Chapter 113: The Return

The teleportation token has been found?

Liu Ping could not help but feel a surge of joy. If it had not been found, he would have prepared to destroy one of the teleportation formations to use his final opportunity to escape. But times had changed. Previously, he feared their retaliation against Ao Jinyu and the others, but now, with such astonishing achievements under his belt, he had effectively struck fear into them. They would consider themselves lucky if Liu Ping did not continue his retaliation, let alone dare to harass or seek vengeance against him and Ao Jinyu again.

Ultimately, they were in the wrong, and even if the Dragon King were to discover the matter, they would not be spared. Thus, they had no choice but to swallow this bitter pill.

Ao Jinyu said, "When I went to look for it, they handed it over voluntarily. This time, we can finally leave."

Hearing this, Liu Ping nodded with a faint smile. "They are sensible. Very well, let us depart."

As he spoke, he stowed over a thousand low-grade magical artifacts and various treasures into his treasure pouch, waiting to refine them later. Although these artifacts were of low level, they were perfectly suited for the Human Immortal realm.

The treasures were the resources carried by the four Earth Immortals; in truth, there were not many, but fortunately, every piece was of high quality, making Liu Ping entertain the idea of raiding that Dragon Palace. If it were not for the fact that it would completely offend the Dragon Clan and implicate Ao Jinyu, he might have actually done it.

The teleportation formation led to the prefecture closest to Zhang Prefecture. Once they arrived back in the mortal realm, Liu Ping and the others began to travel through the clouds. After only an hour or so, the great river of Zhang Prefecture came into view.

At this point, Ao Jinyu had transformed into her true form—a beautiful azure dragon with shimmering scales—and Liu Ping was seated upon her head. The Dragon Clan was known for its arrogance, even Ao Jinyu included, and this level of courtesy took Liu Ping by surprise.

"Could this girl actually have fallen for me?" Liu Ping stroked his chin and speculated internally. Suddenly, a memory flashed through his mind—the scene before they arrived here. Liu Ping had said apologetically, "My remark earlier about you being my woman was merely a tactical necessity; please do not take it to heart or be angry." This was purely for the sake of politeness, as he did not want to leave such an awkward matter unresolved with a reasonable explanation. Yet, she had seemed somewhat displeased at the time.

Perhaps it was not love, but hatred. But even if she hated him, she would surely not let him ride her, would she? Women—no, female dragons—were truly unfathomable creatures.

"I remember thinking many days ago that I should capture a little dragon girl to act as a personal weather forecaster for daily updates..." Liu Ping’s thoughts drifted, and he subconsciously muttered this aloud before sighing, "Life is truly wondrous."

"What is Young Master Liu saying?" Hearing his mutterings, the azure dragon Ao Jinyu lifted her head slightly to ask.

Liu Ping replied, "I have something very important to tell you."

Ao Jinyu was startled. "What is it?"

Liu Ping said, "In truth, the formation at the Zhang River Water Mansion was broken by me."

Ao Jinyu replied, "I have known that for a long time."

Liu Ping was stunned and couldn't help but be secretly amazed. "How did you know?"

Ao Jinyu laughed. "When the formation broke, it was highly likely that someone had teleported through, and since you were the one pulled in by the formation, the moment I learned it was damaged, I knew it was likely you. I just couldn't be one hundred percent certain."

Liu Ping said, "You knew back then... You are truly clever. I hadn't even reacted to it at the time, only realizing it afterward." As he spoke, he was slightly moved and couldn't help but add, "But if that were the case... you still let me, the culprit, leave, instead of helping them..."

Ao Jinyu said, "Because I assumed you did not do it intentionally, so why would I implicate you?"

Liu Ping was moved, though he did not show it, only smiling. "Little Goldfish, you are truly too kind. If anyone bullies you in the future, I will certainly have your back."

"It is Jinyu, not Goldfish." Though she felt a flicker of joy at the praise, the weak nickname made her indignant. A dignified member of the Dragon Clan being called a goldfish? It was too humiliating! She rolled her body and said, "If you use that name again, I will not let you ride me. Besides, now that I have become a Water God, received the imperial decree, and become the Water Controller of a prefecture, I am not much weaker than you, Young Master."

Liu Ping’s expression turned peculiar. 'I will not let you ride me'—no matter how he heard it, it sounded a bit strange. He said helplessly, "It is a term of endearment, a nickname that only people with a close relationship use for one another."

"Who has a close relationship with you?" Ao Jinyu's cheeks flushed slightly; she was relieved she was in her dragon form so it wouldn't be visible. She continued, "If you call me that, I shall call you 'Bottle'."

"Whatever you like." Liu Ping waved his hand nonchalantly, causing Ao Jinyu to grind her teeth. She thought for a moment and decided, "I won't call you Bottle; I'll come up with an even worse nickname for you."

But before she could invent one, they had reached the Zhang River.

The river was vast, stretching for tens of miles, with many boats passing to and fro. To descend directly would be too conspicuous, and given the massive size of the dragon, even invisibility spells could not hide her without leaving a trace. Ao Jinyu suddenly opened her maw and exhaled a stream of mist from beneath the clouds, instantly shrouding the entire surface of the river in a dense fog.

On a pleasure boat, the sound of a zither played, and beside a wine table, a dark-faced young master flicked his folding fan and recited: "I wished to gift a flower branch to the one in my thoughts, yet sorrow remains even when there is time for joy. Because the blue bird brought news too late, I do not blame the spring silkworm for its foolish cocoon. Always seeking sweet dreams in the south of the river, I finally see a graceful figure amidst the mist. When shall we cut the candle by the west window together, to repay a lifetime of furrowed brows?"

This dark-faced young master was Lu Liang, and those beside him were students from the Tianqi Academy.

Hearing the poem, the scholars nearby cheered. One or two scholars immediately recited a couple of lines in return, while those who hadn't raised their cups to drink, saying, "Comparing poetry while drinking is nothing, but competing with Brother Lu is a great disadvantage. I feel that even if we were all dead drunk, Brother Lu probably wouldn't have finished three cups."

"Indeed, the lines I just composed are too embarrassing to even speak aloud."

"Yet you said them anyway? You are truly shameless. To try and pass with such muddy words is a crime deserving of punishment!"

"Alright, alright, it is Brother Lu’s turn to set the topic."

"Hmm, let me think..." Lu Liang shook his head, then suddenly noticed something and gasped in shock. Without knowing when, the outside had become filled with thick fog! "What is happening?"

The many scholars were shocked by the mist and walked to the window to look out. The fog was heavy, and visibility was extremely low; such a strange sight left them in disbelief.

"How strange, how truly strange! How did such a dense fog suddenly arise!"

It was not just them; everyone on the boats in the river was stunned.

Lu Liang took a bronze-cased telescope from his pocket and squinted into the distance. This telescope was no ordinary object; its lenses were made of special transparent spirit jade, capable of piercing through fog. Even so, all he saw was a white blur, and he could see nothing. He thought it strange and looked upward, but still saw nothing. Puzzled, he muttered, "Is this telescope broken?"

"Eh? Brother Lu, you actually have such a rare treasure? Let us have a look too."

"Yes, yes." The scholars nearby clamored for it.

Lu Liang was just about to agree when suddenly, a blue dragon flashed through the sky and dove into the water!

A dragon!! It was actually a dragon!! Lu Liang’s eyes widened, and he gasped, his breath hitching. His nerves were quite strong, and instead of being afraid, he stared, holding his breath, terrified that his intrusion might disturb the dragon. Suddenly, he saw a figure sitting on the dragon's head and was even more shocked—how could this be? How could someone be sitting on a dragon's head?!

Moreover, the figure seemed somewhat familiar... What was going on? How strange!

That, it seemed to be... Liu Ping?!!

How could it be him?!! Was he seeing things?!!

Lu Liang looked closer, only to see the dragon's head turn, staring coldly at him.

He felt as if he had fallen into an icy abyss.

With a sharp *crack*, the lens shattered!

"Ah!!" He was startled, let out a cry, and collapsed onto the floor. The telescope fell from his hand, its precious lens smashed into pieces, but he paid it no mind.

"Brother Lu?" The scholars nearby looked at each other, staring at the deathly pale Lu Liang, and asked in confusion, "What did you see?"