The Past Beneath the River, Old Affairs on the Guanlan

Jiang Chen's aura surged, and the oppressive force of his Perfected Liquid Condensation Realm soared into the sky!

Although the Apertures on his right hand were sealed, his left hand was still usable.

With a flick of his left hand, he unleashed a powerful surge of Spiritual Power that coalesced into a jet of dark water, which hurtled towards Yang Xiao.

The water droplets carried immense power, tearing apart the air wherever they passed and emitting a sharp whistling sound.

Yang Xiao's gaze remained calm, and with a slight sway of his body, he easily dodged the attack.

A swirl of water swept past him, crashing onto the river surface and creating a water column several meters high!

A hint of horror flashed in Jiang Chen's eyes.

His attack was easily dodged by this young man?

Before he could react, Yang Xiao had already made his move.

"Demon-Slaying Crystal Edge!"

Yang Xiao raised his right hand, and countless azure crystal lights gathered like raindrops, sliding down towards Jiang Chen.

Each of those crystalline rays carried terrifying penetrating power, gleaming with an eerie blue light under the sunlight.

Jiang Chen's pupils shrank sharply as he tried to dodge, only to find that the crystalline light had already enveloped him completely.

"Puff puff puff--!"

Dozens of crystalline rays pierced through his body in an instant!

Dark red blood splattered, and Jiang Chen staggered and fell to the ground, eventually lying on the deck of the small boat.

He looked down at the wounds on his body, a bitter look flashing in his eyes.

A complete and utter defeat.

Despite his Perfected Liquid Condensation cultivation, he didn't even have a chance to fight back against this young man in the Late Liquid Condensation stage.

Jiang Chen's gaze gradually dimmed, and through his blurred vision, he saw the Gilt Phoenix Hairpin at his waist fall onto the deck with a crisp sound.

The phoenix hairpin, inlaid with mutton-fat jade, gleamed softly in the sunlight.

Jiang Chen reached out, wanting to grab the phoenix hairpin, but he no longer had the strength.

His hand rested on the deck, his gaze lingering on the phoenix hairpin.

"Qing'er..."

His voice was soft, trembling slightly, "Brother... I can't come to find you."

Yang Xiao stood aside, watching this scene, a complex look flashing in his eyes.

He sheathed his Spring Embroidery Saber and looked at Jiang Chen, who lay collapsed on the deck.

"Why?" Yang Xiao's voice was calm. "Why would you give up your position as river patrol officer to help Demon oppress the people?"

Jiang Chen silent for a moment.

He gave a bitter laugh, and a trickle of blood escaped from the corner of his mouth.

"The Guanlan River... it's never been this calm before."

His voice was soft, tinged with a hint of reminiscence.

"The Flood Dragon Water Clan have been fighting in the Guanlan River for years, making it impossible for the people to make a living. Fishing boats going out to sea face a nine-out-of-ten chance of death."

"Since I became the river patrol officer, I have to face this kind of thing every day."

Jiang Chen paused, looked up at the sky, and a trace of pain flashed in his eyes.

"Until that year, when I took my younger sister Jiang Qing on a tour of the Guanlan River, we encountered the Little Dragon King who was passing through Qingzhou."

"That Little Dragon King... has taken a liking to my sister."

Jiang Chen's voice trembled slightly.

"He forcibly took my sister away, saying he wanted to marry her as his Dragon Consort, and in exchange, he was willing to let the Guanlan River down so that the people could fish."

"It's called an exchange... but I can't actually refuse."

Jiang Chen closed his eyes, and a tear slid down his cheek.

"I could only watch helplessly as my sister was swept away by the Little Dragon King... I couldn't even say a word of farewell."

Yang Xiao fell silent.

Jiang Chen continued, "After that, I went to the Demon Suppression Division to rescue my sister."

"But the Little Dragon King lives deep in the rivers and seas, and even General Pei's repeated attempts to subdue him have all been in vain."

Jiang Chen's voice grew softer and softer, and his breath grew weaker and weaker.

"Until recently, my sister asked the current Dragon Lord of Guanlan River to pass on a message, saying that she was about to give birth and wanted to take me back with her."

"I agree."

"But the Flood Dragon Lord was unwilling to leave Guanlan River like this, so he dragged me into committing many evil deeds until we were discovered by the Demon Suppression Division."

Jiang Chen opened his eyes and looked at Yang Xiao.

"I know what I did was utterly heinous."

"But without my sister, do you think fewer people would have died on the Guanlan River!?"

Yang Xiao was stunned when he heard this.

He hadn't expected Jiang Chen to have such a hidden story behind him.

A court official, powerless to help the people of the Guanlan River as his younger sister was swept away by the Little Dragon King.

An older brother who wanted to see his sister but was instead dragged into evil by a wicked dragon and became a wanted criminal by the Demon Suppression Division Bureau.

Yang Xiao remained silent for a moment, unsure of what to do.

"Before you die, I'll take you back to shore and subdue you."

Yang Xiao stepped forward and helped Jiang Chen up from the deck.

"Wait for the Deputy General to handle it."

Jiang Chen smile and offered no resistance.

He no longer had the strength to resist.

In the distance Deputy General Zhou Zheng was struck by the Blackwater Mystic Flood Dragon and pulled into the river. Both he and the dragon remained in the river for a long time.

Suddenly, the river surface exploded!

The Blackwater Mystic Flood Dragon's dark figure burst out of the water and pounced towards Yang Xiao and Jiang Chen.

Its eerie green vertical pupils were filled with ferocity as it locked onto Jiang Chen's location and opened its blood-red maw to bite.

"Boy, leave the man here!"

Yang Xiao paused.

He hadn't expected the Blackwater Mystic Flood Dragon to launch a sudden attack, and he certainly hadn't expected it to be there to take Jiang Chen away.

He retreated rapidly, trying to evade the Blackwater Mystic Flood Dragon's attack.

But the Blackwater Mystic Flood Dragon was too fast, and in the blink of an eye it pounced on him!

"Roar--!"

The Blackwater Mystic Flood Dragon opened its blood-red maw and lunged at Yang Xiao and Jiang Chen!

Yang Xiao's gaze sharpened, and with a flick of his right hand, the Spring Embroidery Saber was drawn!

"Demon-Subduing Soul-Calming Saber!"

The blade flashed like lightning, carrying an invisible aura of intimidation, as it slashed towards the Blackwater Mystic Flood Dragon!

"Aww--!"

The Blackwater Mystic Flood Dragon let out a miserable cry and retreated violently.

A deep, bone-revealing wound was slashed across its mouth by the blade, and dark green blood splattered, corroding the nearby scales.

But its attack did not stop; its eerie green vertical pupils were filled with madness as it pounced on Yang Xiao once more!

Yang Xiao's gaze darkened.

The Blackwater Mystic Flood Dragon is so determined to take Jiang Chen away; it seems Jiang Chen holds a significant position in the Little Dragon King's eyes.

He settled Jiang Chen in a place far away from the fighting.

Then, with a raised right hand, azure crystal light condensed.

"Demon-Slaying Crystal Edge!"

A shower of crystalline light rained down, enveloping the Blackwater Mystic Flood Dragon.

Each crystalline ray carried terrifying penetrating power, gleaming with a faint blue light under the sunlight, completely enveloping the Blackwater Mystic Flood Dragon.

"Aww--!"

The Blackwater Mystic Flood Dragon let out a furious roar, its thick body tumbling in the air as it tried to dodge the crystalline light.

However, the crystal rays were too dense, making it impossible to completely dodge them.

Puff puff puff!

Dozens of crystalline rays pierced the scales of the Blackwater Mystic Flood Dragon, creating a piercing impact that forced the Blackwater Mystic Flood Dragon to retreat several feet, temporarily preventing it from getting close.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Yang Xiao placed Jiang Chen on the shore and turned to face the Blackwater Mystic Flood Dragon.

Just then...

Two figures swept in from the side and landed beside Yang Xiao.

It was Ye Jinkai and the gray-robed monk Yuantong.

"Captain, we're here to help you!"

Ye Jinkai gripped the long sword in his hand, the blade gleaming with a faint golden light.

The gray-robed monk clasped his hands together, and his aura surged.

"Roll!"

A fierce glint flashed in the Blackwater Mystic Flood Dragon's eerie green vertical pupils. It opened its blood-red maw and lunged at the three of them!