“There really was an evil dragon in the pool,” she admitted. “But it’s gone now. It probably won’t return for a while.”
Bai Ling frowned slightly but didn’t press her for details. “Something must have happened. Let’s go back first.”
Knowing that he hadn’t noticed Jin Xiu’s presence, Hong Ning simply nodded, slinging her basket over her arm and walking ahead.
* * *
The next day, Wen Xin emerged from seclusion and was visibly shocked upon hearing what had happened.
But seeing that she was unharmed, he was relieved. After questioning her carefully, Hong Ning only gave a vague explanation, saying she had been rescued by an unknown cultivator.
Wen Xin did not doubt her words. After a brief pause, he said thoughtfully, “That dragon is certainly not an innate celestial dragon but a creature that stumbled upon an opportunity to cultivate into a demon dragon. Since it never paid homage to the Dragon King, its nature remains wicked and prone to eating humans.”
Hong Ning agreed. “It was probably just a snake to begin with.”
Wen Xin, however, focused on another detail.
“You said it had grown scales and horns?”
Hong Ning described the dragon’s appearance in full detail, feeling a lingering sense of fear as she recalled the encounter.
Wen Xin seemed deep in thought. “When I first arrived in this region, I also found the name ‘Evil Dragon Pool’ suspicious. But after asking around, I learned that the name came about fifty years ago. Someone once saw a young cowherd swallowed whole by a massive black serpent—one that had limbs. It was likely a jiao [蛟, a flood dragon or lesser dragon]. However, in all these years, I have never detected demonic energy in that pool, nor have I heard of any disappearances of people or livestock nearby. I assumed some fellow cultivator had already taken care of it, so I never gave it much thought.”
Hong Ning said, “That cave must lead somewhere else. Just because it hasn’t caused trouble around here doesn’t mean it hasn’t done so elsewhere. It must have come to this side today for some reason… and that’s when I ran into it.”
Wen Xin nodded. “A jiao normally requires five hundred years of cultivation to transform into a true dragon. Yet, this one has only had fifty years—if it has progressed this fast, it must have obtained some kind of divine artifact to aid its cultivation.”
Bai Ling asked bluntly, “Do we capture it or try to guide it?”
Wen Xin sighed. “Reaching this stage of cultivation is rare—it is, after all, its own fated opportunity. However, without proper guidance, it has strayed onto an evil path. Its heavenly tribulation in the future will be far more severe, and it is unlikely to survive it. If we can persuade it to change its ways and stop harming humans, that would be an act of great merit.”
Hong Ning had originally thought that capturing it would be the safest option, given how vicious the dragon had been. But then she recalled Jin Xiu’s words about sparing it.
So, she nodded. “That sounds like a good plan.”
Bai Ling remained skeptical. “And what if it continues harming people in the future?”
Wen Xin acknowledged the concern. “The best course of action would be to seal it away.”
Bai Ling said, “We have nothing on hand that can be used to seal it.”
Wen Xin replied, “That dragon’s rapid transformation must be due to that divine artifact. If we can find out what it is, I’ll have a solution.”
Hong Ning frowned. “It’s been cultivating elsewhere all this time… it’s probably already eaten quite a few people.”
Bai Ling said, “I’ll go investigate that cave.”
Hong Ning grabbed his sleeve. “You’re going alone?”
Bai Ling shot her a slightly disdainful look before turning and walking out the door.
Wen Xin smiled. “It’s fine. The dragon hasn’t even taken human form yet, which means its cultivation is still shallow. Besides, Bai Ling has the advantage in water.”
With that, he stood up. “Let’s go take a look as well. We should come up with a solid plan before the next full moon—the demon dragon may resurface then.”
* * *
The cold pool was as still as a mirror.
The moment Bai Ling entered the water, he disappeared. Wen Xin remained on the shore, inspecting the area.
Hong Ning stood at a distance. Remembering the magic Jin Xiu had displayed the day before, she suddenly asked,
“Master, if I wanted to make this entire place bloom with flowers, what spell would I use?”
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