Zeng Shushu

Zeng Shushu

After the drawing of lots, the disciples began returning to rest and prepare for tomorrow's martial arts matches. Several Peak Lords remained behind with Dao Xuan Zhenren.

Dao Xuan swept his gaze over the other six people around him and said evenly, "Now that only the six of us remain, there are some matters I wish to discuss with you."

"Senior Brother, is this about Spiritual Venerable's rampage?"

Shang Zhengliang, the Peak Lord of Chaoyang Peak seated to one side, furrowed his brow and asked Dao Xuan.

Dao Xuan Zhenren nodded. Expressionless, he slowly said to the others, "I met with Spiritual Venerable just now and asked it a few things."

At those words, everyone's expressions changed.

Having left the main hall, Su Changqing was walking back toward the quarters assigned to Little Bamboo Peak when someone suddenly leaped out and blocked his path, watching him with an ill-intentioned grin.

The newcomer was a young Qingyun Sect disciple with delicate features, dressed in a long azure robe. He looked to be around twelve, a few years older than Su Changqing, and held a landscape folding fan in his hand.

Su Changqing frowned slightly. He felt this person seemed very familiar, yet he could not recall who to connect him with.

"Greetings, Fellow Daoist Changqing. I am Zeng Shushu!"

As Su Changqing was puzzled, the man first politely bowed and greeted him.

"Zeng Shushu?"

Su Changqing was slightly taken aback.

The moment the name was mentioned, he remembered who this person was.

This was the son of Zeng Shuchang, a Peak Lord within the Qingyun Sect. He had devoured books since childhood and possessed vast learning, a veritable walking encyclopedia.

In the story, he was also one of the most crucial figures. Through the Three-Eyed Spirit Monkey, he formed a bond with Zhang Xiaofan, and the two forged a deep friendship. In the end, when Zhang Xiaofan was judged by the people of the Qingyun Sect, Zeng Shushu resolutely stepped forward to speak on his behalf. He was worthy of being called a true close friend.

But why had he come to block Su Changqing's way now?

While Su Changqing was searching his memories, Zeng Shushu had been staring at his right arm. Then, with great politeness, he asked, "Fellow Daoist Changqing, forgive my presumptuousness! Might I take a look at the flood dragon snake hidden in your arm?"

"The Little Flood Dragon Snake?"

Only then did Su Changqing understand. This fellow had come for the Little Flood Dragon Snake, just as he had befriended Zhang Xiaofan over the Three-Eyed Spirit Monkey in the story.

"Yes, precisely that little flood dragon snake that helped you cheat."

A sly smile rose at the corners of Zeng Shushu's mouth.

"Cheat?!"

Su Changqing was instantly startled.

Seeing no one around, Su Changqing leaned closer and stared intently at Zeng Shushu. "How did you know I cheated? Have you told anyone else?"

"Uh... very few people know about it," Zeng Shushu answered truthfully.

"That's good! That's good!"

Only then did Su Changqing relax. Though he did not care much about his ranking in the Seven Meridians Martial Arts Tournament, cheating was still not something that sounded good when spoken aloud.

"But the ones who know are the Sect Leader and several Peak Lords," Zeng Shushu added immediately.

"Huh?!"

At that moment, Su Changqing felt as though he had been turned to stone.

Zeng Shushu then explained the matter to Su Changqing.

It turned out that the wooden box had not only been placed under a restriction; the side facing the Peak Lords was completely transparent. Every movement of anyone who reached into the box could be seen with perfect clarity, including the flood dragon snake selecting the slip of paper inside.

"Well, that's it for me!"

Su Changqing had never imagined there was such a trick. Now that he knew everything he had done had been seen clearly beneath others' very noses, he felt like a clown.

"Not necessarily. From what I could tell, the Sect Leader and the Martial Uncles do not seem to intend to hold you accountable."

Zeng Shushu smiled gently as he spoke to Su Changqing. Though he did not know why Dao Xuan Zhenren, the Sect Leader, was willing to let Su Changqing off the hook, that was indeed the case.

"Oh, right—the Little Flood Dragon Snake?"

Knowing that this fellow was learned and of good character, Su Changqing set the Little Flood Dragon Snake free without concern. It was also a good chance to ask Zeng Shushu what species it was and what kind of demon beast it might be.

The Little Flood Dragon Snake slowly crawled out from Su Changqing's hand. Its entire body was covered in ink-black scales, a lightning-glinting horn rose from its head, and two white feathered wings grew from its body. In an instant, it drew all of Zeng Shushu's attention, and he gazed at it with an infatuated expression.

Seeing Zeng Shushu staring at it so fixedly with that besotted look, the Little Flood Dragon Snake seemed to dislike such attention. A faint anger rose within it, and it let out hiss after hiss.

"Senior Brother Zeng, Little Ink doesn't like strangers staring at it like that."

Su Changqing sensed the Little Flood Dragon Snake's displeasure as well and promptly reminded Zeng Shushu.

"Oh, oh, I was discourteous."

Only after the reminder did Zeng Shushu come back to himself, wiping away the drool at the corner of his mouth.

"Senior Brother Zeng, do you know what kind of demon beast Little Ink is?"

Su Changqing asked Zeng Shushu curiously.

There was not a single record of it in the books, yet it could make even Water Qilin kneel and obey. Little Flood Dragon Snake's origins were surely extraordinary.

Zeng Shushu began by building suspense before dropping the answer. "I! I don't know!"

"I, Zeng Shushu, won't speak of anything else—my name says it all: I love reading. I've read countless books of strange tales, legends, gods, monsters, and curiosities. Among them are no shortage of books recording all manner of demon beasts, divine beasts, sacred beasts, and exotic beasts, enough to encompass the myriad beasts beneath heaven. Every last one of them is etched in my mind, never to be forgotten."

"But I alone have never seen, read of, or heard of a creature like this Little Flood Dragon Snake. It has spiritual horns upon its head and feathered wings upon its back—strange in the extreme."

Zeng Shushu stared unblinkingly at Little Flood Dragon Snake, brow furrowed as he spoke to Su Changqing with grave seriousness.

Su Changqing was not surprised by this result. It would have been strange if Zeng Shushu had recognized Little Flood Dragon Snake's identity. If its identity were not of the utmost mystery, how could it match the exceptional traits Little Flood Dragon Snake had displayed all along?

"Junior Brother Changqing, how about giving this Little Flood Dragon Snake to me? As long as you name your price, I am willing to trade everything I possess for it."

With a peculiar gleam in his eyes, Zeng Shushu spoke to Su Changqing.

"That won't do. Little Flood Dragon Snake is a fellow companion and dear friend of mine. No matter what, I cannot hand it over to another. Senior Brother Zeng need not mention such things again in the future."

Without a second thought, Su Changqing refused, even letting a trace of the authority of his Cultivation Level enter his voice.

Zeng Shushu quickly sensed the pressure radiating from Su Changqing, and his heart fell silent in shock.

This is Foundation Establishment Level One?!

How could the faint pressure he released make even me, at the peak of Foundation Establishment Level Four, feel such fear?

"Junior Brother, this Senior Brother did not know the two of you shared such a close bond. Had I known, I would never have said something so rude. I will not say it again."

Zeng Shushu knew he had touched Su Changqing's reverse scale and apologized again and again.

Only then did the atmosphere ease considerably.

After chatting for a few more moments, the two returned to their respective residences. Su Changqing pondered where he should go to gain experience and seek treasures, while Zeng Shushu picked up several books on gods, monsters, and strange tales to read. Secretly, he swore that he would uncover Little Flood Dragon Snake's true identity.