Chapter 67 The Past of the Azure Dragon (Part 2)
Therefore, when Qinglong suddenly saw Luo Cangzhou's painting in an unfamiliar place, he was extremely shocked.
What happened next shocked him even more.
The door creaked open and a woman walked in.
"You woke up so quickly?" she asked with a gentle, serene smile.
Qinglong was stunned when he saw her face. He wasn't struck by the woman's beauty, but because she looked exactly like the woman in the painting. Even her clothes were the same—a flowing blue and white dress, ethereal and beautiful beyond compare.
The only difference is that her temperament is more refined and kind than the delicate and gentle beauty in the painting.
"You...you are..." It took Qinglong a long time to come to his senses.
The woman smiled and said, "Your father really has always hated me and refused to tell you about my existence." She placed a bowl of medicine on the table and gently beckoned to him with a smile, "Come and drink your medicine first, and I'll tell you slowly."
Qinglong walked over, quietly drank the medicine, and stared at her without moving, listening to her tell her story.
“My name is Qingwu, meaning green from the mountains and parasol tree from the phoenix tree. I am also your mother.”
Even though he had already guessed it, Qinglong was still somewhat excited to hear her say it so directly and to see her sitting alive and well in front of him.
Qingwu continued, “I am not an ordinary person, but a member of the Azure Dragon Clan, the guardian beast of the Eastern Heavenly Palace. About a hundred years ago, I was chasing a Kui Niu and was seriously injured. I transformed back into my dragon form in the mortal realm. I was spotted by Luo Cangzhou... who is your father. He took me back as a demon beast and even shouted that he would skin me alive and make me into a useful weapon. I used the last bit of my divine power to transform into human form. He did not expect that I was a woman, so he agreed to release me and even healed my wounds.”
"You should know that your father was fond of composing poems, playing music, and painting. We shared similar interests and spent a few months together, which led to our relationship and the birth of you. But I never told him that I was a guardian beast of the realm and would eventually return to the Heavenly Realm. I originally planned to tell him the truth and say goodbye after you were born. However, on the day of my delivery, he had to go out, and the Heavenly Emperor sent a divine general to capture me. After you were born, I had no choice but to leave the Qiankun Qingguang Ring to protect you and let Luo Cangzhou know who you were. For nearly several decades afterward, I was imprisoned by the Heavenly Emperor and had no way to come out and find you."
After Qingwu finished recounting the past, he looked at Qinglong and exclaimed, "I didn't expect you to be so big! You've grown even faster than the little dragons in our dragon clan."
Dragons are divine beasts, immortal, but they also grow relatively slowly; often, ten years of their growth may only equal the growth of a mortal in one year. Although the Azure Dragon has half dragon blood, when he was born, Qingwu used half of the divine power in the Qiankun Azure Light Ring to suppress his bloodline, making him no different from a mortal.
Qinglong stared blankly at her, unsure what to say. So many years had passed since his father's death; he had long since lost all thought of his mother, and never imagined that she was no ordinary person…
Qingwu carefully examined Qinglong: "You do look quite like your father, but he has a natural air of roguish charm in his eyes, while you look much more upright than him. Child, tell me, what name did your father give you?"
She left so suddenly back then, so for so many years, not only did Qinglong not know his mother's name, but his mother also didn't know his name.
Qinglong was silent for a while before finally saying, "My name is Qinglong."
"Azure Dragon?" Qingwu was surprised, then laughed. "I didn't expect him to actually use that name for you. I am originally from the Azure Dragon clan, and your father became the Azure Dragon Saint Envoy in the Ghost King Sect. When you were born, I joked with him that he had a connection with the name Azure Dragon, and suggested that the child be named Azure Dragon. He thought the name was too common and not elegant enough. In the end, he still used it... By the way, how is your father?"
Qinglong said softly, "He... has been dead for many years!"
Qingwu was slightly startled, but her emotions didn't fluctuate too much. However, there was still a hint of sadness in her voice: "I should have expected it. I could sense his presence before, but then I couldn't sense it anymore... He must have hated me when he left, right?"
Qinglong didn't know how to answer; his feelings were complicated. When he was younger, he had been bothered by the question of whether he had a mother or not, but now, he no longer cared. However, hearing Qingwu say that she hadn't intentionally abandoned him and his father, a faint joy still welled up in his heart.
Seemingly sensing Qinglong's unease, Qingwu added, "Although your father appears to be a womanizer, he is a man of deep feeling. If he hates me, I can understand."
Qinglong remained silent for a moment, not wanting to mention his father any further, then looked out the window and asked, "Where is this?"
Qingwu said, "This is the Jade Palace of Kunlun Mountain, which was also my place of cultivation. The Heavenly Emperor was willing to let me out this time because he gave me a mission. On the way, I sensed something unusual about the Qiankun Qingguang Ring, which is why I was able to save you. You are badly injured. The spiritual energy here is abundant, so you can rest and recuperate here in peace."
Qinglong stammered, "Thank you."
Even knowing she was his mother, Qinglong couldn't bring himself to call her "Mother." After all, she looked incredibly young, at most about the same age as Youji. Although he was a generation younger than Youji, he always addressed her by her given name.
Qingwu didn't mind too much. After all, she had been gone for many years and hadn't fulfilled her duty as a mother. She just told him to rest well and then left.
After Qinglong had lived in Kunlun Mountain for almost half a year and his injuries had almost healed, he bid farewell to Qingwu.
Qingwu urged him to stay, saying, "Although your injuries have healed, your cultivation has not yet recovered. Why not stay here and focus on your cultivation?"
Qinglong shook his head and said, "I am the Holy Envoy of the Ghost King Sect. My sect has been besieged, and I am afraid that the sect leader is in danger, so I must go back to check on him."
Qingwu said, "You don't need to go back. The Ghost King Sect has already been destroyed."
Qinglong was startled: "How did you know?"
“When I rescued you, you were unconscious for more than half a month before you woke up. If it weren’t for the protection of the Qiankun Qingguang Ring, you would probably have had a slim chance of survival. During that time, I went out to investigate the situation in the human world. The Ghost King had been killed by Zhang Xiaofan of the Qingyun Sect, and the rest of them had disappeared without a trace. The sect was like a pile of loose sand, so it would be no use for you to go back.”
Upon hearing that Zhang Xiaofan had killed the Ghost King, Qinglong felt a surge of anger. The Ghost King had carefully cultivated and supported Gui Li for many years because of Biyao, but he never expected that he would be betrayed by this person in the end.
Qinglong said, "Since my disciples are scattered, as a holy envoy, I should go back and find the surviving disciples to revitalize the Ghost King Sect."
Seeing that he still insisted on leaving, Qingwu had no choice but to say, "If you really want to leave, I won't stop you. But I have one condition: you must promise me before you leave."
"What are the conditions?"
“I came here for the Qiankun Qingguang Ring. You have half dragon blood in you, which has been suppressed by the power of this artifact, making you no different from an ordinary person. If I take away the Qiankun Qingguang Ring, your current mortal body will find it difficult to withstand the awakening of the dragon bloodline power, and you may very well explode and die.”
Azure Dragon's face instantly turned ugly, and he said coldly, "So, you saved me, but actually it was for the Qiankun Azure Light Ring?"
His disappointment was palpable. For the past six months, Qingwu had taken meticulous care of him. Although he refused to call her "Mother," they were bound by blood, and he still regarded her as his own family. That's why he lingered in Kunlun Mountain day after day, reluctant to leave.
In reality, she approached him not out of familial affection, but for ulterior motives.
Qingwu said, "This is a task given to me by the Heavenly Emperor. If I hadn't agreed, I wouldn't have had a chance to come out and find you. Qinglong, I know you still resent me to some extent, and I don't expect your understanding or forgiveness. But the Heavenly Emperor must retrieve the divine artifact. If he sends someone else, he might just take it without caring about your life or death. After thinking it over, the only way is for you to slowly cultivate your dragon body. Only then, when I take away all the power of the divine artifact, will you be safe and sound."
The Azure Dragon was silent for a moment, then asked, "How long will it take to cultivate a dragon body?"
"It could take anywhere from ten to a hundred years. I can't say for sure; it depends on each person's comprehension. However, if you stay on Kunlun Mountain, it will help you cultivate faster."
Qinglong said, "So, in the end, you just want me to stay?"
Qingwu nodded: "This is the only, best, and fastest way."
Azure Dragon asked, "If you fail to retrieve the Azure Light Ring of Heaven and Earth, will the Heavenly Emperor punish you?"
Qingwu was slightly taken aback, not expecting him to ask this. She smiled faintly and said, "It's not a punishment, but I'm afraid it will be even more difficult for me to see you again in the future."
Her tone was tinged with sadness, and Qinglong's heart softened, so he could only nod in agreement.
After that, Qinglong cultivated in Kunlun Mountain for twelve years before he finally managed to cultivate a dragon body. However, he still could not control the power in his body that originated from the bloodline of the dragon race. He had to rely on the Qiankun Qingguang Ring to fully control it.
Located west of the Central Plains, the Kunlun Mountains rise majestically into the clouds, their peaks perpetually covered in snow. The Jade Palace is situated in Yinyue Valley, halfway up the Kunlun Mountains, a valley with a mild climate year-round. Qingwu, who loves flowers, planted many exotic and rare plants in the Jade Palace, ensuring a profusion of blossoms in every season.
On this day, the sky was filled with drifting clouds, and the peach blossoms in the mountains were in full bloom, as beautiful as brocade. A faint fragrance of peach blossoms wafted in the gentle breeze. Qinglong was returning to the main hall of the Jade Palace from the hot spring pool behind the mountain when he saw Qingwu standing tall on the steps, her white dress swaying slightly in the wind, her fairy-like figure ethereal and otherworldly.
Qinglong walked up the steps, puzzled, and asked, "Were you waiting for me?"
Qingwu smiled and said, "That's right, I'll wait for you to come back so I can say goodbye."
Qinglong asked in surprise, "You're leaving?"
His eyes darkened: "Is it the Heavenly Emperor who wants you to take back the Qiankun Azure Light Ring as soon as possible?"
Qingwu shook his head: "No. It's just that something happened in the Heavenly Realm that I have to go back to handle. After I leave, you can choose whether to stay or leave."
"What about the Qiankun Azure Light Ring?"
"I'll leave it to you; it will help you continue to suppress the power within you. But you still need to continue cultivating your dragon body as I taught you until you can fully control the dragon's divine power. When I get back, I'll try to persuade the Heavenly Emperor to give you some more time, but it might not be me who comes to take the artifact after that."
Qinglong's brows furrowed, and he said, "What do you mean by that? You're not coming back?"
Qingwu sighed, then stepped forward and gently stroked his face, smiling as she said, "Qinglong, I'm already very content to have been able to stay with you for over ten years, making up for the debt of raising you that I owe you. I'm not sure if I can come back after this. Please forgive me for causing you so much trouble, and I hope you won't hate me."
Qinglong tilted his head slightly, his eyes darting around, and whispered, "I...I don't hate you..."
Qingwu smiled and said, "You are a good child. Your father raised you very well. In this life, it was ultimately I who let him down."
Qinglong looked at her and stammered, "My father... he has always missed you. After you left, he never remarried and waited for you to come back. I think... if my father knew your hardships, he wouldn't hate you."
Qingwu smiled and said, "It seems that over the years, you have accepted that I am your mother?"
Qinglong remained silent. But Qingwu, having spent so many years with him, understood his personality to some extent. When he couldn't say something, he would silently lower his head and look away.
Qingwu said again, "Qinglong, I'm leaving now. Before you go, are you really unwilling to call me 'Mother'?"
"I..." Qinglong hesitated for a long time before finally saying, "As long as you come back, I will acknowledge you."
Qingwu laughed: "Your father is so smooth-talking, he knows how to sweet-talk people. How come you're so clumsy with words?"
Qinglong didn't answer. It wasn't that he was bad at talking; it was just that he often didn't know what to say in front of Qingwu.
Qingwu gently brushed a strand of hair from his forehead and said softly, "I will come back and hear you call me 'Mother.' You must also promise me that you will take good care of yourself and continue your cultivation. If you encounter people from the Heavenly Realm later, and you still haven't fully cultivated your dragon body, don't get into conflict with them; try to stall for time. I will use all my abilities to ensure your safety."
Qinglong felt that the more she spoke, the more it seemed like she wouldn't be coming back, and he became increasingly flustered. He opened his mouth again and again, but he couldn't bring himself to call out "Mother".
Qingwu turned around with a smile, her figure soaring into the sky like a crane, gradually disappearing from sight.
Qinglong stood there stunned for a long time, his eyes welling up with tears, and he murmured, "Mother..."
Unfortunately, Qingwu had already gone far away and couldn't hear it anymore.
Qinglong decided to leave Kunlun and return to Fox Ridge Mountain to see how the righteous and demonic factions in the human world were faring. However, he encountered many people on their way from Fox Ridge Mountain to the Northwest Holy Sect headquarters, so he changed his plans and decided to go to the headquarters first.
Upon hearing this, Qin Wuyan couldn't help but interject: "The people who went to the main altar three years ago were people I sent. I also instructed them to report to me if they saw my elder brother. Why haven't I received any news about my elder brother?"
Qinglong said, "Because those who went to the main altar were either controlled or had their souls sucked away. The living have long forgotten who they are, so how could they remember your mission?"
Qin Wuyan was shocked: "If that's really the case, then who has been sending me messages from the main altar all these years?"
Qinglong said, "I suspect he's the mastermind behind controlling the disciples at the main altar. Since he can control those disciples and absorb their souls, he can naturally impersonate someone from the Tianli Divine Sect to send you false information, making you believe that nothing has happened at the main altar. I investigated over there with Zhou Yixian for a long time and was almost making some progress, but unfortunately, we were thwarted by people sent by the Qingyun Sect. Two months ago, I was going back to Fox Ridge Mountain to find you, but I unfortunately ran into this guy again."
He glanced at the woman in red sitting opposite him, his eyes filled with disgust.
The woman in red shouted angrily, "You're unlucky? Meeting you is the worst luck I've ever had! Not only am I unlucky, but my aunt and our entire dragon clan are all incredibly unlucky because of you."
Seeing that the two were about to start arguing again, Biyao hurriedly said, "Hey, can you two stop arguing for a moment? The most important thing is to finish talking about the important matter first. Brother Qinglong, what happened to you later? Were you also controlled by someone?"
Qinglong nodded: "That's right. When I arrived near the Valley of Poisonous Snakes, I sensed an extremely strange aura, so I went in to investigate. Deep in the valley, there were piles of white bones. I encountered two men in black there and fought with them. One of them was even using the Azure Cloud Sword Technique. I thought this must be related to the Azure Cloud Sect. Later, I heard that Wuyan had sent people to attack the Azure Cloud Sect, so I rushed there. But I never expected to encounter one of those two men in black again on the way. He used some kind of magic on me, and I fainted. When I woke up, I saw you."
"A man in black?" Biyao suddenly remembered and exclaimed, "Isn't one of them someone with red eyes?"
Qinglong nodded and said, "That's right. There's one with blood-red eyes who seems to have cultivated our Holy Sect's Azure Scale Technique. I guess the one who's absorbing souls must be this person. He's suffering from the backlash of the Azure Scale Technique and has to eat human souls to alleviate his pain. But the one controlling me is another man in black."
Qin Wuyan frowned in deep thought: "So, these two are in cahoots. Three years ago, they failed to absorb Biyao's soul, so they went to the main altar instead."
Qinglong asked, puzzled, "Why would they target Biyao?"
The girl in red couldn't help but interject, "You're so stupid! She has divine power! And it's the wood element divine power that can bring the dead back to life. As long as you can absorb her divine power, forget about the backlash. Even if someone dies, as long as there's a trace of their soul left, she can bring them back to life."
The people in the room finally all looked at her. Qin Wuyan said, "Do you know who's behind this?"
The woman in red said, "Of course I know! But if you want me to say it... you have to get this dead frog to apologize to me first. Locking me in the Qiankun Ring was an utter disgrace. I won't say anything until he apologizes."
Everyone understood that the "dead frog" she was referring to was Qinglong.
Biyao suppressed a laugh: "Brother Qinglong... I'm really curious, what exactly is going on between you two?"
Qinglong's face turned green with anger. He glanced at Biyao sideways, but still said in a good tone, "It's nothing. She just tried to steal my Qiankun Qingguang Ring, and then I locked her up."
Qin Wuyan said, "So, this young lady is from the Heavenly Realm?"
Qinglong nodded: "She is my mother's niece, named Qinglan. According to her, she is the new guardian beast of the Eastern Heavenly Palace. She has come to the mortal realm to retrieve the Qiankun Qingguang Ring."
Biyao was shocked: "Niece? Then...then you...you're cousins?"
Qinglan corrected, "They're cousins... I'm hundreds of years older than him!"
Qinglong glared at her: "I have no relatives."
Qinglan jumped up and said angrily, "Hey! You can deny that I'm your cousin, but my aunt defied the Heavenly Emperor's order to stay with you and teach you cultivation in the mortal realm for more than ten years so that you could live. She even asked to be demoted and stripped of her divine power for your sake. And yet you say you have no relatives. Do you have any conscience?"
Upon hearing about Qingwu, Qinglong fell silent and said nothing more.
Biyao had also had a falling out with the Ghost King, so she could understand Qinglong's awkwardness. She smiled sweetly at Qinglan and said, "Sister Qinglan, my brother Qinglong is just being stubborn. Don't worry about what he says. I want to know, why did you know I had the power of the Wood element the moment you saw me?"
Seeing that Biyao was very friendly to her and even took the initiative to call her "sister," Qinglan was in a great mood and moved closer to Biyao: "I am a deity, and deities can sense divine power and immortal energy. Moreover, I also know that your current body is not a mortal body, but a divine tree transformed."
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