Volume 1, Chapter 5: The Turmoil in Hancheng (3)
Section 3: Dragon in the Mountains
Leaving the inn and heading west, we ended up going in the opposite direction from the Yellow River estuary.
I couldn't help but wonder, if we're going to visit the Dragon Palace, aren't we going to stay in the water?
Just as I was about to ask Xiao Zuo, who was riding beside me, he spoke first: "The ground is slippery from the rain. You're still looking around. Be careful not to fall."
His brief words of advice, delivered in a deep voice with an indescribable gentleness, sent a shiver down my spine, and my voice warmed as well: "Don't worry, I'm a very good rider."
"Then, could you ride a little faster?" he quickly interjected.
I was somewhat taken aback. I stared at him for a few moments and was stunned – this was the first time I had ever seen a look of worry and unease on his face since I met him. Even the way he whipped his horse seemed to carry a hint of panic.
I then realized that not only him, but also the Five Dragons of the Yellow River were also showing signs of anxiety. They were no longer smiling like they were in the inn, and they didn't say another word.
In the past, I would have asked long ago, but this time I chose to remain silent, only nodding and smiling at Xiao Zuo. Seeing a flash of gratitude in his eyes, I smiled at him again, gave a sharp shout, and spurred my horse on.
A horse galloped up behind them; it was the scholar in the long robe. Amidst the rapid clatter of hooves, he said to Xiao Zuo, "He knew you hadn't informed him beforehand, so he must have important business to attend to. He didn't want to delay you, but..."
"No need to say more," Xiao Zuo interrupted him in a deep voice, "How is he?"
The scholar remained silent for a long while, and when he spoke again, his voice was choked with emotion: "I'm afraid... I'm afraid I won't make it through tonight. If I weren't afraid of this matter being exposed, I wouldn't have been able to resist... I had to put on a cheerful face in the inn just now. I... I really hate it!"
I had resolved not to be a meddlesome person who pries into everything, but upon hearing this, I couldn't resist my curiosity and couldn't help but glance at them.
Seeing Xiao Zuo's extremely pale face, he remained somber for a long time before finally saying, "As soon as I saw you arrive, I knew something must have happened to him, otherwise I wouldn't have gone through with your charade. But I never expected... you, sigh! Why didn't you inform me sooner?"
Although the scholar had a handsome face, he seemed to have a very fiery temper. Upon hearing this, he immediately raised his eyebrows and said in a loud voice, "Do you think you're so easy to find? If you hadn't wanted to cross the river, who would have known you had already come to the Yellow River basin!"
Upon hearing this, I became even more curious, thinking to myself, does this mean that anyone who shows their face in the Yellow River can't hide their whereabouts from them? On second thought, I realized that made sense. Since they were known as the Five Dragons of the Yellow River, their influence naturally extended throughout the Yellow River basin. No wonder they came knocking on our door as soon as we showed our faces in Hancheng.
Looking at Xiao Zuo again, he smiled wryly and said repeatedly, "Yes, yes, yes! Don't be angry, I was wrong! Hehe, Shuhao, your nickname 'Angry Sword' is really fitting!"
Wrathful Sword? I seem to have heard of that name before, but I just can't remember it right now... I frowned and couldn't help but glance at the scholar a few more times. But out of the corner of my eye, I saw Xiao Zuo suddenly leap into the air from his horse, sweeping over like a cloud, and lightly landing on the back of the horse behind me. He took the reins from my hand and immediately embraced me tightly.
"Can't you ride a little slower at that speed?" His slightly displeased voice rang in her ears, but quickly changed to a joking tone. "Shuhao is nowhere near as handsome as me. If you want to look, look at me!"
My mind was full of questions, and I didn't have time to argue with him. I whispered, "The name 'Rage Sword' sounds familiar, but I just can't remember it..."
“How could you not remember?” Xiao Zuo interrupted me. “Just think about the Taihang Mountains area, and you’ll definitely remember!”
Taihang Mountains! Could it be...? I turned around abruptly, stared at Xiao Zuo, and tentatively asked, "Stealing from a thousand households at night, and providing relief to ten thousand people by day?"
“That’s right.” He smiled. “It’s him.”
I stuck out my tongue, glanced at Shuhao, and lowered my voice, saying, "That's really strange. When did the chivalrous thief who was famous throughout the Taihang Mountains become the leader of the Five Dragons of the Yellow River?"
Xiao Zuo said, "Can you sit up straight first? I'm really afraid you'll keep moving around on the horse... I'll tell you once you sit up straight."
"Of course you have to tell me! Otherwise, I'll... I'll bite you to death!" I threatened him fiercely, but I couldn't help but chuckle first. Then I sat up straight, leaned back slightly, and said, "Speak!"
After waiting for a while without the person behind me speaking, a thought suddenly struck me: if he really wouldn't tell me anything, should I really bite him? Where should I bite him? Should I bite his shoulder, his neck, or... his face?
Ugh! I'm going crazy! Why did I have to think about such shameful things?!
Just as I was lost in thought, I suddenly heard Xiao Zuo sigh behind me and mutter in a voice that was neither too loud nor too soft, just loud enough for me to hear clearly: "I thought I was really going to get bitten."
Oh! This person! My face flushed, and that little bit of heat seemed to have drained all my strength. I was too weak to turn around or say anything. I could only lean limply against his firm chest, pretending I hadn't heard anything.
After a moment of silence, Xiao Zuo's voice rang out again from behind: "Why aren't you saying anything? Are you asleep?"
Before I could answer, the voice suddenly sighed, "Sigh, I was going to tell her about Shuhao, but she's asleep! Oh well..."
"Who said I was asleep!" I sat up abruptly and glared at him.
What greeted me was a sly smile that had been prepared on her lips, and a pair of bright, confident eyes.
"Since you're not asleep, then sit up straight and let me explain."
I was filled with hatred, but my curiosity wouldn't let me go, so I had no choice but to swallow my anger and turn away.
Fortunately, he didn't dawdle this time. As soon as I sat down, he said, "You guessed right. He is indeed the chivalrous thief Nu Jian from Taihang Mountain, who 'steals from a thousand households at night and helps ten thousand people by day.' As for why he came to Hancheng, the reason is actually very simple—it's because two months ago, through my recommendation, he became a disciple of someone."
"who?"
"Dragon King."
My heart jumped, and after a long pause, I slowly turned my face and said in a deep voice, "Which Dragon King are you talking about?"
“There are only four Dragon Kings in Journey to the West,” Xiao Zuo said calmly. “The only one I know and the only one you’ve heard of is…”
That's right! I've only ever heard of one Dragon King!
This Dragon King is, of course, not a real Dragon King.
He is a person—a person who gets dizzy at the sight of water.
This landlubber was called the Dragon King because he was the first and only person in the martial arts world to bring all three hundred large and small river gangs along the Yellow River under his command.