Chapter 99: The Tangled Vines, When Opposites Meet and Transform into the Azure Dragon
Before long, the two rode the clouds, harnessing the wind, arriving at the borders of Jinping Prefecture, then pressed onward toward the northeast.
The wind ceased, the clouds dispersed, revealing a towering, rugged mountain ahead.
“Brother Cao Kong, this is the mountain,” said his companion.
Cao Kong gazed upon the mountain—lush and verdant, the air thick with spiritual energy emanating from the trees. He knew at once that the object he sought lay within.
Together, he and the Beast Lion soared into the mountain, the Beast Lion leading the way.
“This mountain is called Qinglong. Within it lies a cave named Xuanying Cave, where three rhinoceros demons dwell year-round. They command a dozen or so lesser demons, mostly mountain oxen, water buffalo, and yellow cattle spirits,” the Beast Lion explained.
Suddenly, a strange fragrance wafted through the air, accompanied by humming.
“A sip of Suhe fragrant oil— even the deities of the heavens cannot compare,” came a voice.
The two looked down to see a pool where three demonic creatures were bathing.
Each bore two prominent horns, white-spotted faces ringed with vibrant eyes, their bodies adorned with patterns resembling exquisite paintings—these were the three two-horned rhinoceros demons.
They lay leisurely in the water, about to savor a sip of Suhe fragrant oil, when sensing something above, they lifted their heads.
In an instant, four eyes met six; the four were stunned, the six alarmed.
The three demons simultaneously shuddered and leapt from the pool. One bellowed, “You startled me! Where did you two savages come from without so much as a greeting?”
Each then wielded a weapon: a battle axe, a great blade, and a tengta vine.
Cao Kong’s gaze fixed on the tengta vine; he recognized it was not forged but born of innate nature. Recalling his original knowledge, this vine could summon wind and sand.
The wood element here was in motion—Jin and Xun trigrams—Jia wood corresponds to thunder, Yi wood to wind, and this tengta vine embodied the essence of Yi wood.
He mused silently, “Indeed, this place is suffused with Yi wood energy, able to birth such natural weapons as the tengta vine. The spiritual energy here must be extraordinary.”
Seeing the three rhinoceros demons poised for battle, the Beast Lion quickly said, “Gentlemen, do not be alarmed. I am the Beast Lion of the Nine Spirits Merchant Guild; I have been here before.”
Only then did the Rhinoceros King respond, “Indeed, brothers, I remember you.”
The other two demons relaxed and sighed in relief. Their eyes then fell on three cups of Suhe fragrant oil placed nearby. Due to the commotion, water had splashed into the cups, and their faces showed genuine distress.
Hurriedly, they picked up the cups and carefully tilted them to pour out the water, though some fragrant oil spilled, deepening their look of regret.
Without even speaking to the Beast Lion, they drank the oil at once—an act both pleasurable and painful. After a moment, they opened their eyes and said with a wry tone:
“It’s all your fault. My fragrant oil was tainted with water. I had planned to savor it all day, but now it’s gone in a single gulp.”
Then, noticing the empty hands of Cao Kong and the Beast Lion, one added, “I told you, without Suhe fragrant oil, we won’t trade. Our Qinglong Mountain lacks nothing.”
Cao Kong laughed, “Since we’ve returned, of course we have some.”
He produced a barrel containing a hundred jin of Suhe fragrant oil. Once revealed, its exotic aroma spread everywhere, capturing the three demons’ full attention.
The three were overjoyed in unison. “If there’s fragrant oil, then we’ll trade. Whatever items you want from the mountain, take them.”
After some thought, one added, “But don’t take too much; our brothers must see what you’re taking. If you take more, you’ll need more fragrant oil to compensate.”
Seeing this, Cao Kong signaled the Beast Lion to fetch some spiritual herbs and precious medicines. The Beast Lion gathered dozens of centuries-old specimens, and the three rhinoceros demons raised no objection.
Cao Kong felt at a loss for words. He could sense that these demons’ cultivation was profound, and they even carried the aura of Taoist energy.
Their obsession with the barrel of fragrant oil was hard to explain.
Though demons may have opportunities for cultivation, indulging in mundane pleasures reveals unclean senses and impurities of the five dusts. If one becomes fixated on such things, it will surely bring ruin.
His mind racing, he said calmly, “I still have some Suhe fragrant oil and can add some spiritual items that nourish vital energy to trade for one more item with you.”
“What is it? Speak freely. We don’t need spiritual items—only Suhe fragrant oil.”
“Yi wood spiritual energy.”
The three demons were immediately puzzled. Cao Kong pondered, “It’s the energy that gave birth to that tengta vine you hold. I need to go there to retrieve it.”
As he spoke, three more barrels of fragrant oil appeared nearby, their eyes reddening with desire, eager to have them at once.
The youngest Rhinoceros King suddenly asked, “If you take away that Yi wood energy, what will happen to Qinglong Mountain?”
Cao Kong replied, “I don’t know yet; I need to investigate. Generally, if the energy is removed, it takes twenty years or so to regenerate. The spiritual energy here in Qinglong Mountain isn’t usually this strong, but I possess arts to restore it quickly.”
The three demons exchanged glances. The Rhinoceros King’s eyes twitched as he said, “You’re from the guild and have brought this fragrant oil. I imagine you could acquire it again in the future.”
“Of course.”
Delighted, the demons said, “If you can supply us with several hundred jin of Suhe fragrant oil every year for twenty years, then we will trade with you.”
“Agreed,” Cao Kong answered decisively. The mundane fragrant oil was easy to obtain; the Yi wood spiritual energy, however, was rare.
The three demons happily led Cao Kong to a place east of the mountain—where the tengta vine was born. This spot was the furthest from their dwelling, Xuanying Cave.
According to them, this area had the most concentrated spiritual energy in the entire Qinglong Mountain, though they preferred living in Xuanying Cave.
Before they even spoke, Cao Kong already knew the location, for the Jia wood energy in his liver was stirring strangely, drawing him inexplicably.
He surmised the reason: this was where the Yi wood spiritual energy resided, and Yi wood favored Jia wood.
Soon, Cao Kong arrived. The place was lush and vibrant, brimming with an indescribable vitality, vines entwining trees, and silk-like tendrils clinging to towering timber.
The Rhinoceros King smiled, “I found the tengta vine here. As for the spiritual energy you mentioned, I’ve never seen it. Whether you can take it depends on your skill. But remember, our deal stands—don’t forget the fragrant oil.”
Cao Kong nodded, “Naturally.”
Then, the three demons, ignoring Cao Kong, eagerly returned to their cave to enjoy the Suhe fragrant oil.
Watching their retreating figures, Cao Kong shook his head slightly. Such obsession was more curse than blessing.
The Beast Lion waited nearby. Cao Kong said, “Brother Beast Lion, please wait a moment longer.”
“Haha, Brother Cao Kong, please proceed.”
Cao Kong then spat out a wooden sword. Without cause, it flew to a particular spot, and Cao Kong used his divine perception to probe the Yi wood spiritual energy there.
Suddenly, his gaze halted, focusing on a single point where the Jia wood wooden sword also pierced.
With the Jia wood’s entrance, the surrounding scene transformed completely. For a moment, the entire mountain seemed to awaken.
A rumble echoed.
The mountain roared with a mighty sound. Cao Kong felt the mountain’s energy shift into that of a great azure dragon. In a fleeting vision, he saw the dragon ascending to the heavens but trapped, unable to rise, forced instead to fall back to earth.
Before him appeared a pair of dragon eyes locking onto his—deep and fathomless as the abyss and the sea.