Long, long ago, rain ceased to fall across China. The people prayed fervently to the Jade Emperor, the supreme ruler of heaven, earth, and sea, but their pleas went unanswered.
Four dragons dwelling in the East China Sea swam ashore to investigate. They witnessed people scraping grass from the parched, cracked earth, having nothing else to eat.
"We must do something," declared Long Dragon, with Yellow Dragon nodding in agreement. "We must help them ourselves," added Pearl Dragon, "for the Jade Emperor will never heed their prayers."
Suddenly inspired, they devised a plan. The dragons swam vigorously, gathering vast quantities of water with their bodies. Then, as one, they soared into the sky. Black Dragon flew north, Long Dragon west, Pearl Dragon to the southernmost reaches, and Yellow Dragon to the heart of the land. Simultaneously, they released the water from their mouths, limbs, and tails.
The people below looked up, not seeing the dragons but only glorious rain falling from the heavens—each drop more precious than any jewel. "Rain!" they cried out joyfully, and all creatures rushed out to dance in the life-giving shower.
Witnessing this, the Jade Emperor was enraged. "Who dares to tamper with my domain?" he roared, spotting the four dragons circling above. "You will not escape!" Summoning the Mountain God, he commanded the dragons' execution.
The Mountain God hurled four mighty mountains onto the dragons the moment they touched ground, crushing them. Then, a wondrous transformation occurred: four great rivers sprang forth from beneath the mountains, coursing across the entire country.
Thus, it is said, China's four great rivers were born: the Yangtze, the Yellow, the Pearl, and the Heilongjiang—the eternal legacy of the four noble dragons who once saved the people.