Chapter 681: The Foremost Prime Minister of the Dynasty

Long Rong regained her composure. She knew she couldn't act too recklessly today and breathed a quiet sigh of relief.

It was fortunate she hadn't killed the monkey earlier. Otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

Long Rong turned and saw that quite a few demons had already gathered in the pavilion. Yet, none dared step forward to offer incense, as a Daoist priest stood before the cauldron, blocking their path.

The priest locked eyes with the so-called 'True Dragon'.

Their eyes met.

Long Rong's gaze fell upon the Tianpeng Ruler.

The priest had obtained quite a treasure.

However, such an item should not have appeared in the mortal realm.

Daoist Wuwei looked at the 'True Dragon' and said, "The Dragon Immortal displays his power. Truly majestic."

A hint of sarcasm laced the priest's words.

Long Rong looked at the priest and said, "Why doesn't the priest repel the demons arriving from all directions?"

Daoist Wuwei withdrew his gaze and ignored the snake demon.

Long Rong didn't bother bandying words with him either. Following the rules, she quietly waited for the incense to burn out.

Silence fell over the pavilion.

But shortly after, numerous government troops arrived at the shore.

"The Imperial Court has issued an order! No unauthorized personnel may approach Lake Mountain! Disperse immediately!"

"What are you doing? What are you doing!"

"Why should we leave?"

It wasn't just the government troops. Soldiers from the military camp hurried over as well and began dispersing the commoners.

If word of this spread, it would do the realm no good, and the Imperial Court had immediately ordered an information lockdown. Yan Ruchu was likely the one who gave the order; he probably hadn't expected the situation to spiral out of control like this.

Ping'an glanced back and said, "The government troops are chasing people away. The military camp sent men too."

Ruyi watched the scene calmly and said, "They took their time getting here."

This was to be expected.

With an event of this magnitude, they naturally couldn't allow the commoners to remain.

As they spoke, a man rode over on a swift horse. Seeing the group fishing on the shore, he frowned and barked, "You lot, leave this place immediately!"

Ping'an turned back to look at the man and said, "Commandant Gao."

The man on horseback realized who he was speaking to. He dismounted and said, "My eyes are failing me. I didn't recognize Lord Wang. Please forgive me, Lord Wang."

Ping'an stepped forward and asked, "Why are even you out here dispersing the commoners?"

Commandant Gao sighed and said, "The higher-ups issued an absolute order to lock down the news, which is why we were sent."

Ping'an nodded in understanding.

Commandant Gao then said, "Lord Wang should also leave quickly. It isn't safe to linger here."

"This..." Ping'an paused, wanting to speak yet holding back.

Commandant Gao lowered his voice. "His Majesty said that if Lord Wang wishes to stay and watch, you may do as you please. But please, try not to be so conspicuous, otherwise it makes our jobs difficult."

Ping'an understood and cupped his hands. "Thank you for the trouble, Commandant Gao."

Commandant Gao nodded, mounted his swift horse, and rode off.

Seeing the commandant leave just like that, Ruyi laughed. "Lord Wang has quite the reputation. Even His Majesty has to show you some respect."

Ping'an coughed lightly and said, "Don't talk nonsense. It's because Mister Chen is here."

Chen Changsheng smiled when he heard this and said, "It has nothing to do with this Chen."

Of course, they were only joking.

Mo Yuan was still locked in a stalemate with the fish from earlier, constantly reeling in and letting out the line. Clearly, the fish beneath the surface was massive.

Lihua watched anxiously from the side.

"Pull it! Pull it!" Lihua said.

Mo Yuan laughed. "If I pull too fast, it'll slip the hook. I have to tire it out slowly."

"Oh, okay."

Lihua didn't understand, but played along anyway.

A moment later, seeing the time was right, Mo Yuan began to reel in the line.

A massive fish breached the surface, thrashing about and kicking up splashes of water.

"It's so... so big!" Lihua exclaimed.

Mo Yuan pulled the exhausted fish closer and reached out to haul it from the water.

"Dragon Lord, please spare its life!"

"Hm?"

Mo Yuan paused and looked over.

Suddenly, a figure emerged from the water.

Ping'an jumped in fright and said, "Is... is this a demon too?"

Ruyi said, "Don't be afraid, Ping'an."

"Sister, I'm not afraid."

"Liar."

"I'm not lying."

"No more talking, Ping'an."

"..."

It was a bit of a bullying tactic.

As a watery path opened across the lake, a handsome man floated up from beneath the surface.

The man possessed a striking but slightly feminine beauty. Two strands of hair hung from his temples; at a glance, he looked even prettier than a woman.

As his full figure emerged, he cupped his hands. "Greetings, Dragon Lord! Greetings... Mister Chen!"

He clearly paused before mentioning Mister Chen.

Chen Changsheng looked at the demon, inexplicably struck by a sense of indescribable familiarity.

"Does this Chen know you?" Chen Changsheng asked.

The handsome man's heart skipped a beat before he answered, "In my early years, this lowly demon cultivated in Green Lake. I borrowed the qi of desire from the pleasure boats to gain sentience. That day, when the Dragon Lord was fishing, he overturned Green Lake and knocked me back. It was only because Mister spoke up for me that my life was spared."

Chen Changsheng remembered and said, "You're that black carp the Old Dragon King kicked back into the lake?"

The fish demon offered a helpless smile and said, "That was indeed this lowly demon."

Lihua looked at the man. It stepped forward, took a sniff, and raised its eyebrows.

The fish demon stiffened, lowered his head, and asked, "Does the immortal beast... have any guidance to offer?"

Lihua tilted its head up to look at him.

"You seem like you'd taste very good."

The fish demon froze, a bitter smile creeping onto his face. "I might... not suit the immortal beast's appetite."

Lihua smacked its lips and said, "It's lacking something. Not as fragrant as Hong Jin."

With that, it walked away.

It seemed almost disdainful.

The fish demon didn't know whether to laugh or cry, his heart thumping with lingering apprehension.

Chen Changsheng spoke up, "You were cultivating in the lake with the pleasure boats before. How did you end up in Lake Mountain Lake? Furthermore, it hasn't been that long. How did you manage to take human form so quickly?"

The fish demon explained, "Thanks to Mister's guidance back then, I realized that relying on the qi of desire was not the Righteous Path of cultivation, and I abandoned it entirely. Later, I saw mortal scholars often lingering by the lake, leaving behind their writings. I borrowed their Literary Qi to cultivate, returning to the Righteous Path."

"Even so, it shouldn't have been this fast," Chen Changsheng said.

The fish demon hesitated and said, "About that..."

"A man threw himself into the lake to commit suicide. I tried to save him, only to discover after pulling him out that he had already taken poison. Moved by my attempt to save his life and seeing my pure nature, he passed the entirety of his Literary Qi to me. That is how I was able to take form."

Hearing this, Mo Yuan turned back and asked, "Which scholar possessed enough Literary Qi to help you directly take human form?"

The fish demon hesitated. After a long moment, he replied, "During the reign of the Grand Ancestor of Xiang, he was the dynasty's foremost prime minister."

"Liu Zhiyuan."