The Master and His Wealthy Fiancée

Li Huiran stared at the horrifying scene on the riverbank, which had spiraled completely out of control.

Tens of thousands of curse-afflicted Fish People were charging the defensive line. High-pressure water guns and riot shields might as well have been nothing in their eyes; all they knew was to press forward into the river. Even when knocked down, they would numbly get back up and continue their advance.

The number of Fish People grew and grew. Even with the Military Suppression Department joining the defensive line, the pressure was immense. The officers' hoarse voices shouted, "Stay back! Stay back! We'll save you, just please, stay back!"

But at one chokepoint, the Fish People pressed against each other, shoving the defenders into the river along with them. The moment the line broke, chaos erupted. The Fish People swarmed through the gap, and countless more poured into the water.

In the defense command post, Xu Zong's expression was grim. "How many people have entered the river so far?" he asked, his voice cold.

Tang Xian, looking equally grim, replied, "We can't get an exact count, but it's estimated to be over twenty thousand!"

"Damn it, what the hell is this thing! How can ordinary people suddenly turn into this!"

"The Domain Lord has already gone down to investigate. We should have news soon." Just as Tang Xian finished speaking, a figure flew up from the river, striding across the water's surface.

The newcomer looked to be a noblewoman in her thirties. Dressed in the black uniform of the Military Suppression Department, she had a stern and imposing air. This was none other than the Military Suppression Department's Tianjiang Domain Lord, Cao Su. Her cultivation had extended her lifespan to two hundred years, which was why she appeared so young. Unlike ordinary members of the department, her uniform was embroidered with elegant Dark Gold patterns.

Cao Su stepped onto the bank and instantly used her True Qi to evaporate the water from her uniform. "There's an abyssal fissure at the bottom of the river," she said coldly. "The Fish People are all swimming toward it. Deep in that abyss is a Flood Dragon, bound in iron chains."

Xu Zong and Tang Xian were stunned. They never imagined such a legendary creature would actually appear in the world.

Cao Su continued in her cold tone, "The condition of the Fish People is connected to this Flood Dragon. It must be using them to try and break free!"

Tang Xian quickly asked, "Domain Lord, is there anything we can do?"

Cao Su considered for a moment. "Get the mini-submarines. Have the Bannermen go down and set up a large Array. I'll lead the main assault. We absolutely cannot let this Flood Dragon escape. If it does, none of us will be a match for it!"

Tang Xian and Xu Zong replied solemnly, "We will prepare at once."

After giving her orders, Cao Su's brow remained tightly furrowed. 'She could sense the Flood Dragon was already injured, but she had no idea who could have done it.'

Li Huiran stared at the river's surface with worry. It had been three hours since Chen Dong went down. She hesitated, wondering if she should call his master. Just as she was about to dial, dozens of mini-submarines appeared on the water.

She clutched her phone, deciding to wait a while longer. After all, Chen Dong had told her to call only if he wasn't back after five hours.

Deep in the riverbed abyss, the Evil Flood Dragon licked the wound Chen Dong had given it. Ever since it had frozen the two of them, it had been tending to its injuries. Losing an eye was nothing compared to this other wound; the will-infused True Qi left behind by Chen Dong was unlike anything it had ever encountered, actively preventing it from healing. After more than two hours, it had finally managed to force out most of the invasive energy.

Sensing the increasing number of Fish People in the water, the Evil Flood Dragon's foul mood from its injuries began to lift. 'Soon,' it thought, 'not only will I be free, but I will become a true dragon, soaring through the nine heavens.'

'It thought back to the day it was chained here. If that person hadn't died, it could have settled the score with him. But even if he was dead, his descendants would pay the price. It had held onto this grudge for over seventy-six hundred years!'

Just as the Evil Flood Dragon was reveling in its thoughts, dozens of mini-submarines came to a halt around it, arranged in a strategic formation like pieces on a Go board.

"Who are you? Do you intend to move against me?"

An ancient, primeval voice echoed in the minds of every member of the Military Suppression Department, sending a tremor through their hearts. 'What kind of being is this?' they all wondered.

The Evil Flood Dragon had no desire to fight right now. Not only was it far from its peak condition, but more importantly, it was only a third short of the total number of Fish People it needed.

It immediately sent a telepathic message to everyone in the abyss. "I am the Tianjiang River God! Help me break free, and I shall grant your every wish!"

In truth, it wasn't the Tianjiang River God; it had simply made up the title to stall for time.

But upon hearing this, many of the Military Suppression Department personnel hesitated, starting to believe its words. At that very moment, Cao Su's voice crackled through their comms: "A being that commits such evil has the gall to call itself a River God? All units, on my command—engage!"

At Cao Su's command, each submarine fired a black stone pillar, which embedded itself in the floor of the abyss.

Perhaps because there weren't enough submarines, some fired two pillars instead of one. A total of fifty-six stone pillars now surrounded the Evil Flood Dragon. As fate would have it, one of them struck the massive block of ice containing Chen Dong.

With the Array in place, Cao Su emerged from one of the submarines, a Dark Gold Halberd in her hand.

She focused her True Qi, channeling it into the Dark Gold Halberd, and lunged, thrusting the weapon toward the Evil Flood Dragon.

The Evil Flood Dragon was still wondering how these strange, man-made vessels operated when they completed the Array formation.

Now, facing the Dark Gold Halberd brimming with True Qi, the Evil Flood Dragon dared not be careless. It opened its maw, preparing to gather its frosty breath, but the fifty-six stone pillars suddenly flashed. A web of light erupted from them, ensnaring the beast's body and sealing the very space around it.