Dragon Tamer

Chapter 127 - 128 Zhu Gate Mourning

Zhu Gate stood by Droplet Lake, and within it, one of the cities, Droplet City, was spread around this serene lake.

With willows gently swaying and scenery pleasing to the eye, Droplet City was always known for its most comfortable climate. Some wealthy merchants were even willing to spend their fortunes to purchase a residence near Droplet Lake, just to bask in the Spirit Realm of the lake and enjoy the tranquility amidst the bustling opulence of the Imperial City.

Following the long main street of Droplet Lake to its very end, one would find Zhu Gate, occupying the most scenic half of the lake’s island mountains.

The first half of Zhu Gate’s entrance seemed to be situated right in the bustle of the city, while the second half completely entered the island mountains in the lake. Towering and magnificent pavilions and terraces appeared now and then among the tall weeping willows, silent and refined.

But now, with the continuous echoing sound of the suona, resembling the incessant crying of crows at the front of Zhu Gate’s entrance, when Zhu Minglang stepped into the gate, what he saw were one startling white lantern after another…

Some exotic beast carriages were parked in the spacious entrance area, while groups of high officials and nobles were stepping into Zhu Gate. Standing at the front of Zhu Gate’s entrance were a couple, somewhat gray-haired.

Their faces were somber as they numbly observed the etiquette of speaking with the incoming guests.

Their eyes were hollow, as if their souls were not in their bodies.

The visitors coming to mourn were endless, with white sail-like banners and dark black writing, accompanied by the mournful sounds of the suona…

Clearly, they were conducting a funeral!

Whose funeral??

Zhu Minglang’s steps quickened involuntarily.

He walked toward the gate, his gaze fixed on the gray-haired couple.

At first, the couple did not notice Zhu Minglang, but after they made out the features of this young man, the pair of hollow eyes finally began to shimmer with light!

“Uncle, Aunt…” Zhu Minglang looked at them, feeling suddenly as if he had a fishbone in his throat, and found himself unable to speak.

“Minglang?” The couple doubted their eyes, confirming again and again.

Finally, both the husband and wife ran down from the high steps, as if only by touching Zhu Minglang could they confirm he was alive!

“Uncle, Aunt, whose funeral are you holding??” Zhu Minglang asked.

By now, Zhu Minglang already had a very bad feeling.

His Uncle Zhu Yushan and Aunt Bai Xin were childless, and they always treated him as if he were their own child.

Late in their years, when they were nearly forty, Zhu Yushan and Bai Xin decided to adopt an orphan who had sought refuge at Zhu Gate, named Zhu Tong.

Zhu Tong was sensible and well-behaved since childhood. Although his talents were not exceptional, he had always been grateful to Zhu Yushan and Bai Xin and held great respect for Zhu Minglang, this older cousin of his…

Seeing those white lanterns one by one, and then reading the characters on the white banners, Zhu Minglang already felt something was wrong.

“You’re back, you’re back.”

Zhu Yushan’s face showed wrinkles, clearly out of grief, yet lit up with excitement upon seeing Zhu Minglang.

Bai Xin felt the same, as if seeing their child who had been traveling afar finally returning home, holding Zhu Minglang’s arm without wanting to let go.

“Uncle, Aunt, where is Zhu Tong?” Zhu Minglang asked once more.

Just then, a man riding a crag rock horned dragon appeared. He had a half-grown beard and held a fan decorated with jade ornaments in his hand.

By his side was a young man with pitch-black pupils and a grim expression, wearing a suit of dark black clothes.

“Brother Yushan, Brother Yushan, it’s all my fault,” said the man with the half-grown beard, looking as if torn by remorse. “My unworthy son has always raised some fierce and evil dragons. Most importantly, he truly did not know that the yellow-haired kid was your foster son, Brother Yushan. For this, I’ve specifically ordered my son to come and apologize with thorns, hoping Brother Yushan, whatever you do, will not pity the past. However you wish to deal with it, I will comply!”

Zhu Yushan and Bai Xin looked over to find that the young man in dark clothes indeed had a bundle of thorns on his back, the thorns piercing his skin…

But what was the point of such an apology with thorns?

He wounded only his skin, which could be treated with healing ointment later, while Zhu Tong would sleep forever in a cold wooden coffin!

“Steel your heart, steel your heart. Each big competition will inevitably lead to some fatalities. Brother Yushan, please do not let this incident harm the harmony between Zhu Gate and the Purple Sect Clan,” said a lady in Imperial Clan attire.

“Indeed, sparring and competing often cause harm to the innocent. Especially when two disciples insist on determining a victor. Brother Yushan, if there’s any hardship, feel free to talk to us of the Purple Sect Clan. We of the Purple Sect Clan indeed bear the initial fault,” the middle-aged man with the half-grown beard said.

“Inferior in skill, life and death are also a matter of fate. Elders, I know I should not have been heavy-handed, but sometimes, even a Dragon Shepherd can’t fully control the beastliness of the Dragon Beasts. If after every victory I have to apologize with thorns like this, I might as well take my own life as an apology right now, and all the great sect woods and family doors should stop organizing any big competitions!” said the young man in black clothes, with a hint of resentment in his heart.

Just then, a figure suddenly moved through the crowd, his hand fiercely grabbing the throat of the young man in black, making the bones in his throat creak!

“I’ll do it for you, and you don’t even need to come in and kowtow!” Zhu Minglang, clasping the young man’s throat, became surrounded by countless white feathers.

These feathers, like spinning blades, circled around Zhu Minglang. With just one command from him, this murderous youth would be cut into pieces!

“Minglang, Minglang, don’t do it, you mustn’t,” cried Aunt Bai Xin, rushing over. She hurriedly grabbed Zhu Minglang’s hand, signaling him to let go.

“What kind of bullshit is this, daring to commit a crime here!” The man with half a beard exploded in rage, his palm striking toward Zhu Minglang.

In his palm emerged a huge imprint, like a gate engulfed in blazing flames.

From within the gate, an Azure Dragon enveloped in purple flames opened its mouth, lunging to bite Zhu Minglang.

Seeing this, Bai Xin urgently tried to shield Zhu Minglang, but with one hand he held her back. His eyes suddenly flashed with a crimson light, his aura surging in that instant like a demon!

“Sword Spirit Dragon.”

As the command was issued, a sword broke through the space, revealing only a grand phantom that flashed. Before anyone could react, it chopped towards the purple flame Azure Dragon.

The purple flame Azure Dragon was terrified, initially ready to lunge and devour Zhu Minglang, but now it dared not emerge from the gate, wriggling back into the Spirit Realm like an earthworm.

“Minglang, Minglang…” Bai Xin tried to persuade him again.

Meanwhile, everyone in the courtyard stared in this direction, all watching Zhu Minglang, who was clutching the young man’s throat.

“Isn’t that Zhu Minglang???”

“The son of Zhu Heavenly Officer, the formidable Sword Cultivator, Zhu Minglang?”

“Wasn’t there a rumor that he had died?”

“Zhu Minglang used to be the little tyrant of the Imperial City. He’s even chopped off the limbs of the Royal Family’s younger generation. Hao Shaocong, the Big Disciple of the Purple Sect Clan, probably has a disaster looming.”

“What disaster? Haven’t you heard that this little tyrant angered the heavens, and his skills as a Sword Cultivator were utterly destroyed, turning him into a commoner who wandered around without the face to return!”

There were not many who truly stepped up to intervene; they merely stood by to watch the drama unfold.

Were conflicts between the clans of the Sect Forest uncommon?

In the end, due to the Supreme Court Royal Family, big issues would be minimized, and small ones would be dissolved. Ultimately, it was all about who had greater power and a more substantial backing.

“Go kneel a hundred times, or I’ll slaughter you and your father together,” Zhu Minglang said sternly, giving the bastard a hard shove and throwing him to the ground.

Hao Shaocong coughed violently, his face flushed with rage. As soon as he caught his breath, he stood up and, pointing at Zhu Minglang, said, “What the hell are you, Zhu Tong’s so-called brother of justice?”

At that moment, the bearded man hurriedly pulled Hao Shaocong to his side and shot him a fierce glare, silencing him.

“Father, he tried to kill me…”

“Shut up!” Hao Yong bellowed, scaring Hao Shaocong into retreating back to the side of a lady from the Royal Family, his face pale with fear.

Taking a deep breath to compose himself, Hao Yong then put on an apologetic face, “It turns out to be the famous son of Zhu Heavenly Officer, Zhu Minglang. Indeed, my son was too aggressive in the contest and accidentally took Zhu Tong’s life. As his father, I will personally oversee him kneeling a hundred times in front of Zhu Tong’s memorial tablet.”

“Zhu Minglang?” The Royal Family lady scrutinized Zhu Minglang from head to toe, then huffed coldly, “Hmph, it’s not as it once was, yet you still behave so arrogantly. Do you think you can do whatever you please in the Imperial City just because you have Zhu Heavenly Officer and Zhu Xuehen protecting you?”

“Madame Zhao, get as far away from me as you can. Say one more word that displeases me, and I guarantee your Zhao Clan can also hold a funeral this month,” Zhu Minglang replied coldly to the Royal Family lady.

They were old acquaintances with a history of grievances, so Zhu Minglang didn’t feel the need to be polite with them.

Madame Zhao, relying on her status as a Royal Family member’s wife, was backing the Hao family’s father and son. Although Uncle Zhu Yushan and Aunt

Bai Xin had always been commoners, they were by no means to be trifled with!

Thinking they could use their Royal Family status to smooth things over? Dream on!

“You…” Madame Zhao pointed at Zhu Minglang, too furious to utter another word.

Most importantly, Madame Zhao was genuinely wary of Zhu Minglang. If he dared to chop off the limbs of the Imperial Clan, what more her family—the Zhao Clan, which was not of the Royal Family.

Zhu Minglang could commit such acts, and with Zhu Heavenly Officer around, no one dared to touch him.

“Minglang, it’s good that you’re back, it’s good that you’re back… As for Zhu

Tong, oh… go see him first. He always wanted to see you again. Over the years, Zhu Tong worked hard in his cultivation, striving to keep up with you… Ah, go talk to him,” said Bai Xin, tears falling as she spoke.

How could she not be angry or heartbroken for her adopted son?

But what could they do?

The deaths in the great clashes among the powerful always ended up being dismissed by the Royal Family as mere accidents—”a lack of skill, unavoidable..”