Volume Two, Chapter Twenty: The Blackhorn Dragon King

Just as they were about to reach the bottom, the hull of the boat suddenly struck something with a heavy thud. The entire fishing vessel was abruptly lifted toward the water’s surface, forcibly breaking free from the whirlpool, then soared into the air.

Everyone clung tightly to the sides, unable to discern what had happened. When the boat finally landed on the opposite bank, they saw beneath it a massive turtle shell exposed to view.

“You—!” Cold Jade was the first to leap down. She rushed straight to the divine tortoise, her eyes blazing.

“What do you mean, ‘you’?” The divine tortoise’s eyes, as large as pots, darted nervously.

“You ran ahead again!” Cold Jade glared, cheeks puffed with indignation.

“I... didn’t run ahead...” The tortoise’s gaze flickered.

“But you ran brilliantly!” Cold Jade suddenly exclaimed with excitement. The tortoise recoiled two steps in fright.

“Yes! If not, we’d have truly ended up at the bottom! You aren’t afraid of water, but we are!” Charm Maiden ran over to praise.

“Big Brother Turtle, you’re amazing!” Ink Smoke gazed up at the divine tortoise in awe, causing the tortoise’s head to spin in confusion.

“Hey, could you shrink a bit first? It’s exhausting craning my neck to talk to you!” Cold Jade’s attitude shifted again.

“You’re not off the boat! How can I shrink? If I do, I’ll be crushed underneath! You—!” The tortoise grew agitated.

“All right, all right, we’ve wronged you! Master Turtle!” Cold Jade was quick to placate.

Everyone hurried down from the boat, allowing the divine tortoise to flip the vessel aside before shrinking down. Meanwhile, Jin Gui Mountain and the others had already rushed to the riverbank, capturing the three fishermen who had just swum ashore.

“You villains!” Qi Yuanxiao immediately brandished his sword at the old fisherman.

“Stop!” Jin Gui Mountain quickly seized Qi Yuanxiao’s arm.

“Let’s ask first!” Jin Gui Mountain nodded at Hong Kun, who stepped forward.

“We have no grievance with you. Why did you harm us?” Hong Kun glared at the old fisherman.

“I... I had no choice!” The old fisherman slumped to the ground, the two younger men trembling in fear, unable to speak.

“No choice? Who are you really?” Hong Kun’s brows furrowed.

“We’re fishermen by this river. These are my two sons. Our family lives by fishing, hard but free. Half a year ago, on a night of the full moon, we’d just reached the river’s center when the water began to swirl, a giant whirlpool pulling us under.” The old fisherman stared blankly at the water.

“Then how are you still alive?” Hong Kun pushed him.

“I thought we were doomed! But strangely, the river water stopped three feet from the boat, as if blocked, and we could breathe. Then a shrimp soldier and a crab general burst in, brandishing twin hammers, saying they’d take us to their king. They hung this thing around our necks and pushed us off the boat. Oddly, with this tag, we could breathe freely underwater.”

“This?” Hong Kun leaned in to look—a black stone tablet inscribed with ‘Black Dragon Palace’. His heart jolted. Was it a dragon?

“Yes, this. The other side has a dragon!” The old fisherman turned it over, revealing a vividly carved dragon.

“And then?” Hong Kun glanced at Jin Gui Mountain, whose face was grim.

“Then, east and west we went, and saw a dragon palace. Entering the hall, we found a monster in black armor seated above!”

“What did it look like?” Jin Gui Mountain couldn’t help but ask.

“I don’t know, it wore a dragon king mask, called itself the Black Horned Dragon King.”

“A dragon king mask?” Hong Kun found it odd. The old fisherman nodded, continuing, “Then I saw my wife, daughter-in-law, and grandson all tied to pillars. I tried to rush over, but was held down by the shrimp and crab soldiers.”

“Hmph!” Hong Kun frowned, seeing the two young fishermen’s tearful eyes.

“We kowtowed desperately, begging the monster for mercy. It said we could live, but only if we obeyed its orders: each full moon at midnight, bring a few people to the river’s center. We had no choice but to comply.”

“How many have you harmed?” Qi Yuanxiao waved his sword.

“Not many... five times... a dozen people, maybe...” The old fisherman replied with terror. Hong Kun’s fists crackled.

“We had no choice! If we didn’t do it, they’d drown my mother and the others!” One of the young fishermen hurriedly explained.

“Hmph!” Hong Kun knew he couldn’t blame them entirely.

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“What about the five-whiskered carp?” Jin Gui Mountain interjected.

“Five-whiskered carp? Never seen one—I made that up...” The old fisherman looked at Jin Gui Mountain in shame.

“Impossible! My master’s information is never wrong!” Bi Yi snapped. The old fisherman shrank back, and Hong Kun fell silent.

“We haven’t investigated this side of the river yet!” Ink Smoke reminded.

“That’s true. When dawn comes, let’s search this bank first.” Hong Kun and Jin Gui Mountain exchanged glances and nodded.

“What about now?” Bi Yi pressed.

“Now...” Hong Kun was about to speak when a tremendous splash erupted.

Looking up, the river’s center surged. A shrimp soldier and a crab general, each wielding twin hammers, leapt from the water.

“What fiend dares disturb Black Dragon Palace?” the shrimp and crab shouted atop the waves.

“Hah, everywhere it’s the same line!” Cold Jade was about to leap out, but Charm Maiden bit her ear, stopping her.

“You’re the fiends! Stirring up trouble and harming innocents—tonight, I’ll uphold justice!” Before finishing, Hong Kun had already rushed to the riverbank with sword drawn. The shrimp and crab didn’t hesitate, charging atop the waves, but were no match for Hong Kun. Realizing they were outclassed, they quickly retreated back into the river.

Hong Kun was about to pursue, forming a spell, when a flash of red light streaked past him.

“Trying to escape!” Ink Smoke pursed her lips, her red thread binding the shrimp and crab, then with a flick of her wrist, she hauled them forcibly onto shore.

“Spare us, miss! Please let us back in the water!” the shrimp soldier begged. The crab was far calmer, being amphibious.

“Spare you? Prepare to die!” Bi Yi swung her sword to strike, but Hong Kun caught her wrist.

“If you want to live, speak quickly! Who is your leader?” Hong Kun demanded.

“A dragon!” the shrimp demon answered immediately.

“A dragon?” Bi Yi’s wrist twitched.

“It always wears a black dragon mask—we’ve never seen its true face!” the shrimp demon pleaded, bowing repeatedly.

“Then how do you know it’s a dragon?” Jin Gui Mountain pressed.

“It says so itself! Claims to be the Black Horned Dragon King from Kunlun Mountain! Ah!” The crab suddenly cried out and transformed, becoming a river shrimp bouncing desperately on the ground.

“Miss, please put it in water!” the crab general pleaded.

Ink Smoke glared at it. “Who knows if you’re scheming something?”

“We’re bound, what could we possibly scheme? Even a puddle would do!” the crab insisted.

“Yibing, fetch something to hold water!” Cold Jade called out. Seeing their true forms, she felt a pang of sympathy.

Yibing scratched his head and ran to the boat. When they flipped it earlier, plenty of things had spilled out—surely something suitable remained. Before reaching the boat, he found a small basin, filled it with water, and carefully set it at Ink Smoke’s feet.

“Thank you! Thank you!” Seeing the shrimp sink to the basin’s bottom, the crab general finally relaxed. Clinging to the rim, it began its tale.

About half a year ago, a torrential storm raged for a day and night. At dawn, the Black Horned Dragon King appeared in the river, defeated the local spirits, and took over. He ordered all spirits to build the dragon palace by day, barring them from approaching at night, claiming he needed to perform rituals. At first, none believed him, but each night, the palace’s progress advanced astonishingly. In less than ten days, Black Dragon Palace was completed. Once finished, the Black Horned Dragon King appointed officials among the spirits and commanded them to capture humans every full moon to aid his cultivation. Thus, the old fisherman’s family suffered.

“Did he use magic for construction?” Fat Girl was curious, looking at Jin Gui Mountain.

Jin Gui Mountain shook his head, unsure.

“How many people have you eaten?” Bi Yi’s brows arched.

“A dozen or so! We were forced—we never ate anyone!” The crab general spat bubbles nervously.

“Hmph!” Bi Yi glared, then turned to Hong Kun. “What should we do?”

“If they don’t report back, the monster will come himself. Let’s lie in wait and catch him unprepared.” Hong Kun glanced at Jin Gui Mountain, who nodded vigorously.

“There’s a thatched hut not far behind, seemingly abandoned. We can hide there—it’s a bit away from the bank. If we lure the monster there, he’ll find it hard to retreat into the water.” Jin Gui Mountain pointed.

“Let’s do as Brother Jin says!” Bi Yi agreed.

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“All right, I’ll lure the monster. Yibing, you can enter the water—block its retreat. Everyone else, hide in the hut. Use ‘catching fish’ as the signal—once the monster comes ashore, attack together,” Hong Kun organized.

“What about them?” Ink Smoke gestured to the basin with the shrimp and crab.

“Kill them! What use are these fiends?” Bi Yi declared.

“Eat them! Braised or steamed!” Yibing bounced over.

“Spare us, immortal!” The shrimp soldier almost jumped out.

“All you think about is food!” Bi Yi nearly struck him, but Fat Girl hurriedly pulled Yibing aside.

“All right, enough! You watch them in the hut, just in case!” Hong Kun handed Ink Smoke a cloth bag from his uncle. Though displeased, Ink Smoke knew his words were wise.

When everyone rushed toward the hut, Yibing stood confused, glancing around.

“Idiot! Go to the boat!” Cold Jade’s voice echoed from afar.

“Oh, right!” Yibing turned to thank her, but everyone had vanished.

“Hurry up!” Hong Kun, stationed on the bank as bait, urged him. Yibing stuck out his tongue and ran to the boat.

Just as Yibing hid behind the boat, the river began to swirl rapidly. Hong Kun gripped his sword, watching as the whirlpool grew larger, the river water flooding over the bank toward him.

Suddenly, the vortex’s center surged, and a horde of fiends emerged—clam spirits, fish spirits, turtle spirits—a veritable gathering of river creatures. Leading them was a black-armored monster, face hidden behind a black dragon mask, wielding a black spear.

“What fiend dares cause trouble here?” Hong Kun pointed his sword.

“I am the Black Horned Dragon King! Who are you?” the monster demanded.

“Hong Kun of Companion Moon Mound!” Hong Kun answered proudly.

“Companion Moon Mound? Never heard of it! I mind my own business—why meddle in mine?”

“You harm innocent people—how dare you!”

“Hah! I bring calm winds, gentle rains, no disaster nor danger—isn’t that good? Shouldn’t they offer a few people in gratitude?”

“Villainous logic! Today, I’ll uphold justice and slay you!”

“Fine! Let me see how you uphold justice!” The Black Horned Dragon King sneered, charging atop the waves.

In moments, the two clashed. The Black Horned Dragon King was formidable, his black spear dancing flawlessly, making it hard for Hong Kun to gain the upper hand. Hong Kun fought while retreating, slowly moving toward the hut. He thought the monster would have to set foot on land once far from the river, but waves continued to carry him forward, right up to the hut.

“Catching fish!” Hong Kun shouted. The monster jumped in fright, taking a moment to recover. By then, everyone had rushed out from the hut, surrounding him tightly.

“Damn it! What’s with this strange signal?” The monster sneered, his spear whirling like a dragon, thrusting and sweeping without fear.

In fact, Yibing was the first to charge out, but was immediately blocked by the river creatures behind, who, though weak, delayed him. Hearing chaos behind, the Black Horned Dragon King grew alarmed, tried to retreat with the waves, but Hong Kun and the others blocked his path. In desperation, he shook himself, sending countless silver darts flying in all directions.

“Ah!” Hong Kun and the others retreated, but still got hit.

Looking up, the Black Horned Dragon King had already disappeared into the river.

“Yibing, what are you doing?” Cold Jade shouted angrily.

“I...” Yibing clutched his arm in shame.

“You’re hurt?” Fat Girl hurried over.

A silver dart was embedded in Yibing’s arm.

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