Chu Yuan could no longer restrain himself. He directly kicked open the bedchamber doors. Thud!
The moment the doors were kicked open, Chu Yuan felt something inside him snap. Not a string, not a thread, but a rope that had been stretched taut for far too long. From playing the part of the “Licking Dog” at the Heavenly Sword Sect until now, he had never truly been himself. Yet, at this very moment, his impulse to save the Dragon Emperor was completely genuine, coming from his true self. It was for the Dragon Emperor, for himself, and for that powerless child from his past, curled up outside a door, watching his beloved dog be beaten to death. He wanted to prove it: the weak me from the past is dead!!!
Seeing the Eagle-Nosed Grand Elder inside the bedchamber, whip raised high, Chu Yuan roared in anger, “Stop!”
Following his words, the Fox Venerable behind him raised her jade-like arm, igniting countless spiritual flames. Under the brilliant light, the filth within the dimly lit hall was illuminated for all to see. The other elders who followed them in all saw clearly how the Dragon Emperor, in her true form, was being abused.
The Eagle-Nosed Elder spun around abruptly. Seeing Chu Yuan and the crowd of elders, he was filled with shock. “How are you all here? Why didn’t the formation outside work??”
In response to his confusion came the varied gazes of the crowd and Chu Yuan’s accusation. “Grand Elder Ziya, you dare to abuse my Sovereign Majesty? Now that we have caught you red-handed, what do you have to say for yourself?”
The Eagle-Nosed Grand Elder’s mouth hung open. “No! I, I, I…” Things had happened too suddenly; he didn’t even know how to explain.
Seeing this, the Fox Venerable playfully flicked her curly golden hair, seizing the opportunity with a charming smile. “In this concubine’s opinion, the Grand Elder was likely secretly killed by the Righteous Path Alliance long ago. The person before us is a disguised assassin!”
The Eagle-Nosed Grand Elder frantically waved his hands. “No! I…”
Before he could think of a reason to explain the current situation, Chu Yuan directly confirmed his guilt. “Enough nonsense! Everyone, join me in slaying this assassin from the Righteous Path Alliance! Save the Sovereign Majesty!!!”
Slay???
Hearing this, the Eagle-Nosed Grand Elder inwardly cried out in dismay. Behind him, the Dragon Emperor, still bound within the formation, raised her head. Her dim golden pupils reflected Chu Yuan’s face. That gaze held confusion, bewilderment, and a sliver of hope buried deep within her soul.
Since hatching, she had been controlled by an evil cultivator. Over the years, she had grown accustomed to it. Until that day, when the imperial chef she had personally appointed arrived from afar, this dragon beast gradually began to realize that life wasn’t just endless beatings. She hadn’t dared to hope that he would discover her secret and save her, because in her eyes, the eagle-nosed evil cultivator controlling her was nearly invincible. Now that her imperial chef had actually joined forces with the elders to come to her aid, she felt more worry than anything else. Opening her maw wide, she cried, “Run! You can’t defeat him!!!”
However, her words reached the others’ ears as nothing more than a roar. A particularly mournful roar that, in Chu Yuan’s heart, sounded more like “Save me.” Without further ado, Chu Yuan drew his sword. The elders beside him also didn’t hesitate for a moment, mainly because the evidence before their eyes was far too conclusive. They exchanged glances and, with tacit understanding, surrounded the Grand Elder.
Seeing this, the Grand Elder broke out in a cold sweat. His sinister gaze swept over everyone present. Gripping his Dharma whip tightly, demonic Qi, black as ink, seeped from his entire body. Since explanations were useless, he could only stop the fight with a fight!!!
Clang! Clang! Clang! Thud! Thud! Thud!
In an instant, sword glints, saber shadows, and spells intertwined into a net, all aimed at the Eagle-Nosed Grand Elder. The Grand Elder roared, demonic Qi surging out like a tide, actually managing to block the first wave of attacks. But in the end, he was outnumbered. Within a few breaths, he was struck by several swords, blood blossoming like flowers on his black robe.
Taking advantage of his distraction, Chu Yuan quietly activated the [Phantom Ethereal Dharma Robe]. His figure melted into the void like smoke and mist, closing in. Seizing the opening when the Grand Elder was overwhelmed by attacks from all sides, Chu Yuan thrust his sword.
Whoosh!
Clang! The iron whip fell to the ground with a crisp sound. A line of blood bloomed on the Grand Elder’s throat. His eyes wide, he clutched his neck in disbelief. Staring at the reappearing, burly figure, the Grand Elder glared furiously, his thin lips trembling. “You! You have no martial virtue!!!”
Chu Yuan gave him a cold, stern glance. “Hmph! We’re both evil cultivators. What martial virtue is there to speak of?” With that, the Grand Elder’s pupils dilated, and he collapsed with a thud.
The hall fell silent, save for the Dragon Emperor’s weak breathing. Chu Yuan quickly sheathed his sword and walked over, crouching beside the dragon. The dragon’s beastly body was trembling, cold as if just pulled from an ice cellar. Looking at the shocking wounds covering her body, Chu Yuan felt a pang of heartache. “Sovereign Majesty, are you alright? From now on, no one will ever hit you again!!!”
Looking at the young man before her, his eyes brimming with tears, the dragon’s dim golden pupils once again began to gleam. This dragon’s heart had been imprisoned for too long. She only remembered that from the moment she hatched, this world was cold. Whips, chains, hunger, pain—these were her most familiar companions. She thought this was what living was. But at this moment, someone stood before her and blocked all that for her. For the first time in her life, the dragon felt she had found a kindred spirit.
From then on, Chu Yuan officially took over the Grand Elder’s position, navigating between the Righteous and Demonic Paths. Amidst his busy duties, he would always bring food whenever he went to see her. Osmanthus wine, hibiscus eggs, dumplings… He learned everything he could cook and even things he couldn’t, all for her. She never said anything, but after each meal, she would still love to wrap her tail around his waist, pulling him close. Like a cat that had finally found its nest, she would curl up in the most comforting place. Whenever this happened, Chu Yuan could only let that thick dragon tail wrap around him, looking at her with an indescribable gentleness.
In Chu Yuan’s eyes, she was no longer just the Dragon Emperor. She was his only family in this [Realm of True Emotions]. However, fate is difficult to defy. When the final chapter of the script arrived, Chu Yuan had no choice but to betray her. To this day, Chu Yuan has not forgotten the Dragon Emperor’s resentment before her death. “What ‘heart leaning towards the righteous path’… In the end… you still chose her.”
The weakened Chu Yuan sighed with a bitter smile. “Sovereign above, if there is a next life, this Chu will surely return to serve you with utmost loyalty.”
The Black Dragon Emperor’s lips parted, uttering only one word. “Scram!”
Yet, she still held Chu Yuan tightly in her embrace. At that moment, buried deep in the Dragon Emperor’s embrace, Chu Yuan only felt the embrace was warm.
Looking back on this life, only two girls had ever been truly good to him. One died three hundred years ago in the Medicine King Valley, her body lost; the other doted on him for over a hundred years, yet because of his betrayal, both of them perished together at the hands of the Snow-haired Sword Immortal.
As the saying goes: The rabbit runs, the crow flies, never to meet again; human affairs are fleeting, swift as lightning. In the blink of an eye, Chu Yuan was now in the private room of the auction venue, waiting for the dragon egg to arrive. Having returned to the beginning of everything, that eagle-nosed cultivator had already been killed by him. Now, about to meet the Sovereign again, Chu Yuan was determined to give her a happy childhood.
And facing Ji Xuanyuan’s question, Chu Yuan smiled. “The Sovereign and I have a deep friendship. You could say we are comrades who have faced life and death together.”
Just then, Fang Henian knocked and entered, his voice carrying a hint of eager-to-please enthusiasm. “Your Highness, the cultivation technique and the dragon egg have been brought over!”
Hearing this, Chu Yuan couldn’t conceal his excitement. Ji Xuanyuan gave a slight nod. “Come in!”
The door opened. Fang Henian led Chu Zhenshan and two maidservants inside. Seeing the two in the room, they all bowed. “This old man/this humble girl pays respects to the Crown Princess.”
Hearing a familiar voice, Ji Xuanyuan was taken aback. Turning, she saw Chu Zhenshan and smiled. “Great Elder of Chu? I didn’t expect you to personally deliver the auction items.”