The Yangtze alligator, also known as a crocodile, is locally called "Tu Long" in Jinling, which explains why Yaoyao called it a "four-legged lizard" and didn't recognize it. As the name suggests, this crocodile lives in the Yangtze River, and there are no other species of crocodiles in the northeast, which is why Yaoyao had never seen one.
I've seen that thing; it's quite cute. It was even in the news recently because it liked eating Wangwang Snow Cakes.
"Where did that big crocodile go?" Shen Xingyue asked.
"Too far, I couldn't see it, only found this small one," Yaoyao said, perhaps it went to forage and hasn't returned yet.
Shen Xingyue looked at Daoist Sun again, "Old Sun, can you tell us? What's going on?"
Daoist Sun slowly raised his head and was about to speak when he saw me. "Hey, hey, aren't you that..."
"Sorry, Daoist Sun," I said with a smile. "I didn't listen to your advice and ended up digging up my dream girl."
As I spoke, I pushed Yaoyao forward. "Yaoyao, this is the old Daoist who zapped you with golden light."
"I know," Yaoyao said with a cold laugh.
Daoist Sun's eyes widened. "You, you, Little Shen! Jingxiang? How are you two together?"
Before we could answer, Daoist Sun took a deep breath and fainted again, possibly from being too excited, or perhaps seeing a living Mu Jige scared him.
I asked Li Jingxiang to carry Daoist Sun to a room to take care of him. This lead was broken, so we could only investigate the victim. He must have concealed something important, which led to Daoist Sun and others being trapped here by demonic creatures.
Under Shen Xingyue's tough questioning, the victim finally revealed the truth.
The victim was a local real estate tycoon who, a year ago, took a liking to this area in Cuiping Mountain and bought it with huge investment to build a villa for his retirement.
However, while laying the foundation, they dug up an egg. This wasn't a matter of superstition, because the egg was emitting green light rhythmically, clearly indicating a living creature inside, not a fossilized dinosaur egg. So the tycoon found a Daoist to examine it. The Daoist said, "Oh, tycoon, this is a good thing! This is called the Son of Taishui. Finding this means this place is a geomantically auspicious spot with concentrated Yang energy. If you build a rockery on top of it to suppress it, Taishui will not only help your business prosper but also bless your descendants with wealth and nobility."
The tycoon believed him, built a shrine for the "Taishui Egg" underground, and then placed a rockery on top, thinking he had struck gold. Then, he continued building the villa.
When the villa was completed, decorated, and had been left for a while, the tycoon happily moved in with his family. But on the very first night, the tycoon felt something was wrong. A chilling wind constantly blew from the woods behind the villa, yet the leaves didn't rustle. That night, one of his "female secretaries" went missing!
The tycoon thought it was haunted and found Daoists to exorcise the ghosts. Two Daoists came, and both mysteriously disappeared. It was then that the tycoon invited Old Daoist Sun.
Old Daoist Sun did not disappear, but during the ritual, he was knocked unconscious by something and fell to the ground, yet he had no visible injuries.
Knowing Old Daoist Sun was very capable, the tycoon thought he was too old and ineffective. He then hired two more groups at a high price: those two Daoists and two monks, but the result was the same. During their rituals, they all mysteriously collapsed.
"That's all?" Shen Xingyue asked.
"That's all. I've told you everything I know," the victim said with a tearful voice, pleading, "Captain Shen, can you return the Son of Taishui to me? I'm still counting on that thing to protect my descendants!"
"You're so foolish. So many people have died, and you still have such illusions?" Shen Xingyue rebuked. "You're done here, you can go back now."
"Captain Shen, that Son of Taishui..." the victim was still stubborn.
"Get out! Or you'll die!" Shen Xingyue threatened.
The victim wanted wealth but feared death more. He quickly left the courtyard.
Yaoyao scratched her head. "I don't understand this kind of demon. I can't figure out how it's making people faint."
"Could it be... the lightning of a flood dragon?" Shen Xingyue guessed. She suddenly got up and went into the room. I curiously followed her. Shen Xingyue lifted Daoist Sun's robe and, sure enough, found a faint lightning-shaped mark on his back.
"What is a flood dragon?" I asked.
"A dragon in water is called a flood dragon. The ancient 'flood dragons' were merely Yangtze alligators cultivating to become spirits," Shen Xingyue said casually.