Yan Rong and others followed the De River, riding swiftly downstream.
This time, the cause of their pursuit was the imminent transformation of a Jiao Long cared for by their uncle, Yan Jingsi. The dragon had escaped from the Dragon Breeding Pond of the Xuanwu Pavilion and moved downstream, causing a flood that drowned some of the riverside residents to harvest their souls for cultivation.
Uncle Yan Jingsi had moved to Lei County ten years ago and was very fond of this Jiao Long, naming it Shangshan, meaning "ultimate goodness like water," in the hope that the dragon could embody his benevolent and paternal love for the people.
Despite the apt name, Shangshan the Jiao Long was mischievous and had caused trouble in previous years, angering Uncle greatly. He had scolded Shangshan for a long time. It was only after Yan Rong and others tried hard to persuade him and made him laugh by acting foolishly that his anger turned to joy, and he refrained from further punishing Shangshan.
