Chapter 361

Chapter 361: He Went to the Qinglou

For three whole days.

The someone from the North Sea Dragon Palace hasn’t made a move to see Ming.

But Ming wasn’t particularly anxious either.

Every day, Ming aimlessly wandered around the North Sea Dragon Capital, soaking in its local customs and culture.

Surprisingly, the North Sea Dragon Capital isn’t much different from the human world.

Inside the capital, there are all sorts of shops, inns, and even Qinglous.

Ming visited the most famous Qinglou in the North Sea Dragon Capital for a look.

If you want to quickly understand a place, visiting a Qinglou is often the best choice. It’s filled with all kinds of people, truly a microcosm of the area.

When Ming entered the Qinglou, the mermaid women saw a handsome human gentleman approach and immediately swarmed around him.

These Qinglou girls, who usually eat too much seafood, thought it was quite delightful to occasionally indulge in some land-based delicacies.

Judging by their enthusiastic reception, Ming felt like he should be paid instead of paying them.

However, Ming didn’t call for any companions. Instead, he found a solitary spot, sat down, and watched the mermaid dancers on the stage in the middle.

Ming thought that perhaps because the deep sea lacks sunlight, relying entirely on magic arrays for light, these deep-sea maidens indeed have exceptionally good skin, generally whiter than humans.

Moreover, Ming noticed that these mermaid women looked very hydrated, possibly due to living underwater all the time, making them appear plump and juicy.

Ming didn’t stay long at the Qinglou. After finishing a pot of wine and watching a few performances, Ming quietly placed his gold on the table and left.

Continuing to stroll through the streets of the North Sea Dragon Capital.

Besides the foreign envoys who came to congratulate, Ming also spotted other humans within the North Sea Dragon Capital.

After all, as the administrative center of the entire North Sea, the North Sea Dragon Capital governs not only the ocean but also all the islands in the North Sea.

Thus, it’s normal for cultivators from nearby islands to visit the Dragon Capital.

Ming found a tavern, sat down for a drink, and had a meal.

However, drinking and eating weren’t Ming’s main objectives.

Ming mainly wanted to learn more about this place and the Dragon Empress.

Taverns and Qinglous are where various kinds of information converge.

Earlier in the Qinglou, there were too few people, mainly because it was daytime, so no useful intel could be gathered. So Ming switched directions and went to the tavern.

Sure enough, when people get drunk, they love to talk politics, discussing everything under the sun. All sorts of news, whether true or false, flow freely. Ming listened intently to these rumors, getting more and more intrigued.

“Will the other three Dragon Kings attend this Four Seas Ceremony?”

Just after Ming ordered his dishes and before the food arrived, he overheard others discussing politics. Ming perked up his ears immediately.

“Of course, they will,” said a shrimp-headed man. “Although the relationship between His Majesty and the other three isn’t great, this is the Four Seas Ceremony. How could anyone dare not show up?”

“I think so too,” added a shrimp-headed woman. “Not to mention, His Majesty has invited many people from the mainland this time. This Four Seas Ceremony will definitely be grand. Those people don’t have the guts to defy our Emperor.”

“Speaking of which, is something troubling our Emperor recently?” asked a crab.

“Why do you say that?” another lobster inquired curiously.

“I just heard rumors,” the crab replied. “Rumors say that His Majesty has been locked away in his bedchamber for days without stepping out.”

“Isn’t that what His Majesty usually does?” an old turtle chimed in.

Another turtle nodded. “Indeed. Rumor has it that ever since His Majesty separated from that one person, he’s lost interest in the outside world, leaving most matters to his subordinates.”

“Sigh, my grandfather’s grandfather (many generations back) mentioned this. His Majesty seems to have a mysterious obsession in this regard. With His Majesty’s status, can’t he find anyone he desires?” a kelp fish remarked.

“You guys don’t understand!” a mermaid retorted angrily. “This is called devotion! Not like you men who are always fickle. Who can match His Majesty’s level of devotion?”

As she spoke, stars sparkled in the mermaid’s eyes. “It’s been over ten thousand years! The heavens are truly heartless. If the heavens have eyes, why can’t they let such a devoted Emperor find happiness after waiting so long?”

Listening to the conversation at the neighboring table, Ming grew increasingly curious. Holding the wine jug on the table, Ming approached their table with a smile and politely asked, “Excuse me, may I inquire what exactly His Majesty has been waiting for? For ten thousand years?”

…

In a garden of the North Sea Dragon Palace, a woman dressed in a pale blue long dress remained seated on a stone bench, her head tilted upward gazing at the sky above the ocean.

Unless there’s something urgent to handle, once free, this ancient emperor always indulges in this rather dull activity.

No one knows what His Majesty is thinking about or looking at.

“Your Majesty, the Wu Kingdom’s envoy has been here for three days now. Would you like to meet them?”

A maidservant approached the Dragon Empress and bowed respectfully.

“There’s no need. There’s nothing worth seeing. We’ll discuss it during the ceremony.”

The Dragon Empress responded calmly.

Even though the Dragon Empress thought there was a slight possibility that this person named Ming might be the one she was searching for,

after so many years, the Empress’ heart has become as calm as still water.

Previously, the Empress wasn’t unfamiliar with similar situations, mistakenly believing she had found him.

But upon meeting face-to-face, the Empress realized she was mistaken again.

The Empress doesn’t hold high hopes for Ming; it’s merely considering the “what if” scenario.

“Yes.” The maid nodded, placed the fruit tray down, and prepared to leave.

“How is that Xu Ming doing? What has he been up to these past few days?”

Before the maid took more than a few steps, the Empress questioned.

The maid immediately stopped, turned around, bowed respectfully, and replied, “That Xu Ming from the Wu Kingdom was relatively quiet inside the palace these past two days, practicing cultivation silently without going anywhere. However, today, he left the palace and seemed to have visited a Qinglou.”

Leg Broken, Processing Hospital Admission

Today, I got hit by an electric scooter and ended up in the hospital. Now I’m processing admission paperwork.

It’s not like I planned to take a break. We’ll see how the check-up goes. Luckily, it’s not my hand that’s broken.