Chapter 207

The Ruoergai Plateau, the Snowstorm Sacred Mountain, the source of the Nine Bends Yellow River. Hongjun, Li Jinglong, and Yu Prefecture crossed the entire Qinghai and came to the north of Bashu. There were scattered villages at the end of the plateau, which was like a stairway to heaven.

Li Jinglong saw that the horses could no longer travel, so he left them in the village and bought food and water from the villagers. The three of them wrapped themselves in thick coats and walked along the frozen river to the upstream of the Yellow River. The weather was cold and the ground was frozen. Drops of water turned into ice. With Hongjun's suggestion, with the Phoenix's vital energy protection and Yu Prefecture's ability to fly, they didn't need to carry any weight. However, Li Jinglong insisted on walking. It was necessary to conserve some energy.

"We won't be attacked," Yu Prefecture said. "Why are you being so careful?"

"That's hard to say," Li Jinglong answered casually. He didn't want to argue with Yu Prefecture.

Yu Prefecture was bored and could only follow the two of them. According to the villagers, the Snowstorm Sacred Mountain in the distance was the source of the Yellow River. According to the ancient legends passed down by the geomancers, this was also the first dragon vein in the Central Plains. It was also known as the Dragon of Ten Thousand Dragons.

"Zhao Zilong!" Li Jinglong held Hongjun's hand in the snow and said calmly, "Do you still remember where you were born?"

"How is that possible!" Yu Prefecture tightened his coat and quickened his pace. He said, "I didn't remember much before I was fifty years old!"

Hongjun turned around and asked, "How did you meet Xie Yu in the first place?"

Yu Prefecture thought for a moment and told him about his life in the snow. Back then, he was just a carp in the Yellow River. He didn't have intelligence for many years. When he finally understood things, he had already lived for almost fifty years. It was strange. Normally, aquatic creatures would grow at an astonishing rate after living for a few decades. However, he didn't. Only rings were left on the scales, like the marks of growth rings.

Trees and scaled aquatic creatures were the easiest to identify their age. Every year they lived was engraved on their bodies. Ever since the Carp Demon gained intelligence, it wandered around. Although it couldn't use any energy, it lived freely. However, as time passed, a demon couldn't help but think about the meaning of its existence. The Carp Demon hoped to cultivate as a human and then become a carp Dragon. Maybe one day, it could peek into the Heavenly Dao.

Thus, it began to exert all its strength, and in the end, its arms and legs were forced out.

Li Jinglong: "…"

Hongjun said, "I think I've heard this part Story."

Li Jinglong said, "You can do something just by holding it in. Are you that powerful?"

So's Legs's,,, and asked asked,, but since asked asked asked asked, he could, and he, he could only answered truthfully. answer asked asked asked, "He".

"That was after I met the monk."

Before it could understand how much magical power it had, it was caught by a fishing net one day. It still remembered that it was a sunny afternoon, and the fisherman's voice rang in its ears.

"Three catties and a half!"

The Carp Demon was sent to the Chang 'an market and hung for sale. Not long after, it was bought by a restaurant. This restaurant was the predecessor of the Carp Dragon. Not long after, Xuan Zang came to the kitchen of the Carp Dragon …

Li Jinglong said, "Why would Venerable Xuan Zang come to the kitchen of a restaurant?"

"Because he has a disciple," Yu Prefecture explained. "He's here to look for someone."

Then, the Carp Demon saw the monk. In its impression, monks didn't kill, so it immediately called for help. Xuan Zang was surprised to see the carp speak human language. He bought it and raised it in the pond of the Great Mercy Temple. Morning bells, evening drums, Buddhist chants resounded. When Xuanzang was reciting the sutras, the carp demon was listening by the side.

Later, Xuan Zang moved to the Wild Goose Pagoda. The Carp Demon had nothing to do for a while …

"In other words, you've lived in Chang 'an for decades?" Li Jinglong asked.

The three of them arrived at the Holy Mountain. The sky was getting dark. Hongjun found a cave and prepared to rest for the night. Yu Prefecture glanced at Li Jinglong, who was holding Hongjun's hand, and said casually, "I don't want to talk about it."

Li Jinglong let go of Hongjun and gestured for him to boil water. Then, he said to Yu Prefecture, "All these years, you've been the leader of the Exorcism Division …"

Yu Prefecture heard this and had mixed feelings. He said, "I know you all look down on me."

Li Jinglong hurriedly waved his hand and explained, "Everyone respects you very much."

The Carp Demon usually saw through many things but did not expose them. After all, it had lived for so many years. It was impossible for it not to understand the ways of the world. However, it was a demon and had betrayed Hongjun. It was afraid that if the Exorcism Division chased it away, its momentum would weaken. Even now that it had cultivated into a human, when facing Li Jinglong, it still had the feelings of a fish. It couldn't help but feel anxious.

"Did you know?" Yu Prefecture suddenly said, "When I escaped back to Chang 'an that day, I thought the Exorcism Division would open the door."

Li Jinglong heard Mo Rigen and Lu Xu tell him about it. He said, "Everyone wasn't at home. What could you do?"

Yu Prefecture looked at Li Jinglong for a long time. Hongjun felt that the atmosphere was a little strange. He raised his head and looked at Yu Prefecture.

"Second Brother, all these years, have you really treated me as family?" Yu Prefecture asked in the silence.

Hongjun was about to speak when Li Jinglong raised his hand and stopped him.

"To be honest," Li Jinglong answered. "No."

Yu Prefecture thought that Li Jinglong would coax him, but he didn't expect Li Jinglong to expose the truth so simply and crudely.

"Because I betrayed all of you," Yu Prefecture said.

Hongjun said, "Zhao Zilong, I said that I forgive you!"

Yu Prefecture suddenly became stubborn and stared at Li Jinglong.

"That's just a small matter," Li Jinglong said lightly. "I don't believe you. Firstly, it's because you're not human. You're a demon. "

Hongjun, "…"

"It's not just you." Li Jinglong said, "As long as you're a demon, whether it's Chao Yun, Qing Xiong, Chong Ming, Yu Zaoyun, or Ghost King … we've been enemies from the beginning. Other than Hongjun, I can't completely trust any member of the demon race. This is my duty as the commander of the Exorcism Division. "

Hongjun didn't interrupt Li Jinglong. He was very surprised to hear Li Jinglong say the truth at this time and place. It was quite rare to hear him express his stance. After all, Li Jinglong was a person who rarely spoke his mind. Even when he was discussing matters with his colleagues, his position could only be understood but could not be explained in words. He was also very careful and overly protective of Hongjun to prevent him from coming into contact with too many schemes and shrewdness.

At this moment, he could vaguely understand why Li Jinglong would bring up the past at this moment and talk openly with Yu Prefecture. Perhaps it was because the last Dharma artifact was at hand. If this Dharma artifact belonged to the Carp Demon, Li Jinglong had to guarantee that after obtaining the Dharma artifact, Yu Prefecture would do their best to cooperate with everyone.

"You don't have to say that. I'll help you," Yu Prefecture said. "I'm only doing this for Hongjun. Nothing else."

"That's the second reason I want to talk about." Li Jinglong sat with his back to Hongjun, separating the two of them. He said calmly, "Hongjun, can you find some firewood?"

Hongjun frowned. No matter how stupid he was, he knew that Li Jinglong had something to say to Yu Prefecture alone. Although he didn't like Li Jinglong's behavior, he still got up and walked out of the cave.

"Secondly," Li Jinglong looked straight at Yu Prefecture and said, "you like Hongjun. You've liked him from the beginning."

Yu Prefecture was instantly flustered. His face flushed red, and he said, "I …"

After Li Jinglong said this, he said indifferently, "So you don't like me, and I don't like you either."

Yu Prefecture gradually calmed down from his initial panic. In just a few short breaths, he finally said, "That's right. What right do you have? Are you worthy? "

Li Jinglong only smiled and said sincerely, "I'm sorry, Zilong."

Yu Prefecture: "…"

Yu Prefecture's eyes slowly turned red. After a long time, he said in a daze, "That year, I was caught by Xie Yu … and he made me go to the Taihang Mountains … and a bear almost ate me …"

Li Jinglong didn't interrupt him. He just looked at Yu Prefecture silently. Yu Prefecture suddenly choked with sobs and said intermittently, "It was Hongjun who saved my life. He was the son of Mahamayuri and Phoenix's adopted son. He was so bright and beautiful …"

"… But he never treated me like … an ordinary monster. He ordered me around …"

"He even gave me a name … He said, 'I believe in you. One day, you will become a dragon' …"

"You will live for a long time," Li Jinglong said, "he only has one lifetime. You don't belong to him, and he doesn't belong to you."

Yu Prefecture looked at Li Jinglong in a daze and said, "I know."

Li Jinglong frowned slightly. Yu Prefecture sighed as if he had given up and said, "From the moment I saw you chase me to the foot of Mount Qilian, I knew that I had no hope."

Li Jinglong's heart was filled with mixed feelings. He said in a low voice, "That's why I risked my life to chase after you."

"Forget it," Yu Prefecture patted Li Jinglong's shoulder and turned to leave. He shouted, "Hongjun!"

Hongjun came in with firewood. He looked at Yu Prefecture and then looked at Li Jinglong with a hint of reproach in his eyes. Li Jinglong stood up, took the firewood, and raised the flame.

The atmosphere was very strange. No one spoke. Hongjun glanced at their faces and finally couldn't help but say, "Don't bully him."

"I didn't," Li Jinglong said innocently.

"He didn't," Yu Prefecture helped Li Jinglong and said, "I feel much better now."

Hongjun, "???"

Li Jinglong laughed. Hongjun said, "You're still laughing?! What did the demon race do to you? "

Li Jinglong said, "I'm willing to change myself for you."

When Hongjun heard this, his tone relaxed a little. He looked up at Li Jinglong and said, "Really?"

"Yes." Li Jinglong didn't avoid Hongjun's gaze. Instead, there was a smile in his eyes.

The wind gradually died down. The world was silent. Hongjun didn't say anything. Li Jinglong and Yu Prefecture seemed to have some kind of strange tacit understanding. Neither of them spoke. Hongjun couldn't help but guess what they were talking about. However, when he thought about how Li Jinglong always sent him away with good intentions, he didn't ask too much. His curiosity was too strong and would only invite a snub.

"Venerable Xuan Zang …" Hongjun still decided to find something to say. "He's a Buddha."

"Yes." Yu Prefecture was like a block of wood that suddenly became alive. He said, "I still remember the day he became a Buddha."

"You were by his side?" Li Jinglong had a topic to talk about and asked.

Yu Prefecture muttered, "Yes, I was the only one by his side."

The atmosphere suddenly became natural and warm. Hongjun felt that during the time he was away, Yu Prefecture might have untied a knot in his heart.

"What did he say?" Hongjun asked.

Yu Prefecture shook his head and said, "He said that I was sent down by heaven and earth to deliver all living beings from torment."

Hongjun was instantly shocked. This was an extremely high evaluation, and it came from the mouth of the Buddha of Sandalwood Merit!

"You're the one." Yu Prefecture laughed and said, "My Hongjun is the one, um …" Then he muttered to himself, "I was born to help you."

Li Jinglong said, "Did he prophesy the calamity of the Tang Dynasty?"

Yu Prefecture thought about it and shook his head. "No, he didn't. I still remember that dusk. Before he became a Buddha, he gave me something. "

"What was it?" Hongjun hadn't heard of this before.

"I don't know." Yu Prefecture said, "I think it was to help me cultivate? I just swallowed it whole. "

Li Jinglong said, "Buddha gave you something and you swallowed it?"

Yu Prefecture said, "Yes. Is there a problem?"

Li Jinglong and Hongjun were speechless. Yu Prefecture lifted his leg and rolled up his trousers, revealing his hairy leg. He said, "After that, I cultivated seriously. After holding it in for a while, I gained limbs."

Li Jinglong, "…"

Hongjun's mouth twitched. "Oh, so that's how it is."

Yu Prefecture continued, "After that, I was set free and entered Jing River. I wanted to find a place to cultivate properly. Then, Xie Yu found me and looked for you."

Hongjun said, "Kun Shen said that you have to accumulate merit to become a human."

"That's enough." Li Jinglong said, "During the battle outside Hangu Pass, Zilong saved more than tens of thousands of people."

Hongjun thought about it and agreed. After that, Lu Xu told him that the Carp Demon had indeed saved many people's lives. If it wasn't for him, who knew how many soldiers would have died on the battlefield.

"But my cultivation isn't enough." Yu Prefecture pondered for a moment, then said, "After I help you defeat Tianma and Yuan Kun, I still have to find a place to cultivate."

Hongjun looked at Yu Prefecture, but Yu Prefecture avoided his gaze. Li Jinglong felt that Yu Prefecture had finally thought it through that night.

"Congratulations." Li Jinglong smiled.

Hongjun said, "Maybe I won't be able to see you turn into a dragon until the end of my life."

When Hongjun said this, Yu Prefecture almost cried, but Hongjun smiled and comforted him, "But you've already carried me to soar through the heavens and earth, so you've fulfilled your promise."

At that moment, Yu Prefecture began to gasp for breath. Li Jinglong pretended that nothing had happened, but his heart was in his throat. He was afraid that Yu Prefecture would say something to Hongjun that he couldn't handle the situation.

"Zhao Zilong?" Hongjun sensed his abnormality.

Yu Prefecture gradually calmed down.

"Yes." Yu Prefecture forced a smile and said to himself, "This is my biggest wish in this life."

Li Jinglong finally breathed a sigh of relief. His palms were sweaty. It wasn't that he didn't believe in Hongjun, but Li Jinglong had always been on tenterhooks ever since he met this fish. He was afraid that it would really turn into a dragon one day and kidnap Hongjun. He was even more afraid that Hongjun would take things too hard one day and follow a carp to live in seclusion in the mountains and he would never be able to find them again … In fact, from the first time he met Hongjun, this strong sense of insecurity had never stopped. On one hand, he had to guard against Chong Ming. Although he was nominally his adoptive father, he had raised Hongjun first. Later, he felt that Qing Xiong was a little dangerous, but he gradually eliminated him.

Then came Ashina Chong. He was a sloppy person. Fortunately, Hongjun had never liked him. The most troublesome thing was this carp. It had known Hongjun earlier than him and had taken care of him wholeheartedly. Hongjun was ignorant and only treated it as a family member. If the Carp Demon turned into a handsome young man, it would be an extremely strong competitor.

Therefore, Yu Prefecture ran away with Hongjun. It was really the most soul-stirring moment in Li Jinglong's life. It was a life or death moment. No matter what, he had to chase after Hongjun.

This time, the Carp Demon finally retreated. Li Jinglong felt that it was more tiring than fighting a big battle.