On the bustling streets of Luo Yang, Regina and Richard wandered through the lively marketplace. While Richard remained observant, it was Regina who was truly engrossed in sightseeing, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

"Can I get those?~" Regina asked eagerly, pointing at a stall selling steaming meat buns and glossy candied fruits.

Richard chuckled and reached for his purse, about to purchase the treats when a sharp voice suddenly interrupted him.

"Stop!"

Richard turned to see a young boy directing his warning straight at him.

"Don't buy those! These vendors are running a tourist trap. They mark up their prices outrageously while using only mediocre ingredients!" the boy declared.

"Scram, you pest! Stop ruining my business!" the vendor snapped, glaring at the boy.

The boy stood his ground, puffing out his chest. "As long as I, Liang Bao, am here, I will protect the integrity of Luo Yang’s marketplace!"

Beside him, a beastman child let out a sigh. "Uhm… should you really be doing this now?"

Liang Bao turned to his companion, determination in his eyes. "Ru'ya, if tourists keep getting scammed, fewer people will visit. That would give Luo Yang a bad reputation!"

"I’ve had enough of you meddlesome brats!" the vendor growled, storming toward them, hand raised as if to strike.

But Liang Bao smirked and crossed his arms. "Do you scoundrels even know who my father is?! He is the great merchant lord, Liang Sheng! This is his district—scram unless you want to get into serious trouble!"

The vendor froze, his expression twisting with frustration. "Tch… just you wait. I'll pay you back for this," he muttered before begrudgingly dragging his cart away.

"Be careful of these scammers! Luckily, I, Liang Bao, am here to save your purse," Liang Bao declared proudly, puffing out his chest.

Just then, Ru’ya’s eyes widened in surprise. "Eh? Big sister, I didn’t notice you were here," he said, staring at Regina.

"Fueh?" Regina tilted her head, utterly confused.

Liang Bao’s hair stood on edge at Ru’ya’s words. He turned to get a closer look and quickly realized the misunderstanding.

"Ru’ya, she only resembles that evil daughter of the boss of the secret society. She’s not her, you silly fool," Liang Bao corrected him.

"Eh? Really?" Ru’ya leaned in, scanning Regina from head to toe with a scrutinizing gaze.

After a moment, he nodded. "I guess you might be right. Uncle isn’t here either," he muttered, referring to how Jian Yi always accompanied Wu Zhao. "But I keep telling you, Big Sister and Uncle aren’t evil!"

"I will never change my mind! They’re scary. I hope I never see them again," Liang Bao huffed.

Ru’ya sighed. "Alright, alright. But aren’t we supposed to be heading to school? We have exams today."

Liang Bao froze. "Oh, crap!" he yelped.

Grabbing Ru’ya by the arm, he bolted down the street. "Run! See you again, Mister and Miss! Hope you enjoy your stay in Luo Yang!" he called out before disappearing into the crowd.

"What peculiar kids," Richard remarked, watching Liang Bao and Ru’ya disappear into the crowd.

Regina tilted her head. "Mmm… should we still get snacks?"

Richard chuckled. "Let's try somewhere else."

"Ummu!" Regina nodded eagerly, her eyes already scanning the street for another vendor.

The next day, Richard’s group received word that the Queen was ready to meet them and was awaiting their presence in the palace meeting hall.

Peng Xian was the first to enter, followed shortly by Xiao Jie. About half an hour later, Wu Zhao arrived.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Wu Zhao and Regina's eyes widened in surprise as they took in each other's appearance. Aside from differences in hair color, eye color, and clothing, their resemblance was uncanny.

"Huh, this is just like when I first saw that assailant, Annie," Wu Zhao thought.

Regina, feeling uneasy, quickly hid behind Richard, peeking out from behind him with cautious curiosity.

"Who are these people?" Wu Zhao asked as she settled onto her throne.

"Your Majesty, they are adventurers from Acacia," Peng Xian replied before proceeding to introduce each member of the group to her.

"I assume this matter we are addressing has something to do with this girl... and me?" Wu Zhao asked, her gaze shifting between Regina and the others.

"Yes, Your Majesty, that is indeed the case," Peng Xian confirmed with a respectful nod.

Peng Xian asked Milli to explain the circumstances to Wu Zhao, which she gladly did.

“This is… troubling,” Wu Zhao murmured, rubbing her temple. “I had a dream about Gilles warning me of Luo Yang’s fall as well… I assumed it was just the memory of the assailant.”

She let out a slow breath before making her decision. “Summon Gilles. I need to confirm this with him myself.”

Peng Xian hesitated for a moment before delivering the grim news. “Your Majesty… Gilles has passed away. He starved himself to death.”

Wu Zhao’s expression darkened. “He what?”

Peng Xian nodded solemnly. “It happened not long after you set off for Mt. Kun Lun.”

Wu Zhao pinched the bridge of her nose and exhaled sharply. “This just keeps getting worse.”

“So… if I truly am the reincarnation of Esmeria’s queen, that might explain why Feng and Huang refused to acknowledge me as human,” Wu Zhao mused, deep in thought.

Milli, however, had graver concerns. “You need to leave this place now,” she urged. “The villages in Luo Yang’s outer territories have likely already been destroyed by dragons. They’re closing in—slowly but surely.”

Wu Zhao’s gaze hardened. “Do you expect me, the queen, to abandon my own kingdom?”

“But—” Milli started, but Wu Zhao cut her off.

“It is my duty to protect my people. I will never leave.”

Milli wanted to keep pleading with Wu Zhao, but Richard stopped her with a firm hand on her shoulder.

“Enough. She won’t change her mind,” Richard said. “Seeing her resolve, further discussion is pointless. Let’s take our leave.”

Wu Zhao, however, wasn’t finished. “Then why not fight alongside us?” she proposed. “You’re adventurers, aren’t you? I will pay you.”

Richard shook his head. “If you want to defeat the dragon army, you need a powerful force—one that, unfortunately, you don’t have.”

He crossed his arms and continued, “And to stand a chance, you’d need at least five others as strong as me to hold off the four dragon guards and the Dragon King himself.”

“I alone won’t be enough to stop him or hinder their forces,” Richard admitted.

Just then, a soldier rushed into the room, dropping to one knee. “Urgent report, General!” he shouted, casting a brief glance at Richard’s group.

Xiao Jie nodded. “Speak. It’s fine.”

The soldier quickly relayed, “A report from our scouts just arrived. The villages in the southwest of Luo Yang... they’ve indeed been destroyed and are now nothing but ruins. The scouts found no signs of life when they went to check.”

“Should we spread out our forces to defend the villages?” Peng Xian suggested.

“No,” Xiao Jie replied firmly. “We should evacuate the remaining villages and gather our troops. Spreading them thin would only invite needless casualties.”

“We shall do as you say,” Wu Zhao agreed.

Xiao Jie nodded to the soldiers, who quickly sprang into action to relay the commands.

“We shall take our leave,” Richard said, turning toward the door.

“Will you really not help us?” Wu Zhao asked, her voice filled with concern.

“You’re asking the impossible,” Richard replied.

“At least help us evacuate the citizens,” Wu Zhao urged. “Protect them when the time comes, then you can leave.”

“Why don’t we help her?” Milli pleaded, while Regina tugged on his sleeve.

Richard sighed. “Fine. We’ll help evacuate the citizens, but we won’t fight the Dragon King.”

“Fine by me,” Wu Zhao said, relief in her voice.

Richard nodded his head, then leave the meeting hall, together with his group.

If it comes to that, I’ll have no choice but to knock Milli out, Richard thought. Then, I’ll get Zafir to take her and Regina to safety. Afterward, I’ll wait for the queen’s death, then bring back her soul fragment.

Richard made up his mind, knowing that Milli would never abandon those in need. However, he also understood that doing so would carry a high risk of death. If it came down to it, he would be the villain, prioritizing his party's survival over all else.

Back in the meeting hall, Wu Zhao was discussing how to handle the forewarned threats when Xiao Xi and Xiao Que came running inside, with the servants panting and chasing behind them.

“Dear guests, please don’t run around or wander off on your own!” the servants called, struggling to keep up, while the two children seemed full of energy and spirits.

“Play with us!” Xiao Xi and Xiao Que said in unison, grinning widely. The servants quickly knelt, apologizing for the disruption they had caused.

“Sigh, I’ll play with you two later. I’m in an important meeting right now,” Wu Zhao said, trying to maintain her composure.

“What are you discussing?” Xiao Xi and Xiao Que asked in unison, their curiosity piqued.

Wu Zhao paused for a moment, considering her words. Since they are mythical beings and sent by Feng and Huang, I suppose telling them won’t hurt, she thought. She then proceeded to explain the incoming dragon invasion to them.

“Heh, small matter!” Xiao Xi said, puffing out his chest proudly.

“Our rulers can defeat dragons easily!” Xiao Que added, striking a similar pose, as if it was a simple task.

“Is this true?” Peng Xian asked, raising an eyebrow in disbelief.

“Verily so!” Xiao Xi and Xiao Que replied, their voices full of confidence.

“Our rulers have defeated over ten dragons!” Xiao Que proclaimed proudly.

“Verily so!” Xiao Xi echoed, his tone just as emphatic.

Wu Zhao, clearly intrigued, leaned forward. “Could you get your rulers to help us defend Luo Yang when the time comes?”

“Small matter! Our rulers like you after all!” Xiao Que said with a grin.

“Our rulers have never lost a battle when they fight for real!” Xiao Xi added, his chest puffed out with pride.

“Our rulers only used a fraction of their power when they sparred with you!” Xiao Que said, her eyes gleaming with excitement.

“If they fought seriously, they could burn an entire mountain!” Xiao Xi added, his voice full of awe and pride.

“I still need to discuss setting up defenses around Luo Yang, so I will play with you two later,” Wu Zhao said, her tone firm.

“No fun, no fun, no fun!” Xiao Xi and Xiao Que whined in unison.

“Oh my, little ones, why don’t you come with this old man? We can play together,” Peng Xian offered with a smile.

“Okay!” Xiao Xi and Xiao Que immediately stopped their crying, their expressions brightening as if the tears had been fake all along.

“Go, go, go!” they tugged at Peng Xian’s sleeve, eager to drag him out of the room.

“I’ll leave the rest to both of you. I shall take my leave now,” Peng Xian said, bowing.

“Sigh, thank you,” Wu Zhao murmured, grateful for Peng Xian's help in managing the energetic duo.

Peng Xian gave a slight bow, then exited the room with Xiao Xi and Xiao Que. The room fell into a peaceful silence, allowing Wu Zhao and Xiao Jie to resume their discussion about Luo Yang’s defenses.