Chapter 658: Earth Dragon

Chapter 658: The Earth Dragon

Sun Baolu’s words snapped the agitated Yang Xiaohai back to reality.

“Senior Sister Bai has taken in quite a few goddaughters and godsons; the place is nearly full. What’s wrong, Brother Baolu? Are you thinking of moving to Niuxin Village?”

Sun Baolu glanced at his clansmen in the distance and lowered his voice. “The chief doesn't think there’s any danger, but I beg to differ. If the Later Shu kingdom truly falls to the Yuer State, Qingqiu will be next.”

“Though the Khan said he sent troops to aid Later Shu, I see it as a lost cause. This Yuer State comes with ferocious momentum. If the vast and wealthy Great Liang doesn’t step in, those two might not stand a chance. I need to find a way out for my people.”

At this point, a look of impatience crossed Sun Baolu’s face. “I honestly don’t know what that dog emperor of Great Liang is thinking. He doesn't even understand that when the lips are gone, the teeth grow cold. He still hasn't sent troops to help Qingqiu and Later Shu. Once both places are taken by the Yuer State, what can he do alone!”

“Brother Baolu, that dog emperor of Great Liang you speak of is Gao Zhijian.”

Hearing this, Sun Baolu’s eyes widened in astonishment. “He’s really the emperor? You weren't just bragging to me earlier?”

“I wasn’t bragging. I never lie to people.”

Sun Baolu ground his back teeth and pondered for a long moment before clapping his hands together in bitter frustration. “Sigh! What are those Great Liang people thinking, choosing a fool to be emperor? No wonder they won't send troops at such a critical moment. If Great Liang falls too, where are we supposed to hide from the ravages of war!”

“Brother Baolu, don’t think the worst. Perhaps this Yuer State isn't that formidable.” Untouched by the events of Great Liang, Yang Xiaohai appeared exceptionally optimistic.

“The grass of Qingqiu has turned yellow, which means the Eternal Heaven is enraged. Since the last natural disaster, Qingqiu has suffered numerous turnings of the Earth Dragon. My mother is right; it’s never a bad thing to be prepared. By the way, what is Senior Brother Li up to these days?” Though Senior Brother Li was somewhat mad, whenever trouble arose, he could always resolve it.

At this question, a trace of bewilderment flickered in Yang Xiaohai’s eyes. “I don’t know about that. In any case, just before I left, Senior Brother Li had replaced his head with a lotus root and was holed up in Niuxin Village, nursing his wounds.”

“Well then, I’ll see if I can write a letter to contact Senior Brother Li. Have a safe journey, take care, and if things really don’t work out, just come back.” With a pat from Sun Baolu on Yang Xiaohai’s shoulder, the carriage began to roll once more.

Originally, Sun Baolu’s mother had intended to keep the young couple for a meal before their departure, but upon learning that his own family was in danger, Yang Xiaohai did not wish to tarry for even a single moment.

By the time they departed from the vicinity of the tents, a dozen or so sheep had been hitched behind Yang Xiaohai’s carriage—a parting gift from Sun Baolu for their sustenance on the road.

Naturally, Yang Xiaohai would not accept them for nothing; he had Zhao Xiumei leave the gold bars inside Sun Baolu’s tent.

This journey lasted for several days. Yang Xiaohai moved slowly according to the map, but with yellowed grass stretching across the landscape, discerning their position proved exceedingly difficult.

Yet Sun Baolu had made it perfectly clear: so long as they traveled to the boundary between the grasslands of Qingqiu and the rocky desert of Later Shu, heading straight down would surely lead them to the river mouth.

“We should be getting close.” Gazing at the jagged, grotesque rocks in the distance and the yellowed plains nearby, Yang Xiaohai stroked the stubble newly sprouted on his chin, pondering with a touch of trepidation in his heart.

“Husband, have some mutton soup. The mutton from Qingqiu is very nourishing.” A steaming earthenware bowl was pressed into Yang Xiaohai’s hands.

He took it and swallowed a gulp, the warmth instantly enveloping his chilled body. Though it was seasoned with nothing but salt and wild herbs like Chinese scallions, the superb quality of the Qingqiu mutton was enough to mask any shortcomings.

“Pack up the leftover mutton and drain the blood completely. Though the cold weather means it won't spoil anytime soon, the scent of blood could still draw in some beasts.”

“Yes, I understand.” Zhao Xiumei felt that whenever the conversation turned to cooking, the eloquent Yang Xiaohai became particularly pleasing to the eye.

It was precisely because she had seen his rapt, effortless focus while preparing food that she had taken a liking to him in the first place.

After a hurried meal, the carriage wheels rolled on once more. Yet they had barely turned a few times when the horse pulling the cart suddenly ground to a halt, rearing its front hooves and letting out a piercing neigh, as though desperate to break free from its harness and flee for its life.

Meanwhile, the goats that had been following obediently behind the carriage instantly fell into a chaotic frenzy.

“What’s wrong? What is happening?” Faced with this sudden turmoil, Yang Xiaohai was at a complete loss for what to do.

With eyes full of dread, Yang Xiaohai opened his trembling mouth, but before he could utter a word, the ground beneath them began to violently shudder.

“The... the Earth Dragon is turning!! Get down!!” Zhao Xiumei lunged forward, throwing herself over Yang Xiaohai to shield him beneath her body.

In an instant, heaven and earth convulsed and the winds howled. This terrifying spectacle left the pair with no choice but to huddle helplessly into a trembling ball, waiting in despair and horror for the ordeal to pass.

When the tremors subsided slightly, Yang Xiaohai crawled out from beneath Zhao Xiumei and looked around, only to behold a sight of absolute awe.

The distant grasslands were actually undulating like waves of the sea; the entirety of Qingqiu seemed to have transformed into a vast, yellow ocean.

Just as he stood transfixed by the sight before him, a fissure that stretched from the farthest horizon tore open directly beneath their feet.

With a resounding crack, the crevice instantly widened into a gaping chasm, like the great maw of Qingqiu itself, swallowing the two of them along with the desperate cries that escaped their lips.

An unknown amount of time passed before Yang Xiaohai awoke in a daze. Disregarding all else, the first thing he did upon regaining consciousness was to search for Zhao Xiumei.

However, the dim environment, where he could barely see his own fingers, made it impossible to find her. “Xiumei! Xiumei!” Yang Xiaohai shouted into the darkness.

The echo was immense; the place seemed vast and empty. Yang Xiaohai looked up in terror, only to see pitch blackness. He seemed to be deep underground.

“Xiumei, where are you!!” Yang Xiaohai cried out, his voice laced with a tremor.

What lay beneath the earth of Qingqiu was self-evident. Trembling, Yang Xiaohai reached into his robes, only to find them empty; the decayed wooden ruyi that Senior Brother Li had given him for self-defense was gone.

This time, panic truly gripped Yang Xiaohai. He had known from Sun Baolu that Qingqiu would suffer the turning of the Earth Dragon lately, but he never expected the commotion to be so catastrophic—so immense that it would swallow them whole.

Just as Yang Xiaohai was pacing like an ant on a hot griddle, completely at his wit's end, he suddenly caught a sound coming from his left.

In this realm of blind darkness, and moreover beneath the earth of Qingqiu where malevolent entities swarmed, he did not dare to imagine what manner of thing might be lurking.

With his thighs shaking violently, he prepared to retreat, but right then, a simple and honest voice drifted over from that direction.

“I seem to recall hearing this voice somewhere before. Er, if I remember correctly, your name is Yang Xiaohai, isn't it?”

Hearing the other party actually call out his name, Yang Xiaohai’s suspended heart settled slightly, though he did not entirely lower his guard.

“Who... who are you?”

“It’s me.” The person spoke as he walked toward him.

Soon, Yang Xiaohai caught sight of a familiar face—it was the somewhat pale, bluish countenance of Scholar Lu.

—————

The next chapter will be updated at 23:30.

(End of this chapter)