Veins bulged across Ao Qin’s forehead as he forced the furious words through gritted teeth.
“Wu Yao, why should I believe you?”
Wu Yao glanced casually to the side.
“You don’t have to believe me. I’m not the one keeping him alive because his body is useful.”
Ao Qin’s head snapped up.
His face twisted savagely, but a chill spread through his heart. Unconcealed shock filled his eyes.
“What nonsense are you spouting?!”
Wu Yao grinned.
“The rules of your dragon clan haven’t existed for only a day or two. Do you really think the other races are all fools?”
He watched Ao Qin’s expression abruptly change with an ambiguous smile. Apparently finding the situation insufficiently entertaining, he added:
“Wasn’t that why the previous ruler died?”
“Wu Yao.”
Dense killing intent poured from Ao Qin’s body.
“You had better watch what you say.”
Wu Yao looked at Ao Qin, who had always been known for his refined and elegant appearance, and found his current expression rather amusing.
However, knowing that Ao Qin would not truly attack him, he did not continue provoking him.
Ao Qin’s face turned ashen.
“We’ll discuss this another time.”
After leaving those words behind, he departed hurriedly.
The instant he passed through the barrier, he impatiently transformed into a massive Azure Dragon and flew swiftly towards his territory.
He wanted to see for himself whether that useless mongrel dragon had truly awakened!
After Ao Qin’s Azure Dragon form disappeared into the distance, Wu Yao laughed mockingly for quite some time.
The dragon clan’s previous ruler, Ao Bing, had indeed suffered severe damage to his vitality after battling Wu Yao’s father, but his injuries had been nowhere near serious enough for him to die merely because his horn had been severed.
Hadn’t his premature decline and death occurred because those old creatures from the Azure Dragon Clan wanted his heart’s blood to extend their own lives?
As for that useless dragon, he was unbelievably foolish.
Whether openly or secretly, he had already taken the blame for countless others.
Did he genuinely believe those people were his friends?
Wu Yao’s chilling laughter echoed through the air.
The dragon clan was far too entertaining.
Its most powerful branch spent every day scheming against itself, while the other four branches guarded their own tiny territories and fought endlessly over the treasures left behind by ancient cultivators.
Their current ruler was equally foolish.
Despite possessing extraordinary strength and talent, he had failed to abandon emotions he never should have possessed.
The moment he heard that the demonic creature he had once hatched might be a precious Chaos Beast—and that it had supposedly been divided among the demon clan, witch clan, human race, and the demonic creatures of the Abyss and devoured—he had slaughtered his way from the demon territory into the Abyss.
He had even fought seven opponents alone.
Utterly foolish.
Although that information had not been entirely fabricated.
The Chaos Beast had never truly been divided among the various factions.
It had remained within the witch clan all along.
Wu Yao’s laughter gradually faded.
His fingers moved skilfully, and the ground split apart, revealing a hidden chamber beneath it.
Wu Yao entered.
A barely recognisable witch lay unconscious upon a bed to one side.
Wu Yao bowed respectfully towards him.
“Father.”
Only then did he slowly walk behind the unconscious witch.
A demonic creature was imprisoned there within a piece of seventh-rank spirit jade.
A cloud of black mist drifted faintly inside the semi-transparent jade. Hoarse roars seemed to echo through the air, producing a sound that made one’s entire body crawl.
Wu Yao, however, appeared to find it immensely pleasurable.
“A Chaos Beast truly lives up to its reputation. Its essence has been extracted for more than a century, yet it still retains a trace of consciousness.”
He stared obsessively at the cloud of black mist and pressed his palm against the spirit jade.
In the next instant, a wonderful sensation made even his soul tremble.
Wu Yao released a strange cry of pleasure, greed filling his eyes, before reluctantly removing his hand.
He had remained trapped at the middle stage of the sixth rank for many years.
Only after his father fell unconscious had Wu Yao gained the right to absorb a trace of the Chaos Beast’s soul each day.
In barely two months, his cultivation had already advanced by an entire minor realm, reaching the late stage of the sixth rank.
Wu Yao knew precisely what he wanted.
He wanted to become the first witch in ten thousand years to ascend.
Unfortunately, his natural talent was limited, and this Chaos Beast was already approaching complete collapse.
Other than obtaining a rare treasure from a secret realm, his only remaining path to a breakthrough was to steal someone else’s talent.
However, his father had already attempted that path—and failed.
Wu Yao clenched both fists.
Were members of the witch clan truly inferior to every other race?
Dangerous light flashed within his eyes.
Perhaps his father had failed because he had indiscriminately taken whatever abilities he could obtain, making his witch body insufficiently pure.
But what if Wu Yao found individuals possessing truly exceptional talents and took only theirs?
Would everything become different?
As calculations formed within his mind, the smile on Wu Yao’s face grew wider.
…
Half an hour earlier, inside the residence on the outskirts of the city—
Jiu Qing reclined lazily on her bed, examining the communication token she had taken from Ao Xue two days earlier.
“Why hasn’t this thing made any noise for the past several days?”
She turned it over in her hand and stared absent-mindedly at the lifelike Azure Dragon head carved into its surface.
The past few days had felt somewhat unreal.
Had she ignored Bai Shuiyao’s existence, it would almost have seemed as though she had returned to the period when she and Ao Xue had still been deeply in love.
The curse marks on her face had faded considerably. By spending additional time each day applying thick layers of rouge, she could conceal most of what remained.
Combined with the natural seductiveness of the Nine-Tailed Fox Clan, it was enough to make Ao Xue obedient to her every whim.
However—
A cold gleam flashed through her eyes.
She was no longer the foolish girl she had once been.
Five years might not amount to much for members of the demon clan, but it had been more than enough time for her to see a person’s true heart.
Over the past few days, Bai Shuiyao’s face had recovered considerably.
That man had consequently begun wavering between them again.
This time, however, it could no longer hurt her.
“Madam, please! Don’t make Master drive me away.”
Bai Shuiyao’s sobbing voice came from outside.
Jiu Qing frowned impatiently and opened the door.
At a glance, she saw Bai Shuiyao kneeling on the ground and Ao Xue standing nearby with a seemingly helpless expression.
“Master…”
Bai Shuiyao appeared on the verge of tears. Her eyes were filled with grievance and a deeply concealed trace of hatred.
She knew that what had happened to her face had not been an accident.
She also knew that Ao Xue had always cared only about physical beauty.
Originally, she had believed that Jiu Qing was incapable of threatening her.
She and Ao Xue had even agreed that he would send several guards to help her take revenge.
Bai Shuiyao had never forgotten how Mu Wanwan had refused to accept punishment in her place at the cold palace beside the forbidden grounds.
Once that matter was settled, Ao Xue had promised to officially marry her.
Fortunately, whether because of some extraordinary natural gift or some other reason, Bai Shuiyao’s beautiful face seemed impossible to destroy.
The wound had almost completely healed after only a few days, allowing her to entice Ao Xue once again.
“I’m willing to serve as nothing more than a maid. As long as I’m permitted to remain beside Master, I don’t need any status.”
As Bai Shuiyao cried, the shallow scar remaining on her cheek truly gave her a somewhat pitiful and delicate appearance.
Ao Xue’s heart softened again.
After all, this woman genuinely knew how to excite him in bed.
He looked at Jiu Qing with considerable difficulty.
“Jiu’er, what do you think?”
Jiu Qing raised an eyebrow. A streak of brilliant red extended from the corner of her eye.
“What? Are you trying to force me to acknowledge her status?”
As soon as she finished speaking, Ao Xue’s expression darkened.
He reached down and helped Bai Shuiyao to her feet.
His tone became indifferent.
“Jiu’er, I haven’t exactly despised you much over these years. Yaoyao is someone I genuinely love. I promise that she will be the last.”
Ao Xue looked at Jiu Qing with eyes filled with absolute confidence that she would forgive him.
His gaze resembled a sharp blade.
The disdain of someone who knew himself to be deeply loved tore through her heart and caused unbearable pain.
What gave him the right to believe she could not survive without him?
What gave him the right to assume that she would always, always love him?
Jiu Qing narrowed her eyes, but the corners of her lips rose.
“Madam, everything is my fault. You may beat or scold me as you please, but please don’t ignore Master. He has lost so much weight recently because of you.”
Bai Shuiyao sobbed pitifully.
Her words genuinely caused Ao Xue’s heart to ache.
“What are you saying? Jiu’er isn’t that sort of person. She wouldn’t be unable to tolerate you.”
After Ao Xue spoke, both of them looked towards Jiu Qing.
He gazed at her with apparent affection, waiting for her to nod and compromise as she had countless times before.
The Azure Dragon communication token concealed inside her sleeve suddenly lit up.
Ao Qin’s furious voice entered Jiu Qing’s mind.
“The ruler has awakened. The blood-sacrifice plan has changed. All Azure Dragons currently in the capital are to surround and eliminate him immediately.”
Shock surged through Jiu Qing’s heart.
Her first thought was that she had to warn Mu Wanwan at once.
Today was the day Mu Wanwan made her customary trip outside every ten days.
Could they have discovered the truth only this morning?
Countless thoughts flashed through Jiu Qing’s mind.
She remembered how Ao Xue had repeatedly collected various materials and left the residence over the past several days.
All of it suddenly connected with the words “blood sacrifice.”
How could she possibly be unfamiliar with blood sacrifices?
So the dragon clan had refrained from killing their ruler not only because they had yet to obtain his horn, but also for this reason.
No wonder Ao Xue had recently stopped taking her seriously.
Had he been dreaming of receiving a larger share of the pure flesh and blood produced by the sacrifice, allowing him to break through the fourth and fifth ranks and become a powerful cultivator in a single leap?
A chill spread through Jiu Qing’s heart.
Without hesitation, she stepped forward, intending to deliver the information to Mu Wanwan as quickly as possible.
However, someone blocked her path.
Bai Shuiyao tightly embraced Jiu Qing’s leg and cried:
“Madam, please!”
“I only want to remain beside Master. You may do anything you wish to me.”
Jiu Qing had already exhausted her patience.
She kicked Bai Shuiyao aside, then revealed an incomparably beautiful smile towards the enraged Ao Xue.
Her red lips curved upwards, and scorching amusement filled the corners of her eyes.
“I agree.”
Ao Xue froze.
In the next instant, the woman who had been standing before him disappeared.
Her cultivation was considerably stronger than his.
He could only see a corner of her crimson robes flashing beneath the blazing sunlight, emitting a brilliance that made his heart tremble.
Ao Xue abruptly felt as though he had awakened from a dream.
He seemed to remember what she had looked like when they first met at a banquet in the demon territory.
A blazing red dress.
A beauty capable of toppling the world.
Bai Shuiyao tugged at Ao Xue’s sleeve, her eyes filled with grievance.
“Master, it hurts a little.”
She did not know why Jiu Qing had abruptly changed her answer, but it was undoubtedly beneficial to her.
Ao Xue tenderly stroked the scar on Bai Shuiyao’s face.
She leaned against his chest, but Ao Xue felt strangely uncomfortable inside.
It was as though he had lost something.
…
At that moment, perhaps because of some instinct, Mr. Dragon felt increasingly uneasy.
He had taken control of Hongye and placed an illusion upon her. Even when she returned to the residence that evening, she would not attract anyone’s attention.
The courtyard was also protected by illusions he had previously arranged.
They should be able to delay discovery for some time.
Nevertheless, he continued feeling that something was wrong.
He looked at his wife beside him.
The cold wind lifted the gauze hanging from the edges of her veiled hat, allowing him to glimpse her slightly bashful smile.
He gently raised her veil and met her puzzled eyes.
“Mr. Dragon, what’s wrong?”
Mu Wanwan watched him shake his head.
His large hand lowered, then awkwardly took hold of hers as he stood beside her.
Mu Wanwan felt somewhat helpless, but continued walking side by side with him.
They passed smoothly through the market entrance.
None of the people there noticed Mr. Dragon’s presence.
Mixed emotions filled Mu Wanwan, along with a trace of joy.
Such a powerful, gentle, shy, and awkward dragon belonged to her.
The human and dragon walked along the street.
With a red face, Mu Wanwan allowed him to hold her hand as she spoke quietly.
“Uncle Zong is a lion beastman. We were only able to survive our earlier difficulties largely because of his help.”
“We also need to meet Jiu Qing later. You should know—”
Mu Wanwan stopped herself.
She had already explained these things to Mr. Dragon before they left.
“All right,” Mr. Dragon answered.
When they reached a small alley, he suddenly said:
“Gifts.”
Mu Wanwan froze briefly before realising that he was referring to the presents he had specially prepared for Uncle Zong and the others, thanking them for taking care of her.
The corners of her lips curved upwards in helpless amusement.
“I brought them—”
Before she could finish saying the words, a powerful gust swept past them and tore the veiled hat from her head.
A pulling force came from her wrist.
Mr. Dragon immediately shielded Mu Wanwan behind him.
When the wind dispersed, Mu Wanwan saw the person standing before them.
“Jiu Qing?”
The instant Jiu Qing saw her, she hurriedly said:
“You need to run. They’ve discovered that your husband has awakened.”
Mu Wanwan’s eyes widened.
For a moment, she could not process the words.
They had been discovered?
But everything had been fine that morning. How could they have been discovered so suddenly?
Jiu Qing spoke urgently and pushed the Azure Dragon communication token into her hand.
“I’m not lying to you. This is an Azure Dragon communication token. I’ve already removed both my and Ao Xue’s imprints. Once you bind it with your blood, you’ll be able to hear their messages.”
“The Azure Dragon Clan possesses many powerful cultivators. Several others have recently returned from different territories specifically to prepare for the ruler’s blood sacrifice.”
As she spoke, Jiu Qing grabbed Mu Wanwan’s wrist.
“Forget about that dragon husband of yours. There is no possible way for the two of you to oppose the entire Azure Dragon Clan. Come with me.”
“I’ll take you back to the demon territory. I can guarantee your safety.”
She reached for Mu Wanwan’s hand.
Mu Wanwan was deeply shocked, but quickly calmed herself.
Jiu Qing had no reason to deceive her.
It was therefore extremely likely that they truly had been discovered.
Mu Wanwan calmly pulled her hand free.
“Jiu Qing, thank you, but I can’t—”
Before she could finish speaking, Jiu Qing became furious.
“Why are you so foolish? What is so wonderful about dragons? They are greedy and selfish. They will only force you to sacrifice endlessly for them.”
“What does it matter if your ruler—your husband—gave you a single drop of his heart’s blood?”
“What did he ever do for you while you were suffering so much?”
“Does he know how carefully you had to calculate every expense whenever you came to the market, all for the sake of a few spirit stones?”
“Does he know how much you love him?”
Jiu Qing was visibly agitated.
As she looked at Mu Wanwan, it was as though she were staring at her former self.
That expression and that gaze—
She refused to leave because she was deeply in love.
But Jiu Qing had already made that mistake once.
She did not want to watch someone else repeat it.
Dragons.
Dragons were the most untrustworthy creatures in the world.
Jiu Qing stared intensely at Mu Wanwan.
Her words were sharp, each one striking directly at the heart.
“He doesn’t know. Dragons are all heartless.”
“Now that they’ve discovered he is awake, there is no possible way the two of you can defeat the entire Azure Dragon Clan.”
“Listen to me and come with me.”
“He is nothing more than a burden to you!”
Hatred and pain filled Jiu Qing’s eyes.
“Dragons cannot be trusted!”
“Stop talking.”
Mu Wanwan could no longer bear listening.
She forcefully shook off Jiu Qing’s hand.
Although she knew Jiu Qing meant well, she could not tolerate hearing her speak about Mr. Dragon this way.
The moment Jiu Qing called him a “burden,” Mu Wanwan had nearly become terrified beyond reason.
She could feel Mr. Dragon’s hand slowly slipping away from hers.
She did not even dare to look at his current expression.
He was already deeply insecure.
He had always been afraid that he would become a burden to her, even though she did not care in the slightest.
“Stop being so stubborn.”
Jiu Qing narrowed her eyes and decided to take her away by force.
“Come with me.”
She was a fifth-rank cultivator.
Although Mu Wanwan resisted with all her strength, Jiu Qing still tightly seized her wrist.
Mu Wanwan looked incredulously towards Mr. Dragon, who remained standing in place with his head lowered.
Her heart filled with grievance.
He had been the one to say that he would take her away.
Why had he stopped moving now?
Gritting her teeth, Mu Wanwan reached out and tightly grabbed Mr. Dragon’s arm.
When she spoke, her voice carried a hoarse sob.
“My Lord, didn’t you say you were going to take me away?”
The moment her words fell, Jiu Qing’s pupils contracted.
She instinctively stopped moving.
Mu Wanwan seized the opportunity to free herself from Jiu Qing’s grip.
Ignoring everything else, she threw herself into Mr. Dragon’s arms as he stood there like a statue.
She tightly—desperately—clutched the front of his robes.
She wanted to raise her head and look at him.
Instead, warm tears fell onto her face.
One drop after another fell from his eyes, slid down her cheeks, and reached her lips.
They tasted unbearably bitter.
They were Mr. Dragon’s tears.
Leave a Reply