Volume One, Chapter 87: The Naga Draconic Guards

Chapter 87: The Naga Demon Dragon Guard

The grand feast concluded, and everyone returned to their respective abodes.

Lady Yueyi accompanied Tu Zhe back to the Little Heavenly King’s Palace of Jinmu. Now that her father had recognized this young man as his adopted son—whether the old emperor meant it or not—he had publicly acknowledged him as his brother-in-law. As the elder sister, what reason was there not to follow her brother home for a visit? It was only natural, perfectly reasonable, wouldn’t you say?

Though Dogdog kept advising Yueyi not to go—saying that, regardless of the circumstances, she shouldn’t let it affect the relationship between her and her husband—Yueyi, though not disliking Dogdog, ignored the advice entirely.

The Three Witches were also reluctant to let Yueyi go, but they seemed to care a bit too much. Was it really their concern?

Tu Zhe’s brief stay at the Little Heavenly King’s Palace brought great joy and festivity, the palace brimming with happiness. But how could Tu Zhe afford to idle away his time with everyone?

He went straight to a secret chamber, cast a veil of concealment with a wave of his hand, and vanished from everyone’s awareness.

Yueyi, the Three Witches, and Dogdog kept vigil outside the secret chamber door, righteously bickering—after all, they were the guardians, but who was the mightiest among them?

Tu Zhe sank down to the floor of the chamber, stilled his mind, and instantly cast a spell of temporal regression, returning directly to the past.

Upon the boundless expanse of the Great Saline Sea, a group of Grand Sages gathered, discussing their impossible predicament—how to return to the real world. Having drifted about this ancient sea for what felt like a day, despite decades having passed in the world outside, they could devise no method to return.

The environment was familiar, and they could even return to the side of Titled Raja from decades ago. Yet, across the sea, the sky was filled with shooting stars, meteors raining down violently upon the gathered Sages. Had the Demon Dragon King intervened yet?

A more pressing question gnawed at them: if they remained stranded decades in the past, unable to return, were they still alive, or were they as good as dead?

If dead, how could they still breathe, eat, drink, and fight? Everything felt as real as could be. If alive, then why were they trapped in scenes from decades past? What would happen if they returned to Titled Raja’s side—what of their own past selves? Kill or be killed?

It was a true and absurd dilemma.

At this moment of confusion among the Naga Grand Sages, Tu Zhe appeared.

He manifested before the twenty-three Grand Sages with a graceful air, greeting them with a cheerful smile.

The Grand Sages boiled with rage, some ready to strike, but the calmer ones restrained them.

Was this really the time for a fight? This young Heavenly Prince’s mastery over time could toss them not just decades, but centuries into the past. Challenge him, and who knew where they’d end up next?

The leading Grand Sage, face grim, spoke: “So, the young Heavenly Prince has arrived. What is it that you want? Shall we draw a line here?”

Tu Zhe stood with hands clasped behind his back, raising his voice: “Two choices: submit to me and return to the real world as my personal guard; or refuse, and continue wandering here.”

His words sent the Grand Sages into an uproar.

What? Submit to you? Who do you think you are? Are you on par with the Demon Dragon King himself? What right do you have to make us your guards?

Tu Zhe sneered. “Whether I have the right or not, I only know this: your great and mighty Demon Dragon King, Titled Raja, has been slain by me in an instant.”

What? Impossible! The Demon Dragon King, killed by you? What realm are you at? What realm was he? For him, killing you would be like crushing an ant.

Yet seeing is believing, and stubbornness cannot withstand the truth.

Tu Zhe flicked his wrist and tossed forth a crystal orb, displaying the recorded image of the Demon Dragon King’s demise.

After viewing it, the Grand Sages fell into collective silence.

Tu Zhe waited patiently for their response, savoring the scenery of the Great Saline Sea as it was decades ago.

After a while, the leading Grand Sage let out a wail, crying out for their king. The sea resounded with dragon roars and wailing, the very skies shaken by their lament.

They wept until they could weep no more, wiping their faces and looking at one another in utter bewilderment.

With the Demon Dragon King dead, the Naga race was doomed. Even if they managed to survive for a while, it would only be a matter of time before other dragon kings of the sea destroyed them.

The fall of the king and the extinction of the clan—could anything be more tragic?

The lead Grand Sage stepped forward, bowing deeply to Tu Zhe. “Young Heavenly Prince, we can serve as your guards, but we ask a promise in exchange.”

Tu Zhe arched an eyebrow, replying softly, “Speak.”

The Grand Sage bowed again, this time with grave solemnity: “If you can guarantee that the Naga clan will not be oppressed by the other races of the sea, nor hunted by the heavens of the three realms, we will serve you as personal guards, this oath as clear as the sun and moon. A thousand gold for one promise, unwavering unto death!”

He finished, tears flooding anew.

The Grand Sages bellowed in unison: “A thousand gold for one promise, unwavering unto death!”

Tu Zhe thought, what difficulty is there in this? Not only does the old emperor owe me face, but with my godfather watching over you, who in the sea would dare harm the Naga? Not to mention my master and Master Mou’s prestige and threat.

He smiled: “As you wish.”

The Grand Sages lifted their heads in elation, then knelt upon the sea’s surface, loudly proclaiming him their master.

Tu Zhe quickly helped them up, speaking soothingly, inwardly brimming with pride.

What was this? A whole group of Grand Sages—now his own personal guard!

At that very moment, Dogdog was outside, busy trading verbal barbs with the Three Witches, when the secret chamber door opened and out walked Tu Zhe, followed by a host of Grand Sages.

Tu Zhe, reveling in his triumph, introduced them as his personal guard, numbering from Dragon Two to Dragon Twenty-Three, earning a chorus of amazed exclamations.

He introduced Dogdog: “This is my little sister—never cross her, for she is dearly beloved to me.”

The Grand Sages hastened to pay their respects, addressing her as “Lady.”

Next, he introduced Little Lei: “My blood brother, your future Second Young Master.”

Again, the Grand Sages bowed and greeted him as “Second Young Master.”

When he introduced Lady Yueyi, he said: “This is our sworn elder sister, consort of Lord Indra, daughter of the great Asura King Rahu. You will address her as ‘Eldest Miss.’”

The Grand Sages saluted her with another round of respectful greetings.

For the Three Witches, he declared: “These are our sisters as well—address them as ‘Miss’ from now on.”

The Three Witches looked smugly at Dogdog, showing off. See? All of us are ‘Miss’—none greater or lesser than the other.

Dogdog stamped her feet, protesting, “No, no, why should it be so?”

Amid the commotion, the group entered the grand hall. The Jinmu brothers, seeing the scene, were taken aback. What was going on?

Tu Zhe offered a brief explanation, and the Jinmu brothers accepted the Grand Sages’ salute with smiles.

Shudra saw what had happened—these Grand Sages had become the personal guard of the young master’s brother. This was extraordinary! He hurried over to befriend the Grand Sages himself, and soon the Yaksha guards were mingling freely with them.

The scene dissolved into gleeful chaos.