Just as Jiang Lang was grumbling that Hong Wei did not know how high heaven was or how deep the earth ran, a shrimp soldier flicked his tail and hurried into the rear hall again.
"Report! Your Majesty, Immortal Elder Yi Daozi has arrived! He is waiting in the side hall!"
"What? Old Yi is here?"
Clutching the pearl clam, Jiang Lang hurried out. He strode through the Dragon Palace's delicate currents, which felt almost like a gentle breeze, and soon reached the side hall where Yi Shuyuan waited.
This side hall was a chamber that kept the water out. Not a drop of water lay inside, and its furnishings followed human designs, though underwater coral and pearl clams served as accents, giving it a distinctive charm.
Much of the Longwind Lake Dragon Palace was decorated in a similar style, far more refined than the predominantly cool-toned Water Palaces of most Dragonkind, yet no less grand.
Yi Shuyuan had barely warmed his seat when he heard hurried footsteps approaching.
He stood and looked toward the entrance. Beaming, Jiang Lang stepped through the curtain of water into the hall.
"Old Yi, you really know how to keep your composure! Last time, you only sent your young disciple and Hui Mian over!"
"Well, he had you, the Dragon King of Longwind Lake, looking after him!"
"Hehe!"
Jiang Lang chuckled and waved a hand behind him several times, dismissing everyone. Then his smile faded, and he took a few steps closer to Yi Shuyuan.
"About Stoneborn-I'm not saying he did anything wrong. But Hong Wei is still one of the East Sea Dragonkind. You don't have to ask me to protect Stoneborn; I'd do that anyway. But you have to give me some face too. Let's leave Stoneborn's affair at that and let