Chapter 64: Storytelling

After the group of seven, with one carriage and two horses, left, the old man, who had been sitting quietly, finally spoke.

"Sir, you've been reading 'Legends of the Heretics.' What are your thoughts on this book?"

Thoughts? Ji Yuan's first reaction was naturally that it was good, interesting, and broadened his knowledge. However, such an answer would obviously be inappropriate to give aloud. Besides, as good as the book was, some parts were quite awkward.

He lowered his head and saw that he had coincidentally returned to a section describing water spirits and monsters, which he had inadvertently flipped to earlier. The old man must have glimpsed it too.

Thinking of some of the book's content, the most striking aspect was its deep animosity towards demonic creatures.

Take flood dragons, for instance. Initially, there's nothing inherently wrong with them. The book's descriptions of great dragons causing floods certainly carried the potential for disaster, and those that committed evil deeds were, of course, beyond mention. However, for benevolent acts like cloud-making and rain-bringing by dragons and flood dragons, the book superficially called them "good." Yet, if any mistake occurred during such acts—for example, a small dragon flying unsteadily, its tail swing creating a tornado that swept away some houses—then a clear "a demon is a demon" sentiment became evident between the lines.

And this was just a small part of the book; there were undoubtedly many similar instances throughout. In his previous life's terms, the author lacked a certain degree of objectivity.

Normally, this wouldn't affect how enjoyable a book was; Ji Yuan himself had been engrossed in it for so long, forgetting sleep and food. But now that he was asked, this sense of awkwardness surfaced.

Observing the old gentleman, he seemed reasonable. If he were an immortal or a deity, it would naturally be easy to speak. Even if he were a demon or a spirit, Ji Yuan felt that expressing his awkwardness would likely be well-received. So, after a slight hesitation, he spoke frankly.

"I haven't had 'Legends of the Heretics' for very long, but reading it has engrossed me; I can barely put it down. It is, of course, a good book..."

Having offered his praise, Ji Yuan noticed the old man's lack of reaction and shifted his tone.

"However, the book's many flaws are quite regrettable!"

"What flaws do you find?"

Ji Yuan's eyes narrowed, and he straightened his posture from a relaxed slump, placing the book on his lap and tidying his clothes. This series of actions indicated that what he was about to say was not a casual remark.

"While this book is truly wonderful, it is also rife with prejudice. 'Do not do unto others what you would not have them do unto you'—a principle even ordinary people understand, so how could the author not? Yet, the narratives involving spirits and demons are often heavily biased, which is truly regrettable and lamentable!"

"Oh?"

The old man's eyes brightened. He straightened his back from his relaxed posture against the stone wall and sat up formally, facing Ji Yuan.

"Could you elaborate, Sir?"

"Haha, why not? Unless, by chance, you happen to be the author yourself, and would assault me for my words?"

Ji Yuan's witty question amused the old man.

"Of course not."

"Then I'm even more at ease, and will speak plainly."

"Haha, please speak freely, Sir!"

Seeing the old man's open demeanor, Ji Yuan relaxed and adopted a solemn expression.

"Indeed, many plant spirits, beasts, mountain sprites, and demons do commit harmful acts. However, generalizing from these cases is absolutely unacceptable. In the book, there's a story where Scholar Wang saves a cat demon, who transforms into a human and wishes to marry him. Later, a wealthy family, coveting her beauty, repeatedly harms Scholar Wang, ultimately leading to the destruction of his family. The cat demon then slays the wealthy family in revenge for Scholar Wang. Out of a thousand words in the entire chapter, although the last two hundred briefly mention the sinister nature of human hearts, the emphasis on demons causing harm is quite profound!"

"I, Ji, find this highly displeasing!"

Without waiting for the old man to speak, Ji Yuan opened the book and turned to a page about the water spirits.

"Here it states that half the realm of Qianqiu Kingdom once suffered from years of severe drought. The author claims this was fate. The people offered monthly sacrifices of livestock at Xudong River to pray for rain. A flood dragon, having long consumed these offerings, desired to stir winds and bring rain, going against the heavens. Afterward, it became entangled in calamity, and the author merely states that demonic creatures cannot be enlightened!"

"Heh heh heh..."

Ji Yuan let out a few cold laughs. He didn't explicitly state his opinion, but the sarcasm in his laughter was strikingly clear.

"Is there no righteous path outside of the immortal way? Utterly ridiculous!"

Having said this, Ji Yuan decided not to continue.

"Enough, enough. Let's not speak of it further; it only provokes indignation."

The old man, observing Ji Yuan's casual and unhurried glance over the content of 'Legends of the Heretics' and hearing his previously taboo remarks, felt an inexplicable, subtle admiration for him.

Silence briefly returned to the grotto. Ji Yuan resumed reading, while the old man leaned back and sat quietly.

After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the silence was broken once more.

"Sir, do you know the name of this stone wall?"

Ji Yuan put down his book and instinctively glanced around the grotto before answering.

"It seems to be called... Crouching Dragon Wall."

"Indeed!"

The old man didn't stand up. He raised a hand, making a vague gesture as if measuring the grotto's height, and his eyes held an inexplicable meaning.

"Sir, do you know the origin of this Crouching Dragon Wall?"

How could Ji Yuan know? Looking at its pea-like shape, it certainly didn't resemble anything specific. Could it have some symbolic meaning? Ji Yuan's thoughts began to wander.

However, the old man beside him didn't wait for Ji Yuan to ponder further before continuing.

"Around three hundred years ago, one thousand six hundred feet beneath this very spot, lay a deep, secluded pool, within which a Chi-dragon lay dormant."

Ji Yuan's heart stirred, and he looked at the grotto once more.

"That year was also Mangzhong [Grain in Ear], and the Chi-dragon felt its cultivation was complete, desiring to ascend through water and transform into a true dragon!"

The old man's gaze met Ji Yuan's ancient, unruffled eyes. He paused for a moment before continuing his narration.

"When a flood dragon ascends through water, it can easily inundate the land. But this Chi-dragon had cultivated for an immense period, its hundreds of years of anticipation leading to that very moment... Before Mangzhong that year, torrential rains fell for half a month without cease, causing floods in Desheng Prefecture. The Chi-dragon channeled the water, bursting forth from the earth, and proceeded by swimming through the flooded lands, its waves spanning three prefectures!"

The old man paused here, leaning back against the stone wall. He slowly stroked his beard, remaining silent for a long time.

"Alas... wherever it passed, lives were plunged into misery!"

Ji Yuan felt as if he could sense the heavy weight of these words, imagining the devastating floods of three hundred years ago.

Even in his previous life, in an era of advanced technology, with powerful ships, aircraft, and rapidly deployed relief forces, floods remained terrifying beasts. How much more so in this place, three hundred years ago.

The old man patted the stone wall behind him and said to Ji Yuan:

"This stone wall, precisely, was unearthed from beneath the ground by the sheer force of the Chi-dragon bursting forth that year. It was originally the spot where the Chi-dragon rested beside its secluded pool. After that event, many rumors of the 'ascending dragon' spread throughout Desheng Prefecture. Decades later, although the grotto's opening had leveled and the world fell into great chaos with wars erupting, this stone wall and its name endured."

Ji Yuan frowned and remained silent for a while. After much hesitation, he finally asked:

"I once heard there is an immortal abode in Jizhou, named Mount Yuhai. When the dragon ascended, did any cultivators come?"

The old man didn't seem to acknowledge Ji Yuan's unspoken meaning, merely sighed, and continued.

"After centuries of dormancy, gaining freedom in one morning—the Chi-dragon's excitement was imaginable. Naturally, its stirring of winds and waves attracted esteemed immortals... Hmph..."

The old man actually scoffed at this point, which immediately confused Ji Yuan further. "This old gentleman, are you an esteemed immortal, or are you somehow related to that former Chi-dragon?" he wondered.

"Let's not mention those past esteemed immortals. If there was one who left the deepest impression on the Chi-dragon at the time, it was the City God of Duming Prefecture. With a single furious strike that shattered his golden effigy, he awakened the Chi-dragon, leading it to witness the devastation of the flood..."

The old man paused slightly, then continued.

"The hardship of cultivation, the difficulty of the Great Dao... To bravely strive with one's own life for an unfulfilled endeavor, how tragic, and yet how respectable!"

Upon hearing this, Ji Yuan's speculation about the old man's identity leaned strongly in one direction. He just wondered if this was the true individual in question.

"Then, may I ask, respected elder, did this Chi-dragon successfully transform into a true dragon, and what has it done in the three centuries since?"

"It did, naturally. It gathered the waters into the river, then swam to the great sea, finally transforming into a dragon a century later!"

As he spoke the last sentence, the old man's voice gained a slight surge of power, then softened again.

"Since its successful transformation into a dragon, for two hundred years, it has brought clouds and rain to Jizhou. For two centuries, there has been abundant rain and no drought. Moreover, it has often restrained the river and water tribes..."

At this point, the old man turned his head and looked at Ji Yuan.

"Sir, what do you think of this dragon's actions? Are they as described in 'Legends of the Heretics'?"

Even with Ji Yuan's current composure, he couldn't help but tremble inwardly. He had truly encountered an extraordinary being. Combining this with the previous conversation, he was almost certain that the person sitting before him was either a dragon or a flood dragon!