After becoming an immortal, time became rather insignificant.
He stayed at the West Lake Dragon Palace, with the West Lake Dragon King’s enthusiastic hospitality, for about two months.
With the West Lake Dragon King footing the bill and providing manpower, the Dragon King Temple built by the West Lake was completed.
The temple was not large, and only enshrined Ao Qing.
At the completion ceremony, Ao Qing was pulled by the West Lake Dragon King to reveal his true form, circling above the temple twice.
This trick had a good effect.
Almost instantly, a massive amount of incense power fell from the sky onto Ao Qing’s head.
In the Water Palace, Hua Yun was circling around Ao Qing, her tiny face beaming with a smile that couldn’t be hidden.
On the other side, Xiao Qing, who had transformed back into human form, was also looking at Ao Qing with a mischievous smile.
Ao Qing was showered with the incense power like a waterfall, feeling a bit helpless. He reached out and pinched Xiao Qing and Hua Yun’s cheeks, giving them a gentle squeeze.
Xiao Qing was enjoying the spectacle, but she was suddenly pinched on the cheek by Ao Qing. She pouted and stared at Ao Qing with ill intent.
She seemed to have realized something over these days.
Ao Qing was clearly very strong, able to make the West Lake Dragon King directly admit defeat.
This showed that what they had said to each other when they first met must have been a lie from Ao Qing.
Thinking back to that day, when Ao Qing had held her in his hand and touched her entire body…
Cen Bi Qing glared at Ao Qing with hatred, her lips tightly pressed together, refusing to speak to him.
One day, when she became strong enough, she would also hold Ao Qing and play with him.
Hua Yun, who had her cheek pinched, covered her face with a look of resentment, but then burst into laughter.
“The incense power from mortals is mixed and impure, containing a lot of desires and malice. It usually needs to be refined for a long time before it can be used by humans.”
“When Ao Qing brother came to take up his post, he should have received an imperial seal from the Heavenly Court.”
“This imperial seal, as a certificate bestowed by Heaven upon brother, can be used to carry the incense power and automatically refine the impurities within.”
“And after the imperial seal is imbued with incense power, brother’s control over West Lake will also become stronger.”
Ao Qing waved his sleeve.
The golden imperial seal entwined with a green dragon flew out of his sleeve and hovered above his head, radiating a faint green glow.
The incense power falling from the sky had a place to go, pouring into the imperial seal.
As the incense power surged, the small golden seal began to radiate a mysterious aura, becoming more solemn and majestic in its bearing.
Vaguely, one could hear the prayers of countless mortals.
Looking at this golden seal.
A clear flicker of envy flashed in Hua Yun’s eyes.
Her bloodline was not pure. Without special opportunities, she might never be able to possess such a seal in her lifetime.
The former Dongting Dragon King had attempted to secure the position of West Lake Water Master for her, but without Heaven’s approval and the court’s official recognition, even with a temple, it would only be a heretical shrine.
Perhaps in a few years, it would be shattered by a thunderbolt, and the deity’s image would be destroyed.
With the West Lake Dragon King’s seal to carry the incense power.
Ao Qing would no longer have to bother with dealing with the incense power, only needing to fulfill his duties as the Dragon King.
…
Wu Zhong.
A three-section courtyard.
In the courtyard, a man and a woman looked at each other.
The man, dressed in a wealthy gentleman’s attire, had a round belly. He looked at the woman and sighed incessantly.
The woman was pale, her eyes dull, and her face, neck, and arms were covered in large and small red scars.
Seeing his wife’s distraught appearance.
Zhao Hong felt his heart breaking, but a nameless anger was burning in his chest.
He was the owner of a pawn shop in the area, and he had married a wife named Yan Shi. They had been a loving couple.
Until yesterday.
A servant girl rushed to the shop, frantically looking for him.
She said that his wife had been violated and was delirious, several times attempting to hang herself.
Zhao Hong, not daring to delay, returned home and finally calmed his wife down. He learned the truth from her.
It turned out that the night before, Zhao Hong had stayed at the shop and did not go home, leaving Yan Shi and a few maids at home.
After nightfall, a tall man claiming to be the Fourth Brother of the Five Way Gods, drove away the maids and raped Yan Shi.
Hearing that it was the Five Way Gods.
The anger in Zhao Hong’s heart instantly dissipated, and he couldn’t utter a word.
Seeing her husband’s reaction, Yan Shi understood that he was afraid of the Five Way Gods’ reputation.
The woman’s smile was bitter, she pointed at Zhao Hong, and tears flowed down her cheeks. She didn’t say anything else, but got up, dragging her heavy steps towards the courtyard.
Not long after.
A servant girl, pale-faced and crying, ran in from outside.
“Master! Madam jumped into the river!”
Zhao Hong’s face turned pale, but a sense of relief arose in his heart.
Yan Shi was dead.
He wouldn’t have to worry about this family scandal being exposed.
…
“Hey, Miss, look, there’s a woman jumping into the river.”
As her body fell into the icy water.
In Yan Shi’s hazy consciousness, there remained only resentment towards Zhao Hong and the Five Way God.
Her soul, vaguely, felt a warm embrace.
At that moment, a gentle woman’s voice sounded beside her.
“So many scars on your body, such a poor woman. Let’s take her with us.”
Another lively voice chimed in.
“Miss, aren’t we going to congratulate the new West Lake Dragon King?”
The woman called Miss had a clear and melodious voice, her tone calm as she said:
“I’ve heard Father speak of this West Lake Lord.”
“In Father’s words, he is a man of exceptional character, appearance, and talent.”
“I think such an outstanding man wouldn’t turn away such a pitiful woman.”