Stranger Danger

There was a moment of silence. Then, Ink Toad King asked, “If we reject your invitation, what will happen to us?”

“Hahahaha…” Long Ao laughed. “I told you already. The aquatic races of the Four Seas are one big family. If you turn down my invitation, then so be it. I would not force you to join us.”

“That said, you have learned of our greatest secret. To ensure that the news isn’t leaked to the humans, I would need you to stay here for some time. Once our plan has succeeded, I will release you as a matter of course.”

“Are you saying you would imprison us, third crown prince?” Shark General’s gaze immediately turned unfriendly. He wasn’t even addressing him as ‘Your Highness’ anymore.

“No, no. You will be guests, not prisoners.” Long Ao smiled.

“I think—” Shark General wanted to say more, but a draconic roar suddenly erupted from somewhere. It shook him and turned his blood into ice in an instant.

Ink Toad King, Madam Mer and the Blood Sovereign had stiffened as well. They were experiencing the exact same sense of crisis as Shark General.

“These palaces are a Strange Artifact?!”

Outside the palace, Ye Qing and Feng Qingyou had heard the draconic roar as well. But unlike Shark General and his fellow Strangers who only sensed the danger but did not know where it was coming from, Ye Qing and Feng Qingyou saw clearly that the earthly qi in and around the palaces had joined into the massive silhouette of a five-clawed divine dragon. Its body was long enough to circle around the entire White Fish Island and envelop the whole place in its oppressive aura. It was also looking down on White Fish Island like it would swallow it whole at any moment.

“Do you think they would dare to say no?” Feng Qingyou countered.

“Fair!” Ye Qing shrugged. Long Ao had executed the carrot and the stick tactic perfectly. If he was in the Strangers’ position, he would have said yes as well.

“I don’t need to tell you this, but this must remain an absolute secret. We won’t allow room for any unfortunate errors to happen either.”

Back inside the palace, Long Ao swept his gaze across the Blood Sovereign, Ink Toad King, Shark General and Madam Mer. He smiled. “You understand what I’m trying to say, right?”

A moment of silence later, the Blood Sovereign spoke up, “I’m fine with anything so long as I am supplied with an ample amount of fresh human blood.”

“Hahahaha! When we massacre the Four Seas, you will have an entire city of humans to feast upon!”

Long Ao guffawed. “And when we defeat the human race and restore the aquatic races of the four seas to their rightful positions, you may eat whoever you want and do whatever you want!”

“I’m of the same mind as the Blood Sovereign. Give me prey, and I’m fine with whatever.” Shark General voiced his agreement next.

“What about you two?” Long Ao turned to look at Ink Toad King and Madam Mer next.

Ink Toad King and Madam Mer exchanged glances with each other. Then, they saluted Long Ao and declared, “Assuming that this operation is successful, the aquatic races of the four seas will benefit for countless generations to come. We see no reason not to offer our full support.”

“You are all highly principled Strangers[1]. This crown prince is honored to be in your presence.”

Long Ao rose to his feet. “On behalf of the Four Seas Dragon Palace, I welcome you all to our fold. Let us toast to this joyous occasion!”

“Thank you, Your Highness.” The Blood Sovereign, Ink Toad King and other Strangers raised their wine cups and drained its contents in one gulp.

“If I dare ask, how is the Four Seas Dragon Palace planning to massacre the Four Seas?”

After the Strangers took their seats once more, Madam Mer asked, “When it is the day of the Four Seas Summit, the humans’ champions and geniuses will be gathered in one place. On top of that, the Four Seas is protected by a great array. Forgive my shortsightedness, but it does not seem easy to massacre the Four Seas or slaughter their geniuses to the last.”

“I understand your concern. My Four Seas Dragon Palace has prepared amply for this operation as a matter of course.”

Long Ao explained, “When the Four Seas Summit begins, our envoy will enter the Four Seas with our ultimate treasure. He would activate it at the right time and cause the Four Seas’ great array to malfunction and suppress the humans’ strength. It would be child’s play to massacre them then.”

Shark General licked his bloody teeth and chuckled voraciously. “Hahaha… What a wonderful plan. I’m starting to look forward to this.”

“Don’t worry. If everything goes as planned, my Four Seas Dragon Palace will reward you amply for your services.” Long Ao grinned. “But before that, there is one thing I need your help with.”

“What is this matter? Tell us, and it shall be done!” Ink Toad King replied.

“It’s nothing big. As I told you, my Four Seas Dragon Palace is currently contacting all factions and powerful Strangers of the four seas, and I am the overseer of this sea region.”

Long Ao began, “Unfortunately, due to my long stay in the Dragon Palace, I am not familiar with this particular sea region. Due to the time constraints, I require your aid to contact the factions and powerful Strangers of this sea region and invite them over.”

“Three days later, I plan to hold a summit on White Fish Island and invite them all to join my Four Seas Dragon Palace. We will all toil for this glorious undertaking together.”

Ink Toad King, Shark General and Madam Mer replied without hesitation, “That’s easy. It shall be done.”

“What do we do if some refuse to attend?” Blood Sovereign asked.

“The fate of the Four Seas Dragon Palace and all aquatic races of the four seas are on the line here. There is no room for any error or mishaps.”

Long Ao declared coldly, “If such fateless dissenters truly exist, then they might as well cease to exist. Don’t you agree?”

“Hahaha… I completely agree! Just leave it to us!” Shark General barked out in laughter.

“Simple and brutal. Just the way I like it.” The Blood Sovereign cackled.

Ink Toad King and Madam Mer were chuckling in agreement as well.

“I’ll leave it to you all then.”

Long Ao raised his wine cup and rose to his feet again. “Another toast to our eventual success, people. Glory to the aquatic races of the four seas!”

“Glory to the aquatic races of the four seas!” The other four Strangers raised their wine cups and echoed as well.

After that, clinks of glasses and string instruments filled the air. From time to time, laughter would burst out of the palace as well, painting a joyful and harmonious picture.

“Tsk tsk… the aquatic races of the four seas are one big family, he says.”

Outside the palace, Ye Qing let out a cold chuckle. “What a beautiful relationship. I almost shed a tear!”

“So? What are your thoughts?” Feng Qingyou asked.

“Let’s leave this place first,” Ye Qing replied.

Feng Qingyou nodded, and the duo took their leave. No one noticed anything from the start until the end.

On the sea far, far away from White Fish Island, Ye Qing and Feng Qingyou were riding the waves on the Wave Breaking Golden Carp Boat. While watching the glittering blue waters, Feng Qingyou asked, “Are we leaving just like that? Don’t you think we should do something?”

“Of course we do,” Ye Qing replied matter-of-factly. Millions of innocent lives and the peace of the entire human race was at stake here. Of course he couldn’t pretend that he had seen and heard nothing.

“What do you want to do? Do you want to kill them right now, or do you want to inform the higher-ups of the four nations so that they can end this plan before it ever begins?” Feng Qingyou asked.

“Kill them? No way! That would be such a waste!”

Ye Qing rubbed his nose with a devilish smile on his lips. “I have a better idea, one that can kill three birds with one stone.”

“Oh? Tell me,” Feng Qingyou prodded.

Ye Qing summed it up in three idioms, “First, we lend a dirty worker a knife[2]. Then, we divert the calamity to the east[3]. Finally, the fisherman takes it all[4].”

“First, we lend a dirty worker a knife. Then, we divert the calamity to the east. Finally, the fisherman takes all.”

Feng Qingyou’s eyes grew brighter and brighter as she repeated his words. “It does sound like a good idea. However, it won’t be easy to execute.”

“It is all a matter of effort.”

Ye Qing smirked. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If we miss it, I don’t know about you, but it will haunt me for the rest of my life.”

“Besides, if we execute it properly, then we can settle our problems once and for all.”

Yes… if everything went exactly as planned, then he would be able to kill Fang Muyun, slay Chu Wangsun, expose the Four Seas Dragon Palace’s conspiracy, and rescue the innocent civilians of the Four Seas from calamity all at the same time.

1. Note that being a highly principled Stranger is completely different from being a highly principled human. ☜

2. Making someone do your dirty work for you. ☜

3. Making someone bear the consequences for you. ☜

4. You don’t need me to explain this, right? ☜

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