The Dragon

Faithless Heart

The White Dragon, already severely wounded, was no match for the Huoyun Jiao. It only managed to hold its own by relying on its bloodline suppression. After several exchanges, the White Dragon’s snow-white body was covered in bloody wounds.

The Vice President and others were jolted awake by the White Dragon’s piercing cry. They broke free from the illusion and gasped in shock upon seeing a missing scale on the dragon’s body. Seeing the Huoyun Jiao’s claws narrowly missing that spot, the Vice President shuddered as if electrified, exclaiming in horror, “This is bad, it’s really bad.”

“How could its protective heart scale be gone! A hit to that spot would be fatal for the Dragon!”

Despite their joking remarks about being reduced to ashes if they failed to protect the White Dragon, their mission wasn’t motivated by such threats. Protecting the White Dragon was their solemn duty, one they were prepared to sacrifice their lives for.

The influence of the Dragon King’s bloodline on the Dragon race was extraordinary, something outsiders might not understand, but they knew all too well. There were only two Dragon Kings left: Di Jun, the current lord of the Four Seas, and this one before them.

With the Dragon race’s low fertility rate, having Di Jun produce more offspring was difficult. This meant the future lordship of the Dragons would likely fall to this White Dragon

The Vice President, anxious, confronted Zuo Yuezhi, “Are Dongzhou and Nanzhou Continents intentionally opposing the Dragons?”

Zuo Yuezhi recognized the group before him as members of the Merchant Association. He remarked, “So the Dragon Clan is the true power behind the merchant association. To think humans would betray their own kind and willingly serve another race.”

The Accountant, standing nearby, overheard and responded with a sardonic smile, “Better to serve the Dragon Clan than be a dog for the Xu Ling Sect. At least serving Dragons is more dignified than being a slave to the Zuo family.”

Zuo Yue paused, catching the implication in his words, and then laughed, “So, the slaves of Bailu City have found favor with the Dragon Clan, using goods from my Zuo family to their advantage.”

Bailu City’s slaves were sold across all continents, and the dragon race could also secretly acquire some.

Slaves trained from childhood were completely obedient, both in body and soul, never betraying their masters. Even if later sold elsewhere, they still harbored fear and submission towards the Zuo family and the Xu Ling Sect. If enslaved as adults, they might obey due to contractual obligations, but initially, hatred outweighed fear.

The Accountant was clearly of the latter type.

The Vice President sternly said, “Stop wasting words with him.”

“Listen, Zuo Yuezhi and the elders of the Biluo Sect,” he warned gravely, “if anything happens to this little lord today, you’ll be declaring war against the entire Dragon Clan. Even at the cost of mutual destruction, the Dragon Clan will make you pay.”

The Vice President’s tone was serious, not to be taken lightly, and Zuo Yuezhi and the others understood the gravity of his words.

An elder from Biluo Sect pointed at the White Dragon, saying, “We don’t necessarily want to make things difficult for you. You may take that one with you; we won’t stop you.”

Seeing how protective the White Dragon was of Gu Fuyou and the others, the Vice President naturally hoped to save them if possible: “I want to take those few as well.”

The elder from Biluo Sect pointed at Gu Fuyou and Gu Huaiyou, “These two are criminals from Nanzhou and must be handed over for their judgment. The other two you may take, but these two, we cannot allow you to leave with.”

The elder didn’t explicitly mention the Qilin Marrow, implying that the reasons for not releasing Gu Fuyou were well understood by the group.

The group was here primarily to protect Zhong Michu. Although they were unaware of why the Biluo Sect had allied with the Xu Ling Sect, and why the Lu family, long-time allies of the Gu family, was now siding with the Xu Ling Sect, these issues were irrelevant to their primary mission — to ensure the safety of Zhong Michu.

The Vice President agreed, “Very well.”

The elder of the Biluo Sect didn’t expect such a straightforward acceptance and paused briefly before gesturing, “Then please, take this esteemed member of the Dragon clan and leave.”

The Vice President glanced skyward, where the White Dragon and the Huoyun Jiao were locked in a fierce, inseparable struggle. Guarding against Zuo Yuezhi’s intentions, he pondered their actions; their Xu Ling Sect had annihilated the Xuan Miao Sect and relentlessly pursued its disciples. Now, it was their Huoyun Jiao that had inflicted numerous wounds on the White Dragon. Zuo Yuezhi had yet to declare his stance, leaving the Vice President uncertain of his motives. He remained vigilant in front of Zuo Yuezhi, signaling the accountant with a glance.

The Accountant approached the White Dragon, bowing, “My Lord, we are here by the Emperor’s command to escort you back to the Eastern Sea…”

The White Dragon, as if possessed, pressed its claw against the Huoyun Jiao, roaring over it at the accountant, blood dripping from its mouth. The Accountant persisted, “My Lord…”

But the White Dragon blew a cold wind from its mouth, filled with sharp icicles, attacking the Accountant. The Accountant quickly dodged, sweating profusely, and glanced at the Vice President.

The Vice President found himself in a difficult position, as the White Dragon clearly did not want to leave. Lu Yandong, having escaped the illusion, understood the situation: the White Dragon’s actions were all about protecting Gu Fuyou. He knew the dragon’s deep bond with Gu Fuyou meant it wouldn’t leave without her.

He sighed and said, “Niece, please persuade it to leave. Dongzhou won’t harm it. If it insists on taking you, you know the four continents won’t allow the Dragon Clan to have you. If it won’t let go, you’ll both be stuck here.”

Gu Fuyou gazed intently at the sky. Lu Yandong softly added, “Even if, by some chance, you do manage to escape, how far is it to the Eastern Sea? Can you really reach there? And what about Xiaoyao City? What about your brother?”

Gu Fuyou’s breath caught, and she whispered, “Stop.” A moment later, her choked voice cried out to the sky, “Stop fighting!”

If this continued, Zhong Michu would die…

The White Dragon answered with a long howl and a desperate struggle.

Gu Fuyou bit her lip hard enough to draw blood. Her heart already numb from the pain, she didn’t feel the sting on her lips. She cried out, “Nanzhu Jun, stop!”

As soon as the words were spoken, the White Dragon plummeted. When the Huoyun Jiao pursued, the Vice President fired an arrow into the sky, forcing it to retreat.

From a distance, the Huoyun Jiao crouched, gathering its strength, and continuously roared threateningly at Gu Fuyou’s direction. The White Dragon, having just fallen, had thick blood dripping from it, forming a puddle on the ground. It turned towards the group and growled, ready to charge again. Gu Fuyou quickly embraced it, her voice choked with emotion, “No, please, no more.”

The White Dragon’s eyes were bloodshot, growling deeply. Gu Fuyou pressed her forehead to it, whispering, “Shh, be good.”

Only now did she truly feel that she had made a pact with an immortal beast. The White Dragon’s body slowly went limp. As the mist dissipated, it transformed back into human form. Blood quickly soaked through the clothes as the transformed figure lay in Gu Fuyou’s arms.

Seeing the White Dragon transform into Zhong Michu, Zuo Yuezhi was shocked, unable to even maintain his composure. Wasn’t Zhong Michu the daughter of Ji Chaoling and Yunran? How could she be the White Dragon?

Gently stroking Zhong Michu, Gu Fuyou asked the Vice President, “Sir, are you from the Dragon Clan?” Judging from their previous actions and words, they should take care of Zhong Michu.

The Vice President was astonished by the scene before him. He had heard from Kunling about the pact between Gu Fuyou and Zhong Michu, but witnessing it firsthand left him in shock. He simply nodded.

Gu Fuyou, looking at the person in her arms, said, “Take her with you.”

As the Vice president was about to approach, Zhong Michu suddenly reached out and grabbed Gu Fuyou’s arm. Lifting her head weakly from Gu Fuyou’s embrace, she murmured, “Leave… together.”

Gu Fuyou replied, “They won’t let me go. If Biluo Sect intervenes, none of us will escape.”

Zhong Michu insisted, “Then we’ll stay together. I’ll be with you, so you’re not alone.”

Tears welled up in Gu Fuyou’s eyes. She hugged Zhong Michu tightly, momentarily forgetting about her injuries.

This was the only beacon in the vast darkness. She could sink into the cold depths, but the light in that beacon must not be extinguished.

With tears streaking her face, Gu Fuyou smiled, “They are after me. Why would you stay? Your home is in Xuan Miao Sect, your family is in the Eastern Sea. You need to find the sect’s disciples and reclaim your sect. My brother and family are here. They want what’s inside me; I’ll give it to them, as long as they let my brother go.”

Zhong Michu shook her head, the severity of her wounds rendering her momentarily speechless. After struggling for breath, she finally managed to speak, “Gu Fuyou, no…”

Gu Fuyou, caressing her back, replied, “You and I are different, Zhong Michu. You are the pride of the heavens, born with exceptional talents. You’re destined to achieve great heights in cultivation, to take over the Xuan Miao Sect, to become a legendary female leader. You’ll fulfill Master Ji’s wishes, elevating the sect to new heights. You’ll be revered and admired by many, leaving your mark in history. One day, you’ll ascend to immortality. Your path isn’t here.”

Gu Fuyou took out Ah Fu, placing it in Zhong Micu’s embrace, then handed her a storage bag. Ignoring the surrounding gazes, she poured out some pills from bottles, mixed them with her blood, and placed them along with the Yan’er Bell into the bag. “I give these to you. If one day you remember…”

Tears choked her voice, “Remember that you once had a friend like me, who didn’t desire wealth or glory, only holding onto a ridiculous dream of forging a sword. If you pity her, complete that sword for her.”

Zhong Michu stared intently at her, “I won’t leave you behind.”

Gu Fuyou held her close, whispering, “Nanzhu Jun, sleep now. When you wake up, all will be well.”

Zhong Michu’s eyelids felt impossibly heavy. Despite her efforts to resist, sleepiness overtook her. As Gu Fuyou moved away, Zhong Michu started to fall forward but was caught by Dongli.

Reaching out her hand in a desperate attempt to maintain consciousness, Zhong Michu managed to grasp something light and frail, which appeared to be the hem of Gu Fuyou’s dress. Biting back her emotions, she muttered, “Liar!”

“You… broke your word.”

“You… broke your word, broke your word…” She repeated this phrase over and over, until she couldn’t fight the fatigue any longer and fell into unconsciousness.

Gu Fuyou believed Zhong Michu was referring to an earlier promise, where she had vowed never to control her through their contract.

Breaking a vow, destined for a tragic end.

Crouching down, Gu Fuyou gently pried Zhong Michu’s fingers from her dress. Turning to the Vice President and the others, she said, “You can take her away now.”

The group snapped back to reality and closed in. The Vice President cradled Zhong Michu in his arms. Ah Fu, seeing the scene, spun around, glancing between Zhong Michu and Gu Fuyou. Just as the creature seemed to decide to approach Gu Fuyou, she called out, “Senior Sister Dongli, I’m entrusting this to you.”

Dongli whispered, “Fuyou…” and heaved a sigh. They were powerless to change the current situation. Since this was Gu Fuyou’s decision, she couldn’t really intervene. All she could do was honor Gu Fuyou’s request. Holding Ah Fu and picking up the storage bag, Dongli exchanged a look with Gu Fuyou.

Gu Fuyou urged, “Go now.”

Dongli and Liu Guizhen deeply bowed to Gu Fuyou, then turned to leave with the Vice President and his team.

However, they had barely taken a few steps when a whistle pierced the air. The fiery beast, Huoyun Jiao, suddenly lunged at Zhong Michu, who was in the Vice President’s embrace.

An elder from the Biluo Sect exchanged a glance with Lu Yandong. Lu Yandong restrained Gu Fuyou while the elder from Biluo Sect stepped forward to block Huoyun Jiao.

The Vice President exploded in anger, “Another sneak attack? Are you people from Nanzhou trying to push your luck? Do you think we’re afraid of you?”

The elder of the Biluo Sect responded, “Protector Zuo, we had an agreement. What’s the meaning of this?”

Zuo Yuezhi looked gloomy. Initially, seeing only three people with Gu Fuyou, he assumed Zhong Michu was being kept elsewhere due to her illness. He hadn’t expected Zhong Michu to actually be the White Dragon.

Whether the White Dragon was Zhong Michu or not was a matter of great consequence. The Dragon Clan held grudges and was fiercely protective. After they had dealt with Ji Chaoling and killed Yunran, how could she not harbor resentment? Zhong Michu was exceptionally talented, and they initially didn’t want to keep a potential threat around. But now, they weren’t just dealing with a tiger; they were facing a Dragon.

Letting a Dragon escape was inviting endless trouble.

Zuo Yuezhi remarked, “Elder, we’ve already offended the Dragon Clan. If we let them go and they recover, they will inevitably seek revenge. We should either do nothing or go all out.”

The elder of the Biluo Sect, after repelling the Huoyun Jiao with a palm strike, spoke firmly, “I’ve promised to let them leave, and I won’t allow them to die within the boundaries of Dongzhou. Protector Zuo, I urge you to reconsider your actions.”

Zuo Yuezhi frowned and internally snorted in contempt. It was his Zuo family that had provoked the Dragon Clan throughout the entire ordeal. The Biluo Sect, on the other hand, could easily distance itself from the conflict, emerging unscathed. By allowing these people to leave, they would not only steer clear of further antagonizing the Dragon Clan but also potentially curry favor. Meanwhile, his Zuo family was left to play the villain’s part. The others, while feigning righteousness, were also eyeing the Qilin Marrow, engaging in a cunning strategy.

“Let them go.” A voice rang out. Turning his head, Zuo Yuezhi turned to see Gu Fuyou holding a fiery red orb, a magical artifact known as the Fire Pearl, dripping with her blood. Pale but composed, she said, “Otherwise, none of you will get the Qilin Marrow.”

Zuo Yuezhi’s eyes narrowed as he responded, “You…”

Within the group of merchants, Xiao Qian whispered to the Vice President, “Vice President, did she mention Qilin Marrow?”

The Vice President replied, “Who cares what she said. Let’s go, quickly!”

Seizing the moment of Zuo Yuezhi’s hesitation, the merchant group sped off, fearing entanglement with the Xu Ling Sect. They hurriedly fled with Zhong Michu in tow.

Seeing Zhong Michu safely leaving, Gu Fuyou finally felt a sigh of relief. Then, her heart raced again as she asked Zuo Yuezhi, “Where are my father and older brother?”

With Huoyun Jiao present, she realized that the battle at Xiaoyao City had concluded.

Zuo Yuezhi stood with his hands behind his back, looking at her without a word.

Lu Yandong began, “Dear niece…”

Gu Fuyou looked at him, understanding his unspoken message from his expression.

Her heart skipped a beat, and dizziness overwhelmed her. When she regained her senses, her eyes bloodshot, she clutched the Fire Pearl tightly, exclaiming, “You all!”

Although she had grown numb, at that moment, her heart felt as if it was suddenly crushed by a giant hand, causing her such pain that she nearly bent over. Almost pleadingly, she asked, “Uncle Lu, what about Yi’er and my sister-in-law? Are they…”

Lu Yandong’s silence and grim expression spoke volumes.

Gu Fuyou didn’t know how to react and eventually let out a hollow laugh.

Ah, that’s why Lu Yandong looked so distressed when he saw Zuo Yuezhi earlier. He must have already received the news. But even if her sister-in-law and Yi’er were dead, he still chose to side with the Zuo family.

Gu Fuyou pressed the Fire Pearl to her chest. Lu Yandong, fearing her despair might drive her to drastic action, spoke softly, “Niece, what about Huaiyou? He’s still here. If you die, he’ll have no one left in this world.”

He knew her weakness.

Soft and hard tactics, a threat taken to this extent.