Seed of Creation

"Mm... this, this—wrap all of it up for this prince!"

Little Mirage Dragon held a crystal cake in his claws, his mouth full of sticky glutinous rice. He chewed as he spoke, his words muffled, while his remaining third dragon claw pointed about at the bun stall.

Ta Ta Kai dug copper coins from his pouch, tossed them beside the steamer, and raised his head to call out.

Little Mirage Dragon listened for a while.

"Your Pork Buns are too bland. Too much vegetable, too little meat—there's no flavor at all. Don't be stingy with the salt and soy sauce!"

Ta Ta Kai called out again.

"Oh, and the dried bamboo shoots are tough too. Next time, try pickled mustard greens and shredded pork filling. That's delicious." Little Mirage Dragon licked the sticky cake crumbs from his claws, planted both claws on his hips, and wagged his tail with the air of an old man. "When doing business, don't shortchange people! There are over twenty otters in Liang Residence, plus several Big Fish. Make them well, and this little stall will have enough business to keep you fed!"

"Yes, yes, yes!"

The vendor was drenched in sweat. As he pulled out oiled paper and folded it into packets, he nodded again and again.

The surrounding townsfolk had packed the place so tightly not even water could seep through. They listened solemnly to the dragon's words, treating them as sacred commandments.

Countless people of Jianghuai's water towns had grown up listening to stories of the Dragon King. If anyone saw a little white dragon shopping in broad daylight and did not drop to his knees and kowtow on the spot, he could count himself as having some nerve! Master Liang truly deserved to be called Jianghuai's son—there was ironclad proof! Yesterday,