The sun had shifted. The dried sardines lay forgotten on the rock, their silver skins curling in the heat.
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFouSuiID6e
Liang Wei sat across from Ning, his legs crossed, his hands resting on his knees. She had just told him who she was. A princess. A dragon. A being who had watched empires bloom and wither.
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4n25x7RAR8
Now she spoke of marriage.
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3fCPslHo06
"I saved you for a reason," she said. Her voice was soft, but it carried weight. "I need a consort. My father's throne is contested. My rivals sense weakness. A strong husband will help me claim what is mine."
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRnhqoXBLBV
Liang Wei did not answer immediately.
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO1iFOpmA1Y
He was silent for a long moment. Then he shook his head.
"I cannot marry you."
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡak9moVfK1E
Ning's golden eyes did not blink. Her white hair stirred in a breeze that Liang Wei could not feel.
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTPwhsVUa6p
"Why not?"
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhPxqS66zyv
"I have people." He looked up. "My students. My servants. General Feng Jian. Li Hua. They are on that shore. I can feel their qi – faint, but alive. I need to return to them. I need to see them. I need to make sure they are safe."
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIVJTqSoLoq
"They are safe," Ning said. "The Watchers will not harm them. I have watched over them from a distance."
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB0HrvB5FxT
"Safe is not enough." His voice rose, just a little. "I am their teacher. Their protector. I cannot abandon them to marry a dragon princess. I cannot—"
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw6lSeNwapH
He stopped. Swallowed.
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOrcq5FXhHG
"I cannot."
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvVSR6paMkp
Ning leaned back. Her translucent dress pooled around her on the rock. She studied him for a long moment.
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjr5UGgIL24
"Master Liang Wei," she said quietly, "you do not understand the situation."
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5OvtOFBMGU
"Then explain it to me."
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ78cs9bEvzo
She tilted her head. Her golden eyes caught the sunlight.
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTXtimbqZVl
"Your qi. Your life force. It is immense. It rivals the ancestral deities of this land. The spirits that the Watchers worship. The ones buried in the deep places, sleeping for centuries."
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5x6bx3A63Z
Liang Wei frowned. "I did not know."
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbCSEErjtsG
"They know of you now. They felt you the moment you entered my cave. A mortal man should not burn so brightly. Your strength is an insult to them."
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡusxPx4lsRb
"Then I will leave." He said it quickly, as if the answer were simple. "I will take my people and sail far from here. We will find another shore. Another village. Another—"
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3QlwStxdyG
"It is too late."
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM800HepmjK
Her voice cut through his words like a blade.
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKjc6Gl0uFr
He went silent.
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡehxXZ0fP7D
"The deities cannot attack you directly," Ning continued. "You are too strong. Your cultivation shields you. But they can attack around you. They will send plagues. Calamities. Crop failures. They will poison the wells and sour the milk."
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6LVtmziDfM
She paused. Let the words settle.
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxiUcHa5VBF
"And they will destroy the village that welcomed your people. The Watchers took them in. Fed them. Sheltered them. The deities will see that as a betrayal. They will send neighboring tribes to burn the huts and slaughter the children."
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbgeRVN0i9g
Liang Wei's face went pale. His hands curled into fists on his knees.
“How can I be sure of what you say? “He asked
”I benefit nothing in lying to you,” she started then took a deep breath.
"Even if you save your own people," Ning said, "the Watchers will die because of you.”
”Is there any way I can go against their rules? A loophole? You are a supernatural entity you might know,”
She looked down and shook her head.
”Well if you help me with my bargain I will help you find a way,”
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTkxphk7foh
"You don’t mean?"
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡProBYoxMEB
"Marrying me." She nodded slowly. "A union between a mortal master and a dragon princess – that is a powerful thing. The deities will not dare interfere. They will watch. They will wait. But they will not strike."
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb2ly65U4hO
Liang Wei stared at the sea.
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIDQYhMDsyw
The waves lapped against the rocks. A seabird cried somewhere in the distance. He could smell the salt, the fish, the faint sweetness of the cave's strange energy.
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIh1Gia5OLC
"I do not want this," he said.
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjNgwi72h0Z
" I have used my most attractive form for you, do the scales bother you?" Ning asked softly.
”Its not that, its just…”
She waited
He was silent for a long time.
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwdBeTZCFsU
The sun moved. The shadow of the cave crept across the rock. The sardines darkened.
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs1PBAqc7PK
Finally, he spoke.
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkLJSKch2J3
"I agree. Half‑heartedly. But I agree."
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRePerdEVgu
Ning's expression did not change, but something in her eyes softened.
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRaZL8QxU0g
She leaned forward slightly.
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjHYhUY0nFO
"You should know," she said, "you do not have to be intimate with me. I do not expect that. You can be a ceremonial husband. A figurehead. An heir to the throne, in name only. I will also hold back my urges to not dare annoy you”
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLMoSZ63bVf
Liang Wei looked up. "Intimacy is not a problem, neither are your looks, you are just way above me to decide…"
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUHWNP8TQJP
"You may marry a human woman later, if you wish. For children. For love. I will not stand in your way." She paused and looked him in the eyes, he said nothing. "In return, for our marriage ,I will teach you. Cultivation. Magic. Everything you need to survive as a dragon. Because that is what you will become – slowly, subtly. Your body will change. Your voice will deepen. Your power will grow."
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIreooQFGsU
Liang Wei considered this. His fingers uncurled, then curled again.
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuKcqv7wGeK
"I have one condition," he said.
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmmSjLXwMXG
"Name it."
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtvFKCnc8ri
"The villagers – the Watchers, my people – their fishing expeditions must be successful. No massive storms. No monster attacks. The sea must provide for them."
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpUZZMWZcYR
Ning smiled. It was a small smile, but genuine.
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡewoiNn64t8
"That is easily done. I will speak to the currents. I will calm the waters around their shore. They will fish in peace."
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWuYWZFTIdK
"Then I agree."
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd6LEwedIgy
She stood.
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOaPial6QJa
Her translucent dress floated around her like smoke. Her bare feet made no sound on the rock. She looked down at him, still sitting, still processing.
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF1uyTDLFxO
"Good. Now I must go. I need to speak with my father. Plan the wedding."
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZJh85OTU5n
Liang Wei stood slowly. His legs felt heavy.
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeJiveuUIve
"What if he disagrees?"
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt4AMQPGC6N
Ning laughed – a bright, musical sound that echoed off the cave walls.
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCQ0fgdx3f5
"Parents in the dragon race do not interfere. They watch. They guide. They believe anyone can do anything. My father will grumble. He will complain. He will say I am being reckless but only because you are human. But he will not stop me."
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7MX1h5Uw13
"And the other dragons? How will they feel about being ruled by a human?"
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzFM6znXW5z
Ning stepped closer. Close enough that he could see the faint scales on her neck, the way they shimmered in the light.
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCCY4DzAOVt
"As long as they are well ruled, they will not question anything." She tilted her head. "Besides – the cultivation will transform you. You will become a hybrid. Human and dragon. You will have the voice of a dragon. The power of a dragon. The brutality of a dragon."
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjdHrNjUuZa
Liang Wei's brow furrowed. "Brutality?"
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuD4EkrLqMX
She looked at him then – truly looked at him, as if seeing him for the first time.
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXq0wpwmr8I
"I can feel that you are kind, Master Liang Wei. Calm. Patient. Those are good qualities in a teacher." Her voice dropped. "But dragons need a strong king. A kind king is not strong. He can guarantee peace, yes. But when enemies attack from across the sea, his kindness will not save us. A brutal king wards off danger without ever drawing a sword. His reputation alone is a shield."
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLcoytJglgj
Liang Wei was silent for a moment.
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡejUkMocI0o
Then he reached out and took her hands.
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8y5O5nY9QD
They were cool. Smooth. Not quite human.
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzMQ8CrANB8
"I hope," he said, "that we will be a power couple."
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY3LpGgOcWN
Ning's golden eyes widened. Then she laughed again – softer this time, almost shy.
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0FSy5nJrPS
"I hope so too."
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbO4Mt6gfWz
She squeezed his hands once, then released them.
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpSqwdJhjJB
"Farewell, Master Liang Wei. I will return when the wedding is ready. Until then, stay in the cave. Heal. Train. Do not go near the shore."
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw7sSvSF0Zf
She stepped backward off the rock.
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUY99YKuZmy
Her body sank into the water without a splash. Her white hair floated on the surface for a moment, like seaweed, like moonlight.
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFARP6sl691
Then she was gone.
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbJGdSm6O5X
Liang Wei stood alone.
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBXpbayw6IT
But first, he had a wedding to prepare for.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR5iFu8w4MH
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxmLElU0qh5
→ Request update
and then Add to home screen.