The Endless Promise

49. Memories Of Caoyang 1

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'She IS a Snake!'

"Bailong da ge!" I was wondering why you risked going out! Why bother saving such a foolish thing?!" The lady asked with a flirty pout.

"Don't be so petty! We can afford to accommodate some human foolishness." Yin Xiaolong said. "Xiao Hei got riled up and attacked her, even though she had not reached the center. She was lucky to cross into our end."

"But if she riled up Lord Heifeng, doesn't that mean there's something suspicious about her?!"

"That remains to be seen." Yin Xiaolong replied dismissively.

'I'm right here.' Weiyan thought, a mild annoyance rising as they discussed as though she were no longer present.

The Snake woman waved a hand and a portal appeared, revealing the most beautiful place Weiyan had seen so far.

'The Heart of Caoyang!' She stared in awe.

Before her was a large palace which had been designed to look like the bottom of the sea.

The silver front gates of the palace were shaped like a large shell, which split in two and slid apart as they approached it.

As she followed Yin Xiaolong and the snake, Weiyan's eyes couldn't see fast enough.

All the gardens had ponds with various types of fishes, and a few plants and grasses had been transformed to resemble underwater plants, corals and seaweed, swaying slowly in the sunlight.

The garden pagodas had underwater vines crawling up and around their pillars, and amidst the grasses, shells and pearls could be seen peeking through.

Anyone who didn't know the origin of Caoyang may actually believe it had risen out of the sea.

Servants passed them as they walked, casting Weiyan surprised, accusing, or downright hateful looks. A few looked like plainer versions of the Snake woman, a few looked regular, and a few were merpeople.

It was Weiyan's first time seeing so many Immortals, and she stared boldly at them.

The human books stated that Merpeople couldn't fully transform till they were High Immortals, so Weiyan could identify them easily because they had scales and frill-like ears. As for the snakes, she identified them because they had slanted snake eyes, and were similar to the Snake woman.

But she wondered what creatures the regular looking servants were.

"Welcome back, Master Bailong!" The servants chorused wherever they went, and there was one in particular which popped up from place to place, trying to entice Bailong with a tray of tea.

"Master Bailong, I made your favourite -!"

But Bailong always moved ahead too fast!

As they entered the Palace itself, Weiyan turned her attention to the walls...

The outer walls were a light aquamarine blue, and with the constant flow of magic, the inner walls were made to display underwater scenes, complete with illusory sea creatures, plants and bubbles, all swimming and moving about.

They stopped somewhere within the Palace, at a large courtyard, and at its center was a breathtaking gigantic jade statue of two intertwined dragons.

A few servants lined up before Yin Xiaolong.

"Welcome back, Master Bailong!" They chorused and bowed.

That same servant with the tea appeared yet again!

"Master Bailong!" *pant pant* "I- I made your favourite tea!"

"Aiya, Li Rui!" Bailong shook his head, and walked over to the tea tray. "If I don't drink it, will you follow me even in my dreams?!" He poured himself a cup and drank it, earning him a wide smile from the extremely pleased servant.