Recap
The spirit body continued, his voice resonating through the hall. “We have survived the darkest times. Those strange beasts have no ‘civilization,’ no faith, unity, or love. They are chaos, driven by bloodlust. We are superior. Imagine the danger if the throne’s power remains in their hands.”
“It must be controlled by civilization, wielded by the Alliance for the greater good.”
“But we can’t ‘control’ it, can we?” Shen Chaomu countered. “It’s not about ‘taking back’ the throne; it’s about stealing it. Admitting that is no shame, just as admitting that we are physically and spiritually weaker than some strange beasts is no shame. Different races have different values. They exist in their own ways. Conflict is inevitable. I will hunt down any strange beast that threatens the Alliance, and I won’t feel guilty. I am proud of my civilization. But I’ve met many strange beasts, witnessed their cruelty and their beauty. I haven’t seen this supposed superiority. Perhaps Wilpan’s civilization is circuses and storm clouds, the siren’s is bones and song. To us, it’s an attack, a provocation. Or maybe there’s a silly dragon somewhere whose civilization revolves around food, treasure, and princesses. The word ‘civilization’ is a human construct. Why should they care if they possess it?”
Shen Chaomu exited the hall, the wind still swirling within its depths. His ancestors were furious, but few dared openly rebuke him. He was unique, his power undeniable. He was young, yet his spiritual strength was already formidable. With more experience and training, he would surpass even the greatest heroes in their history. The Alliance had many talented individuals, Bai Yiyi and Uther among them, but it lacked someone destined for greatness, someone whose name would echo through the ages.
Dawn painted the sky with streaks of pale light. Waves crashed against the jagged reefs, their dark forms stark against the nascent sunrise.
He descended the stone steps, intending to return to the aircraft, but an inexplicable urge led him down a side path, toward a secluded cemetery.
This was where the less celebrated members of the Dragon Hunting families were laid to rest, their graves nestled in a quiet corner of the island. White and black tombstones stood in neat rows, dew clinging to their cold surfaces. Fresh flowers, white and pale yellow, lay before several graves. Someone had been here recently.
Shen Chaomu followed the path, sunlight filtering through the trees. He soon found the visitor, a familiar elder of the family.
“Chaomu, why have you returned?” the elder asked, surprised.
“A minor matter, already resolved,” Shen Chaomu replied. “I’m leaving soon, for Tabu.”
“Won’t you stay for breakfast? We have fresh bread.” The elder smiled, wrinkles crinkling the corners of his eyes. Shen Chaomu hadn’t noticed them before. Time flew.
“No, I’m in a hurry. The situation in Tabu is complicated. There’s a wildfire.” He hesitated. “I wanted to ask you something.”
He led the elder deeper into the cemetery, toward a secluded corner hidden behind a gnarled tree. Moss and ferns grew wild, a few wildflowers blooming amidst the untamed greenery. A small yellow bird startled from a weathered tombstone.
The inscription read: Shen Xing.
No photograph, just a woman’s name.
The female voice in the trial hall, accusing someone of treachery, echoed in his mind. He had considered many names from the family history, but this tombstone, this forgotten woman, kept returning to his thoughts.
She was the only one labeled a traitor who was still buried on the island. But her story was lost to time.
“Why have you come here?” the elder asked.
“I wanted to ask if you knew her.”
“I don’t know much,” the elder admitted. “I simply place flowers here whenever I visit. But my grandfather mentioned her when I was young.”
“What did he say?”
The elder frowned, trying to remember. “I believe he said she was a ‘whale whisperer.’ The term was unusual, so it stuck with me. Have you checked the family registry? There might be more information there.”
“I did. It only mentions that she was married, divorced shortly after, and died in an accident at thirty-six. No details about her life, her betrayal, or her death.”
“Records were less organized back then. That’s not unusual. Many lives are simple, easily summarized in a few words.” The elder smiled. “Perhaps mine will be too. But Chaomu, yours will be different.”
Shen Chaomu had heard such pronouncements since childhood. He was used to the weight of expectations.
Shen Chaomu looked up, the green leaves swaying in the sun.
The elder bent down again and placed a bouquet of flowers in front of Shen Xing’s tomb.
So before leaving, the two of them saw the petals trembling slightly in the wind, and the moss was as soft as a quilt.
Ten minutes later, Shen Chaomu boarded the aircraft and prepared to return to Tabu.
……
“You’re wrong!” the Black Knight declared. “Why are you playing cards so randomly?”
“I have terrible cards,” Long Shiyu grumbled. “I can’t make any plays.”
“Let me see. A brave knight always wins.”
Two minutes later, they were both bankrupt.
“This is outrageous!” the Black Knight roared.
The aircraft landed outside the inn. Long Shiyu, his eyes lighting up, dashed out, clutching the three remaining slices of watermelon he had pilfered from the knight.
“Friend! Friend!” the Black Knight yelled after him. “You stole my fruit!”
Long Shiyu ignored him, rushing toward the inn and his princess.
“Did you wander off yesterday?” Shen Chaomu asked as soon as he entered.
“No, I slept and ate all day,” Long Shiyu replied innocently.
Shen Chaomu looked pleased.
“But I’m still angry that you lied to me,” Long Shiyu added, his lower lip trembling.
Shen Chaomu remembered the heartbroken dragon from the previous day. He ruffled Long Shiyu’s hair. “You’ve lied to me countless times,” he pointed out. “I lied twice. Why are you so sensitive? Are you a double-standard dragon?”
Long Shiyu glared at him. “It’s not lying for an evil dragon! But you…you’re a human…”
“What am I?” Shen Chaomu asked, amused.
Long Shiyu mumbled incoherently, then declared, “I’m still angry. I’m not talking to you.”
Shen Chaomu chuckled. “I’m going to the orc territory later,” he said. “They have delicious tree brew and unique delicacies there. Want to come?”
Long Shiyu looked at him, his heart melting at the sight of his handsome princess, bathed in the afternoon sun, his eyes sparkling with warmth.
But he couldn’t give in so easily. “I’m still angry,” he declared. “I don’t want to go with you.”
“They have the most succulent barbecue,” Shen Chaomu tempted. “The flavors are beyond imagination. Tabu animals have unique meat, difficult to transport, so you can only taste it fresh here.”
Long Shiyu took a large bite of watermelon, trying to appear indifferent.
“And beneath the orcs’ sacred tree, you can drink nectar,” Shen Chaomu continued. “If we leave now, we’ll be there for the full moon. Drinking nectar from their horn bowl under the full moon is a once-in-a-half-year opportunity.”
Long Shiyu finished the watermelon, then, in a moment of weakness, devoured the rind.
“Spit that out!” Shen Chaomu cried, alarmed. He patted Long Shiyu’s back, trying to dislodge the rind.
Long Shiyu dodged, aggrieved. “Don’t pat me! You can’t just vomit what you’ve eaten!”
Shen Chaomu, realizing the futility of his efforts given a dragon’s digestive abilities, sighed. “So, do you want to come with me? There’s more. They have a special breed of fragrant pig that roams freely, feeding on mushrooms, fruits, and anything they can find. Their favorite is the light grass that grows beneath the sacred tree. It gives their meat a unique flavor. Don’t you want to try it?”
Long Shiyu was sorely tempted, but he couldn’t surrender so easily. He started to chew on his fingers in frustration.
“Stop that!” Shen Chaomu pulled his hand away. “Why do you eat everything?”
Long Shiyu, after a dramatic internal struggle, finally relented. “I’ll go with you,” he declared, “but that doesn’t mean I’m not angry anymore.”
“Okay, okay, I know you’re still angry.” Shen Chaomu smiled, ruffling his hair.
“What are we doing there?” Long Shiyu asked.
“Romeo needs a few ingredients from the sacred tree to treat mixed injuries. He gave me a list. The wildfire is also in that direction, so we can check on the situation.”
“Okay.”
“We need to heal your injury first,” Shen Chaomu said, his voice softening. “Other things can wait. I’m patient. I’ll wait until the truth is revealed.”
Half an hour later, they boarded the aircraft bound for the ancient tree. Lu Shanhuai remained on the main star. Fang Qing stayed at the inn, engrossed in his experiments and occasionally bursting into song, much to Douglas’s displeasure.
Joining them this time were Song Qianqian, Yang Zhiming, and Li Jianchun. And, unexpectedly, the Black Knight.
“Are you going to the ancient tree, friends?” he boomed, his greatsword slung over his shoulder, Potato trotting beside him. “Mind if I join you? I haven’t visited in a while. A newly awakened knight needs to stretch his legs.”
After a brief discussion with the others, Shen Chaomu agreed.
The Black Knight, terrified of the flying contraption, huddled in a corner, while his trusty steed calmly munched on carrots.
The journey was long. Even at the aircraft’s high speed, it would take nearly twenty hours to reach the ancient tree.
That evening, Long Shiyu prepared a feast of sweet and sour pork and mutton soup. The meat was tender, the broth rich and flavorful. With a garnish of chopped green onions, it was a culinary masterpiece. Machine-made side dishes and a chocolate cake for dessert completed the meal.
Long Shiyu served everyone a bowl of soup. Song Qianqian, still awkward around the dragon, accepted hers with a hesitant smile. Yang Zhiming, oblivious, dug in with gusto. Fang Qing, trusting Shen Chaomu’s judgment, simply enjoyed the delicious meal.
Shen Chaomu noticed Song Qianqian’s discomfort but wasn’t sure how to address it yet.
That night, for the first time, Long Shiyu didn’t try to share Shen Chaomu’s bed. To prove his anger was genuine, he endured the pain and relinquished his nightly snuggles, along with the bedtime story and goodnight kiss. He had failed to defend his dignity as an evil dragon when his tail was stepped on; this time, he would succeed.
Shen Chaomu, reviewing documents in his room, noticed Long Shiyu’s absence after a while. He went to the storage locker and filled a bag with apples. Tabu’s apples were a vibrant red, juicy and sweet.
He left the door slightly ajar and placed the bag beside it. Then, he returned to his work, the files detailing the wildfire and the vampire threat.
Exhaustion from the previous day and the weight of his responsibilities made it difficult to concentrate. As the aircraft ascended a mountain range, his gaze drifted to the passing clouds, the receding forest, and the distant horizon where the red earth of the former dwarf lands met the green. He knew that somewhere beyond that horizon lay the High Wind Tower, the birthplace of Project High Wind.
He had grown up under the weight of expectations, the hopes of his ancestors a suffocating burden. He felt his life was dedicated solely to hunting. So much had been invested in the plan; he couldn’t disappoint them. He had to find the throne, find Akasa Mo. This was why he preferred to work alone, even within the association. He reread those tedious reports, took on the most dangerous missions, and constantly pushed himself to improve, preparing for the final battle.
Now, doubts about Project High Wind plagued him. Would there even be a final battle?
Regardless, the dangers he faced weren’t meant to be shared. Yet, these people had followed him to Bei En, and now to Tabu. And then there was Long Shiyu, who had stumbled into his life thanks to his ridiculous fire-breathing circus act.
Shen Chaomu sighed, wondering if that circus owner had recovered from the shock.
The image of the monstrous four-legged lizardman snapped him back to the present. He glanced at the bag of apples by the door. It seemed…deflated.
He looked closer. Most of the apples were gone.
He waited by the door, watching.
Half a minute later, a silver tail snaked in, deftly snagging an apple before retreating.
Shen Chaomu chuckled.
Long Shiyu, happily munching on his stolen apple, wondered if he should risk asking for a goodnight kiss. He stretched his tail out again. It searched for another apple, then, finding none within reach, ventured further.
It was caught.
Long Shiyu blinked, confused.
The next moment, he was dragged from his room, his tail held firmly in Shen Chaomu’s grasp.
“Couldn’t you just come and get them yourself?” Shen Chaomu asked, a mixture of amusement and exasperation in his voice.
“Ying.”
“Not coming to build a nest tonight?”
“No, I’m still angry.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
His tail twitched nervously.
Shen Chaomu sighed, scooping up the dragon on the ground and depositing him on the bed. “Good boy,” he said with a smile. “I know you’re still angry. So, build a nest for me, okay?”
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