Returning the Umbrella

Golden Mountain Courtyard.

Outside the gates, the Golden-Winged Great Peng, Huang Zhao, stood with his arms folded and gazed up at the sky, yearning for freedom.

Within the small pavilion, sandalwood incense curled through the air. The Wisdom King and two elderly monks of Golden Mountain Courtyard drank tea, their eyes fixed on Suzhou and Hangzhou, their hearts heavy with concern. They wondered whether the Flood Dragon Maiden had truly believed their counsel and was willing to undergo the tribulation of the mortal world.

"The Flood Dragon Maiden has killing intent. Has something gone wrong?"

The room fell silent for a moment.

"Though the white flood dragon has taken human form, she is in truth a ferocious beast that eats raw flesh and drinks blood. Her appearance is no more than a skeleton beneath rouge and powder. No matter how beautiful she may be, she cannot conceal the nature of a cursed beast. It is hardly surprising for her ferocity to emerge from time to time."

The Wisdom King's explanation left the two elderly monks looking at one another, but upon further thought, it did make sense.

If she had been willing to share a boat and lend him an umbrella upon their first meeting, there was a chance for things to continue. They would observe for now.

"A dragon soul is mysterious and impossible to probe. How can we be sure she has truly accepted her fate?"

"When the Flood Dragon Maiden falls in love, she will have entered the mortal world."

"Uh... how can we tell whether she has fallen in love?"

"This..."

The three wore awkward expressions. All of them had entered the faith from childhood and feared women as one feared vipers and scorpions. How could they know what signs showed that someone had fallen in