Dragon Tamer
Chapter 1377 - 1381: Playing the Qin on a Cold Day

Chapter 1377: Chapter 1381: Playing the Qin on a Cold Day

"No wandering here, go somewhere else," said the Kirin Demon guarding the pavilion.

Zhu Minglang gazed at the Kirin Demon, noticing something unusual about his wrist.

The arms of the Kirin Demon were claw-like, and legend had it that they were cursed by the Auspicious Holy Kirin—a Sin God destined to serve as its servant. Their half-human, half-demonic bloodline would pass down through generations, affecting children and descendants alike!

On his left wrist, the texture of Kirin scales differed noticeably from the blue and red scales covering the rest of his body, like an exquisite artwork meticulously crafted by a master artisan, except the wrist seemed devoid of color and patched with something improvised.

This reminded Zhu Minglang of those two ancient monsters beneath the sea.

"What happened to your hand?" Zhu Minglang asked.

"None of your business," said the Green and Red Kirin Demon.

"I know someone from your clan, an elder Kirin Demon who’s been searching for you everywhere. He was even willing to perish alongside the ruling power of the Southern Sea just to find you. Why have you refused to respond to him?" Zhu Minglang continued.

At this, the Green and Red Kirin Demon’s gaze shifted; he stared intently at Zhu Minglang for a long while before he finally said, "That’s none of your business either!"

"I could simply tell him you’re here, and your elder would probably storm over recklessly. I wonder who would be stronger, him or Lady Li," said Zhu Minglang.

"You wouldn’t dare!" The Green and Red Kirin Demon glared angrily at Zhu Minglang.

"That depends on how you decide to talk to me next," Zhu Minglang countered. "Honestly, how unfilial—joining the Immortal Clan, willingly guarding this pavilion rather than letting your elder know you’re safe. Do you despise your family because of the cursed bloodline?"

"What do you know?!" The Green and Red Kirin Demon roared furiously. "This curse—why should we bear it for an entire lifetime?!"

"But you’ve gained Kirin divine power, haven’t you?" Zhu Minglang retorted.

"Take this power if you want it! Every night it tears through your skin, growing sharp reverse-scales, turning you into a beast devouring raw flesh and innards. On every lunar eclipse, you must swallow your closest kin alive to ease the pain!" The Green and Red Kirin Demon became hysterical with rage.

"Calm down, calm down. Aren’t we just discussing this? So, serving here as Lady Li’s pavilion guardian, you’re trying to remove the curse and become human again, is that it?" Zhu Minglang said.

"You don’t know anything! Shut your mouth! My life doesn’t need anyone’s interference, nor do I need to explain myself to you!" The Green and Red Kirin Demon replied.

"Fine, I’ll keep your secret. I won’t inform your elder of your whereabouts, but you’ll need to tell me a few things—about this Treasure Pavilion and the Flare Print," Zhu Minglang proposed.

The Green and Red Kirin Demon hesitated before testing him with a question: "Why do you want to know about these things?"

"That’s none of your business," replied Zhu Minglang, mimicking his tone.

"What do you want to know?" The Kirin Demon finally agreed.

"The Flare Print—did Lady Li seal it with her blood?" Zhu Minglang asked.

"No," said the Green and Red Kirin Demon.

"Then whose blood was used?"

"Lady Li’s husband, Li Yin," said the Green and Red Kirin Demon.

"Who is this Li Yin?" Zhu Minglang queried.

"He was once a candidate for the Five Directions Emperor Elder and the most renowned Dragon Shepherd in last era’s Jun Tian. Later, for reasons unknown, he was killed by Patrol Heaven’s Red Sundial," the Kirin Demon revealed.

"What?!?" Zhu Minglang exclaimed in shock.

"What, you didn’t know that the rotating Sun’s Red Sundial, like me, is paying for its sins?" The Kirin Demon explained. "Li Yin had the potential to become the most formidable immortal leader of Jun Tian and was the ideal choice for the Eastern Emperor Elder. Yet, he tragically died young. If not for his early marriage to Lady Li, who rose to prominence within the Immortal Clan, the Li Celestial Clan would likely have declined and suffered immense persecution."

"I wasn’t aware of this. It does sound intriguing though—go on," said Zhu Minglang.

"Now, Lady Li rules the Li Celestial Clan, surpassing its former glory. The first thing Lady Li did upon rising was avenge her husband. She laid a trap spanning heaven and earth, capturing the Red Sundial from the blazing sky and plunging it into the Ten Thousand Cold Purgatory of the Southern Sea. She intended for it to suffer eternal torment. But the Red Sundial, being a Sword Spirit Dragon, unique in the mortal realm, found even the harshest purgatory an opportunity for refinement. Instead of perishing, it emerged stronger, birthing the Cold Jail Sword Spirit..."

"The Red Sundial grew more powerful after its rebirth. On the day it returned, it transformed the midsummer season of the rotating Solar Golden Crow into winter. Summer and winter swapped places, plunging Jun Tian into chaos. Numerous demons and Great Immortals took advantage to wreak havoc. Lady Li’s obstinate revenge nearly caused a catastrophe!"

The Kirin Demon recounted these old tales with focused intensity, as though he had lived through them himself.

"And then... then what happened?" Zhu Minglang, now deeply engrossed, asked.

Suddenly, the backstory of the Sword Spirit Dragon unfolded with layers of intrigue; its transformation into the Red Sundial was a saga of struggle and rebirth!

"Lady Li believed that once the Red Sundial emerged, it would unleash rampant destruction. However, the Red Sundial merely released its freezing cold, refraining from slaughter and even ignoring revenge against Lady Li. Lady Li’s daughter, Li Xuansang—that reminds me, you said the Heavenly Zither Fairy was your... what did you call her again?"

"Master," Zhu Minglang replied.

"Ah, you’ve aligned yourself with an excellent master. Li Xuansang, who rose to fame at a young age, had the imposing presence of Emperor Li Tian. She argued that the Red Sundial, despite its icy wrath, was inherently benevolent. Li Xuansang climbed the Cold Spine Divine Mountain alone to calm the newly emerged Red Sundial."

"Over the course of a year, Li Xuansang’s music moved the Red Sundial, persuading it to relinquish its dominion over the skies and return the seasons to Jun Tian. Li Xuansang’s actions shook the heavens; her year-long ordeal atop the frigid mountain, playing zither to appease the unruly red sun, became legend... How could you not know this, being her disciple?" The Kirin Demon asked.

As he mentioned this legendary feat, the Kirin Demon also showed admiration.

For a young girl, inexperienced in worldly affairs, to play her zither amidst the icy mountain’s harshness for the rebellious dark sun—it was an image that stirred the soul!

What’s more, this rebellious sun was the very Sword Spirit that had killed her father!

Such courage, such magnanimity—to rise above the deep-rooted hatred buried in her heart...

It’s no wonder that whenever an Immortal Elder or Priest gazes upon the Weaver Star, they reverently call her the Heavenly Zither Fairy.

So, there’s such a remarkable tale behind it all.

"And then what?" Zhu Minglang prompted eagerly.

"The Red Sundial responded only to Li Xuansang’s music. Later, she persuaded it toward benevolence, transforming it into today’s rotating Sun. Of course, the process must have been painstakingly difficult," concluded the Kirin Demon.