Chapter 12: The Mantis Stalks the Cicada, the Oriole Behind

  The sky was clear and the dragon was swimming freely, feeling very pleased. In the blink of an eye, it arrived at the banks of the Ming Water River. Suddenly, a sharp gust of wind came towards it!

  The dragon immediately rolled over to avoid it, and the deer arrow on its back was momentarily unstable, scaring it into a loud cry. The dragon took care of the three children on its back, stabilizing its body with great difficulty, just as a long arrow came through the air, and it was too late to dodge again.

  The long arrow swept across the soft belly, instantly tearing open a big hole, and fresh blood poured down from the clouds.

  "Brother Nai!"

  "Steady!" the dragon roared, as it suddenly shot up into the air. But all that could be seen was a sudden darkness between heaven and earth, with countless ancient mysterious symbols lighting up in the sky. A deep purple light poured down from above, with curses like tangible sharp swords accompanied by wailing ghosts and weeping spirits attacking. In comparison, the dragon, along with the three children on its back, seemed as insignificant as small beasts under a hawk's claws.

  Skynet!

  The dragon could no longer rise, the heavenly net suddenly closed down, pressing him straight down, only to hear the whistling wind by his ear.

  "Whoosh!" The clear water churned up a massive wave.

  "Excellent!" A young man dressed as a heavenly official on the riverbank complimented with satisfaction, his hand still holding the copper horn dragon tendon longbow, who was the one who laid down the heavenly net to chase after the Jiaolong, Tianyu, the heavenly official under the Northern Emperor.

  "Alas! I wonder how many fish and shrimp will be killed by the clear water." A middle-aged man beside him said calmly, gazing at the turbulent clear water. He was quite tall, with elegant eyebrows and eyes, wearing a purple-black crane cloak, holding a foot-long cyan jade command sword in his hand.

  "Suit yourself." Tian Yu waved his hand indifferently.

  "Just now I saw a dragon's back with someone on it, and at this moment he fell into the water, his life or death uncertain. Isn't this a case of reaping what you've sown?"

  "Don't worry, they have something that's their own misfortune. I'm just following orders to capture the fugitive from Tiantai Mountain, and besides, Nangong was brutally slaughtered recently, and Jiaolong is highly suspicious. Originally thought he was quite formidable, didn't expect it to be so easy to take him down without even needing Yu brother to make a move."

  "Don't talk nonsense!" The man's face was unpleasant.

  The guards had tied up the dragon and brought over a few more people, four of whom were tightly bound and taken to Tianyu's presence.

  "That... release these three." Tian Yu looked at him, not very pleased, and thought to himself that he was always strange, neither good nor evil, so it's better not to provoke him. Anyway, the goal had been achieved, so he said "Yu brother, I'll take the dragon back, these three..."

  This man saw Luoye and Duanmu Yang being thrown into a state of utter disarray, leaning against each other and coughing violently. Dao Jing had already closed his eyes, lying at his own feet. He squatted down to check Dao Jing's breath, transmitted some immortal energy to him, and when he stood up again, a ray of clear light flashed into his sleeve.

  "Hand it over to me first."

  Tian Yu glanced roughly at the three children, one of whom was already half-dead and the other two were dazed and covered in mud and water, unable to see anything unusual.

  "What kind of people are you, and why are you with the dragon?"

  Duanmu Chengyan's breath had not yet steadied, and for a moment he couldn't respond.

  Lu Jian's helper ignored him and didn't even bother to reason with him.

  "How dare you, mortals!" Tian Yu flicked his sleeve and stopped looking at them, while on the other side, Jiaolong was struggling with great force and had already revealed its true form.

  The dragon was pinned down by the guard, still holding its head high: "Are you sent from the Heavenly Court?"

  Tian Yu smiled lightly and said, "It can be said that way."

  The dragon asked: "Why did you catch me?"

  "Don't worry, after you're taken to the heavenly prison, you will naturally be interrogated."

  The dragon knew that if he escaped from the Heavenly Mountain, heavenly soldiers would definitely come to capture him. However, in his heart, he still wanted to personally ensure Dao Jing's safety and send her back to the Lord's side. Now things have gotten worse.

  "I was out on business and didn't return, not intentionally fleeing in secret. If the gods think I'm guilty, they should send me back to Tiantai Mountain for the Honorable One to deal with, why lock me up in the Heavenly Prison?"

  Tian Yu said impatiently: "You were suspected of being involved in the flooding and massacre in Nangong Prefecture the other day. As for Tiantai Mountain, humph, forget about it."

  He said, waving his hand at the guards: "Take him away!"

  Tian Yu bowed and handed over the three oil bottles: "Yu brother, I'm troubling you again."

  He politely declined: "It's just a small effort, no need to be so polite between brothers. These three children should be survivors of the South County, innocent children, I will take good care of them."

  The dragon was still struggling, but upon hearing this sentence, it let out a sigh of relief and looked back at him with gratitude.

  He stared into his eyes for just a moment before looking away, with an expression on his face that remained warm.

  The dragon suddenly felt a sharp pain in his eyes and hastily turned away, allowing the guards to drag him off into the air.

  "Who are you?" Du Mu Chengyang blocked Lu Jian and Dao Jing's path, warily staring at this person.

  He glanced over his face and looked at Dao Jing, saying lightly: "Under the clear water, Tong Chen Palace." After speaking, he waved his sleeves and the four people's figures disappeared by the riverbank of Ming Shui.

  Du Mu Yan racked his brains to recall, but to no avail. His master had never mentioned such a place before.

  Down to the clear water, it was a piece of chaos at first. About half a minute later, it was a huge palace, not in the style of the present world. The hall was tall and majestic, not like a fairy's mansion, but with a hint of royal style. When everyone arrived outside the palace gate, they looked up and saw that above the magnificent gate there was a plaque inscribed "Tong Chen Palace". Inside the palace, the high platform and thick eaves had a unique ancient simplicity and solemnity, if it weren't for the fact that what was overhead wasn't blue sky but rather emerald green clear water, one would almost think they were in the midst of the Zhou Dynasty.

  In the Tong Dust Palace, there were many disciples. It was clear that this person held a very high position and was deeply loved. All the disciples and door people called him "Palace Master". Although he had only turned around at the gate of his home, the disciples still lined up to welcome him.

  Du Mu Yang and Lu Jian were placed in a side hall, watching him take Dao Jing away. Lu Jian subconsciously wanted to stop him, but for some reason she stopped her actions, even she herself felt inexplicable.

  Duanmu Yan didn't care, according to him, anyway they were already on someone else's chopping board, might as well lie down comfortably.

  As expected, he didn't disappoint them. Before long, a servant brought in hot water and clothes, as well as fragrant food. The two men's good impression of the palace owner greatly increased.

  Lu Jian and Duanmu Chenglang had been running around for several days, their spirits and physical strength were already exhausted. They quickly washed up and rushed to the table to eat hastily.

  "Goat, did you say Qing hasn't eaten yet?"

  Duanmu Chengyang almost buried his entire face in the rice bowl, mumbling: "After we finish eating, let's go find him and we'll know, he's a disciple of an immortal, skipping a few meals won't hurt."

  The deer arrow quickly finished a chicken leg and then turned to the small ribs, eating while not forgetting to quarrel, this seems to have become one of her joys since becoming human.

  "Aren't you also a disciple of the gods? How can you eat so much?"

  "You're still a fairy grass, you also eat rice, look, and even eat meat! Leave a small plate for me..."

  Two people had eaten their fill and were about to go out for a walk. Just then, someone knocked on the door and entered, a fellow disciple from the Tong Chen Palace. As he came in, he first saw the messy cups and plates on the table, turned his head and saw Duan Mu Zheng still belching contentedly, couldn't help but laugh, felt it wasn't proper, and said seriously: "Both of you, the palace master has summoned you."

  Lu Jing curiously jumped over, curiously sizing him up. All she saw was that this person wore a purple Taoist robe and carried a long sword. She looked at herself and Duanmu Xiangyang again, also wearing similar attire, only the style was simpler.

  "Big brother, are you a disciple here?"

  That person nodded but didn't say much, leading them towards the main hall.

  Arriving at a elegant courtyard, Lu Jian followed the leading disciple quickly inside, while Duanmu Cheng slowed down his pace, thinking about the plaque he saw on top of the main hall they just passed.

  "He made a mental note of these few words: 'Ask Master when I see him.'"

  "Hurry up, goat!"

  "Oh, here it comes!"

  Dao Jing had woken up and was now leaning against the headboard, Yu Gong Zhu sat on the edge of the bed with a bowl of porridge, carefully feeding him. An old man with a white beard sat beside the bed, writing something.

  "Dao Jing, you're awake?" Lu Jian and Duanmu Chengyang rushed over without regard, Yu Gong Zhu hurriedly raised the bowl in her hand to avoid being bumped.

  He looked at the two children, both wearing purple robes and hair tied back, dressed as disciples of the Tong Palace, first lost in thought, then subconsciously glanced out the window, lightly scolding: "Nonsense!"

  Later on, for some unknown reason, the smile on his face faded a bit.

  Dao Jing's body was dressed in a thin inner garment, leaning against the head of the bed. His eyebrows were relaxed and his eyes were flowing with elegance, as if he were awake, he would be radiant. At this moment, not a hint of the air of an immortal or a martial artist could be seen, but rather like a young master from a wealthy family in the mortal world, refined and elegant, very different from the dispirited and listless state of the previous day.

  "I have asked a divine doctor to diagnose and treat him, and it was found that he is under the control of a secret technique, which has sealed his spiritual orifice. This cannot be treated with ordinary medicine. The divine doctor is currently preparing a nourishing prescription for him, and for now, let's just help him regulate his bodily deficiencies."

  The old man with a white beard in front of the bed was an immortal doctor. Lu Jian ran over and, imitating Duanmu's manner, gave him a salute.

  "Old man, how can Daojing be cured?"

  The Celestial Doctor's hand suddenly shook violently, and he stared at Lu Jian in shock: "He...he is Dao Jing?"

  Du Mu Changyang hastily pulled Lu Jiantou behind him and stuttered: "Ah, ah, that, he is called Du Mu Daojing, is, is my brother. I am called Du Mu Changyang, this, uh, girl, called Du Mu Lu Jiantou, is my sister, we are from Nangong!"

  The immortal doctor looked puzzled and turned to Yu Gong Zhu, who nodded slightly without changing his expression.

  "Oh, I see." The immortal doctor stroked his beard thoughtfully and said slowly: "I'm not capable of it, but my senior brother is the number one divine doctor of Dongyue, Xuwu Chang, who specializes in treating strange and difficult diseases. Since you're so concerned, hmm, young man, I can introduce you to him and see if you can get lucky."

  Lu Jing and Duanmu Chengyan were overjoyed and thanked him repeatedly.

  The two adults exchanged a glance, each with a meaningful smile.

  "Saving lives and healing wounds is a doctor's duty, if you want to thank someone, thank the master of Tongdun Palace."

  The two of them turned around and bowed to Yu Gong Zhu together.

  They all looked tired, so the master of Yu Palace called his disciples to take them down and rest well. He also instructed: "You don't have to thank me, everything in the world has its own cause and effect. Tomorrow, rush to Dongyue, no matter what the result is, you can come back to Tongchen Palace at any time."

  The immortal doctor came out with them, walking along the way, and inquired about the affairs of Nangong Prefecture, while Duanmu Yang answered carefully.

  Entering the side hall, the disciple who led the way retreated, and the immortal doctor sat down on a low couch with a relaxed expression.

  "Come over."

  Lu Jia and Duanmu Renyang were surrounded by a group of people who had been intimidated into submission.

  The immortal doctor looked at Lu Jian and said, "Stretch out your hand."

  Lu Jing only had to stretch out her wrist for the immortal doctor to take her pulse, and after the immortal doctor finished taking her pulse, she also took a look at Du Mu Cheng's pulse.

  "The Southern County's evil energy is too heavy, both of you have suffered some internal injuries. Fortunately, I have some medicinal pellets on me that can dispel the evil and cleanse your bodies. Each of you take one pellet."

  Watching the immortal doctor slowly take out a small white porcelain medicine bottle, Du Mu Cheng moved his muscles and bones, feeling uncomfortable all over his body. He obediently took the medicine and also fed one to Lu Jian.

  The immortal doctor chatted with them for a while longer, and only after seeing that the spiritual energy and celestial power on the two children's bodies had disappeared did he leave with peace of mind.

  "Tomorrow I'll take you all to Dongyue, don't think about anything tonight, just get a good rest."