Cataclysm Chapter 104: The Dragon’s Prison 02

Chapter 104: The Dragon’s Prison 02

Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Editor: Karai

 

“Calm down, everyone,” Chen Yang said, patting Kou Xuanling’s shoulder. “We get it, normal adult needs. Stop teasing, be mature.” Pretending to be all grown-up, Chen Yang leaned in and whispered to Kou Xuanling, “Did you spend the whole day and night in the room?”

If not for his aching back and sore waist, Kou Xuanling would have fought Chen Yang to the death right then and there. Through gritted teeth, he snapped, “Do I not need rest?”

“Oh.” Chen Yang nodded thoughtfully, hesitated for a moment, then asked, “Do you need red eggs?” Before Kou Xuanling could explode, Chen Yang bolted behind Du Shuo and jumped onto his back, grinning smugly. “Just asking! If you don’t need them, forget it!”

Lu Xiuzhi quickly stepped in to calm Kou Xuanling, who was now fuming with embarrassment and anger. Meanwhile, Du Shuo smacked Chen Yang lightly on the rear and asked, “Why are you asking that?”

Chen Yang clung to Du Shuo’s neck, resting his chin on his shoulder. “I asked if he needed red eggs.” When Kou Xuanling had asked why he’d need them, Chen Yang cheekily replied that it was to congratulate him on ‘coming of age.’

“Troublemaker,” Du Shuo said flatly.

Chen Yang laughed a few times, then spotted that everyone else had already gotten in the car. “Hey, everyone’s in already. Let’s go.” Du Shuo carried him forward in large strides. After they got in and the driver started the engine, three people suddenly ran up behind them.

“Wait a second, driver!”

The driver stopped as Zheng Xiaoyu and the other two caught up, panting heavily. “Master Chen, are you… leaving already? What about Shen Sha?”

Chen Yang rolled down the window and stuck his head out. Hearing their question, he replied with a casual smile, “It’s already been taken care of, don’t worry. Unless your fate is already sealed, no further accidents will happen. Judging by your physiognomy, you’re not destined for untimely deaths, and since the Shen Sha hadn’t gained self-awareness, you’ll be fine.”

“Really? Thank you so much!” Zheng Xiaoyu said, overjoyed.

Chen Yang smiled, waved goodbye to them, and the driver stepped on the gas, heading toward the train station. Behind them, Zheng Xiaoyu and his companions watched the car disappear, feeling as if they’d been given a second chance at life. Gratitude filled their hearts as they silently wondered if they’d ever meet Chen Yang and the others again.

Taking the high-speed rail from J Province to Chuan Province would take half a day; a regular train would take an entire day. Zhang Qiudao asked, “Why are we going to Chuan Province? The Tianshi Mansion is next to J Province, and Chuan Province isn’t even on the way.”

Chen Yang replied, “Because the Taoist Association sent us a new ‘Roadblock.’ You didn’t get one?”

“No,” Kou Xuanling said, frowning. “There’s only ever one ‘Roadblock’ per Taoist exchange meeting. If there were more, who’d willingly attend just to be tormented like this? Qiudao, do you know why?”

“I have no idea,” Zhang Qiudao said, shaking his head. “The Tianshi Mansion has hosted the Taoist exchange meetings before, and as far as I remember, there’s always been just one ‘Roadblock.’ Chief Chen, are you sure the information you received isn’t fake?”

Du Shuo chimed in calmly, “I verified it. It’s real.”

“Could they have sent it to the wrong person?” Kou Xuanling muttered doubtfully.

Sitting in the front seat, teasing Kui Xuan and the children, Ma Shanfeng turned his head and asked Chen Yang, “What’s the second ‘Roadblock’?”

Chen Yang, thinking about the details in the message, made a strange expression. “Dragon.”

Everyone’s interest piqued immediately. “Dragon? The legendary divine dragon? Thunder and storm, its roar like a cow’s bellow. The long, horned beast that exhales clouds and controls wind and fire. But dragons are supposed to be mythical creatures—are you sure the Taoist Association isn’t just messing with you?”

Chen Yang, curious, asked them, “In Taoism, dragons are categorized in great detail, with their grades and forms recorded. The Tianshi family often traces their lineage back to dragons. Why does it seem like you don’t believe in dragons?” The Taishang Dongyuan Shenzhou Jing detailed the grades of dragons, classifying them based on their regions, oceans, and the elements—there are the Five Imperial Dragon Kings, Four Sea Dragon Kings, and fifty-four other Dragon Kings, each with their names.

Zhang Qiudao responded, “I’ve never seen one. Different records have different descriptions, but… how should I put it? If you look closely, you can see that the image and abilities of the dragon seem to evolve and improve over time. From the early descriptions of a snake with scales and horns to the image of the dragon we know now, it feels like later generations invented it based on their imagination. My grandfather’s generation never saw dragons, but they believed in them. They said that in the past, the Yellow River and Yangtze River had dragons because you could see them transforming there.”

At the Yellow River’s banks, carp leap over the Dragon Gate, their tails burned by heavenly fire, transforming into dragons. A snake turns into a jiao after five hundred years, a jiao into a dragon after a thousand years. Snakes that enter rivers become jiao, and jiao that enter the sea become dragons. Thus, in the legend, the Yellow and Yangtze Rivers hide divine dragons.

Kui Xuan, kneeling on the seat, leaned over the backrest and said to everyone, “I’ve seen a dragon, when I was still alive. Once, my father took me to meet an esteemed guest, and we passed by the West River. In the Yellow River, I saw a dragon. It didn’t look like the dragons described in the books at all. Its face looked like a pig’s head, and its body was like a slippery snake. It had no horns, no claws, just a long, pig-faced earthworm. But it was about ten meters long, and I knew it was a dragon. When it leaped over the Dragon Gate, there was a thunderstorm, lightning and heavy rain.”

Big Fatty lazily flicked its tail and said, “I’ve seen one too, in the Yangtze River during the Sui and Tang dynasties. But it wasn’t a full dragon yet—it was a jiao dragon. It already had the characteristics of a dragon: claws, scales, deer antlers, a snake’s tail, phoenix eyes, and long whiskers. It was black and shiny, but still quite beautiful. Its angry eyes and imposing presence already had an extraordinary aura, just waiting for the right storm to transform into a full dragon.”

Pausing, it turned to Kui Xuan and said, “The one I saw was a dragon. What you saw must’ve been some kind of mutated monster. How could something so ugly be a dragon?”

Kui Xuan, fuming with anger, lunged at Big Fatty to grab the fur on its head. Big Fatty swiftly dodged and was about to retort when Zhang Qiudao suddenly intervened, covering Big Fatty’s head. Zhang Qiudao’s face remained calm as he pinched his throat and said, “Stop running around.”

Big Fatty was about to struggle but stopped when it saw the driver glancing nervously and suspiciously at the rearview mirror. It ceased its movements and quietly “meowed” a couple of times.

Kui Xuan scowled. “How annoying.”

Big Fatty gave Kui Xuan a dead-fish stare, glaring at her. Zhang Qiudao said to Kui Xuan, “The dragon you saw was too ugly; it’s definitely fake.”

Upon hearing this, the driver finally relaxed and laughed, “You guys are really funny.” He thought everyone was just teasing the child, and it was so cute to hear the child speak so seriously. “Little Miss, you’re still alive, how could you say ‘when I was alive’? Also, a real dragon, its form should be nine-like.”

Kui Xuan puffed out his cheeks and looked at Chen Yang with a pitiful expression. “Chen Xiaoyang, I didn’t lie.”

Chen Yang quickly reassured her, “Okay, okay, I know you didn’t lie. But you both really saw different dragons, didn’t you?”

Kui Xuan pointed at Big Fatty in Zhang Qiudao’s arms. “It must have seen wrong, not me.” Big Fatty continued to give her an unwavering dead-fish stare.

Chen Yang was in a dilemma. Both of them insisted they had seen dragons, but the descriptions of the dragons were completely different. While Big Fatty’s description matched the modern image of a dragon, Kui Xuan’s description of the dragon was quite unique and not just fabricated. In her era, people indeed described dragons as having pig faces and snake-like bodies with scales.

If that’s the case, could dragons really have different forms? He hesitated and looked at Du Shuo, “Have you ever seen one?”

Meanwhile, Kou Xuanling also looked at Lu Xiuzhi, asking him if dragons really existed. Lu Xiuzhi gave a firm answer, “They do exist. And neither of them is wrong. They must have seen dragons before. In the past, when floods ravaged the land, people believed in dragons. Every year, they offered sacrifices, and the emperors would issue decrees to make dragons noble kings, commanding the people to worship them. The existence of dragons was mysterious and powerful, and the faith in them was strong, so they often walked among the human world. The transformation from jiao to dragon was common.”

“I’ve seen one,” Du Shuo nodded, answering Chen Yang’s question. “They aren’t lying. The form of the dragon has never been fixed, it has evolved over time.”

Chen Yang asked, “What do you mean?”

Du Shuo explained, “Dragons weren’t always real creatures. They originated from animal worship and nature worship, created as a form. Later, dragons came from animals like snakes, carp, and old tortoises, which transformed into dragons after cultivating for thousands of years. When they transformed, their understanding of the dragon form came from human imagination, so the dragons they became were shaped by what humans believed dragons looked like. The dragon’s form has changed over time as people’s understanding of dragons improved. In earlier times, dragons were described as having pig faces and snake bodies, with some without feet, some with two or three legs. By the Sui and Tang dynasties, the dragon form was very similar to the one we know today. So, the dragons they saw were different because of these changes.”

Chen Yang thought for a moment and said, “So, what you’re saying is that dragons don’t actually exist as a species, but instead, animals like snakes, carp, or old tortoises cultivated and transformed into dragons after surviving thunder tribulations. They chose to transform into dragons because of the worship and belief of humans, which protected and empowered them.”

Du Shuo confirmed, “Yes.”

The driver, overhearing their conversation, became intrigued. “What you’re saying sounds reasonable. Speaking of which, there’s a saying in my hometown called ‘jiao dragon seeks a title.’ I heard from the elders that someone in the village once encountered a ‘title-seeking dragon,’ and he answered correctly. The dragon was so grateful that it came back to repay him. After that, his family had a smooth ride, and they developed into a big company in the city. I heard they’re all healthy and prosperous now, really lucky.”

Kui Xuan, curious, asked, “What’s ‘title-seeking’?”

“That’s just what we call ‘granting legitimacy to the dragon,’” the driver answered straightforwardly, “Humans are the spirits of all beings. If humans acknowledge a jiao dragon as a dragon, then it becomes a dragon. If humans don’t acknowledge it and think it’s just a snake, then the jiao dragon’s thousand-year cultivation is ruined in an instant. This is called granting legitimacy. When you call a jiao dragon a dragon, you’re affirming its identity and helping it transform into a true dragon. It successfully survives the tribulation and becomes a divine dragon, of course, it will come back to repay the favor. But if you destroy its thousand-year cultivation, it will be a tragedy, and its revenge will surely ruin your family.”

Ma Shanfeng nodded in agreement, “I’ve heard of this. Many animals that cultivate to immortality will seek a title from humans. Like the jiao snake turning into a dragon, or the yellow weasel becoming immortal. However, Jingguai, although spiritually sensitive and able to awaken intelligence, is difficult to become immortal. Some yellow weasels or foxes will take advantage of this and come to humans asking, ‘Am I a human or an immortal?’ If the answer is immortal, they will become small gods or immortals like the ‘Yellow Immortal.’ If you expose them, they will scurry away in embarrassment, but their revenge is often just to prank the children of the family. These aren’t like the jiao snake. The snake transforms into a jiao after 500 years, and into a dragon after 1,000 years. If you give the wrong answer, it will ruin 1,500 years of cultivation, and naturally, the dragon will hate the person who caused it. It will open its mouth and devour the one who misidentified it.”

The doll and Kui Xuan listened attentively, and at the end, both exclaimed “Wow!” in unison. The doll asked, “Doesn’t that mean the person who grants the title is very unlucky? Anyone with a little fear would be terrified.”

The driver suddenly felt a chill down his spine and looked back and forth between Kui Xuan and the child with suspicion, “Y-You, you mean this doll can talk? Just like a person?”

Kui Xuan proudly lifted the doll in her arms and said, “Of course. My baby is a custom-made doll, specially crafted to simulate voices based on my sound waves and predict what I want to say based on my speech. It’s the most expensive and popular doll. Many kids love it.”

The driver sighed in relief, “I see… The technology nowadays is amazing. They’ve made a doll that talks like a person. I’d be scared if I saw it suddenly speak.”

Kui Xuan shrugged, “Once you get used to it, you won’t be scared.”

“Haha, true.” The driver didn’t speak further and focused on driving.

Ma Shanfeng nodded at the two small cuties, silently saying, “Be careful.” He then continued explaining about the doll, “The jiao dragon can only seek a title from one person, so they are very selective, and they usually don’t choose children or young people. They prefer elderly people because they have more experience and are more likely to believe. When they see the dragon, they will immediately call it a dragon, not a snake. If they call it a snake, it will ruin its cultivation. Children who see a jiao dragon won’t immediately think it’s a dragon, but rather a snake. So when the jiao dragon seeks a title, it tends to choose elderly people. Also, when it senses that it’s about to undergo the tribulation and transform into a dragon, it will often appear in dreams years in advance. If it happens to select someone timid, who faints upon seeing the jiao dragon, when the thunder strikes, they won’t be able to escape the tribulation and likely won’t survive.”

Kou Xuanling said, “I didn’t expect dragons to have such legends. But Chen Yang, why are you going to Sichuan to look for a dragon?”

Chen Yang replied, “After I received the information, Elder Yi Wuchang called me and told me that if I wanted to find a dragon, I should go to the Sichuan Dragon Valley, The Dragon’s Prison. She said there are dragons there.”

“Elder Yi Wuchang personally called you? That means the Taoist Association wasn’t mistaken. So, why have we encountered two ‘roadblocks’?”

Du Shuo said, “It’s not you, only Yangyang has encountered two ‘roadblocks.’”

“Why?” Everyone asked in confusion.

Du Shuo paused and then replied, “Vice president of the Taoist Association.”

As soon as they heard this, everyone understood. The driver stopped beside the train station parking lot and said, “We’ve arrived. By the way, I didn’t know you all believed in Taoism. No wonder you talk so confidently about these things and seem to know so much.”

Chen Yang scanned the QR code to pay for the fare, “Yes, we all know a little about Taoist practices.” He smiled warmly as he got out of the car. Since the driver helped them with their luggage, he gave him a safety talisman, “Wishing you peace and good health.”

The driver took the talisman and laughed heartily, accepting Chen Yang’s blessing. As a driver, the most important thing to him was safety, so receiving such a blessing made him especially happy. Strangely, when he took the talisman, he felt a sudden clarity, as if the heavy, restless feeling in his heart had disappeared. The anxiety that had plagued him all day suddenly settled.

The driver smiled and patted his head. After getting back in the car, he hung the talisman on the rearview mirror. He subconsciously turned to look at Chen Yang and the others as they entered the train station. Suddenly, he saw the little girl’s sun hat almost fly off her head, but the ugly doll she was holding reached out and grabbed it. No one else saw this. He froze for a moment and muttered to himself, “How come these high-tech dolls are reacting so quickly now?”

Ma Shanfeng chuckled and said, “That driver was supposed to have a car accident today.”

Chen Yang also smiled, “No harm done, just a close call.”

They had booked their tickets in advance, so they didn’t have to wait long and boarded the high-speed train. After a four-hour ride, they arrived at their destination around 2 PM. Upon exiting the station, Chen Yang suggested, “Let’s eat first. Elder Yi Wuchang said that Dragon Valley is in a remote area, and there are only two trains a day. The second train leaves at 4 PM, and it travels through jungles and mountain roads. It will take four to five hours to reach Dragon Valley.”

Kui Xuan remarked, “That’s quite far.”

The doll immediately chimed in, “It’s not far. We’ll get there after a nap.”

Kui Xuan asked, “How do you know?”

The doll replied, “Because Dragon Valley is where I was born.”

Everyone was surprised and started asking questions, “Weren’t you born in the Wu Clan? How did you end up in Dragon Valley?” “Is there really a dragon in Dragon Valley? Does ‘The Dragon’s Prison’ mean there’s a dragon imprisoned there?”

The child answered one by one, “The Wu Clan lives in the valley of Dragon Valley. We’re different from the Zongmu Ghost Clan who live underground; we live in the mountain rocks. There’s a tourist spot near Dragon Valley, and we Wu Clan members sometimes set up stalls there to make money. But ordinary people can’t enter our village. They’ll get lost, and we can’t let outsiders in. But the Wu Clan leader said Yangyang isn’t an outsider, hehe.” At this point, the child happily collapsed and started waving their arms in excitement, “Xuanxuan, when we get to the clan, I’ll show you my collection. I can give you some!”

“Okay. I’ll take you to see my tombs too. I have many collections there. Maybe I’ll give you something,” Kui Xuan, who owned thirty-six ancient tombs, replied confidently. She was very wealthy.

The child then turned to Chen Yang, “Yangyang, I’ll give you a lot of my collections too.”

“Thank you, little one,” Chen Yang smiled and accepted. “But is there really a dragon in Dragon Valley?”

“I don’t know,” the child said, “But there’s a legend that Dragon Valley’s The Dragon’s Prison holds a dragon. The Wu Clan worships it every year. But I’ve never seen it or heard the dragon roar.”

“Alright. We’ll find out when we get there. Let’s eat first. Let’s go!”

The group went to have a big meal, and after they were full, they even considered going for a foot bath. But—

“Wake up! It’s almost four o’clock. The child said there are only two trains a day, and if we miss the second one, we’ll have to walk. Even walking won’t help because we won’t be able to find the entrance.”

Chen Yang let out a small burp, and Du Shuo lightly patted his back. Hearing this, he said, “We can still go tomorrow.”

Zhang Qiudao had a slight choke and suddenly began to doubt whether they were going to a Taoist exchange conference or simply out for a vacation. They spent the whole day eating, drinking, soaking in hot springs, getting foot baths, touring the mountains, or shopping at malls—it was clearly a vacation.

Chen Yang burped every little while, holding Du Shuo’s left hand and saying, “I just ate, not a good time for a foot bath. Ha—I’m a little tired.”

Du Shuo replied, “Then let’s book a room and rest.”

Zhang Qiudao couldn’t be bothered to look at the two of them. He turned around to seek support from Kou Xuanling or Ma Shanfeng. However, when he turned, he was instantly blinded by the sight—Ma Shanfeng was holding his wife’s hand and speaking softly, “I’m so full.”

Ma Shanfeng’s wife shot him a glare, “I kept telling you not to overeat, but you didn’t listen.”

Ma Shanfeng felt wronged, “You’ve been staring at Kui Xuan and not paying attention to me. The moment you’re distracted, I can’t control myself.”

Zhang Qiudao felt goosebumps rise all over his body and shuddered. Meanwhile, Lu Xiuzhi and Kou Xuanling were whispering to each other, “Sweating from exercise, Mn?”

Big Fatty seemed to be triggered, his shiny black fur suddenly bristled up, and his round, plump body trembled three times. With two ‘duang’ sounds, he curled up, lonely and helpless, against Zhang Qiudao’s legs. Glancing at Zhang Qiudao, Big Fatty suddenly regained his dignity, “Good thing I have many girlfriends.” Poor Zhang Qiudao, the lonely one.

Zhang Qiudao coldly kicked Big Fatty’s massive back, sinking deep into his soft flesh. “…”

Chen Yang yawned, “Let’s get in the car and rest. Master Wu Yi is waiting for us, let’s not keep her waiting.”

So, they finally gave up on the idea of booking a room for foot baths and massages and found a bus heading to the Wu Tribe. There were only a few passengers on the bus, and Chen Yang and the others filled it up. The driver had a cold expression and stared fixedly at them, asking, “How many people? Where are you headed?”

Chen Yang replied, “Nine people, to Longxia Gorge.”

The driver furrowed his brows, thinking of kicking them off to catch another ride since he assumed they were just going to a nearby scenic spot. But the next moment, a little figure popped out to greet him, “To the Wu Tribe.”

The driver recognized the little figure and immediately softened his tone, “How did you get out, baby? Does Wuchang know?”

The little figure said, “Wuchang knows.” It jumped onto Chen Yang’s shoulder and added, “This is Chen Yang.”

The driver’s expression changed, filled with respect. He even skipped the routine check of the Wu Tribe’s identification, letting them all on the bus and saying, “Since the baby represents Wuchang, we trust those Wuchang approves of.”

Once they were seated, the bus slowly started, heading from the city roads to the suburbs, leaving the provincial highway behind. A few passengers on the bus secretly watched Chen Yang and the others, most of their gazes fixed on Chen Yang. The little figure spread some knowledge, “Though the Wu Tribe are descendants of Ghost arts, most of them aren’t qualified to learn Ghost arts due to physical limitations. So, any Ghost arts practitioner is highly respected in the tribe, especially since Wuchang spoke highly of Yang Yang in the tribe.”

After understanding, Kou Xuanling sighed, “Ghost arts definitely aren’t as popular as the Tianshi Sect, the study of its arts is strict and limited. Fortunately, the inheritance hasn’t been severed. Dao arts have their natural way, and there’s always a glimmer of hope.”

Chen Yang nodded seriously, then burped again. Du Shuo frowned and asked Ma Shanfeng how to cure the hiccups. Ma Shanfeng turned and said, “Scaring him should cure the hiccups.”

Chen Yang shook his head, “It’ll pass in a while.”

Despite saying so, he kept hiccupping until they entered the forest. By now, it was getting dark, and the forest was eerily quiet. Only the bus moved through the night, its headlights exposing their location, feeling like the only bait in the darkness of the forest, attracting unknown creatures lurking in the night.

Chen Yang turned to look out the window and suddenly saw a small, delicate face appear. He blinked but remained unfazed. It was obvious how strange it was for a beautiful face to suddenly appear in the dark forest, especially since the bus was still speeding along. Just then, a branch swiped past the window, brushing away that face. The next moment, the face transformed into a smiling skeleton, scaring Chen Yang into stopping his hiccups instantly.

At the same time, surprised gasps rang out from inside the bus, “Yin Yang Ghost Butterfly?!”

 

The author has something to say:

When I counted the people earlier, I counted them in pairs: Kui Xuan with Ji Jiang, Yang Yang with the Emperor, Old Kou with Lu Xiuzhi, and Ma Shanfeng with his wife, totaling eight people.

So, I typed “eight people.”

Yes, I missed Zhang Qiudao.

Single people have no rights.

 

 

 

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