Long Live the Dragon Maiden

"Is that all?"

The Daoist hurriedly replied, "That's all! I came straight back after hearing the news because I needed to report it to you at once."

"I see. You may go."

Liu Zhan waved him away and stood where he was, turning over everything that had happened these past few days. Yet no matter how he pieced the events together, a tangled mass still seemed to hide the truth from him.

"Damn it. It really is a complete tangle." Liu Zhan disliked having matters slip beyond his control, especially when the Dragon Maiden's worship was involved. If this succeeded, it could directly affect the situation in the Dragon Palace and the interests of the Daoist Sect. He had to see it for himself.

Only when Liu Zhan reached the Water Shrine did he realize that the Daoist who had reported to him had not exaggerated. If anything, he had understated it.

There were far more than one or two thousand people. They packed every nearby road, and even the rooftops and trees were crowded with onlookers. There were three thousand at the very least, perhaps five thousand.

Rather than squeeze through the crowd, Liu Zhan followed the example of those seeking higher ground. With a few quick movements, he climbed a tree and stood on an upper branch to look down.

From there, he could see everything.

On the open ground before the Water Shrine lay a great pile of firewood. Atop it rested an enormous locust, a full meter wide and three or four meters long. Its body and wings looked lifelike, as though it were a real locust magnified countless times.

The pile stood high enough that even people who could not push to the front saw it when they stood on tiptoe.

"Mother of heaven, what