I've Seen a Dragon

"The King is coming?!" Dong Linyuan was both surprised and delighted, and quickly asked, "When? What preparations should I make?!"

General Black sneered and said disdainfully, "How could the King risk landing to see an unknown soldier?! It was you who arranged for that man to see the King!"

"This is a difficult matter." Dong Linyuan frowned upon hearing this. "His Majesty is worried about violating taboos and is unwilling to go ashore. But aren't the cultivators of the Old Method also wary of the dragons in the sea?"

"That person is from Supreme Mystery Mountain, so I'm afraid he's even less likely to risk his life."

General Black didn't care at all, and continued to catch a spirit fish and start eating, squirting juice everywhere as he grinned and said, "That's your problem, it has nothing to do with me."

Helpless, Dong Linyuan cautiously began to inquire about matters in the sea.

General Black ate the spirit fish, giving perfunctory replies. He quickly grew impatient with the questions, dropped half of the fish, and leaped into the depths of the dark river, disappearing without a trace.

Dong Linyuan sighed, looked at the messy water surface and pondered silently for a long time before getting up and leaving.

Liu Zhijian was very happy at Little Dragon Mountain and even got to know several fish farmers from the Dong Household.

One of the young cultivators was named Dong Yu. He was from a collateral branch of the Dong Household and his status and cultivation level were quite ordinary, yet he was skilled at using fishing nets.

Although the art of net fishing is completely different from fishing, it has some similarities, both requiring familiarity with the water conditions and the behavior of the fish.

Liu Zhijian often exchanged ideas and sought advice from Dong Yu, and felt that he had gained a lot.

Dong Yu initially held Liu Zhijian, the True Disciple of Supreme Mystery Mountain, in high esteem.

Later, seeing that Liu Zhijian didn't have much of the arrogance of a disciple of a major sect, but rather a kind and steady personality, he gradually put his mind at ease. He often explained the habits of various spirit fish, and they became friends.

Although Liu Zhijian did not deliberately inquire, he gleaned a great deal of information about the Dong Household from Dong Yu's few words.

For example, the Dong Household also distinguished between legitimate and illegitimate children.

The two families often had some disputes.

The direct descendants are all noble and refined individuals who devote themselves to cultivation, primarily using Cultivation Method related to [Kan Water] and [Confluence Water].

Some of Dong Linyuan's direct descendants even practiced the [Wu Earth] Cultivation Method obtained from Rosy Clouds Resting Mountain.

In contrast, the lineage of Dong Yu, a member of a collateral branch, is much more chaotic in its cultivation, accepting whatever comes its way and practicing whatever is available. He also has to manage daily affairs, raising and selling fish, which interferes with his cultivation.

However, Dong Yu harbored little resentment; on the contrary, he was quite content and pleased with himself.

In Dong Yu's view, although there were some unsavory things within the Dong Household and the treatment of legitimate and illegitimate children was quite different, there was still the ancestor to suppress them, so there was no deep-seated hatred.

If we look at the whole of Southern Reach, the treatment of the Dong Household's collateral branches is naturally not as good as that of the immortal sects and major clans, but compared with other small Lineage and Rogue Cultivator in the market, they are already living a life of ease, so there is really nothing to complain about.

Liu Zhijian listened and largely agreed.

One day, after feeding the spirit fish, Dong Yu stood aside watching Liu Zhijian fish, when he suddenly said mysteriously, "Brother Liu, I've seen a dragon!"

Liu Zhijian was naturally surprised and turned around to ask, "Really? Tell me quickly."

I've seen many kinds of spirit fish since I came to Little Dragon Mountain, but I've never actually seen a dragon.

Dong Yu smiled smugly and began to recount how he had followed his clan elders down the mountain to Qi Gathering. He first faintly heard the sound of dragons roaring, and then looked up and saw two dragon shadows seemingly fighting in the sky above the sea.

Moments later, a massive wave surged ashore.

If it weren't for the elders who evacuated in time, the group might have been swept into the sea and perished.

Upon hearing this, Liu Zhijian couldn't help but look eastward, filled with longing.

Although deep down he harbored a dream of one day catching a great demon dragon.

However, as Liu Zhijian cultivated for a longer period of time, he also realized the formidable power of the dragons in this world, and that his ideals were indeed somewhat difficult to achieve.

I'm just glad I never mentioned it to anyone, otherwise I'd probably be ridiculed.

Dong Yu seemed to be reminiscing about that day, and chuckled softly, "I was thinking then, if I had a big net, I could just cast it into the sea and immediately drag several dragons ashore, wouldn't that be awesome!"

Liu Zhijian was taken aback and immediately began to look at Dong Yu, with new respect.

"Dong Yu, what nonsense are you spouting again?! Be careful what you say!" A richly dressed cultivator nearby, his face grim, first reprimanded Dong Yu, then said to Liu Zhijian, "Fellow Daoist Liu, the Ancestor invites you."

Dong Yu didn't dare to resist and just stood aside with her head bowed.

Liu Zhijian recognized the man; he was Dong Fengming, a direct descendant of the Dong Household. Not wanting to see Dong Yu punished, he quickly said, "Since Senior Dong has summoned us, we cannot delay. Let's go quickly."

Dong Fengming had no choice but to let Dong Yu go, and turned to lead the way, saying, "Fellow Daoist Liu, please follow me."

Throughout the journey, Liu Zhijian kept his head down and pretended not to hear Dong Fengming's words of advice.

It was not Liu Zhijian's intention to get involved in the Dong Household's internal conflict between legitimate and illegitimate children.

Initially, Dong Fengming also hosted a banquet to invite Liu Zhijian, hoping to get closer to him and establish a friendship.

Unfortunately, there was really nothing to talk about during the meal. Several members of the Dong Household family stumbled over some superficial Daoist theories, which made Liu Zhijian, who had received guidance from his master Li Chengxuan and witnessed Duanmu Ren's amazing Daoist wisdom, feel like he was sitting on pins and needles, unable to sit still.

The direct descendants of the Dong Household were not fools. They understood that making empty pronouncements about Daoism would probably not satisfy the True Disciple of Supreme Mystery Mountain, so they changed their approach and began to praise Supreme Mystery Mountain.

Mutual flattery is a social tool used by the scions of prominent clans in the Southern Edge Continent Cliff Continent's Immortal Sect.

Unfortunately, Liu Zhijian was just a taciturn fisherman, especially bad at this kind of fishing.

Later, when several direct descendants of the Dong Household even talked about poetry and songs, Liu Zhijian's expression changed drastically. He refused to go anymore and instead spent his days fishing and chatting and laughing freely with Dong Yu, a member of the illegitimate family who was engaged in lowly occupations.

This caused considerable resentment among Dong Fengming and others.

However, Dong Fengming also knew that Liu Zhijian was True Disciple of Supreme Mystery Mountain and a distinguished guest of the patriarch, so he dared not offend him. He only seized the opportunity to subtly advise Liu Zhijian to respect his status and associate with people of similar standing.

We've finally arrived.

Dong Fengming completed his mission and took his leave.

Liu Zhijian secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Dong Linyuan, being a seasoned veteran, noticed something with just one glance and sighed, "This junior is tainted by the filth of the mortal world without even realizing it; I apologize for making you laugh."

Knowing that his master had entered the Dao through the "Mortal World Turbid Qi," Liu Zhijian quickly shook his head and said, "Senior, there's no need to be so harsh. Although we cultivate using Ancient Method, we are not without feelings. Refining one's heart in the mortal world can also aid in cultivation; it's not a bad thing."

Dong Linyuan was somewhat surprised, nodded without saying much, and explained the reason for the invitation, "The White Dragon River has been flooded recently, which is a good opportunity for the younger generation in my family to Qi Gathering. I wonder if you would be interested in joining me?"

Liu Zhijian hesitated for a moment.

This practice of Qi Gathering is already considered Lineage secret.

It seems a bit inappropriate for an outsider like myself to go along.

"Young friend, there's no need to worry," Dong Linyuan explained with a smile. "My Dong Household has a long and distinguished lineage, and our current cultivation methods are quite diverse. The [Kan Water] and [Confluence Water] cultivation methods were actually only acquired after we arrived in the Southern Edge Continent, so they're hardly secrets."

"My main thought is that since you, young friend, cultivate [Kan Water] and are now a guest at Little Dragon Mountain, it would be a real pity if you couldn't witness the [Kan-Confluence Transformation] of rivers flowing into the sea."