The sun had shifted. The dried sardines lay forgotten on the rock, their silver skins curling in the heat.
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmYbQljDi9u
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.
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbKK0t9g8Kk
Now she spoke of marriage.
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSOrS8BxJFN
"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."
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4KWoNhQxgd
Liang Wei did not answer immediately.
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPsFpnncQzq
He was silent for a long moment. Then he shook his head.
"I cannot marry you."
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5slirQCebr
Ning's golden eyes did not blink. Her white hair stirred in a breeze that Liang Wei could not feel.
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYzJLvcDX0t
"Why not?"
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTyPbEXwTJK
"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."
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVwTgrtY8py
"They are safe," Ning said. "The Watchers will not harm them. I have watched over them from a distance."
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoYhjrEwG1k
"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—"
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwA8k5t2DfE
He stopped. Swallowed.
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKbYb2lHKu7
"I cannot."
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUXsK7MEhty
Ning leaned back. Her translucent dress pooled around her on the rock. She studied him for a long moment.
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡer0RMMHqDR
"Master Liang Wei," she said quietly, "you do not understand the situation."
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Oh8gkVXlL
"Then explain it to me."
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCptfw0l5AU
She tilted her head. Her golden eyes caught the sunlight.
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZSo1UbsN6M
"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."
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfgO3mK8FPe
Liang Wei frowned. "I did not know."
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlHZrQ2iS8p
"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."
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqBIK8GBy9f
"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—"
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrOuFoqH0vx
"It is too late."
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPVsnQPA9CU
Her voice cut through his words like a blade.
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI5Oyyp4uVD
He went silent.
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡePfqrk8wgi
"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."
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx1e2pNsQGI
She paused. Let the words settle.
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2RBKaLRwSw
"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."
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZp6pSEtkAO
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,”
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvAekLmvxrw
"You don’t mean?"
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ERI3OSTcD
"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."
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5XlDO4JqVw
Liang Wei stared at the sea.
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcCRNr2yIBH
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.
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxmigHGf8ej
"I do not want this," he said.
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMXNAgfcBDm
" 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.
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5fjsjD0ayC
The sun moved. The shadow of the cave crept across the rock. The sardines darkened.
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNB0MibvTm8
Finally, he spoke.
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyXYN8Lkip4
"I agree. Half‑heartedly. But I agree."
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3kzWibmjok
Ning's expression did not change, but something in her eyes softened.
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU7eRcdFrL7
She leaned forward slightly.
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwNRIYg4xps
"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”
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPk36er3j2A
Liang Wei looked up. "Intimacy is not a problem, neither are your looks, you are just way above me to decide…"
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj6nCdBaMJb
"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."
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1tJHb2vGer
Liang Wei considered this. His fingers uncurled, then curled again.
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR6smg8O2vX
"I have one condition," he said.
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp9MJzKfXmJ
"Name it."
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNDKu9C9xEX
"The villagers – the Watchers, my people – their fishing expeditions must be successful. No massive storms. No monster attacks. The sea must provide for them."
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVqmuQH6zbD
Ning smiled. It was a small smile, but genuine.
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ206xDJOI6x
"That is easily done. I will speak to the currents. I will calm the waters around their shore. They will fish in peace."
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe7H8X6Zdy3
"Then I agree."
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCeafcRfOYg
She stood.
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQuKb1H3fVi
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.
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbgoRzV2qA6
"Good. Now I must go. I need to speak with my father. Plan the wedding."
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSDlwAaiHHk
Liang Wei stood slowly. His legs felt heavy.
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmAh0lzzLnJ
"What if he disagrees?"
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3gAhOMi1A7
Ning laughed – a bright, musical sound that echoed off the cave walls.
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHF3hyhoIRG
"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."
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaDqhtWV1OR
"And the other dragons? How will they feel about being ruled by a human?"
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlbif0xwSgU
Ning stepped closer. Close enough that he could see the faint scales on her neck, the way they shimmered in the light.
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfnG4bE0SLb
"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."
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡknWyDKiDLt
Liang Wei's brow furrowed. "Brutality?"
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmi7wdPtkUF
She looked at him then – truly looked at him, as if seeing him for the first time.
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8B684UGTG1
"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."
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyXz3fET6tM
Liang Wei was silent for a moment.
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx3bF0oAGNf
Then he reached out and took her hands.
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMBXq4FMaC3
They were cool. Smooth. Not quite human.
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbEUouFx0Eh
"I hope," he said, "that we will be a power couple."
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkTBCd7t4fZ
Ning's golden eyes widened. Then she laughed again – softer this time, almost shy.
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVUwzpfXJZL
"I hope so too."
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUhF9GAQhEj
She squeezed his hands once, then released them.
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY9XQwBvwjO
"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."
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAF6RrpwsOc
She stepped backward off the rock.
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwV1uu4ieOZ
Her body sank into the water without a splash. Her white hair floated on the surface for a moment, like seaweed, like moonlight.
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzx633rwS6R
Then she was gone.
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Db07G0dia
Liang Wei stood alone.
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYGAL5REBE4
But first, he had a wedding to prepare for.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiFK4P8PmlB
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1nA9DbXN5P
→ Request update
and then Add to home screen.