Chapter 221

“The Immortal has arrived? What would you like? Cucumbers, spinach, or maybe tomatoes? How about some radishes? The radishes today look especially fresh and juicy. Just look at the aura on them—it’s practically dripping! Eating them will definitely strengthen your body and prolong your life. Would you like one?”

The dragon soul flicked its tail, rolling up a white radish, smiling ingratiatingly as it offered it to her.

Yun Jiao: “……”

What the heck?

How had this dragon’s personality completely changed overnight?

Seeing that she didn’t take it, the dragon soul froze for a moment, then as if remembering something, knocked itself lightly on the head with the radish.

“Oh dear, look at me, this radish isn’t even washed yet! The Immortal surely wouldn’t want to touch it like this. Please wait a moment, I’ll wash it clean in the stream and bring it back to you. In the meantime, feel free to look around—if anything catches your eye, tell me, and I’ll pick it for you!”

After saying that, it rolled up a few radishes and happily floated toward the stream beside the mountain. Its change in attitude was as dramatic as a full Olympic spin.

Yun Jiao stood frozen for a while before she finally reacted. After confirming carefully, she was certain—it really was the same dragon from yesterday. She turned to the person next to her and asked,

“Ying Lun, what’s wrong with this dragon’s head?”

Not only had its attitude toward her completely changed, but its soul form seemed several times smaller than yesterday—barely bigger than a person now.

“Huh?”

Ying Lun was lying limply in the grass hut, looking like a dead fish. The sunlight had dried him out, and he seemed half-asleep. Glancing lazily at the flying dragon soul, he muttered,

“Oh, that thing had some kind of fit last night. Said it wanted to go for a walk down the mountain. I couldn’t stop it no matter what. Took my eyes off it for one second, and poof, it was gone. You young souls these days—so impulsive. Not like we were in my time…”

“Go for a walk?” Yun Jiao blinked.

How could a walk change its entire nature? Suddenly something struck her, and she asked reflexively,

“It couldn’t have… run into the Grandmaster, could it?”

“What do you think? Of course it did!”

Ying Lun rolled over again, now looking even more like a dead fish. He shot her a resentful glance but couldn’t stop his mouth from running.

“My dear little disciple, you really need to do something about Ye Yuan’s bad temper. If I hadn’t shown up when I did last night, that dragon soul would’ve been gone without a trace! Who just attacks someone on a whim? Look at that thing—it’s so weak now it’s barely holding together. If I hadn’t used my life force to stabilize its soul, it wouldn’t even be able to cast a shadow for the vegetables. I mean really, Ye Yuan’s getting on in years and still picks fights with juniors. He’s becoming more and more—”

“The Grandmaster’s right below the mountain.”

He can hear you.

“More and more… generous! Broad-minded! Wise and merciful! Ha… ha… ha…”

Ying Lun’s unfinished complaint made a hard turn as he instantly sat up straight, face calm and unflustered—perfectly self-slapping.

“……”

Where’s your dignity?

“Sigh, in the end, it’s just Little Yellow being ignorant. A little punishment was deserved. But it’s learned its lesson now—see how obedient and hardworking it is? Don’t worry, I’ll make sure it behaves from now on. It won’t cause any more trouble, I promise! Even if you don’t believe anyone else, you can believe me, right? Ha… ha…”

“……”

So it did meet the Grandmaster.

No wonder he was waiting at her door this morning asking her to bake cookies. Seems that dragon really went and dug its own grave last night.

“Immortal, the radishes are washed!”

As she spoke, the dragon soul floated back over, holding a bundle of perfectly clean radishes. They were neatly tied together with grass rope and even adorned with a cute little bow.

It offered them up with both claws.

“Thank… thank you!” Yun Jiao accepted them, feeling a bit overwhelmed. Was this really the same overbearing dragon that had threatened to destroy the mortal realm a few days ago? Could its soul have been swapped?

“Think nothing of it, Immortal, this is what Little Yellow should do.”

The dragon soul smiled even more politely, blinking rapidly as if having a spasm, then chuckled.

“Does the Immortal need anything else? Perhaps I can fetch some more?”

Yun Jiao responded instinctively, “Oh… I could use some leafy greens, for making fruit-and-vegetable flavored biscuits.”

“Got it!”

The dragon nodded and dove back into the vegetable patch, working with remarkable enthusiasm. Its service was impeccable—plucking four or five kinds of vegetables, washing them one by one, removing yellow leaves, trimming roots. The only thing missing was asking whether she preferred them sliced or diced.

Yun Jiao glanced at the dragon soul that practically radiated submission, then looked back at Ying Lun, who had once again sprawled out in the hut.

She suddenly felt it was time to get to the bottom of things.

“Immortal, here are your vegetables. Please take them, and safe travels,” the dragon said, handing over a large bundle wrapped neatly in leaves.

“No rush, just set them down first.”

She pointed at the grass beside her, signaling it to drop the vegetables. Her tone turned serious.

“I have some questions. I hope you’ll cooperate.”

The dragon immediately placed the vegetables down and replied dutifully,

“The Immortal need only command. This humble dragon will answer everything it knows.”

“Good. Sit.”

She patted the grass.

“First—what’s your name?”

“I’m Little Yellow!” the dragon blurted out instantly.

Yun Jiao: “……”

You’ve really embraced your new name fast.

“I mean your name before. Who were you? Which division of the Celestial Court did you belong to?”

The dragon’s eyes flickered. It coiled itself neatly, placing its front claws together in a disciplined posture and raising its neck straight, looking all well-behaved.

“Reporting to the Immortal, this humble dragon’s name was Feng Yi, from… the Zhu Yan Celestial Palace.”

Zhu Yan again!

“So you’re from the Southern Celestial Court.”

“Yes.” It nodded.

“The evil flood dragon that was using souls to nourish the immortal vein in the marshes—was that your doing?” Yun Jiao continued coldly. “Who ordered you?”

The dragon’s expression shifted, its eyes darting nervously.

“The… immortal vein? I… I don’t know what you mean…”

“The Soul Origin Pearl,” Yun Jiao said bluntly. “Yes, we took it. You really think we couldn’t tell what that formation at the bottom of the cliff was for?”

The dragon’s body trembled, its expression panicked. Seeing that there was no point denying it, it quickly said,

“Im—Immortal, forgive me! This dragon was only following orders! I never wished to harm so many mortals! The Soul Origin Pearl wasn’t even mine!”

“Then who gave it to you?” Yun Jiao pressed, frowning. “That Zhu Yan Immortal Lord? Or your Southern Celestial Emperor?”

“This…”

The dragon hesitated, looking even more nervous.

“What are you cultivating these immortal veins for? Are there more places like this one?”

“I… I don’t know…” It avoided her gaze, clearly fearful.

“Then what other plans do you have? What other arrangements in the mortal realm?”

“I’m just a little dragon. How could I know such things…”

It hung its head low, eyes shifting uneasily.

“Not talking?”

Yun Jiao exhaled deeply and stood up.

“Looks like I’m asking the wrong way. Fine. Maybe I’ll let the Grandmaster ask instead—after all—”

“NO!”

Before she could finish, Feng Yi practically exploded, shrieking like a slaughtered pig. Its soul form trembled so violently it nearly scattered.

Abandoning its curled-up posture, it rushed to stand in front of her, expression suddenly deadly serious, like a firecracker ready to blow—spilling everything in one breath.

“Immortal! I remember now! The immortal vein was indeed ordered by Zhu Yan Immortal Lord! The Soul Origin Pearl was from him too! He said it had to be nurtured into a full immortal vein within a thousand years! As for whether there are others, this little dragon truly doesn’t know!”

“Zhu Yan told me it was by command of the Southern Celestial Emperor—but! I once found a soul imprint inside the Soul Origin Pearl, belonging to the Western Celestial Court’s Hua Shu Immortal! So that bastard must have lied to me! I think this matter is tied to the Western Celestial Emperor himself!”

“The immortal vein isn’t complete yet, and Zhu Yan’s a vengeful bastard. If I keep hiding, he’ll definitely come after me! I’ve got a map of Zhu Yan Immortal Palace, a list of immortals, methods to break every restriction, and even evidence of his affair behind his consort’s back! Immortal, how many copies would you like?!”

Yun Jiao: “……”

Ying Lun: “……”

Are you sure you’re not a chameleon? That was the fastest switch in allegiance they’d ever seen.

(End of Chapter)