Chapter 2372: Chapter 2436: Soul Pillar
"That’s right, just friends!" Li Yifei said.
Hu Yu’er forced a smile, raised her trembling hand to greet the Flood Dragon, and said, "You... hello."
If it weren’t for yesterday’s events, if she hadn’t suffered hearing loss, if there weren’t the awe-inspiring Heavenly Thunder, if Li Yifei and Xu Shanshan hadn’t resisted the Heavenly Thunder—Hu Yu’er wouldn’t be so afraid. It’s because of all this that she instinctively felt scared when facing the Flood Dragon. As soon as she saw it, she recalled the scenes from yesterday, and given its miserable appearance now, with no part unharmed, she was even more frightened.
"Hello!" The voice of the Flood Dragon reached her mind, and Hu Yu’er froze immediately, her eyes darting around. A few seconds later, she asked with chattering teeth, "Who... who is talking to me?"
"It’s the Flood Dragon itself, it has a name, Ao Bai, like the Ao in Ao Guang and Bai as in bowing. You can just call it by its name in the future. As for why it’s talking... it’s hard to explain in a sentence or two. Just think of it like in TV shows where non-human things often talk; it’s similar, except those shows are fake, and Ao Bai is real!" Li Yifei explained with a smile.
Hu Yu’er has seen some of the world and isn’t someone with weak mental endurance. She secretly pinched her thigh, using the pain to calm herself down, especially seeing that the little girl Chen JunXiao wasn’t showing excessive surprise. She couldn’t appear too ignorant compared to her. Besides... after greeting, the Flood Dragon turned away, continuing to observe around the house.
Hu Yu’er chuckled and said, "Brother Li, how did you... bring it... Ao Bai back here?"
Li Yifei replied, "It’s a long story, I’ll tell you later, but rest assured, it’s very kind and won’t harm us!"
"Oh!" Hu Yu’er didn’t get an answer and knew that Li Yifei might not be comfortable sharing, so she said, "Should I... call a doctor to treat its injuries?"
Li Yifei shook his head and said, "No need, it will recover on its own in a few days. I want to ask, regarding yesterday’s events, how are things being handled by the brothers?"
"I have imposed a gag order on them, prohibiting them from spreading it outside. I doubt anyone will talk. Each person received a large reward, but this kind of thing is too outrageous; even if they tell others, even if someone believes them, they wouldn’t think it’s real!"
"Hmm, that’s good. Well then... Ao Bai, while we’re living here for the next few days, don’t show up in front of others. Keep this villa off-limits to avoid causing panic, and we’ll leave in a few days." Li Yifei instructed.
Hu Yu’er nodded. Just as she was about to speak, she saw the Flood Dragon Ao Bai suddenly turn, sniffing as it looked at Chen JunXiao, walking toward her step by step. The little girl wasn’t afraid at all. Seeing the Flood Dragon getting closer, Chen JunXiao smiled and reached out her hand, saying, "Hello, Ao Bai, nice to meet you!"
"Hello!" The Flood Dragon’s voice echoed in everyone’s minds; it was noticeably different from before, even carrying a hint of joy. Li Yifei raised an eyebrow slightly as he heard the Flood Dragon say, "I’ve met you before!"
"Hmm?" Chen JunXiao asked curiously, "Where did you see me?"
"A few years ago, well, at least some time ago, I saw you. You were being held by a woman and fed me a delicious steamed bun!" the Flood Dragon said.
"Sorry, I might have been too young then to remember that!" Chen JunXiao shook her head.
"No, I remember a familiar aura from you. The bun you gave me was delicious, even tastier than the best fish!" the Flood Dragon said earnestly.
Bread, perhaps... Li Yifei thought to himself, then added, "It’s possible you know JunXiao. Her home is just in the nearby fishing village, and she’s been living by the shore in recent years!"
"Alas, it’s a pity that the woman died!" the Flood Dragon sighed.
"Hmm?" Li Yifei was taken aback, immediately sat up straight to look at the Flood Dragon. Chen JunXiao’s face darkened, while the other two women looked over, finding the Flood Dragon’s words abrupt. Li Yifei asked, "Ao Bai, how do you know JunXiao’s mother passed away?"
"Of course I know!" the Flood Dragon Ao Bai sighed, lying down on the carpet, and said, "She and a man dove underwater, took away several Soul Pillars, and that’s when I knew they wouldn’t live long. Unfortunately, I was too far away at the time; by the time I found out, it was too late to stop them. They had already sailed away, and my range of activity is limited; beyond a certain distance, I can’t go over."
"Soul Pillars?"
"Yes, Soul Pillars. You think I was restricted there just for fun? In fact, I was there guarding that cave!"
"Wait a moment!" Li Yifei signaled the Flood Dragon to stop. He quickly ran upstairs, brought down the box containing the relics of Chen JunXiao’s parents, opened it, and took out the pillar, asking, "Is this what you were talking about, is this thing called the soul pillar?"
"Yes, indeed, it is this thing!" The Flood Dragon nodded, then said, "Sure enough, this soul pillar has been opened, and the evil qi inside is spreading. Ordinary people simply can’t withstand it, so they won’t survive for long."
"Flood Dragon, are you saying that my mom and dad got sick and died because they took this?" Chen JunXiao asked hastily.
"Yes, this thing is used to seal souls. When cultivators are willing, they can seal their souls, but it’s not always possible; it needs this special legal instrument to work. The few you have are small soul pillars, and the souls sealed within them are also weak," the Flood Dragon explained.
Li Yifei nodded and said, "Didn’t you say you couldn’t remember who sealed you in that sea area?"
"The other party never told me that I had to guard this place, but... if you capture a fierce beast and place it in a tomb, is it for show? Isn’t it to guard the tomb and prevent outsiders from invading? I think the purpose of bringing me here was the same, but they couldn’t make me too strong, so... of course, I don’t know if the one who stripped my soul and the one who brought me here are the same person." After a pause, the Flood Dragon continued, "I’ve said before, I’m not evil. Since I’ve been locked here, I also want to stop others from entering the tomb, to prevent innocent harm!"
"Wait, what you’re saying is a bit confusing. I want to verify, is that place really a cave mansion or a tomb?" Li Yifei gestured with his hand.
The Flood Dragon sneered, saying, "It’s both a cave mansion and a tomb, there’s no contradiction. It’s an evil sect; their cultivation technique was extremely vile. Later on, for some reason, most people in the sect died or were injured, and their souls were sealed there. The living ones vanished, and similarly, I don’t know who exactly sealed this place or brought me here!"
Although the Flood Dragon Ao Bai’s words were somewhat confused, Li Yifei still understood. This guy tried to be a good guy once—well, a good Flood Dragon—captured and sealed here, yet didn’t harbor resentment or harm anyone. You could say it’s possible; this guy could remember something like a bun or bread for so long, he wasn’t bad at heart.
Since he believed what it said, Li Yifei became more curious about that cave mansion under the coral reef. An ancient cultivator sect, and an evil sect at that...
"My suggestion is that you pretend you don’t know about that place. I can sense the danger of that cave mansion; it’s not good to confront!" the Flood Dragon said.
"Are there still living people inside?" Li Yifei asked.
The Flood Dragon shook its head, saying, "Living people are impossible. At least in the past hundred years, I haven’t seen any come or go. But I’m worried there are evil creatures. Think about it; just the entrance has so many soul pillars, sealing so many souls. Wouldn’t the inside be more dangerous!"
Li Yifei contemplated for a moment, nodded, and said, "You make a good point, so... should we not explore it?"
He directed these words to Xu Shanshan, who, after hearing them, frowned and thought for a moment before saying, "Perhaps we shouldn’t go. If we accidentally open some evil thing, and if it can’t be suppressed, the surrounding villagers will suffer!"
Upon hearing this, Li Yifei nodded in agreement and said, "Alright, we won’t go. But Ao Bai, now that you’re free, is it okay if no one watches over the place?"
The Flood Dragon Ao Bai immediately rolled its eyes and said, "I’ve been doing a good deed by watching over it for over a hundred years, and that’s not enough? Do you still want me to continue? No way, I’m not doing that foolish thing anymore. Besides, who knows how long the cave mansion has been sealed. My presence doesn’t add to or detract from it. Things were fine when no one was watching before!"
Li Yifei blinked and exchanged a smile with Xu Shanshan, saying, "I’m not persuading you to go back. You just said that if something goes wrong there, it would cause great harm to ordinary people. I’m just asking if it would harm more people if no one is watching over it!"
As for the cause of death of Chen JunXiao’s parents, Li Yifei actually didn’t want to delve into it. For one thing, they died several years ago; even if he found the truth, it wouldn’t help. Furthermore, the Flood Dragon mentioned that Chen JunXiao’s parents went to the reef themselves to take things, so it was trouble they brought upon themselves.
What Li Yifei was truly concerned about was this so-called cave mansion. What exactly was inside? With such a cautious seal, could there be something good or something extremely dangerous inside...
"Let me tell you!" The Flood Dragon tapped a claw on the ground, saying, "Theoretically, nothing will break there. After all, the seal is still very strong!"
"In that case... alright!" Li Yifei sighed inwardly upon hearing this and said, "But I must inform others about this matter. Nearby villagers probably also have those soul pillars, and some have been innocently harmed. It would be better to seal this place off!"
"Suit yourself. I won’t stop you, nor will I care about that place anymore. Over a hundred years, and I’ve had enough!" the Flood Dragon Ao Bai grumbled.
