Recap
Long Shiyu was so excited that he didn’t listen to what he was saying at all, he directly hugged him like a princess, and rushed out of the hall without leaving a single afterimage.
The bewildered dragons and the bewildered Shen Chaomu.
——Isn’t he here to slay dragons?
Shen Chaomu was startled awake from his memory.
What the hell is this?
He turned his head to look at Long Shiyu abruptly.
Long Shiyu: “?”
He secretly held the princess’s hand again: “Don’t be afraid, I will protect you.”
QwQ
The spiritual power that formed the white deer carried Bai Yiyi swiftly through the forest, its movements more agile than any vehicle. Her senses, amplified by her spiritual connection to the creature, scanned the surroundings, alert to any disturbance.
Rain began to fall, the leaves of her cloak rustling softly. She pulled on a transparent raincoat, her long white hair clinging damply to her cheeks. Lightning flashed, thunder rumbled, and the streams swelled with rainwater.
The white deer, its form glowing faintly in the dim light, would be mistaken for a creature of myth by any observer. Orcs, their spiritual power often manifesting as animal forms, were adept at navigating the forest, but less so in the harsh terrain of the Western Hemisphere.
Shen Chaomu’s report about the old Dragon King’s possible presence in the thunderstorms lingered in her mind. She had initially dismissed it, but now, traveling alone, a sense of unease grew.
A figure flickered through the trees, its presence a shadow that had been trailing her for some time. Bai Yiyi frowned, urging the white deer onward. With each flash of lightning, the figure became more distinct, its strange beast aura undeniable.
The white deer leaped across a stream, then onto a boulder, its path seemingly random, yet leading it closer to the shadow. With a sudden burst of speed, it sprang forward. Bai Yiyi raised her sickle, its blade a silver arc slicing through the undergrowth.
Thick trees toppled, but the figure was agile, dodging the blow with ease. It was mounted on a black-armored warhorse. A knight?
“Misunderstanding! Misunderstanding!” the knight cried, alarmed by her sudden attack. “I don’t want to fight!”
“You should be hiding,” Bai Yiyi said coldly, “not following me. But since you’ve been spying, I can’t let you go.”
“I apologize, madam,” the knight said, his voice contrite. “I have violated the code of a true knight.”
Bai Yiyi, impatient, urged the white deer forward, spiritual energy crackling on her sickle.
“But madam, please don’t go any further,” the Black Knight pleaded. “I followed you to warn you. He is in the thunderstorm.”
Bai Yiyi’s interest piqued. “Who?” she asked, her voice sharp.
“It’s that villain,” the Black Knight declared, patting his warhorse. “Potato sensed him. He’s not in a good mood lately.”
Bai Yiyi narrowed her eyes. “Take me to him,” she commanded.
“Oh, I couldn’t possibly,” the Black Knight protested. “I can’t allow such a beautiful lady to face danger.”
“Then I’ll continue on my own,” Bai Yiyi said, turning the white deer.
“Madam, if you insist, allow me to escort you through this treacherous storm,” the Black Knight quickly offered.
Bai Yiyi, assessing his unremarkable strength, decided to indulge him. He seemed to know something about the thunderstorms. She could always dispose of him after extracting the information. Shen Chaomu had failed to provide evidence, but she would succeed.
The white deer led the way, the Black Knight and Potato following.
“Madam,” the knight asked, “do you happen to know someone named Doris?”
Bai Yiyi, of course, knew the name. The legend of the Black Knight and the two white deer children was a beloved childhood tale.
A thought struck her. Could the legend be true? Was this bumbling creature truly the Black Knight?
“Are you trying to tell me you’re the Black Knight?” she asked, unable to completely hide her amusement.
“Indeed!” The knight puffed out his chest. “A knight never hides his identity.”
Bai Yiyi’s amusement deepened. This creature was clearly an imbecile. But she maintained a pleasant facade. “Why do you ask about Doris?”
The Black Knight’s demeanor shifted, his voice hesitant. “I…I thought you resembled her.”
“Similar? How so?”
“Appearance, temperament, even your spiritual energy. It’s not an exact match, but there’s a familiarity. Perhaps you have a younger brother?”
Bai Yiyi thought of her troublesome younger brother, Bai Yi, who demanded her attention constantly. “I do have a brother,” she admitted, then, on a whim, decided to play along. “Are you suggesting…”
“Perhaps you are Doris,” the Black Knight exclaimed, his excitement echoing in Potato’s whinny. “I thought so from the moment I saw you.”
“Perhaps,” Bai Yiyi said with a sly smile. “We are both from the White Deer Clan, after all. But I’m eager to find that monster in the thunderstorm. Why don’t we have an adventure together, like in the stories?”
“He’s dangerous, madam. Completely mad. I can’t allow you to face such a threat.”
Bai Yiyi’s patience waned. This creature was becoming tiresome. She would dispose of him once they were clear of the forest.
The white deer and the warhorse moved through the trees, their hooves splashing in puddles. Thunder shook the ground, and the temperature plummeted. Bai Yiyi shivered, a prickling sensation crawling down her spine. It felt like… like she was being watched.
She turned, but saw only swaying leaves. The white deer stepped on something. She looked down to find a crushed rose, its crimson petals staining the muddy water.
Why was there a rose here?
Her instincts screamed a warning. She tightened her grip on the sickle.
Crossing a stream, she sensed the Black Knight raise his greatsword. Was he attempting a sneak attack? She scoffed inwardly. Such a feeble creature posed no threat, and his dull blade was likely harmless.
The white deer leaped, and Bai Yiyi turned, preparing to strike. But something felt wrong. Trusting her instincts, she held back, the white deer leaping further than intended.
A gust of wind slammed into her, tearing back her hood and whipping her hair across her face. A blade of pure spiritual energy sliced past, leaving a deep gash in the earth. Trees toppled, and boulders split.
It took her a moment to register that the Black Knight had just unleashed that devastating attack.
This creature was far more powerful than he appeared.
She spun around, ready to retaliate, but the knight’s panicked cry stopped her. “Madam, flee!”
The feeling of being watched intensified.
Bai Yiyi, putting distance between herself and the knight, followed his gaze. A man stood in the shadows, his face pale, his form clad in an old-fashioned suit, a delicate rose pinned to his chest.
“Good evening, madam,” he said with a chilling smile.
Behind him, a monstrous form shifted, crackling with lightning. It towered over them, its black scales gleaming, its golden eyes filled with a primal rage. A casual flick of its tail shattered a boulder.
A dragon.
Royasno.
Terror seized her, but her hunter’s instincts forced her to remain calm. She needed a distraction. “You—” she began, turning to the Black Knight.
But the Black Knight had already charged, his greatsword raised, his warhorse thundering toward the dragon. “I will protect you, madam, as always!” he roared.
…
Long Shiyu yawned. They had been exploring the place for hours, finding nothing of note beyond rest areas, workshops, and storage rooms. It seemed the instant noodle-loving, magazine-reading individual was responsible for the bell ringing. But there was no evidence linking him to the monster frenzy.
Shen Chaomu descended to another level. Judging by the lingering spiritual traces, whoever had been here had departed a while ago. A workbench held an array of tools and books on forging, along with a map marked with dwarven script and dates.
“Are there still dwarves?” Long Shiyu wondered aloud.
“Perhaps,” Shen Chaomu replied. “We didn’t even know about this place. Their civilization remains a mystery.”
A circle on the map marked a location with a date from five days prior. Shen Chaomu checked; it was a barren stretch of desert.
“Wen Erpas,” Yang Zhiming read, the terminal translating the dwarven script. “That sounds familiar… There was a legendary sky garden with that name.”
“Just a legend,” Shen Chaomu said dismissively.
“But Xijia was a legend too,” Yang Zhiming countered. “Now it’s in the murals. Maybe both exist.” He stared at the coordinates. “Can we go there? Please?”
“We need to deal with the frenzy first. There will be time later.”
Yang Zhiming, though disappointed, agreed.
Shen Chaomu reported their findings. The association would decide whether to investigate the coordinates.
“Bai Yiyi is out of contact,” the commander informed him. “Her terminal signal disappeared. She was traveling alone through the Tabu forest, heading for another wildfire defense line.”
Unlike Uther, who was notoriously elusive, Bai Yiyi was usually readily available. This was concerning.
“How long has she been out of contact?” Shen Chaomu asked.
“Twenty minutes. We’re preparing a search party.”
“Keep me updated.”
They left the forge, its machinery still humming, its energy reserves dwindling.
Back on the surface, a new dispatch order arrived, directing them to another defense line. It was a long journey, several hours away.
Long Shiyu, settled on the aircraft, munched on potato chips.
“Don’t eat so late,” Shen Chaomu chided. “It’s not good for digestion.” He paused, remembering Long Shiyu’s unusual dietary habits. “Actually, forget I said that.”
Long Shiyu opened his card game.
Shen Chaomu’s terminal buzzed. A message from his family. The ancestors in the trial hall wished to speak with him. Likely about his disqualification and Project High Wind. Though the others, including Long Shiyu, were unaware of the true reason for his dismissal, the Shen family knew.
It was a disgrace.
Long Shiyu glanced at the princess. “What’s wrong? You don’t look happy.”
“Just some annoyances.”
“Want to talk about it?”
“It’s nothing. Get some sleep. You’ll need your energy for the defense line.” Shen Chaomu smiled, but his brow remained furrowed.
“Okay.”
Long Shiyu diligently constructed their nest of blankets, then turned off the light. Though there was no bedtime story, he received his goodnight kiss, and his heart fluttered.
Shen Chaomu soon fell asleep.
Long Shiyu eyed a bag of snacks, but he resisted the urge to retrieve them, afraid of disturbing his princess. He whispered his usual endearment, “Princess, princess.”
Shen Chaomu’s breathing was slow and even.
Long Shiyu turned to admire his handsome profile in the moonlight.
So beautiful.
Silence reigned, broken only by the soft rhythm of their breathing.
“Princess, princess,” he whispered again, unable to help himself.
“What did you call me?” Shen Chaomu’s voice startled him.
___
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