Chapter 428: The Battle Between the White Rhinoceros and the Dragon

The Dog Kingdom’s wise dog was named Bai Liu. He was thin, clean, and carried an air of detachment from the mundane world.

It was said that Bai Liu had a proud and noble heart. The Dog Kingdom’s young ruler admired his love for traveling and his refined morals, and had tried many times to recruit him into government service. The offered positions grew increasingly prestigious, and though he was eventually offered what sounded like a high-ranking post, Bai Liu still declined.

Song You treated him with the utmost respect.

“I am Song You, a Daoist from Great Yan. I’ve been traveling the world and have heard of the many strange lands and wonders overseas. Among them, the most curious and fascinating is the Little Kingdom. Along my journey, I’ve encountered many extraordinary things.

“Just recently, I even caught a glimpse of the Sea Dragon King. But I’ve yet to find the mysterious Little Kingdom. I’ve heard that you enjoy traveling and have extensive knowledge, including the location and means of reaching the Little Kingdom. I was wondering if you would be willing to guide or direct me?”

“You’re the Daoist from Great Yan who mediated the conflict between the Dog Kingdom and the Cat Kingdom and helped restore our alliance?” Bai Liu asked, looking at him.

“That’s right.”

“Then this must be the so-called Cat God?” Bai Liu’s gaze shifted toward Lady Calico.

“Indeed.”

Song You answered politely, though he was a bit surprised.

He hadn’t expected the news to spread so quickly. Or perhaps these “renowned and knowledgeable figures” had their own channels for gathering information without leaving their homes.

“I heard you possess extraordinary magical abilities,” Bai Liu remarked.

“I know a little.”

“What do you mean by ‘a little’?”

“Just that—I know a little bit of everything.”

“Hmph!” Bai Liu snorted softly before continuing, “You’re so eager to reach the Little Kingdom. I doubt it’s merely for sightseeing or satisfying your curiosity, is it?”

“You’ve seen right through me,” Song You admitted, maintaining his respectful demeanor, whether before a person or a dog, given that he had a favor to ask.

“To be honest, Great Yan is currently aligning with the Heavenly Dao to establish the underworld and its realms. To complete this, we require five types of special soil, one from each direction of the world. The Heavenly Dao’s guidance has revealed that one of these rare soils is located overseas.”

“And you believe... it’s in the Little Kingdom?” Bai Liu asked, narrowing his eyes.

“The Little Kingdom is indeed very peculiar,” Song You said, pausing briefly. “To be honest, I suspect that not only the Little Kingdom but also the nearby nations, including the Fierce Beast Kingdom, have been influenced by it.”

“You wish to take this special soil from the Little Kingdom?” Bai Liu asked.

“I don’t need to take it,” Song You replied truthfully. “In time, under the call of the Heavenly Dao, the five types of special soil will naturally converge in Great Yan to form the underworld, just as the Heavenly Dao once established the Great Yan Heavenly Palace years ago. The reason I’m making this trip is to speed up the process. Speeding it up is always beneficial.”

“And will taking this soil affect us in any way?” Bai Liu asked cautiously.

“You truly live up to your reputation as a renowned scholar of the Dog Kingdom,” Song You said with a polite nod. Maintaining his calm demeanor, he answered honestly, “Yes, there will be some impact, though not too severe. I am not someone who acts recklessly or without consideration, and I can guarantee you one thing.”

“And what is that?”

“If any issues arise, I will do my best to resolve them and minimize any adverse effects.”

“...”

Bai Liu remained silent for a moment, his gaze flickering as if deep in thought.

“With your abilities, I couldn’t stop you from going to the Little Kingdom even if I tried,” Bai Liu finally said. “Helping you find your way is not out of the question, but I have two questions I would like to ask, and three conditions you must agree to. If you can fulfill them, we will set off.”

Song You didn’t find this troublesome; in fact, he found it rather intriguing. He was curious to hear what Bai Liu had to say.

“Please, tell me,” Song You replied.

“First question—”

Bai Liu turned his head, locking eyes with Song You.

Song You had expected Bai Liu to ask about magic, cultivation, or something similar to worldly officials—questions about immortality, the future, or fame and fortune. But Bai Liu simply asked, “It’s said that there are true dragons in this world, creatures that are both the rulers of all beasts and ancient deities of the heavens and earth. Is the Sea Dragon King one of them?”

“No.”

“You’re so certain?”

“Yes.”

“Hmph, that aligns with my thoughts,” Bai Liu responded, his tone calm, with a hint of amusement.

“And your second question?” Song You asked, his curiosity piqued.

Bai Liu opened his mouth and asked, “How many times larger is Great Yan compared to the Fierce Beast Kingdom?”

Again, the question had nothing to do with himself or his nation.

It wasn’t about magic or cultivation. It wasn’t about immortality, fame, fortune, past events, or future prophecies. It was simply pure curiosity about the world.

“Countless times larger. So vast that even I can’t measure it,” Song You answered truthfully.

“To think it’s that large,” Bai Liu said with a sigh. He shook his head slightly and added, “And yet, the fools of the Beast Kingdom guard their tiny patch of land, thinking they’re in a vast and boundless world.”

“Your questions are different from what I expected,” Song You remarked.

“What did you think I would ask?”

“...”

Song You shook his head, choosing not to say, but he couldn’t help feeling a growing respect for Bai Liu. “You are truly a wise dog.”

“I’m just a stray dog.”

“And your three conditions?” Song You’s interest in this enigmatic figure only grew.

“First,” Bai Liu said, “you’re human, and the Little Kingdom is not afraid of outsiders visiting their island. You’ll be allowed to enter without issue. However, the Cat God by your side, while intelligent and well-mannered, may frighten the locals.”

“That’s easy! My Lady Cali—”

Before Song You could finish his sentence, he turned to the side, only to hear a soft

puff

sound. The cat next to him had already transformed into a little girl, standing obediently by his side. With her clean, snow-white face and serious expression, she tilted her head upward and stared directly at Bai Liu.

Her gaze was both focused and stern.

“She truly has divine powers...”

Bai Liu commented, wasting no time as he moved on to the second condition, “Previously, the Sea Dragon King caused a massive tidal wave. While the Cat Kingdom wasn’t greatly affected and may have even benefited from it, the fruit trees along our coastal region—planted for trade with the Monkey Kingdom—were mostly destroyed. Many of our people have been affected and are now facing a harsh winter.”

“Is it that coastal area over there?” Song You glanced toward the distant, ravaged forested hillside.

“Exactly.”

“I had been wondering why the Dog Kingdom planted so many fruit vines along the coast,” Song You said with a light chuckle. “This is no problem.”

He formed a hand seal and gently waved his hand.

A shimmering light scattered across the sky, transforming into spiritual rain.

The rain fell gently over the area.

The fruit vines and low-lying bushes did not immediately become lush and abundant with fruit, but those that had been toppled were visibly straightening themselves. Leaves that had shriveled up began to unfurl, their vibrant green color returning as vitality gradually spread.

“In three days, they will be fully restored,” Song You assured him.

“They say you brought a Cat God with you, but from what I see, you are the true divine immortal,” Bai Liu said, shaking his head in admiration. “As for the third condition, once we reach the Little Kingdom, I will need to go ahead and inform the local elders. I will do my best to persuade them to allow you to enter, but you will need to wait for their approval before stepping onto the island.”

“And if they don’t approve? Surely, I won’t be left stranded, unable to ever set foot there?”

“If that happens, I will ask you to return here and seek alternative means to reach the Little Kingdom,” Bai Liu replied. “I'm already deeply sorry for making you take this trip in vain, and I can't let you go through more trouble on the way back. On the return journey, even if I have to bite the rope and drag the boat through the sea myself, I won't let you exert even an ounce of extra effort.”

“You are a true gentleman,” Song You said, bowing slightly.

The little girl beside him mimicked the gesture, bowing as well.

With everything settled, Bai Liu stepped onto the small boat and began guiding them eastward toward the Little Kingdom.

***

Bai Liu was skilled in swimming and diving, as well as navigating the seas. It was said that he often ventured into the ocean with nothing but a piece of driftwood, always managing to find his way back. When he got tired, he would rest on the wood, and when he was hungry, he’d either fish with his tail or dive into the water to catch fish directly. Because of his frequent travels, he had seen many sights on the ocean.

As they sailed, Bai Liu both guided Song You and shared stories of the sea.

After a full day of rowing, they encountered waves and a brewing storm. This time, it was during daylight.

In the distance, waves surged wildly, and the heavy curtain of rain blurred the sky. Lightning flashed, thunder roared, and the ocean churned with ferocity.

But this was no ordinary storm.

Even someone with poor eyesight could make out the three colossal figures battling in the distance. Their forms were hazy and intermittently obscured by the rain, but the intensity of their clash was unmistakable. The sounds they produced rivaled the thunder itself, as if gods and demons were waging war.

“It’s the Sea Dragon King fighting!” Bai Liu immediately shouted, turning to look at Song You. “The Sea Dragon King is battling other gods and demons! We need to stay away—many large ships have nearly capsized because of them this past year!”

“Is that so?”

“Sir, we should retreat quickly!”

“No rush...”

Song You narrowed his eyes and stared into the storm ahead.

He then lowered his gaze to the water beneath the boat.

The depth of the sea didn’t seem too significant here. In fact, since they had passed the Yaksha Kingdom, through the Fierce Beast Kingdom, and even past the small islands and reefs along the way, the water had remained relatively shallow.

It was only around ten to several dozen zhang deep.

In the distance, amidst the raging storm, the massive form of the Sea Dragon King—stretching hundreds of feet long—darted effortlessly between the water, sky, and clouds. It appeared even more ferocious and agile than when Song You had last glimpsed it. Beside it, a hulking mass resembling a small mountain and a towering giant who stood upon the surface of the sea could be faintly seen.

“Sir!” The swallow called out as he circled back. “It’s those two!”

“It’s the rhino!”

Lady Calico also turned her head, staring at the Daoist.

“So, it’s them...”

Song You had heard rumors about the arrival of new powerful monsters fighting the Sea Dragon King and had suspected that it might be these two. However, he hadn’t expected to encounter them here.

Bai Liu, on the other hand, looked completely bewildered.

“Oh, you may not know, but these two great demons are old acquaintances of ours,” Song You explained, squinting into the distance.

He had heard that the Sea Dragon King had recently become increasingly aggressive, frequently stirring up storms at sea. But whether this was related to these two monsters, he did not yet know. If it was, then this confrontation could be far more troublesome than it appeared.

It was something he needed to clarify.

Song You turned to Bai Liu, who was visibly confused and concerned. “Don’t be alarmed or afraid. Leaving isn’t an option now. I need to go over and see what’s happening. But don’t worry—I’ll do my best to ensure your safety. I don’t expect anything will go wrong.”

Bai Liu opened his mouth, as if wanting to object, but before he could speak, the small boat began to move.

No one was rowing, yet the boat was gliding forward.

Cutting through the waves, it headed directly into the storm.

The battle between the Sea Dragon King and the two great monsters grew increasingly vivid and detailed. Each collision was like thunder exploding in their ears. The crashing waves and the pouring rain seemed even more overwhelming up close, making the chaotic scene intensely real.

Bai Liu’s eyes widened, but he wasn’t paralyzed by fear.

He was simply in awe, his heart racing. Having spent half his life exploring the seas, he had never witnessed such a spectacle. This was the grandeur he had been searching for his entire life—right before his eyes.