Volume 1,Chapter 36: The Yellow Dragon

A hush fell over the grand hall as a court official's voice rang out from afar: "By order of the King, Shang Tang is summoned."

Xiahou's eyes were fixed on the top of the steps. A towering man, led by an attendant, walked up with his hands respectfully clasped before him. His skin was slightly yellow, and he was only a fist shorter than Xiahou. With thick eyebrows and large eyes radiating righteousness, he seemed inherently likable. Xiahou, nearly in awe, watched him approach. Yao, Shun, Yu, Tang—every Chinese knew these names, but who else but Xiahou had the chance to see the real Tang?

Shang Tang, whose real name was Zi Lü, was known by his courtesy name Tang, also called Wu Tang or Cheng Tang. For simplicity, we'll call him Shang Tang, a name familiar to all.

Tang's heart was heavy with concerns as he walked, furrowing his brow. He felt someone's intense gaze and turned to see a giant man staring at him fervently. This man, dressed in the attire of the southern barbarians, was unknown to Tang, but his eyes held no malice. Tang nodded and smiled warmly.

Xiahou smiled back, raising his bronze goblet to drink, but found only a few drops left. Glancing at the crushed goblet in his hand, he tossed it aside, grabbed a wine jar, and drank deeply while watching Tang stride into the hall and kneel before the King.

"Your servant, Shang Tang, greets the King."

The King of Grand Xia laughed heartily for a long while before looking Tang up and down with a kindly smile. "Enough, you've come a long way. Take a seat."

An azure jade table floated up beside Xingtian E and the other ministers. Servants brought wine and delicacies, and Tang knelt at the table.

The King raised his goblet and surveyed the hall. "Let us toast to Shang Tang. But tell us, what brings you here?"

Tang calmly drank the wine, stood, and bowed. "Great King, I come with a request for justice."

The King, in high spirits from Xiahou's earlier triumph over the Atlanteans, said magnanimously, "Justice? Very well, I'll grant it. What's the issue? Perhaps you wish to marry an outsider and face your father's wrath?"

The ministers laughed. Tang, unperturbed, bowed again and said, "Great King, this concerns the Eastern Yi. In recent months, they have invaded our lands, seizing several of our fertile pastures. My father requests the King to aid our tribe, as we cannot repel the Yi alone."

Xiangliu Hou's eyes gleamed, while Xingtian E drank indifferently. The head of the Shen Gong family, Shen Gong Li, jumped up, "Great King, the Eastern Yi's audacity is intolerable. We must punish them."

Xingtian E looked up, "We're about to go to war with the Atlanteans. How will we manage the logistics for another campaign against the Yi?"

Xiangliu Hou said softly, "If the Grand Xia army marches against the Yi, the court must provide supplies. But the Shen Gong lands are closest to the Shang tribe."

The King considered this, reluctant to fund another campaign. "With the Atlanteans on our heels and needing to watch the southern Jiu Li and northern Hu Jie, we can't launch a full-scale attack on the Yi. It's clear he's hesitant to allocate resources for this cause.

Tang sat back down, placing his goblet firmly on the table. "Within our lands, we've discovered a new jade mine of excellent quality. My father offers it in exchange for aid against the Yi."

The King, Xiangliu Hou, Xingtian E, Shen Gong Li, and Fangfeng Mu's eyes lit up simultaneously. "What's the yield?"

Tang bowed, "The mine produces over a thousand units of top-grade jade monthly."

Before the four ministers could respond, the King shouted, "Excellent! The Shang tribe is our vassal. The Yi's invasion is an affront to Grand Xia. Summon Hou Tian to lead the court's cavalry and punish the Yi."

Xingtian E spread his hands, helpless. Shen Gong Li, unwilling to let this opportunity slip away, protested, "Great King, our lands border the Shang tribe. It would be faster for my people to strike the Yi."

The King shook his head, "Your argument is flawed, Prime Minister. Our army needs the exercise. We can't let the Shen Gong family handle it alone. If the royal army does nothing while you act, the Yi will mock us."

Shen Gong Li's face twisted with displeasure. The King, sensing he had perhaps been too greedy, blinked and pondered for a moment before begrudgingly conceding, "Very well, the Prime Minister makes a good point. Mobilizing the royal army from Anyi will take too long. Xiangliu Hou, Xingtian E, and the other two ministers, each of you will send a force to clear out the Eastern Yi from the Shang tribe's lands. Once the royal army arrives, we'll join forces to teach the Yi a lesson."

Xingtian E and the other ministers smiled, satisfied. They could mine the jade to their hearts' content before turning it over to Hou Tian, maintaining harmony.

Xiahou found it amusing how the Grand Xia's court discussed military campaigns like gangsters dividing loot. He glanced at Shang Tang, who sat still and expressionless, with a fleeting glint of disdain in his eyes.

Tang stood again, showering the King and the ministers with flattery and thanks for their support. Then he changed the subject, sighing, "Great King, our tribe has suffered from the Eastern Yi's invasions due to a lack of military equipment. My father instructed me to request high-quality armor and weapons, and to show our gratitude, we've brought a hundred maidens from various tribes as a gift for you."

The King's face lit up with excitement. "Hand the maidens over to Chief Eunuch Heiming. As for military equipment, why not forge it yourselves? Your tribe has plenty of minerals and craftsmen."

Tang bowed, "Great King, our craftsmen cannot compare to the master blacksmiths of Anyi."

The King looked at Shen Gong Li, who promptly stood and declared, "Great King, the armory recently prepared a batch of top-grade armor and weapons for the royal secret service. If the Shang tribe urgently needs them, we could arrange something. However, crafting military equipment is a time-consuming task."

Tang replied calmly, "The Eastern Yi have pushed us to the brink. We're willing to pay twenty percent above market price for these weapons to teach them a lesson."

Hearing this, the King's eyes gleamed with joy. "Excellent. How much equipment does your tribe need?"

Tang gave a flexible answer, "It depends on how much gold we brought. If it's enough, the more, the better. We'd also like to request some shields from the royal army."

Given the Eastern Yi's prowess with archery, shields were indeed essential. The King nodded, "Very well. Prime Minister, handle this. Consider the shields a gift, but the armor and weapons must be paid for in full. Our nation's wealth is hard-earned."

Tang prostrated himself in gratitude.

Xiahou sat uncomfortably, shifting in his seat. Tang seemed like a deep, unfathomable pool, making Xiahou's skin crawl. An instinct warned Xiahou not to cross this man. It was a chilling feeling, cooling the excitement he had felt upon meeting Tang.

He glanced at Bai, who was lying on the ground, drunk and exhaling strong liquor fumes. All around, the nobles of Grand Xia were reveling, raising their goblets high. More dancers flowed from the back of the hall, singing and dancing to the ethereal sound of jade chimes.

After a few more sips of wine, Xiahou watched Xiangliu Hou and the other young nobles flock around the dancers in the hall, feeling a wave of distaste. He tapped Xingtian Dafeng on the shoulder and whispered, "Can we freely explore the palace?"

Xingtian Dafeng, bleary-eyed, turned to Xiahou and waved dismissively, "Go ahead. As long as you stay within the front palace's ninety-nine halls and gardens, you can roam freely. The rear palace is off-limits, guarded by the grand sorcerers. Just don't go knocking down pillars, and no one will bother you."

He handed Xiahou a flaming Heiyan emblem on a red gold token. "Take this. It'll grant you passage. Just don't break anything."

Nodding, Xiahou tucked Bai under the table to keep him from being stepped on. Seeing everyone engrossed in their revelry, he took the token and descended the nine-tiered platform, heading towards a lush garden on his left. He initially intended to visit the Nine Provinces Cauldron to see if he could absorb more energy, but the thought of attracting undue attention kept him away.

Wandering aimlessly, Xiahou's thoughts churned. Should he join the Heiyan army and fight the Atlanteans, slaughtering their soldiers and civilians?

He had no motivation for such actions, having no sense of allegiance to Grand Xia. Despite evidence suggesting this was the lost chapter of history, he couldn't explain why the sky lacked a moon, or why a massive star now shone between Mars and Jupiter. This land was vast beyond belief.

Everything felt surreal. Xiahou had no desire to fight for a near-mythical kingdom. He was a warrior, not a butcher serving a king's whims.

Passing through an enchantment, the scenery before Xiahou transformed into a vast garden. In the distance, small peaks rose abruptly, and nearby, dense woods surrounded him. At the center of the garden lay a lake spanning several miles, its rippling waters sparkling in the early autumn sun. Xiahou marveled at the magical barriers of the Grand Xia palace; from the outside, it appeared to be a simple, grand courtyard, but within, layers upon layers of compressed space revealed a myriad of lakes, mountains, and palatial structures, reminiscent of a celestial abode.

Standing amidst the trees, Xiahou gazed at the lake for a while. A cool breeze stirred the water's surface, sending waves rippling across. Leaves from the colorful forest nearby were carried by the wind, gently landing on the crystalline lake, adding rich hues to the serene waters.

The cool breeze made Xiahou shiver. He glanced around furtively before sneaking behind a tall tree to relieve himself. As he aimed his stream at some purple-flowered weeds by the tree's roots, he muttered contentedly, "Ah, what a refreshing breeze and beautiful scenery. This open-air restroom is perfect. I wonder how many others dare to relieve themselves here in the palace?"

A sudden cough behind him made Xiahou jump. Hastily tying his pants, he turned around, embarrassed.

A young man stood about ten yards away, holding a large wooden bucket. He was broad-shouldered and robust, with a healthy, red complexion and eyes brimming with vitality. Xiahou was startled to realize that this young man's internal energy was strong, evidenced by a natural flow of clear energy within him. Yet, his simple blue cotton clothes indicated a lowly position within the palace.

Xiahou chuckled awkwardly, "Ah, brother, the autumn breeze is refreshing, isn't it?"

The young man laughed, squinting his eyes, "You seem to be enjoying yourself. This is the first time someone has relieved themselves in Dragon Garden." He glanced at the stream with an amused look that made Xiahou blush.

The young man, still laughing, didn't pay much more attention to Xiahou and walked toward the lake, the large bucket swaying with each step. Xiahou quickly caught up, taking the bucket from him with a sheepish smile. "Let me carry this for a while. Nature calls, and I didn't know where the palace latrines were, so I had to make do."

The young man shrugged, leading Xiahou to a grassy spot by the lake. "First time in the palace, huh? No wonder. Many people get lost here each year. There are enchantments everywhere, and the place is huge. Some areas are deserted for ages. No harm done; I'm a man too, so I get it. But if one of the King's women had seen you, you'd be in big trouble."

Xiahou silently cursed his luck. If one of the King's concubines had seen him, he'd have to flee the city immediately, possibly with Bai in tow, and even then, he might not escape unscathed.

He chuckled, "Lucky for me, I ran into you. I'm Chihu Baolong, serving under Xingtian Dafeng. Brother, what are you doing with this huge bucket of meat and fruit?"

The young man gave Xiahou a surprised look, then nodded, "Ah, so you're the warrior who made a name for himself last month at the training grounds. You don't speak like a typical southern barbarian. I'm a palace servant, no name, just called Huang Yi. As for the bucket, it's to feed the dragon."

Xiahou stared in disbelief. "Feed the dragon? A dragon servant? Someone actually keeps a dragon?"

Before he could fully process this, they reached the grassy area. Huang Yi crouched by the lake and slapped the water hard, the sound crisp and clear. Ripples spread across the surface, and Xiahou noticed, perhaps it was a trick of the light, a dense wave pattern heading towards them. A peculiar, clear, and youthful call echoed in his ears.

Huang Yi glanced back at Xiahou, smiling. "This is the last dragon in the Grand Xia palace, a yellow dragon. Legend has it that when our ancestor established Grand Xia, thousands of dragons were kept here. Now, only this one remains, just hatched recently. The rest have flown away, no one knows where."

Two gleaming golden antlers broke the surface, followed by long, silvery whiskers. Then, a pair of lively, swirling eyes emerged. The dragon's eyes scanned Huang Yi and Xiahou before its mouth opened, shooting silver water jets at them.

Huang Yi quickly dropped to the ground, cursing, "You little rascal, no food for you if you keep this up."

Xiahou, unable to dodge in time, was drenched by the icy jets. They carried a slight chill, a faint fishy smell, and an odd, fragrant scent. Annoyingly, his clothes were soaked through, and water dripped from his hair.

A real dragon, a golden dragon from Chinese legend, emerged from the water, swaying its six-foot-long, bowl-thick body. It shook itself vigorously on the grass, scattering water droplets before diving headfirst into the large wooden bucket in Xiahou's hands.

Terrified, Xiahou collapsed to the ground, feeling a primal fear that made him want to bow down before the small golden dragon. Fortunately, his resilient spirit and strong will helped him regain composure quickly. Summoning his courage, Xiahou extended his hand to gently stroke the scales of this real, living dragon.

Sensing the unfamiliar touch on its back, the dragon turned its head, chirping at Xiahou before spitting another silver water jet mixed with fruit remnants directly at his face.

Xiahou sighed, smiling wryly. He released the dragon and washed his face in the lake, wiping his wet hair with his clothes. Sitting shirtless on the grass, he kicked Huang Yi's foot and asked, "Huang Yi, where did this dragon come from?"

Huang Yi, lying on the ground with a blade of grass between his teeth, lazily looked at Xiahou before gazing at the sky. "I don't know. When I was born, the palace had a dozen dragons. Now, only this one remains," he said, stroking the dragon's head, which purred contentedly. "If this little one grows up and flies away, there won't be any dragons left in the palace. Then, my family won't have to stay here anymore."

Xiahou was surprised, "Your family specializes in raising dragons?"

Huang Yi jumped up excitedly, "Yes, there were thousands of us, feeding and caring for the dragons. But as the dragons dwindled, so did our numbers. Now, I'm the only one left. Huang Yi means the yellow dragon and the only child in the family."

Xiahou watched the dragon devour the meat and fruit, envious, "You're lucky to care for a dragon."

Huang Yi shook his head, "Lucky? Not really. Although dragons are divine creatures, dragon slaves are still slaves. I hope this little one flies away soon so I can leave the palace too. As dragon slaves, we can choose to leave if there's no dragon to care for. Then, I'll be free to roam the world."

He gazed at the sky dreamily, "I want to learn new skills and explore the eastern seas to find the legendary gathering place of dragons. It's better than spending my life here, cleaning dragon scales."

The dragon, seemingly understanding Huang Yi's words, angrily spat a water jet at him. Huang Yi deftly dodged and played with the dragon, "But we dragon slaves are commoners; we can't learn magic. I need to find someone who can teach us commoners some spells. What do you think, Chihu Baolong? You're from the south; you must know a lot about the outside world."

Xiahou smiled bitterly, realizing he didn't understand this world much better than Huang Yi. Watching the agile little dragon, Xiahou's mind stirred, and he suddenly smiled, "I know a Qi cultivator. I can ask him to teach you the cultivation techniques. You have a natural talent; you'll definitely learn quickly."

Huang Yi called the dragon to him, the creature draping itself over his shoulder and blinking at Xiahou. Huang Yi laughed, "Really? That cultivator who dueled you last month? Great! You must promise to let him teach me Qi cultivation."

With a mischievous grin, Huang Yi added, "Teach me, and I won't tell anyone about your little incident in the palace. Otherwise, I guarantee everyone in Anyi will know Chihu Baolong relieved himself in the king's palace by tomorrow. The noble ladies of Anyi would be very interested."

Xiahou was furious, wanting to strangle this seemingly upright but mischievous dragon servant. But one look at the dragon's big, blinking eyes, and he sighed, nodding, "Come find me at the Xingtian residence in a while. And bring the dragon. I'm helping you for its sake."

Huang Yi cheerfully handed the dragon to Xiahou, "Take it if you want!"

Xiahou quickly backed off, "No thanks, I can't take care of it."

He glared at Huang Yi, "You won't spread rumors, will you? It's not that big of a deal."

Huang Yi, with the dragon now draped over him, smiled, "Of course not. Just introduce me to the cultivator."

After studying Huang Yi for a moment, Xiahou agreed, "Alright. But remember, it's only for the dragon's sake."

Huang Yi handed the dragon back, saying, "Sure, I won't forget."

Xiahou walked away, shaking his head. Huang Yi took out a fine brush and meticulously groomed the dragon's scales. The dragon, watching Xiahou's drenched figure leave, suddenly opened its mouth and laughed.