Recap
This was the final straw. The mercenary drew his gun and, amidst the terrified gasps of the orcs, fired at point-blank range at the back of Long Shiyu’s head.
The gunshot echoed through the warehouse.
Long Shiyu turned his head and continued eating.
The mercenary stared, speechless. The orc residents gaped.
“Wait a moment,” Long Shiyu mumbled around a mouthful of meatball. “Let me finish this bite.”
He had promised Shen Chaomu he wouldn’t do anything unusual, and that included playing dead prematurely. He was an honest and trustworthy evil dragon, devoted to his princess. But the cuttlefish balls were simply too delicious to waste.
He quickly swallowed the remaining food, then slumped to the floor. Deciding this wasn’t convincing enough, he rolled onto his stomach. “Ah,” he declared, “I’m dead.”
When Shen Chaomu arrived, the warehouse was in chaos. Several mercenaries lay groaning on the floor, orc residents huddled together in fear, and Long Shiyu was attempting a hasty retreat. His speed was impressive, a blur of motion that brought those vague wanted posters to mind.
Shen Chaomu caught him at the door, his expression grim.
“Ying!” Long Shiyu squeaked.
“Monster! He’s a monster!” one of the mercenaries shrieked.
Shen Chaomu, sensing something amiss, dragged the suspect Long Shiyu back to the scene. He pointed to a mangled bullet on the floor. “What’s this?” he asked.
“A bullet.”
“Why is it twisted? Are you injured?”
“No. It just hit my head.”
Shen Chaomu stared at him, speechless.
Twenty minutes later, the Star Police arrived and took the mercenaries away. Long Shiyu gave his statement, confirming that they had been looking for the president of “Zhanshu,” a local orcish chamber of commerce.
In its early years, Zhanshu had spearheaded the development of the Western Hemisphere’s mining industry, bringing back valuable ores, flora, and fauna. They established trade routes and trained explorers to navigate the challenging terrain. But their success attracted unwanted attention. The Western Hemisphere was lawless, and the caravans had been attacked repeatedly. The chamber president’s son had even been kidnapped, the ransom scattered across the galaxy.
This seemed to be a similar situation, though these mercenaries were inept, their operation amateurish. And for some reason, they had mistaken Long Shiyu for the president.
Long Shiyu and Shen Chaomu boarded the aircraft. As they flew back to the inn, the last rays of sunlight painting the sky in fiery hues, Shen Chaomu spoke.
“Romeo has discovered something about your injury,” he said.
Long Shiyu paused mid-chip. “What is it?”
“He said that besides Shen Di’s spiritual power, your wound also bears traces of a vampire. A mixed injury. Have you encountered one?”
Long Shiyu nervously crunched on his chips. “No, it was Shen Di,” he insisted.
“Really?” Shen Chaomu’s voice was deceptively casual. “He also said that based on the reactions of the materials, it was definitely inflicted by Lilith.”
“Ying!” Long Shiyu squeaked, attempting to flee, only to be hauled back.
Romeo hadn’t actually said that. But the lie had exposed Long Shiyu’s deception.
Shen Chaomu grabbed Long Shiyu’s tail, preventing his escape. “Tell me what happened,” he demanded, his brow furrowed. “Why were you involved with Lilith? Where is she now? Is she still controlling the Blood Worship Cult?”
“I was shopping one day, and I met her,” Long Shiyu replied.
“And then? You didn’t try to steal her food, did you?”
“No, her taste is disgusting, even for a dragon.” Long Shiyu shuddered. “She and Shen Di attacked me together. Ruined my late-night snack plans. I had my eye on this food stall. Saved up for days to buy a meal there. Their crispy chicken bones are amazing, the squid and scallops are delicious, and the owner is so friendly. But sometimes, they burn the leeks. Do you like leeks?”
“I don’t— Wait, don’t change the subject.” Shen Chaomu’s patience was wearing thin. “Explain about Lilith and Shen Di.”
Long Shiyu, his attempt at distraction foiled, whined and fidgeted. Shen Chaomu resorted to shaking him by the horn.
“We fought, and I got injured,” Long Shiyu finally admitted.
“When?”
“I don’t remember. Decades ago.”
“Where is Lilith now?” Shen Chaomu pressed. “The association has been searching for her. If she and her blood purification techniques are gone, it will cause chaos.”
“She’s dead.”
“Dead?”
“Yes.” Long Shiyu poured the remaining potato chip crumbs into his mouth. “I killed her.”
“You killed her?”
“Yes.” Long Shiyu sounded slightly aggrieved. “She attacked me. She was ferocious. What was I supposed to do? I didn’t want to tell you.”
Shen Chaomu was stunned. Lilith, the legendary beast, the one the association had been hunting for years, was dead? Killed by this silly dragon?
“Are you sure it was Lilith?” he asked, needing confirmation.
“Yes, I’m certain. I’ve seen her before.”
Shen Chaomu grabbed Long Shiyu’s horn and shook it. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Don’t shake me! I didn’t even want to tell you about the wound,” Long Shiyu whined. “Who knows what disgusting things Shen Di did to her? It wouldn’t be good if you touched it.”
“So, you were injured in that fight? Shen Di and Lilith attacked you together, you won, and you killed Lilith?”
“Yes.” Long Shiyu scowled. “Shen Di didn’t even use his full strength. I don’t know where his main body is hiding. If it wasn’t for Lilith, he couldn’t have hurt me…”
Shen Chaomu took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. Lilith’s power was legendary. Even first-generation dragons had fallen to her. He didn’t know how strong she had been when she fought Long Shiyu, but…
“What generation dragon are you?” he asked.
“I told you, I don’t know.” Long Shiyu shook the empty potato chip bag with a sigh. “I don’t know how you classify them.”
“First-generation dragons are born directly from the world’s essence,” Shen Chaomu explained. “Flames, frost, wind, thunder… Most are fire dragons.”
“I was born from the stars,” Long Shiyu said. “That’s first-generation, right? I told you that before.”
“There’s no ‘star’ classification. It’s too abstract. Our family hasn’t seen one in a thousand years.”
“Really?” Long Shiyu’s eyes lit up. “Am I special then?” He wrapped his tail around Shen Chaomu’s wrist. “Unique.”
The unique evil dragon and the unique princess, a perfect match.
The aircraft reached the hotel. Shen Chaomu, still reeling from the revelation about Lilith, turned to Long Shiyu. “If Lilith is truly gone, it means someone knows how to purify blood,” he mused. “Likely Shen Di. That would explain how Augusta and the mercenaries obtained such potent strange beast blood. I’ll report this to the association and tell my family about Shen Di. What do you think?”
“Will they believe you?” Long Shiyu asked.
“I don’t know, but I have to tell them.” Shen Chaomu paused. “Is that alright with you?”
“Why are you asking me?”
“Because it’s not just Shen Di. You seem to have secrets, too. More people knowing might upset you. I only learned about Shen Di because of you.” Shen Chaomu gently ruffled his hair. “I don’t want to put you in a difficult position.”
Long Shiyu beamed, taking Shen Chaomu’s hand. “Tell them. I don’t mind. You’re such a good person.”
“Stop with the ‘good person’ thing,” Shen Chaomu grumbled.
Back in their room, Long Shiyu’s thoughts returned to Lilith. His instincts screamed that something wasn’t right.
Shen Chaomu contacted the association, reporting Lilith’s death and mentioning Shen Di, but omitting Long Shiyu’s involvement. Shen Di was cunning and hadn’t left much evidence. Shen Chaomu’s claims alone wouldn’t be enough. He emphasized the disappearance of Wilpan and the siren, and the mercenaries’ unusual actions.
The implications were significant. The association’s strategies might need to be revised. The discussion stretched for hours.
Shen Chaomu showered and changed, then emerged to find Long Shiyu waiting for him.
“Are you going out?” Long Shiyu asked.
“Yes, in about ten minutes. I’m going home. I won’t be back tonight.”
“Oh. That’s sudden.”
“It is.”
“Will I get a bedtime story later?”
“As long as you stay here, yes.”
“Okay.” Long Shiyu hugged Shen Chaomu. “Can magic really reveal who caused an injury?” he asked suddenly.
“Why do you care?”
“I didn’t want to tell you. You already know too much about Shen Di.”
“Why?” Shen Chaomu chuckled. “Afraid he’ll kill me?” He remembered the origami rose. “Why did he give you that rose?”
Long Shiyu froze.
“I found it in your room in Bei En.”
“Ah…” Long Shiyu fidgeted. “I didn’t burn that one…?”
“Why did he send it to you?”
“Who knows?” Long Shiyu scowled. “I don’t understand him.”
“The strange beasts connected to him…” Shen Chaomu mused. “He seemed to be on their side, but he never helped them. I wonder what his intentions are towards you.”
“He’s annoying.” Long Shiyu returned to the topic of magic. “So, can it really reveal that?”
“No,” Shen Chaomu admitted. “I lied.”
Long Shiyu stared at him, his expression crumpling.
“Hey, hey, don’t be sad,” Shen Chaomu said, panicking. “It’s my fault. I was worried about your injury, but you wouldn’t tell me anything.”
“You lied to me!” Long Shiyu wailed.
His innocent princess was becoming quite devious.
Time was short. Shen Chaomu had to leave. He gave Long Shiyu a hasty goodnight kiss, its effect minimal.
Long Shiyu remained upset, sulking in bed and thumping his tail against the mattress as Shen Chaomu departed.
Half an hour later, Shen Chaomu arrived on the Alliance’s main star. The city lights glittered below.
The starship landed on a remote corner of the planet. From there, it was another few hours by aircraft before the familiar island appeared, its jagged cliffs rising like teeth from the churning sea.
Six ancient watchtowers, their black and gray exteriors encrusted with barnacles, guarded the island. Holographic barriers shimmered, and powerful lights pierced the darkness, warding off any approaching strange beasts. Atop the central tower flew a black and red flag, depicting a winged lion battling a dragon.
As always, the Shen family’s presence was minimal. Most of the younger generation were scattered across the Star Sea, leaving only a few elders to tend the ancestral graves.
Shen Chaomu ascended the stone steps, the late hour cloaking the island in darkness. He reached the mountain’s peak, where the grand hall stood silent, a relief of a warrior battling a dragon adorning its facade.
He entered, the oil lamp flickering beside him. Busts of past heroes lined the path, their gazes stern and unwavering, as if questioning his presence:
Have you forgotten the family law? Have you upheld your duty?
As before, Shen Chaomu left the candlesticks unlit and walked to the hall’s end. A large relief depicted a man wrestling a dragon, his grip tight around its neck, while a woman rode its back, her dragon-hunting spear raised high.
Golden light flakes danced, pushing open the hidden door.
Inside, the vast trial hall awaited, its circular seats arranged in tiers. The oil lamp illuminated the complex alchemy circle etched into the floor.
A sudden gust swept through the enclosed space, a surge of spiritual energy. Shadowy figures materialized in the seats, their faces obscured.
Former dragon-slaying heroes from the ten families.
“Why have you returned?” the figure at the front asked, his voice ethereal.
“Lilith is dead.”
“Has the Church’s purification method disappeared as well?”
“No, someone else has mastered it. That is why I’ve returned.” Shen Chaomu paused. “Did you know Shen Di is still alive? He’s in contact with Lilith and likely possesses the purification technology.”
He had never mentioned this to his family. He should have consulted them first, but he instinctively disliked these spiritual bodies.
As he spoke, the wind in the hall intensified. The figures whispered amongst themselves, their voices a cacophony of spiritual energy, inaudible to human ears, but the buzzing was a physical sensation, a headache-inducing drone like the whispers of the dead. Shen Chaomu, however, remained unaffected. His powerful spiritual energy shielded him.
He had been able to decipher their whispers since his teenage years, though he had never acknowledged this ability.
How could it be Shen Di?
He did it. He actually did it.
But Akasa Mo is still alive…has he mastered other methods?
I said he betrayed us. He didn’t die peacefully.
The whispers subsided.
“Tell us everything you know,” the leader commanded.
“I know very little about Shen Di,” Shen Chaomu admitted. “That’s why I came to you. But I will continue to search for him.”
The leader sighed. “Shen Di and I are from different eras. To me, he was the greatest hero. If he has fallen, I don’t know what to say.”
“Perhaps he isn’t the only one.”
“Are you implying something?” the leader asked sharply.
“No.” Shen Chaomu’s expression remained neutral.
The leader’s tone softened. “Shen Chaomu, you must uncover Shen Di’s motives. Perhaps you can use him to find Akasa Mo. But don’t believe anything he says. The throne must remain in the hands of the families, in the hands of the Alliance.”
Shen Chaomu remained silent for a moment. “What is Project High Wind?” he asked.
“Why do you ask? You already know. Never forget your role in the plan.”
Shen Chaomu looked up, his gaze steady. “The Project High Wind I know aims to place the throne in human hands.”
The throne was called the “Beast Throne” for a reason. No human had ever seen it, let alone ascended to become its king. Strange beasts seemed to share a telepathic connection, a collective belief in the throne’s existence, and a summons on the day a new king emerged. It was an invisible web, connecting them across the vast expanse of the Star Sea, their communication a language humans couldn’t comprehend.
The early universe had been a lonely, dangerous place. Humans suffered greatly at the hands of strange beasts, the dragons most of all. This was why the Dragon Clan’s infamy was etched into the annals of history. Before establishing contact with other civilizations, humanity relied on the dragon-hunting families for protection. This was the source of their prestige.
Dragons and heroes. Strange beasts and hunters. They forged a path forward, paved with blood.
The “Throne” was discovered three years after humanity ventured into space. Project High Wind was born.
The throne bestowed immense power upon its occupant, a power that could seemingly be wielded at will. What if a human became king?
The plan’s architect claimed that if they could understand the throne’s true nature, the “uncivilized” beasts wouldn’t be able to reclaim it.
“Our greatest strength is unity,” he had declared. “This Star Sea will be our domain.”
But after a thousand years, Project High Wind remained unsuccessful. The limitations of their species were clear; no human had managed to kill a reigning Beast King. Yet, they persisted.
“So,” Shen Chaomu said, “you want me to eliminate Akasa Mo and either take the throne myself or give it to someone trustworthy.”
“Yes,” the leader confirmed. “That is what we have been preparing you for. After all these years, we finally have someone like you. Shen Chaomu, you are our pride.”
“Is that the entire plan?”
“It is. The records will show the resources we’ve invested…”
“I know. But that’s not what I’m asking. If this is truly Project High Wind, why doesn’t everyone know about it? When it was first proposed, it should have been public knowledge. But I can’t find any historical records. Today, only the highest-ranking officials, the families, and a few hunters know.”
“I assumed it was because the plan is expensive and hasn’t yielded results,” he continued, “so you couldn’t justify revealing it…”
“How dare you!” the leader roared, his outrage disrupting Shen Chaomu’s words.
“That is my assessment.” Shen Chaomu remained calm. “I’ve seen the expenditure reports. They’re unreasonable, far beyond what a long-term project should require.” He paused. “I support Project High Wind, at least the one I know. But this level of spending is reckless. You claim it’s for the Alliance’s future, but these resources, if allocated more wisely, could have transformed our society. If I hadn’t appeared, how long would you have waited? A year? A decade? Until our civilization collapses?”
The hall erupted in a cacophony of anger. Wind whipped around Shen Chaomu, the air thick with hostility. But he stood firm, his gaze sweeping over the shadowy figures.
He was asking questions, demanding answers.
The unrest subsided.
“You wouldn’t understand,” a woman’s voice said, laced with bitterness. “You’ll never understand what Project High Wind means to us. If it weren’t for that traitor…”
“Enough.” The leader silenced her. “My child, I don’t know why you question us. Trust our judgment. Focus on finding Akasa Mo and ending this. Bring this millennium-long effort to a successful conclusion.” He paused. “As for resources, we will find a way. We want the Alliance to prosper. We tried to claim Akasa Mo’s treasure house, but failed.”
“There will be other opportunities.”
“Always.”
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?”
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