Volume Two: No Way Forward Amid Mountains and Rivers Chapter Twenty-Three: Betrayal

Lin Bai was utterly stunned. He could hardly believe that the venerable old Dragon King, who had refused to leave the resplendent golden palace at the bottom of Kunpeng Sea for tens of thousands of years, now stood before him.

All the fierceness Lin Bai displayed earlier vanished at once. He lowered his head and said in a deep voice, “Your son wishes Father good health. Please forgive me for being unable to kneel at this moment.”

Lin Xiaoyun’s face was expressionless, yet his tone held a hint of affection. “Bai’er, you’ve grown thin.”

Lin Bai’s eyes reddened and tears began to stream down his cheeks. The bitterness in his heart crashed over him like relentless waves. He dared not raise his head, fearing his father would see him weep and scold him for his weakness. Suppressing all his sorrow and grievances, he managed to answer in a calm voice, “Father, I am doing well. Thank you for your concern.”

Lin Xiaoyun did not dwell on such empty matters. He simply said, “Bai’er, release your Third Uncle Li Xian at once and come to my side so I may have a good look at you.”

Following behind, Li Tong and Li Da chimed in eagerly, “Yes, yes! Father and son, such a rare reunion—we three brothers will not intrude.” “Indeed, Nephew Xian, hurry and speak with Lord Lin. Let him savor the joys of family.”

As they spoke, they seized the chance to edge closer to Lin Bai and his group.

Lin Bai kept his head bowed but suddenly lifted the Hunyuan Blade in his hand and bellowed, “Stay back!”

The two old sharks jumped in fright, hastily retreating and sputtering, “All right, all right! We’re moving back! Nephew Xian, please, don’t do anything rash. Don’t hurt our third brother.”

Lin Xiaoyun shouted as well, “Enough! Release Old Third Li at once! You’ve picked up bad habits from that Zhuo Hua. Come back to the Dragon Palace with me.”

Lin Bai slowly raised his tear-filled eyes to his father. “Father, have you truly come to take me home?”

Lin Xiaoyun nodded with certainty. “How could I deceive you now? Come with me! Your mother is still waiting for you in the palace.”

Lin Bai nodded, and the Hunyuan Blade in his hand dipped slightly. Li Tong and Li Da, overjoyed, hurried forward, grinning, to retrieve their third brother.

Suddenly, Lin Bai shouted, “Wait! The three Li brothers have betrayed the Cloud Palace. As a Star Lord of the Cloud Palace, I cannot stand by. Let me execute these villains first.” As he finished speaking, his blade rose again, aimed at Li Xian’s neck.

Li Tong and Li Da panicked and begged for mercy, calling out to Lin Xiaoyun, “Lord Lin, please, make your son release our third brother!”

Lin Xiaoyun scolded, “Lin Bai, are you defying your father’s command?”

Lin Bai shook his head. “From ancient times, loyalty and filial piety seldom coexist. Since I am the Jiao of Jiao Mu, I must do what a Star Lord of the Cloud Palace should. Betrayers of the Cloud Palace must be exterminated, root and branch.”

In desperation, Li Da cried to Lin Xiaoyun, “Lord Lin, act quickly! We all swore before the Immortal Maiden to share the same fate. Are you going to watch our third brother die?”

These words fell like thunder. Lin Bai stared at his father in disbelief, his mind gradually clearing. Why had his father appeared here, and why did he persistently urge him to release Old Third Li?

Lin Bai threw back his head and laughed. “So that’s how it is! You’re all in league together. And in front of me, you call me ‘Bai’er’ so affectionately. Yet your heart is no different from the day you banished me from the Dragon Palace. I was never truly your flesh and blood.”

Realizing the deception was exposed, Lin Xiaoyun sighed in resignation and switched to a gentler tone. “Bai’er, your father had no choice. The world is about to change, and I must consider the fate of all dragonkind. Don’t act on impulse—think of the greater good.”

Li Da added, “We were defeated by the Immortal Maiden of Lanling. Now that she serves as a vanguard in the Dark Lament Clan’s army, joining her is only natural.”

Li Tong attempted to persuade as well. “That’s right, Nephew Xian. This time is different. Last time, the Immortal Maiden of Lanling had to join forces with Zhuo Hua Yuanjun to suppress the Four Demon Clans. Now she’s become a vanguard for the Dark Lament Clan, conquering everywhere, her blade aimed at Lanling Void. It’s said the Dark Lament’s elite and countless vassal armies are on the march. How could our strength resist that?”

Inside the Azure Gold Bell, Lan Sheng and Lan Shan were dumbfounded. They had never imagined such an apocalyptic war could erupt at any moment.

A wicked smile played at Lin Bai’s lips, and the murderous aura about him only intensified. He said coldly, “You are not wrong. The wise bow to the times, and the clever bird chooses its tree. In the face of disaster, it’s only natural to think of self-preservation.”

Li Da was delighted, praising him, “Exactly! Nephew Xian, you are a clever man. The tide of fate is beyond our power to stop. You should listen to your father and cooperate with us. Once the Dark Lament army destroys the Cloud Palace, our Four Demon Clans will be free!”

Lan Shan muttered, “Fools.” Lan Sheng glanced at her. “Why do you say they’re fools?”

She replied softly, “Surely they know what the Dark Lament Clan is like. Wherever they go, they lay waste to all. What benefit will they leave traitors? They’ll be slaughtered and made into rations—nothing more. Utter fools.”

Lan Sheng trembled in alarm. “Rations… rations?”

Lan Shan nodded. “The Dark Lament Clan never produces anything. They only burn, kill, and plunder. For their enemies, there are only two endings: darkness and death.”

Lan Sheng swallowed hard. “Then… what should we do?”

Lan Shan shot him a sidelong glance. “Would you rather be rations, or a hero who resists the invaders?”

Lan Sheng straightened his back and declared, “A hero, of course.”

Lan Shan rolled her eyes. “Then why ask me?” She turned back to watch Lin Bai and the others.

High above on the white clouds, Lin Xiaoyun suddenly transformed into a five-clawed golden dragon, roaring as he dove down. Sunlight glinted off his scales, dazzling all who looked upon him. He landed before Lin Bai, instantly resuming his previous appearance—white-haired yet youthful.

Fury twisted Lin Xiaoyun’s features as he shouted, “You unfilial son! Lady Si was right. You will bring ruin to the Lin family and all dragonkind. I regret ever letting you go. Let me end you today!”

He was about to strike, but Lin Bai’s cold eyes flashed as he pressed his blade closer to Li Xian’s throat. “Try me.”

Seeing this, Li Tong and Li Da panicked, grabbing Lin Xiaoyun’s sleeves. “Brother Lin, don’t be rash! Li Xian is still in his hands.”

Lin Xiaoyun, seeing their fear, could only sigh and gently urge, “My son, listen to your father. Don’t be stubborn. You are still young and do not see the whole picture.”

Lin Bai raised his brows. “Oh? What is it that I cannot see? Go on, tell me.”

Lin Xiaoyun replied, “Look at Lanling Void. It was once the cradle of the Four Great Clans and other ancient behemoths. But where are those ancient beasts now? The Golden Crow, Scarlet Luan, Green Oriole, Ao Hen, Qiong Qi, and Taotie—creatures of world-ending power—do you see any of them? They have either hidden themselves away or perished in the ancient wars. Thus, whether the Xuanhuang or the Dark Lament rule this void, it makes no difference to us. This is the way of the world: those who follow the heavens prosper, those who defy it perish.”

Li Tong interjected, “Nephew Xian, your father is right. The Dark Lament come with overwhelming force and inside help. Zhuo Hua cannot win.”

Li Da added, “Exactly. So many Xuanhuang experts have already been exterminated. Now even Lanling has changed allegiance. How can Zhuo Hua possibly triumph? Do you truly want to abandon your father and follow that fool to his death?”

Lin Bai listened coldly, letting them finish, then burst into laughter. “I, Lin Bai, was betrayed by my own brothers in my youth, cast out of the Dragon Palace by my father, stripped of my lineage, and exiled to the Bottomless Abyss. I suffered day and night, unable to live or die. Zhuo Hua did not despise my lowly status—he saved me from torment, patiently guided my cultivation, and helped me through the Auspicious Cloud Tribulation. He is my brother in life and death, a comrade I would entrust my life to. As for you—you fickle, faithless traitors—I, Lin Bai, am ashamed to stand with you!”

With that, his blade flashed, and he dispatched Li Xian without hesitation, tossing his severed head into the azure sky.