Chapter 286: Strange

After he said this, the True Dragon was silent for a while, looking at him with a calm face, as if waiting for him to continue speaking.

Li Yunxin realized he was facing a choice—to tell the truth, or to continue betting that the True Dragon, like all the other cultivators in the world who didn't understand the Dao of Painting, was unaware of its mysteries.

After a second of hesitation, he chose the latter. The latter carried greater risk but also greater reward.

Thus, after patiently waiting during the True Dragon's silence, he looked up and asked, "Divine Lord... what else do you want to know?"

The True Dragon's gaze slowly became stern. She stared at Li Yunxin: "What I want to hear, you refuse to say. You only picked things you could tell me. You have great audacity."

Li Yunxin's body tensed up. He held his breath in silence for a while, slowly moved his eyes, and bowed his head: "Divine Lord... why do you say that?"

The True Dragon shook her head slightly: "Sigh. It's only human nature. In this world, how can anyone truly know everything and tell everything without reservation? Li Yunxin—"

Li Yunxin immediately looked up: "Present."

But he breathed a sigh of relief in his heart. It seemed the True Dragon was indeed unaware of the secret of the Spirit Painting—her words just now... were merely a bluff to test him.

This gave Li Yunxin an even stranger feeling.

When he first met the True Dragon, he felt she was majestic and perfect, like a divine being.

Now, he still felt she was not to be profaned or insulted, but his sense of awe had diminished greatly—because she actually employed "testing" him.

Testing... is not often a means used between a superior and a subordinate, is it?

The more common means for a superior to use on others is "command"—even "threat" would be seen as beneath their dignity. But the means the Divine Dragon used was actually "testing"—only those lacking confidence or strength would "test."

Moreover, the Divine Dragon had repeatedly said things she already knew he knew, creating an aura of mystery, which only deepened Li Yunxin's confusion.

He wondered if he was being too sensitive.

The Divine Dragon did not sense his thoughts, only continuing: "I will explain these matters to you today. Tomorrow morning, you will go and do as I have commanded. You are a clever child—I suppose you know what should be done and what should not. Do not disappoint me."

The True Dragon believed and accepted him.

Li Yunxin was relieved... but surprisingly, slightly disappointed.

He himself was not sure why he was disappointed—was it because the True Dragon was not as omnipotent as the legends claimed, or was it because... this matter was too "uneventful." He felt a somewhat dangerous seed sprouting in his heart, a seed that made him increasingly restless with a peaceful life—it used to be a peaceful life, but now he was even gradually becoming restless with a "safe" life.

Whenever he resolved an issue, he felt a sense of melancholy loss.

On one hand, he was relieved that he had finally survived and dealt with the enemy, yet on the other, he felt a faint disappointment and loss, just like now.

Perhaps driven by this emotion, Li Yunxin spoke after a moment of hesitation.

He asked a question he hadn't figured out.

"I still have... one thing I do not understand."

The True Dragon was slightly surprised that he dared to ask a question. But she only glanced at Li Yunxin and said, "Call yourself 'your subject.'"

Li Yunxin readily complied, bowing again: "Your subject has one thing he does not understand."

"Speak," the True Dragon turned away. Her gold robe, like water ripples and flowing light, gently danced, as if it had come alive.

"Your subject knows that the True Dragon manifested her nine sons with half of her Dragon Soul," Li Yunxin slowly said, "But there is still a part of the Dragon Soul in Dongting. What your subject cannot figure out is... why did the Divine Lord do this? If strength and ability are determined by the amount of Dragon Soul, then the Divine Lord now only has a quarter of the Dragon Soul—but Elder Brother Qiuniu not only has a quarter of the Dragon Soul, but also half the power of a demon... isn't he stronger than the Divine Dragon?"

The True Dragon turned around abruptly, her majesty and composure nearly fading away completely, revealing a flash of anger.

But she quickly suppressed her emotions, looking at Li Yunxin with a pair of brilliant golden eyes: "What, do you think I can no longer command the demons of the world?"

Li Yunxin quickly bowed his head: "Your subject dares not. It's just..."

He trailed off, appearing hesitant.

The True Dragon looked at him, then quickly smiled slightly: "You've met your second brother."

"It has nothing to do with my second brother. It's just... concern for the Divine Lord."

"Then you don't need to worry about these things. Just do your own business." The True Dragon paced a few steps in place, then turned to look at Li Yunxin again. After a moment of thought, she suddenly waved her sleeve, and her entire body turned into a ball of golden light. A voice came from the golden light: "I am taking this small demon with me. You should complete what I commanded soon and bring the Dragon Soul to meet me at Weak Water. At that time, an even greater matter awaits you. Take this with you!"

As the voice faded, the golden light suddenly vanished—the Central Hall became dark once more.

Two objects fell into Li Yunxin's hand.

He glanced at them. Aside from his Dragon Palace Folding Fan, there was one other item—it seemed to be a dragon scale.

When he first met the Dragon's Son Yazi at the edge of Dongting, the Dragon's Son showed this item to the Lord of Dongting. It was said to be a fragment of a dragon scale that had fallen during the Divine Dragon's struggle with the Golden Roc King. What he held now was also a fragment, but it was a long, thin strip, like a small dagger. It was pale gold, emitting a faint glow.

Li Yunxin thought for a moment, and used the object to forcefully stab his palm.

A sharp pain shot through him—his palm, which was harder than steel, was actually pierced.

This thing was indeed a fragment of a dragon scale. It was also a Divine Dragon Token.

Li Yunxin stood in the darkness, thinking for a while, then turned and walked out of the hall. He then noticed that the body of the Vicious Flood Dragon that had fallen onto the square in front of the hall had also disappeared. It was probably taken away by the True Dragon as well.

Seeing him walk out, Old Daoist Liu came to meet him.

Li Yunxin opened his Folding Fan and gently fanned it, whispering: "That person has left."

The old Daoist thought for a while, then asked cautiously: "Was it truly the True Dragon?"

"Yes," Li Yunxin answered succinctly.

"Oh dear... oh dear..." the old Daoist regretted, "If I had been a little bolder, I would have seen a true deity—what did the True Dragon look like?"

Li Yunxin pondered for a moment: "Solemn, composed, and her divine power is unfathomable. To say something slightly disrespectful... she is very much like my mother."

The old Daoist's mouth dropped open: "Huh?"

Then he saw Li Yunxin blink quickly in the darkness. The old Daoist immediately understood.

This meant that... the words Li Yunxin was telling him now were part of an "act." This was a small, unspoken understanding between the two of them, which outsiders would find hard to know. There was no fixed rule for this. It could be a glance, a body movement, or just a word or a phrase.

Their close relationship meant they profoundly understood each other's intentions, and Old Daoist Liu was a street-smart person skilled at reading people before he met Li Yunxin. Now that Li Yunxin had taught him the "Heartology," his skill in reading people was even more seasoned and shrewd.

So, without any hesitation, he continued: "Brother Xin rarely mentions your mother."

Since the old Daoist had brought up the subject, Li Yunxin naturally continued: "My mother... you don't know my mother's background, do you?"

"She was originally the only bloodline the Two Saints left in the world. But now that she is gone, I have become the only living bloodline of the Two Saints," Li Yunxin whispered, "Perhaps she knew it herself, or perhaps she didn't but it was due to her bloodline. I was never very close to my mother since I was little; I preferred my father."

"Because she also had that solemn and composed appearance—just like the True Dragon. So, the family affection was less," Li Yunxin sighed slightly, his sigh vanishing with the wind.

The old Daoist blinked—he didn't know if what Li Yunxin was saying now was true, false, or half-true, half-false.

"So I regretted it later," Li Yunxin's mood seemed a little low, a sense of sadness inappropriate for such a night, "I wasn't close to her when she was alive, always thinking life was very, very long. And we are both cultivators, living longer than ordinary people. I thought there would be plenty of time to spend together and communicate in the future."

"But the tree desires stillness while the wind will not cease... The son desires to serve while the parent is no more." Li Yunxin was silent for a while, "After that, there was no chance."

He fell silent after saying this. The old Daoist also kept him company in silence for a while, then quietly asked: "So... the True Dragon reminded you of her?"

Li Yunxin did not answer directly. Instead, he shook his fan and paced: "Now I'm considered a Dragon's Son. It's just... Old Liu, you know. Many things in this world—I poured my heart out to the bright moon, but the bright moon shone into a ditch."

"True Dragon, Divine Dragon, a godlike existence. Yet I look at her and think of my mother... I might think this way, but others won't." He smiled self-mockingly, "I almost did something stupid just now."

The old Daoist was shocked: "What did Brother Xin say?"

"I was impulsive for a moment and asked the True Dragon that she only possessed a quarter of her Dragon Soul. But Elder Brother Qiuniu also has a quarter of the Dragon Soul—I knew I shouldn't have asked this. But I was foolish—in that single instant, I don't know how my brain twisted up and the question came out," Li Yunxin shook his head, "Then the True Dragon left."

"What do you think she'll think? That I was momentarily blinded by impulse and excitement, thinking I saw my mother and was worried about her? No fool would believe such a poor excuse."

He slowly walked over and sat on the steps in front of the hall, staring out at the dark lake: "...But it was indeed like that."

He shook his fan with a sense of loss, as if trying to drive away his worries and troubles.

Thus, he saw a small flicker of light on the fan—the True Dragon had not left as she seemed to. In fact, she was still nearby, listening to Li Yunxin and Old Daoist Liu's conversation.

The old Daoist pondered for a while, then walked over to Li Yunxin and looked at his expression.

Then he placed a hand on Li Yunxin's shoulder: "Brother Xin, that was indeed a bit thoughtless. The True Dragon is a divine being; how could she have our human flaws?"

"But Brother Xin also told me some important facts before—in the Daoist Orthodoxy, we wouldn't amount to much. And the Taoist priests are all iron-hearted and constrained by rules, so life wouldn't be comfortable. The Mutual Aid Society also has an irreconcilable feud with you for your parents' death, so where else can you turn but to the True Dragon?"

"I only hope that the True Dragon... doesn't need to treat you with sincerity, but at least does not suspect you. We need a place to belong and rely on in this chaotic world. A relationship like ruler and subject, diligently doing things, we will eventually have a day where things go smoothly. It's just that those moments of weakness, you must not have them again."

Li Yunxin nodded silently, whispering: "I'm only sad for this one night. After tonight, it will be fine. I know this is bad."

He stood up after saying these words.

After another fifteen minutes, he looked at the Folding Fan in his hand and let out a light breath.

"It's done."

The old Daoist instinctively looked up at the sky and then around. Then he took a few steps closer to Li Yunxin and whispered: "Which of Brother Xin's words were true, and which were false?"

He waited a moment and, seeing Li Yunxin not answer, frowned: "It doesn't feel good."

This was the first time he had voiced dissent against something Li Yunxin had done—even if it was just in this tone.

Li Yunxin turned to look at him: "Using matters concerning parents to scheme against someone feels wrong?"

"The Daoist Orthodoxy cultivators might not care about such things. But... the deceased should be respected," the old Daoist said solemnly, "Does Brother Xin not have a better way?"

Li Yunxin smiled and shook his head; the sorrowful emotions he had just displayed seemed completely gone. But he said: "I understand your thoughts. But what if I said that the facts were just like that, or... half-true and half-false? Old Man Su once said that I deliberately caused the death of the Yin Family's young lady to force Head Constable Yin into the game—Old Liu, do you think that's true or false?"

The old Daoist hesitated for a moment, and answered honestly: "That, I do not know."

"Then I don't know either," Li Yunxin said seriously.

The old Daoist was silent for a while, then sighed: "I just hope Brother Xin doesn't become one of those iron-hearted Taoist priests. Everyone says you're this way and that way, but I feel I know you. There are some things you won't do—that is better than the vast majority of people in this world."

Li Yunxin smiled: "Mm."

At this moment, the sky was about to brighten.

A fish belly-white color appeared in the eastern sky, as if a heavy corner of the night curtain had been lifted, revealing a hint of hope or something else.

Normally, the morning is cool, but only "refreshing." But on this dawn, Old Daoist Liu felt a chill—even though he cultivated the Celestial Heart Orthodox Law that Li Yunxin taught him, he still pulled his clothes tighter.

Then he squinted at the horizon, thought for a moment: "Ah... today is the beginning of Autumn."

The solar term is a marvelous thing. The morning before, people could wear just a single layer, but on this day, an extra layer was needed.

The Qing Kingdom's spring and autumn are short, while winter and summer are long.

As soon as autumn begins, the weather will quickly turn cold. In about two more months, the first snow will fall.

Li Yunxin turned his head and looked towards the northwest—Bai Yunxin had kidnapped Lady Hong and headed in that direction.

"We will be heading north in a while to look for the Dragon Soul," he whispered, "It will get cold even faster there." (To be continued.)