The Old Turtle Prime Minister stood beside Cang Che, old tears streaming down his face.
As he wiped his eyes, he tremblingly pulled a crumpled handkerchief from his sleeve and stuffed it into Cang Che's hand.
Cang Che: "...This prince is not crying!"
The Old Turtle Prime Minister: "Yes, yes, yes, Your Highness is not crying."
Cang Che: "This is seawater!"
The Old Turtle Prime Minister: "Yes, yes, yes, seawater."
Cang Che: "..."
He crumpled the handkerchief into a ball and stuffed it into his sleeve.
Then he continued to clap.
His eyes grew even redder.
The banquet resumed.
The sounds of strings and flutes were even more cheerful than before.
The Clam Maidens returned to the floor, performing ancient dance steps and fluttering through the water, their sea-silk veils like clouds and mist.
The subjects could finally eat and drink freely, holding wine jars larger than their own heads and gulping down the contents.
The Old Turtle Prime Minister drank too much.
He hugged Cangming's leg, crying like an eight-hundred-year-old child.
"Your Majesty... Your Majesty, finally... this old servant has waited for the day of the Dragon Ancestor's return... waited for eight hundred years..."
Cangming stood there at a loss, not knowing whether to help him up or leave him be.
He looked toward the Dragon Ancestor for help.
Chen Zhou picked up his wine cup and lowered his eyes to taste the wine.
He pretended not to see.
Cangming: "..."
He could only find a way himself.
He bent down, attempting to peel the Old Turtle Prime Minister off his leg.
He tried a few times.
He couldn't budge him.
Wait, how was this old man so strong?
Cang Che stood to the side gloating, his smile so wide his eyes were nearly closed.
Then the Old Turtle Prime Minister's other hand grabbed his leg as well.
Cang Che's smile froze.
"Your Majesty... Second Prince... this old servant watched you grow up... this old servant cannot bear to leave you..."
Cang Che: "...Let go! Let go of this prince's leg!"
The Old Turtle Prime Minister: "Waaaaah—"
Cang Che: "..."
Cangming silently glanced at his brother.
Karma.
...
Two days later.
The Eastern Region had enjoyed a rare period of peace over these two days.
The Sea Emperor had departed, the new emperor was crowned, the black spots were under control, and the defense lines were being rebuilt.
Rest and recovery were now only a matter of time.
Amidst waves of ghost-like wailing and screams, Chen Zhou finished treating a batch of soldiers infected by the black spots.
Then, under a flurry of grateful and worshipping gazes, he walked out of the barracks.
Chen Zhou looked around, feeling it was strange that he hadn't seen the brothers Cangming and Cang Che.
One had to know that for the past two days, no matter where he went, those two brothers had followed closely.
Even when he came to the barracks, they had personally escorted him.
Where were they now?
Chen Zhou felt suspicious and walked around for a bit before spotting three figures huddled together in a corner, whispering.
Cangming had his head lowered, the tips of his ears turning red.
Cang Che looked righteous, but his eyes were darting around, refusing to look toward Chen Zhou.
Plague Rat stood at the front with his arms crossed, looking perfectly composed.
"Lord, this rat has arrived."
Chen Zhou looked down at it.
"Is the matter at the provincial capital handled?"
Plague Rat gave a dry laugh.
"Hehe, almost, almost."
"Lord, you also know that this rat stayed in the Eastern Region for so long and has deep feelings for the seafood brothers."
"Wasn't this rat thinking about them? So I came over to take a look, just a look."
"This rat will go back to help immediately. Lord, you carry on with your business, please continue!"
After saying that, Plague Rat scurried out of the barracks in a flash, not forgetting to give a sneaky wink to Cangming and Cang Che as he left.
Cangming was stunned.
Cang Che reacted faster, immediately stepping forward half a pace.
"Lord Dragon Ancestor, this subject suddenly remembered that the whale guard on rotation today has not been handed over yet. This subject shall also take his leave for a moment."
Cangming looked at his brother blankly, and before he could react, he was dragged out of the barracks by his sleeve by Cang Che.
Chen Zhou looked at the empty barracks and didn't press further.
Although the little rat talked a lot of nonsense, it never faltered on important matters.
Chen Zhou figured it was likely about that matter Plague Rat wanted to report last time but wasn't in a hurry about.
Since it wasn't urgent, it meant it wasn't a major issue.
There was no need to worry.
Another two days passed.
Chen Zhou finished treating the last few severe cases of infection in the Eastern Region, left behind enough Flesh-Reconstitution Pills for the Sea Race to heal, and left the Dragon Palace with Jian Huaishuang.
Before his departure, Cangming led the officials in kneeling to see him off for a thousand li, and they remained there long after that black-robed figure disappeared into the depths of the sea.
When Chen Zhou returned to the provincial capital, it was already noon.
After several days of cleaning, the ruins of the imperial city no longer looked as tragic as they once had.
The Looking-Home Platform stood tall and majestic, surrounded by large areas of temporary tents where surviving civilians and believers who had arrived from various places were being settled in an orderly fashion.
Chen Zhou passed the Looking-Home Platform and walked toward the former site of the imperial palace.
Su Xue and Piao should still be over there.
Then he paused.
Just as he stepped into the camp area, a cloud of purple mist rushed toward him.
"Oink—!"
The little pig kicked off with its four hooves, its round body like a cannonball, flying straight toward Chen Zhou's arms.
Chen Zhou instinctively raised his hands, preparing to catch this increasingly clingy Dream Demon.
Then he caught nothing but air.
A hand reached out from the side, accurately grabbing the little pig by the scruff of its neck.
The little pig refused to submit, its four hooves flailing in the air.
"Oink! Oink oink!"
Wu Gou remained unmoved.
"There are too many wounded, and they are all crying in pain."
"Go make them sleep."
Wu Gou held the struggling little pig and turned to look at Chen Zhou with a grin.
"Lord, you have returned."
"You carry on with your business first. This poor monk shall take his leave."
"Sigh, there are too many wounded, and none of them are easy to deal with. They can't do without the little pig."
Then, the little pig was obediently carried away by Wu Gou, its four legs dangling helplessly in the air like a resigned piece of cured meat.
Chen Zhou nodded and continued forward.
After walking a few paces, another dark shadow scurried over.
"Woof!"
Huo Dou stuck out its tongue, its four claws moving like the wind, its tail wagging like a fire-wheel.
Then it was also grabbed.
Wu Hai flashed out from the side, one hand gripping Huo Dou by the scruff of its neck while the other held his monk staff.
"Ancestral Master, you've finally returned!"
Wu Hai wore a fawning smile, but his hand was relentless as he dragged the struggling Huo Dou back.
"This pup is being inconsiderate, only thinking of pestering the Ancestral Master without looking at what time it is!"
He glared at Huo Dou.
"Little benefactor Song is alone in the kitchen boiling water, busy beyond belief. Go help him fire the boiler and stop causing trouble here."
Huo Dou let out a wronged whimper.
It had clearly just seen Song Zi'an dozing off by the stove; where did 'busy beyond belief' come from?
But it could not speak.
It could only look at Chen Zhou with a pleading gaze.
Chen Zhou met its eyes.
Then Huo Dou was also dragged away.
Its four legs drew two long furrows in the ground.
Chen Zhou stood in place, silent for a moment.
He continued walking.
This time he deliberately slowed his pace, his gaze scanning the surrounding tents.
Where was Poison-Wing?
In the past, this fellow loved to perch on the highest flagpole, disguising himself as a majestic statue.
Now the flagpole was empty, without even a single feather.
And Piao?
Had the little insect not been clamoring to go to the Western Region to eat black spots? She was also nowhere to be seen.
Just as Chen Zhou withdrew his gaze, he ran into Bai and Xiaoye.
The two performed a deep bow to Chen Zhou, then bypassed him and blocked Jian Huaishuang behind him.
The two tried their best to keep straight faces and look serious.
"Uncle Jian, we want to learn new sword techniques."
Jian Huaishuang was silent.
He looked at Chen Zhou.
Chen Zhou met his gaze.
Jian Huaishuang was silent for another breath.
Then he nodded.
"Alright."
Bai and Xiaoye cheered, pulling on Jian Huaishuang's sleeves from both sides and skipping away toward the distance.
Jian Huaishuang resignedly allowed himself to be led away.
Chen Zhou stood in place, watching the last person beside him gradually walk away.
He finally realized a problem.
How was it that after this deity took a trip to the Eastern Region, I returned to find myself isolated?
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