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"So, Qingshan now under Ruyan's care huh?"
Yang asked when he walked beside his comrades around the palace, he didn't want to become a Chief-General because it requires a huge amount of preparation and leadership with harsh trainings. Compared to become a General under them, they must undergo difficult missions that the Emperor trusted on them. Plus, they have to lead their own Divisions which is even more stressful due to how huge their responsibility had. Yunjiao nodded when she glared at the view, since they have to let her stay in Ruyan's village that has more hospitality. "Yeah, I can't believe I couldn't pass on becoming Chief-General..." she grumbled.
Mingyu was busy playing with his zither, he remained composed as Lingshan was sipping her cup of peach blossom tea. Lingshan can be hardworking and wise, but also cheerful. Even though she was playful yet serious, she has a good heart and wanted to help everyone around her. "What's with Yunjiao lately?" Yaoren asked as the young boy huffed, he wondered why does she always get moody every time Fang and Yinghua getting mentioned, they weren't at fault or something. All of them shrugged their shoulders except him, Yang heard them when he saw Yunjiao ordering some food.
Well, being stuck in the imperial capital is not what he likes, traveling around the country without worries and adventures always get the best of him. While no other countries or empires did notice any sudden occurrence, the capital is usually the one who are alert and cautious after a sudden happenings occurred. He knew Zilian was a problem, now that he sensed his enemy's familiar aura somewhere near the valley. "Woah, Princess Meiying was kicking the suitor on the balls over there!" Yaoren pointed out, making Yang's jaw dropped in shock while Mingyu played another melody. He hoped that she's alright though, as he looked away and let the music calms his nerves. Yaoren ran off, followed by an angry Yinghua who chased him due to him revealing secrets to Meiying, but none of them knew a far distanced black-haired woman.
"Sorry, but you're not my type," Meiying growled, before delivering a high kick at the young man's chest and landed on her feet elegantly. When the suitor became frightened over Meiying's display, she picked her parasol and placed her hand on her waist. "Not ready, huh? Well, you're not even suitable to be someone I like. Off you go now, no need to waste time around here," she bluntly said as a signal, making them obeyed what she said.
Fuyin was well-aware that his image as an Emperor is different, compared to when he's with his Empress wife Xiao along their two kids like Meiying and her younger brother Chengxun. When he's on-duty, he's very strict and demanding but the public didn't hate him since he rarely shows his authoritative side. However, when he's in the comfort and private of the Palace--he's very carefree but never used this personality in front of nobles, military leaders and the ministers. And he even joked with the servants, whenever they relaxed. Even though he made his son Chengxun to be a future crown prince, he couldn't help but keeping his eyes on his beloved little one; especially Meiying.
Meiying was his bundle of joy, even his wise and gentle wife helped him when he almost going to have a depression for not able to see her childhood--he would make a time to have a small trip, a luxury is not his taste while the important duty is waiting him. Walking outside to the gates where soldiers can protect the castle, Meiying approached his father with a solemn glare. "Father, those suitors are perverts! They're so disgusting!" she complained, making him grinned and made a humph noise. He wouldn't wish for anyone to disrespected his precious, independent daughter. "They'll learn their mistakes," Fuyin spoke, making her calm down. "I can't reject their proposals openly because it might affect my social relationships with their respective family, since when my people find me as a tyrant," he added as he turned around, hearing her short snort.
"So, I let you handle them yourself. Not my fault," Fuyin shrugged with a teasing smile, earning a playful punch on the arm. "They're no challenge for me! Why wouldn't you let me go? I wanted a single rule, you know," she replied, Fuyin looked straight into her eyes and gave a small kiss on the forehead, causing her face blushing in bright red.
"Silly girl, I still wanted you to be close with your parents. However, your goal was made successful in short. Give yourself a big pat," he praised, making her squealed in excitement over his words and the kiss on her forehead. The sunset brings the shine in the mountains, the Empire of Xanadu is indeed a beautiful place. Chengxun mostly close to his mother--Empress Xiao, even though he has his father's traits of being authoritative and stubborn sometimes. Just like him, he has to be selfless about his wants or the rest will suffer. "Mother, is it okay if I can reject every proposals from suitors?" he asked during their tea time hours, a smile plastered upon her smooth and porcelain-like cheeks as she gently stood up from her chair, walking next to him.
She silently reached her elegant arm and caressed his soft, long hair and slightly covered his eyes. Unlike his sister, he has a very beautiful feature and considered as a beautiful young man. He's a splitting image of his father, except his hair's color is a bit dark with longer bangs and fewer hair strands. Xiao might not had her past like her husband, but she can comfort her son and daughter whenever Fuyin is not here. "So, what was that all about again?" Meiying asked when she was sipping her cup of tea, turning her attention to her fellow princess friend from Zhongjing Kingdom; Yuheng. "Like usual, Meimei. Those suitors are sent by the neighboring countries just to gain allies," Yuheng answered, twirling her hair when her gloved hand clenched.
Meiying rolled her eyes, muttering 'no wonder those suitors are bunch of wimps' before huffed angrily. As of the others, the Xanadu nobility were a kind of nobles that were very benevolent, brave and heroic fighters. They had no shame or cowardice, being able to be loyal friends. Right now, he was discussing with his most-trusted adviser. "Hmph, our army is ready to fight if Mara Dragons did another trouble in the border area," Ziyi warned, placing her long gloves' fingers underneath her chin.
In the end, only few of them only managed to gain access on their resources and they had their own ways on how to make a strong chemical weapons, instead. "Don't tell me that the quest to find the Philosopher's Stone is like a cultivation mission!" Meiying whined, she hates this so-called 'cultivation quest' because that was the same thing as quest of immortality in modern time, except they can harness their magical powers on physical level and mental training. "Meimei, if this a cultivation that means we're the Spiritually-Blessed Warriors like they said in a classical works about a certain boy who became a young man full of spiritual connection. That's so weird," Yuheng sighed, looking at the sky with blank face.
"We're NOT immortal heroes, we're literally human beings," an eighteen-years old years old young man with long dark hair who is tied into braided ponytail and having a similar features and wearing a blue robe stated bluntly. He was Li Yunxin, the first prince of Taishan Empire and was currently in a visit along his younger brother; Daheng who is nine years old. Li Daheng has a fair and innocent complexion with a long, blonde hair which tied into a ponytail. "We're not doing progression, our kingdom wanted to defeat a fucking Dark Dragon who was sealed away--"
Zilian suddenly appeared that made Meiying yelled along her friends, the Dragon Prince heard everything since he's a defected kin of that hated race. Although his presence started their suspicion, he didn't carry a scent which indicated his otherworldly aura from Mara Clan. "Say, did I interrupt you girls so bad or some shit?" Zilian questioned as he looked around, his hands behind the back. Yuheng cringed a bit as she felt a familiarity from his voice. Meiying was hugging her parasol, placing her fist on her chest. "Yuan Zilian, where have you been?!" she snapped, it was almost 7PM, and then Yunxin felt wary towards him.
Zilian was ignoring Meiying when Yuheng noticed that the Dragon Prince was strangely and suddenly without having a single stench nor aura at all... and it was too odd when his scent or aura feels a lot less like a threat now. "Wait, Zilian. I heard about the rumors, care to explain or some shit," Yuheng pointed out while holding the urge to smack him with her fan, Zilian seems unfamiliar with human society--aside from nature and having a love for books, art and the history behind these kingdoms. "Whatever rumor that would made the crowd went wild, forget about it," he stated, his hands folded together and stood into defense mode with a neutral, blank stare.
"Well, either way that we ended up getting dragged into this endless war from nothing."
Next day, Qingshan entered the inn as the lady just finished her morning routine, she was facing the window and sighed in relief. Soon, the little pitter-patter noise were heard below her window. A little bird was perching below her window, tilting its head as it chirped at her. Then Qingshan let the little one flew from the nearby tree to her palm, it has such delicate light brown color feathers, big dark, oval-shaped eyes with gray-and-gold lines connecting through the edge side of its feather. "Do you like it here?" Ruyan asked, letting her ate her breakfast in a warm bowl and started chewing the porridge. He seems very cautious for a stranger in town. Qingshan then explained what actually occurred from her former place, the story begins few months after Yang Huifang, her older sister suddenly abandoned her homeland for the sake of another clan and finding the real leader who actually betrayed their country. She just met with Yiren, wanting to search for her missing relatives from other countries.
"... the part when I ran to this Empire, I got confused with the direction of my map and also this place is very much different from Taishan," Qingshan added, it is indeed not easy when one has little knowledge and ended up realizing her mistake. "When I leave this Imperial City, I'll never come back, there are guards outside keeping my secret. I was a weak Dragon, so I don't have a vessel and... I found a hidden scrolls that I mentioned, which is a Forbidden Spell that costs my immortality," she continued, causing Ruyan frowned upon her story. Back then, the wars did involve the Mara Dragons to became strong and ruthless fighter, they joined their rival clans together to conquer the world with no consequences nor mercy.
"That is your true form, correct?"
Ruyan added, as the girl stood up from her sitting position. "My dragon form is my true form, now that I became human... this place is peaceful and quiet. Everything that the others can achieve, but no one else is there... except me. I'm a little bit scared, is this going to be my purpose to be a normal person? Where I can't protect those innocent civilians from harm's way?" Qingshan asked, which made his cheeks red... why is he having a soft feeling inside him--scratch that, he may have developed a feelings towards her! Cursing inwardly, Ruyan gulped with a nervous sweat.
Few days later...
Yinghua was forging a new weapon inside her office hall, since the advanced technology her mentor Sui-Feng invented in Xanadu Empire has been the reason she can finally move her project even further. She planned on making a dual weapons of gunblade and sword, while retaining the original name of her sword Chūnhuā (Spring Flower) and the gunblade's name being Méihuā (Plum Flower); with both weapons enhanced with silver materials that can instantly kill Dragon kins; the Dragon Slaying Blade, while the gunblade would have to shoot multiple rounds, even able to destroy a spirit barrier and inflict damage within the area--blinding the opponent's vision.
Meanwhile, Fang was forging his secondary weapon that is a gunlance named Měidé (Virtue) while retaining his sword Měiróng (Beauty), since the regulations of the Chief-Generals must have dual weapons; primary and secondary ones--so they will not easily outnumbered. He recalled how his late-father Zhou Cheng taught him some basics of martial arts, swordsmanship, combat skills and firearm back then before his army departed to the foreign kingdom. Of course he followed his late-parents in their jobs, feeling sad when he heard them killed by the Black Beasts after finishing an important quest together--leaving him and and his younger sister Feihung.
So far, there wasn't any abnormal signs or unusual movements from their enemies, mostly the other generals prefer to patrol around the Capital City as a duty and staying low profile. "Hey, how was it?" Fang asked Yinghua who finished furnishing her new weapons. She sighed in relief, sitting with a tired face since she didn't even take a break. "It was tiring than usual, well... now it done. Do you really sure about making the gun-based weapon? Maybe people will be against you about using a gun since Xanadu hasn't used it for wars yet," Fang persuaded, giving his partner a drink and a towel over the desk. "Some of the Black Beasts requires a long-range attack that can kill them from the outside of their flesh, mostly because of their armored outer scales," Yinghua pointed out, wiping the excess sweat off her forehead.
"Just so you know, I based these guns from this device that Master Sui-Feng made it... she's really the most ambitious inventor I ever known, she contributed a lot to the military too," she added, smiling after mentioning her name. Sui-Feng is a respected Madame General who didn't give up until she discover the best ways to solve the problems they faced, her own troops are loyal and loyal to death. While Fang's eyes sparkled in pride and excitement, he knew that previous Chief-General Li Fengying's daughter is truly a great General, a hero who came from the humble roots--then become an advocate of change and supporting her father during his prime days, ending the Mara Clan's uprising on the verge to wipe out the civilization after the Five Families assisted the Xanadu Empire for the greater good.
This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.
But, the question is--why does Sui-Feng has no white Vulpine tail? Not only she's mutated with power of Borisian race after she and her family got enslaved; she also beyond furious if someone asked about her tail that she doesn't have, yet Yinghua managed to distract her during those situations. "Jingshen too, he established a regulations and a guide within our divisions... I can't imagine how that lazy bastard has become a worthy general like his colleague is," Fang quipped, letting his friend laughed at the comment.
Being a member of the Great Warriors is hard, no matter they are a chief-general or a military general. However, everyone couldn't agree more about the difficulty and their own challenges and quests they dealt with; besides they also have to attend monthly meetings during certain events or political discussions between the kingdoms. Plus, they have to watch over any suspicious activities or danger within their radius. "By the way, I heard Chief-Commander Zihao will be recruiting more Chief-Generals from the Great Warriors," Yinghua confirmed the rumor, but they need to wait few days until the recruitment event begins. "By the way, what are they called the social gathering, again?" Fang groaned at her, he doesn't want to go. Asking favor to someone despite who isn't the royalty. "It's not a social gathering, idiot! It's only a welcoming ritual for the newly promoted new Chief-Generals like us," she argued.
"Plus, the Great Warriors he recruited is way more experienced that us. And, they were known as Heavenly Imperial Quintet; a special forces under Chief-Commander Zihao who specialized in utilizing advanced weaponry and technologies," Yinghua added, while holding her newly forged dual weapons. They wondered what kind of people are recruited, if only the Heavenly Imperial Quintet or other Generals come to see them, so why they have to gather around in this special day? "By the way, Yinghua... is everything going on fine?" Fang asked in concern, worried if she still grieving.
"What is?"
Yinghua questioned, tilting her head as his partner gulped. He averted his gaze and let his breath relaxed slowly, trying to bring out his calmest expression he could possibly mustered. "Do you still grieving over the past loss from your past comrades when we're captains?" he asked. Her face contorted into sour one, she tried to move on from her past regrets, however her smile seems forced and sometimes trying to hide herself whenever the incident was a factor.
At midnight, she hid herself in a tower as her memories remained flashing before her. Despite having a hard time when trying to confide her friends or mentors during the difficult situation, Yinghua promised to live her life fully to the extent. Ever since her group perished into the darkness by the hands of a Mara Dragon, Yinghua felt an emptiness in her heart and guilt, wishing that she can protect her comrades from the Mara Dragons. "You know, Fang... ever since I lost my parents during the War, it breaks me to pieces... a person like me cannot become so easy on a loss," she said with a sadness mixed, which jumbled up with her emotions. "Yet, that person took a hold of my heart and let the pain overcome," Yinghua vowed, her voice becoming determined as her cold eyes stared at him in a serious face.
Fang knew what. she was talking about in that last line, he knew how determined and capable she is for a warrior. He remembered the tragic moment when Yinghua lose her comrades, especially when they tried to find the cure for the Black Plague, they set out together and never looking back. But, her close teammates named Ruizhang and Shijiao got severely injured from the claws, and ended up being killed from the hands of those bastards. "Yinghua..." he spoke, kneeling on one knee in front of her. His warm and gentle hands rose and holding her, this sort of gesture began to ignite her red face--her mouth opened a bit. At least, she finally lets herself opening her true emotions to her own friends and partners in military. "Listen, your goal is set and keep yourself loyal to the empire no matter what may come. I can assure that you will find a way to achieve happiness once you've finished the trials and got the rewards," he reassured.
"I also lost... fellow comrades, especially this girl who was part of my squad. Her name was Shenhua, a warrior princess," Fang winced, thinking about the lost princess he mourned inside his heart. She was always giving him orders without questioning him, and having him by her side. While his other comrades had decided to respect and keep Fang as their fellow soldier as possible, because their leaders fell and only left him as a survivor. "Fang..." she called him, as his words had effect of comfort to soothe her broken soul. "But, Yinghua... you are my only comrade, okay? You never left me behind and... you are still here... with me," Fang reassured as a blush crept on his cheeks, touching her soft cheek. She kept her widened, teary eyes stare at him as she nodded; blushing in dark crimson as she felt his warmth. "You are... irreplaceable, Yinghua," Fang sighed.
When she thought it was a smooth-hitting her emotional damage, Fang frowned slightly. He remembered the pain he had when a dragon broke him off from his group, being alive before the princess protected him, letting a huge claw pierced right through her chest--landing near where Fang is. But the princess got hit by the second, as the blood spilled. His face went deadly-pale and eyes darkened; he wasn't able to stop this monstrosity. Not until his comrades surrounded the enemy from every side, let the arrows pierce at the Black Dragon and let the axe flew across, then the chains were fired and the third one slashed, lastly... a shadow moved with their blades aimed--slaying the dragon without mercy. "In my eyes... you are more than just a partner, comrade and a close friend, but..." he replied, lowering his gaze away. Yinghua tensed a little as she gripped his hand back, letting their intertwined fingers embraced each other for a second.
"Always..."
Fang whispered when he leaned closer to her face, his brown eyes caught her surprised face--her dark brown eyes went completely shocked, she couldn't get why or how he managed to reach her heart. "Never left each other," he ended, leaning towards her red lips with his brown eyes looked straight into her tearful-gaze. Then, their hearts beat in sync and let the quiet ambiance surround them, letting their emotions unleashed in the atmosphere. Her breaths are slow and shaky, yet her heart nearly dropped when he hesitated, while trying to hold onto his gentle grip. Yet, their lips stopped centimeters from each other, Yinghua mumbled softly. "Fang... without you, I couldn't do it... with all the sins of mine, you are the reason I'm here to comfort you," she smiled, watching his pupils enlarged a bit.
She wanted him to move closer; inching himself into their true affections, expressing their heart's desires. "The world... has chosen us, isn't it?" Fang guessed, making her chuckled and wiped her tears. Yinghua puffed her cheeks, acting mad by the question her partner asked. "I knew the answer, Chief-General," she joked, before grinning happily. "And the answer is? Joking around will never resolve the crimes against our nations, maybe once," Fang rolled his eyes playfully, giving a quick poke on her pale skin. "Idiot!" Yinghua taunted with a smile. His chestnut gaze looked at her face expression that makes her appearance more... beautiful. "And that is...?"
"Come on, you two!"
Both of them turned comically sour as they became white, making their darkened gaze scowling at Yang who barged into the office of Chief-General's Quarters. Yang yelled when Fang aimed his blade against his back, growling at him. "Alright, alright... I'm going! N-No violence, please don't hurt me!" he said in a terrified squeal, hiding behind Mingyu's shoulder. "Ah, leave him alone. He sure has an incredible timing in picking a good moment for a tragedy," Mingyu said, watching his friend hiding beneath his robe when another Chief-General was after him. Yinghua rubbed her forehead for a bit, she always strong and confident, and yet... she can be an emotional rollercoaster when feeling sad or happy.
After all, this new moments takes time to improve her life, despite her worries get worse when realizing that these moments was a sweet dream that would never end. After the long sparring between Yinghua and Sui-Feng after every training, both of them bowed to each other and walked out from the arena; she stretched her arms from the intense workout. Finally she managed to stand a chance against her mentor after few practice routines in the past, Yinghua recalled.
And now, she joined with her closest companions sitting and having fun, drinking baijiu together and chit-chatting. Their laughter rang around the Sky-Farring Palace, everyone around the halls stopped and gave a smile, continued to do their work without anyone disturbing the situation, unless it's their shift to guard the streets. "Master Yinghua, there will be new recruits for a next week. I also ask if you can run a Basic Training before Chief-Commander Zihao holding the grand Welcoming Entrance," one of her subordinates in her division informed, which she folded her arms with a smile. She then turning her gaze over to Ruqian, wondering if he and his bunch of warriors will join the Welcoming Entrance. "Why not? Maybe adding some tough lesson for those stupid nobles who pick their dirty little fingers would satisfy the requirements, am I right?" he quipped with a snort, his Shangri-La is strong, beautiful and fair, unlike those lousy weak military.
"Hey, my Celestial Division are stronger!" Sui-Feng barked, refilling her liquor in Yinghua's cup. Fang was immune to alcohol just like Yinghua, Yiyang, Ruqian and Taiyang. Too bad that Taiyang love his cooking more than alcohol, which... make Yinghua questioned his self-control... or something. 'It's not funny, okay?' she thought with a sweat drop, trying to not think about the future nightmare she would come upon. Jingshen was so drunk that he, Sui-Feng and Zihao have a weak tolerance of alcohols. Fang grunted, ignoring the constant shaking and grabbing he received. "Whoops, gotta go!"
Yinghua shouted as he jumped onto the window sill, giving a wave to her friend before running away. Ain't that Yinghua hated parties? No, she was scared of drunk people and was usually running away from them, except not today; she drank with other generals of Xanadu. This alcohol may just a regular one, or she might want to get the recipe when she's free. "Wait for me, Yinghua!" Fang yelled, dodging another drunken attack from a laughing, dancing Sui-Feng. She dashed with a grin, eyeing the falling leaf as her steps got faster, racing down from the roof shingles to the stable's tiles. A few minutes, both of them could hear the loud ruckus and shouts from other Xanadu soldiers, yelling and throwing their alcohol bottles into the trees or at each other.
"Knock them out first," Yiyang muttered as she and Ruqian nodded at each other, before Taiyang prepared his 'horrifying cuisine' that could potentially put someone to suffering; hence the scene changed drastically. Meiying jumped swiftly onto the balcony from the rooftop of the palace, she just got back from strolling around the roofs as she twirled her parasol. She rolled her eyes as the princess watched the ruckus of he drunk Great Warriors after they defeated the Black Beasts earlier, it is true that they made a lot of achievements that eventually led the military victory over the battles against the Black Plague, the Mara Dragons and more.
Black Plague is very dangerous and unpredictable disease that no man could treat. When the cases begin spreading, many physicians could do nothing but cure the symptoms and ease the patient. However, Taiyang--the Chief-General and currently the Head Physician is the only one who could control and cure the deadly virus before it spread, thanks to his friends; he found a remedy for it and got his respect, helping lots of people around the kingdoms and Xanadu Empire--no one ever got sick again, or any epidemic outbreak. Mara clan is the ancient royal bloodline Dragons, when their ancestors were almost destroyed by the allied armies, due to their own sins causing their own race be sealed within the land known as Khagan Empire--once an abandoned empire who's the enemy of Xanadu Empire could be banished. Even though their bloodline was locked within the lands, thanks to modern ages and advanced technology, plus combined forces of powers from all heroes, Khagan could not stay neutralized from other nations for long before finally managed to broke out and causing ruckus of mass-scale war. Since the clans could not gain power on the surface; they, and no one ever, recognized Khagan and didn't want to get involved with their 'chaotic reigns'.
"Meiying."
Zilian greeted her as the half-human Dragon Prince sitting on the pillar across the balcony, Meiying look up to see him again as she had to avert her sight from her current view. "Hey yourself, birdie," she replied. The calm and cold Dragon seems to be wondering why Meiying always had a bold intent to rebel against Xanadu's nobility, despite being the daughter of Emperor Wu Fuyin and Empress Wu Xiao--plus being the older sister of Wu Chengxun; her younger brother. There's something about this human girl that enchants him, the way she hides her fear while talking to him and trying to maintain a calm front. Zilian always interested to see humans like them, each country and culture has different views and behaviors; yet the same in how they can connect and feel the things around them. "Not surprised to see you strolling outside like the night of tomorrow."
"Well, you are..."
"... interesting," Zilian ended her sentence, which she smiled back before jumping over the balcony towards the man who doesn't move an inch from the pillar. Meiying and Zilian are having secret friendship between them, without knowing their true relationship with each other in the end. "Can you turn into your Dragon form?" she asked, even though it shouldn't be in here--Meiying was curious about his true form. "Sure, wait... just look away for a moment, Princess Meiying."
The windy breeze blown up, leaving a swish sound when the black shadow gone and when Meiying opened her eyes and now she was in the garden, her mouth opened a bit. She saw the beautiful white dragon who was sitting in the field, revealing his entire appearance which is sparkling glistens of deep shades of blue, white underbelly and blue slits for eyes. Her eyes widened and gaped in awe, not knowing about the scales that were attached to the arm guards, the white cloak, and even the decorated silver jewelry with a pair of silver-thread and white-silver-white threads on his shoulders.
'So beautiful...' she thought, carefully walking towards the dragon--Zilian lifted his wing slightly, showing more of his arms and hand with each silver ring. She smiled and grabbed his forepaw, touching the cold scale of his claws, eyeing the blue sharp-sharp talons that is shaped like a spear--can very much bring harm to enemies. When she turned her head towards him, they stared at each other. The dragon crawled towards her as his head rested on her lap, making Meiying shrieked in surprise. The smooth and silky texture of his scales touch her skin, giving her shivering pleasures.
Meiying smiled, stroking Zilian's head who moved a little to give her more chances. It seems like the dragon is enjoying the touch, his tail is lazily swaying and tapping on the grass, giving a content purr. "Aww... cute, I never see anyone pet a real Dragon, yet you acted like this?" she asked softly. Feeling the close relationship between this dragon and her, it was like an unspoken magic. Then, Meiying could see his eyes glowing in different colors, and letting the bright light shined between them. "Keep in mind that I don't like being treated like a pet, by the way. Just because they see me as your white fur ball doesn't mean you always can forget who's the true predator, right?"
Zilian will only show his 'doting side' and 'mercy' only towards Meiying, she's the only human he ever known that didn't make him angry enough to burn the palace and eat their souls. This girl is the only one who knew the meaning of death and kindness, though he questioned that... if she ever had a horrible past that haunted her dreams? He could sense and read her behavior, how does his scales and body touches hers without causing discomfort on the touch of her palm. "Zilian... don't leave me again, would you?"
"If it's for you, I won't."
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