Wei Zheng Is Stumped; The Princess Returns! / They've All Come Down-A Great Sage Cannot Become an Immortal!

The Fish Head River God searched through the treasures in his cave-dwelling's storehouse, paying no mind to the ruined River God's Palace.

He transformed into his true form, a black catfish, and with a flick of his tail, headed upstream along the Clear Water River.

Before long, a lavish underwater palace appeared before the Black Catfish.

"Dragon King, your humble servant, Black Catfish, pays his respects!"

Wei Zheng Takes a Hit, Princess Returns!

"Hm? It's you, little Black Catfish. What brings you to the Clear Water River Dragon Palace?"

Inside the Clear Water River Dragon Palace, a black Flood Dragon a hundred yards long opened his eyes.

The Flood Dragon's body shuddered, and the entire Clear Water River Dragon Palace trembled.

His scarlet beastly eyes, each as large as a stone lion, snapped open.

Clam Maidens and Crab Demons hurried back and forth through the Dragon Palace, busily preparing something.

Suddenly, a dragon whisker shot out from the Dragon Palace and whisked the Black Catfish River God inside.

By the time the Black Catfish came to his senses, a huge, ferocious Flood Dragon's head loomed before him.

Shrimp Soldiers and Crab Generals hurried over, carrying plates.

The plates were piled with all kinds of fish and other fresh seafood, which they tipped into the Flood Dragon's enormous mouth.

"Glug, glug. Just a little river seafood again. It tastes awful.

The dynasties of the human realm change far too quickly. These days, I can't even eat a single person!"

The Black Flood Dragon grumbled in displeasure and ordered the Shrimp Soldiers and Crab Generals to clear away the plates.

Then he swayed his body, transformed into a humanoid figure with a Flood Dragon's head, and looked at the Black Catfish River God.

"Black Catfish, it's not time for the Clear Water River gathering yet. What are you here for?"

The Black Flood Dragon had lorded over the Clear Water River for hundreds of years. Every three years, he held a gathering there.

It was really just a gathering for the River Demons and water monsters who made their living in the Clear Water River.

They came to pay tribute to the Black Flood Dragon, and could also trade with one another.

The Black Catfish River God was merely one of the patrol generals the Black Flood Dragon had appointed over the entire Clear Water River.

"Dragon King, I've come to ask you to stand up for me!

"I was patrolling near Zhao Family Village, and the villagers there were unreasonable and overbearing.

"They not only smashed my underwater residence, but also killed the patrol soldiers under my command."

"Oh? Such a tiny village dares to behave so outrageously?"

The Black Flood Dragon eyed the Black Catfish with suspicion, his gaze full of distrust.

He vaguely remembered Zhao Family Village, but only because a young fellow there had accidentally obtained a damaged Earth God talisman.

It might have been a troublesome matter for the Black Catfish, but it was nothing much to him.

At most, he was curious that a mere mortal had earned the talisman's recognition.

Still, there was a limit to the power of an Earth God's position.

And that talisman was damaged, to boot.

As long as the Black Catfish didn't go ashore and enter the grounds of Zhao Family Village's Earth God temple, he had nothing to fear from that old geezer.

The Black Flood Dragon's suspicious look made it seem as if he was about to point at the Black Catfish's nose and call him useless.

"Dragon King, I didn't want to trouble you either.

"But those unreasonable villagers in Zhao Family Village somehow brought in two female immortals.

"One slash from a Flying Sword, and my chief general was killed on the spot!

"The Flying Sword shone with red light and glimmered with a chilling gleam. Just one look at it made my heart and gall tremble with fear!"

The Black Catfish wailed and complained, and the Black Flood Dragon's interest was piqued.

The mere aura the weapon gave off had terrified the Black Catfish, a water demon of the Earth Immortal realm.

That made it clear the treasure was no ordinary item.

But the Black Flood Dragon failed to notice the dark, sinister look on the Black Catfish's bowed head.

Go on, take it! Take it!

Once he had Zhao Family Village's offerings, all of this would be his one day!

"Go back for now. Once I've investigated the truth, I'll see justice done for you!"

The Black Flood Dragon was tempted by the treasure, but he also knew that the Primordial World was full of powerful beings.

If he provoked some force he shouldn't, he wouldn't stand a chance as a mere little Flood Dragon.

"Rest assured, Dragon King. I know what to do.

"This is a small token of my appreciation. Please accept it!"

"Mm."

The Black Flood Dragon gave a faint nod, yawned again, and sank into a deep sleep.

In Chang'an City, Great Tang, stood a modest two-courtyard residence.

It belonged to Wei Zheng, the Remonstrance Official who was currently enjoying great prominence at court.

Wei Zheng, usually a diligent man, had unusually left his official duties untouched.

Instead, he sat staring blankly at a letter.

"My lord, you've been staring at that letter for nearly an hour. Haven't you finished reading it yet?"

Madam Wei entered with a bowl of chicken soup. Seeing Wei Zheng still looking at the letter, she chided him playfully.

Only then did Wei Zheng put the letter down. He rubbed his forehead and replied,

"I finished reading it ages ago. I'd already noticed this matter a few days back.

"But the trouble lies in where this letter came from!"

Wei Zheng sighed. Someone had sent this letter down from Heaven. What did it mean?

Were they warning him to mind his place?

Or were they warning the newly enthroned Son of Heaven?

After all, the reputation of murdering one's brother and imprisoning one's father was hardly a good one, in Heaven or on Earth.

Now Great Tang was beset by troubles at home and abroad, with disasters striking one after another.

It was hard to say whether this was the Heavenly Emperor's doing.

After all, in theory, the Son of Heaven was also the Heavenly Emperor's son!

"Then don't turn it in!"

"I can't just keep it to myself. If I bring it to light, I can still control things to some extent.

"If Heaven's... those people expose it, it won't be an internal matter for Great Tang anymore!"

Hearing Wei Zheng, Madam Wei rolled her eyes and said crossly,

"If you have to turn it in either way, why have you been sitting there dithering for so long?"

"What would a woman like you know? This matter..."

"Enough, enough. I'm just a little woman. I don't understand your great principles, and I don't want to!"

Madam Wei put down the soup and turned to leave.

Wei Zheng was so angry his beard bristled, but all he could do was keep scratching his head.

A purple figure drifted down into Zhao Family Village in Qinghe County.

"Eldest Sister, I'm back!"

Four graceful figures descended outside Zhao Family Village.

"Wow, Seventh Sister, is this the Zhao Family Village you told us about? It's so lively!"

A blue-robed Fairy Maiden looked at the crowds coming and going in Zhao Family Village, her eyes lighting up.

Seventh Princess Zhang Tianyu also looked bewildered, gazing at the unfamiliar scene before her.