A dragon?
Is that really a dragon?
Everyone was dumbfounded, staring at the massive shadow deep in the pond, momentarily forgetting to climb back to the shore.
The shadow had a pair of dragon horns on its head, and its bronze-golden eyes slowly opened in the darkness, gazing down indifferently upon the four people.
That gaze, majestic yet indifferent.
As if the four were just insignificant little bugs.
Lu Fei's heart was filled with shock and disbelief.
According to legend, wasn't that fallen dragon already ascended!
How could there be a dragon in this cave? Could it be that the legends are not true?
Regardless.
They are in big trouble now!
What a coincidence, to end up here of all places.
The overwhelming presence made the four of them too fearful to move, and the bodyguard Wu Tie was trembling uncontrollably.
He was just an ordinary person, and even though he was strong and fit, he could not stand up to such power.
Even Lu Fei and Jing Jian felt a heavy pressure on their shoulders.
"What do we do?"
Jing Jian and Lu Fei exchanged glances.
"Even if it is a dragon, if it wants to ascend to the heavens, it cannot harm people indiscriminately. That would go against the will of heaven, and heavenly punishment would be inflicted," Lu Fei said in a low voice, steadying himself after a moment's thought.
"Let me give it a try, after all, it has received our offerings," He Yunsong gritted his teeth, struggled to turn around in the water, and gave a respectful salute to the massive long shadow.
"Lord Dragon God, we had no intention of disturbing you! We were pursued by an evil presence and accidentally fell into your lair. You are a true dragon; we hope you won't hold it against us mere mortals."
After speaking, he lowered his head, waiting with trepidation.
The damp air slightly fluctuated.
The enormous, mountain-like shadow moved, causing ripples on the water's surface. A whirlpool emerged from the water, spinning faster and faster.
A powerful suction force swept towards the four of them.
Oh no!
Before they could even swim away, they were sucked into the whirlpool, getting closer and closer to the massive shadow.
In the chaos, Lu Fei gripped the lightning-struck jujube wood staff tightly in his hand.
If it really came down to their lives, even if it was the Dragon God, they would have to fight it!
Even a dragon has to undergo a tribulation.
I wonder if it is afraid of the power of the heavenly thunder.
However.
The vortex carried the four people deep into the water pool, and then stopped.
Everyone surfaced, opening their eyes in a daze, coughing up a few mouthfuls of cold water, gradually regaining consciousness.
Lu Fei wiped his face and hurriedly held the lightning-struck wood in front of him.
The bottom of the water here sparkled with golden light, the faint glow illuminating a corner of the massive, elongated figure, its dark scales appearing domineering and mysterious.
The enormous head was raised high, its bronze-golden vertical pupils quietly gazing at them.
It didn't seem to have any ill intent.
"Since it doesn't intend to kill us, what does it mean by pulling us here?" Lu Fei was filled with suspicion, exchanging glances with everyone else.
The long dragon seemed to see through their thoughts, its massive body slightly swaying.
More golden light lit up in the pitch-black pond, like a sky full of stars, illuminating the area behind the dragon.
"What's back there?"
Lu Fei was full of suspicion, stretching his neck to look behind, and could not help but be stunned.
The tail of the dragon was pinned down by a huge round rock! It seemed unable to break free.
"It's trapped here?"
Everyone was utterly astonished.
It seems that the legend of Baling Village aiding the dragon was completely false!
"So, does this Dragon God want us to help it?" Jing Jian widened his eyes.
"It should be so." He Yunsong sighed lightly, a look of disappointment on his aged, pale face, "Although encountering a real dragon is a rare and wondrous event in life, if the real dragon is unharmed, it means that there is no elderberry here."
The Dragon's Breath Elderberry was born from the last breath of resentment of a true dragon.
And now, since this black, long dragon is alive and well, such an evil thing naturally couldn't grow.
Lu Fei understands his feelings.
Although this journey isn't as dangerous as Dàyīn Mountain, it is still fraught with difficulties.
After going through so much to reach the Falling Dragon Cave, only to find that what he wanted isn't there, how could his heart be undisturbed?
However.
Since things have come to this, there's no use in thinking too much about it.
The most important question at hand is—
To help or not to help?
In theory, helping a true dragon in trouble should be a good deed, but Lu Fei always felt something was not quite right.
"Gold! Look, the water is full of gold!"
Bodyguard Wu Tie's excited voice interrupted his doubts.
Lu Fei narrowed his eyes and noticed for the first time the shining points at the bottom of the water, which turned out to be glittering gold and silver jewelry.
Wu Tie was dazzled by the golden light and could hardly contain his excitement.
"It must be a gift from the Dragon God! What are we hesitating for? Of course, we should help it!"
He moved his body, ready to swim towards the huge rock pinning down the black dragon's tail.
"Wait!"
Lu Fei hastily pulled him back.
"We're not even sure if it's really gold at the bottom..."
"Just pick up a piece and we'll know!"
Wu Tie was a bit anxious, took a deep breath, and dived to the bottom of the water. He grabbed a gold bar from below, surfaced, and bit it with his teeth.
"You see, if it's not gold, what is it?"
Lu Fei took the gold and, together with Jing Jian, examined it; it was indeed genuine without any doubt.
"Can you believe we stumbled upon such good fortune?" Jing Jian scratched his head.
"That's the dragon god! Isn't that how the storybooks describe it? If you help a deity, the deity rewards you! This gold is the reward from the dragon god!"
Wu Tie took the gold bar back, stuffed it into his pocket, and made a deep bow of gratitude to the black dragon.
"Thank you, Dragon God! Thank you, Dragon God! We will definitely help you!"
If not for floating in the water, he would have knelt and kowtowed right there on the spot.
The black dragon, with its bronze-gold vertical pupils, looked at him and slightly nodded its massive head.
"Did you see that? The Dragon God nodded at us! What are you standing around for? Hurry up!" Wu Tie, overjoyed, excitedly waved to Lu Fei.
Seeing that the others were still hesitant, he decided to go ahead and started swimming towards the gigantic rock by himself.
"Xiao Wu! Don't be reckless!"
He Yunsong had wanted to stop him, but when he turned his head, he seemed to see something, and his eyes suddenly sharpened.
"Young Lu, what do you see there? Doesn't it look like elderberry?"
He extended his wrinkled hand, pointing towards the bottom of the massive rock.
"What?"
Lu Fei looked over, utterly astonished.
Beneath the gigantic rock, a peculiar plant was actually growing, without leaves, its stem resembling human bones.
"It wasn't there just now!" Lu Fei rubbed his eyes, confirming that he wasn't seeing things.
"I get it, it's a gift from the Dragon God!" He Yunsong also grew excited, "It seems that by helping the Dragon God escape, it will reward us with what we want!"
"Does this Dragon God have telepathy?" Jing Jian whispered in shock.
Lu Fei looked up, gazing at the enormous head hidden in the shadows.
In those bronze-gold vertical pupils, there seemed to be an unfathomable light.
"Little Friend Lu, I came here for the elderberry. Now that there's a chance to get it, what are you hesitating about?" He Yun Song urged.
"Okay."
Lu Fei suppressed his doubts and, along with Jing Jian, escorted He Yun Song as they swam toward the giant rock.
This trip was originally for the elderberry, and no matter what, they had to go and take a look.