“Hmm? It’s Black Catfish, why are you in the Clear Water Dragon Palace?”
Inside the Clear Water River Dragon Palace, a black dragon, with a body length of one hundred zhang, opened its eyes.
The dragon’s body shuddered, causing the entire Clear Water Dragon Palace to tremble.
Scarlet eyes, the size of stone lions, suddenly opened.
Countless clam girls and crab demons scurried back and forth in the Dragon Palace, constantly preparing for something.
Suddenly, a dragon whisker extended from the Dragon Palace, instantly pulling the Black Catfish River God inside.
By the time Black Catfish came to his senses, a huge, ferocious dragon head appeared before him.
Shrimp soldiers and crab generals, each holding a plate, rushed towards him.
The plates were filled with various fish and seafood, being poured into the dragon’s huge mouth.
“Gulp, gulp, just a bit of river delicacies, the taste is really terrible.
The human dynasty changes so quickly, not even a single human can I eat!”
The Black Dragon grumbled in dissatisfaction, making the shrimp soldiers and crab generals take away the plates.
He then swayed his body, transforming into a dragon-headed human form and looked towards the Black Catfish River God.
“Black Catfish, it’s not time for the Clear Water River Assembly yet, what are you doing here?”
The Black Dragon had dominated the Clear Water River for hundreds of years. Every three years, he would hold a Clear Water River Assembly.
Essentially, it was a gathering of the river demons and water monsters that lived in the Clear Water River.
They would come to offer tributes to the Black Dragon and engage in some transactions amongst themselves.
And the Black Catfish River God was merely a river general appointed by the Black Dragon to patrol the entire Clear Water River.
“Dragon King, your humble servant is here to seek your justice!
Your humble servant was patrolling near Zhao Village, when the villagers, being unruly and obstinate,
not only destroyed my water mansion, but also killed my patrol soldiers.”
“Oh? How dare mere villagers be so audacious?”
The Black Dragon looked at Black Catfish with suspicion, his eyes filled with distrust.
He had some impression of Zhao Village, but only because of a young child from the village.
He had unexpectedly obtained a broken Earth God Talisman.
While it might be quite troublesome for Black Catfish, it was nothing to him.
At most, he might feel curious that a mortal could gain recognition from a Earth God Talisman.
However, the Earth God position has its limits.
Especially since it was a broken Talisman.
As long as Black Catfish didn’t go ashore and enter the Zhao Village Land Temple, he had nothing to fear from that old geezer.
Seeing the Black Dragon's skeptical gaze, it was as if he was about to point his nose at Black Catfish and call him a good-for-nothing.
“Dragon King, your humble servant wouldn’t bother you,
but those villagers in Zhao Village, I don’t know where they summoned two female immortals from.
With a single strike of their flying sword, my generals were all slain instantly!
The flying sword shone with red light and was sharp as ice. Just one glance, and my heart and courage were shattered!”
Black Catfish cried and wailed, his complaints piquing the Black Dragon’s interest.
Just the aura emanating from it was enough to make Black Catfish, a terrestrial immortal water demon, tremble in fear.
This treasure was definitely no ordinary item.
However, the Black Dragon failed to notice the dark and sinister glint in Black Catfish's lowered head.
Take it, take it!
Once I get the incense offerings from Zhao Village,
everything will be mine in the future!
“Go back for now. I will investigate the truth and then provide justice for you!”
Although the Black Dragon was eager for the treasure, he also knew that countless powerful individuals existed in the Great Wilderness.
If he were to provoke any forces he shouldn't, his little dragon wouldn't be able to withstand it.
“Don't worry, Dragon King, your humble servant knows what to do.
This is a little token of appreciation from your humble servant, please accept it!”
“Hmm!”
The Black Dragon gave a faint nod, yawned again, and fell into a deep sleep.
...
The Great Tang Dynasty's Chang'an City, a simple two-courtyard house.
This was the residence of Wei Zheng, the Censor-in-Chief, who had been making waves in the court recently.
The usually diligent Wei Zheng was exceptionally busy, but now he wasn't dealing with government affairs.
Instead, he was staring at a letter, his mind in a daze.
“My husband, you’ve been looking at this letter for almost an hour, are you not done yet?”
Wei's wife walked in, carrying a bowl of chicken soup, and seeing Wei Zheng still looking at the letter, she chided him with a smile.
Wei Zheng finally put down the letter, rubbed his forehead, and replied.
“I finished reading the letter long ago, I noticed this matter some time ago.
But the trouble lies in the source of this letter!”
Wei Zheng sighed, the letter came from heaven, what did it mean?
Was it a warning to him, to be mindful of his stance?
Or was it a warning to the newly ascended emperor?
After all, the reputation of regicide and imprisioning one’s father was not a good thing, neither in heaven nor on earth.
The Great Tang Dynasty was currently facing internal and external troubles, with constant natural disasters.
It was hard to say if it was the handiwork of the Heavenly Emperor.
After all, the emperor, in theory, was the son of the Heavenly Emperor!
“Then don't hand it over!”
“I can't not hand it over. If I expose it, I can control it somewhat.
But if it is exposed by heaven... by those people, then it will no longer be an internal matter of the Great Tang!”
Hearing Wei Zheng’s words, Wei’s wife rolled her eyes and said with a disdainful smile.
“Since you have to hand it over anyway, why are you still lingering?”
“You're just a woman, what do you know! This matter...”
“Alright, alright, those big theories of yours, I, a little woman, don't understand, and I don't want to understand!”
Wei's wife put down the soup bowl, turned around, and walked away directly.
Wei Zheng was so angry that he puffed out his cheeks, but he could only continue scratching his head.
...
Zhao Village, Clear Water County, a purple figure descended gracefully.
“Big Sister, I'm back!”