Chapter 130: A Legitimate Son

In a side hall of the outer palace, Bai Qi, the River God of Chunmu River, sat quietly on a guest chair made of white pebbles, waiting calmly.

Bai Qi wasn't impatient; he had made up his mind to wait as long as it took this time.

After drinking a cup of clear tea from the water palace, a servant of the water palace, who had gills on his face and a fish tail for his lower body, swam over.

"Lord Bai, the Dragon Lord will be here soon!"

Bai Qi's spirits lifted. He put down the bubble-covered teacup and looked at the approaching servant.

"Really? And Mister Ji? Is he coming with the Dragon Lord?"

Although there was theoretically another banquet tonight, most of the aquatic creatures had dispersed after the second night. Over two days had passed, and Bai Qi had already learned that the Dragon Lord's honored guest was named Ji Yuan, very likely a mysterious and profound Daoist master.

And since he was a close friend of the Dragon Lord, he probably didn't have much prejudice against demonkind.

Seeing Bai Qi staring at him like that, the small water sprite was immediately intimidated by the dragon energy inadvertently emanating from him, making him speak haltingly.

"Th-this humble one doesn't know!"

Bai Qi realized his impropriety and quickly reined in his aura.

"Understood. I'll wait here for the Dragon Lord!"

The servant, a water demon, quickly excused himself.

Not long after, the old dragon slowly arrived at the side hall. Bai Qi quickly stood up and bowed with clasped hands.

"Greetings, Dragon Lord!"

As he greeted the Dragon Lord, Bai Qi also glanced behind him to see if anyone else had come. The result, of course, was disappointment.

"River God Bai, no need for such formality. What matter brings you to wait here for this old one?"

Seeing the old dragon's unhurried demeanor, Bai Qi didn't beat around the bush.

"To be frank, Dragon Lord," Bai Qi began, "I have been trapped in Chunmu River for many years. In this life, I had almost given up hope of cultivating the Dao to transform into a dragon. However, regarding what happened to the River God the day before yesterday… I will be direct. I hope the Dragon Lord can introduce me to Mister Ji!"

Previously, in Chunhui Prefecture, Bai Qi had appeared over fifty, but now, he looked more like a middle-aged man.

The old dragon looked at him, knowing what he was thinking.

"River God Bai, I know what's on your mind. And I might as well tell you, the day before yesterday, my daughter indeed had the good fortune to attain the Way. With Mister Ji's help, she gained immense benefits. Although she hasn't transformed into a dragon, she already possesses a dragon's heart!"

Hearing this, Bai Qi's breath became noticeably short, unable to suppress his excitement.

"However," the old dragon continued, "Mister Ji has already made it clear that occasion was merely due to my daughter's state of mind being perfectly aligned, combined with a rare opportunity. He then used profound Daoist sounds to help her through a perilous 'Heart-Knocking Trial'..."

"'Heart-Knocking,' as cultivation practitioners often say?"

Bai Qi couldn't help but blurt out the question.

Communication between immortal cultivators and demons was not extensive, but they still knew a fair bit about each other. Moreover, some demons were born with an innate ability to practice suitable immortal arts, much like certain immortal beasts in immortal abodes.

But understanding didn't mean true expertise. The ability to achieve much with little effort through "Heart-Knocking" was rarely mastered by demonkind. They only knew that there were several types of "Heart-Knocking": some, like the Dragon Lady's, occurred at the right moment with a master protecting the Dao, while others could be called 'Heart-Knocking Tribulations.'

Furthermore, "Heart-Knocking" often required personal effort and experience, and sometimes even seeking it in the mortal world.

"Indeed!" the old dragon affirmed. "Mister Ji said that 'Heart-Knocking' was incredibly perilous. Of course, after succeeding, my daughter gained immensely, directly forging a dragon's heart!"

Old Dragon Ying Hong said this with some pride, then looked at Bai Qi again.

"However, River God Bai, your situation is clearly very different from my daughter's," the old dragon continued. "Although my friend's cultivation is profound, he cannot defy the heavens… By the time this old one came to see you, he had already departed!"

Hearing the last sentence, Bai Qi froze for a long moment. Then, as if all strength had been drained from his body, he slumped in despair.

"He's already left…"

Bai Qi murmured to himself. He had long heard about the Dragon Lord personally searching for Ji Yuan for three years, and if such a person left on their own, it would probably be difficult for Bai Qi to find him.

With things already stated so clearly, Bai Qi no longer wished to stay. He bowed to the old dragon with a dejected air.

"Thank you for informing me, Dragon Lord. I will take my leave…"

Seeing him about to leave immediately, the old dragon quickly called out to him.

"River God Bai, wait a moment," the old dragon said. "Mister Ji left a few words before he departed, for this old one to convey to you."

Bai Qi thought it would probably be some words of advice telling him not to search for Ji Yuan. Although he was in a bad mood, he still needed to listen, so he stopped and waited for the Dragon Lord to continue.

"Mister Ji said: 'Arduous seeking is not the true path; proper cultivation is genuine. Act with integrity as a dragon, protect your domain as a deity. When the mind lacks nothing, the time for reverence will naturally come!'"

No sooner had the old dragon finished speaking than he saw Bai Qi standing still, stunned. The next moment, his aura abruptly changed, almost unable to suppress the dragon energy radiating from his body. His entire demeanor and emotions were completely transformed.

"'When the mind lacks nothing, the time for reverence will naturally come… When the mind lacks nothing, the time for reverence will naturally come!' It's him? It's him!"

Bai Qi murmured disjointedly to himself, then looked up at the old dragon, his eyes shining with brilliance. He bowed deeply, bending at the waist.

"Thank you, Dragon Lord, for relaying the message. Thank you, Mister Ji, for your guidance. Bai Qi will certainly abide by your teachings!"

Bai Qi's reaction was somewhat beyond the old dragon's expectation. The old dragon even noticed that one of Bai Qi's hands was clenched tightly on a corner of his robe. Such a reaction was simply unthinkable for a demon of his status.

'Could Ji Yuan's hidden meaning be that he would help Bai Qi reshape his path to becoming a dragon in the future? No, that can't be right; the first two lines clearly told him not to seek arduously. Shouldn't the entire message mean that he should focus on being a good River God, earning the reverence of the populace, and continuing down the path of a deity?'

Regardless of the old dragon's confusion, he returned the bow outwardly.

"River God Bai, what exactly did Mister Ji's words mean? How can you be so…"

Bai Qi was in an excellent mood, his face beaming with smiles. Seeing the old dragon's confusion made him even happier.

"Hahahahaha… No offense, Dragon Lord," Bai Qi chuckled. "Since Mister Ji didn't explain this matter, it wouldn't be appropriate for me to disclose it. In any case, thank you, Dragon Lord. I once again wish the Dragon Lord eternal longevity and blessings. I'll be taking my leave, taking my leave! Hahahaha…"

Bai Qi walked away with a confident stride. No sooner had he left the side hall than he transformed into a scaleless white flood dragon and darted into the river…

On a certain stretch of the Tongtian River, Ji Yuan stood at the bow of a small sampan, a faint smile on his face. Just a moment ago, a chess piece had glinted in his sleeve.

When he visualized it within the spiritual landscape of mountains and rivers, it was a completely solidified chess piece. It had not yet been designated as black or white, so it currently appeared light grey.

Reaching out to grasp the piece within the spiritual landscape, he felt it was quite substantial, faintly carrying the roar of a white flood dragon.

The Dragon Lady stood halfway submerged beside the boat in the river. Seeing Ji Yuan suddenly smiling towards the distance, she felt a sense of the Dao following nature and was momentarily stunned. She only dared to disturb him when Ji Yuan returned to his senses.

"Uncle Ji, Ruoli will see you off here!"

After the Dragon Lady finished speaking, Ji Yuan, having heard her, bowed to her with clasped hands.

"River God Lady, please return," Ji Yuan said. "Your father's birthday banquet has just concluded, and your residence must be very busy!"

The Dragon Lady performed a deep curtsy to Ji Yuan amidst the river waves, smiled, said "Ruoli takes her leave," and then sank into the river.

Ji Yuan watched the Dragon Lady enter the water. Only then did he sit down on this side of the boat's bow.

Donning his bamboo hat and picking up the oar, he rowed the sampan away like an ordinary fisherman.

Beneath the surface, the Dragon Lady was actually still watching the small boat through the rippling water. She noticed that Ji Yuan wasn't employing any magical techniques, but was simply rowing the boat slowly like a mortal boatman.

If she hadn't already known that Ji Yuan was on that small boat, she wouldn't have been able to discern anything special about it.

Ji Yuan actually couldn't row a boat in his previous life, but after learning from the old fisherman, he could row quite respectably. Having obtained the first truly solidified chess piece, he was naturally in an excellent mood at the moment.

Besides that, two other things made Ji Yuan happy.

First, he had asked the old dragon for a few cups of special "Dragon Saliva Wine." Of course, this wasn't brewed from a dragon's actual saliva, but it had some connection: it was primarily made from algae cultivated by the dragon's saliva that flowed when the old dragon dozed in his true form, and it incorporated various rare treasures and immortal herbs that absorbed spiritual energy. The wine was extremely difficult to produce, and its quantity was limited.

This was the same wine the old dragon had offered Yin Zhaoxian. Ji Yuan asking for a few extra cups wasn't just because he coveted the taste of the wine, but because he thought of a certain reckless Daoist. The Dragon Saliva Wine could replenish Daoist Qingsong's depleted vitality, preventing him from reaching the end of his lifespan prematurely.

The second matter was that Ji Yuan had selected and borrowed several items from the old dragon's library. Strictly speaking, only one could be called a book; the others were jade slips or jade tablets that conveyed information. They contained content that Ji Yuan found interesting and was lacking.

Ji Yuan felt that even if he didn't catch any fish, it would still be good. He could read while waiting for Master Yin. After the spring imperial examination next year, he would go find Daoist Qingsong to extend the life of that fellow who couldn't control his mouth!

Therefore, Ji Yuan now rowed with a sense of carefree ease and unconstrained grace, drifting with the waves. He even recalled the old boatman's song from when he had chartered a boat to Chunhui Prefecture. With his state of mind and environment perfectly aligned, he joyfully sang aloud.

"O' fishing boat, lift your oar, O' fisherman, so carefree."

His voice was upright, powerful, yet peaceful and melodious, even more pleasing to the ear and rhythmic than the old boatman's.

The Dragon Lady listened from beneath the water for a good while. Only when she saw the small boat had rowed away did she return to the water palace. She did not transform into her dragon body, but merely twisted her body and swam downstream, her cloud-like sleeves and long hair trailing behind her like waves.

'What kind of scene unfolded when Father and Uncle Ji first met?'