Long Shiyu blinked, “I’m not sure how you all classify it.”
This answer was within Shen Zhaomu’s expectations.
But he didn’t plan on letting it go this time. In the chaos, even though he only glimpsed inside that tent for a second, he saw signs of destruction by a dragon’s breath. That kind of power wasn’t something a dragon with a five-times-removed lineage could muster.
The classification of dragon lineages had been continually refined since it was first proposed. It had stabilized in the past few decades, but perhaps it would soon require another change.
It was also time for him to return to the Shen family. They had the most comprehensive information on dragons, and several elders were there.
Maybe he could find out what was going on with dragons that did not have psychic powers.
On their way to the ruins of the North City, Shen Zhaomu was feeling torn. If Long Shiyu wasn’t a dragon with a lineage five-times-removed, he wouldn’t be harmless. At the very least, his combat abilities would rival those of a regular exotic creature. More importantly, his blood would naturally be brimming with brutality, a penchant for fighting, and a desire to conquer. Such an existence was intolerable to the Shen family.
This was a matter of principle for dragon hunting families.
Shen Zhaomu glanced back at Long Shiyu, who hurried his steps when he noticed, pointing at some cotton candy by the roadside, “I want to eat that…”
“Eating that will give you cavities.”
“…”
“Okay, don’t cry, don’t cry, I’ll buy it for you.” Shen Zhaomu quickly cut off Long Shiyu’s protest and bought him some cotton candy.
Long Shiyu ate it with joy, even getting some white candy threads on his face.
He was a silly dragon. A joyful, silly dragon. He looked nothing like the violent, aggressive creature others made him out to be.
Shen Zhaomu remembered a question he had pondered over a long time ago and asked, “When you were captured, why didn’t you try to escape?”
He had kept Long Shiyu by his side for so long, and the dragon spent his days eating and playing, never once showing any desire to flee.
Evidently, he had completely forgotten about his roots and responsibilities while enjoying life.
Long Shiyu replied, “I needed to eat.”
Shen Zhaomu, once again reminded of his tool-like status, was at a loss for words.
“And,” Long Shiyu looked at him with a playful twinkle in his eyes, “I really like you.”
Shen Zhaomu coughed, quickly accepting his tool-like status.
After walking for another five or six minutes, they could finally see the distant ruins of the collapsed upper city.
The city block should have crashed right into the North District of the lower city, but a dome-shaped barrier in the sky blocked it. The barrier, now with large cracks, was undergoing rapid repairs, and the wreckage slid to the edge of the North District.
Yellow and black caution lines stretched across the scene in mid-air, with a massive holographic projection floating above: a round seal with a sword and dagger surrounded by thorns.
Access forbidden to non-hunters.
Shen Zhaomu handed Long Shiyu a card tied to his terminal, “Go eat something nearby.”
Delighted, Long Shiyu wandered off, proving easy to handle.
Shen Zhaomu, on the other hand, stepped over shattered tiles and ventured into the ruins.
Around him, colorful remnants of circus tents were scattered among twisted and broken construction vehicles and robots. The site was a ghastly mess. Thankfully, the inhabitants of the North District had evacuated in time, preventing any casualties.
Upon entering, the first person he encountered was Bai Yiyi.
Even after several days, the White doe Princess of the beast clan retained her grace. The laureate gleamed on her head, and several inspectors from the Audit Department accompanied her.
Their previous confrontations seemed to be a thing of the past.
Upon seeing Shen Zhaomu, Bai Yiyi smiled, “My, you’ve really made a mark this time. However,” she changed her tone, “taking matters into your own hands and dealing with the exotic creature on your own might seem a bit overeager, no? I’ve heard that several seniors in the association are planning to make a big deal out of this.”
“Let them talk.” Shen Zhaomu, not in the mood for small talk, walked past her, “I’ll face whatever punishment comes my way.”
Bai Yiyi’s soft laughter followed, “Oh, by the way, Chief Qiu is here this time. Look, she’s right there.”
Indeed, in the center of the collapsed ruins, Shen Zhaomu saw a woman in her fifties or sixties, dressed in a slightly loose gray tactical suit, standing among a group of hunters. Half of her hair had turned white, tied back simply and slightly frizzy.
She was currently examining a mark on the ground – a scar left by Veyrpan’s black scythe during the earlier fight.
Noticing Shen Zhaomu’s approach, Qiu Ruowen straightened up and smiled, “You’re here, little Shen?”
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
When she smiled, wrinkles formed at the corners of her eyes. She was nowhere near tall or robust, even shorter than Shen Zhaomu, but she had the warm aura of a kind elder.
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Qiu Ruowen massaged her lower back, “Although my back isn’t what it used to be, I can still endure a flight of a dozen hours or so. After all, I can’t compare to the young ones like you.”
Shen Zhaomu chuckled.
The last time he had gone out to buy takoyaki for Long Shiyu, he had also filed a combat report for the association. But now that Qiu Ruowen was asking him questions not covered in the report, he answered each one in turn.
The two spent a good half-hour amidst the ruins, chatting and searching for remaining traces.
“So,” Qiu Ruowen began, “you have no idea where the other Veyrpan is?”
“No, I didn’t see him at all. It’s possible he wasn’t in this area to begin with.”
Qiu Ruowen appeared thoughtful.
The scene had been devastated, many traces had completely disappeared. They hadn’t even found Veyrpan’s body, only his shattered scythe and some cryptic text written in the language of the mystic creatures.
The text had been handed over to the experts for analysis.
Shen Zhaomu commented, “I’m sure I pierced his heart. By all means, he shouldn’t have survived. But at that time, I didn’t have enough time to confirm the kill.”
“Why didn’t you have the time?” Qiu Ruowen asked, idly kicking a small stone at her feet.
Shen Zhaomu could have said it was because of the burrowing dragons and nocturnal ghouls going berserk, but he never liked to withhold information. “Because I was rushing to find a friend who isn’t part of the association. He was also in the restricted area.”
The stone rolled off, and Qiu Ruowen remarked, “Is it that young man named Shiyu? I’ve heard of him.”
“Yes.”
“Did you bring him into the area?”
“No.” Shen Zhaomu hesitated, not divulging that Long Shiyu was there just to snack at night.
Qiu Ruowen nodded, “Alright, I understand.” She paused and added, “Your recent kill—or perhaps your recent act of driving Veyrpan off—will be recorded as a great merit. But you acted on your own, which will affect the assessment. You proved yourself a powerful hunter, but not a qualified leader.”
“Okay.” Shen Zhaomu said emotionlessly, not really concerned.
Qiu Ruowen then laughed, “Every time I see you like this, it makes me think you don’t really want to be the chief.”
“You’re joking,” Shen Zhaomu replied. “I just feel that even if I’m not chosen as chief this time, I’ll surely be chosen in the next. I’m not too concerned about the wait. After all, the association won’t easily find another genius like me.”
Qiu Ruowen was taken aback, then laughed heartily, “You truly remind me of my younger days. I really like that spirit of yours.” Her laughter subsided, “However, don’t stress about this place. We’ve gathered most of the evidence. Go get some rest; you’ve barely slept. With me here, nothing will be missed.”
Shen Zhaomu nodded.
As he prepared to leave, his communicator buzzed with a message from a family member in Kassand.
Coincidentally, they wanted to know if he planned to visit home.
After a moment of thought, Shen Zhaomu replied, “Let’s go together, then.” He was still concerned about the dragon breath.
The journey home was neither short nor long, taking nearly ten hours. He sent a message to Long Shiyu and Fang Qing, informing them he might not return tonight.
Behind him, Qiu Ruowen was still strolling amidst the ruins.
The place had been devastated, leaving no further clues.
She was ready to depart with her investigation team, but she suddenly stopped when passing a corner.
She crouched down, focusing her energy, and flipped over a huge, broken stone—
This stone was a special material used for the city’s foundation, tens of times harder than ordinary building materials. To the untrained eye, the stone appeared to have cracked from a fall, but Qiu Ruowen’s keen senses suggested otherwise. It seemed… like it had been shattered by a monstrous claw.
Clean, precise, and effortless.
Ordinary exotic creatures didn’t have that kind of power, and Veyrpan likely didn’t have such claws.
Qiu Ruowen narrowed her eyes.
Another hunter nearby asked, “Chief, is there something here?”
“No, let’s go,” Qiu Ruowen stood up, dusting off her tactical suit and calling out to the other hunters, “Everyone worked hard today. Dinner is on me. Wherever you want to eat, just say it.”
…
The aircraft soared through the clouds, the brown land speeding beneath. It headed south towards Kassand.
Shen Zhaomu dozed off for a bit on the aircraft, and when he opened his eyes again, a vast deep-blue ocean stretched before him. Waves crashed, white birds soared under the clear sky, and further away, a pod of whales breached the surface.
Soon, an island appeared on the horizon.
As dusk approached, jagged and imposing rocks outlined the island, their silhouettes cutting through the salty sea breeze in the setting sun’s glow.
The violent tides and treacherous undercurrents made this area a designated hazard by the alliance. Yet those who dared to hunt dragons were not deterred by common risks. Many older hunters still loved taking rickety boats out to fish, relishing the primitive thrill of the hunt. If their engine failed, they’d row back with a single paddle, braving waves several meters high.
Around the island, six ancient lookout towers stood in different directions, their dark exteriors covered in shells. Their tops bore flags of a winged lion fighting a dragon.
At night, a holographic barrier would rise around each tower, sheltering those on watch from the chill, their bright lights piercing the sea fog.
In times long past, they weren’t set up to guide ships but to deter and ward off the sea creatures, ensuring they dare not easily attack the invisible barrier surrounding the island. Every child of the Shen family had taken a turn at the night watch, not really to guard against anything — after all, many years had passed without a sea beast attack. It was more of a rite of passage, to temper their courage and help them acclimate to the loneliness of solitary hunting.
Shen Zhaomu disembarked from the aircraft, unfamiliar flowers and plants swaying gently at his feet, and the forest trees rustling in the wind.
Looking towards the mountains of the island, the rooftops, reminiscent of bygone days, were a blend of deep blue and black. A well-trodden path led in that direction, followed by stone steps that showed signs of wear and tear.
Since the decline and the subsequent disappearance of dragons, most of the Shen family had settled in different parts of the Star Sea. The ancestral domain, once brimming with activity, now saw few visitors.
As Shen Zhaomu ascended the stone steps, he encountered several elders of the house. They were all quite aged, having grown accustomed to living on this island. Their expressions revealed a hint of surprise upon seeing him, to which Shen Zhaomu simply nodded, “Just finished a mission.”
He didn’t linger around the dwelling area for long and continued his ascent to the peak. The only sounds were the echoes of the crashing waves. At the mountain’s zenith stood a grand edifice.
The structure, a massive hall, towered intimidatingly, its silhouette magnified by the setting sun. On its exterior walls and pillars, intricate carvings depicted scenes of valiant warriors battling fierce dragons.
Entering, Shen Zhaomu found the interior dim and cold. Lamps ignited silently beside him, illuminating the vast expanse of the hall. Along the path stood half-bust statues of heroes, with stone tablets detailing their lives.
This place was built in memory of dragon-slaying ancestors. Absent of modern technology, everything retained an ancient authenticity.
Shen Zhaomu didn’t light any candelabras but instead walked past these statues to the very end.
There, carved into the solid wall, was a fierce scene: a man, eyes wide in fury, choking a dragon by its neck, while a woman mounted the beast, her muscles tensed, brandishing a dragon-hunting lance high above.
Golden light particles danced in the air, slowly pushing open the heavy hidden door.
Inside resembled a massive judgment hall. He stood at its base, lifting his gaze to see rows of circular seats, creating an oppressive ambiance as if countless eyes were about to fixate on him.
On the floor lay an eerie alchemical circle.
When the lamp’s light hit it, something seemed to be disturbed, causing ripples of psychic energy.
At first, the fluctuations were subtle, but within seconds, the entire space pulsated as if engulfed in a psychic maelstrom.
The illuminated scene shifted, revealing shadowy figures occupying the seats—mere phantoms formed of concentrated psychic energy.
To any observer, the sight would be astonishing: these were the legendary dragon-slaying heroes of history.
Originally, the Shen family weren’t the only renowned dragon slayer clan. Back then, close to ten gifted clans pooled their efforts and exterminated dragons and exotic creatures in the Star Sea, securing a haven for humanity, long before the establishment of the Hunter’s Association.
As time passed, some clans lost their dragon-slaying techniques, while others declined. Now, only the Shen family remained vigilant on this front.
The seated figures hailed from various clans.
Their physical forms had long perished, but using dragon alchemy, their potent psychic essences were preserved.
The front part of this hall housed their statues and tales, while the rear was both their tomb and prison—forever bound, unable to communicate with anyone outside their bloodline.
A man at the forefront spoke, his voice ethereal like a phantom, “It’s been a long time since you visited.”
“I’ve come to retrieve some records,” Shen Zhaomu replied.
“How fares the throne?”
“No leads yet.”
The phantom’s tone turned grave, “Always remember, you must dethrone Arkasamo. No beast should ever ascend that throne again. Only then can we have everlasting peace.” His expression softened, pride and affection evident, “You are our proudest descendant. If anyone can end this terrible reign of beast-monarchs, it’s you. Our hopes rest upon your shoulders.”
Shen Zhaomu deftly changed the subject, “I’m here to find ancient records on dragon lineages.”
No sooner had he spoken, several spirits rose, sifting through the uppermost bookshelves. In moments, dozens of weighty tomes were placed before Shen Zhaomu.
These were family archives, unique knowledge found nowhere else in the Star Sea.
Using his psychic power, Shen Zhaomu levitated the books. Though many records from these families had been digitized, several remained elusive, like the ones before him.
After scanning the contents into his terminal, he returned the books to the spirits.
As he left, a voice behind him echoed, “Shen Zhaomu, you are our pride.”
“We’ll wait here for your triumphant return.”
Shen Zhaomu didn’t respond, nor did he ask as planned if they had ever known of a dragon without psychic power. As he exited the hall, only the sound of his deep footsteps echoed.
Outside the palace, the setting sun had completely vanished, leaving behind a dim reddish glow, resembling blood, at the horizon.
Shen Zhaomu stood in the wind.
He had spent a significant part of his childhood on this island. He still remembered the loneliness he felt when keeping watch at the lighthouse — where all he could see was the sea and the sky, and no matter how loudly he shouted, no one would hear.
He didn’t like coming back here.
Previously, this sentiment was just a faint aversion, nothing significant. But now, for some reason, as daylight quickly faded, it had grown into a strong repulsion.
He had planned to stay here for the night before returning to Kassand, but now he wanted nothing more than to leave.
He wanted to go home.
After all, there was a silly dragon back home. He wondered if he had had his midnight snack yet.
So, half an hour later, his aircraft took off, skimming over the dark ocean, heading in the direction of Kassand.
A few hours later, the lights of Kassand came into view.
By the time Shen Zhaomu reached the entrance of the inn, it was already two or three in the morning. He quietly pushed the door open—
Sprawled out ungainly on the sofa was Long Shiyu. His right leg rested on the back of the sofa and his head touched the floor.
Shen Zhaomu: “…”
He gently lifted Long Shiyu’s head back onto the sofa. Long Shiyu opened his eyes drowsily and mumbled joyfully, “You’re back…” but drifted back to sleep moments later.
Shen Zhaomu’s mood instantly lifted, a soft smile gracing his face.
He then adjusted Long Shiyu’s right leg and covered him with a light blanket.
Although Shen Zhaomu hadn’t rested in a long while, he felt no sleepiness. He sat on the edge of the sofa and turned on his terminal, skimming through ancient texts in the dim light.
He recalled the appearance of the tent after it was engulfed by a dragon’s breath. From that, he could gauge the intensity of the dragon’s breath, even if he wasn’t sure if that was the exact center of the outburst.
Line after line passed before his eyes. Behind him, Long Shiyu mumbled something in his sleep, mentioning “princess” and “excellent evil dragon”, even chuckling a few times. His large tail gently wrapped around Shen Zhaomu, resting on his lap.
After several hours of research, Shen Zhaomu finally found all related records: there had been dragons with nearly undetectable psychic power, their dragon’s breath quite intense, similar to what he had witnessed.
All these were unique cases, but every single one of them had bloodlines within five generations.
Regardless of strength or age, countless examples proved their twisted and violent genes. The latent threat of such dragons was entirely different from those with weaker bloodlines. Even the weakest fifth-generation dragon was a must-kill target.
Shen Zhaomu had expected such findings and they came as no surprise, yet…
The screen’s light illuminated Shen Zhaomu’s expressionless face.
The next moment, he was kicked off the sofa by the dreaming Long Shiyu, who seemed to mumble, “Bad princess.”
Shen Zhaomu: “…?”
The author has something to say:
One cutesy sob a day: 0/1
Shen Zhaomu: Is this the ferocious attack of a dragon?
There will be no angst! No angst! No angst! Important things shall be said three times!!!
Shen Zhaomu is someone with a strong sense of self, while his opponent is an extremely terrifying sobbing monster (?). Who can resist the joy of petting a dragon? Hehehe.
Thank you for the chapterrr~
Thank you for the chapter (♥ω♥*)
It feels like She Zhaomu might be close to figuring out at least that Shiyu is actually very strong, but that could all just be a misdirect on the author’s part.
❤ Thank you for the chapter!
These elders know nothing hehe.