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. šš«eewešÆš§šveš„.cšš
Prince Qing Cang, upon finishing with one plant, patted his belly contentedly. āNot bad, not bad,ā 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.
āYour Highness, another letter has arrived from the capital and Prince Bai Liu,ā a guard reported, approaching Prince Qing Cang.
āWhat are they up to now?ā Prince Qing Cang frowned, glancing at his trusted aide and godson, Long Pingāan. āTake 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?ā 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.
āIsnāt it common knowledge what level I was at when I was in the palace? Iāve merely leveraged the resources of the dragon clan to reach this fifth-level visceral prefecture realm.ā He continued, āIāve spent all these years in the residence, not amassing an army nor flaunting power. Iām just a simple, idle prince tending to flowers and plants!ā
Prince Qing Cangās cynical laughter echoed around the garden, leaving his godson, Long Pingāan, with a bitter smile. The latter had witnessed Prince Qing Cangās 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.
āThe patriarch of the Qiong family, Qiong Mou, is here for a visit!ā A robust voice rang from outside the gate, causing Prince Qing Cangās 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.
āPatriarch Qiong, itās inappropriate to intrude into the imperial residence like this,ā Long Pingāan remarked, his expression darkening.
āInappropriate? Then why did you seal off my Qiong Qi clanās base and massacre all my elders?ā Qiong Mou countered, his eyes narrowed. He neither had the time nor the inclination to maintain formalities with Prince Qing Cang.
āIām at a loss, Patriarch Qiong. I have no idea what youāre implying,ā Prince Qing Cang answered, his face a mask of confusion as he stared at Qiong Mou.
āPrince, thereās no need for pretense. Iām being quite straightforward,ā Qiong Mou stated urgently. āIf you have any terms, speak them now.ā
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 wouldnāt have risked coming here if the matter regarding the spirit world hadnāt been of paramount importance.
āI genuinely have no idea what youāre talking about. No one from my Qing Cang Palace has meddled with your Qiong Qi clanās base,ā 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?
āSo, we have nothing to discuss?ā Qiong Mou retorted sarcastically. The flowing rainbow dragon scaly armor was an undeniable proof.
If Prince Qing Cang wasnāt 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!
āIf thereās nothing to discuss, then thereās nothing to discuss,ā Prince Qing Cang replied coldly.
āFine. Weāll settle this once the situation in the east stabilizes and the imperial palaceās support wanes,ā Qiong Mou warned, his rage intensifying upon observing Prince Qing Cangās reaction.
āGreat! I look forward to it,ā Prince Qing Cang replied, sighing.
Qiong Mouās sudden departure left only the flustered servants and the infuriated Prince Qing Cang. Wiping the cold sweat off his forehead, the prince said, āIt seems I must devise an escape plan. Pingāan, get things ready.ā
āUnderstood.ā Long Pingāan bowed slightly before vanishing from the scene.
ā¦
In the spirit world, Qin Huai waited an entire day, but no one from the Qiong Qi clan appeared.
āIt seems theyāve temporarily given up on the spirit world,ā the little girl remarked, dusting herself off. āI didnāt expect it to conclude so swiftly and effortlessly.ā
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 couldnāt resist asking, āAre you from the Kun Peng clan or the dragon clan?ā
āDragon clan,ā Qin Huai answered without hesitation. āActually, Iām that Uncle Dragon Emperor!ā
If he could claim the identity of the enigmatic Uncle Dragon Emperor, heād gladly do so.