In his previous life, Yue had indeed been a Peng himself. He had blinded the eye of a mischievous dragon living within the Yellow River. So when the dragon heard his newly reborn enemy cry, he flooded the river to kill Yue and get his revenge, but failed.
In his former life, Yue had been a Peng himself. He had incapacitated the eye of a troublesome dragon residing within the Yellow River. As a result, when the dragon heard his newly resurrected adversary wail, he inundated the river to slay Yue and exact his vengeance, but was unsuccessful.