Recap
Inside the tower, Black Sickle greeted them with indignation. “Our glorious settlement was ruined by you, damned dragon!” He spread his wings threateningly.
Long Shiyu, unconcerned, took advantage of Romeo’s distraction to sneak a few more touches at the princess’s waist.
Romeo, surrounded by ingredients, would be busy for a while. Long Shiyu and Shen Chaomu explored the tower. Its small windows offered glimpses of the sky, now darkening with storm clouds.
Wind howled through the tower, whipping their hair and clothes. Long Shiyu’s new cloak billowed around him.
Thunder rumbled, followed by flashes of lightning. Another storm.
Shen Chaomu instinctively put an arm around Long Shiyu. “Don’t be afraid,” he said automatically.
But this time felt different. Rain lashed down, the oil lamp flickering to life. Golden light flakes mingled with the rain. The storm was intense, its energy volatile.
And within the roar of the thunder, Shen Chaomu heard it – the heavy, labored breathing of a dragon.
The wind howled, and the storm raged.
“Did you hear that?” Shen Chaomu asked, his grip tightening on Long Shiyu’s hand.
His spiritual power probed through the rain. There were no spiritual traces, but a faint aura, subtle yet undeniable, pulsed within the storm. A dragon. And a powerful one.
Excitement thrummed through his veins, a hunter’s instinct awakening. It was the same feeling he’d had when tracking Long Shiyu, the thrill of the hunt, the anticipation of facing a formidable opponent. He had never expected to find Long Shiyu calmly eating lunch on a busy street.
The fight hadn’t happened then, but the encounter had left its mark.
Now, another dragon was revealed.
Understanding dawned. This was why those violent thunderstorms had been so frequent, why Long Shiyu always sought him out during storms.
His spiritual power expanded, the oil lamp flickering as the dragon’s labored breathing and the rustle of its scales grew clearer.
“Who is he?” Shen Chaomu demanded.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Long Shiyu mumbled.
“Impossible. The connection between dragons is strong. You couldn’t miss it. You’re not hiding from the storm, but from this dragon. You stay with me because my spiritual power masks your presence, doesn’t it?”
“I really don’t know.”
“What’s his name? Has he appeared in history? Why doesn’t he have spiritual power, like you? Why is he watching you?”
“Ying!” Long Shiyu’s panic was evident.
“Don’t ‘ying’ at me. I know he exists. I’ll find out eventually. If you don’t tell me, no more food or shiny things.”
“Ying!” Long Shiyu wailed.
Shen Chaomu, his heart softening at the sight of the distressed dragon, said, “Don’t be afraid. If he’s after you, I’ll help you.”
Long Shiyu hesitated, then launched himself at Shen Chaomu, burying his face in his chest.
Shen Chaomu stumbled back, bracing himself against the wall.
Long Shiyu was distraught. Another secret he couldn’t keep from his princess.
“You shouldn’t know about this,” he whispered.
“Why?” Shen Chaomu gently returned the embrace.
“Because I’m going to kill him,” Long Shiyu confessed. “But it’s not the right time yet. With Shen Di around, I can’t risk being injured…”
“Which is why you should tell me.” Shen Chaomu stroked his hair. “You always hide things from me.”
Long Shiyu remained silent, his head buried in Shen Chaomu’s chest.
The wind howled, and thunder shook the tower.
Shen Chaomu sighed. “Forget I asked,” he said with a sad smile. “What do you want for dinner?”
“Royasno,” Long Shiyu mumbled.
“What?”
“It’s Royasno.”
…
Romeo frowned, flipping through a worn book. “The effect isn’t optimal,” he admitted. “The backlash persists. But at least the wound won’t worsen.”
He gestured to the glowing crystal ball and the surrounding magical components. “How do you feel?” he asked Long Shiyu.
“Not bad,” Long Shiyu replied, an unlit cigarette dangling from his lips.
Shen Chaomu, beside him, was engrossed in his card game.
“The side effects should fade soon,” Romeo said, picking up his wooden comb. “But can you really find the Light Snow Rose?”
“He’ll find a way,” Long Shiyu said, gesturing toward Shen Chaomu. “He knows people from the Zhanshu Chamber of Commerce. If they have it, he can negotiate. No guarantees, though.”
“I suppose that’s something.” Romeo paused, unable to contain his curiosity. “But it’s so strange…you two switching personalities like this.”
Long Shiyu, eager to escape Romeo’s scrutiny, tugged Shen Chaomu away. He had to stand on tiptoe to hug him properly.
Back on the aircraft, they returned to normal. As they flew over the darkened forest, Shen Chaomu confiscated Long Shiyu’s cigarette.
Alone at last, Long Shiyu, remembering his earlier behavior, was mortified. His tail drooped listlessly, unable even to wag. He wrapped it weakly around Shen Chaomu’s wrist.
“I won’t ask about what happened,” Shen Chaomu said gently. “But you need to heal. We can deal with other problems later.”
“Okay.”
“Why didn’t the old Dragon King die?” Shen Chaomu asked. “Akasa Mo couldn’t have taken the throne if he were still alive. Did he use the throne’s power for something?”
Long Shiyu hesitated. “If I tell you,” he finally said, “will you promise not to go after Royasno?”
Shen Chaomu frowned. “Even if you have a personal grudge, you can’t face him alone. It’s too dangerous.”
“But this is the only thing I can’t compromise on. Please promise me.”
“Why?”
“Promise me.” Long Shiyu’s tail tightened around Shen Chaomu’s wrist. “Or I’ll never be an excellent evil dragon.”
Shen Chaomu, ignoring the strange “excellent evil dragon” comment, was troubled by Long Shiyu’s insistence. Logically, he should refuse. The old Dragon King, though dormant, was a threat to the Alliance. And personally, the creature was steeped in the blood of his ancestors, and had hunted Long Shiyu relentlessly.
But Long Shiyu’s distress was evident.
He couldn’t bring himself to refuse.
“I can’t make that promise,” he said softly. “But as long as he remains inactive and doesn’t attack anyone, I won’t seek him out.”
Long Shiyu’s expression brightened. “Royasno is dead,” he explained. “But he used the throne’s power to preserve his physical form. That’s why he has no spiritual power.”
Shen Chaomu was startled. The Alliance believed the throne granted unimaginable power, explaining why all strange beasts craved it. Like Wilpan’s desire for resurrection, or the siren’s hope for a cure. But this… this was a new dimension.
The Alliance’s understanding of the Throne was limited. They knew it granted immense power, but the concept of resurrection was unheard of. They assumed the old kings had used the power for other purposes, or that the throne simply couldn’t support such a feat.
But here was the old Dragon King, a living contradiction.
“The throne’s power isn’t absolute,” Long Shiyu explained. “Resurrection comes at a price. Royasno sacrificed his spirit to revive his body. The throne can only sustain one or the other. It’s the same for all Beast Kings.”
“His spiritual power alone would have been enough,” he continued, “but he died once, and his spirit is incomplete. Now, he’s a mindless beast, driven by instinct. There’s no escaping the throne unscathed.”
“Royasno never relied on spiritual power for combat, and…Shen Di has been feeding him things. I don’t know what he’s become.”
Shen Chaomu considered this. “That’s similar to some sorcery concepts,” he mused. “They study the link between spiritual power and the physical form. Romeo came here because Tabu’s civilization embodies two extremes – the orcs revere the spirit, and the dwarves worship machinery. And the Ghost Whale resided here for a long time.”
“Maybe…” Long Shiyu’s tail curled sadly. “That’s all I know. Please, don’t go after Royasno.”
The aircraft landed by the ancient tree. Dawn painted the sky in fiery hues.
Exhausted from their journey, they returned to their treehouse to rest before visiting the Chamber of Commerce.
Shen Chaomu drew the curtains, plunging the room into darkness. Long Shiyu, burdened by his secrets, hugged him tightly.
“What bedtime story do you want to hear?” Shen Chaomu asked gently.
“A princess story,” Long Shiyu replied, his eyes brightening.
Shen Chaomu smiled. “I’ll tell you a special one.” He invented a tale of a princess who lived on a snow-capped mountain, her beauty renowned, her unique flowers cherished by the villagers.
“She opened a flower shop at the foot of the mountain,” he continued, “selling all kinds of exotic blooms. But one day, an evil dragon swooped down and kidnapped her.”
Long Shiyu, intrigued, urged him to continue.
“The king was furious. He issued a reward, and a brave knight set off to rescue the princess. He journeyed for days, finally finding the dragon’s lair in an abandoned castle on an icy peak. He called out for the princess.”
“To his surprise, a window opened, and a lazy voice asked, ‘Who’s there?’”
“The brave knight announced himself, declaring, ‘I’ve come to save you, my princess. Allow me to escort you home, and we shall be wed.’”
“Did the dragon say anything?” Long Shiyu asked.
“Before the dragon could reply, the princess said, ‘I don’t need a hero. I’m doing quite well.’”
“‘Impossible!’ the hero cried. ‘That terrible dragon kidnapped you! Don’t you want to return to your snow-capped mountain and your flower shop? We could run it together! The king will support us!’”
“‘Mr. Brave,’” the princess replied, “‘if you visit the village, you’ll find I’ve opened two new flower shops. Thanks to Mr. Evil Dragon, who helped me transport the flowerpots, I now have a chain of stores. I don’t want to go back. But if you’re interested in investing, we can discuss it.’”
Long Shiyu giggled.
Shen Chaomu continued, a smile in his voice. “The hero was furious. He assumed the dragon had brainwashed the princess. He drew his sword and charged.”
“But the princess was even angrier. She grabbed a spear and chased the hero down the mountain, shouting, ‘Don’t come back! Only those who truly love flowers are welcome here!’”
“The hero fled, never to return. And the dragon and the princess lived happily ever after.”
Long Shiyu, overjoyed, wrapped his tail around Shen Chaomu’s ankle. “You’re such a good person,” he declared.
“I’ve told you, stop with the ‘good person’ comments,” Shen Chaomu grumbled. “It’s still a critical period.”
“What critical period?”
“Nothing,” Shen Chaomu mumbled, a blush creeping up his neck.
“But you are a good person,” Long Shiyu insisted. “That’s the first fairy tale I’ve heard where the dragon and the princess stay together.” He beamed. “I love it. Finally, a story where the evil dragon and the person he likes don’t have to separate.”
Shen Chaomu’s heart ached with a bittersweet tenderness.
“There’s a small addition to the story,” he said after a moment.
“What is it?” Long Shiyu asked, his curiosity piqued.
“Though the princess also cared for the dragon, they hadn’t been together long. They were still getting to know each other. After all, their lifespans were different. And Mr. Evil Dragon seemed to have many secrets, some of which might upset the princess.”
“That’s inevitable,” Long Shiyu agreed.
“So, one night, after tending her flowers, the princess whispered to the dragon, ‘There will be a day when we share all our secrets. And I still like you.’” Shen Chaomu leaned down and kissed Long Shiyu’s forehead, his eyes filled with warmth.
___
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