"Greetings, my lord!"
The two armored soldiers beside Gou Yue found their bodies could move again and, shocked, quickly supported their blades and knelt on one knee.
Gou Yue sat high on the platform, looking at the Dragon Taming Prefecture below with a somewhat somber expression.
"Why are you alone? Where is your lord?"
In the Three Qin Ancient Land, the Prefecture is the magistrate, belonging to the civil servant hierarchy, managing the government orders of a prefecture. The Lord is the highest military officer of the Prefecture, managing imperial decrees, similar to the Shu Prefecture’s Colonel, and belongs to the military officer hierarchy, of the same rank with the Prefecture. However, in formality, often it’s the Lord managing the troops who is the actual head of the Prefecture.
But the Shu region is unique, guarding against demons on two fronts, always ready for war. There is no distinction between the Lord and the Prefecture, and one Colonel holds both titles, just with different local titles.
Xu Bichang, the Dragon Taming Prefecture, only dared to raise his head upon hearing Gou Yue’s question, feeling somewhat anxious.
The Sky Patrol Department Inspector is a high-ranking official under the Emperor, above whom are even higher Three Dao Patrol Angels, overseeing the Three Roads and inspecting all officials. Usually, each Patrol Angel’s subordinate Inspector is responsible for one specific region. This one he had never seen before; previously, he had only seen another Inspector responsible for inspecting the Guanzhong Road, visiting various prefectures. Each time, many officials were either ransacked or beheaded, wielding considerable power.
At this moment, convinced the golden command arrow in his hand was real, a new Inspector suddenly appeared in his Dragon Taming Pass Mansion, looking displeased, naturally making him uneasy.
"Reporting to the Inspector, General You is patrolling outside the city for the city’s safety and is not inside the mansion!" Xu Bichang replied.
"Order him to return immediately." Gou Yue frowned and scolded.
"This...." Xu Bichang hesitated, then seeing the Inspector’s expression, quickly said,
"I beg the Inspector’s understanding. These past two days, the city has been somewhat unusual. The General needs to patrol eighty miles outside the city at Bailong River to prevent demon mischief in the river."
Hearing this, Gou Yue didn’t show surprise but instead had a cold gleam in his eyes, "Since you are guarding against the demon of Bailong River, why is the city under your jurisdiction so lively now?"
"Is it just to perform incense offerings at that Dragon King Temple?"
As he spoke, Gou Yue waved his sleeve, sweeping all the command arrows and other items off the table in front of the hall, suddenly enraged,
"This demon is given an imperial decree; do you dare to condone building a temple for incense offerings?"
"This demon stirs up trouble outside the mountains for years, yet the people of your city rush to offer incense to this demon, aiding the tyrant, utterly foolish. What, celebrating that old Flood Dragon’s 600th birthday?"
Gou Yue sneered coldly, releasing a formidable pressure of a Half-step Dragon and Tiger.
This statement struck like a thunderbolt on the collapsed Dragon Taming Prefecture, causing its chest to tighten, eyebrows to jump, and then immediately bowing,
"Please calm down, my lord!"
"This official also has unspeakable difficulties."
"That old Flood Dragon has been entrenched in Bailong River for hundreds of years, situated in the deep Dragon Ridge, wielding mighty divine power with numerous water clan followers, having influence all around. We, as a mere prefecture, can hardly do anything, only devising ways to coexist peacefully."
"In times of trouble, we officials reported upwards, but the Taoist Office suppressed it. Later, when encountering inspecting Inspectors, they meddled but still, each party took a step back, agreed on certain terms, and the issue was never resolved."
"Hence, the citizens of my prefecture resort to giving some incense to this old Flood Dragon to placate its water clan. Over time, it became customary."
Gou Yue, hearing this, wasn’t foolish, furrowed his brow,
"This situation was reported upwards, your Taoist Office suppressed it, other Inspectors have also intervened, yet it is still unresolved? Could it be that this old Flood Dragon has achieved sky-reaching abilities?"
Unexpectedly, this Prefecture replied, "This Flood Dragon indeed possesses mighty divine power upon becoming a Jiao Long, but dares not contend for glory with you, my lord. It involves deeper interests."
"Dragon Ridge, stretching for thousands of miles, harbors countless Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, mountain spirits, and ghosts; inside there is naturally a Grotto Heaven."
"Three thousand miles north, deep within Dragon Ridge, lies a Grotto Heaven named Taibai, secluded from the world for ages. I once heard from a superior in the Taoist Office that this old Flood Dragon is reared by a certain high individual of this Grotto Heaven, having served as the Mountain Guardian Beast there for many years. As for why the Flood Dragon returned to Bailong River later, this official doesn’t know."
That’s the fundamental reason!
Causing this evil Flood Dragon to stir trouble here for years without being removed!
It turns out it involves a Grotto Heaven, often representing the presence of Dragon and Tiger!
Hearing this explanation, Gou Yue’s expression slightly changed.
Once matters involve this level of Dragon and Tiger, they become troublesome.
Simultaneously, an unexplainable anger surged within him.
Why every task Laozi undertakes gets entangled in a mess, none smooth sailing?
Recalling the promises he made to Chen Longhu and Xu Shaoqing, he couldn’t come in a rush and leave dejectedly, heart getting fierce,
With connections, just connections; as an Imperial Court Inspector, backed by the Sky Patrol Department, backed by the court, why fear an old Flood Dragon?
Moreover, this matter is somewhat related to that Chen Longhu, to some extent.
He slapped the table, stood up, his eyes glaring like copper bells,
"Go, summon your prefecture’s elite troops!"
This action startled the Dragon Taming Prefecture,
"Why is the lord deploying troops?"
Only to see Gou Yue, the Vice Inspector of Three Roads, replied impatiently,
"Can’t I be displeased with that evil Flood Dragon? I intend to root out their lair."
Hearing this, the Dragon Taming Prefecture suddenly stood up, eyelids twitching furiously, "My lord, touching one hair will affect the whole, shouldn’t you think it over?"
Gou Yue’s body flashed from the high platform, coming before that Dragon Taming Prefecture, faces dark,
"I bear an imperial decree, do you think I am afraid of an evil Flood Dragon? Go, if you disobey orders, you know the consequences."
This Dragon Taming Prefecture, hearing this, gritted his teeth, "Yes!"
Saying this, he was about to turn and leave, his steps somewhat wobbly.
However, he then heard Gou Yue’s voice from behind, "It’s too noisy down there, it stings my face, go take down that Dragon King Temple."
Upon hearing this, the Dragon Taming Prefecture turned back to receive the order, then hurriedly left with his people.
Once everyone was gone, the city hall felt empty, and the domineering look on Gou Yue’s face disappeared, deep in meditation and contemplation, still thinking it prudent to ensure safety.
One must hold onto the thighs tightly, avoid a slap to the face.
With that thought, he flipped his hand, producing a silver shimmer talisman sheet.
Squeezing it, he crushed the sheet.
The silver talisman burst into a tiny stream of light, flying out of the hall.
Meanwhile, the city below the government office remained bustling and lively.
The Dragon King was parading, and the whole city’s populace flocked to join in the excitement.
Then a soldier drew a blade, jumped onto the large sedan chair, slicing the Dragon King’s clay statue into bits and pieces.
Afterwards, amidst the astonished gazes of many in the crowd, they chopped, smashed, and demolished the walls, courtyard, and main hall of the Dragon King Temple with great satisfaction.
The next moment came the piercing roar of a Jiao,
The sky above the Dragon King Temple instantly became overcast with dark clouds, a large python burst out from the temple, coiling around a column, soaring up into the cloud-filled sky.
"Get out of the way!"
"Get out of the way!"
With that, soldiers drew their blades, climbed onto the large sedan chair and smashed the Dragon King’s clay statue into pieces.
Then, under the astonished gazes of many onlookers, they enthusiastically struck down the surrounding walls, courtyards, and the main hall of the temple.
A great roar rang out!
"Then the ear-splitting sound of a Jiao roar,
Immediately, thick clouds aloft shrouded the Dragon King Temple, a giant serpent surged from within, coiling around a pillar, flying up into the dense clouds."
"The Dragon King will surely hold you accountable for this crime!"
The great serpent bellowed in fury.
The next second, a streak of light shot down from the mountain, hitting the coiled serpent, engulfing it in a burst of flesh and blood.
Meanwhile, the Dragon King Temple, under the satisfied eyes of the soldiers, burst into flames.