Stranger Danger

Translator's Notes: Dragon Lord is changed to Dragon Sovereign starting all the way from chapter 784. Apologies for the mistake.

“Long Ao? Blood Sovereign?”

After Long Ao and the Blood Sovereign were gone, Ye Qing finally spoke up, “Would you happen to know who those Strangers are, Qingyou?”

It did not take a genius to figure out that neither the Blood Sovereign nor Long Ao were human. They were intelligent Strangers, too.

“I can’t say.”

Feng Qingyou shook her head. “However, seeing as that golden-robed man is surnamed Long (Dragon), and he gives off the pressure of a dragon and has dragon horns growing out of his head, I believe that he is affiliated with the Eastern Sea Dragon Palace.”

“The Eastern Sea Dragon Palace?”

Ye Qing raised an eyebrow. “Is he the Son of Dragon the Eastern Sea Dragon Palace dispatched to attend this year’s Four Seas Summit?”

He knew of the Eastern Sea Dragon Palace, of course. The Eastern Sea Dragon Palace was built by the Dragon Sovereign, and the Dragon Sovereign was supposedly the descendant of the ancient First Dragon. Once upon a time, in the hopes of recreating the glory of the ancient First Dragon, the Dragon Sovereign had singlehandedly united the aquatic races of the four seas, built the Four Seas Dragon Palace, and created the position known as Dragon King to facilitate his rule. The Eastern Sea Dragon Palace was the central authority.

For a time, the Four Seas Dragon Palace enjoyed a prosperous age under the Dragon Sovereign’s leadership. Barring a handful of powerful races and Strangers, nearly everyone submitted to the Four Seas Dragon Palace’s rule. He was almost the overlord of the four seas.

Nine hundred years ago, humanity was embroiled in a civil war where the four nations fought over the delicious pie that was You. Sensing a golden opportunity, the Dragon Sovereign and the Kun Sage mustered the Strangers of the four seas and invaded the human race.

Unfortunately for them, the war ultimately ended with their defeat, and they were suppressed by the sages of the four nations. Not only that, humanity dispatched every elite they could muster to slaughter the Dragon Sovereign’s lineal descendants to the last to ensure that the ashes would not burn once more.

That said, they did not eradicate the Four Seas Dragon Palace. There were plenty of aquatic races in the four seas and even more Strangers. Without a supreme authority to keep them in check, it was possible that a similar calamity might arise once more. The solution they arrived at was to keep the Four Seas Dragon Palace and put a figurehead on the throne.

For obvious reasons, the Dragon King they put on the throne was nowhere close to the Dragon Sovereign in terms of reputation or power. They simply could not command or suppress the Strangers of the four seas nearly as absolutely as the Dragon Sovereign had. However, the Dragon Sovereign’s reputation remained even after he was gone, and they could hardly forget that the new Dragon King was supported by the humans who suppressed the Dragon Sovereign and Kun Sage they so feared.

It was enough to keep most of the aquatic races and Strangers of the four seas in check. Through the Four Seas Dragon Palace, they could also spy on them and prevent them from harming humans.

The solution was highly effective. In the past couple centuries, civilian deaths caused by aquatic Strangers was still a common occurrence, but there had never been a case where large numbers of intelligent aquatic races or Strangers came together en masse to attack a human city. In fact, one could almost say that the human race now shared an amicable relationship with the aquatic races and Strangers of the four seas.

To ensure the Four Seas Dragon Palace’s loyalty, the four nations commanded them to dispatch at least one Son of Dragon or Daughter of Dragon to attend every Four Seas Summit and express their submission and loyalty to the human race. The golden-robed man had called himself a crown prince, so it was extremely likely that he was one of the Sons of Dragon who would soon be attending the Four Seas Summit.

However, Ye Qing refuted his own guess immediately after voicing it. “Wait, that can’t be right. There is still a couple months before the Four Seas Summit officially begins. It doesn’t make sense for them to dispatch an embassy so soon. Even if they did, they wouldn’t be sneaking about in secret.”

“We can just follow them to find out the truth,” Feng Qingyou suggested.

“That’s true.” Ye Qing nodded. He then took control of the Wave Breaking Golden Carp Boat and did just that.

Long Ao and the Blood Sovereign were Disaster-class Strangers. Extremely powerful ones, too. However, Ye Qing and Feng Qingyou were confident in their own strength and did not believe they would not be discovered.

Besides that, it so happened that Long Ao and the Blood Sovereign were traveling in the direction of White Fish Island. He had no choice but to follow them if only to check if their presence would impact his plan.

“They really are headed to White Fish Island.”

A moment later, Ye Qing and Feng Qingyou arrived at an island. It was shaped like a fish, and its rocks and hills were all white in color—hence the name. It was none other than White Fish Island.

Something was different about the island though. Besides the usual greeneries, there were a bunch of tall, luxurious halls on the island as well. Its surroundings were also covered in all sorts of restrictions that were concealed within a thick, anomalous fog. Countless shrimp soldiers and crab generals could be seen patrolling inside it.

Standing at the bow of the Wave Breaking Golden Carp Boat and examining White Fish Island from afar, Ye Qing muttered to himself, “Looks like this Long Ao is plotting something big!”

Although White Fish Island was uninhabited, it was still fairly close to Four Seas. That was why few intelligent Strangers would choose to linger in the area and risk being discovered by humanity’s champions.

However, Long Ao hadn’t just occupied White Fish Island, he had practically renovated the place into a base of sorts. It was clear that he was plotting something big; something most likely concerning the Four Seas.

He didn’t have proof, but his gut was telling him that his guess was correct.

After Long Ao and the Blood Sovereign stepped inside a palace, Ye Qing put away the Wave Breaking Golden Carp Boat and boarded White Fish Island with Feng Qingyou. They ran straight toward the palace.

The duo hadn’t bothered concealing themselves, and yet the patrolling soldiers and generals could not seem to see them at all. Ye Qing and Feng Qingyou were passing through right before their eyes, and they did not react almost as if they were blind to their existence.

There were three other Strangers inside the palace besides the Blood Sovereign. They were an ink black toad the size of a hill, a shark-headed man with rows and rows of sharp, pointy teeth, and a gorgeous woman with a human upper body but a fish’s tail.

All three Strangers shared the same ominous presence as Long Ao and the Blood Sovereign. It was clear they were all Disaster-class Strangers.

The ink black toad greeted the Blood Sovereign smilingly, “I was wondering who the third crown prince was fetching. It was you, Blood Sovereign?”

The ink black toad was huge, but its voice was as crisp and youthful like a child’s.

“Long time no see, Blood Sovereign.”

The shark-headed Stranger also cracked a toothy grin in greeting.

“Ink Toad King, Shark General, Madam Mer. I wasn’t expecting to see you all,” The Blood Sovereign responded while sweeping a puzzled glance across the group.

“We are here because His Highness invited us,” the mermaid woman said softly. Her reply was short, but it sounded like the most wonderful melody in the world, intoxicating and sweet.

“What for?” The Blood Sovereign pressed.

“He didn’t say yet. He left to fetch you, didn’t he?” Ink Toad King replied.

“Why on earth have you brought us together, Long Ao?” The Blood Sovereign turned to look at Long Ao.

“Patience, my friends. Please, take a seat.”

Long Ao gestured, and his companions complied. Then, he clapped his hands and summoned many clam women into the palace. They were carrying all sorts of delicious drinks and food.

“Hmm? A fresh human heart! I love it!”

Shark General’s eyes lit up when he saw the fresh, still beating human heart. He grabbed it without hesitation and tossed it into his mouth, chewing vigorously.

“I know you love human hearts—especially a warrior’s heart, Shark General. That is why I prepared it.”

Long Ao beamed. “Blood Sovereign, the wine jar in front of you bears the heart’s blood of many human children. Why don’t you give it a taste?”

“You didn’t lie to me. It really is the fresh blood of children. Very good.”

Blood Sovereign grabbed the wine jar and shoved it into his body. He then let out an intoxicated sigh, “Delicious. How have I longed for this taste.”

Long Ao looked at Ink Toad King and Madam Mer next. “Toad King, Madam Mer, I heard that the two of you enjoy human delicacies and wine, which is why I’ve prepared them today. Please, enjoy them and tell me if they are up to your standards.”

“Thank you for your hospitality, Your Highness.”

Ink Toad King and Madam Mer thanked Long Ao before consuming their food and drinks.

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