My Dreams Connect to Ancient Times

「Current World. In the mountains and wilds.」

Zhou Xiaotong hopped about, asking curiously,

"Master, Master, who's this grandpa?"

Yang Erlang looked at the little ponytailed girl before him and smiled warmly.

"This is your Grandpa Li, Li Changgeng. You can also call him Grandpa Taibai."

Nearby, Li Changgeng stroked his white beard and chuckled good-naturedly.

"I have to say, I never expected you to actually take on a young apprentice, Yang Erlang... Your name is Zhou Xiaotong, isn't it?"

"Yes, that's right!" Zhou Xiaotong nodded cheerfully. "Hello, Grandpa Li!"

"Yes, yes, very good..." Li Changgeng chuckled again. After teasing the little girl for a moment, he glanced over to discuss things with Yang Jian.

"I wonder what that fellow Tianpeng has summoned us for..."

Yang Jian smiled.

"He doesn't seem to be in a hurry, so it probably isn't anything major. We can just drop by on our way. It's a good chance to let Xiaotong experience the Red Dust, anyway."

Zhou Xiaotong tilted her head curiously and asked with wide-eyed innocence,

"Master, Master, what's the Red Dust?"

Yang Jian gently tapped her on the head.

"You're in the Red Dust right now."

Zhou Xiaotong was a little confused.

As they spoke, the three approached a small town. They saw a temple at its entrance with many vehicles parked out front and a large crowd of people paying their respects.

"I'm surprised so many people in this day and age still have such devout faith in Immortal Gods..." Yang Erlang remarked with some feeling. A mischievous thought then sparked in his mind, and he added,

"Let's go have a look. I wonder which old acquaintance this temple belongs to."

Zhou Xiaotong was once again confused, but Li Changgeng simply chuckled without saying anything. The three of them then ambled toward the temple.

When they drew near and stood directly in front of the temple, they could finally make out the words on the plaque overhead.

Li Changgeng subconsciously read the words aloud.

"Lu Temple... Lu Zi??"

He shivered violently, an expression of immense terror washing over his face. He stumbled back several steps, giving Zhou Xiaotong a fright.

"Old Li, what is it?" Yang Erlang was also taken aback. "What's wrong? Is there a problem with this temple? Lu Zi... The name does sound rather familiar."

Li Changgeng trembled faintly, his eyes filled with dread. He didn't answer, merely staring intently at the two words "Lu Zi" on the temple plaque, as if he had just seen some terrifying monster.

...

「Ancient Spring and Autumn Period」

In a pocket of folded space, Li Jing and Venus exchanged a look of surprise, then both couldn't help but chuckle.

'This so-called Lu Zi... His tone is certainly a bit arrogant.'

'That cold fury in his voice... it makes it sound like he's going to fight the approaching Drought Demon himself...'

The two Immortals shook their heads.

Meanwhile, inside the hall,

Duke Mu of Qin bowed with the utmost respect and began to speak, his voice laced with bitterness.

"Lu Zi, it was my oversight... This is the situation."

He took a deep breath and recounted the entire series of events to the old man seated in the place of honor.

The old man listened quietly until the duke was finished. Chaos Qi swirled in his eyes, his pupils blazing with a dazzling light, like a pair of Great Sun Golden Lamps.

He spoke, his voice ice-cold.

"So for a lack of rites and sacrifices, they visit calamity upon the people and let an Evil God walk the Earth to slaughter living beings?..."

His slow, deliberate words carried an oppressive weight, like the calm before a storm. All the ministers in the hall couldn't help but swallow nervously, and even Shang Yang, who also held the rank of Great Virtue, turned pale.

Below, the young Zhao Zheng clenched his fists again, a flicker of fire and hope in his eyes. When it came to the Drought Demon, his father, his ancestors, Shangzi, and all the other ministers and retainers... all advocated avoidance and retreat. They could only watch as disaster plagued the Qin Region, leaving the people in misery!

'Then... what about this adoptive grandfather of mine?'

As Zhao Zheng watched intently, the old man slowly rose to his feet and said softly,

"Duke Qin, build the sacrificial altar."

While Duke Mu of Qin, Shang Yang, and the other ministers breathed a sigh of relief, they also felt a pang of disappointment. 'So Lu Zi has chosen to compromise in the end? He's chosen to perform the sacrificial rites for the West Pole Celestial Court?'

The fervent light in Zhao Zheng's eyes instantly vanished, and his shoulders slumped. He felt utterly dejected, his heart filled with bitter powerlessness.

'It's true,' he thought. 'The Immortal Gods are high above, ruling all under Heaven, the entire Human World. Even at the peak of the Zhou Dynasty's power, the Celestial Son had to perform ten great sacrifices a year just to beg the Immortal Gods to deign to grant them favorable weather...'

'The Human World exists beneath the heavens, and mortals exist beneath the throngs of Immortals and Buddhas.'

Though Zhao Zheng was in the prime of his life, an age of boundless energy, his frame couldn't help but hunch over.

Meanwhile, in the pocket of folded space, Venus gently stroked his long beard and nodded slightly.

"That's a rational choice. It seems this Lu Zi isn't a reckless man after all."

Li Jing also smiled and said,

"I was actually hoping he would do something different... I was once a mortal myself and have faced disasters sent by the gods. Back then, I was just as powerless as they are now."

He recalled the great rains from many years ago, the monstrous flood that had followed, and seemed to be lost in thought for a moment.

Venus looked thoughtful. He had heard about the early falling-out between the Li Family's father and son. After a moment's consideration, he said softly,

"Celestial King, you needn't blame yourself. In truth, if Nezha hadn't had a master who was one of the esteemed Twelve Immortals of Jade Void, his soul would have likely been scattered to the winds long ago. The choice you made back then, Celestial King, was actually the best one you could have made."

Li Jing seemed dazed for a moment, then sighed.

"I'm just wondering... what would have happened if I'd been able to stand tall and not compromise with the East Sea Dragon King? Back then, I desperately hoped an Immortal would step in to help me, to save the people of Chentang Pass. But no one did. And now..."

Venus's expression changed slightly.

"Celestial King, surely you aren't thinking of lending aid to this city? You absolutely must not. The Drought Demon will retreat on its own after they perform their sacrificial rites to the Western Celestial Court. Celestial King, you must not get involved."