Unless I Slay This Demon, I'll Never Be at Peace

At the bottom of the Qiantang River.

Unlike the churning waters above, this place lay in darkness.

A water palace built from sunken ships and unidentified remains rested silently on the riverbed.

Inside the water palace.

"Whew..."

Heavy breathing echoed through the empty hall.

A Flood Dragon a hundred feet long lay dormant there.

Its ink-black scales gleamed darkly, and a third short spur had branched from each of its two fearsome horns.

It was one step closer to becoming a true dragon.

Its enormous slit-pupiled eyes opened slightly, filled with impatience.

"Dead?"

Below the steps, a half-man, half-shrimp demon trembled too hard to raise its head.

"Your Majesty, the young Demon King... yes, dead... Those black-clad men even dragged the body away..."

A long silence passed.

The Black Flood Dragon gave a derisive snort.

"Then it's dead."

"I told you long ago: those black-clad men may fear who I am, but they still belong to the Demon Suppression Office."

"Fools. You made such a racket under my protection. Did you really think humans were made of mud?"

The shrimp demon did not dare answer.

The Black Flood Dragon shifted into a more comfortable position. "Very well."

"I failed to keep you in line. Even a cornered rabbit bites, let alone a general of the Demon Suppression Office."

It came from Drinking-Horse Reach and looked down on humans, but even it knew the Great Tang had deep reserves of strength.

If it pushed them too far, they might wipe it out. What good would revenge from Drinking-Horse Reach do it then?

Could that bring it back to life?

After some thought, the Black Flood Dragon said slowly, "Tell Yue Huaiyuan that, for the sake of peace between our races, I'm willing to give ground. From tomorrow onward, I will no