Chapter 117: Chapter 114: Parting the Clouds and Astonishing the Immortals【4000 words, 8th update, seeking subscription】_3
The scholars and beauties in the pleasure quarter, along with the Jinghe Dragon King, originally thought Li Bai was just a charlatan peddling plagiarized verses. They intended to recite a few doggerel lines to fool them, but unexpectedly, true poetry flowed from his mouth as soon as he spoke.
A sip of wine, a line of verse.
If such talent were converted into cultivation aptitude, it would be at the level of a peerless prodigy.
Compared to him, the Jinghe Dragon King was like a shrimp soldier or crab general before Zulong. Not at all. There was absolutely no comparison.
The verses of the Jinghe Dragon King were mere doggerel, accumulated over countless years, some even plagiarized from others who had since passed away; once taken, they became his property. Yet, they were no match for the verses of the young man before them.
The Jinghe Dragon King, seeing so many onlookers, felt like the white-nosed villain in an opera, a laughingstock for the countless spectators.
Rage overwhelmed him, and he was fuming. He was a dragon known for his volatile temper but small-heartedness; otherwise, he wouldn’t have been so easily tricked by Yuan Shoucheng later on, pushed onto the Immortal Slaying Stage, and lost his life.
Now, confronted by Li Bai, whose talent seemed immeasurably vast, fury erupted within him, and malice arose from the depths of his heart. His eyes were filled with murderous intent.
Even the rain outside seemed to sense the Dragon King’s fury and stopped.
BANG!
Li Bai suddenly threw the wine jar in his hand to the ground, shattering it to pieces.
This startled everyone.
The Jinghe Dragon King also snapped back to his senses. By then, Li Bai had already approached him, smiling faintly.
"Dragon King, shall we find a secluded place for just the two of us to have a proper chat?" Li Bai said with self-assured composure.
Truth be told, he wasn’t confident at all. He had already decided: if the Jinghe Dragon King truly resorted to violence, he would unhesitatingly use his Purple Illuminate Immortal Robe to turn invisible and depart. He would then stop seeking out the Jinghe Dragon King and abandon this strategic gambit. The Jinghe Dragon King’s fate would then unfold as in the original story: death on the Immortal Slaying Stage, losing control over vast water systems.
With a glare, the Jinghe Dragon King and Li Bai vanished from the spot.
The two guards looked around, trying to trace their whereabouts but found nothing.
The surrounding crowd was stunned. Kneeling on the ground, they cried out, "An Immortal!"
Only an Immortal could compose poetry so effortlessly.
「Outside the city, in the bamboo forest.」
The Jinghe Dragon King said, "You know my identity, yet you humiliated me before all those people. What punishment do you deserve?"
He was furious. He, with his lofty and supreme status, controlled the terrestrial water systems of half the Aparagodaniya continent, yet he had just been humiliated by some unknown, insignificant True Immortal.
Li Bai’s cultivation had only reached Peak True Immortal so far, not even matching that of his avatar, Chen Sha. But concerning his mission, it was sufficient.
Li Bai also felt his heart pound. This vile dragon is indeed petty. Out of jealousy that Yuan Shoucheng’s predictions were accurate, it altered the rain decrees and forfeited its life. He had actually been quite worried all along that this brute would suddenly resort to murder while he was reciting poetry, which was why he had been secretly wearing the Purple Illuminate Immortal Robe the whole time, ready to flee at any moment. Dealing with the Jinghe Dragon King was the mission, but his more crucial purpose was to win over Sun Wukong and secure him as a shield.
Li Bai had already given the Jinghe Dragon King a sufficient display of dominance. He believed his next words would be enough for the Jinghe Dragon King to finally listen.
Without any arrogance, Li Bai approached with a smile and a fist-and-palm salute, giving the Dragon King ample face.
This managed to ease the Dragon King’s expression somewhat, but his face remained stern.
Li Bai said, "Is it safe to talk in this bamboo forest?"
The Dragon King laughed coldly. "Of course, it’s safe. If I kill you here, no one will know."
Li Bai secretly wiped away cold sweat. This fellow is truly vicious. However, to gain another card to trouble the Heavenly Court, he decided... not to make a strategic retreat just yet. This Dragon King is so aloof. Feigning civility likely wouldn’t work with him; kind words might even make him look down on me.
Li Bai decided to risk some bravado.
He stepped forward and, under the Jinghe Dragon King’s shocked gaze, flicked his finger on the Dragon King’s forehead.
The Jinghe Dragon King was about to explode in anger.
Li Bai spoke leisurely, "Dragon King, the one who ought to die is actually you."