In front of Gugong Mountain.

Sun Wukong stood there in a dignified, imposing stance.

It was armor and a helm he had all but stolen from the Dragon King, yet its splendor was anything but ordinary.

Above all, he was a living monkey god.

The Great Sage Equal to Heaven who had once shaken the Heavenly Realm had descended.

There was not a single Azure Forest disciple who did not want to see that dazzling figure.

“The Victorious Fighting Buddha is going to help us….”

“He looks insanely strong. His fur is like flames.”

There was no exaggeration in the disciples’ awe.

Hearing that the Great Sage Equal to Heaven with folded arms had agreed to aid the Azure Forest was that hopeful.

Of course, it was no accident that Sun Wukong was standing atop a rock where everyone could see him so well.

“Hahaha! This Victorious Fighting Buddha will be with you, so there will be no defeat!”

“Waaaah!”

Sun Wukong said that and thrust both hands high.

The still-young third-generation disciples clapped and cheered.

“It’s been a long time. Being praised by humans, too.”

Sun Wukong enjoyed the applause with a refreshed expression.

Nezha wore a dissatisfied expression from a little distance away.

Sun Wukong flicked him a glance.

“Unlike me, you don’t even have a body, so no one can see you. Feeling left out?”

「Monkey talk.」

Nezha had no physical body.

At most, he could maintain the shape of a soul.

When Sun Wukong snickered, he moved aside as if annoyed.

He headed toward where Dam Hyun was.

Like it or not, Dam Hyun was the one Nezha was teaching Power Borrowing to.

「I need to teach that bastard so he can at least do possession.」

If he wanted to attempt possession, he could do it right now.

But without decent preparation, if he forced possession onto Dam Hyun now, the outcome was obvious.

Dam Hyun would die from the strain.

Nezha had sworn an oath not to harm Yi-gang and those around him. If Dam Hyun died because of possession, it would violate that oath.

With those tangled thoughts, he went to find Dam Hyun.

Dam Hyun was apart from the other disciples.

No, he was not completely alone.

Dam Hyun was facing Cheongho one-on-one, his face extremely serious.

“Are you really not going to listen to me?”

Even Nezha, who had been around him for quite a while by now, had never seen Dam Hyun’s face that serious.

A face without even a hint of a smile.

Eyes dark like a night well.

A firm set to his mouth that would allow no argument.

“Stay here. If you disobey, I’ll never see you again.”

Cheongho sat in front of Dam Hyun.

Its tail swayed as it stared at Dam Hyun in silence.

A silent staring match.

The road the Azure Forest disciples would walk from here was a mire of blood.

The still-young Cheongho ought to stay behind.

Did Cheongho understand Dam Hyun’s feelings?

No, it did not.

Cheongho ignored Dam Hyun and turned its body toward where Yi-gang was.

“Hey, you!”

Dam Hyun dragged Cheongho back and turned it to its original position again.

“You can understand me and you can answer too. Why are you pretending you can’t?”

It had been able to speak for quite a while, yet Cheongho only pricked its ears like a fox that knew nothing.

“Stay. Wait here in this jungle. Yi-gang and I will go wipe everything out and come back.”

This time, Cheongho finally expressed its will.

It shook its head side to side.

“Please, just listen to me!”

Dam Hyun bent down and wailed like that.

Watching him act like that toward a fox pup from the side, he looked like a crazy bastard.

「Haa.」

Nezha let out a deep sigh.

If he kept watching Dam Hyun, his mood would only grow heavier.

So he went to where Yi-gang was.

Before the cave on Gonggu Mountain, before the place where the Yinglong resides.

Yi-gang and Yu Jeong-shin were there.

Yu Jeong-shin wore a heavy expression.

“According to the records, the Yinglong is certainly a righteous being… but the stories are so legendary that we cannot be sure.”

“Take care.”

The Azure Forest disciples, including Yu Jeong-shin, also wanted to enter Yinglong’s cave.

But as expected, the only one the Yinglong permitted was Yi-gang. The barrier would accept no one but Yi-gang.

There was a brief disagreement, but in the end it was decided that Yi-gang would enter the Yinglong’s abode alone.

With the major undertaking ahead, even a little help was precious.

There was no reason not to meet the Yinglong.

Nezha called out to Yi-gang as he was about to enter the barrier.

Yi-gang turned back to Nezha.

「Don’t worry. It’s been thousands of years since the Yinglong came down from the Heavenly Realm and went into seclusion. It’s not a dangerous being.」

Nezha watched Yi-gang slowly walk into the cave.

Then there was a commotion behind them.

“Cheongho! Stop!”

He had been sitting that little fox down and scolding it a moment ago. Had it finally run away.

Blue Cheongho zipped past Nezha’s feet.

Dam Hyun came chasing in a panic, but there was no chance he could catch Cheongho.

“Master! Why aren’t you stopping it!”

Before Yu Jeong-shin or Nezha could even react, Cheongho slipped between them and ran into the cave.

Dam Hyun hurried after it.

But Cheongho was nowhere to be seen inside.

The barrier blocked Dam Hyun from entering.

“It got in!”

A barrier that had let nothing in except Yi-gang.

But no one had tested whether Cheongho could enter.

If it was with Yi-gang, would it be safe?

Worried like that, Dam Hyun stood blankly before the barrier.

A moment ago, the barrier had opened on its own when Yi-gang approached.

When Yi-gang hesitated briefly and entered, the barrier sealed shut again.

When Yi-gang, already inside, tried to leave again, the barrier opened without any issue.

‘So it’s not trying to trap me and kill me.’

After confirming that, Yi-gang moved deeper into the cave.

He had thought he was alone.

Dodododo-

He heard small footsteps and turned his head.

Cheongho came running in, so he caught it in his arms.

“How did you get in?”

Cheongho did not answer, even while held in Yi-gang’s arms.

“So you’re going through puberty, huh.”

Cheongho had started speaking, but at some point it stopped.

And their relationship was not great right now either.

This was because Yi-gang held the same opinion as Dam Hyun.

“What are you going to do when you haven’t even learned transformation arts yet? You’re still young. You need to grow at least as much as your brothers and sisters.”

Cheongho was still young.

Even if it could enlarge its body temporarily, that was all.

Just the fact that it wouldn’t listen and was lying belly-up like this made that clear.

Cheongho had helped in a fight before, but compared to the battle ahead, it was child’s play.

“Stay. I’m not taking you.”

Cheongho growled as if it disliked that.

But there was a difference between Dam Hyun and Yi-gang. Unlike Dam Hyun, who ended up floundering before Cheongho, Yi-gang was strict.

In the end, Cheongho went limp, as if clinging.

Hanging like that was the best resistance Cheongho could manage right now.

When Cheongho sagged, Yi-gang draped it over his shoulder like a scarf.

And he kept walking.

The inside of the cave was quiet.

He did not sense the breathing of a massive beast, nor the stench of a reptile.

It was like an ordinary cave where no one lived.

Step.

Soon, Yi-gang’s foot stopped.

Cheongho pricked its ears.

There was a person in front of Yi-gang.

Yes. It was clearly the shape of a human.

A woman with very long black hair stood in the middle of the cave.

Her clothing was unusual.

She did not seem like a person of the present age. It looked like ancient clothing.

Her features looked young, yet she carried the detachment of someone who had lived through long ages.

She didn’t even blink. More than a person, she seemed like a plant.

Like a primitive tree species that had lived for thousands of years.

“…Yinglong?”

He had expected a dragon, but what appeared was a woman.

But there was no way an ordinary person would be in a place like this.

Yi-gang’s guess was correct.

“Yes. I am Yinglong.”

The woman’s voice was ordinary.

If anything, it was indifferent.

“So you’re that human. And the gumiho’s youngest daughter.”

Cheongho flinched in surprise.

As if afraid, it let its ears droop.

“Do you know Cheongho?”

“Yes. I heard personally that Gumi gained a new child.”

They said Yinglong had remained secluded here, but perhaps that was not entirely true.

“I know about you as well. A young dragon told me.”

“A young dragon?”

“Bodhidharma.”

Bodhidharma was already well over a thousand years old. Calling him young was odd.

But then again, it had not been long since he became a dragon, and to Yinglong he might look young.

“Yes. To me, he is no more than a young dragon.”

“Can I read minds? Yes.”

A chill ran down Yi-gang’s spine.

Even though he had not spoken, Yinglong seemed to see straight through Yi-gang’s thoughts.

“Why am I in a place like this? Yes, the circumstances are too long to explain, but it is because of regret.”

“Long ago, I interfered in the affairs of the world and committed a great sin. After that, I secluded myself and cut off all ties. I reached a settlement with the Yellow Emperor and severed my relationship with him as well. Because of that, I cannot leave this place. Naturally, I cannot help you either.”

“Can you believe now that I truly can read minds, and that I am not merely pretending?”

“So you truly can read what is in my head.”

He had truly been checking whether Yinglong could read minds.

“Are you afraid? When I see through their inner thoughts, humans are all frightened.”

“No. I have nothing to hide.”

For the first time, interest rose on Yinglong’s emotionless face.

“I see. Both Bodhidharma and Gumi are placing their hopes on you.”

“What hope?”

“They believe you can protect and save humans.”

“By destroying the Evil Cult?”

“The Evil Cult, yes. They believe you will stop their goal.”

For some reason, Yi-gang felt a swelling in his chest.

He was moved.

The spirits who had been with him were helping Yi-gang.

Zhang Sanfeng, the Heavenly Demon, Bodhidharma, the Immortal Divine Sword, and even Gumi.

They believed in Yi-gang.

“Because they persuaded me, I decided to help you.”

“Then.”

“I will give you my dragon pearl.”

Yi-gang’s eyes widened slightly.

When he heard the Great Sage Equal to Heaven was after Yinglong’s dragon pearl, there was a reason he judged it as robbery.

A dragon pearl was essentially a dragon’s inner core.

To take it would be no different from ripping out a person’s dantian.

There was no way Yinglong would give it willingly.

Why would a dragon that had lived so long hand over everything it was.

“Is that true?”

“You cannot read my mind, so it must feel frustrating. I mean it.”

Then Yinglong gestured.

A phenomenon even more astonishing than spellcraft occurred.

The cave’s stalactites stretched and lowered as if they were alive.

Then a gap opened between the stalactites, and a dazzling orb appeared.

It was Yinglong’s dragon pearl, something even the term “precious orb” would fail to capture.

A true treasure that could not even be compared to the Great Desert Yellow Dragon’s dragon pearl from before.

“Did the monkey outside ask you to bring this as well?”

“Yes. Did you specifically want it handed to me?”

“Yes. It has meaning only if I pass it to you. The thread of fate is tied to you, not the monkey.”

Without realizing it, Yi-gang looked at his own hand.

That was right. All the spirits who trusted and aided him were tied to Yi-gang by fate.

“You may take it.”

Yi-gang did not snatch the dragon pearl at once.

Instead, he asked what he was curious about.

“Why are you simply giving me this precious dragon pearl?”

“I thought it would not be bad if, with this, you saved all humans.”

“Do you believe I can do that?”

He was asking if Yinglong believed that taking the dragon pearl would let him crush the Evil Cult and restore the world.

Yinglong gave a somewhat strange answer.

“I can cast divinations.”

“Divinations…?”

Divination.

The act of seeing the future.

“I cast one about you as well. My divinations never fail. Shall I tell you?”

“Please tell me.”

“You have the freedom to choose.”

And Yinglong said calmly.

“If you take my dragon pearl, you will save humanity.”

It was a relief. Whether it truly would happen or not, at least it was not something unpleasant to hear.

But the divination was not finished.

“In that process, you will die with your heart pierced.”

Yinglong calmly foretold Yi-gang’s death.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep