Stranger Danger
Chapter 1372: Water Wind Splitting Beast

Chapter 1372: Water Wind Splitting Beast

Standing at the rivershore, Qing Lan waved her sleeve slightly and caused the river water to shimmer a little. The next moment, a crystalline carriage stepped out of the river.

The carriage was made of crystal and adorned with pearls and corals. It looked gorgeous to say the least. The beasts of burden drawing the carriage were a pair of exotic beasts that looked like a horse and a lion at the same time.

The exotic beasts looked mighty impressive. They also possessed the ability to split any water or wind that happened to be standing in their way. It was incredible.

“Are these the Water Wind Splitting Beasts?” Ye Qing blurted out when he identified the two massive beasts.

“You have a keen eye, scion. That is correct.”

Qing Lan gestured smilingly. “Please, climb in.”

“This is a little too grand, don’t you think?” Ye Qing asked hesitatingly. The crystalline carriage was one thing, but the two Water Wind Splitting Beasts were no joke.

A Disaster-class Stranger, the Water Wind Splitting Beast possessed the power to split water and wind. It could navigate the land, soar in the sky, and even swim through the four seas without trouble. This ability alone made it an extraordinary beast of burden, but Water Wind Splitting Beast was also a legendary beast of auspiciousness, meaning that it could bring good luck and fortune to the people. That was why the Water Wind Splitting Beast was often described as the mounts of gods, celestials, Buddhas, and other divine beings in stories.

These two Water Wind Splitting Beasts were even more extraordinary than your common version, however. Their scales glimmered like gold, their fur was silver bright, and the power of wishes illuminated their entire body such that it was as if they were made of haloes. Their presence alone warped their surroundings into all sorts of dizzying illusions.

It was clear that these two Water Wind Splitting Beasts had transformed into true spirit beasts after being nourished by Lady Canglang’s power of wishes for an extended period of time. In other words, they were Lady Canglang’s mounts.

Qing Lan giggled. “You are friends with Miss Qingyou, scion. That makes you a friend of Lady Canglang as well. Naturally, we cannot treat you lightly.”

I knew it, Ye Qing thought when he heard Qing Lan’s answer. Lady Canglang was famous for her sweet and kind temperament. She was also a pacifist and a loner. That was why not even the emperor of Qi could always earn an audience with Lady Canglang. However, Lady Canglang was affording him the highest respect and service right now. It was clearly not because of his reputation or his strength, but because of his affiliation with Feng Qingyou.

“Please climb in, scion.”

After the crystalline carriage stopped directly in front of them, Qing Lan invited Ye Qing to enter the carriage once more. “The lady has prepared a feast for you in her palace.”

“Of course. I am very grateful for her kindness.”

After Ye Qing entered the carriage, Qing Lan sat down on the shaft and acted as his driver. She lightly whipped the two Wind Water Splitting Beasts, causing them to let out a long cry and pull the crystalline carriage straight into the sky.

For a moment, they were looking down on the world from thousands and thousands of meters above ground. Canglang City looked as tiny as a grain, and Canglang River looked like a thin ribbon. It was quite a fantastic experience.

The next moment, the Water Wind Splitting Beasts dove downward at incredible speed, causing both the city and the river to expand rapidly in Ye Qing’s vision. It was incredibly exciting and thrilling.

Despite being inside the carriage, Ye Qing’s vision wasn’t restricted at all. He could even feel a breeze brushing against his face. Contrary to the speed at which the carriage was travelling though, the breeze felt gentle and soothing.

The crystalline carriage entered the river in just the blink of an eye, but amazingly, the entrance did not elicit a single splash or ripple. It was because the river water split open on its own and formed a passage right before the carriage would make contact with it.

It wasn’t until after the carriage entered the river that Ye Qing realized that Canglang River wasn’t as shallow and narrow as it appeared from the outside. In fact, the inside and outside of Canglang River felt like two separate worlds.

As it turned out, Canglang River was unbelievably deep. One might even say that it was bottomless. Countless fishes and exotic beasts swimming here and there in the blue waters as well. Ye Qing could tell that both the fishes and the exotic beasts boasted an above average level of spirituality, meaning that they were all Strangers. However, they lacked the usual brutality and darkness of an ordinary Stranger.

The deeper parts of the rivers were covered in water plants. They boasted all kinds of colors and lights, dreamlike and picturesque.

“Another world exists in Canglang River!” Ye Qing praised from the bottom of his heart.

Qing Lan answered, “Canglang River is only fifteen kilometers long and less than a hundred meters wide, but it is over tens of kilometers deep. It has a shabby exterior but a golden inside[1].”

“But of course, Canglang River wasn’t always like this. At the beginning, Canglang River was filthy and filled with all sorts of powerful and brutal Strangers. They had caused all sorts of trouble and murdered countless people and animals. When Lady Canglang came, she slew the Strangers, unblocked the river channels, protected the living, and enlightened the masses. It is all thanks to her that we are able to enjoy such peace and prosperity today.”

A reverent expression naturally appeared on Qing Lan’s face when she spoke of Lady Canglang.

Ye Qing said sincerely, “Lady Canglang’s merits to the people are immeasurable. She has my wholehearted respect.”

While the duo were conversing, countless aquatic animals such as fish, prawns, turtles, and snakes swam in from every direction and gathered around the crystalline carriage. They swam together with the carriage like guards protecting their regent. It was quite a magnificent sight.

A short while later, the carriage arrived at a wonderful, fantastical palace.

The palace was crystalline and adorned with pearls and coral reefs. The roads were made from gold and jade and decorated with all sorts of beautiful and exotic plants. Illuminated by mottled divine light, Ye Qing could see countless clam ladies and carp children coming and going doing heavens-know-what. Shrimp soldiers and crab generals were patrolling the area as well. The place looked dreamy, beautiful, and splendid.

The palace was called the Canglang Water Residence. It was obviously where Lady Canglang lived.

Ye Qing had seen a dragon palace or two before. That was why he was impressed. The Cangland Water Residence was smaller than a dragon palace, but it wasn’t inferior in anything else such as charm, grace, radiance and so on.

Qing Lan drove the carriage all the way into the palace. She encountered no obstacles and quickly came to a stop at a palace called Canglang Palace.

“We’re here, scion.”

Qing Lan said after Ye Qing exited the carriage, “The lady is waiting for you. Please, follow me.” Ye Qing nodded and followed Qing Lan into Canglang Palace.

Surprisingly, Canglang Palace was completely empty. Qing Lan did not stop inside the palace either. Instead, she led him through the palace and into the backyard. Up ahead, he saw a garden of colorful exotic plants and playful fishes and carps.

As soon as they arrived outside the garden, the sound of laughter and chatting immediately caught Ye Qing’s attention. One of the voices belonged to none other than Feng Qingyou.

Qing Lan stood still and saluted in the direction of the noise, announcing, “Lady, Miss Qingyou, I have brought Scion Ye.”

“Please tell him to step inside!” A gentle voice responded.

“Scion Ye, please.”

Qing Lan gestured for Ye Qing to head inside, though she herself showed no intentions of following.

“Thank you very much for your service, Miss Qing Lan.”

Ye Qing thanked Qing Lan before entering the garden.

Shrouded by exotic flowers and plants and standing in the middle of the garden was a kiosk. Inside the kiosk, a pair of women were sitting opposite each other and beaming.

One of them was Feng Qingyou as a matter of course. The other woman was a mature lady wearing a gorgeous palace dress and pearls and hairpins on her head. Seemingly in her thirties, she boasted a kind, benevolent face that naturally induced good will and delight in others. She also seemed to have a heart big enough to accommodate anything and everything in this world.

She could only be Lady Canglang.

“Junior Joyless Ye greets Lady Canglang.”

Ye Qing clasped his hands together and bowed respectfully toward her.

“You’re welcome, Scion Ye. I sent for you because I wish to meet you in person, though I did not consider how it may inconvenience you. I humbly apologize for my rudeness.”

Lady Canglang’s voice was a perfect fit with her face. It was gentle like water and clear like crystal. It seemed capable of purifying one’s heart and set them at ease.

“What are you saying? Of course this junior should pay you a visit,” Ye Qing replied.

“Cut the pleasantries already, you two.”

It was at this moment Feng Qingyou let out a giggle and said, “Big sis, this is Joyless. Just call him Joyless. It feels distant to address him as scion.”

“Joyless, this is Lady Canglang. You may think of her as my older sister.”

1. The opposite of the idiom “Gilded exterior, shabby and ruined on the inside. ☜