Translator: Dj22031
Editor: Dj22031
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The vehicle sped through the torrential rain, the windows rattling loudly as the rain pounded against them. Many sections of the road were already flooded, and the tires splashed up clearly visible sprays of water as they passed over the water.
Mr. Gu looked out the window and spoke quickly: “The local cyber police in Haicheng just contacted me, saying that someone took a photo that looked like a dragon’s shadow near Haicheng Park and uploaded it to social media. Fortunately, they deleted the photo before it spread.”
The filming crew in the car had quickly set up their equipment. Wei Xi listened to his explanation of the history of Haicheng Park and learned that it was the place in Haicheng where one could view the Yellow River flowing into the sea. He took out his phone and searched for it; the scenery was indeed quite beautiful. The surging river water silently merged into the calm ocean at the end of the channel, and in the photo, two different colored waters drew a blurred yet distinct boundary.
The people in the car were all a little nervous because of this sudden turn of events. The meteorological bureau staff were puzzled: “…A dragon’s shadow was captured? Mr. Gu, what do you mean by this? Could it be that there really is a dragon where the river goes out to sea?”
As he asked this question, his tone became increasingly reverent. Regardless of materialism, dragons held extraordinary significance for the people living on this land. This was precisely why people from all over the world were so enthusiastic about uncovering the truth behind the recent heavy rainfall.
Although Mr. Gu was anxious, he did not forget his duty and forced himself to defend his comrade’s worldview: “No, no, don’t believe in these unscientific things. Our ‘Believe in Science’ film crew is here to break down feudal superstitions.”
The meteorological bureau staff looked at the solemn-faced Taoist priests in the car with a skeptical expression: “Is… is that so?”
As soon as the words were spoken, a crisp game sound suddenly rang out from inside the car— “Rob the Landlord!”
The meteorological bureau staff member whose worldview was crumbling: “…”
Mr. Gu, who was inwardly panicked: “…”
The many Taoist priests, their emotions heavy, remaining silent.
Kuang Zhiming was drenched in cold sweat from the news Mr. Gu had brought. So he looked speechlessly at Wei Xi sitting in the front seat and said, “Master Wei… Master Wei.”
Wei Xi, who hadn’t robbed the landlord, turned around to look at him, puzzled, and asked, “Hmm?”
Kuang Zhiming studied his expression for a moment, and could only say with a complicated expression, “…Turn the volume down a little.”
Wei Xi said “oh” and turned off the game sound to continue playing cards. The meteorological bureau staff were finally less nervous. Judging from the Taoist priest’s attitude, the area did not seem like it could have a dragon. After he was relieved, he began to contact his colleagues to keep an eye on the typhoon situation.
The other Taoist priests, including Mr. Gu, were all sweating profusely, unsure how to assess Wei Xi’s strong heart. Little did they know that Wei Xi’s mind was operating entirely in a different world from theirs.
Having traveled such a long distance and with his second apprentice not by his side, he was already quite hungry.
As his hunger intensified, he stared at the game interface on his phone, a thoughtful expression on his face.
According to information he obtained from Aunt Liu, a follower of the sect, the dragon does not seem to be a so-called protected animal.
….
Thinking of this, he became distracted while playing the game. He played two rounds casually, but the cards he got were mediocre, not as good as when his second apprentice was around. So he quickly lost a lot of Happy Beans.
He turned off the game and started staring blankly at the rain outside the window. There were so many people around him, but he felt as if he had returned to the boring days on the mountain. Without realizing it, he opened his second apprentice’s WeChat.
The last message was sent after the other person left home. Wei Xi watched him leave, and then, just like before, he started sitting cross-legged by the door, feeling bored, when his phone suddenly vibrated.
[Go back.]
Wei Xi stared at the two words for a while, and when he came to his senses, he realized that he had actually pressed the voice button and sent a blank message.
Wei Xi didn’t think much of it and prepared to exit the interface because his apprentice had left in such a hurry. Before he could even move his finger, the phone screen suddenly changed, and his second apprentice called him.
Wei Xi hesitated for a moment before answering: “Que’er?”
There was the sound of rain on the other end of the line, pattering very close by. In the background, there was some noise. He couldn’t make out his apprentice’s voice clearly, but it seemed a bit deeper and more resonant than usual: “You were looking for me?”
Wei Xi was very honest: “I pressed it by accident.”
He was still not very good at using the very popular tool, WeChat.
The apprentice paused, then asked, “Were you looking at the message I sent you?”
Wei Xi: “Mm.”
His apprentice seemed to chuckle and ask, “Oh, have you eaten yet?”
Wei Xi suddenly felt less bored. Gazing at the rain outside the window, he started chatting idly with his apprentice, as the sign for the park in his line of sight grew closer and closer.
On the other end of the phone, inside the Haicheng Park, several people wearing raincoats were glancing at each other with strange, seemingly casual expressions.
After a long pause, a pretty redhead finally couldn’t help but ask curiously, “…In such an urgent situation, why did Mr. Shuo suddenly start making phone calls on his own…”
Xia Shouren glanced over there and saw the figure in the black raincoat but didn’t think much of it: “He was called out by us at the last minute. Didn’t you see how dark his face was when we met? He probably has a lot of urgent business in the capital.”
The redhead seemed to have a much sharper eye than most: “Wait a minute, why is he smiling when he’s talking about something urgent? He seems quite happy.”
“Huh?!” Xia Shouren was also surprised. Upon closer inspection, he was quickly noticed by the person being investigated. The faint smile on Shuo Zong’s lips vanished in an instant, replaced by his usual coldness. He moved the phone away and asked, “Have those people finished yet?”
Heavy rain in Haicheng caused turbulent waves, and Haicheng Park had already closed for safety reasons. However, this group of people, having somehow heard the news, gathered in large numbers to take photos of the so-called “dragon”.
Looking at his expression, Xia Shouren was momentarily unsure whether the smile he had just seen was an illusion. After regaining his senses, he quickly dragged the citizens who had been knocked unconscious while taking photos to a corner, took out their phones, and easily unlocked and deleted the most recent photos and videos.
“What an annoyance! With such a strong wind and rain, they still dare to come to the Haicheng park to take pictures. Humans are really willing to risk their lives to become internet celebrities. Not only are they causing trouble for us, but they’re also not afraid of being blown into the sea by the wind.” Xia Shouren complained while turning to the red-haired woman who squatted down to help him. “Chongming[1], are you blind? How can you see happiness on that face? I’ve known him for over a thousand years and I’ve never seen what his happiness looks like.”
The red-haired woman he called Chongming was stunned for a moment. But when she looked up again, she saw that Shuo Zong had already turned his back and his expression was no longer visible.
….
Wei Xi vaguely heard his apprentice’s voice trailing off as he said he was getting something, and asked, “Que’er, what are you doing?”
The apprentice’s voice quickly approached again, deep and calm: “It’s nothing, just a small matter.”
The words traveled through the airwaves, spoken slowly and steadily. His apprentice seemed to be doing something but always answered every question. Through this, Wei Xi could almost picture the look in the other’s eyes as he stopped in the yard and looked back before leaving.
His apprentice told him over the phone, “Stay home and I’ll be back in a few days.”
Wei Xi’s palms were a little warm. Just as he was about to say that he was not at home, the bus suddenly stopped. And Mr. Gu’s voice came from the direction of the door: “Master Wei, we have arrived. Get ready to get off the bus.”
The car door opened, and the previously faint sound of rain suddenly became clear, miraculously intertwining with the pattering background music coming from the apprentice’s phone call.
The apprentice seemed to have heard it too; his voice paused, then immediately became much more serious: “Wei Xi, where are you?”
Someone opened an umbrella at the entrance. Wei Xi stepped down the steps and looked into the fence of the park and was surprised to find people walking around inside.
He stared at a somewhat familiar figure with his back to him, and while thinking about who the person was, he replied, “I just arrived in Haicheng.”
The next second, the figure in front of the park in his sight suddenly turned around.
Their eyes met, and both of them were stunned for a moment.
Wei Xi looked at the other person, who was wearing a black raincoat, with handsome features, holding a phone in one hand, and standing as straight as a javelin in the rain.
….
Shuo Zong stared in astonishment at the rows of open black umbrellas at the entrance of the Haicheng Park. His peripheral vision caught sight of the surging, dangerous seawater in the distance, and an unexpected displeasure rose within him. His gaze then met Wei Xi’s, and without further thought, he strode towards the park entrance: “What are you doing—”
Before he could finish speaking, Wei Xi’s voice came from the other end of the phone: “What’s that annoying guy doing here too?”
Shuo Zong: “?”
He subconsciously stopped and glanced around. What annoying guy?
Then, finally realizing what was happening, his gaze slowly fell upon himself: “…..”
….
Not far away, Xia Shouren looked at his friend, whose aura had suddenly turned so gloomy that it seemed as if black energy was floating around him. He wiped his face, which was wet from the rain, and said smugly to Chongming beside him, “See? Do you think he’s still happy? Does he look happy? What a load of crap.”
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The Chongming Bird (Double-Eyed Bird) is a sacred, auspicious creature in Chinese mythology resembling a chicken with two pupils in each eye and a phoenix-like cry. Known as a “bird of light,” it possesses immense power to fight beasts and ward off evil spirits, often leading to the custom of pasting chicken images on doors
