Under One Person: My Inner Realm Connects to All Worlds!

Chapter 245 The Suffering of Lingchi (Death by a Thousand Cuts), A Thousand-Year-Old Feud

Sun Fujia paused for a moment, his face showing even greater worry.

He gazed at the Dragon Locking Well, which had returned to calm but remained unfathomably deep, and sighed, "Today, the young master's methods are profound, and he has temporarily suppressed this beast."

"But the old Taoist priest has guarded the well for sixty years and knows that its resentment is growing stronger every day, while the sealing power is weakening. If this continues, the millions of people on both sides of the Minjiang River may be in danger of their homes being destroyed!"

Han Yun pondered for a moment, then stood with his hands behind his back by the well. The river breeze ruffled the hem of his clothes, and his expression remained calm and undisturbed. He simply said, "It is better to dredge than to block, and better to transform than to suppress."

"The ancient sages chose to suppress rather than kill, perhaps because they believed in the virtue of Heaven and Earth in cherishing life, and wished to leave a glimmer of hope for the evil spirits born of Heaven and Earth, so that their power could nourish the earth's veins and maintain the balance of natural coexistence."

He changed the subject, his gaze sharpening: "However, times have changed. The wise men of yesteryear may have had the resources to plan slowly and gradually, letting time wear down their ferocity."

"But now we are surrounded by external enemies and plagued by internal troubles, and we don't have much time to waste on it. If it remains stubborn and unrepentant, then we can solve this problem once and for all and completely eliminate this hidden danger."

"Completely resolved?"

Sun Fujia was taken aback, but then he understood Han Yun's meaning and his heart trembled.

Han Yun said no more. He took a step forward, and his figure floated down into the bottomless Dragon Locking Well like a feather.

The well opening appears narrow, but once you pass through an invisible barrier, the view suddenly opens up.

At the bottom of the well lay an extremely vast underground space, resembling a huge cavern, with thick water vapor and a faint fishy smell permeating the air.

The space was dimly lit, with only a few glimmers of light provided by the moss on the rock walls. The ground beneath their feet was not solid, but rather a thick layer of sand and gravel accumulated over countless years, soft and sinking underfoot.

In the center of this space, a colossal creature lay prostrate on the ground.

It was a giant dragon. The part of its body that was exposed above the sand and rocks was as thick as a palace pillar. Its dark brown scales were as big as palm fans, but most of them were dull and lusterless, and many places were even damaged and peeling off.

Several thick, dark chains, engraved with runes, extended from the surrounding rock walls, mercilessly piercing its body and imprisoning it firmly in this place.

The giant dragon was half-hidden in the sand and rocks, appearing listless.

Even more chilling is that above this space, it seems to be cleverly connected to the Dujiangyan irrigation system, with the faint sound of flowing water. Fine sand and gravel, along with groundwater, continuously erode and polish the dragon's body like a miniature waterfall.

This ingenious yet cruel arrangement utilizes the terrain and water power created by the Dujiangyan Irrigation System's "deepening the riverbed and lowering the weir" to unleash massive amounts of sand and gravel against the dragon's body.

It both prevents it from absorbing the essence of the water to restore its power, and utilizes the essence released from its dragon blood and dragon body after they are worn down to slowly and continuously nourish the Minjiang River, bringing blessings to the Shu region.

At this moment, the dragon sensed the presence of a living person, especially the oppressive aura emanating from Han Yun that made it instinctively tremble. It suddenly raised its ferocious head.

His large, crimson vertical pupils stared intently at Han Yun, filled with violence and endless resentment.

"Roar--!"

A dragon's roar, filled with pain and rage, shook the entire underground space, causing sand and stones to tumble down.

"Li Bing! Li Erlang! You two damned thieves! Butchers!"

The dragon's voice was hoarse like a broken gong, yet it carried a hatred that had pierced through millennia: "You bound my dragon body, drained my life essence, and nourished you humans... This hatred, this grudge, cannot be washed away even if the waters of the Minjiang River are poured out!"

It struggled fiercely, causing the chains piercing its body to rattle and the talismans to flicker, bringing the dragon immense pain, yet it was utterly unable to break free from these shackles that had lasted for over two thousand years.

Han Yun stood quietly in front of it, his tiny figure a stark contrast to the enormous dragon's body.

He ignored the overwhelming resentment and roars, his gaze calmly sweeping over the chains and the sand and stones that kept rushing down, taking in the tragic scene.

"Times have changed."

Han Yun spoke calmly, his voice not loud, but clearly overpowering the dragon's roar: "I'll give you a choice."

Han Yun's voice echoed in the empty underground space, carrying an undeniable authority:
"Dispel the resentment of a thousand years and return to the righteous path. I can help you reshape your dragon body and transform into the righteous god of the Minjiang River, so that you may receive incense offerings from both banks and protect this land."

Han Yun naturally had his reasons for raising this point. As the saying goes, "to be inclusive and open-minded," and from the perspective of China, it is entirely possible to accommodate a dragon.

If this dragon could be driven by the Divine Land, the benefits to the Divine Land, and the wealth it would bring directly or indirectly, would be immeasurable.

As a dragon, it is instinctive to push clouds and rain, and stir up wind and waves. If this were applied to the southeastern coastal areas, how much financial loss caused by typhoons could be avoided?

For example, if rainfall were to fall in the arid western regions, how many acres of fertile land could it nourish?
There is no such thing as trash, only treasures that are not in the right place. If this dragon can truly serve the people and bring them happiness, then it is a "true god"!
Perhaps, at some point in the future, the dragon shadow that people inadvertently capture with their mobile phones in the clouds will actually be real?

But the dragon let out a deafening laugh, its crimson vertical pupils filled with disdain: "True gods? Incense offerings? I am born of heaven and earth, how could I submit to humans and become a doorman's lackey!"

"What, you'd rather suffer this torment in this dark and hopeless place than do good?" Han Yun frowned.

The enormous dragon's head struggled to rise from its chains, a flicker of reminiscence and a deeper, more venomous resentment flashing in its scarlet vertical pupils. It let out a low laugh, like the whimper of an undercurrent at the bottom of a river:
“Li Bing…Li Erlang…and you who came after me, you keep talking about the common people, about balance, but have you ever asked why I was born, and why I am evil?”

Han Yun's gaze flickered slightly, but he did not interrupt, waiting for the other to speak. The resentment of this thousand-year-old evil dragon seemed to be more than just simple ferocity.

“I am no ordinary spirit or monster.”

The dragon straightened its head, its voice echoing through the underground space along with the rolling waves: "I am the essence of the Minjiang River, gathered over thousands of years, born and nurtured by heaven and earth, transformed into a spirit. I am the Minjiang River, and the Minjiang River is me!"

Its words reveal its astonishing origins; it is not an invading beast, but rather a "child" nurtured by this land itself, a concrete manifestation of the surging vitality of the Minjiang River.

"If it is the spirit of the water veins, why does it recklessly cause floods and poison living beings?" Han Yun asked.

"To poison and kill living beings?"

The dragon seemed to have heard a huge joke, and struggled violently, causing the chains to rattle. "This is my nature! The surging water is my nature. I want to grow, I want to transform, I want to take advantage of the flood's power, to go into the sea, and to become a dragon!"

"This is my path!"

"It's an instinct bestowed upon me by heaven and earth!"

Its roar carried a hint of naive cruelty and self-righteousness.

As the spirit of nature, it follows the most primal and direct instinct: to strengthen itself and achieve the sublimation of life.

As for the creatures on both banks, they might be no different from the fish and shrimp in the river in its eyes. It doesn't intend to slaughter them, but it won't stop because of them either. If this dragon can truly gather the essence of the Yangtze River, it might actually be able to transform into a true dragon of the water veins.

Unfortunately, his path was cut off at the very beginning, at the upper reaches of the Yangtze River.

"At that time, Li Bing and his son arrived..."

The dragon's voice was filled with deep-seated hatred: "They have blocked my path and ruined my future! What talk of 'benefiting all living beings' and 'taming the floods'!"

"They gathered the power of all people to suppress me here, but because I am the spirit of the water veins, sharing the same source and coexisting with the Minjiang River, killing me would damage the water veins, and the Shu region would gradually lose its nourishment from the water."

Han Yun nodded slightly, understanding the dilemma Li Bing and his son had faced back then. This dragon was both a "problem" and part of the "root cause."

"So, they came up with this 'win-win' wicked plan!" The dragon's voice was full of sarcasm and pain.

"First, with the blood of the people, carrying their wishes, iron chains were forged to imprison me here."

"The water from Dujiangyan will be diverted again, carrying thousands of sand and stones, to wash over my dragon body day and night. With the power of this earth's sand and stones, my scales will be worn away, my ferocity will be worn down, and the essence of my scattered water veins will be guided back to the Minjiang River to nourish both banks!"

It suddenly raised its head, displaying the dull and damaged scales on its body, worn down by the sand and gravel: "They let me live, but made me suffer this endless torture!"

"Using my pain, my very essence, to nourish those ants I despise! Is this what you call compassion?!"

The resentment that had accumulated for two thousand years spread out as if it were a tangible thing.

It was originally a spirit blessed by heaven and earth, with a promising future of transforming into a dragon, but it was forcibly imprisoned and became "nourishment" to maintain the land. How could it not hate this?

Han Yun listened quietly to its accusations, a look of understanding flashing in his eyes.

Li Bing and his son were not cruel; rather, they had to make the most realistic choice between "complete destruction leading to the drying up of the water veins" and "continuous torment in exchange for peace in one area."

At least from the perspective of the human race, they are not wrong; they are just making things difficult for a certain dragon.

This dragon, like Sha Wujing, suffers the pain of being pierced through the chest and ribs by flying swords more than a hundred times every seven days. However, this dragon suffers the pain of having its body washed by ten thousand jun of sand and stones every day.

"I already know your origins."

Han Yun finally spoke again: "However, times have changed. The 'ants' you speak of are also born of this world and have their own reason for existence. It is not wrong for you to follow your instincts, but the evolution of civilization and the prosperity of humanity are also part of the natural order."

He stepped forward and advised, "Li Bing and his son gave you a chance to live, but that was a compromise at the time. Today, I'm giving you a new choice, which can free you from your predicament. Isn't that better?"

"wishful thinking!"

The enormous dragon head shook violently, the chains making a heavy grinding sound, and it sneered: "These humans on both sides of the river have been sucking my blood and eating my dragon flesh for thousands of years without interruption, and now they want me to turn around and protect them?"

The dragon's roar shook the entire underground space: "I would rather endure ten thousand years of torment here than bow my head!"

Han Yun was not surprised by this. After all, everyone has grievances, especially dragons. Whether they are flood dragons or real dragons, and given their status as evil spirits of heaven and earth, they naturally have their pride.

How could the spirit of the mighty Minjiang River be willing to be driven by what it once considered to be ants?

Han Yun continued calmly, "Since you are so stubborn and refuse to see the truth, then I have no choice but to completely refine you and use your thousand years of cultivation to nourish the water and dragon veins of this Shu region."

Before the words were even finished, the dragon suddenly opened its mouth, and a jet-black, watery aura surged forth, its very presence seemingly corroding the air in its wake. This was the manifestation of its resentment accumulated over a thousand years, its power astonishing.

However, Han Yun merely raised his hand and pressed down, gathering his strength. The murderous aura vanished silently three feet away from him, as if it had never existed.

"It seems you have made your choice."

Han Yun sighed softly, the last trace of pity in his eyes disappearing.

He brought two fingers together, and a Pure Yang Heart Sword appeared in his hand. The Pure Yang Sword in Han Yun's hand shone brightly, and the sword intent soared to the sky. The dragon felt an unprecedented threat of death, and a trace of fear flashed in its scarlet vertical pupils. But how could a thousand years of accumulated grudges be easily resolved?
It roared wildly, its black aura surging, drawing upon the power of the water veins in the entire underground space. Countless water arrows, carrying bone-corroding evil energy, rained down on Han Yun.

"Stubborn."

Han Yun remained expressionless. The Pure Yang Sword in his hand hummed softly, and its light split into thousands of sword shadows in an instant. This was the Heavenly Escape Sword Technique inherited from Lu Zu.

The sword light was like a dragon or a hail of bullets, each strike precisely targeting the weak points of the water arrows and black mist. With a hissing sound, the malevolent water arrows were completely annihilated.

The sword light continued its relentless advance, like a cascading silver river, enveloping the entire dragon.

The dragon's massive body writhed violently amidst the sword light, emitting painful roars. Its scales, harder than refined iron, were peeled away layer by layer like paper under the pure Yang sword energy, revealing the dark silver dragon bones beneath.

A thousand pure Yang swords, dissecting dragons and removing bones, are as commonplace as slaughtering an ox.

"Roar! You can't kill me! I am the spirit of the Minjiang River, originating from the same source as the river. As long as the water veins don't dry up, I will never perish!" The dragon roared, trying to mobilize more water vein power to repair its wounds.

Han Yun smiled slightly, his left hand formed a mudra, and a gentle yet vast Buddhist light emanated from his body. He recited the Mahayana Bodhicitta Sutra, and the Dharma of emptiness was activated, spreading a sense of "all phenomena are without self, all conditioned things are impermanent".

It temporarily severed the mysterious connection between the dragon and the Minjiang River!

At the same time, with a thought, the power of the inner space quietly enveloped this world, temporarily separating this underground space from the real dimension.

The dragon was horrified to discover that it could no longer feel the vast and boundless power of the Minjiang River, as if it had become a rootless duckweed.

"No! This is impossible!"

Having lost the support of the water veins and having its bones ripped out by a thousand swords, the dragon was overwhelmed by intense pain and weakness, and finally became afraid.

As it watched Han Yun approach step by step, his sword aura chilling, it sensed the impending doom and hurriedly roared, "Stop! I...I am willing to surrender!"

The sword light suddenly stopped, hovering three inches between the dragon's eyebrows.

Han Yun stood with his sword in hand and said calmly, "It should have been done long ago."

The dragon panted heavily, its blood staining the sand and stones beneath it. Though fearful, it still held its neck high, its remaining pride carrying it as it spoke:

"I only submit to you, but I would never allow myself to be driven and served by those ant-like humans, nor to receive their offerings. I would rather perish, body and soul!"

(End of this chapter)