Chapter 150: Old Long’s Lair, Enemy of the World
Chapter 150: Chapter 150: Old Long’s Lair, Enemy of the World
Perhaps because he was getting on in years, the Dragon King had become a bit paranoid lately.
First, he suspected his gorgeous Queen had another fish in her heart. Otherwise, why was she always so absent-minded when she was with him?
Occasionally, she would even break into a sweet, mysterious smile, as if reminiscing about time spent with a lover.
He had only ever seen such a look of deep affection in her eyes when they first fell in love.
Whenever this happened, a blazing fury would ignite in his heart.
He wished he could take a sword and lop off that lover’s head, but the Queen had told him that a male dragon shouldn’t be jealous; he should be gentle, virtuous, generous, and sensible.
He had secretly asked many of his clansmen, and they all said the one the Queen loved most was still him, this dragon.
The Dragon King had yet to find a solution to this marital crisis, and now he discovered that his son and youngest daughter also had something on their minds.
His eldest son was a dragon, born brave but brainless. His youngest daughter was a little octopus, cute but cunning.
The two had always been sick of the sight of each other, their daily fights a headache for him as their father king. But in the last two days, the siblings’ relationship had advanced by leaps and bounds. They spent all day huddled together, whispering.
He had asked, but Zhen’er and Zhu’er refused to say a word.
They had their own little secret.
That day, after finishing his official duties, the Dragon King once again saw the siblings talking about something, the same smiles on their faces.
He decided to assert his fatherly authority and crept closer, wanting to hear what they were saying.
But his children were grown now and had skills of their own; they quickly discovered him.
And so, the Dragon King saw the two of them look at him with terrified eyes, as if they’d been startled.
Being looked at like that, the Dragon King, an old father, felt his heart sink.
’They don’t want to see me.’
Realizing this, and then thinking about the Queen’s distraction these past few days, the Dragon King knew he was finally facing what the human world called a mid-life crisis.
But the Dragon King would never admit defeat.
He deeply loved the Queen, and he loved his children.
His younger son was away, working tirelessly for the great cause of the Sea Clan. He had to stay here and protect their home.
After a sleepless night, the Dragon King finally made a decision.
He would win back his wife and children.
He remembered a storybook he’d once read from the shore, in which virtuous husbands would cook for their wives.
The Dragon King decided to emulate that virtuous husband.
The food of the Sea Clan was the marine life of the great ocean, and the Queen’s favorite was large crab.
He got up early to catch a few crabs, separated the meat onto a plate, and even arranged it in the shape of a flower.
Very pleased with his handiwork, the Dragon King carried the food into the room.
He saw the Queen, already dressed and made up, looking so beautiful and captivating.
"My lady, it’s time to eat."
He placed the snow-white crab meat in front of the Queen. This food, which in the past would have made her happiest, now made Queen Zhang cover her nose and furrow her brow.
Her eyes were filled with disgust.
’I never thought this food smelled so strong before.’
’But after going ashore yesterday and eating Boss Lu’s crab roe burger, I feel this plain crab is just too fishy.’
’The smell is making me a bit nauseous.’
"No, thank you. I’m not hungry."
Queen Zhang rejected the Dragon King’s attempt to please her. Calculating the time, she realized it wasn’t long until the hour Boss Lu would set up her stall.
’Boss Lu’s business is booming, and there are so many customers. I have to go early to get my food sooner.’
The thought of the unbelievably delicious crab roe burgers she would soon be eating, and that spicy snail noodle soup, brought a smile to the Queen’s face.
Lost in thought, Queen Zhang didn’t notice the Dragon King’s heartbroken expression.
The Dragon King stared at the untouched breakfast, his heart sinking to the depths.
’That look again!’
’Does that lover make her yearn for him day and night like this?’
"Ahem, Husband, I’m going to check on our daughter. You can have this."
Making an excuse, Queen Zhang left in a hurry.
In the bedchamber, the Dragon King knocked over the plate.
He knew the Queen was lying to him. His two children had left early in the morning, so how could the Queen be going to find their daughter?
’She must be trying to ditch me to go meet her secret lover!’
"You scoundrel, just don’t let me find you!"
After his outburst, the Dragon King deflated again.
’If the Queen’s heart has truly changed, how can an old dragon like me win back my wife’s heart?’
But no matter what, he had to take action.
’At the very least, I have to find out the background of that lover.’
With that thought, the Dragon King psyched himself up and, feeling utterly wronged, followed behind the Queen.
’This isn’t spying. This is for the sake of family harmony.’
Sure enough, the Queen didn’t go to their daughter’s residence at all. Instead, she left the palace directly. But as he kept following, the Dragon King felt the route was a bit strange.
’Why does it look like she’s heading for the shore?’
The Dragon King couldn’t figure it out for the life of him. It wasn’t until he broke the surface of the water that he understood.
’Humans!’
’A detestable human must have seduced my wife, making her despise me.’
He had heard that there were many scheming men among humans who would shamelessly do anything to please a woman—especially a rich and beautiful one. Men like that would be all over her.
’No, I absolutely cannot let my wife be deceived by those superficial men. In this world, I am the only one who is unconditionally good to her.’
With this in mind, the Dragon King went ashore.
The first thing he saw was countless humans.
"Candied hawthorns for sale! Sweet, sweet candied hawthorns!"
"Sharpening scissors and knives!"
"Cotton dolls! The same style as the Chosen One’s! Selling cheap, a huge sale!"
The crowd was filled with shouts of vendors. Many of them, upon learning that Lu Wu was setting up her stall on this beach, had moved their own stalls over.
There was no helping it. Boss Lu was a huge draw; wherever she was, there was no shortage of customers.
Some other vendors had also pushed their snack carts here, trying to get a slice of the pie from Lu Wu.
They could definitely do business, but compared to the bustling scene around Lu Wu, their stalls looked a bit desolate.
What the Dragon King saw after coming ashore was this lively, mortal scene.
There were so many people. The Dragon King wasn’t used to it.
He was a homebody dragon, a very devoted husband. Even in the depths of the sea, he rarely went out.
In the human world, he was being squeezed so much he felt like he was turning into dried dragon jerky.
But he was still worried about his wife.
After looking around for a long time, he finally found his wife in the endless stream of people.
She was sitting in front of a stall, eating something.
A small, four-sided table was completely full.
What a coincidence, he knew all four of them.
Weren’t they his wife and three children?
’Look at them, talking and laughing, so happy.’
’But why wasn’t I a part of this happiness?’
’Why would she bring the children to a rendezvous with her lover? Don’t tell me my wife wants to take the children and remarry!’
Shocked by this thought, the Dragon King broke out in a cold sweat.
"Brother, are you cold? Go buy a bowl of snail noodle soup. I guarantee you won’t be cold after you eat it."
Qin Zhan happened to be passing by the Dragon King and, seeing his pale, unsteady appearance, kindly offered the suggestion.
’This guy looks pretty frail.’
The human’s kindness came so unexpectedly. The Dragon King forced a smile. "What’s snail noodle soup?"
He had never heard of it.
He observed Qin Zhan. He was handsome, and his cultivation was extraordinary for his age. Faced with such an outstanding man, it would be normal for the Queen’s heart to stray.
The more he thought about it, the more the Dragon King felt Qin Zhan had the face of a deceiver, and he subconsciously marked him as a hypothetical enemy.
’I, the Dragon King, look around and see only enemies.’