Chapter 225 - 124: The Dragon Maiden’s Manifestation! Fist and Foot, Weaponry, Archery, Daoist Skill—None in the Residence Are My Equal

Chapter 225: Chapter 124: The Dragon Maiden’s Manifestation! Fist and Foot, Weaponry, Archery, Daoist Skill—None in the Residence Are My Equal

But no one had expected... this.

And it wasn’t just them.

Even Duan Chenzhou himself was stunned.

He watched, wide-eyed, as the Wild Flood Dragon shed blood and retreated as if it had seen a ghost.

His confidence had been sky-high, but now he couldn’t help but look down at his blade, a flicker of doubt in his eyes.

’Could it be...’

’Have I been underestimating my own strength?’

’A Flood Dragon... is truly no match for me?!’

However, in the next moment,

the frantically retreating Wild Flood Dragon put a hundred feet between itself and the pier, prostrating itself in the boundless Vast Sea. Its voice was low and muffled:

"Cangming..."

"greets the Dragon Monarch!"

Dragon Monarch?

Where did a Dragon Monarch come from?

The moment he said this, the Grandmasters and disciples from the Prefecture froze. And then...

They saw a young woman on the pier behind Duan Chenzhou pull back her hood.

A cascade of tied-up, bluish-green hair was revealed. A fine necklace adorned her throat, and she wore a flowing, water-like gown. As she walked, the hem of her dress seemed to condense into a liquid curtain, hovering three inches above the ground, unstained by dust.

She walked forward, step by step... just like the Dragon Maiden Young Monarch from the Water Monarch’s Mansion described in the legends. The onlookers’ breathing grew heavy, and then it caught in their throats.

A...

A living, breathing Dragon Descendant of the East Canghai!?

"Cangming, you showed some talent back then. You received my father’s grace and were permitted to enter the Water Monarch’s Mansion for Cultivation."

"But on my eldest brother’s birthday, you carelessly shattered the Bright Moon Jade Cup of the Water Monarch’s Mansion. For this, you were expelled and forbidden from returning to the deep sea for a Hundred Years."

"You’ve only been out for a few years... Have you already forgotten the rules established between the East Canghai and the Great Xuan?"

"It seems that once a Flood Dragon leaves the sea, its nature truly runs wild. Cangming, from the looks of it... do you have no intention of returning after the Hundred Years are up?"

Bai Shuo spoke calmly, her words deliberate. The Mirage Earrings on her left ear swayed gently in the breeze.

In the distance, the prostrated Cangming Monarch had lost all of his earlier storm-raising arrogance. Instead, his draconic teeth chattered:

"Young Lord, Cangming made a grave error. While wandering the shallows, I’ve had sleepless days and nights. My only thought... has been to atone for my crimes and earn my way back to the Mansion!"

Cangming Monarch had heard the accusations from the Jiangyin Grandmasters clearly, but he treated them as empty words, pretending they didn’t exist.

’What a joke.’

’The moment she showed her face, I recognized her with a single glance. It’s the noble Dragon Maiden Young Monarch of the Water Monarch’s Mansion!’

’Compared to a peripheral, mixed-blood Flood Dragon like me, her bloodline is several echelons purer!’

’It’s no exaggeration to say.’

’With a single word from Bai Shuo, the crime I committed all those years ago... could be wiped clean!’

’Compared to that...’

’...my role as Tributor for the ’Fishing Trade’ is utterly insignificant.’

’I may be a Flood Dragon who values his reputation and keeps his promises, but that depends on who I’m dealing with.’

’If the person the Fishing Trade wants me to deal with happens to cross this young lady...’

’Then, for the sake of atoning for my crimes, I’d turn on them in a heartbeat!’

’It’s a matter of principle!’

’But why would a being like her appear in a remote County in Great Xuan? And how could I be so unlucky as to be caught red-handed by her, right when I was breaking the rules?’

Cangming Monarch was growing more uneasy by the second...

In the next moment, Bai Shuo smiled, her lips parting slightly.

"Oh?"

"So, you do want to go back..."

Her voice was drawn out, and she paused deliberately before glancing at Ji Xiu. Then, her beautiful eyes shifted to the arrivals from Jiangyin Prefecture.

"Then are you aware that the person you came to assassinate is the master of this Young Lord’s dearest friend?"

’By my count, I’ve been away from the Mansion for quite a while now. Even with my aunt covering for me, I probably can’t hide it for much longer.’

’And now, at the last minute, to think I’d find a Great Flood Dragon, one who’d previously made a mistake at the Water Monarch’s Mansion, stirring up trouble here and trying to make an enemy of Ji Xiu and his disciple...’

’An idea sparked.’ She decided to reveal her identity, stunning the entire crowd and stealing the show.

As all eyes focused on her, Bai Shuo glanced to the side at Ji Xiu, who was seeing her in her full glory for the first time. The corners of her lips curled up, and she huffed playfully.

"So, kid. You’re saying I *still* can’t get a rise out of you?"

Never mind Ji Xiu’s reaction.

’Dearest friend!’

Cangming Monarch looked at the black-clad youth standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Bai Shuo and nearly fainted.

’The Young Lord’s dearest friend!’

’If I offend him, won’t all my hopes of returning to the Water Monarch’s Mansion be completely dashed?!’

BOOM!!

At that thought, a towering wave erupted from his massive draconic body.

Enraged, Cangming Monarch whipped his tail, slamming it towards the four great Jiangyin ships that flew the banners of the Grand Lineage and the Daoist Temple.

"You lot..."

"You dared to make *me* come here and cause trouble for a friend of my own lineage’s Young Lord?!"

"You must be tired of living!"

’What does ’dearest friend’ mean in this context?’

’That young man is incredibly handsome. Standing next to Young Lord Bai Shuo, he doesn’t look the least bit out of place. He looks just like the destined one in a ’Dragon Maiden choosing her husband’ story!’

’What does that imply?’

’The future son-in-law of the Water Monarch’s Mansion! One of the future Leaders of the entire East Canghai!’

’If I offend someone like that...’

’Then even after the Hundred Years, I’ll probably never have a chance to return to the Water Monarch’s Mansion!’

’And the instigator of all this is the ’Fishing Trade’!’

In an instant, whatever goodwill Cangming Monarch had for the Fishery Chen Family—earned through their constant offerings—plummeted into negative numbers.

His vertical pupils blazed with murderous intent as he glared at the four Grandmasters!

"This is bad!"

In that instant,

Duan Chenzhou, the Celestial Blade in hand, stood beneath the full moon.

And Cangming Monarch, riding the wind and waves, was about to capsize the four great ships... Both of them were attacking at once!

The four great ships shuddered, and just as they were about to be capsized,

Chen Chuhe of the Fishery Chen Family—a Dragon Head of his district known as Third Master Chen—roared in fury. With a single punch, he sent out a Qi Wave to stabilize the ships. In the next instant, he shot into the air, hurtling toward the Flood Dragon.