldn’t let you live!”

“What are you doing?! Let go of my daughter!!”

“What am I doing? The Grandfather Dragon King has come knocking! What else do you think I’m doing? Let go!”

Shrieks, screams, and the child’s crying merged into chaos amidst the heavy rain.

*Bang!* The ship lurched again, and everyone panicked, urging the woman to release the child.

Seeing the chaos unfold before him, Li Huowang was about to speak when a low voice cut through the air.

“How can you throw a child into the sea to feed a demon? Are you even human?”

“Huh?” Li Huowang looked up and recognized the speaker—a man among those who had played cards earlier, the one with the best poker face, a bearded bald man.

Seeing someone step forward, Li Huowang paused, deciding to observe rather than intervene. If someone could handle it, he preferred to stay out of it.

The boat captain wiped the rain from his face and shouted at the man:

“You talk easy! The Grandfather Dragon King is right there in the water! My ship won’t hold up much longer—we’ll all drown!”

“Throw the child in! Do you think that thing in the water will leave?”

“Of course not! That Grandfather Dragon King only eats people with the surnames Chen or Fan! Once it eats them, we’ll survive!”

“Foolish ignorance! Get out of my way!” The bearded man shoved the boat captain aside and strode to the bow, his hands forming seals over the black sea as if chanting something.

Though he appeared ordinary, he clearly possessed skill.

Li Huowang considered for a moment and walked over, asking with concern, “Are you sure?”

“If I wasn’t confident, I wouldn’t have come! A man mustn’t cower behind others while watching a child die for him!”

Li Huowang glanced back at the little girl in his mother’s arms, nodding slightly. “Well said. Well said.”

The bearded man looked at Li Huowang’s strange appearance with confusion. “Brother, who are you? Which sect or school do you belong to?”

Before Li Huowang could answer, the ship lurched again, and a horrifying creaking sound echoed from beneath.

The boat captain’s voice rang out in panic: “The ship won’t last much longer! What are you waiting for? Just do it!”

Li Huowang removed his hat, stepped onto the rail, and looked down at the increasing strands of black hair on the water’s surface. “Whatever’s down there, we’ll act together. Hope that helps.”

The bearded man stared at Li Huowang’s bald head without skin and slowly nodded.

“The beast is coming! Prepare!”

Li Huowang drew his copper coin sword and crouched slightly.

The bearded man didn’t hesitate, pulling out a string of Buddhist beads and wrapping them around his fingers.

A shadow emerged from the dark green sea once more. With a sudden leap, Li Huowang dove into the water.

Before he hit the surface, the black hair on the water rose like living things, wrapping around him.

“Om Tare Pandara Hrih!”

The copper coins, tarnished with green, split apart, flashing with cold light. The black hair was instantly severed into pieces and went still.

Li Huowang took a deep breath and plunged into the icy saltwater.

As the seawater soaked his skinless body, burning like oil in a fryer, his whole body trembled in agony.