Cold descended upon the imperial gardens; snowy waves threatened to bar the campaign's sails

The divine figure who burst into the elegant little chamber was none other than Meng Zhang, the South Sea Water Marquis, who had recently suffered a crushing defeat. The mild-mannered man reciting a book inside was his eldest brother, Boyu, the firstborn son of Chi Gang, the South Sea Dragon Deity.

His third brother had always paid him little heed. Now, seeing him suddenly storm into his study, the Jade-Gushing Studio, sword in hand, Boyu turned ashen with fright, unsure what calamity had occurred. After a moment of stunned confusion, the scholarly prince carefully composed a question in his mind, preparing to sound out this third brother whose fearsome reputation reached far and wide. By then, the South Sea Water Marquis had calmed somewhat from his furious entrance and was staring intently at his elder brother without a word. A little later, just as Boyu finally settled on his phrasing and was about to speak, his grim-faced younger brother sighed first, turned, and waved a hand.

"All of you, withdraw."

"Yes!"

Several divine generals filed out at his command, leaving only the brothers in the refined little chamber. After another stretch of silence, Boyu cautiously asked:

"What brings you here, third brother?"

"Here. See for yourself."

By now, the Water Marquis's initial fury had completely subsided. Answering Boyu evenly, he tossed the silk scroll, already crushed into a ball in his hand, onto the desk before his brother. As the bright yellow proclamation unfurled before them, Meng Zhang spoke with a trace of mockery:

"Well, elder brother Boyu, look at this. That grandfather of yours far away is standing up for you!"

"What?"

Boyu started at his brother's words. Not understanding what he meant, he hurriedly picked up the silk document and read it from beginning to end, word by