580 The Uncle Dragon Emperor is Me!
Qing Cang Palace.
A portly middle-aged man was nestled in his garden, jade and gemstone-inlaid scissors in hand. He hunched over, meticulously pruning the flower bed before him.
Each of the plants was a rarity, some even classified as extinct. Yet, they thrived vibrantly within the confines of his few hundred square meters plot.
Prince Qing Cang, upon finishing with one plant, patted his belly contentedly. “Not bad, not bad,” he mumbled, humming a little melody as he strolled towards the next plant.
The peculiar flowers and herbs in his garden had cost him hundreds of thousands of gold taels. As for the mother qi soil that nurtured these plants, he had spent two-thirds of his wealth acquiring it.
“Your Highness, another letter has arrived from the capital and Prince Bai Liu,” a guard reported, approaching Prince Qing Cang.
“What are they up to now?” Prince Qing Cang frowned, glancing at his trusted aide and godson, Long Ping’an. “Take a look at me. Do I appear capable of murdering Imperial Uncle Wushuang, who has support from six clans and three sects, with a single punch?” As Prince Qing Cang spoke, he patted his belly angrily. The skin and flesh that could support a boat instantly stirred up a ripple of waves.
“Isn’t it common knowledge what level I was at when I was in the palace? I’ve merely leveraged the resources of the dragon clan to reach this fifth-level visceral prefecture realm.” He continued, “I’ve spent all these years in the residence, not amassing an army nor flaunting power. I’m just a simple, idle prince tending to flowers and plants!”
Prince Qing Cang’s cynical laughter echoed around the garden, leaving his godson, Long Ping’an, with a bitter smile. The latter had witnessed Prince Qing Cang’s conduct over the years. However, the outside world refused to believe that such a respected prince could be devoid of ambition at the brink of a world collapse.
“The patriarch of the Qiong family, Qiong Mou, is here for a visit!” A robust voice rang from outside the gate, causing Prince Qing Cang’s expression to shift. He turned and headed towards the entrance.
Before he could reach there, the formidable overlord of the Barren State, Qiong Mou, barged into his residence.
“Patriarch Qiong, it’s inappropriate to intrude into the imperial residence like this,” Long Ping’an remarked, his expression darkening.
“Inappropriate? Then why did you seal off my Qiong Qi clan’s base and massacre all my elders?” Qiong Mou countered, his eyes narrowed. He neither had the time nor the inclination to maintain formalities with Prince Qing Cang.
“I’m at a loss, Patriarch Qiong. I have no idea what you’re implying,” Prince Qing Cang answered, his face a mask of confusion as he stared at Qiong Mou.
“Prince, there’s no need for pretense. I’m being quite straightforward,” Qiong Mou stated urgently. “If you have any terms, speak them now.”
He was in a rush due to the ever-changing war situation in the east. A single misstep could spell disaster for the Qiong Qi clan. Everyone in the Great You was aware of the oddities surrounding the Sacred Heart Sect.
Also, the six royal clans had their own agendas, and it was unclear whether the three sects, the single sect, or the other six clans were their deadliest enemies. Qiong Mou wouldn’t have risked coming here if the matter regarding the spirit world hadn’t been of paramount importance.
“I genuinely have no idea what you’re talking about. No one from my Qing Cang Palace has meddled with your Qiong Qi clan’s base,” Prince Qing Cang declared, feigning innocence, though his mind whirled with questions. Was the Qiong Qi clan using the imminent collapse of the structure as a ploy to extort him? Or were they trying to find a valid excuse for their future machinations?
“So, we have nothing to discuss?” Qiong Mou retorted sarcastically. The flowing rainbow dragon scaly armor was an undeniable proof.
If Prince Qing Cang wasn’t involved, was it the young emperor? The palace inhabitants were constantly on edge, focusing on self-preservation. Why would they agitate the Qiong Qi clan unprovoked?
Qiong Mou glanced at a corner, spotting a little girl hiding behind a pillar. She matched the description provided by the grand elder. It had to be them!
“If there’s nothing to discuss, then there’s nothing to discuss,” Prince Qing Cang replied coldly.
“Fine. We’ll settle this once the situation in the east stabilizes and the imperial palace’s support wanes,” Qiong Mou warned, his rage intensifying upon observing Prince Qing Cang’s reaction.
“Great! I look forward to it,” Prince Qing Cang replied, sighing.
Qiong Mou’s sudden departure left only the flustered servants and the infuriated Prince Qing Cang. Wiping the cold sweat off his forehead, the prince said, “It seems I must devise an escape plan. Ping’an, get things ready.”
“Understood.” Long Ping’an bowed slightly before vanishing from the scene.
…
In the spirit world, Qin Huai waited an entire day, but no one from the Qiong Qi clan appeared.
“It seems they’ve temporarily given up on the spirit world,” the little girl remarked, dusting herself off. “I didn’t expect it to conclude so swiftly and effortlessly.”
Her mind was still reeling from the suddenness of it all. She had anticipated a drawn-out chase, a battle of attrition. However, their opponent was stopped at their doorstep.
Most importantly, she couldn’t resist asking, “Are you from the Kun Peng clan or the dragon clan?”
“Dragon clan,” Qin Huai answered without hesitation. “Actually, I’m that Uncle Dragon Emperor!”
If he could claim the identity of the enigmatic Uncle Dragon Emperor, he’d gladly do so.