Chapter 55: Late-Night Lake Cruise (5)

"Thud, thud, thud, thud, bang!" Fierce as Prince Han was, even he could not help but take several steps back, inevitably coming to a halt with his back pressed against the pavilion.

Daoist Zhang Zhengheng wore an expression of utter shock and frenzy, the overwhelming excitement on his face beyond description, causing his entire body to tremble.

The massive crocodile drew closer and closer, stopping only when it reached Zhu Zhanhe. Flattened against the ground, the giant beast was still taller than a man! Its thickest girth exceeded two meters, if not more! Combined with a body length of over six zhang, it was truly terrifying!

The colossal crocodile lay quietly before Zhu Zhanhe, filling the young man with a profound sense of accomplishment. Unable to resist, he reached out and patted the beast's head. It felt ice-cold, like a refreshing chilled drink in the heat of summer, immensely pleasant.

The more he petted it, the more addictive it became. Amidst Prince Han's fearful gaze, Zhu Zhanhe even reached his hand directly into the giant crocodile's mouth, gently stroking its arm-thick, sword-like fangs.

There was not the slightest sensation of enamel; beneath his fingers was only the cold, metallic texture of refined iron!

For some reason, as Zhu Zhanhe stroked the giant crocodile, an indescribable sensation washed over him, plunging him into a momentary trance.

Giving his head a vigorous shake, Zhu Zhanhe dismissed the feeling and continued petting the beast.

"Zhanhe~" Prince Han suddenly called out to his son. Zhu Zhanhe turned back to see Prince Han staring at him with a look of profound shock and bewilderment.

"Zhanhe, is this... a Flood Dragon?!" Even with the massive crocodile lying quietly right before him, Prince Han found it hard to credit his eyes. Over and over, he muttered inwardly: How could this be a Flood Dragon? How could it possibly be a Flood Dragon?

My son possesses a Flood Dragon?

My son possesses a Flood Dragon!

Prince Han anxiously wanted to step forward for a closer look, but his legs refused to obey; they simply wouldn't move!

"This is an alligator dragon!" While Prince Han's legs were turning to jelly, Daoist Zhang Zhengheng rasped from the side.

Prince Han hurriedly turned his head to look at the old Daoist.

"Could it truly be a Flood Dragon?!" The old Daoist's hoarse voice was laden with deep astonishment as well, but he quickly reined in his emotions.

"During the era of the Yellow Emperor in antiquity, the Dong clan specialized in raising true dragons;

Later, during the reign of Emperor Kongjia, the feat of raising dragons was attempted a second time;

In the twenty-fourth year of Jian'an, a yellow dragon lingered at Chishui in Wuyang for a full nine days;

In the seventh year of Taihe, a azure dragon was discovered in a large well in Mobei. Emperor Ming of Wei, Cao Rui, personally led his ministers to pay homage. To commemorate this, Cao Rui ordered the era name changed to Qinglong, and Mobei renamed to Longpi;

In the first year of Yonghe in the Jin dynasty, one black and one white dragon appeared at Dragon Mountain. The two dragons were about five or six zhang long, intertwining and playing with one another;

Emperor Gaozu of Han slew the white dragon to spark his uprising!

All these countless records—I originally thought they were mere legends!

Yet now, is this truly a Flood Dragon?!" The more the old Daoist spoke, the more agitated he became, culminating in a near-hysterical outburst, his eyes flushed red.

With that, the old Daoist stepped forward, determined to make personal contact with the giant crocodile, but before he could get close, Wei Jiezhong blocked his path.

"Hmm?" The old Daoist looked at Wei Jiezhong with a hesitant and puzzled expression.

"Please, Daoist master!" Wei Jiezhong pulled a wooden ruyi bestowed by Zhu Zhanhe from his robe and offered it to the old Daoist with both hands.

"Apart from the Heir Apparent, the Dragon King does not recognize anyone. Only by holding the Heir Apparent's token can one approach the Dragon King; otherwise, the Dragon King will treat them as an enemy or as food!" Seeing the old Daoist's confusion, Wei Jiezhong offered an explanation.

"A token?" The old Daoist took the wooden ruyi from Wei Jiezhong's hands and turned it over. Isn't this the wooden ruyi I gave to Zhanhe? How did it become a token? He then cast a skeptical look at Zhu Zhanhe, who was still casually stroking the crocodile.

"Teacher, it's not about the token itself, but the aura. This giant crocodile can perceive my aura. Only by holding an object bearing my scent will it refrain from attacking. Moreover, my aura seems to last for only about a month before it dissipates. Of course, using my blood yields the same result, though it also only lasts for a month," Zhu Zhanhe explained, looking at his teacher and then at Prince Han, who was likewise itching to give it a try.

"So that's how it is! The Flood Dragon has actually acknowledged a master?!" Zhu Zhanhe's words plunged the old Daoist into an even deeper state of shock. A Flood Dragon acknowledging a master—a scenario that had only ever existed in legends!

"And stop throwing around random names; this is an alligator dragon!" The old Daoist tossed the wooden ruyi in his hand and approached the giant crocodile, examining it closely.

Suddenly, the old Daoist reached out as if to touch the beast, but the giant crocodile abruptly whipped its head around, training its terrifying, tooth-filled maw on the old Daoist. Its massive eyes, each the size of a human head, locked onto him with a glare full of displeasure!

The old Daoist hurriedly raised the wooden ruyi in his hand. Upon seeing the token, the crocodile's tyrannical gaze softened into an arrogant snort. Ignoring the old Daoist entirely, it behaved like a domestic puppy, rubbing its ferocious head affectionately against the palm of Zhu Zhanhe's hand.

"It, it..." The old Daoist stared in utter dumbfounded silence as the alligator dragon turned its head away. Only then did he realize that the creature before him possessed a distinct level of self-awareness!

"Immortal master, although Lord Dragon King cannot speak, he understands human speech. Based on my humble observations, the Dragon King possesses the intelligence of a five- or six-year-old child," Wei Jiezhong, ever the seasoned and steady veteran, noted the old Daoist's astonishment and hurriedly offered an explanation.

"What? You say it has intelligence?!" The old Daoist suddenly looked as though struck by a sudden realization, leaping up as if stepping on his own tail, and asked Wei Jiezhong in a loud, stern voice.

"Yes, immortal master, this humble servant is certain," Wei Jiezhong replied with absolute conviction.

"It actually has intelligence—the intelligence of a five- or six-year-old child? No, wait!!" The old Daoist was struck by another wave of alarm, whipping his head around to stare at Wei Jiezhong.

"You mentioned earlier that the alligator dragon was originally six zhang, one foot, and two inches long, and now it is six zhang, one foot, and five inches long, correct?" The old Daoist asked, fixing Wei Jiezhong with a solemn stare to confirm the details.

"Just as the immortal master said!" Wei Jiezhong replied in an equally deep tone.

"It has the intelligence of a five- or six-year-old child, and it's still growing? It hasn't fully matured yet! The alligator dragon right now is still in its youth, or even its infancy! It is still constantly growing!" The old Daoist turned his shocked gaze back to the colossal creature before him, blurting out in disbelief.

"It hasn't reached adulthood yet? It's already six zhang long!" Prince Han, having overheard the old Daoist's words, turned back with an equally dumbfounded expression to stare at the gigantic alligator dragon, filled with sheer disbelief.