Ch 88: The Malevolent Monster Just Wants To Farm

He kept his mouth shut, unable to utter a word.

Jiang Lin smiled and said, “Could it be that you’re at a loss for words because your lies have been exposed by the Dragon Clan?”

The old Taoist couldn’t speak, only staring fixedly at Jiang Lin.

To the ordinary people watching, it indeed appeared as though the wicked Chen Banshen had been so intimidated by the third prince of the Dragon King that he was rendered speechless.

Jiang Lin stopped paying attention to the Taoist and instead looked around at the crowd, raising his voice to say, “Everyone, Ao Bing has come today not for revenge but to clear up some misunderstandings.”

“The East Sea holds no ill will toward Chentang Pass, and the Dragon Clan bears no grudge against its people. However, the act of summoning clouds and bringing rain requires a decree from the Heavenly Court. Only then can we carry out our duties.”

As he said this, he sighed deeply, looking at the people with compassion. “You have been asking the Dragon King for rain, but the Dragon Clan of the East Sea is powerless to help. Perhaps you should reflect on what you may have done wrong, angering the heavens and leading the Heavenly Court to decree that Chentang Pass would go without rain for three years.”

After saying this, he turned his gaze to Chen Banshen, his tone filled with loathing: “Who exactly are you? How dare you deliberately mislead the people? Your intentions are truly despicable!”

His words caused an uproar among the crowd:

“Heaven’s anger? We in Chentang Pass have never committed any great sins!”

“The statue of the Jade Emperor in Chentang Pass has never lacked offerings. My family has worshipped it faithfully every year, never daring to show the slightest neglect!”

“Why has Heaven forsaken Chentang Pass?”

“Heaven is unfair!”

“…”

The crowd grew increasingly agitated, and Li Jing felt cold sweat running down his back.

If he had never encountered a real deity, he wouldn’t be so afraid. But now, he had seen the Dragon King and had also met an immortal in his dreams. If these blasphemous words reached the ears of the immortals, as the commander of Chentang Pass, how could he not be blamed?

He immediately shouted sternly, “If Heaven has issued such a decree, it must be because we in Chentang Pass have not done well enough. How dare you speak so recklessly about the gods!”

Li Jing had been stationed at Chentang Pass for many years and still held some authority among the people. Upon hearing his words, many in the crowd fell silent.

At that moment, Jiang Lin calmly spoke, “Commander Li, you are mistaken. The gods receive offerings from humanity and, in return, have a duty to protect their peace.”

After all, it’s just a mutually beneficial transaction.

But the Heavenly Court had acted despicably.

They took the offerings and enjoyed the fortune of the human race, yet they maintained an air of superiority, looking down on humanity.

They were merely taking advantage of their own strength, bullying the human race, knowing that humans understood so little.

Hearing Jiang Lin’s words, the people who had been hesitant suddenly felt emboldened.

The third prince of the Dragon King was also a deity.

If he said so, then why, after they had devotedly worshipped and made offerings year after year, did they still have to suffer such hardships?

Especially the common folk, some of whom even began to cry:

“Yes, three years without rain, the land is barren, there’s not a grain of rice left in the house, and my old wife is barely holding on.”

“If we weren’t near the East Sea, where we could catch some fish for food, the people of Chentang Pass would have starved long ago.”

“Heaven, open your eyes and see!”

“…”

Li Jing hurriedly tried to change the subject: “Third Prince! If you say these are just rumors, why did you accept the sacrificial offering? Why did you kill the bride?”

Jiang Lin’s expression turned even colder, and his tone was even more severe: “I am more puzzled than you are—why did the people of Chentang Pass send a would-be assassin, disguised as a bride, to kill me?”

As soon as he said this, a heavy dragon’s aura pressed down on everyone.

When it came to understanding human nature, Jiang Lin, who had lived through the apocalypse, was a master. In situations like this, a stronger, more justified counter-question was far more effective than simply denying accusations.

Sure enough, the first reaction from the crowd was to refute his words and prove their innocence:

“No!”

“We sincerely made offerings; why would we send an assassin?”

“Chentang Pass has never had any intention of disrespecting the Dragon Clan!”

“Please, Third Prince, see the truth!”

“…”

Jiang Lin adopted an angry expression and said, “Oh? You didn’t send anyone? You’re innocent? How do you plan to prove that?”

In such a situation, people would naturally seek the truth much faster than they normally would. They began questioning each other, shifting blame, and digging layer by layer to find the origin of the incident.

Eventually, they discovered that the supposed “cousin” staying at Aunt Li’s house in the eastern part of the city—the sacrificial bride—didn’t even exist. There was no Aunt Li in the east part of the city at all.

The sacrificial bride, it turned out, was a person who didn’t even exist in Chentang Pass.

Some sharp-minded individuals began to sense that there might be a massive conspiracy hidden within all of this.

From the rumors about the rain, to the sacrificial bride, to the assassination attempt—it all seemed like part of a plot against the Dragon Clan.

But they couldn’t think beyond that.

For Jiang Lin, however, he didn’t expect to drag these mortals into it. His purpose for coming here today was simply to clear up the facts and remove the burden placed on the Dragon Clan’s reputation.

Li Jing, on the other hand, was starting to panic. In his desperation, he blurted out, “Third Prince! Even if all of this was a misunderstanding, what about my son Nezha? The Dragon Palace of the East Sea can’t just keep him indefinitely, can you?”

“Father!” From afar, the sea water surged violently, and a small figure shot up into the sky. In an instant, a child wrapped in the Red Armillary Sash, riding on a cloud, flew over.

Who else could it be but Nezha?

The crowd looked closely and saw that Nezha was dressed in luxurious clothes, his complexion was rosy, and he looked healthy and full of energy.

Just moments ago, Commander Li had been tearfully lamenting how Nezha was suffering in the Dragon Palace.

Now, seeing Nezha like this, the crowd’s expressions turned complicated.

Li Jing: “…”

Looking at his lively and healthy son, Li Jing felt utterly humiliated and scolded him: “You caused such a huge mess, making your mother and me worry day and night. Did you at least apologize properly to the Dragon King and earn his forgiveness?”

After being scolded, Nezha wasn’t in the best mood. He responded crisply, “I was just about to report to you, Father. Nezha believed the lies of a traitor and mistakenly gravely injured the third prince. To atone for this, I have agreed to serve the East Sea and protect the third prince for a hundred years.”

Li Jing: ???

Li Jing’s face darkened, and he scolded, “Ridiculous! My son, Li Jing’s son, cannot become someone else’s bodyguard!”

Jiang Lin responded softly, “Does Commander Li look down on the Dragon Clan of the East Sea?”

Nezha, too, was puzzled and said, “I almost took his life. For him not to demand my life in return but only a hundred years of service is already very merciful.”

As for the people of Chentang Pass…

Everyone looked at Nezha with envy.

In their eyes, the Dragon Clan were gods. To become the bodyguard of a god was a tremendous honor—who wouldn’t want to take his place?

At this point, the matter was essentially settled.

Jiang Lin suddenly noticed “Chen Banshen,” who was still kneeling on the ground and unable to speak.

He let out a cold laugh and pointed at Chen Banshen, saying, “This fake Banshen, I wonder what kind of demon or monster has taken human form. He has slandered the Dragon Clan and attempted to mislead the people of Chentang Pass into opposing the Dragon Clan.”

He sighed softly, “If I hadn’t seen through his plot, if the East Sea had grown angry, then Chentang Pass…”

He left the rest unsaid.

But the people of Chentang Pass understood—if the Dragon Clan had been angered and unleashed a massive wave to flood Chentang Pass, wouldn’t they all have perished?

Immediately, everyone turned their hatred towards Chen Banshen.

Jiang Lin finally spoke in a cold tone, “His crime deserves death!”

The crowd quickly echoed:

“His crime deserves death!”

“He’s guilty beyond measure!”

“Killing him is the only way to ease our anger!”

“…”

As the people angrily cursed, Jiang Lin observed as the faint purple aura surrounding “Chen Banshen” began to dissipate bit by bit.

This further confirmed his suspicions.

Suddenly, Chen Banshen, who was kneeling on the ground, met Jiang Lin’s gaze.

Seeing the mockery and murderous intent in the third prince’s eyes, Chen Banshen suddenly froze, as if he had realized something.

The other party knew who he was! He had even seen through his purpose!

The Dragon Clan was far more complicated than it appeared!

He wants to kill me!

Chen Banshen struggled with all his might to stand up. He had to escape! He had to return to the Heavenly Court and report this to the Emperor and Empress!

Suddenly, his body felt light.

Chen Banshen stood up and shouted loudly, “I am from the Heavenly Court…”

Boom!

A massive purple lightning bolt struck him directly, shattering his unfinished words into pieces.

As Chen Banshen fled in a panic, he could still hear the third prince’s voice in his ears: “To dare impersonate a member of the Heavenly Court and slander the Emperor and Empress—your crime is even greater.”

Rolling thunder descended from the sky, and soon, only a charred patch of ground remained.

Jiang Lin looked at the distant rolling clouds and smiled gently.

“I’ve been waiting for you for a long time.”