Volume Three: Twin Blossoms on a Single Branch, A Lone Tree Cannot Stand Chapter Two: The Dragon Palace

Between the Northern Lun Continent and the Central Divine Continent lies a vast expanse of azure waves known as the Kunpeng Sea. In the ancient demon mythology, the epic poem "Three Mountains and Four Seas" recounts: "After the divine beast Kunpeng vanquished the myriad evil creatures, it perished from exhaustion, and its buried bones transformed into a boundless misty sea, thus named Kunpeng Sea."

Deep within the very heart of the Kunpeng Sea, in the Dragon Palace at its greatest depth, Lin Xiaoyun paced anxiously in the grand hall, his face clouded with worry. Lin Liu, whom he had retrieved, was alive but remained in a state of deep slumber.

At this moment, a timid physician, garbed in red and white with a long-whiskered shrimp embroidered on his chest, stepped forward to report, "Your Majesty, the Fourth Prince remains unconscious, I fear... I fear..."

Lin Xiaoyun roared in anger, "Fear what? If my son dies, you will join him in the grave!"

The shrimp physician shuddered, prostrating himself on the floor, trembling as he spoke, "The Fourth Prince was wounded by the Thunderfire Dragon Pearl. Though his body is whole, his divine consciousness has vanished. I fear—" He faltered, unable to finish.

Lin Xiaoyun flung his robe sleeves, his voice harsh, "Fear what?"

The physician shrank back, stammering, "I fear he may never wake again."

A dragon’s roar burst from Lin Xiaoyun, reverberating through the depths, causing all fish and shrimp to quake in terror.

Lin Xiaoyun lamented, "Heaven seeks to destroy my dragon clan! Heaven seeks our ruin. My Song and Huai perished valiantly at the borders, their bones still unable to return home. Now Liu suffers this fate, lost to unconsciousness."

The shrimp physician suddenly interjected, "Your Majesty, you still have the Third Prince!"

Had he not mentioned Lin Bai, it might have been better, for at the name, the Dragon King’s fury ignited. He seized the physician by the throat, snarling, "Never speak to me of that traitor again! If not for the meddling of the Cloud Palace, Bai would never have turned against the Dragon Palace. From this day forth, my dragon clan stands in enmity with the Cloud Palace!"

The physician, gasping for air, managed to choke out, "There is still Lady Chen, she can summon back the Third Prince."

Lin Xiaoyun glanced at him, then decided killing the physician would serve no purpose and tossed him to the floor with a flick of his hand.

Snorting coldly, Lin Xiaoyun said, "That conniving consort! Yes, she is still alive. Perhaps she may be of some use."

Turning, he pointed at a young maid kneeling nearby. "Where is Lady Chen now?"

The maid immediately dropped to her knees, trembling, "I... I dare not say."

Lin Xiaoyun, instead of anger, smiled, "I ask you, and you refuse to answer—defiance of my command. Speak, quickly!"

The maid hesitated, then finally confessed, "Lady Chen is in Lady Si’s chambers."

Lin Xiaoyun snapped, "Nonsense! I frequently visit Lady Si, yet I have never seen Lady Chen. How dare you lie before me! Are you not afraid of death?"

The maid kowtowed repeatedly, explaining, "I only heard rumors; Lady Chen has always lived in the secret chamber within Lady Si’s quarters." Realizing her slip, she slapped herself desperately, crying, "I’ve spoken too much! I deserve death!"

Suspicious by nature, Lin Xiaoyun’s eyes flickered, and with a grunt, he swept his sleeves and left the hall, abandoning the kneeling servants.

He marched straight into Lady Si’s palace; she happened to be away. Lin Xiaoyun ordered a thorough search, and they eventually found the secret chamber behind the bookshelf.

Looking upon the woman he had once loved most, Lin Xiaoyun’s face showed guilt as he asked, "Are you... well?"

Lady Chen’s face was pallid, devoid of any color. She forced a bleak smile. "Thanks to Your Majesty’s grace, I still live."

Lin Xiaoyun was taken aback. "Shouldn’t you be cultivating quietly in your own chambers? Why—why are you here? Who brought you?"

Lady Chen struggled to kneel upright, her voice weak. "Lady Si claimed it was Your Majesty’s command that I move here. It has been three years, six months, and eight days."

Lin Xiaoyun feigned anger, "That wretched woman grows ever more insolent." He cast a sidelong glance at Lady Chen as he spoke.

Lady Chen replied calmly, "It was my own choice. When Bai committed his grave crime, had Lady Si not pleaded for him, Bai would not have survived to this day. As long as Lady Si is happy, I am willing to give her my life."

Lin Xiaoyun pondered for a moment before adopting a gentle demeanor. "You have suffered much these years." He reached out to help Lady Chen rise, but she quickly evaded, fearful. "Your Majesty must not—if Lady Si sees, I will be blamed."

Just then, a commotion sounded outside as Lady Si returned from her stroll, surrounded by attendants. Upon entering, she was startled by the scene, then seeing the Dragon King, she threw herself into his arms, feigning coyness. "Why has Your Majesty come to my palace so suddenly? I was unprepared."

Lin Xiaoyun snorted, pointing at Lady Chen on the floor, and demanded sharply, "What is the meaning of this?"

Lady Si turned gracefully, her voice sweet and coquettish. "That night when Lin Bai was deposed, I asked how you wished to deal with Lady Chen. You said I could do as I pleased. You cannot go back on your word now!"

The Dragon King cast a disdainful glance at Lady Chen, then pulled Lady Si aside, whispering, "You cannot dispose of her now. She must live, and live well."

Lady Si, impatient, shook her arm. "Why?"

Lin Xiaoyun explained with forced patience, "Now we have allied ourselves with the Dark Cry Clan, severing all ties with the Cloud Palace. They will soon seek revenge."

Lady Si was immediately alarmed. "What shall we do? We must flee! The farther, the better. Let us abandon this Kunpeng Dragon Lordship!"

Lin Xiaoyun hissed softly, "Look at your cowardice! We need not run. We hold treasures."

Lady Si looked at him in confusion, shaking her head.

Lin Xiaoyun patted her hand, saying, "The first treasure is the Desolation Cauldron in the Dragon Palace’s treasury. Whether the Dark Cry Clan or the Xuanhuang Clan, they all covet it."

Lady Si still shook her head, uncomprehending.

Lin Xiaoyun clicked his tongue, chiding, "How can you be so dense! Though we do not know how to use the Desolation Cauldron, we can hide it! Use it to threaten them—unless they offer us enough benefits, we will not reveal its location."

Suddenly enlightened, Lady Si exclaimed, "Oh! I see. Whichever side offers more, we sell them the treasure’s location."

Lin Xiaoyun chuckled smugly, "Both sides must pay, yet I will tell neither."

Lady Si poked the Dragon King’s forehead playfully. "Don’t forget me when the time comes!"

Lin Xiaoyun drew her into his arms, laughing heartily, "How could I? Am I so heartless and fickle?"

Both laughed together. Lady Si asked, "And the second treasure, Your Majesty? Where is it?"

Lin Xiaoyun caressed her smooth cheek, speaking mysteriously, "Far as the heavens, yet right before your eyes!"

Lady Si looked around and suddenly pointed at Lady Chen on the floor in shock. "Do you mean that woman?"

Lin Xiaoyun snorted, unabashedly declaring, "That conniving consort aided Lin Bai, that traitor. She stole my Tiger Talisman, helped him rebel. By rights, she should have been executed. If not for your pleas, she would not be here today. But now, the Cloud Palace and Dragon Palace are at daggers drawn. If war breaks out, the Dragon Palace will surely suffer. However, we can use this consort to threaten Lin Bai, who now leads the Cloud Palace and wields considerable influence. With Lady Chen in our hands, the Cloud Palace..."

"Will be forced to hold back!" Lady Si finished triumphantly.

Lady Chen, hearing their intent to use her as leverage against Lin Bai, summoned all her strength and cried, "You two are calamities upon the realm! Even in death, I will not let you use me to threaten Bai!" With that, she sprang up and dashed headlong towards the carved dragon pillar.

Lin Xiaoyun, unwilling to let her die, activated the Qi Fixing Pearl with sudden force, drawing Lady Chen back from the brink and throwing her heavily to the floor.

Lady Si cast a contemptuous glance at the sobbing Lady Chen, and ordered the fish and shrimp attendants, "Guard this wretch closely. If she seeks death, you all will accompany her."

The resplendent Dragon Palace shimmered with pearls and coral, but Lady Chen’s anguished cries transformed it into a hellish furnace that devoured all who entered.